Abstract:
Methods for adjusting a picture of an object captured by a camera in a mobile radio communication terminal include defining a first camera angle relative to the object and capturing an image of the object by means of the camera from a second camera angle relative to the object. The second camera angle is offset from the first camera angle. The methods further include storing image data relating to the captured image, and generating an angularly adjusted image of the object in response to the image data and an angular relation between the first camera angle and the second camera angle. Corresponding mobile radio communication terminals are also disclosed. The terminals include an image processing system configured to process an image of an object captured by a camera from a second camera angle by generating an angularly adjusted image of the object in response to image data for the image, and in response to an angular relation between the second camera angle and a first camera angle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally hand-held radio communication terminals with built-in cameras, and in particular to the use of such terminals for video conference communication.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The cellular telephone industry has had an enormous development in the world in the past decades. From the initial analog systems, such as those defined by the standards AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) and NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone), the development has during recent years been almost exclusively focused on standards for digital solutions for cellular radio network systems, such as D-AMPS (e.g., as specified in EIA/TIA-IS-54-B and IS-136) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Currently, the cellular technology is entering the so called 3 rd  generation 3G, providing several advantages over the former, 2 nd  generation, digital systems referred to above.  
         [0003]     Many of the advances made in mobile phone technology are related to functional features, such as better displays, more efficient and longer lasting batteries, and means for generating polyphonic ring signals. One functional feature which has been more and more common is built-in cameras. Cameras with video camera functionality are today available in several mobile phones. With the entrance of high bit-rate services, such as EDGE (Enhanced Data-rates for GSM) and 3G the usability for video-related services will increase. For one thing, mobile video telephony, with simultaneous communication of sound and moving images, has recently become commercially available.  
         [0004]     For stationary use, video conference systems generally include a camera mounted on or beside a communication terminal, such as a personal computer PC, or integrated in an IP phone. Use of such a system is fairly straightforward, as the user is positioned in front of the terminal with the camera aiming towards the user. However, mobile video conferencing with face to face transmission suffers from one main drawback. When communicating through a mobile handheld terminal, the user has to hold the terminal steady in front of the face so that the receiving party can see the face of the user, i.e. the sending party. The terminal has to be aimed more or less 90° to the face, in order to get a usable image of the user. A problem is that the user will get tired in the arm, and thereby tend to tremble and also hold the terminal lower and lower. The result is that the image captured will show more of the neck and chin portion of the user, than the upper part of the face. This lowers the value of the service as it is experienced as difficult to use. Furthermore, it is appreciated that consumers may want to be able to view the surroundings when engaged in a video conference, but a mobile phone will block at least parts of the field of view if it has to be held in front of the face.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A general object of the invention is therefore to provide improved means for picture and video conference systems using mobile hand-held terminals. In particular, an object of the invention is to provide a more convenient method for video conferencing by means of hand-held mobile terminals, overcoming the identified drawbacks related to the prior art.  
         [0006]     According to a first aspect, this object is fulfilled by a method for adjusting a picture of an object captured by a camera in a handheld radio communication terminal, comprising the steps of: 
    defining a first camera angle to the object;     capturing an image of the object by means of said camera from a second camera angle to the object, offset from said first camera angle;     storing image data relating to the captured image; and     generating an angularly adjusted image of said object, dependent on said image data, and an angular relation between said first camera angle and said second camera angle.    
 
         [0011]     Preferably, said method comprises the steps of: 
    storing reference image data relating to a reference image of the object from said first camera angle, wherein said step of generating an angularly adjusted image of said object is also dependent on said reference image data.    
 
         [0013]     In one embodiment, said method comprises the step of: 
    capturing said reference image of the object from said first camera angle.    
 
         [0015]     In one embodiment, said captured image is a moving image, and wherein said step of generating an angularly adjusted image involves generating a moving adjusted image in real time.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment, said step of generating the angularly adjusted image comprises the steps of: 
    digitally identifying corresponding structures in said captured image and said reference image;     establishing a mathematical transform from a mathematical relation between spatial image data of said image data and of said reference image data, for said corresponding structures; and     transforming said captured image to appear as captured from said first camera angle by applying said mathematical transform to said image data.    
 
         [0020]     In one embodiment, said step of generating the angularly adjusted image comprises the steps of: 
    digitally identifying a key feature in said captured image and in said reference image;     detecting movement of said key feature in said captured image;     filtering out said movement from said captured image; and     applying said movement to said key feature in the reference image for obtaining an adjusted image.    
 
         [0025]     In one embodiment, said step of generating the angularly adjusted image comprises the steps of: 
    slanting said captured image to compensate for the difference between said first camera angle and said second camera angle; and     zooming and cropping the slanted image.    
 
         [0028]     In one embodiment, said first camera angle is a predetermined camera angle to the object.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, said first camera angle is selected from a plurality of selectable preset angles, by means of an input command to the terminal.  
         [0030]     In one embodiment, said second camera angle is sensed by an angle sensor in said terminal.  
         [0031]     In one embodiment, said second camera angle is selected from a plurality of selectable preset angles, by means of an input command to the terminal.  
         [0032]     In one embodiment, said method comprises the steps of: 
    encoding said adjusted image into a radio signal; and     transmitting said radio signal from said terminal.    
 
         [0035]     In one embodiment, said method comprises the steps of: 
    encoding the image data for said captured image, together with data for said angular relation between the first camera angle and the second camera angle, into a radio signal;     transmitting said radio signal from said terminal;     receiving said radio signal in a radio signal receiving device; and     generating said angularly adjusted image of said object in said device.    
 
         [0040]     In one embodiment, said object is the face of a user holding the terminal.  
         [0041]     According to a second aspect, the objects stated above is fulfilled by a mobile radio communication terminal, comprising a camera for capturing images, and means for generating and transmitting a radio signal comprising captured images to a recipient, characterised by an image adjusting mechanism, including a memory for storing an angle value for a first camera angle to an object, and an angle value for a second camera angle, offset from said first camera angle, said image adjusting mechanism further comprising an image processing system devised to process an image of said object captured by said camera from said second camera angle, including means for generating an angularly adjusted image of said object, dependent on image data for said image, and on an angular relation between said first camera angle and said second camera angle.  
         [0042]     In one embodiment, said memory further includes reference image data relating to a reference image of the object from said first camera angle, wherein said means of the image processing system are devised to generate said angularly adjusted image of said object dependent on said reference image data.  
         [0043]     In one embodiment, said camera is devised to capture moving images, and wherein said image processing system comprises means for generating a moving adjusted front image in real time.  
         [0044]     In one embodiment, said image processing system comprises means for digitally identifying corresponding structures in said captured image and said reference image; means for establishing a mathematical transform from a mathematical relation between spatial image data of said image data and of said reference image data, for said corresponding structures; and means for transforming said captured image to appear as captured from said first camera angle by applying said mathematical transform to said image data.  
         [0045]     In one embodiment, said image processing system comprises means for digitally identifying a key feature in said captured image and in said reference image; means for detecting movement of said key feature in said captured image; means for filtering out said movement from said captured image; and means for applying said movement to said key feature in the reference image for obtaining an adjusted image.  
         [0046]     In one embodiment, said image processing system comprises means for slanting said captured image to compensate for the difference between said first camera angle and said second camera angle; and means for zooming and cropping the slanted image.  
         [0047]     In one embodiment, said first camera angle is a predetermined camera angle to the object.  
         [0048]     In one embodiment, said first camera angle is selected from a plurality of selectable preset angles, by means of an input command to the terminal.  
         [0049]     In one embodiment, said second camera angle is sensed by an angle sensor in said terminal.  
         [0050]     In one embodiment, said second camera angle is selected from a plurality of selectable preset angles, by means of an input command to the terminal.  
         [0051]     In one embodiment, said image processing system comprises means for encoding said adjusted image into a radio signal; and means for transmitting said radio signal from said terminal.  
         [0052]     In one embodiment, said object is the face of a user holding the terminal. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0053]     The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, on which  
         [0054]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates use of a hand-held radio communication terminal in a typical video conference mode;  
         [0055]      FIG. 2  illustrates the typical position of the terminal after a moments use according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0056]      FIG. 3  schematically an embodiment of a radio communication terminal on which the present invention may be used;  
         [0057]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates the terminal of  FIG. 3  in a block diagram of functional elements which are relevant to different embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates capturing and storing of a reference image;  
         [0059]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates identification and storing of key features of a reference image;  
         [0060]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates identification and storing of key features of an offset image, and application of detected movements in the key features of the offset image to corresponding key features of a reference image;  
         [0061]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a captured image of an object from a first angle;  
         [0062]      FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a captured image of the same object from a second, offset, angle;  
         [0063]      FIG. 10  schematically illustrates a slanted image of the image of  FIG. 9 ; and  
         [0064]      FIG. 11  schematically illustrates a zoomed and cropped image of the slanted image of  FIG. 10 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0065]     The present description relates to the field of hand-held radio communication terminals. The term radio communication terminal, or terminal in short, includes all mobile equipment devised for radio communication with a radio station, which radio station also may be mobile terminal or e.g. a stationary base station. Consequently, the term radio terminal includes mobile telephones, pagers, communicators, electronic organisers, smartphones, PDA:s (Personal Digital Assistants) and DECT terminals (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony). Furthermore, it should be emphasised that the term comprising or comprises, when used in this description and in the appended claims to indicate included features, elements or steps, is in no way to be interpreted as excluding the presence of other features elements or steps than those expressly stated.  
         [0066]     Exemplary embodiments will now be described with references made to the accompanying drawing.  
         [0067]      FIG. 1  illustrates the use of a hand-held radio communication terminal  10  comprising a built-in camera, in a typical video conference mode. User A holds the terminal  10  is held in front of him, for the purpose of capturing real time moving images of his face. The captured images are recorded and encoded in synchronicity with input sound, typically speech from user A. A radio signal carrying sound and video data is generated in terminal  10  and transmitted to a recipient, typically another user with a video communication terminal. User studies have shown that the obviously uncomfortable pose illustrated in  FIG. 1  is not maintained for long, and after a while the user A begins to lower his terminal  10  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The result is an image, snapshot or video, which is offset in angle to the initial image captured in the pose of  FIG. 1 . An image captured in the pose of  FIG. 2  will target the chin portion of user A, and will generally be perceived as less attractive than the intended image of the entire face as seen from the front.  
         [0068]     In order to overcome this problem, the present invention provides a function in a hand-held radio communication terminal, such as a mobile phone, which allows the terminal to send a picture that looks like a front image of the face although the camera of the terminal is positioned with an offset angle to the face, as compared from a front view.  
         [0069]      FIG. 3  illustrates a radio communication terminal in the embodiment of a clamshell cellular mobile phone  10 . It should be understood, though, that the invention is in no way restricted to clamshell terminals. Terminal  10  comprises a chassis or housing  15 , of which a lower portion carries a user audio input in the form of a microphone  11 , and where an upper portion carries a user audio output in the form of a loudspeaker  12 . The upper and lower portions are connected by means of a hinge  16 . A set of keys, buttons or the like constitutes a data input interface  13 , usable e.g. for dialling, according to the established art. A data output interface comprising a display  14  is further included, devised to display communication information, address list etc in a manner well known to the skilled person. Radio communication terminal  10  further includes an antenna and radio transmission and reception electronics (not shown). A camera  17 , preferably with video capability, has a lens facing the same way as display  14 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 4  illustrates functional components of terminal  10 . A computer processor system includes an image processing system  20  for processing images stored in a memory  21 , and in particular images captured by means of camera  17 . Image processing system  20  is preferably controlled by a microprocessor with associated software, forming part of the computer processor system of terminal  10 .  
         [0071]     In accordance with a first general embodiment, a front image is initially captured upon or before commencing a video conference, from a first camera angle as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Preferably this is performed in a special capture mode, which mode may be entered by means of keypad  13 . Data for the captured front image is stored in memory  21  as reference image data for the object in question, which is the face of user A. The reference image data may include image data representing the full front image, or only parts of the front image. During the subsequent video conference, moving images of the face of user A are captured by means of camera  17 . The image processing system  20  constantly monitors the captured images and compares them to the reference image. When terminal  10 , and thus camera  17 , is tilted, raised or lowered, such that an image is captured from a second camera angle which is offset at most 90° from the first camera angle, image processing system  20  is devised to automatically generate an adjusted front image from said offset image by using said reference image, which adjusted front image appears as captured from the first camera angle directly in front of the face. The adjusted front image is subsequently encoded into a radio signal by signal encoding means of a radio transceiver  22 , and transmitted from said terminal by means of an antenna  23 . Alternatively, adjustment data for the captured offset image is transmitted as meta data together with the reference image, which adjustment data is dependent on at least the angular relation between the first and second camera angles. An adjusted image is instead subsequently established by means of the received reference image and adjustment data at a recipients communication terminal, or in another device.  
         [0072]     In a first specific embodiment, this generation of an adjusted front image is achieved by the image processing system digitally identifying corresponding structures in said reference image and said captured image. These structures may e.g. be contours, shades, colour separations and so on, as is well known in the art of image processing. Once the structures have been identified, a mathematical transform is derived from the mathematical relation between spatial image data of the reference image and of the captured image for said corresponding structures. The offset image is then transformed to appear as captured from said first angle by applying said mathematical transform to the image data of the captured image. Preferably, the adjusted image is established using the mathematical relation between discrete points in the images for establishing the transform, and subsequently applying the transform to every pixel in the offset image for performing the angular adjustment of the captured image.  
         [0073]     In a second specific embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 , the image processing system makes use of a digital filtering function. A reference image  50  of a user is first stored in memory  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Key features  51 , in the illustrated example the eyes and mouth of the user, are subsequently digitally identified in reference image  50 , according to  FIG. 6 . Digital coordinate data and signal data for the key features are stored in Memory  21 . This may be an automatic process step. Alternatively, the key features may be selectively identified by the user. This may be achieved by displaying the reference image on display  14 , and marking selected areas in the reference image as key features by means of a cursor controlled by buttons on keypad  13 , a jog ball, or a joystick. For video conferencing purposes, such key features preferably include the user&#39;s eyes and mouth, as illustrated.  
         [0074]     When live moving images are captured by camera  17  during a video conference, image processing system  20  is devised to monitor and detect movement of the said key features  51 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The detected movement is then filtered out from the live image by means of image processing system  20 . Subsequently, the detected movement is applied to the key features  51  in reference image  50 . Thereby, an adjusted front image is generated, by applying movement of selected portions of a live image to the corresponding portions of a reference image  51 . In particular, even if the live image is taken from an angle which is offset from the first angle from which the reference image was captured, the resulting adjusted image will be perceived as captured from the front as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0075]     Also in this case, a mathematical transform may be used for rotating the selected image portions with regard to the angle offset. In another specific embodiment, a morphing technique is instead used for applying movement to the selected key features in the reference image, based on detected spatial movement in the horizontal and vertical direction in the offset image.  
         [0076]     A second general embodiment for avoiding undesired images is to slightly slant an image taken from an offset angle, which gives an impression of an angular adjustment of the captured image. This is described with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 . This process may be a manual operation or an automatic operation in case the mobile phone is equipped with some kind of motion sensor, devised to sense how the camera is altered from an original perpendicular position. It is however preferable that this is made manually since it is a subjective image that is produced.  
         [0077]      FIG. 8  illustrates an image  80  of an object in the shape of a cross, captured from a first perpendicular camera angle in front of the object. When the camera used for capturing the image is dropped, the image will reflect the perspective of the second camera angle in question, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . A slanted image may then be derived from captured image  90 , for compensating the angular difference between the camera angle of image  80  and image  90 . Such a slanted image  100  is shown in  FIG. 10 . Finally, the slanted image  100  is zoomed and cropped to avoid the slanted image borders  101 , upon which a corrected image  110  is obtained, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0078]     When using video telephony it often happens that the users face is moved outside the camera viewfinder. The user may do something else while talking to the other party and can not focus on the mobile phone camera all the time. According to an embodiment of the invention, this problem is overcome by activating an optical tracking system in the terminal to track the users movement using the viewfinder image data. A tracking system identifies one or several tracking points, e.g. high contrast changes in an image could be a valid tracking point candidate, and tries to follow them as good as possible. The tracking system can handle zoom, pan and rotation. If the tracking system is used in addition to a motorized camera, the users face can be in focus even if it is slightly moved. The camera motor must be able to move its angle in horizontal and vertical led and rotation for such an embodiment.  
         [0079]     The angular movement of the camera in relation to the object, i.e. between a first camera angle and a second camera angle, may be defined manually, e.g. by means of the terminal keypad. Alternatively, an angle sensor may be incorporated, such that tilting of the camera from a certain angle is sensed, e.g. by means of an accelerometer. Another alternative is to employ an absolute angle sensor, e.g. by means of a pendulum device. In one embodiment, an angle preset is selectable in the terminal. Selecting for instance a 45° preset indicates that the camera of the terminal will be held such that it is aimed from 45° below a horizontal position to an object. Image processing system  20  is thereby arranged to process captured images to generate adjusted images of captured images, to appear as taken from a horizontal position in relation to the object. This way, an entire video conference may be held with the terminal held at a 45° angle, which is more comfortable for the user. Any of the previously described methods for adjusting the image to appear as captured from a horizontal direction may be used. Needless to say, a preset angle may be selected from a plurality of different preset angles, such as e.g. +45°, −45°, and 0°, or even a more detailed range e.g. in steps of 10°. For the embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , the reference image of  FIG. 8  is not necessary for this specific embodiment using angle presets. If e.g. a camera angle preset of 45° is set in the terminal, a first camera angle is defined as 45° higher in a vertical plane than the capture camera angle, which is the second camera angle.  
         [0080]     The principles of the present invention have been described in the foregoing by examples of embodiments and modes of operations. The main advantage with the invention is that a user in a mobile video conference can sustain a transmission without having to keep the terminal in a tiring position, and still provide an attractive picture of the face. It should be noted though, that the present invention is not restricted to images captured of the user by him- or herself. Indeed, the present invention is usable for capturing images of any type of object, in particular where it is of interest to depict the object from a certain angle. The invention should therefore not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above, and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.