COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREFOR, AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM THEREFOR

• US 20120154512A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKAO, Naoya, FUJIMOTO, Kazuo, WATANABE, Shigeaki, KOUZUKI, Masafumi, ITOH, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,902,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.03
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A first index corresponding to a first conversation operation and a second index corresponding to a second conversation operation are selectably displayed on a screen of a video output device. When a communicator receives a conversation request from another device, a controller determines whether the first index or the second index is selected on the screen or whether an operating member is operated. If the first index is selected, the controller performs the first conversation operation. If the second index is selected, the controller performs the second conversation operation. If the operating member is operated, the controller performs the second conversation operation.

Claims

1. A communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, the communication device comprising:

a communicator configured to be capable of transmitting video data and audio data to said other device and be capable of receiving video data, audio data, and a conversation request transmitted from said other device; and

a controller configured to selectively perform a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device by said communicator and a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device by said communicator and not transmitting video data to said other device while being configured to selectably display a first index corresponding to said first conversation operation and a second index corresponding to said second conversation operation on a screen of said video output device, wherein said controller is configured to determine whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen and whether said operating member is operated when said communicator receives a conversation request from said other device, and perform said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, perform said second conversation operation when said second index is selected, and perform said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

said operating member is provided in a remote controller for controlling said communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

said controller is configured to selectably display a third index corresponding to said first conversation operation on said screen of said video output device while performing said second conversation operation, and switch said second conversation operation to said first conversation operation when said third index is selected.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

said communication device is configured to be connectable to a video input device and an audio input device,

said first conversation operation includes an operation for transmitting video data input by said video input device and audio data input by said audio input device to said other device by the communicator while receiving audio data transmitted from said other device by said communicator, and

said second conversation operation includes an operation for not transmitting video data to said other device but transmitting the audio data input by said audio input device to said other device by said communicator while receiving audio data transmitted from said other device by said communicator.

5. A communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, the communication device comprising:

a main functional unit configured to perform a main functional operation based on video data and audio data;

a communicator configured to be capable of transmitting video data and audio data to said other device and receiving video data, audio data, and a conversation request transmitted from said other device;

a controller configured to control said main functional unit while controlling communication of video data and audio data by said communicator;

a power supplier configured to be capable of supplying power to said controller and said main functional unit; and

a switcher configured to switch said communication device to a power-on state where power is supplied to said controller and said main functional unit from said power supplier and a standby state where power is supplied to said controller from said power supplier and power is not supplied to said main functional unit;

wherein

said controller configured to selectively perform a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device by said communicator and a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device by said communicator and not transmitting video data to said other device while being configured to selectably display a first index corresponding to said first conversation operation and a second index corresponding to said second conversation operation on a screen of said video output device and said controller is further configured to determine whether said communication device is in said power-on state or said standby state, determine whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen when said communication device is in said power-on state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device, perform said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, perform said second conversation operation when said second index is selected, determine whether said operating member is operated when said communication device is in said standby state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device, and perform said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein

said operating member is provided in a remote controller for controlling said communication device.

7. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein

said controller is configured to further determine whether said operating member is operated when said communication device is in said power-on state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device, and perform said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

8. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein

said controller is configured to selectably display a third index corresponding to said first conversation operation on said screen of said video output device while performing said second conversation operation, and switch said second conversation operation to said first conversation operation when said third index is selected.

9. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein

said communication device is configured to be connectable to a video input device and an audio input device,

said first conversation operation includes an operation for transmitting video data input by said video input device and audio data input by said audio input device to said other device by said communicator while receiving audio data transmitted from said other device by said communicator, and

said second conversation operation includes an operation for not transmitting video data to said other device but transmitting the audio data input by said audio input device to said other device by said communicator while receiving audio data transmitted from said other device by said communicator.

10. A communication method for a communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a conversation request from said other device by a communicator;

selectably displaying a first index corresponding to a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device and a second index corresponding to a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device and not transmitting video data to the other device on a screen of said video output device;

determining whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen and whether said operating member is operated when said conversation request is received; and

performing said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, performing said second conversation operation when said second index is selected, and performing said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

11. A communication method for a communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, wherein

said communication device is configured to be switchable to a power-on state where power is supplied to a controller and a main functional unit and a standby state where power is supplied to said controller and power is not supplied to said main functional unit,

the communication method comprising the steps of:

performing a main functional operation based on video data and audio data by said main functional unit according to control by said controller when said communication device is in said power-on state;

receiving a conversation request from said other device by a communicator;

selectably displaying a first index corresponding to a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device and a second index corresponding to a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device and not transmitting video data to the other device on a screen of said video output device;

determining whether said communication device is in said power-on state or said standby state;

determining whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen when said communication device is in said power-on state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device;

performing said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, and performing said second conversation operation when said second index is selected;

determining whether said operating member is operated when said communication device is in said standby state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device; and

performing said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

12. A communication program executable by a controller in a communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, the communication program causing said controller to perform:

processing for controlling a communicator to receive a conversation request from said other device;

processing for selectably displaying a first index corresponding to a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device and a second index corresponding to a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device and not transmitting video data to the other device on a screen of said video output device;

processing for determining whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen and whether said operating member is operated when said conversation request is received; and

processing for performing said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, performing said second conversation operation when said second index is selected, and perform said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.

13. A communication program executable by a controller in a communication device configured to be capable of communicating with another device and be operable using an operating member by a user while being connectable to a video output device, wherein

said communication device is configured to be switchable to a power-on state where power is supplied to said controller and a main functional unit and a standby state where power is supplied to said controller and power is not supplied to said main functional unit,

the communication program causing said controller to perform:

processing for controlling said main functional unit to perform a main functional operation based on video data and audio data when said communication device is in said power-on state;

processing for controlling a communicator to receive a conversation request from said other device;

processing for selectably displaying a first index corresponding to a first conversation operation for transmitting audio data and video data to said other device and a second index corresponding to a second conversation operation for transmitting audio data to said other device and not transmitting video data to the other device on a screen of said video output device;

processing for determining whether said communication device is in said power-on state or said standby state;

processing for determining whether said first index or said second index is selected on said screen when said communication device is in said power-on state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device;

processing for performing said first conversation operation when said first index is selected, and performing said second conversation operation when said second index is selected;

processing for determining whether said operating member is operated when said communication device is in said standby state and said communicator receives the conversation request from said other device; and

processing for performing said second conversation operation when said operating member is operated.