KR20090014499A - A mobilecommunication terminal capable of image call and calling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal capable of a video call and a calling method thereof are provided to interrupt transmission of a user image automatically or by user's selection or interrupt display of an image of a counterpart person when remaining voltage of a battery is lower than a reference voltage or video call enabling hours are shorter than set reference hours. A battery voltage measurement unit detects a remaining amount of a current battery(S213). A controller determines whether the remaining amount of the current battery measured in the battery voltage measurement unit is lower than the set reference voltage(S214). When the remaining amount of the current battery measured in the battery voltage measurement unit is lower than the set reference voltage, the controller informs a user of a message that the remaining amount of the current battery is lower than the set reference voltage through a display(S215). The user selects whether to interrupt transmission of a user image to a counterpart terminal through a communication module or whether to interrupt display of the image of the counterpart person(S216).

Description

Mobile communication terminal and method of calling that can make video call {A MOBILECOMMUNICATION TERMINAL CAPABLE OF IMAGE CALL AND CALLING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call and a call method thereof.

Since a mobile phone is a device developed for communication in a mobile environment, stable power supply in a mobile environment is very important. In addition, in recent years, as mobile phones perform various functions beyond simple call functions, they need more power for color display and playback of files for a long time. Accordingly, minimizing power consumption and high power of the device are important. It is considered a technology.

When making a video call, the mobile communication terminal consumes more battery than when making a voice call due to a large amount of calculation to be processed by the control unit and the video call processing unit due to camera operation, captured image processing, and voice processing. Done. Therefore, the prior art has a problem that the phone is off with a warning sound when the battery is low while the video call is in progress can not continue the call.

In addition, the prior art only has to switch uniformly from the video call to the voice call to solve the battery shortage, there is no technology for transmitting the alternative video to the other terminal in consideration of the other side of the video call.

In addition, the related art has a problem in that the transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal or the display of the counterpart image on the display cannot be blocked regardless of a low battery of the terminal.

The present invention continuously calculates the remaining battery level, the remaining battery voltage and the corresponding video call time during a video call so that the battery remaining voltage is lower than the reference voltage or the video calling time is lower than the reference time set by the user. The purpose of the present invention is to continuously provide a call by reducing the current consumption by blocking transmission of a user image or blocking display of a counterpart image on the display by selection of.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery voltage measuring unit for measuring a battery remaining voltage during a video call, a call time calculating unit for calculating a video call available time from a battery remaining voltage, and a battery remaining voltage having a predetermined reference voltage or less. Or when the video call time is less than or equal to the preset reference time, when the transmission of the user's video is automatically or selected by the user, the alternative video is transmitted to the other party's terminal or when the display of the other's video is blocked, the still picture is Provided is a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call and a call method including a control unit for displaying on a display.

In addition, the present invention, when comparing the remaining battery voltage and the predetermined reference voltage, or the transmission of the user image by the user's selection without the step of comparing the video call available time and the predetermined reference time, the opposite side of the counterpart Provided is a method for communicating with a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call including a control unit for transmitting to a terminal or blocking display of a counterpart image.

The effects of the mobile communication terminal and the communication method capable of video calling according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, according to the present invention, a battery can be saved by blocking transmission of a user image to a counterpart terminal through a communication module or blocking displaying of the counterpart image on a display during a video call. Instead, by transmitting a substitute video to the opposite terminal has the effect of reducing the embarrassment and inconvenience caused by the abrupt call mode change.

Second, according to the present invention, regardless of the low battery, the user's convenience can be achieved by blocking the transmission of the user's image through the communication module or the display of the counterpart's image according to the call habit of the user.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In addition, when it is determined that the detailed description of known functions or configurations related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a video mobile communication terminal for implementing the present invention includes a battery voltage measuring unit 110, a call time calculating unit 120, a video call processing unit 130, a communication module 150, and a controller. 160, an input unit 170, a display 180, and a storage 190. Each of these components is connected by a bus.

The battery voltage measuring unit 110 detects a remaining battery level and temporarily stores the remaining battery data in the storage unit 190.

The talk time calculator 120 calculates a video call time using battery remaining data and temporarily stores the video call in the storage 190.

The video call processor 130 processes an image received through a camera (not shown) attached to a corresponding terminal and a sound received through a speaker (not shown) when the video call mode is set under the control of the controller 160, It processes the image received from the counterpart and outputs it to the display 180.

The communication module 150 communicates with the base station through the antenna ANT. The communication module 150 transmits the substitute image or the still image stored in the storage 190 to the terminal of the counterpart through the antenna ANT.

The controller 160 controls general operation control and input / output of the mobile communication terminal. The controller 160 compares the battery voltage measured by the battery voltage measuring unit 110 with a preset reference voltage, and when the measured battery voltage is equal to or less than the preset reference voltage, the user image is transmitted to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150. Block transmission or block the other party's video on the display. In addition, when the transmission of the user image is blocked, the controller 160 transmits the replacement image to the counterpart terminal or displays the still image on the display 180 when blocking the display of the counterpart image.

The input unit 170 includes a numeric key and various function keys. The user may arbitrarily input the reference voltage compared with the remaining battery voltage and the reference time compared with the video call time through the input unit 170.

The display 180 displays a state and an operation process of the mobile communication terminal under the control of the controller 160 and is turned on / off by power control of the controller 160. The display 180 displays the remaining battery voltage measured by the battery voltage measuring unit 110 and a reference voltage set by the user through the input unit 170. In addition, the display 180 displays the available video call time calculated by the talk time calculator 120 and a reference time set by the user through the input unit 170.

The storage 190 stores a predetermined program that controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal. The storage unit 190 stores a still image to be displayed on the display 180 when the display of the substitute image to be transmitted to the counterpart terminal and the display of the counterpart image when the transmission of the user image is blocked. In addition, the storage unit 190 stores data on the correlation between the available video call time according to the voltage of the battery and a reference time set by the user.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, when a counterpart terminal and a video call call are connected, the mobile communication terminal performs a video call through a high speed packet data service. That is, the controller 160 inside the user terminal activates the software and hardware module related to the video call mode so that the voice received through the image and the speaker (not shown) captured by a camera module (not shown) mounted inside or outside the terminal may be used. Process or prepare to output the image received from the opposite terminal (S211).

The controller 160 controls the video call processor 130 when the video call call between the user terminal and the counterpart terminal is connected to transfer the user side image obtained from the camera module (not shown) of the user terminal to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150. send. The counterpart image obtained from the camera of the counterpart terminal and transmitted to the user terminal through the communication module 150 is displayed on the display 180 of the user terminal (S212).

The battery voltage measuring unit 110 detects the remaining amount of the current battery (S213). The controller 160 determines whether the remaining battery voltage calculated by the battery voltage measuring unit 110 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference voltage (S214).

If the remaining battery voltage exceeds the preset reference voltage (S214-NO), the controller 160 continuously measures the battery remaining voltage.

If the remaining battery voltage is less than or equal to the predetermined reference voltage (S214 -YES), the controller 160 notifies the user of the message of the message that the remaining battery voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage through the display 180 (S215). Such a message may be displayed on at least one of a message window, an icon, or an indicator on the display 180.

In this case, the user may select whether to block the transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150 or to block the display of the counterpart image on the display 180 (S216).

When the user selects to block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150 (S217), the controller 160 cuts off or replaces the power of the video call processor 130 including a camera. The replacement video may be transmitted to the counterpart terminal together with the message to transmit the video (S219).

The substitute image may be a user image captured / recorded during a video call, or may be an image and a video previously stored in the storage 190 after capturing.

After the substitute image is transmitted to the other party, the camera and the display 180, for example, the liquid crystal display (LCD), may be turned off, and only the voice may be encoded to reduce current consumption.

When the user selects to block the display of the counterpart image on the display 180 (S218), the controller 160 may turn off the power of the display 180 or display the still image on the display 180. There is (S220).

The still image may be an image of the counterpart captured during the video call or an image previously stored in the storage 190 after capturing.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the remaining battery voltage is less than the reference voltage, the battery remaining voltage is less than the reference voltage, after displaying in at least one of the message window, icon, indicator area of the display 180 without a user selection command The transmission of the user image may be automatically cut off, the substitute image may be transmitted to the counterpart, the display of the counterpart image may be blocked, and the still image may be displayed on the display 180. For example, whether or not to automatically block can be set or canceled by selecting the auto block item in the configuration menu of the video call before the call. You can set whether to automatically block in the auto block menu even when the video call is connected with the other party.

When the auto shutoff is set, as long as the remaining battery voltage is lower than or equal to the preset reference voltage, a message "We will automatically cut off the transmission of the user's image or the display of the other's image" is displayed on the display 180, and the alternative image is transmitted to the other party. Alternatively, the still image may be displayed on the display 180.

As another embodiment of the present invention, after the battery voltage measuring unit 110 measures the remaining amount of the current battery, the talk time calculating unit 120 and the amount of the required transmission power stored in the storage unit 190 The available video call time is calculated according to the battery level by referring to the relationship information of the battery level. The controller 160 controls the video call time to be output to the display 180.

The video call time can be experimentally calculated by considering the lowest threshold voltage required to drive the video call module in the terminal when performing a video call. Therefore, since the video call cannot be continued when the remaining battery voltage is lower than or equal to the minimum threshold voltage, the video call time can be calculated only when the remaining battery voltage is higher than or equal to the minimum threshold voltage.

The controller 160 determines whether the video call available time calculated by the call time calculator 120 is equal to or greater than a preset reference time.

Here, the reference time refers to a video call time set arbitrarily by the user before and after the call. The user can adjust the length of the reference time according to his call style.

The longer the reference time is, the shorter the duration of the video call becomes. On the contrary, the shorter the reference time is, the longer the duration of the video call is. The reference time may be set before the call or the preset reference time may be changed even during a video call.

If the reference time is not set separately, the lowest reference time calculated from the lowest threshold voltage required for driving the video call module is set.

If the video call available time is less than or equal to the preset reference time, the controller 160 notifies the user of the message, 'The video call available time is less than or equal to the reference time' through the display 180. Hereinafter, the steps are the same as the steps after S216 in FIG. 2.

That is, the user may select whether to block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150 or display of the counterpart image on the display.

When the user selects to block transmission of the user image to the opposite terminal through the communication module 150, the substitute image may be transmitted to the opposite terminal.

When the user selects to block displaying of the counterpart image on the display (S218), the still image may be displayed on the display 180.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of making a video call according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a video communication module may be connected to a communication module according to a user's need without comparing the remaining battery voltage with a preset reference voltage or comparing the video call possible time with a preset reference time. Blocking transmission to the counterpart terminal through 150 may be blocked from displaying the counterpart image on the display 180. That is, even if the remaining battery voltage is less than or equal to the predetermined reference voltage, or even if the video call time is less than or equal to the predetermined reference time, transmission of the user image may be blocked or display of the counterpart image may be blocked by user selection.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a video call is connected to a counterpart terminal, the mobile communication terminal performs a video call through a high speed packet data service. That is, the controller 160 inside the user terminal activates the software and hardware module related to the video call mode so that the voice received through the image and the speaker (not shown) captured by a camera module (not shown) mounted inside or outside the terminal may be used. Process or prepare to output the image received from the opposite terminal (S311).

The controller 160 controls the video call processor 130 to connect the user-side image obtained from the camera module (not shown) of the user terminal to the other terminal through the communication module 150 when the video call is connected between the user terminal and the other terminal. send. The counterpart image obtained from the camera of the counterpart terminal and transmitted to the user terminal through the communication module 150 is displayed on the display 180 of the user terminal (S312).

Regardless of whether the remaining battery voltage is lower than or equal to the preset reference voltage, the user may block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150 or display of the counterpart image on the display 180. Each can be selected (S313).

When the user selects to block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module 150 (S314), the controller 160 cuts off or replaces the power of the video call processor 130 including a camera. The replacement video may be transmitted to the counterpart terminal together with the message to transmit the video (S316).

When the user selects to block the display of the counterpart image on the display 180 (S315), the controller 160 may turn off the power of the display 180 or display the still image on the display 180. There is (S317).

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes within the scope without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the foregoing embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It is not limited by.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call as an embodiment of the present invention; and

3 is a flowchart illustrating a call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of making a video call according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (11)

Communication module; display; A battery voltage measuring unit measuring a battery remaining voltage; And When the battery residual voltage is less than a predetermined reference voltage, blocking the transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module, or blocking the display of the counterpart image on the display, and blocks the transmission of the user image A controller configured to transmit a substitute image to the counterpart terminal or to display a still image on the display when the display of the counterpart image is blocked; Mobile communication terminal capable of a video call comprising a. The method of claim 1, A talk time calculator configured to calculate a video call time from the battery remaining voltage; Additionally provided, The controller may be configured to block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module or block displaying of the counterpart image on the display when the video call available time is less than or equal to a preset reference time. A mobile communication terminal capable of a video call. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The display may display at least one of an icon, an indicator, and a message window indicating that the battery remaining voltage, the video call available time, and the battery remaining voltage are below the reference voltage or the video call available time are below a preset reference time. A mobile communication terminal capable of a video call. The method of claim 1, An input unit for receiving a user's selection command; Additionally provided, The controller may be configured to block transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal by controlling the communication module when the battery residual voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage according to the user's selection command input through the input unit, or the counterpart image. The mobile communication terminal capable of a video call, characterized by blocking the display on the display. The method of claim 4, wherein When blocking the transmission of the user image, In response to the user's selection command input through the input unit to transmit the substitute image to the counterpart terminal, or if the display of the counterpart image is blocked, the still image is displayed on the display Capable mobile communication terminal. display; Communication module; And Blocking the transmission of the user image to the counterpart terminal through the communication module, blocking the display of the counterpart image on the display, and transmitting the replacement image to the counterpart terminal or blocking the transmission of the user image. A controller for displaying a still image on the display when the display of the image is blocked; Mobile communication terminal capable of a video call comprising a. The method of claim 6, An input unit for receiving a user's selection command; Additionally provided, And when the transmission of the user image is blocked, controlling the communication module according to a user's selection command input through the input unit to transmit the substitute image to the counterpart terminal. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 6, The communication module, when transmitting the substitute video, a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call, characterized in that for transmitting the message to the counterpart terminal to transmit the substitute video. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 6, The substitute image is a still image or a recorded video captured with the user image or the counterpart image during a video call, or a still image or a video previously stored in the mobile communication terminal of the user. . Transmitting a user image to a counterpart terminal through a communication module during a video call; Displaying the counterpart image on a display; Detecting a battery remaining voltage; Blocking, by the controller, from transmitting the user image to the counterpart or displaying the counterpart image on the display when the battery residual voltage is less than or equal to a reference voltage; And Displaying a still image on the display when the replacement image is transmitted to the counterpart terminal or the display of the counterpart image is blocked through the communication module when the transmission of the user image is blocked; Call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call comprising a. Transmitting a user image to a counterpart terminal through a communication module during a video call; Displaying the counterpart image on a display; Blocking a control unit from transmitting the user image to a counterpart through the communication module; And Displaying a still image on the display when the replacement image is transmitted to the counterpart terminal or the display of the counterpart image is blocked through the communication module when the transmission of the user image is blocked; Call method of a mobile communication terminal capable of a video call comprising a.

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