VIDEO COMMUNICATION METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20140192137A1
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun-Kyoung, Kim, Dae-Sung, Kim, So-Ra, Lim, Seung-Kyung, Park, Hang-Kyu
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• 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 an apparatus for obtaining image data for video communication in an electronic device are provided. In an embodiment, a method and an apparatus for providing a video communication function that simultaneously uses image data obtained via a plurality of cameras. In the method, first image data is obtained using a first camera. Second image data is obtained using a second camera. The first image data is merged with the second image data. The merged image data is transmitted to a second electronic device. Other embodiments are possible.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining first image data using a first camera;

obtaining second image data using a second camera;

merging the first image data with the second image data; and

transmitting the merged image data to a second electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises:

defining the first image data and the second image data as main image data and sub image data;

determining a region where the sub image data is displayed on a portion of a display region of the main image data; and

merging the sub image data in the determined region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises:

applying an editing effect corresponding to a user'"'"'s gesture to at least one of the first image data and the second image data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the editing effect comprises at least one of size control, position change of a region where the sub image data is displayed, addition of text, and application of an animation effect to the image data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises:

when a data transmission event occurs during video communication, adding information of transmitted data to one of the first image data and the second image data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving image data where first image data and second image data have merged from the second electronic device and displaying the same.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

swapping the main image data and the sub image data.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a display and at least one processor,

wherein the processor obtains first image data using a first camera, obtains second image data using a second camera, merges the first image data with the second image data, and transmits the merged image data to a second electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor defines the first image data and the second image data as main image data and sub image data, determines a region where the sub image data is displayed on a portion of a display region of the main image data, and processes to merge the sub image data in the determined region.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor processes to apply an editing effect corresponding to a user'"'"'s gesture to at least one of the first image data and the second image data.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor processes to apply at least one of editing effects comprising size control, position change of a region where the sub image data is displayed, addition of text, and application of an animation effect to the image data.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein when a data transmission event occurs during video communication, the processor processes to add information of transmitted data to at least one of the first image data and the second image data.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor processes to receive image data where first image data and second image data have merged from the second electronic device and display the same.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing a program, when executed by an electronic device, for allowing the electronic device to obtain first image data using a first camera, obtain second image data using a second camera, merge the first image data with the second image data, and transmit the merged image data to a second electronic device.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a first camera configured to obtain first image data;

a second camera configured to obtain second image data;

a processor configured to merge the first image data with the second image data; and

a communication system configured to transmit the merged image data to a second electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises the processor configured to:

define the first image data and the second image data as main image data and sub image data;

determine a region where the sub image data is displayed on a portion of a display region of the main image data; and

merge the sub image data in the determined region.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises the processor configured to:

apply an editing effect corresponding to a user'"'"'s gesture to at least one of the first image data and the second image data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the editing effect comprises at least one of size control, position change of a region where the sub image data is displayed, addition of text, and application of an animation effect to the image data.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein merging the first image data with the second image data comprises the processor configured to:

when a data transmission event occurs during video communication, add information of transmitted data to one of the first image data and the second image data.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

the communication system configured to receive image data where first image data and second image data have merged from the second electronic device and displaying the same.