Mobile terminal and method for transmitting image therein

A mobile terminal and a method for transmitting an image therein are provided. The method includes displaying a first image input through a first camera unit while participating in a video communication, transmitting the first image to a counterpart terminal, operating, if a second image is selected for transmission, a second camera unit, inputting a second image through the second camera unit, resizing the first image and the second image according to an image standard used for the video communication, displaying the resized first image and second image, and transmitting the resized first image and second image to the counterpart terminal. Thus, a user can view images for video communication input through more than one camera unit and transmit the images to a counterpart terminal during a video communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method for transmitting an image therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal having at least two camera units for video communication and a method for transmitting an image input through the camera units in the mobile terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

A mobile terminal has various functions according to various user demands. The functions may include one or more of a communication function, a camera function, an MP3 function, a data transmitting function, a DMB function and the like.

A user can photograph a desired scene using a camera function in a mobile terminal as a moving picture or as a photograph instead of using a digital camera. Thus, a mobile terminal having a camera function has become popular.

Further, a user can perform video communication using the camera function and the communication function. The video communication enables users that are in communication to view each other and their environment.

A conventional mobile terminal for video communication includes two camera units. One camera unit is installed in a front part of the mobile terminal for photographing an image of a user to be transmitted to a person receiving a phone call. The other camera unit is installed at a rear part of the mobile terminal for taking a photograph or a moving picture.

In the conventional mobile terminal, while one camera unit is used for video communication including an image of the user, the other camera unit cannot be used. Accordingly, a user cannot take a photograph or a moving picture of their environment while engaging in video communication. Further, a user cannot share what happens nearby or a photograph that is previously stored with a person receiving the video communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal having at least two camera units for video communication and a method for transmitting images input through the camera units in the mobile terminal.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting an image in a mobile terminal having at least two camera units is provided. The method includes displaying a first image input through a first camera unit while participating in a video communication, transmitting the first image to a counterpart terminal, operating, if a second image is selected for transmission, a second camera unit, inputting a second image through the second camera unit, resizing the first image and the second image according to an image standard used for the video communication, displaying the resized first image and second image, and transmitting the resized first image and second image to the counterpart terminal.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting an image in a mobile terminal having at least two camera units is provided. The method includes displaying a first image input through a first camera unit while participating in a video communication, transmitting the first image to a counterpart terminal, receiving a third image from the counterpart terminal, operating, if a second image is selected for transmission, a second camera unit, inputting a second image through the second camera unit, displaying at least one of the first image, the second image and the third image, and transmitting the first image and the second image to the counterpart terminal.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting an image is provided. The method includes displaying a first image input through a first camera unit while participating in a video communication, transmitting the first image to a counterpart terminal, resizing, if a stored image is selected for transmission, at least one stored image and the first image, displaying the at least one stored image and the first image, and transmitting the first image and an image selected from the displayed at least one stored image.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal is provided. The terminal includes an input unit for inputting at least one of a video communication command and an image transmission command, a first camera unit for photographing a first image, a second camera unit for photographing a second image according to the at least one of a video communication command and an image transmission command input through the input unit, a controller for transmitting the first image according to the video communication command, and for resizing the first image and the second image according to an image standard used for video communication, for displaying the resized first image and second images, and for transmitting the resized first image and second image to a counterpart terminal according to the image transmission command, a display unit for displaying, under the control of the controller, the first image and the second image, and a wireless communication unit for transmitting, under the control of the controller, the resized first image and second image to the counterpart terminal.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal is provided. The terminal includes an input unit for inputting at least one of a video communication command and an image transmission command, a first camera unit for photographing a first image, a second camera unit for photographing a second image according to the at least one of a video communication command and an image transmission command input through the input unit, a controller for transmitting the first image according to the video communication command, for transmitting the first image and the second image to a counterpart terminal, and for receiving a third image from the counterpart terminal according to the image transmission command, a display unit for displaying at least one of the first, second and third images under the control of the controller, and a wireless communication unit for transmitting the first image and second image to the counterpart terminal under the control of the controller, and for receiving the third image from the counterpart terminal.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a user can use a plurality of camera units in a mobile terminal to effectively transmit a photograph or a moving picture photographed through a camera unit to a counterpart terminal during a video communication. In addition, the user can display an image input through a camera unit for the video communication and another image input through another camera unit during the video communication, thereby viewing the image for the video communication and the other image together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described hereinafter, an ‘image’ refers to all data input through a camera unit in a mobile terminal. The data may include at least one of a moving picture, a still photograph and the like.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit110, an input unit120, a first camera unit131, a second camera unit133, a controller140, a display unit150and a storage unit160.

The wireless communication unit110performs a communication function between the mobile terminal and a base station. In addition, the wireless communication unit110may perform a communication function between the mobile terminal and another mobile terminal, a relay, or any other communications entity. The wireless communication unit110transmits and receives data for video communication and transmits and receives image data during video communication under the control of the controller140. The wireless communication unit110may include at least one of a duplexer for separating a transmitting function and a receiving function, a transmitter for up-converting a frequency of a transmission signal, a receiver for down-converting a frequency of a received signal and the like.

The input unit120includes at least one of input keys for inputting characters, function keys for setting various functions and the like. The function keys may include at least one of a directional key, a side key, a shortcut key that are set to perform various functions and the like. In particular, the input unit120may include a video communication key for performing video communication and the like. The input unit120may also include at least one of a function key for taking a moving picture or a photograph (hereinafter, the moving picture and the photograph are referred to as an image) in video communication, a key for transmitting the photographed image to a counterpart terminal participating in the video communication and the like.

Although not shown, the first camera unit131and the second camera unit133may each include at least one of a camera sensor for converting an optical signal input through a lens into an analog image signal, a signal processor for converting the analog image signal processed from the camera sensor into digital data and the like. The camera sensor may be embodied as a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) sensor, and the signal processor may be embodied as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The first camera unit131and the second camera unit133each may photograph a user image to be transmitted to a counterpart terminal and may photograph an image of a surrounding environment in a video communication mode.

It is assumed that the first camera unit131photographs a user image for video communication to be transmitted to a counterpart terminal in video communication and the second camera unit133photographs an image of a surrounding environment. Hereinafter, the image input through the first camera unit131is referred to as a first image, and the image input through the second camera unit133is referred to as a second image. The mobile terminal having two camera units is exemplified in the present invention, however, more than two camera units may be provided according to a design of the mobile terminal.

The controller140may control overall operations of the mobile terminal. In particular, the controller140may control the wireless communication unit110to transmit the first image input through the first camera unit131to a counterpart terminal in the video communication mode. When a user selects an image transmission function through the input unit120during video communication, the controller140may control to display the second image input through the second camera unit133with the first image in the display unit150. The controller140may control the wireless communication unit110to transmit the second image input through the second camera unit133with the first image input through the first camera unit131to the counterpart terminal.

Further, the controller140may resize the first and second images to be suitable for an image standard for video communication and may transmit the resized first and second images. For example, if a resolution format of the image standard for video communication may be a Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF) resolution format, and the controller140may compress the first image into ¼ QCIF and may compress the second image into ½ QCIF, so that the first and second images are resized to be suitable for the image standard for video communication. The controller140may then resize resolution of a third image, which is an image of a user of a counterpart terminal participating in the video communication that is transmitted by the counterpart terminal to the mobile terminal, into ¼ QCIF and may display the first, second and third images in the display unit150. When the controller140transmits the resized first and second images to the counterpart terminal, the controller140may transmit the first and second images as one image data or may transmit the first and second images as separate image data.

The display unit150displays information on operations of the mobile terminal. The display unit150may employ a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and the like. In this case, the display unit150may include an LCD controller, a memory unit for storing image data and an LCD display element. In a case that the LCD is embodied as a touch screen type, the display unit150may function as an input unit. As illustrated inFIG. 3as an example, the display unit150may include a first screen310, a second screen320and a third screen330, and may display, respectively, the first image input through the first camera unit131, the second image input through the second camera unit133, and the third image received from the terminal of the counterpart person.

The storage unit160may store various programs for controlling operations of the mobile terminal and various data generated in the operations of the mobile terminal. The storage unit160may store the first and second images input through the first and second camera units131and133under the control of the controller140. The storage unit160may store the third image transmitted from the counterpart terminal under the control of the controller140. Further, the storage unit160may store an image, other than the third image, transmitted from the counterpart terminal under the control of the controller140.

If an image transmission function is selected while in video communication, the controller140may transmit the first image input through the first camera unit131and the second image input through the second camera unit133to the counterpart terminal through the wireless communication unit110. Here, the controller140may resize the first and second images to be suitable for the image standard for video communication. The controller140may also control the storage unit160to store the second image. If image transmission is selected in video communication, the controller140may transmit images stored in the storage unit160instead of the second image input through the second camera unit133. When transmitting an image, the controller140may display the transmitted image with the first and third images in the display unit150.

Hereinafter, a method for transmitting an image in a mobile terminal during video communication is described in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting an image in a mobile terminal during video communication according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is an example of a screen for displaying images during image transmission according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 2, a user may input a phone number of a counterpart terminal to participate in a video communication through numeric keys in the input unit120and then may input the video communication key. The controller140may detect the key input as a video communication command and converts a mode of the mobile terminal into a video communication mode in step S210. Alternatively, a request for participation in the video communication may be received through the wireless communication unit110and may be accepted, such as by an input from the user through the input unit120and the like. Next, the controller140may control the wireless communication unit110to perform video communication with the counterpart terminal in step S215. The controller140may operate the first camera unit131to display a first image input through the first camera unit131in the display unit150. During video communication, the controller140may transmit the first image input through the first camera unit131to the counterpart terminal through the wireless communication unit110.

The controller140may display the first image transmitted to the counterpart terminal on the first screen310of the display unit150and may display the third image of the user of the counterpart terminal received from the counterpart terminal on the third screen330of the display unit150. The sizes and positions of the desired first and third images may differ according to user or other settings. Further, the controller140may resize the first image and the third image to be suitable for the set size of the screen for display.

Then, the controller140may determine whether second image transmission is selected in step S220. The user may select, during video communication, second image transmission through at least one of a function key, a menu in the input unit120and the like. If the user does not select second image transmission, the process returns to step S215. If the user selects second image transmission, the controller140may operate the second camera unit133in step S225.

The controller140may display the second image input through the second camera unit133in step S230. The controller140may control the display unit150to display the second image on the second screen320while displaying the first image on the first screen310and the third image on the third screen330.

The first, second and third images can be displayed on a screen that is divided into the first, second and third screens310to330, as illustrated inFIG. 3. Referring toFIG. 3, the first image is displayed on the first screen310, the second image on the second screen320and the third image on the third screen330. Further, according to a screen dividing method, image allocation to the divided screens and the sizes and positions of the screens may vary according to at least one of user settings, manufacture settings and the like. The images to be displayed on the three screens may be exchanged with each other according to a user selection. Further, if the second screen320is a main screen and the first and third screens310and330are sub-screens, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the image displayed on the main screen may be exchanged with any one of the images displayed on the sub-screens by the user's selection. For example, if a user selects the first screen310using at least one of a directional key, a touch on a touch screen, a menu and the like, and then selects the second screen320, the controller140may control to replace the first image displayed on the first screen310with the second image, and to replace the second image displayed on the second screen320with the first image. Similarly, the controller140may control to display any one of the images displayed on the other screens on the third screen330in place of the third image according to the user's selection.

The controller140may resize the first, second and third images to be suitable for the image standard for video communication. For example, the controller140may resize the first image into ¼ QCIF, the second image into ½ QCIF, and the third image into ¼ QCIF, so that the first, second and third images are displayed together.

Then, the controller140may determine the type of the second image to be transmitted in step S235. That is, the controller140may determine whether the type of the second image to be transmitted is a moving picture or a photograph. If the moving picture is selected, the controller140may transmit the second image, that is, a moving picture input through the second camera unit133, with the first image to the counterpart terminal in step S240. Here, the controller140may control the sizes of the first and second images to be suitable for the image standard for video communication to the counterpart terminal. Accordingly, the user can take a moving picture of their environment or of a nearby incident through the second camera unit133in the mobile terminal as a second image. The second image can be transmitted to the counterpart terminal in real time.

The controller140may determine whether transmission of the second image is to be terminated in step S245. If the user inputs a function key, for example a confirmation key, in the input unit120to terminate the second image photographing, the controller140may detect the key input as an instruction to terminate moving picture transmission. The controller140may then delete the second screen320on which the second image is displayed, and may display only the first and third screens310and330on which the first and third images are displayed in step S250. The controller140may store the transmitted second image in the storage unit160according to at least one of the user's selection, a setting and the like.

If the user selects photograph transmission at step S235, the controller140may determine whether the user inputs a photographing key in the input unit120to capture the second image as a photograph in step S260. If the user does not input a photographing key in the input unit120, the process returns to step S235. If the user inputs a photographing key in the input unit120, the controller140may capture the second image as a photograph and may display the captured second image on the second screen320of the display unit150in step S265. The controller140may control the display unit150to continue displaying the first screen310and the third screen330on which the first and third images are displayed with the second screen320.

Next, the controller140may determine whether transmission of the captured image is selected in step S270. The user may select the captured image transmission through at least one of a function key, a menu and the like in the input unit120. If transmission of the captured image is not selected, the process returns to step S265. If transmission of the captured image is selected, the controller140may transmit the captured second image with the first image to the counterpart terminal in step S275. The controller140may resize the first and second images to be suitable for the image standard for video communication for transmission. The controller140may store the captured second image in the storage unit160according to at least one of the user's selection, a setting and the like.

After transmission of the captured second image, the controller140may delete the second screen320on which the second image is displayed and may display the first and third screens310and330on which the first and third images are displayed in step S250.

Hereinafter, a method for displaying an image stored in a mobile terminal in video communication and for transmitting the displayed image to a counterpart terminal is described in detail.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting a stored image during video communication according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, a user may input a phone number of a counterpart terminal to participate in a video communication through numeric keys in the input unit120and then may input a video communication key. The controller140may detect the key input as a video communication command and may convert a mode of the mobile terminal into a video communication mode in step S410. Alternatively, a request for participation in the video communication may be received through the wireless communication unit110and may be accepted, such as by an input from the user through the input unit120and the like. Next, the controller140may control the wireless communication unit110to perform video communication with the counterpart terminal in step S415. The controller140may operate the first camera unit131to display a first image input through the first camera unit131in the display unit150. During video communication, the controller140may transmit the first image input through the first camera unit131to the counterpart terminal through the wireless communication unit110.

The controller140may display the first image transmitted to the counterpart terminal on the first screen310of the display unit150and may display the third image of the user of the counterpart terminal received from the counterpart terminal on the third screen330of the display unit150. The sizes and positions of the displayed first and third images may differ according to user or other settings.

Next, the controller140may determine whether stored image transmission is selected in step S420. The user may select, during video communication, the stored image transmission through at least one of a function key, a menu in the input unit120and the like. If the user does not select stored image transmission, the process returns to step S415. If the user selects the stored image transmission, the controller140may display all images stored in the storage unit160on the second screen320in step S425. The stored images may be displayed in at least one of a moving sequence manner, as thumbnail images on the second screen320and the like. The controller140may control the display unit150to display the stored images on the second screen320while displaying the first image on the first screen310and the third image on the third screen330.

The controller140may determine whether the user selects an image to be transmitted from the displayed stored images through the input unit120in step S430. If the user does not select an image to be transmitted, the process returns to step S425. If the user selects an image to be transmitted, the controller140may display the selected image on the second screen320in step S435. Next, the controller140may determine whether transmission of the selected image is selected in step S440. If the user does not select image transmission, the process returns to step S435. If the user selects image transmission, the controller140may transmit the selected image with the first image to the counterpart terminal in step S445. The controller140may determine the sizes of the first image and the selected image and may resize the first image and the selected image to be suitable for video communication for transmission.

The controller140may determines whether the image transmission is to be terminated in step S450. When the transmission is terminated, the controller140may delete the second screen320on which the selected image is displayed, and may display only the first and third screens310and330on which the first and third images are displayed in step S455. If the transmission is not terminated, the process returns to step S445.

Although not shown, if an image is received from a counterpart terminal in addition to the third image of the user of the counterpart terminal participating in the video communication, the controller140may display the additional received image in the display unit150together with the third image. That is, the controller140may display the first image input through the first camera unit131and transmitted to the counterpart terminal on the first screen130, the additional image received from the counterpart terminal on the second screen320, and the third image of the user of the counterpart terminal on the third screen330. The controller140may resize the images displayed on the first screen310, second screen320and third screen330to be suitable for the image standard for video communication.

Further, in a case the mobile terminal and the counterpart terminal transmit and receive images at the same time in video communication, the controller140may divide the screen of the display unit150into four screen areas and may display the image received from the counterpart terminal and the image transmitted from the mobile terminal, in addition to the images of the user of the mobile terminal and the user of the counterpart terminal, in the four screen areas.