Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing communication in response to a video telephone call in a wireless terminal having a main body, and a folder pivotally mounted on said main body, are disclosed. Wireless terminal is switched to a first video communication mode either if a folder thereof is turned to a position to enable video communication or if communication key input is performed. Wireless terminal is switched to a second video communication mode to enable video data transmission either if video data transmission key input is performed with the folder turned to the position enabling video communication at the first video communication mode or if the folder is turned to the position enabling video communication with the communication key input performed at the first video communication mode.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application Serial No. 2005-48286 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 7, 2005, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a method of performing communication in response to a call in a wireless terminal such as cellular or mobile phone. More particularly the present invention relates to a method and apparatus where a cellular phone is switched to video communication mode in response to a video telephone call.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Presently, the wireless mobile phone is developed so as to have a structure to enable high-speed data transmission in addition to conventional voice communication. Namely, the mobile communications network according to IMT 2000 specifications may facilitate high-speed data communication in addition to voice communication with the wireless mobile terminal. The data transmitted through the wireless terminal in data communication may include packet data and video data. The wireless terminal has been also provided with a camera and TV receiver to add a video displaying function, so that it may display or transmit the moving or still pictures taken by the camera, and display received TV signals.  
         [0006]     Thus, the wireless terminal having video communication function enables the user to transmit and receive video data together with audio data. Upon receiving a video telephone call, it is switched to video communication mode by performing communication key input, and then may transmit the user&#39;s video data to the caller by performing show-me key input.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to an aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for performing video communication in a wireless terminal are provided where the rotational position of the folder in response to a video telephone call is detected, and the wireless terminal is switched to a video communication mode if the rotational position of the folder represents a demand for a video communication.  
         [0008]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for performing video communication in a wireless terminal are provided where the rotational position of the folder in response to a video telephone call is detected, the wireless terminal is switched to a first video communication mode if the rotational position of the folder represents a demand for a video communication, and the wireless terminal is switched to a second video communication mode to enable video data transmission upon receiving a video transmission key input at the first video communication mode.  
         [0009]     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method and method for performing video communication in a wireless terminal are provided where a wireless terminal is switched to a first video communication mode upon receiving communication key input in response to a video telephone call, the rotational position of the folder at the first video communication mode is detected, and the wireless terminal is switched to a second video communication mode to enable video data transmission if the rotational position represents a demand for a video data transmission.  
         [0010]     According to further another aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus for performing video communication in a wireless terminal are provided where a rotational position of the folder or communication key input in response to a video telephone call is detected, a wireless terminal is switched to a first video communication mode either if the folder is turned to a position to enable video communication or if communication key input is performed, and the wireless terminal is switched to a second video communication mode to enable video data transmission either if video data transmission key input is performed with the folder turned to the position enabling video communication at the first video communication mode or if the folder is turned to the position enabling video communication with the communication key input performed at the first video communication mode. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures, where:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional structure of a wireless terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating steps of an exemplary implementation of a method for performing video communication in response to a video telephone call in, for example, a wireless terminal as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Throughout descriptions in connection with the drawings, same reference numerals are used to represent same functional parts, as noted above. Detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for clarity and conciseness.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an RF module  123  for wireless communication comprises an RF transmitter for modulating and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for demodulating and low-noise amplifying a received signal. A modem  120  is to transform the digital signals from a microprocessor  110  into the corresponding analog signals delivered to the RF module  123 , or the analog signals from the RF module into the corresponding digital signals delivered to an audio processor  125  or the microprocessor  110 . The audio processor  125  comprises a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing audio signals such as voice signals. The audio processor  125  converts the digital audio signals from the modem  120  into the corresponding analog signals delivered to a speaker, or the analog audio signals from a microphone into the corresponding digital signals delivered to the modem  120 . The audio processor may be a separate unit or a built-in element of the microprocessor  110 .  
         [0016]     A memory device  130  comprises a program memory and a data memory. The program memory is to store the programs for controlling the general operations of the wireless terminal including the programs for controlling the automatic switching of the wireless terminal to the video communication mode or to the video data transmission mode according to the rotational position of the folder. Meanwhile, the data memory serves to temporarily store the data generated during execution of the programs.  
         [0017]     The microprocessor  110  controls the whole functions of the wireless terminal, and may be designed so as to include the modem  120  and the audio processor. Turning the folder to a rotational position for automatically enabling video communication in response to a video telephone call, the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to be automatically switched to a first video communication mode. Here, we will define for the sake of convenience the rotational positions of the folder of the wireless terminal in reference to the main body as follows. Namely, the position at which the folder is arranged parallel with the main body is defined as a first lengthwise position, and the position at which the folder is arranged crosswise to the main body as a second crosswise position.  
         [0018]     Accordingly the rotational position for automatically enabling the video communication is the second crosswise position detected by a folder rotation detector  170  to generate a position detection signal delivered to the microprocessor  110 . According to an exemplary implementation of the rotational position of the folder, when the user turns the folder to the second crosswise position in response to the video telephone call, the wireless terminal enters first video communication mode to enable video reception together with audio reception and transmission. Then, in the first video communication mode, if video transmission key is inputted, the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to be switched to second video communication mode to enable video reception and transmission together with audio reception and transmission.  
         [0019]     Alternatively, if the user performs communication key input in response to the video telephone call, the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to be switched to the first video communication mode with the folder maintained at the first lengthwise position. Then, turning the folder to the second crosswise position, the microprocessor  110  receives the second position detection signal from the folder rotation detector  170  to switch the wireless terminal to the second video communication mode.  
         [0020]     Also provided is a camera module  140  which comprises a camera sensor for converting the optical signals of a captured image into the corresponding electrical signals, and a signal processor for converting the analog electrical signals from the camera sensor into the corresponding digital data. The camera sensor may be a CCD sensor, and the signal processor a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The camera sensor and the signal processor may be integrally combined, or separately formed.  
         [0021]     A video signal processor  150  processes the video signals from the camera module  140  by frames so as to generate the frame video data fitting the characteristics and size of a display  160 . The video signal processor  150  includes a video codec to compress the frame video data or decompress the compressed frame video data according to a prescribed process. The video codec may be JPEG, MPEG4, Wavelet, etc. The video signal processor  150  is provided with the OSD (On Screen Display) function to generate the OSD data according to the screen size under the control of the microprocessor  110 .  
         [0022]     The display  160  displays both the video signals from the video signal processor  150  and the user&#39;s data transferred from the microprocessor  160 . The display  160  may comprise an LCD device, LCD controller, and memory for storing the video data. The LCD device may be formed with the touch screen mode to serve as an input device. The display  160  also displays an automatic switching message to represent the first video communication mode automatically entered by turning the folder, or a video transmission message to represent the second video communication or transmission mode entered by turning the folder in the first video communication mode.  
         [0023]     A key input device  127  includes the keys for inputting information on numbers and characters and the keys for setting various functions. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the folder rotation detector  170  detects the rotational position of the folder so as to generate a first or second position detection signal delivered to the microprocessor  110  according as the folder is in the first lengthwise or the second crosswise position.  
         [0024]     Hereinafter is described exemplary embodiments of the present invention for controlling the wireless terminal to be switched to the first video communication mode by turning the folder, or to the second video transmission mode by turning the folder in the first video communication mode, with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , if the wireless terminal receives a video telephone call (hereinafter referred to as VT call), the microprocessor  110  detects the received VT call in step  201  to stand by for the user&#39;s response to the VT call.  
         [0026]     In step  202 , when the user turns the folder, the folder rotation detector  170  determines the rotational position of the folder. If the folder is turned to the second crosswise position, the folder rotation detector  170  sends the second position detection signal to the microprocessor  110  to control the wireless terminal to be automatically switched to the first video communication mode in step  203 . In this case, the microprocessor  110  also controls the display  160  to display the automatic switching message representing the first video communication mode for a predetermined time.  
         [0027]     While performing the first video communication mode, if the user enters the show-me key to enable video data transmission, the microprocessor  110  controls in step  204  the wireless terminal to be switched to the second video communication mode to transmit the video data of, for example, the user&#39;s face image being taken by the camera module  140  in step  208 .  
         [0028]     Again, if the user returns the folder to the first lengthwise position during the second video communication mode in step  208 , the folder rotation detector  170  generates the first position detection signal delivered to the microprocessor  110  to switch the wireless terminal to the voice communication mode allowing only the transmission and reception of voice signals.  
         [0029]     Alternatively, if the user enters the communication key in response to a VT call, the microprocessor  110  controls in step  205  the wireless terminal to be switched to the first video communication mode allowing video reception, and audio reception and transmission in step  206 . Then, in the first video communication mode, if the user turns the folder to the second crosswise position, the folder rotation detector  170  detects it in step  207  to send the second position detection signal to the microprocessor  110  to switch the wireless terminal to the second video communication mode in step  208 , so that he can transmit the video data of his face image captured by the camera module  140  to the caller. In this case, the microprocessor  110  also controls the display  160  to display the automatic switching message representing the second video communication mode for a predetermined time.  
         [0030]     Then, in the second video communication mode, if the user turns the folder to the first lengthwise position, the folder rotation detector  170  detects it to send the first position detection signal to the microprocessor  110  to switch the wireless terminal to the first vide communication mode blocking the user&#39;s video data transmission in step  206 .  
         [0031]     Thus, exemplary implementation of certain embodiments of the present invention enable a wireless terminal to be automatically switched to the first or second video communication mode by simply turning the folder, thereby providing the user of a video telephone with a more convenient operation.  
         [0032]     While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.