Abstract:
A method for switching a call with video or at least one image between a first communication device and a display device is disclosed. The method includes the first communication device determining whether the display device is within a predetermined distance from the first communication device; if the display device is within the predetermined distance from the first communication device, the first communication device obtaining functional information from the display device; the first communication device transmitting communication information corresponding to a second communication device to the display device; and the display device launching network communication software and making a first call to the second communication device according to the communication information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for switching video calls between devices, and more particularly, to a method for switching calls between a communication device and a display device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As related technology keeps improving, functions of a communication device are getting more powerful. Current communication devices can be utilized for making phone calls, positioning with satellite, surfing the Internet, and making free Internet calls, etc. However, the screen of the communication device is generally small, such that when the users are making a video call on the communication device, especially when lots of users communicate with other participants in the video call, the users can not see the image of other participants clearly due to the small screen size of the communication device, which causes inconvenience for the users. If the user tries to hand over the video call from the communication device to a display device having a larger screen, the display device with a larger screen generally is not portable and may not have the video call function or Internet communication software as required. Thus, the user must find where a display device with the video call function is in advance, turn on the display device, launch the Internet communication software, input communication information of other call participants, and making a video call to other call participants in order to continue the previous video call on the communication device. The above handover process is very complicated, and thus the video call cannot be handed over between different devices rapidly, which is inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method for switching a call with video or at least one image between a first communication device and a display device. The method comprises the first communication device determining whether the display device is within a predetermined distance from the first communication device; if the display device is within the predetermined distance from the first communication device, the first communication device transmitting communication information corresponding to a second communication device to the display device; and the display device launching network communication software and making a first call to the second communication device according to the communication information. 
     The present invention further provides another method for switching a call with video or at least one image between a display device and a first communication device. The method comprises utilizing network communication software installed in a display device to make a first call to a second communication device; the display device determining whether the distance to the first communication device is more than a predetermined distance; if the distance to the first communication device is more than the predetermined distance, the display device transmitting communication information corresponding to the second communication device to the first communication device; the first communication device making a second call to the second communication device according to the communication information; and terminating the first call. 
     The present invention further provides a method, implemented in a display device having a wireless module and a processor, for automatically making calls, said method comprising receiving a first wireless signal transmitted from a first communication device, said first wireless signal requesting a response signal from the display device; generating a response wireless signal responding to the first wireless signal and transmitting the response wireless signal to the first communication device; receiving a second wireless signal from the first communication device, said second wireless signal requesting functional information of the display device; generating and transmitting a third wireless signal to the first communication device, said third wireless signal indicating functional information of the display device; and receiving communication information corresponding to a second communication device from the first communication device; and launching network communication software and transmitting a call request to the second communication device according to the communication information. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the method for switching video calls of the present invention can automatically switch a call to a display device with a larger screen size when a communication device receives an incoming call or establishes a call with another communication device. The method of the present invention also can automatically switch the call back to the communication device when the communication device moves apart from the display device, so as to simplify operation processes for the user and increase convenience during use. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a communication device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a display device  200  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing processes of a method for switching calls from a communication device to a display device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing processes of a method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing processes of another method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing another method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a software structure of the method for switching call from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a software structure of the method for switching call from the display device to the communication device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a communication device  100  of the present invention. The communication device  100  of the present invention comprises a communication module  110 , a wireless module  120 , a memory  130 , and a processor  140 . The communication module  110  and the wireless module  120  can be any telecommunication module for making a call to other communication device via a mobile communication network (such as Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication network) or a wireless transmission module for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The processor  140  is utilized to control operations of the communication device  100 . The communication device  100  can be a smart phone, a tablet PC, or a remote control device with a communication function, etc. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a display device  200  of the present invention. The display device  200  of the present invention comprises a display panel  210 , a network module  230 , a wireless module  220 , and a processor  240 . The display panel  210  is utilized to display images. The network module  230  connects to the Internet. The wireless module  220  can be any wireless transmission module for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The processor  240  is utilized to control operations of the display device  200  and executing Internet communication software. The display device  200  can be, but not limited to, a television or other types of display devices. In the present invention, the display device  200  is only required to have a screen size larger than the communication device  100 . In addition, the display device  200  can also be a computer system with a wireless communication function for performing a method of the present invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , and refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  as well.  FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram showing the process for switching calls from a communication device to a display device according to the present invention. Firstly, in step  310 , a first communication device  100 A utilizes the communication module  110  to make a first call to a second communication device  100 B via the mobile communication network. The first call can be a regular mobile phone call or an Internet call made by the Internet communication software. In step  320 , the wireless module  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless module  220  of the display device  200  for determining whether the display device  200  is within a predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B. For example, the second communication device  100 B can utilize the wireless module  120  to send a wireless signal for requesting a response wireless signal transmitted by the wireless module  220  of the display device  200 , and the second communication device  100 B can further determine whether the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B according to power of the response wireless signal, such as determining a distance between the second communication device  100 B and the display device  200  according to a received signal strength indication (RSSI) level or a time of arrival (TOA) of the response wireless signal. If the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B, then in step  330 , the wireless module  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless module  220  of the display device  200  for determining whether the screen size of the display panel  210  in the display device  200  is larger than a predetermined value. For example, the second communication device  100 B can utilize the wireless module  120  to send a wireless signal to the display device  200  for inquiring the screen size of the display panel  210 , the display device  200  can then utilize the wireless module  220  to send a wireless signal to the second communication device  100 B for replying the screen size of the display panel  210 , or the display device  200  can directly send a code indicating the screen size of the display panel  210  to the second communication device  100 B. If the screen size of the display panel  210  in the display device  200  is larger than the predetermined value, then in step  340 , the wireless module  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless module  220  of the display device  200  for determining whether the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200 . If the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200 , then in step  350 , the second communication device  100 B utilizes the wireless module  120  to transmit communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 , and commands the display device  200  to launch the Internet communication software. If the Internet communication software is not installed in the display device  200 , the display device  200  can inform the second communication device  100 B that it cannot launch the Internet communication software, or the display device  200  can inform the user to install the Internet communication software into the display device  200 . In step  360 , the display device  200  utilizes the Internet communication software to make a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A. The second communication device  100 B can search for a corresponding network communication account of the first communication device  100 A in the memory  130  according to a communication number of the first communication device  100 A, and then transmit the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200  for making the second call. In another embodiment of the present invention, the second communication device  100 B can directly transmit the communication number of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 , and the display device  200  can then search for the network communication account corresponding to the communication number of the first communication device  100 A with the Internet communication software in order to make the second call. In step  370 , after the second call is established, the display device  200  notifies the second communication device  100 B to terminate the first call. And in step  380 , the second communication device  100 B terminates the first call. The user then communicates with the first communication device  100 A via the second call made by the display device  200 . 
     The above second call can be a video call or any call with image or graphical message to be displayed. Since the screen size of the display panel  210  in the display device  200  is larger than the communication device  100 , the user can see an image of the other call participant on the display device  200  more clearly. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart  400  showing a method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. The method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention comprises the following steps: 
     Step  410 : Establish a first call between the first communication device  100 A and the second communication device  100 B; 
     Step  420 : The second communication device  100 B detects whether a display device is nearby; if yes, go to step  430 ; if not, repeat step  420 ; 
     Step  430 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance; if yes, go to step  440 ; if not, go to step  420 ; 
     Step  440 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the screen size of the display device  200  is larger than the predetermined value; if yes, go to step  450 ; if not, go to step  420 ; 
     Step  450 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200  (and whether the display device  200  comprises a webcam and a speaker); if yes, go to step  460 ; if not, go to step  420 ; 
     Step  460 : The second communication device  100 B transmits the communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 ; 
     Step  470 : The display device  200  utilizes the Internet communication software to make a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A; and 
     Step  480 : Terminate the first call. 
     Basically, the same result can still be achieved if the steps of the method for switching calls are not in the same order as flowchart  400 , or if other steps are inserted into the steps shown in the flowchart  400 . In step  420 , if the second communication device  100 B detects no display device nearby, the second communication device  100 B can continue the first call without searching for any display device nearby repeatedly. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , and refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  as well.  FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram showing the process of a method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device of the present invention. First in step  510 , the display device  200  utilizes the network module  230  to make a first call to the first communication device  100   a  with the Internet communication software. In step  520 , the wireless modules  220  of the display device  200  communicates with the wireless modules  120  of the second communication device  100 B for determining whether the second communication device  100 B is within the predetermined distance from display device  200 . Similarly, the display device  200  can determine the distance between the second communication device  100 B and the display device  200  according to a received signal strength indication (RSSI) level or a time of arrival (TOA) of a wireless signal transmitted by the second communication device  100 B. If the distance between the second communication device  100 B and the display device  200  is more than the predetermined distance, then the display device  200  utilizes the wireless module  220  to transmit the communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B in step  530 . In step  540 , the second communication device  100 B utilizes the communication module  110  to make a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A. The display device  200  can search for the corresponding communication number of the first communication device  100 A with the Internet communication software according to the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A, and then transmit the communication number of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B in order to make the second call. In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device  200  can directly transmit the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B, and the second communication device  100 B can then search for the corresponding communication number of the first communication device  100 A in the memory  130  according to the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A in order to make the second call. The second communication device  100 B can also utilize the preinstalled Internet communication software to make the second call directly according to the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A. In step  550 , the second communication device  100 B notifies the display device  200  to terminate the first call when the second call is established. And in step  560 , the display device  200  terminates the first call. The user then communicates with the first communication device  100 A via the second call made by the second communication device  100 B. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a flowchart  600  showing a method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device of the present invention. The method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device of the present invention comprises the following steps: 
     Step  610 : Establish a first call between the display device  200  and the first communication device  100 A; 
     Step  620 : The display device  200  determines whether the distance between the second communication device  100 B and the display device  200  is more than the predetermined distance; if yes, go to step  630 ; if not, repeat step  620 ; 
     Step  630 : The display device  200  transmits the communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B; 
     Step  640 : The second communication device  100 B makes a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A; and 
     Step  650 : Terminate the first call. 
     Basically, the same result can still be achieved if the steps of the method for switching calls are not in the same order as flowchart  600 , or if other steps are inserted into the steps shown in the flowchart  600 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 , and refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  as well.  FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram showing the process of another method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. First in step  710 , the first communication device  100 A utilizes the communication module  110  to transmit a call request to a second communication device  100 B via the mobile communication network. In step  720 , before the second communication device  100 B accepts the call request transmitted from the first communication device  100 A, the wireless modules  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless modules  220  the display device  200  for determining whether the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B. For example, the second communication device  100 B can utilize the wireless module  120  to send a wireless signal for requesting a response wireless signal transmitted by the wireless module  220  of the display device  200 , and the second communication device  100 B can further determine whether the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B according to power of the response wireless signal, such as determining a distance between the second communication device  100 B and the display device  200  according to a received signal strength indication (RSSI) level or a time of arrival (TOA) of the response wireless signal. If the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance from the second communication device  100 B, the wireless modules  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless modules  220  of the display device  200  for determining whether the screen size of the display panel  210  in the display device  200  is larger than a predetermined value in step  730 . For example, the second communication device  100 B can utilize the wireless module  120  to send a wireless signal to the display device  200  for inquiring the screen size of the display panel  210 , and the display device  200  can then utilize the wireless module  220  to reply a wireless signal to the second communication device  100 B indicating the screen size of the display panel  210 . If the screen size of the display panel  210  in the display device  200  is larger than the predetermined value, the wireless modules  120  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with the wireless modules  220  of the display device  200  for determining whether the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200  in step  740 . If the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200 , the second communication device  100 B utilizes the wireless module  120  to transmit communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 , and commands the display device  200  to launch the Internet communication software in step  750 . In step  760 , the display device  200  utilizes the Internet communication software to make a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A. The second communication device  100 B can search for a corresponding network communication account of the first communication device  100 A in the memory  130  according to a communication number of the first communication device  100 A, and then transmit the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200  in order to make a video call. In another embodiment of the present invention, the second communication device  100 B can directly transmit the communication number of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 , and the display device  200  can then search for the network communication account corresponding to the first communication device  100 A with the Internet communication software according to the communication number of the first communication device  100 A. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, it can be the communication device which requests for a call switches the call request to the display device in order to make the video call from the display device. For example, when the first communication device  100 A is requested to make a call by the user, the first communication device  100 A can then perform the steps  720  to  750  to command the display device  200  to launch the Internet communication software in order to make the video call to the second communication device  100 B. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart  800  showing another method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention. The flowchart of the method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device of the present invention comprises the following steps: 
     Step  810 : The first communication device  100 A transmits the call request to the second communication device  100 B; 
     Step  820 : The second communication device  100 B detects whether a display device is nearby; if yes, go to step  830 ; if not, repeat step  820 ; 
     Step  830 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the display device  200  is within the predetermined distance; if yes, go to step  840 ; if not, go to step  820 ; 
     Step  840 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the screen size of the display device  200  is larger than the predetermined value; if yes, go to step  850 ; if not, go to step  820 ; 
     Step  850 : The second communication device  100 B determines whether the Internet communication software is installed in the display device  200  (and whether the display device  200  has or is connected to a webcam and a speaker); if yes, go to step  860 ; if not, go to step  820 ; 
     Step  860 : The second communication device  100 B transmits the communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 ; 
     Step  870 : The display device  200  utilizes the internet communication software to make the video call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A. 
     Basically, the same result can still be achieved if the steps of the method for switching calls are not in the same order as flowchart  800 , or other steps are inserted into the steps shown in the flowchart  800 . In flowchart  800 , it can be the second communication device  100 B transmitting the call request to the first communication device  100 A, the second communication device  100 B is requested to make a call with the first communication device  100 A by a user, at the step  810 , and then the second communication device  100 B performs the steps  820  to  870 . Thus, the communication device requesting for the call can also switch the call to the display device nearby. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram showing the software architecture of the method for switching calls from the communication device to the display device according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second communication device  100 B utilizes a mobile/Internet communication program  150  to establish the first call with the first communication device  100 A. After the first call is established, an event handling program  162  of a call switching module  160  in the second communication device  100 B notifies a device searching program  170  to search for a nearby display device  200 . After the display device  200  is found, client stub program  164  of the second communication device  100 B communicates with server stub program  252  of the display device  200  for determining whether the display device  200  meets the requirement of making video calls. If the display device  200  meets the requirement, the event handling program  162  in the second communication device  100 B searches for the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A in the address book  180 , and transmits the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the event handling program  162  in the second communication device  100 B can directly transmit the communication information of the first communication device  100 A to the display device  200 , and a launcher program  250  in the display device  200  then searches for the network communication account corresponding to the communication information of the first communication device  100 A in an address book  244  of Internet communication software  242 . Thereafter, the Internet communication software  242  of the display device  200  makes a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram showing the software architecture of the method for switching calls from the display device to the communication device according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the display device  200  utilizes the Internet communication software  242  to establish the first call with the first communication device  100 A. After the first call is established, an event handling program  262  of a call switching module  260  in the display device  200  notifies a device searching program  270  to search for the second communication device  100 B. After the second communication device  100 B is found, client stub program  264  of the display device  200  communicates with server stub program  192  of the second communication device  100 B for determining whether the second communication device  100 B moves apart from the display device  200  by more than the predetermined distance. If the second communication device  100 B moves apart from the display device  200  by more than the predetermined distance, the event handling program  262  of the display device  200  searches for the communication number of the first communication device  100 A in the address book  244 , and then transmits the communication number of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B. In another embodiment of the present invention, the event handling program  262  of the display device can directly transmit the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A to the second communication device  100 B, and a launcher program  190  of the second communication device  100 B then searches for the communication number corresponding to the network communication account of the first communication device  100 A in the address book  180 . Thereafter, the mobile/Internet communication program  150  of the second communication device  100 B makes a second call to the first communication device  100 A according to the communication number of the first communication device  100 A. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the method for switching calls of the present invention can automatically switch a call to a display device with a larger screen size when a communication device receives an incoming call or establishes a call with another communication device. The method of the present invention can also automatically switch the call back to the communication device when the communication device moves apart from the display device. The present invention not only simplifies the operation steps of the user but also increase the convenience during use. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.