KR20040035522A - Method and System for Providing Substitute Image for Use in Image Mobile Phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for servicing an alternative video in a mobile video phone is provided to supply other images to other parties with each other by alternating unwanted face images during a video call using an IMT-2000 service, thereby reducing awkward situations. CONSTITUTION: A wireless communication network(130) supplies a video call service and a wireless Internet service. Mobile communication terminals(110,120) perform video calls as seeing other parties' faces with each other by using a video call service, transmit alternative images instead of users' face images to the other parties, or display the alternative images instead of the face images of the other parties. A moving image contents database(160) stores various multimedia contents to be used as the alternative images. A moving image management server(150) extracts the multimedia contents of the desired alternative images from the moving image contents database(160), and supplies the extracted contents to the mobile communication terminals(110,120).

Description

Alternative video service method and system in mobile video phone {Method and System for Providing Substitute Image for Use in Image Mobile Phone}

The present invention relates to a video call system using an IMT-2000 service, and more particularly, a substitute video for providing a different image to each other's counterparts instead of a face image that they do not want or cannot see during a video call with each other. A service system and method.

With the rapid development of computer, electronic and communication technologies, various wireless communication services using wireless networks have been provided. The most basic wireless communication service is a wireless voice call service that provides voice calls wirelessly between mobile terminal users regardless of time and place. In recent years, wireless Internet services that provide a communication service using the Internet through a wireless communication network have emerged while a user of a mobile communication terminal moves without restriction of a place. Therefore, the subscribers of the mobile communication service can freely move and talk with the other party anytime and anywhere using the wireless communication service, and also have information necessary for life, such as news, weather, sports, securities, and exchange rates, through the wireless Internet service. , Traffic information, etc. may be provided in various forms such as text, voice, and image.

In recent years, so-called third-generation mobile phones with built-in cameras have been introduced to the market, and users can use the built-in camera not only to take pictures of their faces or desired scenes, but also to take pictures and send them to the other's mobile phone or by e-mail. It supports the photo mail function that can be sent, allowing you to send and receive clear pictures anytime, anywhere.

Furthermore, in recent years, with the development of information and communication, IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000), a third generation mobile communication system that has been standardized by ITU-R (for example, CDMA2000 1X, 3X, EV-DO, WCDMA (WideBand) CDMA) will soon be commercially available to the public. IMT-2000 is a CDMA 2000 1X, 3X, EV-DO, WCDMA (WideBand CDMA), etc., which is used in IS-95A and IS-95B networks by using the IS-95C network that has evolved from the existing IS-95A and IS-95B networks. It is a service that enables wireless Internet at a transmission speed of up to 144 Kbps, much faster than the supportable data transfer rate of 14.4 Kbps or 56 Kbps. Through IMT-2000 service, it is possible to improve the existing voice and WAP service quality as well as to provide multimedia services (AOD, VOD, etc.) including various video calls.

Video calls that are made while looking at each other's faces by the IMT-2000 service are close to each other, or natural calls are made when you know the other party, but you do not have to show your face to the other person or see the other person's face. You don't want to show your face to the other person (e.g. in the bathroom or you don't have makeup), or you don't want to see the other person's face (e.g. Case). In this case, there is a need for a new service that displays another image instead of the face image, such as not showing my face or not seeing the other person's face.

Therefore, the present invention has been invented based on the above-described needs, and an object of the present invention is to provide an alternative video service system and method for providing a different image to each other counterpart in a video call using an IMT-2000 communication network. It is.

1 is a block diagram of an alternative video service system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed internal block diagram of the mobile communication terminal shown in FIG. 1;

3 and 4 are flowcharts illustrating an alternative video service method according to the present invention;

4A through 4D are diagrams illustrating exemplary screens displayed on a mobile communication terminal when the alternative video service method of the present invention is executed.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110, 120: mobile communication terminal 112, 122: camera

132, 134: base station transmitter 136: base station controller

138: wireless switching center 140: the Internet

150: video management server 160: video content database

202: CCD unit 204: analog signal processing unit

206: A / D converter 208: Timing generator

210: flash memory 212: image processing unit

214: interface unit 220: alternative image storage unit

222: Microprocessor 242: WAP Browser

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the alternative video service system includes a wireless communication network for providing a video call service and a wireless Internet service; And performing a video call using the video call service while viewing each other's face video with each other, and transmitting a substitute image in place of the user's face image to the other party or replacing the face image of the other party during the video call. It characterized in that it comprises a mobile communication terminal for displaying the replacement image.

According to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, a wireless communication network for providing a video call service and a wireless Internet service, a mobile communication terminal for performing a video call with the other party using the video call service, and various And a video management server for extracting the desired multimedia content from the video content database and providing the desired video content to the mobile communication terminal in a video content database storing multimedia content and the mobile communication terminal connected using the wireless Internet service. Alternative video service method in the telephone communication, (a) storing the multimedia content provided from the video management server in the mobile communication terminal as a replacement video; (b) selecting a video call mode or an alternative video mode during the video call with the other mobile communication terminal in any one of the mobile communication terminals; (c) selecting a target mobile communication terminal for displaying the replacement video when the alternative video mode is selected; And (d) transferring the substitute image to the selected target mobile communication terminal.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram of an alternative video service system according to the present invention. The alternative video service system of the present invention includes a plurality of mobile communication terminals 110 and 120, a wireless communication network 130, the Internet 140, a video management server 150 and a video content database 160.

The plurality of mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 have cameras 112 and 122 embedded therein to perform video calls with each other through the wireless communication network 130, and the video is transmitted through the wireless communication network 130 by driving a WAP browser. The IMT-2000 mobile phone that performs packet data communication with the management server 150.

In the present invention, the plurality of mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 are divided into a source side mobile communication terminal 110 and a target side mobile communication terminal 120. The source-side mobile communication terminal 110 shows an image of a user's own face photographed by the camera 112 during a video call with the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 as a counterpart to the counterpart of the target-side mobile communication terminal 120. When the terminal does not want to refer to the terminal providing the alternative image. In addition, the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 has a function of displaying a substitute image on its own terminal in place of the other's face image when the user does not want to see the other's face image during a video call with the other side. Meanwhile, the target side mobile communication terminal 120 refers to a terminal for viewing an alternative image provided by the source side mobile communication terminal 110.

The source-side mobile communication terminal 110 accesses the video management server 150 using a wireless Internet service, downloads and stores various desired replacement images from the video content database 160. The substitute image referred to in the present invention includes multimedia content such as a character, an avatar, a landscape picture, or other image. The substitute image stored in the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 may be provided to the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 according to a user's selection during a video call with the target-side mobile communication terminal 120, and the source-side mobile communication terminal 110. ) Is also displayed.

In the foregoing description, although the mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 are illustrated and described separately from the source side and the target side mobile communication terminals, each of the mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 is connected to an originating mobile communication terminal requesting a video call. An incoming mobile communication terminal that receives a video call is requested, and it is to be understood that the position may be changed to a source mobile terminal and a target mobile terminal according to the subject receiving and receiving a substitute video during a video call. .

The wireless communication network 130 is basically an IMT-2000 broadband wireless communication network providing video call service and data communication service to the source and target mobile terminals 110 and 120, and includes a base transceiver station (BTS) ( 132, 134, a base station controller (BSC) 136, and a mobile switching center (MSC) 138.

The base station transmitters 132 and 134 identify the positions of the plurality of mobile communication terminals including the source side and target side mobile communication terminals 110 and 120, respectively, so that the voice between the source side and the target side mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 is determined. And a function of transmitting and receiving image signals. The base station transmitters 132 and 134 receive a call request from a source side and a target side mobile communication terminal 110 or 120 with a counterpart through a traffic channel among signal channels, and transmit the received call request to the base station controller 136. do.

The base station controller 136 controls the base station transmitters 132 and 134 and performs various call processing functions such as support for incoming and outgoing call processing and message processing of the base station transmitters 132 and 134. The base station controller 136 forwards the call request received via the base station transmitters 132 and 134 to the wireless switching center 138.

The wireless switching center 138 forms a communication path between a plurality of mobile communication terminals, including the source side and target side mobile communication terminals 110 and 120, and controls overall call processing and call processing accordingly. The radio switching center 138 is a source side and target side mobile communication terminal (in response to a call request from the source side or target side mobile communication terminal 110 or 120 transmitted from the base stations 132 and 134 through the base station controller 136). The video call service between the 110 and 120 is provided to display the face image of the counterpart or the substitute image instead of the face image on the screen of the target and source mobile terminals 120 and 110, respectively.

The video content database 160 stores various multimedia contents such as characters, avatars, landscape pictures, and other images to be used as substitute images. The multimedia content includes WML (Wireless Markup Language) based multimedia content, 3D based multimedia content, MPEG based multimedia content or Simple Image Service based multimedia content.

The video management server 150 is connected to the wireless communication network 130 through the Internet 140, and is used for the replacement image desired by the source and target side mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 connected through the wireless communication network 130. The multimedia content is extracted from the video content database 160 and provided to the source and target mobile terminals 110 and 120. The multimedia content stored in the source and target mobile communication terminals 110 and 120 replaces the face image when the other party does not want to show his or her face image to the other party or when he / she does not want to see the other person's face image. It is used as a substitute image.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of one of the source and target mobile terminals 110 and 120, for example, the source mobile terminal 110.

The source-side mobile communication terminal 110 includes a camera 112, an interface unit 214, a program memory 216, a data memory 218, an alternative image storage unit 220, a microprocessor 222, and an RF transmitter unit 224. ), RF receiver 226, duplexer 228, antenna 230, key inputter 232, LCD display 234, codec (Coder-Decoder) 236, speaker 238, microphone 240 ) And a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browser 242.

The camera 112 includes a CCD unit 202, an analog signal processor 204, an A / D converter 206, a timing generator 208, a flash memory 210, and an image processor 212.

The CCD unit 202 converts the captured face image into an electrical signal, and the analog signal processing unit 204 latches and samples an electrical signal input from the CCD unit 202, performs gain control, contrast correction, and the like to perform analog Output the processed image signal. The A / D converter 206 converts the analog processed image signal into a digital image signal.

The timing generator 208 provides a timing signal for synchronizing the operations of the CCD unit 202, the analog signal processor 204, and the A / D converter 206. The image processing unit 212 performs various image processing on the digital image signal and compresses the processed image data. The flash memory 210 stores the compressed image signal in units of frames, and the stored image signal is provided to the microprocessor 222 through the interface unit 214 under the control of the image processing unit 212.

The program memory 216 stores a program that performs the functions of a typical source-side mobile communication terminal 110 and protocol software that processes messages transmitted and received with the network. The data memory 218 functions as a data buffer when the operating program of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 is executed, and stores a telephone number input to the key input unit 232. The substitute image storage unit 220 stores a variety of substitute images downloaded from the video content database 160 through the video management server 150.

The antenna 230 transmits and receives a wireless signal, and the duplexer 228 separates signals transmitted and received through the antenna 230.

The RF transmitter 224 modulates a transmission signal provided from the microprocessor 222 into an RF signal and transmits the RF signal through the duplexer 228 and the antenna 230, and the RF receiver 226 is an antenna 230 and the duplexer 228. RF signal received through the) to output to the microprocessor 222.

The key input unit 232 includes a numeric key, a character key, and various function keys for inputting an incoming telephone number for a call with the other party, and the LCD display unit 234 displays the other party's face during a video call with the other party's mobile communication terminal. The replacement image stored in the image or the replacement image storage unit 220 is displayed.

A coder-decoder (CODEC) 236 is a digital signal processing processor that codes and decodes a voice signal, performs an equalization function to remove multipath noise, performs an audio related data processing function, and the like. The speaker 238 connected to the codec 236 outputs an audio signal output from the codec 236 as an audible sound, and the microphone 240 converts the user's voice input into an electrical signal, which is converted into a codec. 236 is provided to the microprocessor 222.

The WAP browser 242 executes the WAP protocol to access the video management server 150 through the Internet 140, and downloads the multimedia content for the replacement video from the video management server 150.

The microprocessor 222 basically performs processing and control functions for video call or data communication of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110. In particular, the microprocessor 222 controls the LCD display unit 234 to display a counterpart's face image or a substitute image stored in the substitute image storage unit 220.

An alternative video service method of the present invention having the above-described configuration will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of downloading and storing multimedia content of a substitute image from the source-side mobile communication terminal 110.

The user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 executes the WAP browser 242 and requests a connection to the video management server 150 using the wireless Internet service provided by the wireless communication network 130 (S302).

The wireless communication network 130 connects the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 to the video management server 150 through the Internet 140 according to the connection request of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 (S304).

The video management server 150 provides the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 with various content items for multimedia content to the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 (S306).

The user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 selects multimedia content to be used as a substitute image from various multimedia content items provided from the video management server 150 (S308). Of course, if the user selects an item of any one of the multimedia content, the item of the multimedia content of the more detailed sub-items will be illustrated, and the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 is himself or herself among the multimedia content of the sub-item subdivided. One or more of the desired multimedia contents may be selected as a substitute image.

Next, the video management server 150 extracts one or more multimedia contents selected by the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 from the video content database 160 and extracts the extracted multimedia contents from the Internet 140 and wirelessly. It transmits to the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 through the communication network 130 (S310).

One or more multimedia contents transmitted from the video content database 160 through the video management server 150 are stored in the substitute video storage 220 at the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 (S312).

The image desktop stored in the substitute image storage unit 220 of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 may be used as a substitute image in place of a face image during a video call with the counterpart as described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting a substitute image stored in the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 to the target-side mobile communication terminal 120.

The source-side mobile communication terminal 110 enters the incoming telephone number of the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 and presses a call button to make a video call with respect to the wireless communication network 130 in order to talk with the target-side mobile communication terminal 120. Request (S402).

The video call request of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 in the wireless communication network 130 is transmitted to the wireless switching center 138 through the base station transmitter 132 and the base station controller 136 (S304).

The wireless switching center 138 establishes a communication path with the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 designated by the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 through the base station controller 136 and the base station transmitter 134 to open the source-side mobile communication terminal 110. And video call service of the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 (S406).

Before the video call service between the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 and the target-side mobile communication terminal is started or while the video call service is in progress, the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 changes the video call mode to the alternative video mode. To select whether to switch to (S410). Alternatively, the alternative video mode according to the present invention may be configured to be selected before the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 requests a call to the wireless communication network 130 for a video call with the target specific mobile communication terminal 120. will be.

5A illustrates a selection screen displayed on the LCD display unit 234 of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110, which includes' 1 . Video call mode 'and' 2 . The phrase 'alternative picture mode' is illustrated.

If the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 selects ' 1 ' from the numeric keys of the key input unit 232, the video call service provided by the wireless communication network 130 will continue until the call ends. However, when the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 120 selects the "alternate image mode" by clicking the number key " 2 " of the key input unit 232, the process proceeds to the next step (S412).

In operation S412, the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 selects a substitute image to be used in the substitute image mode.

5B is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the LCD display unit 234 of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 by way of example. In this screen, multimedia content items of various alternative images stored in the substitute image storage unit 220 are shown. For example, ' 1 . Character ',' 2 . Avatar ',' 3 . Landscape pictures ”and the like.

If any one of the multimedia contents to be used as the replacement image is selected by the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110, the mobile communication terminal designates which mobile communication terminal to transfer the replacement video to replace the face image with. To do (S412).

Figure 5c there is illustrated a screen to be displayed on the LCD display unit 234 of the source's terminal 110, a screen is "1. Target side ',' 2 . Source side ',' 3 . Target side + source side 'is illustrated, and allows the user to specify the target terminal to deliver the replacement image. Where ' 1 . The target side "is a mode to be transmitted to the target mobile communication terminal 120, the substitute image to not show the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 the user's face image to the other party, '2. 'Source side' is a mode for viewing the alternative image in the source side mobile communication terminal 110, instead of viewing the other party's face image, ' 3 . Target side + source side 'refers to a mode in which a substitute image is displayed on both sides of the target side and the source side mobile communication terminals 120 and 120 without transmitting the face image of the user to the other side. do.

If, the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 is' 1 . If the target side 'is selected, the selected substitute image is extracted from the substitute image storage unit 220 and transmitted to the target side mobile communication terminal 120, thereby replacing the face image of the user in the target side mobile communication terminal 120. The image is displayed (S414).

However, when the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 selects ' 2. ' If the source side 'is selected, the selected substitute image is extracted from the substitute image storage 220 to be displayed on the LCD display 234 (S416).

On the other hand, the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 is' 3 . If the target side + source side 'is selected, the selected substitute image is extracted from the substitute image storage unit 220 and transmitted to the target side mobile communication terminal 120, and displayed on the LCD display unit 234 (S418). ).

FIG. 5D illustrates that a character is displayed as a substitute image displayed on the LCD display unit 234 of the source side or target side mobile communication terminal 110 or 120.

The alternative video mode described above will continue until the video call between the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 and the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 ends.

In the above-described present invention, although the user of the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 is illustrated and described as selecting an alternative video mode, the user of the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 also uses the source-side mobile communication terminal 110. Like the user in), you may select an alternate video mode. When the source-side mobile communication terminal 110 and the target-side mobile communication terminal 120 select 'source side + target side' from the alternative image modes at the same time, each of the alternative images transmitted from the other party is displayed. Priority may be assigned to display the alternative image selected in the terminal.

In addition, although the above-described system of the present invention has been illustrated and described as providing a video call service for delivering a face image to each other's counterparts, the source-side movement is provided while providing a non-face image of each other as a background screen. It is also possible to replace the background screen with a face image according to the selection of the communication terminal 110 and the target-side mobile communication terminal 120. In this case, the background screen may be configured to be provided to each mobile communication terminal as a default image in the wireless communication network 130.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas falling within the scope of the present invention should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the awkwardness of a video call by allowing a face image or a substitute image in place of a face image of a counterpart to be displayed on the counterpart or own mobile communication terminal. .

Claims (13)

In the alternative video service system in mobile telephony communication, A wireless communication network providing a video call service and a wireless Internet service; And The video call service is used to perform a video call while viewing each other's face video with the other party, and when the video call is performed, a substitute image for the user's face image is transmitted to the other party or the substitute's face image is substituted. Mobile terminal for displaying video Alternative video service system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The alternative video service system, A moving image content database storing various multimedia contents to be used as the substitute image; A multimedia content of the substitute image desired by the mobile communication terminal connected to the wireless communication network through the Internet and extracted from the video content database and provided to the mobile communication terminal through the wireless communication network; Video management server Alternative video service system that includes more. The method of claim 2, The multimedia content may include a character, an avatar, a picture, and a video including WML (Wireless Markup Language) based multimedia content, 3D based multimedia content, MPEG based multimedia content, or Simple Image Service based multimedia content. Alternative video service system. The method of claim 2, The mobile communication terminal, A camera for photographing the face image during the video call; A substitute image storage unit configured to store various kinds of substitute images provided from the video content database through the video management server; An LCD display unit which visually displays any one of the other party's face image and the substitute image during the video call; A WAP browser for connecting the mobile communication terminal to the video management server using the wireless Internet service; And Performing a processing and control function for a video call or data communication of the mobile communication terminal, and selectively controlling the alternative image stored in the substitute video storage unit to be transmitted to or displayed on the LCD display of the counterpart mobile terminal; Microprocessor Alternative video service system comprising a. The method of claim 4, wherein Wherein each mobile communication terminal is an originating or terminating mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 1, And the face image is replaced with the substitute image by selection of the user or the counterpart before the video call starts or during the video call. Using a wireless communication network providing a video call service and a wireless Internet service, a mobile communication terminal for making a video call with the other party using the video call service, a video content database storing various multimedia contents, and the wireless Internet service In the alternative video service method in a mobile phone communication comprising a video management server for extracting the desired multimedia content from the video content database to the mobile communication terminal to be connected to the mobile communication terminal, (a) storing the multimedia content provided from the video management server as a substitute image in the mobile communication terminal; (b) selecting a video call mode or an alternative video mode during the video call with the other mobile communication terminal in any one of the mobile communication terminals; (c) selecting a target mobile communication terminal for displaying the replacement video when the alternative video mode is selected; And (d) transmitting the substitute image to the selected target mobile communication terminal; Alternative video service method comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein The multimedia content may include a character, an avatar, a picture, and a video composed of WML (Wireless Markup Language) based multimedia content, 3D based multimedia content, MPEG based multimedia content, or Simple Image Service based multimedia content. Alternative video service method. The method of claim 8, And the substitute image is an image that is displayed in place of the face image when a video call is performed while a face-to-face video call with each other is made using the video call service. The method of claim 9, And each mobile communication terminal is an originating or incoming mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 10, In the step (c), the target mobile communication terminal is the outgoing mobile communication terminal, the called mobile communication terminal or the calling and incoming mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the alternative. The method of claim 7, wherein In the step (b), the video call mode or the alternative video mode is selected before the video call is started or the video call is in progress. In a mobile video communication system, A wireless communication network serving a background image with voice during a call between callers; And A mobile communication terminal for displaying a face image by transmitting a face image of the person in place of the background image to each other before or during a voice call with each other while viewing the background image. Mobile video communication system comprising a.