Apparatus and method for automatically changing communication mode in mobile communication terminal

• US 20060105801A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Seung-Hwan
• Application Number:
  US11/199,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20060105801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• 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

Disclosed is a system and a method which automatically change a communication mode in a mobile communication terminal. The system includes a detection part for detecting a state of the mobile communication terminal. It is determined if the mobile communication terminal is in the open state, an ear-mike or a camera part is operating, or a user is within a predetermined distance. According to the detection result, the communication mode is automatically changed to a voice communication mode from a video communication mode or to the video communication mode from the voice communication mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically changing a communication mode in a mobile communication terminal capable of performing video communication, the apparatus comprising:

a detection part including an open state detection part capable of detecting a folder open state of the mobile communication terminal; and

a control part for setting the communication mode of the mobile communication terminal to one of a video communication mode and a voice communication mode according to a detection result and an operation state of a camera part of the mobile communication terminal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an ear-mike detection part for detecting an operation of an ear-mike of the mobile communication terminal.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control part determines if the mobile communication terminal is conducting a communication according to the detection result of the open state detection part, an operation state of the camera part, and the operation of the ear-mike.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control part recognizes a current communication mode as one of the video communication mode and the voice communication mode according to the operation state of the camera part when the folder is not in the open state and the ear-mike is in the operation state.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user access detection part capable of detecting access of a user when the user is within a predetermined distance of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the user access detection part includes one of a ultrasonic sensor and an infrared sensor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part recognizes a current communication mode as one of the video communication mode and the voice communication mode according to a detection result of the user access detection part if the folder is in the open state.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part recognizes a current communication mode as one of the video communication mode and the voice communication mode according to the operation state of the camera part if the folder is in the open state and the user is not detected.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control part controls the camera part in such a manner that the camera part of the mobile communication terminal is operated if the open state is detected.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control part receives from an opposite party a signal indicating if the video communication can be performed and informs a user of whether or not the video communication can be performed when the communication mode is changed to the video communication mode from the voice communication mode.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control part informs the user of whether or not the video communication can be performed by using at least one of a ringer, a vibrator, a light emitted diode, and a display part of the mobile communication terminal.

12. A method for automatically changing a communication mode in a mobile communication terminal capable of performing video communication, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a current communication mode of the mobile communication terminal;

detecting an operation state of the mobile communication terminal based on at least one of a folder state of the mobile communication terminal and an operation state of a camera part of the mobile communication terminal; and

changing the detected communication mode according to the operation state of the mobile communication terminal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the changing step includes the step of comparing the current communication mode with a communication mode detected in the operation state detection step and then changing the current communication mode into the communication mode detected in the operation state detection step if the current communication mode is not to the same as the communication mode detected in the operation state detection state.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein during the changing step the operation state detection and the communication mode detection are repeatedly performed during a predetermined period of time.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the changing step further includes the step of maintaining the current communication mode if the current communication mode is the same as the communication mode detected in the communication mode detection step before a predetermined time is expired.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein during the operation state detection step, the operation state is a video communication mode if the folder is open and the camera part is operating, and the operation state is a voice communication mode if the folder is open and the camera part is not operating.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operation state detection step further includes the step of detecting if an ear-mike of the mobile communication terminal is operating.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein during the operation state detection step, the operation state is a voice communication mode if the folder is closed and the ear-mike is operating, and the operation state is a communication termination state if the folder is closed and the ear-mike is not operating.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein during the operation state detection step, the camera part is determined as operating if the folder is in the open state and an operation of the ear-mike is detected, the operation state is the video communication mode if the camera part is operating, and the operation state is the voice communication mode if the camera part is not operating.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the changing step further includes the step of adjusting a communication environment according to the changed communication mode.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the adjusting of the communication environment includes the step of adjusting an amount of sound volume and adjusting power on/off of the camera part according to the changed communication mode.

22. A method for automatically changing a communication mode in a mobile communication terminal which can perform video communication and includes a user access detection part capable of detecting a user within a predetermined distance, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the communication mode of the mobile communication terminal;

detecting an operation state of the mobile communication terminal based on a folder state of the mobile communication terminal, an operation state of a camera part of the mobile communication terminal, and a detection result of the user access detection part; and

setting the communication mode to one of a voice communication mode and a video communication mode based on the operation state of the mobile communication terminal.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein during the operation state detection step, the operation state is determined based on the operation state of the camera part if the folder is open and the user is not detected.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein during the operation state detection step, the operation state is the voice communication mode if the folder is open and the user is detected.

25. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the operation state detection step further includes a step of detecting if an ear-mike is operating.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein during the operation state detection step, the operation state is determined based on the operation state of the camera part if the folder is closed and the ear-mike is operating.