Patent Publication Number: US-2007120952-A1

Title: Method for image communication in mobile equipment

Description:
PRIORITY  
      This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to an application entitled “Method For Image Communication In Mobile Equipment” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 13, 2005 and assigned Ser. No. 2005-85317, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to image communication in a mobile equipment, and more particularly relates to a method for transmitting a substitute image during image communication.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      With the development of mobile communication technologies, such as a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology, mobile communication systems can provide an image communication service in addition to a voice communication service. As the image communication service has become commercially available, users can transmit a dynamic image photographed by a camera installed in a mobile equipment together with voice in real time during image communication. Since the image of the user or the scenery around the user can be simultaneously transmitted to other users during communication, the communication is enhanced.  
      However, depending upon location and/or the called or calling parties the user may not want to transmit the image of the user or the scenery around the use. In addition, when a call is received with an unknown phone number in an image communication mode, since the user does not know the calling party, the user may be reluctant to send the image to the calling party. Also, the user may not want to transmit the image of the user or the scenery around the user when the user is placed in a private space or a secure area.  
      Thus, it is necessary to provide an image communication scheme having a function of preventing an image from being transmitted when a user does not want to transmit the image. In addition, it is also necessary to provide an image communication scheme capable of selectively transmitting an image of a user or a scenery around the user by checking a phone number of an originator when an image communication call is received from the originator.  
      A wideband code division multiple access (WDCMA) terminal, which is one type of mobile equipment that supports image communication, includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. The SIM card is a smart card used for storing user authentication information, communication coding information and user information, such as a phonebook. In general, a mobile equipment having the SIM card serves as a mobile station. The mobile equipment can communicate by accessing the mobile communication network using authentication information and coding information stored in the SIM card. In addition, the mobile equipment can inquire and use user information, such as the phonebook or a short message, stored the SIM card.  
      Since the SIM card can perform authentication and communication coding functions as well as a user information storing function, such as a phonebook, one SIM card can be flexibly used for mobile equipment of various types or a plurality of SIM cards can be used for mobile equipment of a single type.  
      Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an image communication scheme which can prevent an image from being transmitted by using information stored in an SIM card when a user does not want to transmit the image.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for image communication in a mobile equipment capable of selectively transmitting an image according to selection of a user.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for image communication capable of transmitting a substitute image in addition to an image photographed by a camera during image communication.  
      In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a method for image communication in a mobile equipment, the method including detecting a phone number of an originator when an image communication call is received; checking whether the phone number of the originator corresponds to phone numbers registered in a phonebook; and selecting a transmission image from between a real photograph image and a substitute image, which have been previously established corresponding to the phone numbers registered in the phonebook, and then transmitting a selected transmission image to the originator during image communication when the phone number of the originator corresponds to the phone numbers registered in the phonebook. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a mobile equipment used for the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the operational procedure of a mobile equipment when a substitute image is established according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the operational procedure of a mobile equipment when a substitute image is established according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the operational procedure of a mobile equipment when a substitute image is transmitted according to the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or similar components in drawings are designated by the same reference numerals as far as possible although they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.  
      First, the structure of a mobile equipment used for the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the mobile equipment used for the present invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile equipment  100  includes a control unit  11 , a memory unit  13 , an image processing unit  15 , a camera  17 , a display unit  19 , a baseband processing unit  25 , a radio frequency (RF) module  21 , and a voice processing unit  23 . The control unit  11  controls an operation of the mobile equipment  100 .  
      The RF module  21  transmits/receives wireless signals to/from a base station through an antenna (ANT). That is, the RF module  21  modulates a signal input thereto from the control unit  11  through the baseband processing unit  25  and then transmits an RF signal through the antenna. In addition, the RF module  21  demodulates the RF signal input thereto through the antenna and then transmits the RF signal to the control unit  11  through the baseband processing unit  25 . The baseband processing unit  25  processes baseband signals transmitted between the RF module  21  and the control unit  11 .  
      The voice processing unit  23  connected to the control unit  11  and a microphone (MIC) and a speaker (SPK) connected to the voice processing unit  23  are used for phone communication and voice recoding. The voice processing unit can include a coder/decoder (CODEC).  
      The display unit  19  displays various image information and an image, which is transmitted from the base station or stored in the memory unit  13 , on a screen under the control of the control unit  11 . The display unit can include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch screen, or other display device.  
      The camera  17  outputs an image frame, which is obtained by means of an image sensor, to the image processing unit  15 . Upon receiving the image frame from the camera  17 , the image processing unit  15  converts the image frame into image data suitable for the display unit  15  under the control of the control unit  11  in such a manner that the image can be displayed on the display unit  19 . The image can include still images as well as motion pictures.  
      The memory unit  13  stores programs required for processing and control operations of the control unit  11 , reference data, various storage data which can be updated, and phonebook data. The memory unit  13  serves as a working memory of the control unit  11 . In addition, the memory unit  13  stores program data related to a substitute image transmission mode and a transmission image setting mode according to the present invention. Also, the memory unit  13  stores a plurality of substitute images serving as a basic substitute image or an alternative substitute image.  
      In the substitute image transmission mode, a predetermined substitute image, rather than a normal image photographed by a camera, is transmitted to a calling partner. When an image communication call is received with an unknown phone number or a phone number, which is not registered in the phonebook, a basic substitute image is transmitted to the calling partner during image communication.  
      In the transmission image setting mode, an image to be transmitted during image communication is set corresponding to phone numbers registered in the phonebook. That is, one of a basic substitute image, an alternative substitute image, and a real photograph image is set during the transmission image setting mode according to the user&#39;s selection. The basic substitute image is preset by the user. The alternative substitute image is selected by the user from among a plurality of substitute images, which have been previously stored in the memory unit. The substitute image may be a still picture, a moving picture or an animation. In addition, the user can prepare a plurality of substitute images in order to set the alternative substitute image. For instance, the user can store the substitute images in the memory unit by photographing the user or the scenery in the form of a still picture or a moving picture. The real photograph image refers to an image photographed in real time during image communication.  
      The operational procedures of the control unit  11  of the mobile equipment  100  in the substitute image transmission mode and the transmission image setting mode are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the operational procedure of the mobile equipment  100  in the substitute image setting mode according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the operational procedure of the mobile equipment  100  in the substitute image setting mode according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the user requests the substitute image transmission mode in step  101 , the control unit  11  of the mobile equipment  100  sets the mobile equipment  100  as the substitute image transmission mode in step  103 .  
      In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to set the transmission image corresponding to the phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  of the mobile equipment  100  determines in step  111  whether there is a request for setting a substitute image corresponding to a predetermined phone number registered in the phonebook in a phonebook edit mode. If it is determined in step  111  that there is a request for setting a substitute image corresponding to a predetermined phone number, step  113  is performed. However, if it is determined in step  111  that there is no request for setting a substitute image corresponding to a predetermined phone number, step  115  is performed. When there is no request for setting a substitute image corresponding to a predetermined phone number registered by the user, the control unit  11  transmits the real photograph image as the image communication call is received in the mobile equipment from the calling partner having the predetermined phone number.  
      Meanwhile, in step  113 , the control unit  111  checks whether there is a request for setting an alternative substitute image. If it is determined in step  113  that there is a request for setting an alternative substitute image for a predetermined phone number, step  117  is performed. However, if it is determined in step  113  that there is no request for setting an alternative substitute image for a predetermined phone number, step  121  is performed. When there is no request for setting an alternative substitute image, the control unit sets a basic substitute image for the predetermined phone number in step  121 . In addition, when there is a request for setting the alternative substitute image from the user in step  113 , the control unit  11  provides a list for substitute images stored in the memory unit in step  117 . In step  119 , the control unit  11  sets the substitute image selected by the user as the alternative substitute image for the corresponding phone number.  
      If the image communication call is received in the mobile equipment after the substitute image transmission mode or the transmission image for image communication has been set, the control unit  11  detects a phone number of an originator (calling partner). If the phone number of the originator corresponds to a phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  selects a transmission image corresponding to the phone number of the originator and then transmits the transmission image in the form of a basic substitute image, an alternative substitute image or a real photograph image. However, if the phone number of the originator does not correspond to the phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  checks whether the substitute image transmission mode has been established. If the substitute image transmission mode has been established, the control unit  11  sends the basic substitute image to the originator. Such an operational procedure of the mobile equipment  100  is shown in  FIG. 4 , which is a flowchart illustrating the operational procedure of the mobile equipment  100  when the substitute image is transmitted during image communication according to the present invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the control unit  11  detects the image communication call and the phone number of the originator (i.e., calling party) step  201 . Then, the control unit  11  checks whether the phone number of the originator corresponds to a phone number registered in the phonebook in step  203 . If it is determined in step  203  that the phone number of the originator corresponds to the phone number registered in the phonebook, step  205  is performed. However, if it is determined in step  203  that the phone number of the originator does not correspond to the phone number registered in the phonebook, step  207  is performed. When the phone number of the originator corresponds to the phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  checks whether the phone number of the originator corresponds to the real photograph image in step  205 . If it is determined in step  205  that the phone number of the originator corresponds to the real photograph image, step  215  is performed. In step  215 , the control unit  11  starts image communication according to a command input by the user. At this time, the control unit  11  operates the camera so as to send the real photograph image to the originator. Then, step  217  is performed.  
      However, if it is determined in step  205  that the phone number of the originator does not correspond to the real photograph image, step  209  is performed. In step  209 , the control unit  11  checks whether the phone number of the originator corresponds to the alternative substitute image. If it is determined in step  209  that the phone number of the originator corresponds to the alternative substitute image, step  211  is performed. In contrast, if it is determined in step  209  that the phone number of the originator does not correspond to the alternative substitute image, step  213  is performed. When it is determined that the alternative substitute image has been established corresponding to the phone number of the originator in step  209 , the control unit  11  starts image communication according to a command input by the user. At this time, the control unit  11  sends the alternative substitute image to the originator. Then, step  217  is performed.  
      In addition, if it is determined in step  203  that the phone number of the originator does not corresponds to the phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  checks whether the substitute image transmission mode has been established in step  207 . If it is determined in step  207  that the substitute image transmission mode has been established in the mobile equipment  100 , step  213  is performed in order to start image communication according a command input by the user. At this time, the control unit  11  sends the basic substitute image to the originator. Then, step  217  is performed. In addition, if it is determined in step  207  that the substitute image transmission mode has not been established in the mobile equipment  100 , step  215  is performed. In step  215 , the control unit  11  starts image communication according to a command input by the user while transmitting the real photograph image to the originator. Then, step  217  is performed.  
      If the control unit  11  detects an end of image communication in step  217 , the control unit  11  ends the operational procedure for the mobile equipment  100 .  
      As described above, according to the present invention, when the image communication call is received from the originator, the control unit  11  detects the phone number of the originator. If the phone number of the originator corresponds to a phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  checks the transmission image corresponding to the phone number of the originator and then transmits the transmission image in the form of the basic substitute image, the alternative substitute image or the real photograph image. In addition, if the phone number of the originator does not correspond to a phone number registered in the phonebook, the control unit  11  checks whether the substitute image transmission mode has been established in the mobile equipment. If the substitute image transmission mode has been established in the mobile equipment, the basic substitute image is transmitted to the originator. Thus, the user can selectively transmit the image to the originator or the calling partner for image communication. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image from being transmitted to the calling partner depending on situation of the user.  
      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, although the present invention has been described for the case where phonebook information is stored in the memory unit  13  together with information related to the basic substitute image and the alternative substitute image, in the case where a mobile equipment is provided with a SIM card, such as a WDCMA terminal, it is also possible to store phonebook information in the SIM card together with information related to the basic substitute image, the alternative substitute image, and setting values thereof, which are established corresponding to phone numbers registered in the phonebook. In addition, data for the substitute image transmission mode can also be stored in the SIM card in such a manner that the basic substitute image can be transmitted to the originator, if an unknown phone number, which is not registered in the phone book, is detected or a phone number of the originator is not detected upon receiving the image communication call.  
      In this case, the user can selectively transmit the image to the calling partner for image communication. In addition, it is possible to prevent the image from being transmitted to the calling partner depending on situation of the user. According to the present invention, the SIM card can be used in other types of mobile equipment without changing the substitute images, which are established corresponding to the phone numbers registered in the phonebook, and the substitute image transmission mode. Accordingly, a user can conveniently transfer SIM cards between mobile devices and experience the objects and advantages of the present invention.  
      Consequently, the scope of the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.