Method and apparatus for taking images during a video call on a mobile communication terminal

• US 20080024592A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bang, Ji Young, Kim, Jeong Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 8,189,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A method and apparatus for taking images while making a video call on a mobile communication terminal having a video call feature are provided. A method for taking images on a mobile communication terminal including a camera sensor for photographing an image to output an image signal and a signal processor receiving the image signal from the camera sensor to convert the image signal to image data includes determining whether there is a request to take an image during a video call and extracting, if there is a request to take an image, the image signal output from the camera sensor, converting the image signal to image data for storage, and storing the image data while performing the video call. The method enables production and storage of image data using a controller instead of a signal processor functioning for performing a video call, thus allowing high quality still or motion video image data to be taken and stored while making a video call.

Claims

1. A method for taking images on a mobile communication terminal having a video call function, the method comprising:

determining whether there is a request to take an image during a video call;

extracting, if there is a request to take an image, an image signal output from a camera sensor; and

storing the extracted image signal while performing the video call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting of the image signal comprises:

extracting, upon request to fake an image, the image signal while performing the video call; and

converting the extracted image signal into image data for storage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing of the extracted image signal comprises storing the image data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting of the image signal comprises extracting at least one of raw data that has not been processed and raw data that has not been converted.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the converting of the extracted image signal comprises converting the image signal into at least one of still image data and motion video data.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether there is a request to terminate the video call; and

terminating the video call if there is a request to terminate the video call.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying the stored image data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the stored image data comprises:

displaying a message requesting whether to display the stored image data; and

displaying, if a request is received to display the image data, the stored image data.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising deleting the displayed image data if there is a request for deletion.

10. A method for taking images on a mobile communication terminal having a video call function, the method comprising:

determining whether there is a request to take an image during a video call;

extracting, if there is a request to take an image, an image signal output from a camera sensor;

converting the image signal to image data for storage;

temporarily storing the image data, while performing the video call;

terminating the video call; and

storing the temporarily stored image data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracting of the image signal comprises extracting at least one of raw data that has not been processed and raw data that has not been converted.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the converting of the extracted image signal comprises converting the image signal into at least one of still image data or motion video data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the terminating of the video call comprises:

determining whether there is a request to terminate the video call; and

terminating the video call if there is a request to terminate the video call.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the storing of the temporarily stored image data comprises:

inputting a file name for the image data; and

storing the image data as the input file name.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a message requesting whether to display or automatically save the temporarily stored image data; and

displaying, if a request is received to display the temporarily stored image data, the temporarily stored image data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the storing of the temporarily stored image data further comprises automatically saving the temporarily stored image data for storage, if a request is received to automatically save the temporarily stored image data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the automatically saving of the temporarily stored image data for storage comprises:

inputting a file name for the image data; and

storing the image data as the input file name.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the temporarily stored image data displayed in the displaying of the temporarily stored image data step is deleted upon request for deletion.

19. A mobile communication terminal having a video call function, comprising:

a determiner for determining whether there is a request to take an image during a video call;

an image extractor for extracting, upon receipt of a signal indicating a request to take an image from the determiner, an image signal output from a camera sensor during the video call;

an image converter for converting the image signal extracted by the image extractor into image data for storage; and

an image storage unit for storing the image data output from the image converter.

20. The terminal of claim 19, further comprising an image processor for displaying the image data stored in the image storage unit on a screen and deleting, upon request for deletion, the displayed image data.

21. A method for taking images on a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising:

performing a video calling function using a camera module having a camera sensor on a mobile communication terminal;

receiving a request to take an image during the video call;

extracting an image signal output from the camera sensor during the video call; and

storing the extracted image signal during the video call.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the performing of the video calling function using the camera module comprises processing the image signal output from the camera sensor by a signal processor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the extracting of the image signal output from the camera sensor comprises transmitting the image signal to a controller.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the transmitting of the image signal to the controller comprises transmitting at least one of raw data that has not been processed and raw data that has not been converted.