Mobile video telephone with automatic answering function and method for controlling the same

• US 6,545,698 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Chung-Seon
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/973,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/14.06, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 455/567, 455/565, 455/569, 455/575, 455/557, 379/67.1
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• 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

A mobile video telephone with an automatic answering function is provided for sending a distinct outgoing message to a specified person. The mobile video telephone comprises a camera for taking a photograph of a calling person; a memory for storing a password, a video message, a basic message and a hint message; an image processor for compressing image data taken by the camera and decompressing image data received from a counterpart mobile video telephone; and a display for displaying the image data received from the counterpart mobile video telephone and also for displaying an operating status of the mobile video telephone. Further, the mobile video telephone comprises an alarm for generating a ring tone distinguishable from a normal ring tone, upon receipt of an incoming call from a specified person.

Claims

1. A mobile video telephone with an automatic answering function comprising:

a camera for recording video messages for automatic answering;

a memory for storing a basic video message for automatic answering, a password for distinguishing a specified person, a special video message corresponding to the password, and a hint message for providing a hint of the password to the specified person;

an image processor for compressing image data taken by the camera and decompressing image data received from a counterpart mobile video telephone; and

a display for displaying the image data received from the counterpart mobile video telephone and for displaying an operating status of the mobile video telephone;

wherein upon a call connection in an automatic answering mode, a controller displays the basic video message for automatic answering on the display, and then displays at least a portion of the special video message corresponding to the password input by the specified calling person on the display.

2. The mobile video telephone as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an alarm for generating a ring tone distinguishable from a normal ring tone, upon receipt of an incoming call from a specified person.

3. A method for setting an automatic answering mode in a mobile video telephone with an automatic answering function, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether an automatic answering image record key is input;

(b) recording a moving image to be transmitted to a specified person, when the automatic answering image record key is input;

(c) after completion of recording the moving image, determining whether a password to be assigned to the specified person is input; and

(d) upon receipt of the password, storing the password so that the specified person and the recorded moving image are matched in a memory.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising establishing a database wherein steps (a) to (d) are repeated to store a plurality of passwords in the memory in association with corresponding video messages.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether an automatic answering mode setting key is input;

if the automatic answering mode setting key is input, determining whether the memory has any recorded video message and its associated password; and

setting the automatic answering mode, if the memory has a video message and its associated password.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

after storing the password, displaying a hint message input request message on a display; and

upon receipt of a hint message, storing the received hint message in the memory.

7. A method for performing an automatic answering service in a mobile video telephone with an automatic answering function having at least one memory stored password and corresponding video message, the method comprising the steps of:

upon receipt of an incoming call, determining whether an automatic answering mode is set;

sending, if the automatic answering mode is set, a basic automatic answering screen including a password input request message to a calling person;

upon receipt of a password from the calling person, determining whether the received password is identical to a previously stored password; and

sending, if the passwords are identical to each other, a video message corresponding to the stored password.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of sending a hint screen, if the passwords are not identical to each other.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of generating a ring tone distinguishable from a normal ring tone, after sending the video message.

10. A method for originating an outgoing call in a mobile video telephone with an automatic answering function, the method comprising the steps of:

originating the outgoing call to a counterpart mobile video telephone with the automatic answering function;

determining whether a basic automatic answering screen including a password input request message is received from the counterpart mobile video telephone;

upon receipt of the basic automatic answering screen, inputting a password that is previously stored in the counterpart mobile video telephone, and sending the input password; and

receiving a video message corresponding to the password from the counterpart mobile video telephone with the automatic answering function, and displaying the received video message on a display, if the input password is identical to a registered password in the counterpart mobile video telephone.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying a hint message received from the counterpart mobile video telephone, when the input password is not identical to the password registered in the counterpart mobile video telephone.