MOBILE TELEPHONE WITH A CAMERA AND A MIRROR
The invention relates to a locally installed MMS terminal, particularly a
terminal with mirror which can be installed as an independent unit capable for
taking photographs. The invention further relates to a method for operating the
MMS terminal connected to a network of a mobile phone service provider.
It is known that the new generation of the mobile phones is provided with a built-in or a connectibie camera adapted for taking still pictures or videos. These
still or short moving pictures can be stored and can be transmitted directly or from the storage means through a standard communication network of a mobile phone
service provider, most generally in the way of messages called MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). These messages can be used for different purposes but, however, under certain circumstances it is difficult for the user to take self photographs. In case of taking such a kind of self photographs the distance between the camera and the user is limited by the arm's length so the user needs assistance provided by another person. Use of a delay in shooting the picture(s) involves the problem of timing and directing.
In the field of fashion business and services it is a reasonable expectation
of the clients to ask for another person's advice relating to the articles of clothing
they tried on, but this another person is not always present at the place. By means
of an appropriate device or terminal unit the client will be able to take a still or
motion picture of herself or himself and transmit this in the form of MMS through a
mobile phone communication network.
The object of the present invention is to provide a terminal which is a
locally installed MMS terminal having a camera suitable for taking photographs
and which is provided with an interface and operating means suitable for sending an MMS through a mobile phone communication network, the camera is placed within the surface of a mirror so that its field of vision faces in the direction of
reflection of the reflective surface of the mirror.
Alternatively, the locally installed MMS terminal may be provided with only a main screen or monitor, and the camera may be placed next to the surface of
the screen so that its field of vision faces the viewing direction of the screen. The
main screen may be implemented by means of a projector.
In the method for operating the terminal according to the invention an adjusting device is used by means of which the user is able to adjust the picture area visually when taking photographs. The adjusting device is a mirror, in this
case the camera is placed within the surface of the mirror so that its field of vision faces in the direction of reflection of the reflective surface of the mirror, and/or a
screen arranged on the operating panel or next to the camera whose field of vision faces the viewing direction of the screen; the user takes one or more photographs of herself or himself; and the terminal transmits the final photographs in the form
of MMS through the built-in mobile phone transceiver unit connected to the
interface or through a mobile phone connected externally.
A detailed description of the invention will now be provided with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1A, 1 B and 1 C are schematic drawings of the terminal according
to the invention viewed from the side, the front and the back respectively; and
Figure 2 schematically shows the exploded view of the terminal according to the invention.
In Figures 1A-1C the most important component parts of the terminal according to the invention can be seen, namely a mirror 1 in the surface of which -
preferably in the middle of the surface - an opening 3 is formed. On the rear side
of the mirror 1 a camera 2 is arranged directed towards the reflective side (shown
in Figure 1 B) through opening 3 so that the person standing in front of the mirror and viewing herself or himself is in its field of vision. The place where the person is supposed to stand in order to take a good photograph may be marked.
Advantageously, camera 2 is thin and can be joined to the rear side of the mirror 1
either directly or indirectly with an optical element. Opening 3 may be scarcely discernible for example if the mirror 1 is provided with an optical element having a semitransparent coating and placed in opening 3.
In this manner mirror 1 has double function, on the one hand it serves as a
customary full-length mirror used in trying-on rooms or clothes shops in which the user can view herself or himself. On the other hand the image seen in mirror 1 may serve as a view finder by means of which the picture area seen by camera 2 can be identified. This latter function may also be separated for example if a separate operating panel 4 forming a part of the terminal and containing a screen
5 is placed beside the terminal as it is shown in Figure 1. Typically, this screen 5 is
much smaller than mirror 1 , but it can be used for setting the edge of the image as
viewed by camera 2. Operating panel 4 may also have another function. It can be
used for taking the photo itself for example by means of a push-button 6. If the
- A -
screen 5 is a touch screen, then push-button 6 may be omitted. In an alternative embodiment a remote control device can be used instead of or connected to
operating panel 4. In this case the remote control device contains the exposure
button so the user can move further from the mirror 1. Connection between the terminal or its operating panel 4 and the remote control device can be established
in a known manner, for example by means of a cable, infrared or radio-frequency
transmitter. The remote control device may be fixed for example on a wall further
from mirror 1.
An exemplary embodiment of an MMS terminal is shown in Figures 1A-1C as viewed from the side, the front and the back respectively. Here, the operating panel 4 and mirror 1 are assembled so that the front of the operating panel 4
slightly overlaps the reflective surface of the mirror 1 (Figure 1 B) and the back of
the operating panel 4 overlaps the rear side of the mirror to a larger extent by
means of a back panel 8 (Figure 1 C). As it can be seen in Figure 2 operating
panel 4 containing screen 5, and the back panel 8 which basically belongs to operating panel 4 are put together so that an intermediate member 7 is used. They together with the interposed flat mirror 1 provide a safe space for camera 2. Preferably, camera 2 is a digital camera of a flat format inserted in or attached to opening 3 directly or indirectly. The optical element (lens) may be a part of camera 2 or opening 3 or both. In the latter case it is a compound lens.
Typically, the terminal according to the invention can be used in trying-on
rooms of department stores or shops and may be provided with connecting elements to make installation easier. These are mechanical and electronic
elements which meet the regular requirements relating to size, space and distance
of coupling.
The terminal must be able to transmit at least one photograph taken by the user in the form of MMS. This can take place through one of the known mobile
phone communication networks. Basically, there are two possibilities for transmission. A mobile phone transceiver unit may be built in the terminal itself,
which transmits the MMS automatically to the desired address when an order is given after taking the photograph or after the succeeding checking, displaying. Or
the terminal may be provided with an interface connectible to the standard input port of the user's mobile phone and the user herself or himself may download the
photo and send it to the desired address using the usual method.
In certain cases the operating panel 4 may be provided with control means
suitable for execution of further image processing functions for example changing of colours, background, etc. These image processing functions can be performed by the user according to his choice by means of the operating panel 4 before the
MMS is sent. Also, the user may select the photos and may keep only the ones which he likes after re-observing. The terminal transmits the finally chosen photographs in the form of MMS through the built-in mobile phone transceiver unit connected to the interface or through a mobile phone connected externally. If the
user's own mobile phone is connected to the terminal, the address selection is performed in the usual manner, and the same can be performed in a similar way
by means of the control means of the operating panel. Thus the address selection
can be performed by means of either a connected or a built-in mobile phone transceiver.
Though in the present example transmission of a photo in the form of an
MMS was explained with respect to data transmission between mobile phones made suitable for transmission of an MMS, the so produced MMS may also be transmitted through the Internet. In this case the MMS is received by a computer
and can be displayed on a monitor connected to the computer.
As it was mentioned, camera 2 is placed through opening 3 formed within the surface of mirror 1 so that its field of vision faces in the direction of reflection of
the reflective surface of the mirror. In order to avoid distortions it is advantageous
if opening 3 is arranged as close as possible to the geometrical central point of the
useful surface area of the mirror. Since opening 3 is very small it covers only a negligible part of the picture area even if application of a semitransparent reflective surface is omitted.
In another possible embodiment of the invention mirror 1 in its entirety may
be replaced by another display device here referred to as main screen. In this
case, however, the main screen must be relatively large. Then the camera may be placed next to the surface of the screen so that its field of vision faces the user's viewing direction. This solution requires smaller space, however, a very big screen would be needed for displaying a life-size picture since the effect produced by using a smaller one is not equivalent to the effect that can be brought about by using mirror 1. It is to be noted that the main screen may be implemented by means of a projector, too.
In case of a terminal according to the first embodiment placing of the two
main component parts namely the mirror 1 and the operating panel 4 may be optional relative to each other. Preferably they are placed so that they are
approximately in the same direction as viewed by the user. The partial overlap in
case of the Figures illustrates this.
The terminal may be adapted to receive and display an answer given to an
MMS. Further it may be adapted to transmit video, too, in which case a plurality of
succeeding MMS messages are transmitted for example.
It is to be noted that implementing of operating panel 4 in a manner shown in Figures 1A-1 C and 2 is only an example, it may be accomplished also in a
different way, for example operating panel 4 may not overlap the mirror 1.
The locally installed MMS terminal according to the invention can be used
particularly in the field of fashion business for example in trying-on rooms of
department stores and shops, but it also can be used in hairdressing saloons or
beauty-parlours.