KR20080095046A - Digital picture frame for using internet telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital picture frame is provided to be used as the Internet phone as well as to display an image, while the digital picture frame can simplify a usage procedure of the Internet phone. A communication unit(120) transceives a signal with an external apparatus. A display unit(160) displays image data received from the communication unit. An input/output unit outputs voice data received from the communication unit, and inputs external voice data. A controller(110) controls Internet phone connection. The external apparatus refers to a digital picture frame, a computer, a PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) or a mobile communication terminal. The communication unit consists of a signal transmitter(122) for sending a signal to the external apparatus, and a signal receiver(124) for receiving a signal generated from the external apparatus.

Description

DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME FOR USING INTERNET TELEPHONE}

1 is a block diagram showing an Internet telephone system using a digital picture frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the digital picture frame of FIG. 1.

3 is a diagram for schematically explaining an operation of using an Internet telephone using a digital picture frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a digital picture frame, and more particularly, to a digital picture frame that can be used as an Internet telephone.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a communication service technology that enables calls in public Internet networks by converting voice data into Internet protocol data packets using a packet network for data communication. Since the Internet phone uses a public Internet network, it is possible to provide a service by connecting an Internet dedicated line connected to a domestic Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide a service at a lower investment cost than a conventional public telephone network. Can be.

In general, the Internet phone service is divided into a PC-to-PC method, a PC-to-phone method, and a phone-to-phone method.

PC-to-PC is a method in which callers and receivers are connected through the Internet, and voice is transmitted and received through a headset. The sender and the receiver connect to the Internet at the same time, connect to the same server using the same program, and then talk.

However, the PC-to-PC method has poor call quality due to the user's PC performance, the state of the Internet line, and the program performance. In addition, there were many limitations such as those who wanted to use the same program or have to connect to the Internet at the same time.

In the PC-to-phone method, a user accesses the Internet from a personal computer and then enters a caller's telephone number to talk. In order to make a call, call signals and voice data must be transmitted through the Internet, and finally, an existing public network to which a sender is connected must be used. Such a PC-to-phone method has a problem that somebody has to pay a part of the public network portion.

In the phone-to-phone method, when a subscriber makes a call to an Internet telephone service provider's call center or gateway, the subscriber authenticates his ID and secret phone to make a call. Such a phone-to-phone method has a problem in that the procedure for authentication is cumbersome and someone has to pay the call center fee even if the call is not successful.

As described above, the conventional Internet phone has a complicated usage procedure and an unnecessary call cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital picture frame for an Internet telephony that allows a user to use not only an image display but also an internet phone call using an existing digital picture frame.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an Internet telephony digital picture frame that can simplify the use of the Internet phone.

In order to achieve the object as described above, a digital picture frame for both Internet and telephony according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a signal with an external device; A display unit displaying image data received from the communication unit; An input / output unit for outputting voice data received by the communication unit and inputting external voice data; And a control unit for controlling the Internet telephone connection.

The digital picture frame combined with the Internet phone has an advantage of allowing the user to use not only an image display but also an internet phone using an existing digital picture frame.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the digital telephoto frame according to the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an Internet telephone system using a digital picture frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the components of the digital picture frame of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the Internet telephone system using the digital picture frame 100 of the present invention includes the digital picture frames 100a and 100b, the IAP 200, and the Internet phone server 300. In addition, the public telephone network (PSTN) may be used to talk to the general telephone 400.

In general, the digital photo frame 100 reads and stores image data processed by a digital camera, or image data stored in a personal computer, or displays the image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) to display the function of a photo frame or album without a difference in resolution of the image. It is one device that can do it.

The digital picture frame 100 according to the present invention is characterized in that it is configured not only to function as a picture frame or album as such, but also to function as an internet phone.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 2, the digital picture frame 100 of the present invention includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, a data processing unit 130, a memory unit 140, an interface unit 150, and a display unit. 160, a speaker 170, and a key input unit 180. Preferably, the camera 190 further includes.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the digital picture frame 100. In particular, the controller 110 is configured to be connected to the Internet telephone server 300 via a modem (not shown). The control unit 110 is provided with an Internet telephone connection control program. The Internet telephony control program performs functions such as controlling the speaker 170 and the camera 190, and controlling digital or analog signal conversion of voice signals.

The controller 110 receives user registration information (name, phone number, etc.) from the key input unit 180 and transmits the IP registration information to the Internet telephone server 300 together with the IP address. In addition, by notifying the Internet telephone server 300 that the IP address is on, it tells that the digital frame 100 is in operation.

The communication unit 120 includes a signal transmitter 122 for transmitting a signal to an external device and a signal receiver 124 for receiving a signal generated from the external device. The communication unit 120 may transmit / receive a signal with other external devices connected through a network.

The external device is, for example, a digital picture frame, a computer, a PDA or a mobile communication terminal.

In order for the communication unit 120 to transmit and receive a signal with an external device, unique information for identifying the communication unit 120 is required. The unique information may be configured in various forms, and a method of assigning a unique code distinguished for each communication unit 120 or mapping information in a form that is easier for a user to identify than the unique code to a unique code may be used. Can be.

The signal transmitter 122 transmits an image stored in the memory 140 to an external device. In addition, when using an Internet phone, the external image such as the user's image taken by the camera 190, the user's voice input through the speaker 170, etc. to transmit the external device to the external device connected to the Internet phone Perform.

The signal receiver 124 receives an image or the like from an external device. In addition, when using an Internet phone, it serves to receive video and audio data transmitted from an external device of the other party to which the Internet phone is connected.

The data processor 130 decodes the signal received from the communicator 120 and converts the signal into predetermined data.

That is, the data processor 130 converts an image signal received from an external device into data of a form suitable for displaying as an image on the display 160, and converts an audio signal into data of a form suitable for outputting from the speaker 170. Do it.

In addition, the data processor 130 extracts the data stored in the memory 140 and displays the image on the display 160.

In addition, the data processor 130 converts the image captured by the camera 190 and the audio signal input to the speaker 170 into data of a form suitable for transmission through the communication unit 120.

The data processor 130 may further include a codec for converting a voice signal into a digital or analog signal.

The memory unit 140 stores data processed by the data processor 130 or data input from an external information storage device.

In addition, the memory unit 140 stores various data required for Internet telephony connection. For example, management server data for managing various data is stored.

The memory unit 140 may be configured to be provided at a predetermined position in the digital picture frame 100 according to the shape and size of the digital picture frame 100. For example, a secure digital (SD) card, a multimedia card (MMC), or the like. And a flash memory such as a compact flash (CF) card.

The interface unit 150 is a means for allowing an external information storage device (not shown) to be coupled to the digital picture frame 100.

The interface unit 150 may be configured in various forms corresponding to the form of the terminal portion of the external information storage device. For example, the interface unit 150 may have a shape corresponding to a USB memory or a flash memory.

When data is input to the digital picture frame 100 through the external information storage device, the data processor 130 processes the data and displays the data on the display 160 as an image.

The display 160 displays the data processed by the data processor 130 as an image.

The data may be a still image or a moving image. In particular, when the digital frame 100 is used as an Internet telephone, the image of the counterpart received through the communication unit 120 may be displayed as a real-time moving image. The display unit 160 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The speaker 170 is a part in which a voice signal of a user is input when an internet phone is connected, and a voice of a counterpart received from the communication unit 120 and a phone ringing sound are output.

Meanwhile, the digital picture frame 100 may further include a headset (not shown) capable of transmitting and receiving voices of the user and the counterpart in addition to the speaker 170.

The camera 190 is a part for capturing the user's appearance when the Internet phone is connected, and the captured image is transmitted to the external device of the counterpart, for example, the digital frame 100b, through the communication unit 120, so that the counterpart Allows you to see the user.

The key input unit 180 is a means for allowing a user to set an operation of the digital picture frame 100. The user may set a picture or an album displayed on the display unit 160 through the key input unit 180, and set an internet telephone connection state.

By using the digital picture frame 100 configured as described above, it is possible to function as an internet phone as well as a picture or album display function which is a unique function of the digital picture frame 100.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the digital picture frame 100 is connected to the Internet through the IAP 200. The digital picture frame 100 is connected to the Internet telephone server 300 through the Internet.

The Internet Access Point (IAP) 200 may be a network access device (for example, an Ethernet port) when receiving an Internet leased line service, and may be provided with a subscriber modem, telephone subscriber network or cable television network provided by a network access provider (NAP). It can be configured with the same subscriber network, operator modem, and ISP (Internet Service Provider). That is, the IAP 200 provides various services necessary for the user to access the Internet. Therefore, the digital picture frame 100 may be connected to the Internet through the IAP 200.

The internet phone server 300 is connected to the Internet. The Internet telephone server 300 is provided with an operating system (OS) and an IP address connection management program. It also stores a user database. Information such as a user name, ID, password, e-mail address, telephone number is input to the user database file. It also has an Internet connection and the IP address of the connected Internet.

As described above, in the system provided with the digital photo frames 100a and 100b, the IAP 200, and the Internet telephone server 300, the digital photo frame 100a may be connected to the digital photo frame 100b of the counterpart and the internet telephone. .

On the other hand, the digital picture frame (100a) can be connected to the telephone through a public telephone network in addition to the Internet telephone. That is, the digital picture frame 100a may be connected to a public telephone network (PSTN) via an Internet Phone Gateway (not shown) installed in a specific region after accessing the Internet to communicate with the general telephone 400.

3 is a diagram for schematically explaining an operation of using an Internet telephone using a digital picture frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, first, in order to use an Internet telephone, the user of the digital frame 100 registers with the Internet telephone system.

For example, the user turns on the digital picture frame 100 and connects to the Internet. At this time, the IAP 200 connected through the modem allocates one IP address to the digital frame 100 and starts a web browser to access the Internet telephone server 300. The digital picture frame 100 downloads and installs a program for controlling an Internet phone connection from the Internet phone server 300.

In addition, when a user inputs a phone number, ID, password, etc. into the program, the information is transmitted to the Internet phone server 300, and the Internet phone server 300 stores the information in a database.

Next, when the user wants to use the Internet phone, the user enters the Internet phone mode by operating the key input unit 180.

The digital picture frame 100 is connected to the Internet through the IAP 200, and the phone number of the other party to be called is input through the key input unit 180. Accordingly, the Internet phone server 300 connects the Internet phone through the information stored in the user database file of the user and the counterpart.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, a call is made between users who use the Internet phone through the digital frames 100a and 100b.

When the phone is connected, the user inputs a video and audio signal through the camera 190a and the speaker 170a, and the input signal is converted into predetermined data by the data processor 130 and then transmitted by the communication unit 120. The transmitted signals are transmitted to the other's digital picture frame 100b via the Internet. The digital picture frame 100b of the receiving party converts the received signal into an appropriate form and outputs video and audio signals through the display unit 160b and the speaker 170b.

As such, there is an advantage that not only Internet telephone connection is possible between users using the digital frames 100a and 100b but also video calls are possible.

On the other hand, when the digital frame 100 is connected to the public telephone network (PSTN) via the Internet phone gateway in the state of being connected to the Internet network, it is also possible to connect the phone with the general telephone 400 of the other party.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art having ordinary knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes, additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, such modifications, changes and Additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

As described above, the combined digital photo frame according to the present invention has an advantage that it can be used not only as an image display but also as an internet telephone using an existing digital frame.

In addition, the combined digital photo frame according to the present invention has the advantage that the procedure of using the Internet telephone can be simplified.

Claims (7)

Communication unit for transmitting and receiving a signal with an external device; A display unit displaying image data received from the communication unit; An input / output unit for outputting voice data received by the communication unit and inputting external voice data; And A digital photo frame for an internet telephony, comprising a control unit for controlling an internet telephony connection. The method of claim 1, The external device is a digital picture frame, a computer, a PDA or a mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the digital picture frame for the Internet. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication unit, A signal transmitter for transmitting a signal to the external device; And And a signal receiving unit for receiving a signal generated from the external device. The method of claim 1, And a data processor which decodes the signal received by the communication unit and transmits the signal to the display unit and the input / output unit, and encodes the signal input from the input / output unit to the communication unit. The method of claim 4, wherein A key input unit for inputting a signal for setting an internet telephone mode; An interface unit to which an external information storage device may be coupled; And And a memory unit for storing data processed by the data processor or data input through the interface unit. The method of claim 4, wherein And a camera for capturing an external image, wherein the image captured by the camera is encoded through the data processor and transmitted to the communication unit. The method of claim 1, The input-output unit is a digital picture frame for the Internet phone, characterized in that the headset or speaker.

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