Abstract:
A method and device for wirelessly communicating data files using a mobile terminal having video communication capability is provided. The method reserves one or more data files to be transmitted during a video call. The communication device associates identifies data files for transmission to a video call recipient, and displays associated information of the data files during the video call.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0022874 filed Mar. 8, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This document is directed to wirelessly communicating data files using a mobile terminal having a video communication capability and reserving data files to be transmitted during a call. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    A general mobile communication terminal provides various functions and services, such as sending a message, taking a picture or a moving picture, reproducing an MPEG-1 (Motion Picture Experts Group) Audio Layer 3 (MP3) file, and placing a video call in addition to generally placing a voice call. The video call service allows users to communicate with each other while looking at still or moving video images of each other during the call. 
         [0004]    Hereinafter, the video image referred to includes both still and moving video images, unless otherwise specified. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention a method of wirelessly communicating data files using a mobile terminal having a video communication capability is provided, the method includes identifying at least one data file, associating the identified data file for transmission to at least one video call recipient, establishing a video link between the mobile terminal and a remote terminal of the video call recipient, and displaying information associated with the identified at least one data file when the video link is initiated. 
         [0006]    It is contemplated that the method further includes previewing the identified at least one data file on a display while the video link is maintained. It is further contemplated that the identified at least one data file is associated for a plurality of video call recipients. 
         [0007]    It is contemplated that method further includes associating different identified data files for transmission to different video call recipients. It is further contemplated that the identified at least one data file includes one of image, moving picture, audio and text file. 
         [0008]    It is contemplated that the method further comprises selectively transmitting the identified at least one data file to the remote terminal while the video link is maintained. It is further contemplated that the information associated with the identified at least one data file is displayed in a first display area and an image received from the at least one video call recipient is displayed in a second display area of the mobile terminal. Furthermore, it contemplated that a user image can be displayed in a third display area. 
         [0009]    It is contemplated that the method further includes transmitting the identified at least one data file to the remote terminal by drag and dropping the information associated with the identified at least one data file on at least a portion of one of the second and third display areas. It is further contemplated that a selected data file is previewed in the third display area. 
         [0010]    It is contemplated that the identified at least one data file is transmitted via one of Multimedia Message Service and Enhanced Message Service. It is further contemplated that the identified at least one data file is transmitted via the video link. 
         [0011]    It is contemplated that the step of associating the identified at least one data file for transmission to the at least one video call recipient includes associating the identified at least one data file with a telephone number of the at least one video call recipient. It is contemplated that the method further includes providing a user interface for previewing the identified data file. 
         [0012]    It is contemplated that the information displayed comprises a number of the identified data file. It is further contemplated that the displayed information includes an indication of whether there are any identified data files. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the present invention, a mobile terminal is provided including a transceiver receiving and transmitting data for performing a video call, a memory unit storing at least one data file, an input unit identifying the at least one data file, a controller associating the identified at least one data file for transmission to at least one video call recipient, and a display unit displaying information associated with the identified data file, wherein the controller establishes a video link between the mobile terminal and a remote terminal of the at least one video call recipient. 
         [0014]    It is contemplated that the controller displays previews of the identified at least one data file on the display while the video link is maintained. It is further contemplated that the identified at least one data file is associated with a plurality of video call recipients. 
         [0015]    It is contemplated that the controller associates different identified data files for transmission to different video call recipients. It is further contemplated that the identified at least one data file comprises one of image, moving picture, audio and text file. 
         [0016]    It is contemplated that the controller controls selectively transmitting the identified at least one data file to the remote terminal while the video link is maintained. It is further contemplated that the information associated with the identified at least one data file is displayed in a first display area and an image received from the at least one video call recipient is displayed in a second display area of the mobile terminal. It is also contemplated that a user image is displayed in a third display area. 
         [0017]    It is contemplated that the controller controls the transceiver to transmit the identified at least one data file to the remote terminal by drag and dropping the information associated with the identified at least one data file on at least a portion of one of the second and third display areas. It is further contemplated that a selected data file is previewed in the third display area. 
         [0018]    It is contemplated that the identified at least one data file is transmitted via one of Multimedia Message Service and Enhanced Message Service. 
         [0019]    It is contemplated that the controller associates the identified at least one data file with a telephone number of the video call recipient. It is further contemplated that the controller provides a user interface for previewing the identified at least one data file. 
         [0020]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. These and other embodiments will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiments disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. In the entire description of this document, like reference numerals represent corresponding parts throughout various figures. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a communication device according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting data files according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate screens displaying lists of files to be reserved for transmission according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A to 4E  illustrate screens for transmitting the reserved files. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate screens for previewing the reserved files. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate additional screens for previewing the reserved files, 
           [0028]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate screens for previewing an audio file according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate screens for previewing both an image file and an audio file. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a screen for creating a multimedia message to which a data file is attached. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate examples of screens for editing a multimedia message during a video call. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 11A to 11C  illustrate examples of screens for reserving data files to be transmitted to a specific phone number during a video call. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates a screen displaying a list of phone numbers to which data files are reserved for transmission. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate screens displaying a plurality of sub-screen areas for a conference video call in which data files are reserved to be transmitted to each of the call participants. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  illustrates a touch screen for transmitting a data file by dragging and dropping the data file. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate screens for previewing a data file by dragging and dropping the data file. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a communication device  100 , according to the present invention. The communication device may be a mobile communication terminal  100 , but it is not limited thereto. 
         [0039]    The mobile communication terminal  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , comprises a transceiver  105 , a memory  110 , an input unit  120 , an audio processor  130 , a camera unit  140 , an image processor  150 , a display  160 , and a controller  170 . 
         [0040]    The transceiver  105  receives and transmits data for performing a video call with a call participant through an antenna (ANT) via a base station. The data for performing the video call may include video image and voice data created by a user and the call participant to be exchanged during the video call. The transceiver  105  may transmit one or more data files during the video call. 
         [0041]    The memory  110  stores data and programs for controlling overall operations of the mobile communication terminal  100 . The memory  110  may store one or more data files, such as music, image, text, and moving picture files. 
         [0042]    The memory  110  may include an internal memory and an external memory, such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and a flash memory. 
         [0043]    The input unit  120  includes various number keys and function keys. The input unit  120  receives user input for reserving one or more data files to be transmitted during a video call, and outputs signals corresponding to the user input to the controller  170 . 
         [0044]    The audio processor  130  decodes audio data stored at the memory  110  into digital audio signals, and converts the digital audio signals into analog audio signals to be reproduced. 
         [0045]    The camera unit  140  can be used to form a video image of the user by photographing the user. The camera  140  may include a plurality of cameras. 
         [0046]    The image processor  150  processes the video image of the user captured through the camera  140  and a video image of the call participant received through the transceiver  100 . The image processor  150  may output image signals of each frame when an input video image is a moving video image. 
         [0047]    The display  160  displays various types of information data, such as contents received through the transceiver  105 . Additionally, the display  160  may display notification of the reserved data files, a list of the reserved data files, and an indicator for previewing the reserved data files. The display  160  may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED). 
         [0048]    The controller  170  controls inputs and outputs of the mobile communication terminal  100 . The controller  170  may include a Mobile Station Modem (MSM) for this function. 
         [0049]    The controller  170  controls the transceiver  105  to receive and transmit data for performing the video call with the call participant, and further to transmit the reserved one or more data files during the video call. The controller  170  may combine the reserved one or more data files with the data for performing the video call and transmits the combined data through the transceiver  105 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting data files and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate screens displaying lists of files to be reserved for transmission during a video call. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the method for transmitting data files include processes (steps S 200  and S 210 ) for reserving one or more data files to be transmitted during a video call, and processes (steps S 220  through S 280 ) for transmitting data for performing the video call with the reserved one or more data files. 
         [0052]    Reserving and transmitting data files. 
         [0053]    The memory  110  stores at least one data file, such as a text file, an audio file, a moving picture file, and an image file (step S 200 ). A user may select at least one data file stored in the memory  110  to transmit the selected data file during a video call. 
         [0054]    For example, the user may select “flower.jpg” and “mykitty.jpg” files from a “photo album” menu as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The user may further select “rain” and “OST  0 1” files from an “audio album” menu. The selected data files are reserved or identified to be transmitted during a video call (step S 210 ). 
         [0055]    A video call is initiated as signals for the video call are transmitted and received with a call participant through the transceiver  105  (step S 220 ). 
         [0056]    The reserved data files may be transmitted during the video call as follows. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 4A to 4E  illustrate examples of screens for transmitting the reserved files. As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the controller  170  displays on the display  160  a video image  300  of the call participant received through the transceiver  105  and a video image  310  of the user captured by the camera unit  140  and processed by the image processor  150  (step S 230 ) upon initiation of the video call. 
         [0058]    The controller  170  may provide an information prompt in the form of a pop-up window  320 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , for notifying the user that there are data files reserved for transmission during the video call (step S 240 ). The pop-up window  320  is a separate screen to be displayed in the upper a part of the screen displaying the video images of the call participant  300  and the user  310 . 
         [0059]    The controller  170  determines whether a “list” menu is selected through the input unit  120  to display a list of the reserved data files (step S 250 ). Upon selection of the list menu, the controller  170  displays the list of the reserved data files (step S 260 ), for example, at one end of the screen of the display  160 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . The controller  170  may display the list of the reserved data files in the form of a popup window. 
         [0060]    The controller  170  receives user input to select at least one data file to be transmitted (step S 270 ), for example, “mykitty” file among the list of the reserved data files through the input unit  120 . Accordingly, the controller transmits the selected data file, the “mykitty” file in the above example, along with data for performing the video call such as voice data and video image data of the user to the call participant (step S 280 ). 
         [0061]    The controller may transmit the selected data file while a communication channel is connected for the video call but the data for performing the video call is not transmitted. The controller  170  may further create a multimedia message to which the selected data file is attached, and transmit the created multimedia message through a Multimedia Message Service (MMS). The controller  170  may display on the display  160  a notice  330 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4E , to notify the user of the number of the data files transmitted from the list of the reserved data files. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate examples of screens for previewing the reserved files. As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the user selects a “preview” menu  340  through the input unit  120  to preview the “mykitty” file while the list of the reserved data files are displayed on the display  160 . 
         [0063]    The controller  170  may display a preview image of the “mykitty” file over the video image  310  of the user, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , to provide preview of the “mykitty” file to the call participant of the video call. 
         [0064]    If the user selects a “send” menu  350  through the input unit  120  to transmit the selected data file upon request of the call participant, the controller  170  attaches the “mykitty” file to the multimedia message and transmits the multimedia message to the call participant through the MMS. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate other examples of screens for previewing the reserved files. As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the controller  170  may display the selected one of the reserved data files, for example, the “mykitty” file, at a preview screen  360  inside the user&#39;s video image  310  through the Picture In Picture (PIP) feature. The PIP feature displays one image within a part of a screen displaying another image. 
         [0066]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , the controller may provide the preview of the “mykitty” file to the call participant of the video call by transmitting the preview image of the “mykitty” file along with the video image  310  of the user. The controller  170  may display the video image  310  of the user for a predetermined period and consequently the preview of the “mykitty” file for a different predetermined period. This may be repeated to provide the preview of the “mykitty” file to the call participant. 
         [0067]    The above described examples may also be applied to an audio file reserved to be transmitted during the video call. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate screens for previewing an audio file. As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the user selects the “preview” menu  340  through the input unit  120  to preview the “rain” file while the list of the reserved data files are displayed on the display  160 . 
         [0069]    The controller  170  may process the “rain” file to be reproduced through the audio processor  130  to output the processed sound signal through the speaker  180 . The controller  170  may transmit the sound signal of the “rain” file to the call participant along with the video image  310  of the user to provide a preview of the “rain” file. 
         [0070]    In practice, the sound signal of the “rain” may be output through the speaker  180  as background music for the video call and transmitted to the call participant for the preview. 
         [0071]    More than two data files may be previewed.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate examples of screens for previewing both an image file and an audio file. 
         [0072]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the user selects the “preview” menu  340  through the input unit  120  to preview the “mykitty” file and the “rain” file while the list of the reserved data files are displayed on the display  160 . 
         [0073]    The controller  170  may display a preview image of the “mykitty” file, as illustrated in  FIG. 8B , and process the “rain” file through the audio processor  130  to output the processed sound signals through the speaker  180  at the same time. 
         [0074]    The controller may provide the previews of the “mykitty” file and the “rain” file to the call participant of the video call by transmitting the preview image of the “mykitty” file and the sound signal of the “rain” file to the call participant. 
         [0075]    Displaying and transmitting of the preview image of the “mykitty” file may be performed similar to the examples described above. The reserved data files may be transmitted as attached to a multimedia message through the MMS. 
         [0076]      FIG. 9  illustrates a screen for creating a multimedia message in which a data file is attached. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the user may select the “mykitty” file from the list of the reserved data files to be attached to a multimedia message through the input unit  120 . Accordingly, the controller  170  may create the multimedia message in which the selected data file is attached, and transmit the created multimedia message through the MMS. 
         [0077]    The phone number of the call participant of the connected video call may be input as a recipient phone number of the multimedia message. 
         [0078]    The controller  170  may automatically add a preset phrase into content  370  of the multimedia message file. The preset phrase may depend on the type of the attached data file. For example, a preset phrase “How do you like this photo?” may be added into the multimedia message when the image data file is attached to the multimedia message. 
         [0079]    Furthermore, a preset phrase “How do you like this music?” may be added into the multimedia message when the audio data file is attached to the multimedia message. The user may change the preset phrases. For example, the user may input a desired phrase to be added into the multimedia message during the video call. 
         [0080]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate examples of screens for editing a multimedia message during a video call. As illustrated in  FIG. 10A , the user may use the input unit  120  to select the “mykitty” file from the list of the reserved data files displayed on the display  160  to be attached to a multimedia message. Accordingly, the controller  170  may display an input window  380  at one end of the display  160  as illustrated in  FIG. 10A . 
         [0081]    If the user uses the input unit  120  to input a phrase “Isn&#39;t she cute?” at the input window  380 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10B , the controller  170  accordingly creates the multimedia message having the phrase “Isn&#39;t she cute?” as the content, and the “mykitty” file as the attachment to be transmitted to the recipient, the call participant of the video call. 
         [0082]    One aspect of the data-transmitting technology of the present invention provides a method for transmitting the data files conveniently during a video call. The data files may be reserved in advance for transmitting the files to the call participant during a video call. Furthermore, the method may provide a preview of the reserved data files. This enables the user to enjoy the preview of the reserved data files with the call participant during the video call. 
         [0083]    Reserving data files to be transmitted to a specific phone number. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 11A to 11C  illustrate examples of screens for reserving data files to be transmitted to a specific phone number during a video call. As illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the user may set a phone number to which the selected file, for example, the “flower” file is transmitted during a video call to the set phone number. 
         [0085]    In this case, the controller  170  displays on the display  160  a “number setting” menu  390  to set the phone number, as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , and receives the phone number “010-200-3000” inputted through the input unit  120 . 
         [0086]    If a video call is initiated with the set phone number later, the controller  170  displays the list of the reserved data files to be transmitted to the set phone number. 
         [0087]    In the above example, the list of the reserved data files to be transmitted to the set phone number “010-200-3000” includes the “flower” file. 
         [0088]    The controller  170  may provide preview of the “flower” file as described above. The controller  170  may transmit the “flower” file if the user selects the “send” menu upon request of transmission from a call participant of the phone number “010-200-3000” as illustrated in  FIG. 11C . 
         [0089]    Reserving data files to be transmitted during a conference video call. 
         [0090]    The reserved data files may be transmitted to a plurality of call recipients simultaneously during a conference video call. 
         [0091]      FIG. 12  illustrates a screen displaying a list of phone numbers to which data files are respectively reserved to be transmitted. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the user may reserve data files for each of the phone numbers to be transmitted similar to the example described with reference to  FIGS. 11A to 11C . 
         [0092]    The controller  170  may separately store the phone numbers with the reserved data files in the memory  110 , and provide a list of the phone numbers for facilitating the search of the phone numbers. The controller  170  may display the list of the phone numbers with the number of the reserved data files as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0093]    The user may connect a conference video call with a plurality of call participants and transmit the corresponding reserved data files to each of the call participants if the reserved data files are stored to be transmitted to each of the phone numbers of the call participants. 
         [0094]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate examples of screens displaying a plurality of sub-screen areas for a conference video call in which different data files are reserved to be transmitted to each of call participants. 
         [0095]    As illustrated in  FIG. 13A , phone numbers “010-200-3000”, “010-1234-5678”, and “010-300-1200” are selected for a conference video call to be connected and data files are correspondingly reserved to be transmitted to each of the phone numbers during the conference video call. 
         [0096]    Upon initiating the conference video call, the controller  170  displays in the sub-screen areas video images of participants of the conference video call corresponding to the selected phone numbers. The controller  170  may display in each of the sub-screen areas a notification that there exist the reserved data files to be transmitted to each of the phone numbers. 
         [0097]    The user may place a selection box  400  on a video image in one of the sub-screen areas to be selected. For example, in  FIG. 13A , the video image corresponding to the phone number “010-200-3000” is selected by the selection box  400 . 
         [0098]    The controller  170  may accordingly display on the display  160  a list  420  of the reserved data files corresponding to the phone number “010-200-3000,” as illustrated in  FIG. 13B . The above descriptions of selecting and previewing of the reserved data files from the list may be applied similarly to the example herein. 
         [0099]    In one aspect of the present invention, the display  160  may include a touch screen. Thus, the above described examples may be applied to the touch screen. 
         [0100]    Reserving data files to be transmitted through the touch screen. 
         [0101]      FIG. 14  is an example of a touch screen for transmitting a data file by dragging and dropping the data file. 
         [0102]    The controller  170  displays a list of the reserved data files at the touch screen which is implemented on the display  160 . The “flower” file is touched to be dragged and dropped into a video image  300  of a call participant. Accordingly, the controller  170  may create a multimedia message by attaching the corresponding data file, the “flower” file in this example, thereto and transmit the created multimedia message to the call participant through the transceiver  105 . 
         [0103]    The user may drag and drop more than one data file. Thus, the controller  170  may create a multimedia message by attaching the more than one data file thereto. 
         [0104]    The controller  170  may create a plurality of multimedia messages by attaching different numbers of data files respectively thereto. The plurality of the multimedia messages may be transmitted sequentially. 
         [0105]    Preview of the reserved data files may be provided at the touch screen as follows.  FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate examples of screens for previewing a data file by dragging and dropping the data file. As illustrated in  FIG. 15A , the user drags and drops at the touch screen the “flower” file from the list of the reserved data files into the video image  310  of the user. 
         [0106]    Accordingly, the controller  170  reproduces the “flower” file to be displayed over the user&#39;s video image  310 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15B . The controller  170  may transmit the displayed image  310  of  FIG. 15B  to the call participant to provide the preview of the “flower” file. The image being previewed may be sent to the call participant by dragging and dropping the image into a video image  300  of the call participant. 
         [0107]    The touch screen may provide convenience of selecting the reserved data files to be transmitted without troublesome manipulation of the device. 
         [0108]    Similarly, the above example may be applied to an audio file. Thus, the reserved audio file may be dragged and dropped and the preview of the audio file may be provided as described above. 
         [0109]    In the above descriptions, the reserved data files are image files or audio files. However, these are merely the examples of the data files to be reserved for transmitting during a video call. For example, additional data files, which may be reserved at the communication device  100  memory unit  110 , include text files and moving picture files. Furthermore, the text files may include memo files containing the text. 
         [0110]    The reserved data files may be attached to a Short Message Service (SMS) message to be transmitted if the attached data file is a text file. Furthermore, the reserved data files may be transmitted through an Enhanced Message Service (EMS), such as a Long Message Service (LMS). 
         [0111]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reserved data files are selected by the user to be transmitted when the video call is initiated. However, other selection processes may also be used to reserve and transmit data. For example, the controller  170  may automatically transmit the reserved data files to the call participant when the video call is initiated. 
         [0112]    For another example, the controller  170  may automatically transmit the reserved data files to the call participant immediately after a predetermined time lapse from the initiation of the video call. These settings may have variations of time for specific applications. For example, the data files may be reserved to be transmitted during a video call. 
         [0113]    As disclosed above, a mobile communication terminal  100  is used to describe the various implementations of the present invention. However, these implementations may be applied to other devices, such as other communication terminals and electronic devices capable of performing video calling. 
         [0114]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 
         [0115]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. 
         [0116]    The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structure described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.