Video call method and device

• US 10,038,834 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Geon Ho, Son, Dong Il, Cho, Chi Hyun, Heo, Chang Ryong
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US15/429,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electronic device for making a video call. The electronic device includes at least one camera, a communication module, and a processor that makes a video call with an external electronic device by using an image captured by the at least one camera, and if a control signal is received from the external electronic device, through the communication module, controls the at least one camera, based on the control signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

at least two cameras including a first camera and a second camera;

a communication module; and

a processor configured to;

make a video call with an external electronic device by using images captured by the at least two cameras;

control the first camera to capture a first image of a user;

control the second camera to capture a second image;

change a capturing direction of the first camera by tracking a motion of the user in order to capture the user continuously;

receive, from the external electronic device, through the communication module, a control signal for controlling the second camera;

change a capturing direction of the second camera based on the received control signal; and

transmit the first image and the second image to the external electronic device through the communication module.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control the second camera to change at least one of a capturing direction, a ratio of zoom-in to zoom-out, a resolution, brightness, focus, or a white balance of the second camera, based on the control signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control signal corresponds to motion information of the external electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control signal corresponds to motion information of a user of the external electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a drive module that controls a motion of the electronic device,

wherein the processor is further configured to change at least one of a location of the electronic device and a capturing direction of the at least two cameras by controlling the drive module.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request, from the external electronic device, through the communication module, for permission to control the second camera; and

sends approval information about the request for the permission to control, through the communication module, to the external electronic device, when a user input for approving the request for the permission to control is received.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform user authentication, when the user input for approving the request for the permission to control is received; and

send the approval information, when the user authentication is completed.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to control the second camera to capture the second image after the capturing direction of the second camera is changed into the capturing direction of the first camera, when the user input for approving the request for the permission to control is received.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send the first image, through the communication module, to the external electronic device, when the video call starts; and

send the second image, through the communication module, to the external electronic device, when the user input for approving the request for the permission to control is received.