Apparatus and method for processing multimedia audio signal for a voice call in a mobile terminal capable of receiving digital multimedia broadcasting service

• US 20050032507A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Ha, Na, Kyoung-Weon
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

An apparatus and method for enabling a user to view a multimedia broadcasting, especially for processing a multimedia audio signal when a voice call is requested during the multimedia broadcasting. In the mobile terminal, an RF module converts a received RF signal for a voice call to a coded signal. An audio processor converts the coded signal to an electrical voice signal and outputs it through a speaker. A demultiplexer receives a digital multimedia signal and separates it into an audio signal and a video signal. A decoder decodes the audio and video signals and provides the decoded audio signal to the speaker and the decoded video signal to a display. A controller discontinues decoding the audio signal and outputs the voice signal from the audio processor through the speaker, if a voice call request is generated during receiving of the digital multimedia signal.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal capable of receiving a digital multimedia signal having compressed-coded audio and video signals multiplexed, comprising:

an Radio Frequency (RF) module for receiving an RF signal for a voice call and converting the RF signal to a coded signal;

an audio processor for converting the coded signal to an electrical voice signal and outputting the electrical voice signal through a speaker;

a demultiplexer for receiving a digital multimedia signal and separating the digital multimedia signal into an audio signal and a video signal;

a decoder for decoding the audio and video signals and providing the decoded audio signal to the speaker and the decoded video signal to a display; and

a controller for controlling decoding the audio signal in the decoder to be discontinued and controlling the voice signal to be output from the audio processor through the speaker, if a voice call request is generated during receiving of the digital multimedia signal.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the decoder to discontinue decoding the audio signal output from the demultiplexer if the voice call request is generated during receiving of the digital multimedia signal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the demultiplexer not to output the audio signal to the decoder if the voice call request is generated during receiving of the digital multimedia signal.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated upon input of a predetermined key indicating call connection when an incoming voice call is detected.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated when an outgoing voice call is requested.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated when the controller originates a call to a designated called party and receives a response signal from the called party.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the digital multimedia signal further includes a compressed-coded text signal and the demultiplexer separates the text signal from the digital multimedia signal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the decoder to decode the text signal and output the text signal to the display when the voice call request is generated and the text signal is not being displayed on the display.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller decides whether to discontinue decoding of the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller decides whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal according to the user selection.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller checks whether the voice call is over and controls the decoder to resume decoding the audio signal if the voice call is over.

51. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

52. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

14. A mobile terminal capable of receiving a digital multimedia signal having compressed-coded audio and video signals multiplexed, comprising:

an Radio Frequency (RF) module for receiving an RF signal for a voice call and converting the RF signal to a coded signal;

an audio processor for converting the coded signal to an electrical voice signal and outputting the electrical voice signal through a speaker;

a demultiplexer for receiving a digital multimedia signal and separating the digital multimedia signal into an audio signal and a video signal;

a decoder for decoding the audio and video signals and providing the decoded audio signal to the speaker and the decoded video signal to a display; and

a controller for controlling decoding the audio signal in the decoder to be discontinued and controlling the voice signal to be output from the audio processor through the speaker, if a digital multimedia request is generated during the voice call.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller controls the decoder to discontinue decoding the audio signal output from the demultiplexer if the digital multimedia signal reception request is generated during the voice call.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller controls the demultiplexer not to output the audio signal to the decoder if the digital multimedia request is generated during the voice call.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the digital multimedia signal further includes a compressed-coded text signal and the demultiplexer separates the text signal from the digital multimedia signal.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller controls the decoder to decode the text signal and output the text signal to the display when the digital multimedia request is generated and the text signal is not being displayed on the display.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller decides whether to discontinue decoding of the audio signal according to user selection when the digital multimedia request is generated during the voice call.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller decides whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal according to the user selection.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller checks whether the voice call is over and controls the decoder to resume decoding the audio signal if the voice call is over.

53. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

54. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

24. A mobile terminal capable of receiving a digital multimedia signal having compressed-coded audio and video signals multiplexed, comprising:

an Radio Frequency (RF) module for receiving an RF signal for a voice call and converting the RF signal to a coded signal;

an audio processor for converting the coded signal to an electrical voice signal and outputting the electrical voice signal through a speaker;

a demultiplexer for receiving a digital multimedia signal and separating the digital multimedia signal into an audio signal and a video signal;

a decoder for decoding the audio and video signals and providing the decoded audio signal to the speaker and the decoded video signal to a display; and

a controller for controlling decoding the audio signal in the decoder to be discontinued and controlling the voice signal to be output from the audio processor through the speaker, if a voice call service and a digital multimedia service are requested simultaneously.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller controls the decoder to discontinue decoding the audio signal output from the demultiplexer if the voice call request and the digital multimedia request are generated simultaneously.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller controls the demultiplexer not to output the audio signal to the decoder if the voice call request and the digital multimedia request are generated simultaneously.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated upon input of a predetermined key indicating call connection when an incoming voice call is detected.

28. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated when an outgoing voice call is requested.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller determines that the voice call request is generated when the controller originates a call to a designated called party and receives a response signal from the called party.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the controller decides whether to discontinue decoding the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request and the digital multimedia request are generated simultaneously.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the controller decides whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal according to the user selection.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

55. The mobile terminal of claim 31, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

56. The mobile terminal of claim 31, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

34. A method of processing an audio signal in a mobile terminal capable of receiving a digital multimedia signal having the compressed-coded audio and video signals multiplexed, comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital multimedia signal and separating the digital multimedia signal into an audio signal and video signal;

decoding the audio and video signals and outputting the decoded audio signal to a speaker and the decoded video signal to a display;

discontinuing decoding the audio signal when a voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal; and

receiving an Radio Frequency (RF) signal for a voice call, converting the RF signal to an electrical voice signal, and outputting the electrical voice signal through the speaker.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of determining that the voice call request is generated upon input of a predetermined key indicating call connection when an incoming voice call is detected.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of determining that the voice call request is generated when an outgoing voice call is requested.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of determining that the voice call request is generated when the mobile terminal originates a call to a designated called party and receives a response signal from the called party.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the digital multimedia signal further includes a compressed-coded text signal when the voice call request is generated;

determining whether the text signal is being displayed on the display; and

separating the text signal from the digital multimedia signal, decoding the text signal, and displaying the decoded text signal on the display if the text signal is not being displayed on the display.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of deciding whether to discontinue decoding of the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal is decided according to the user selection.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

43. The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether the voice call is over; and

resuming decoding the audio signal if the voice call is over.

57. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of deciding whether to discontinue decoding of the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal is decided according to the user selection.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

44. A method of processing an audio signal in a mobile terminal capable of receiving a digital multimedia signal having the compressed-coded audio and video signals multiplexed, comprising the steps of:

receiving an Radio Frequency (RF) signal for a voice call, converting the RF signal to an electrical voice signal, and outputting the electrical voice signal through a speaker;

receiving a digital multimedia signal and separating the digital multimedia signal into an audio signal and a video signal if a digital multimedia request is generated during the voice call;

decoding the audio and video signals and providing the decoded audio signal to the speaker and the decoded video signal to a display; and

discontinuing decoding the audio signal, while decoding the video signal and displaying the decoded video signal on the display.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the digital multimedia signal further includes a compressed-coded text signal when the voice call request is generated;

determining whether the text signal is being displayed on the display; and

separating the text signal from the digital multimedia signal, decoding the text signal, and displaying the decoded text signal on the display if the text signal is not being displayed on the display.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of deciding whether to discontinue decoding the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal is decided according to the user selection.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.

50. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether the voice call is over; and

resuming decoding the audio signal and outputting the decoded audio signal through the speaker if the voice call is over.

61. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of deciding whether to discontinue decoding the audio signal according to user selection when the voice call request is generated during receiving the digital multimedia signal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein whether to block reception of the digital multimedia signal is decided according to the user selection.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the user selection is made by input of a predetermined key.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the user selection is made according to priority levels given to the voice call and the digital multimedia signal by the user.