TW201345258A - Video communication system and video communication switching method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A video communication system and a video communication switching method thereof are provided. The video communication system comprises a first communication apparatus, at least one second communication apparatus and a network server. In the method, the first communication apparatus logins the network sever by using an account and establishes a video communication with an external apparatus through the network server. Next, the first communication apparatus transmits an apparatus list request to the network server, so as to request the network server to provide an apparatus list of the second communication apparatuses that can be connected under the account. Then, the first communication apparatus displays the device list, generates a switching request according to a selecting operation of a user on one of the second communication apparatuses in the apparatus list, and transmits the switching request to the network server. Finally, the network server switches the video communication to the selected second communication apparatus according to the switching request.

Description

Video call system and video call switching method thereof

The present invention relates to a call system and method, and more particularly to a system and method for dynamically switching video calls.

With the prevalence of smart phones and the popularity of mobile networks, there have been room for improvement in some applications that were not possible or convenient in the past. In addition to the 3.5G mobile network has been completed in major cities, the faster 4G mobile network is already under construction. Among them, the 3.5G mobile network download speed theoretical value can reach 14.4 million bits (MB), so it can meet the video applications that require a large amount of two-way data transmission and most other applications.

A video conference call is a type of video application that utilizes a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) network or a 2G/3G operation provided by a telecommunications provider. The network connects data and transmits data packets such as voice/images, so that both parties can hear or see each other's voices and images.

However, the current video calling software can only provide a single device to use the same account for video calls at the same time, and does not support video call switching between different devices. Therefore, when the user wants to transfer the video call on the smart phone to the computer or other device, the user can only close the original video call and re-open another video call, which is quite inconvenient.

In view of this, the present invention provides a video call system and a video call switching method thereof, which can provide video call switching between different devices.

The present invention provides a video call switching method, which is applicable to a video call system including a first communication device, at least one second communication device, and a network server. In this method, the first communication device uses an account to log in to the web server, and establishes a video call with the external device through the web server. Then, the first communication device transmits the device list request to the network server, and the network server provides the device list of the at least one second communication device that can be connected under the account to the first communication device. Then, the device list is displayed by the first communication device, and a switching request is generated and transmitted to the network server according to the user's selection operation of one of the second communication devices in the device list. Finally, the web server switches the video call to the selected second communication device according to the switching request.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the step of the network server providing the device list of the second communication device that can be connected to the account to the first communication device includes detecting the login to the network server by using the account. The communication status of all communication devices, and the communication devices whose connection status is the online state are set up to establish a device list and provided to the first communication device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first communication device displays the device list, and according to the user's selection operation of one of the second communication devices in the device list, the step of generating a switching request and transmitting to the network server further includes A plurality of options are displayed for the user to select to maintain the call or to disconnect the call, and to generate a handover request based on the user's selection operation of one of the at least one second communication device in the device list and the selection operation for these options.

In an embodiment of the invention, the step of switching, by the network server, the video call to the selected second communication device according to the handover request further comprises maintaining or cutting the video call on the first communication device according to the handover request.

In an embodiment of the invention, before the step of the network server switching the video call to the selected second communication device according to the handover request, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the network server, a confirmation request to the The communication device displays the answering message on the second communication device, and receives the answering operation for the video call by the second communication device, and transmits a confirmation message to the network server to connect the video call.

The present invention provides a video call system including a network server, a first communication device, and at least one second communication device. The second communication device uses an account to log in to the web server. The first communication device uses the account to log in to the web server, and establishes a video call with the external device through the network server, wherein the first communication device transmits a device list request to the network server to request the network servo. Providing a list of devices of the second communication device that can be connected under the account, and displaying the device list, and then generating a switching request and transmitting to the network according to the user's selection operation of one of the second communication devices in the device list The server, and the web server switches the video call to the selected second communication device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the network server detects a connection state of all communication devices that use an account to log in to the network server, and collects a communication device whose connection state is an online state to establish a device list, and Provided to the first communication device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first communication device further displays a plurality of options for the user to select to maintain the call or disconnect the call, and according to the user's selection operation of the second communication device in the device list and for these The selection operation of the option generates the switching request.

In an embodiment of the invention, the network server further maintains or cuts off the video call on the first communication device according to the handover request.

In an embodiment of the invention, the network server further transmits a confirmation request to the second communication device to display the answer message on the second communication device, and the second communication device receives the user's video call. The answering operation is based on sending a confirmation message to the web server to connect to the video call.

Based on the above, the video call system of the present invention and the video call switching method thereof obtain a list of the communication devices that are logged in or available for connection in the same account by the network server, so as to provide the device list to the communication that is being used for the video call. The device, according to the request of the communication device, directly switches the video call to another selected video device, thereby achieving video call switching between different devices.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

With the popularity of communication devices such as smart phones and tablet computers, a general user may have multiple communication devices at the same time, and in order to maintain the consistency of the data in these devices, the user can use the cloud service to synchronize data. The cloud service uses the same account to manage a plurality of different communication devices, and the network server detects the status of each communication device to perform data synchronization. The invention can use the network server to know the status of each communication device under the same account, and the video call is also connected to the external device via the network server, so that any communication device under the account can be provided to make a request. The dynamic switching of the video call is realized by switching the currently active video call to another designated communication device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a video call system according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the video communication system of the present embodiment is connected to the network server 12 located in the cloud by the network television 11, the tablet computer 12, the smart phone 13, and the notebook computer 14 by using a network. The Internet TV 11, the tablet 12, the smart phone 13, and the notebook computer 14 log into the web server 15 using the same account, for example, to use the cloud service provided by the web server 15.

The network server 15 synchronizes data with the network television 11, the tablet 12, the smart phone 13, and the notebook computer 14 according to the device information under the foregoing account. That is, as long as the data of any one of the network television 11, the tablet 12, the smart phone 13, and the notebook computer 14 is changed, the network server 15 can be known by means of data synchronization, and then again. Synchronize the changed data to other devices by means of data synchronization, and finally achieve data synchronization between different devices.

It should be noted that the network server 15 can also provide a network video call service, and the user can use the video call software or application installed in the device (for example, the smart phone 13) to access the network server. 15 Making or receiving an internet call to establish a video call with the external device 16. In addition, since the network server 15 has the management roles of multiple devices in the same account and the role of the provider of the video call service, the user can also switch the established video call between different devices, thereby Achieve the convenience of users to transfer video calls.

In more detail, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a video call system according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the video call system 20 of the present embodiment includes a network server 22, a first communication device 24, and at least one second communication device 26. The functions of the video server 22 are as follows: The network server 22 is configured, for example, in communication. The server of the provider side, or the user sets up the server in the home, and can provide multiple communication device links through the network for data synchronization.

The first communication device 24 and the second communication device 26 are, for example, smart phone, tablet computer, e-reader, notebook computer and the like having a network connection function, and the same account is used to log in to the network server 22 through the network. In order to use the cloud service provided by the web server 22. When the user uses the first communication device 24 to make or receive a video call, the network server 22 can be requested to provide the second communication device 26 that can be connected or used under the same account, and select one of the second communication devices. 26, in order to switch the video call to the selected second communication device 26 via the network server 22.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously, the method in this embodiment is applicable to the video communication system 20 of FIG. 2, and the following describes the detailed process of the method in this embodiment. First, the first communication is performed. The device 24 logs into the web server 22 using, for example, a user-preset account, and establishes a video call with the external device via the web server 22 according to the user's dialing or answering operation (step S302).

During the video call, the first communication device 24 detects, for example, the user's operation to transmit a device list request to the network server 22 (step S304), thereby requesting the network server 22 to provide the aforementioned account number. A list of devices for the second communication device 26 to be connected.

Next, the network server 22 supplies the device list of the second communication device 26 available for connection under the aforementioned account to the first communication device 24 (step S306). The network server 22 detects, for example, the connection status of all communication devices that use the aforementioned account login, and then aggregates the communication devices whose connection status is online to establish a device list, and finally provides the device list to The first communication device 24.

The first communication device 24 displays the device list on its screen after receiving the device list, and generates a switching request and transmits it to the network according to the user's selection operation of one of the second communication devices 26 in the device list. The server 22 (step S308).

Finally, the network server 22 can switch the previously established video call to the second communication device 26 selected by the user according to the handover request transmitted by the first communication device 24 (step S310). Wherein, since the above video call is established by the network server 22, the network server 22 can be switched through hardware or software as long as it can identify other devices under the same account and the device is also in an online state. Switching mode, the video call is transferred to another communication device, thereby achieving dynamic switching of the video call.

For example, the user can use the video calling software on the smart phone, such as Gtalk of Goole, to log in to Google's cloud server, and make a call to another mobile phone through the video calling software. In the cloud server, all the devices that the user has logged in under the same account are recorded, so that the list of the devices can be provided at any time according to the user's request, and the video call is switched to the selected device according to the user's selection. Up without having to cut off the video call or make other settings.

It should be noted that before the network server 22 switches the video call to the second communication device 26, for example, a confirmation request is sent to the second communication device 26, and the second communication device 26 displays whether to answer the video call. The message is received, and when the second communication device 26 receives the user's answering operation for the video call, a confirmation message is transmitted to the network server 22, and the network server 22 turns on the video call.

With the above system and method, the user can freely switch the video call to another suitable device during the video call. For example, when a user conducts a video call and walks into the living room at home, if the user wants to use the TV in the living room to make a video call, the simple operation can select the device list provided by the network server. TV, video call will automatically switch to the TV, which does not require complicated operations, thus providing users with the convenience of video calls.

It should be noted that, in the above implementation, when the network server switches the video call to another communication device, the video call on the original communication device is cut off immediately or after a period of time, and only a single one is maintained. The communication device and the external device make a video call. However, in another embodiment, the web server may also allow the user to select whether to disconnect the video call on the original communication device for a three-way call. The following is a detailed description of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 simultaneously, the method in this embodiment is applicable to the video communication system 20 of FIG. 2, and the following is a detailed description of the detailed process of the method in this embodiment. First, the first communication The device 24 logs into the web server 22 using, for example, a user-preset account, and establishes a video call with the external device via the web server 22 according to the user's dialing or answering operation (step S402).

During the video call, the first communication device 24 detects, for example, the user's operation to transmit a device list request to the network server 22 (step S404), and the network server 22 can provide the aforementioned account number. The list of devices for the connected second communication device 26 is supplied to the first communication device 24 (step S406). The implementations of the foregoing steps S402 to S406 are the same as or similar to the steps S302 to S306 of the foregoing embodiment, and thus the details thereof are not described herein again.

However, unlike the foregoing embodiment, in the present embodiment, after receiving the device list, the first communication device 24 displays a plurality of options for the user to select to maintain the call or cut in addition to the display device list. Breaking the call (step S408), after which the user can generate a switching request and transmit to the network server according to the user's selection operation of one of the second communication devices 26 in the device list and the user's selection operation of these options. 22 (step S410).

Finally, the network server 22 can switch the previously established video call to the second communication device 26 selected by the user according to the switching request transmitted by the first communication device 24, and maintain or cut off the first communication device 24. The video call on (step S412).

In summary, the video call system and the video call switching method thereof of the present invention provide a plurality of communication devices by using a web server to log in and synchronize data, and provide a list of these devices to any device. According to the selection of the device, the currently in-progress video call can be switched to another device to continue, and the video call performed on the original device is cut off or maintained, thereby dynamically switching the video call and providing the user with the video. The convenience of the call function.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

11. . . Internet TV

12. . . tablet

13,16. . . Smart phone

14. . . Notebook computer

15, 22. . . Web server

16. . . External device

20. . . Video call system

twenty four. . . First communication device

26. . . Second communication device

S302~S310. . . Steps of video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention

S402~S410. . . Steps of video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a video call system according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a block diagram of a video call system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention.

S302~S310. . . Steps of video call switching method according to an embodiment of the invention

Claims (10)

A video call switching method is applicable to a video call system including a first communication device, at least a second communication device, and a network server, the method comprising the following steps: the first communication device uses an account to log in to the network a server, and establishing a video call with an external device through the network server; the first communication device transmits a device list request to the network server; the network server provides the account to be connected At least one device list of the second communication device to the first communication device; the first communication device displays the device list and according to a user's selection operation for one of the at least one second communication device in the device list Generating a handover request and transmitting to the network server; and the network server switches the video call to the selected second communication device according to the handover request. The video call switching method of claim 1, wherein the step of the network server providing the device list of the at least one second communication device that can be connected to the account to the first communication device comprises: Detecting a connection state of all communication devices that use the account to log in to the network server; and collecting communication devices whose connection status is on an online state to establish a list of devices and provide the device to the first communication device. The video call switching method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device displays the device list, and according to the user's selection operation for one of the at least one second communication device in the device list, The step of generating the handover request and transmitting to the network server further includes: displaying a plurality of options for the user to select to maintain the call or disconnect the call, and according to the at least one second communication in the device list by the user The selection operation of one of the devices and the selection operation for the options generate the switching request. The video call switching method of claim 3, wherein the step of the network server switching the video call to the selected second communication device according to the switching request further comprises: maintaining, according to the switching request, Or cutting off the video call on the first communication device. The video call switching method of claim 1, wherein before the step of switching the video call to the selected second communication device according to the switching request, the network server further comprises: the network The server transmits a confirmation request to the second communication device to display an answer message on the second communication device; and the second communication device receives an answering operation for the video call, thereby transmitting a confirmation message to the A web server to connect to the video call. A video calling system includes: a network server; at least one second communication device, using an account to log in to the network server; a first communication device, using the account to log in to the network server, and through the network The path server establishes a video call with an external device, wherein the first communication device transmits a device list request to the network server to request the network server to provide the at least one second available for connection under the account a device list of the communication device, displaying the device list, and generating a switching request and transmitting to the network server according to a user's selection operation of one of the at least one second communication device in the device list, and The video call is switched by the network server to the selected second communication device. The video call system of claim 6, wherein the network server comprises a connection state for detecting all communication devices that use the account to log in to the network server, and the connection state is a line. A state communication device to establish a list of devices and provide to the first communication device. The video communication system of claim 6, wherein the first communication device further displays a plurality of options for the user to select to maintain a call or disconnect the call, and according to the user, the at least the list of the device The selection operation of one of the second communication devices and the selection operation of the options generate the switching request. The video call system of claim 8, wherein the network server further maintains or cuts the video call on the first communication device according to the switching request. The video call system of claim 6, wherein the network server comprises transmitting a confirmation request to the second communication device to display an answer message on the second communication device, and the second communication The device includes receiving an answering operation for the video call to transmit a confirmation message to the network server to connect the video call.