Mobile communication terminal and method for transmission of image in mobile messenger service

• US 8,625,550 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Woo Hyuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US11/788,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20070248070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/466, 455/522, 370/338, 370/313, 370/437
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Provided are a mobile communication terminal and a method capable of transmitting an image during the execution of a mobile messenger service. A host terminal acquires image data in response to a request for image transmission and creates a first transmission packet of the image data. The first packet is sent to a client terminal through a packet data communication network at a specified period. Additionally, when receiving a second transmission packet of image data from the client terminal, the host terminal decodes and displays the received second packet.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal for executing a mobile messenger service, the terminal comprising:

a control unit;

a wireless communication unit for transmitting, via a Short Message Service (SMS) server through a mobile communication network, an SMS invitation message that includes information for performing the mobile messenger service with a counterpart mobile communication terminal via a packet data communication network distinct from the mobile communication network, such that the information for performing the mobile messenger service includes information for identifying the mobile communication terminal with respect to the packet data communication network;

a packet data communication network interface unit for providing an interface with the packet data communication network according to the information included in the SMS invitation message transmitted via the SMS server, receiving, from the counterpart mobile communication terminal, a reply to the SMS invitation message indicating acceptance of the mobile messenger service through the mobile messenger service via the packet data communication network according to the information identifying the sender of the SMS invitation message with respect to the packet data communication network included in the SMS invitation message, and sending a first transmission packet of image data to the counterpart mobile communication terminal via the packet data communication network at a specified period under control of the control unit;

an image acquisition unit for periodically obtaining the image data by determining whether a predefined transmission period for transmitting the obtained image data has elapsed, under control of the control unit in response to a request for image transmission during execution of the accepted mobile messenger service; and

a transmission packet creation unit creating the first transmission packet of the image data under control of the control unit,

wherein image data is obtained and a second transmission packet of the image data is created when the predefined transmission period has elapsed, and a time when the period elapses is waited for when the predefined transmission period has not elapsed.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the image acquisition unit includes a camera lens configured to be adjustable in a location or direction as if located at a front face of the terminal.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the transmission packet creation unit divides the image data into one-time transmittable segments and compresses the divided segments, and wherein the first transmission packet of the image data includes the divided and compressed image segments, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a sender and an IP address of a receiver.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 3, wherein the transmission packet creation unit compresses the divided segments of the image data using a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) method.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the first transmission packet of the image data includes information about the counterpart mobile communication terminal, wherein the packet data communication interface unit sends the first transmission packet to the counterpart mobile communication terminal through the packet data communication network.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the specified period is approximately one second.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

an image decoder decoding the second transmission packet of image data received by the packet data communication interface unit during execution of the mobile messenger service; and

a display unit displaying the decoded image data.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the display unit includes a second image display section for displaying a second packet, a dialogue display section and a message input section.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8, wherein the display unit further includes a first image display section for displaying the first packet.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the control unit receives the decoded image data from the image decoder, determines validity of the decoded image data, and controls the display unit to display a valid image only.

11. A method for image transmission in execution of a mobile messenger service, the method comprising:

transmitting, via a Short Message Service (SMS) server through a mobile communication network, an SMS invitation message that includes information for performing the mobile messenger service with a counterpart mobile communication terminal via a packet data communication network distinct from the mobile communication network, such that the information for performing the mobile messenger service includes information for identifying a sender of the SMS invitation message with respect to the packet data communication network;

receiving, from the counterpart mobile communication terminal, a reply to the SMS invitation message indicating acceptance of the mobile messenger service through the mobile messenger service via the packet data communication network according to the information identifying the sender of the SMS invitation message with respect to the packet data communication network included in the SMS invitation message,

acquiring image data periodically by determining whether a predefined transmission period for transmitting the obtained image data has elapsed, in response to a request for image transmission during execution of the accepted mobile messenger service;

creating a first transmission packet of the image data; and

sending the first transmission packet of the image data to the counterpart mobile communication terminal via the packet data communication network according to the information included in the SMS invitation message transmitted via the SMS server at a specified period,

wherein image data is obtained and a second transmission packet of the image data is created when the predefined transmission period has elapsed, and a time when the period elapses is waited for when the predefined transmission period has not elapsed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the creating of the first packet includes dividing the image data into one-time transmittable segments, compressing the divided segments and creating the first packet having the divided and compressed image segments, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a sender and an IP address of a receiver.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending of the first packet is performed at intervals of approximately one second.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the second transmission packet of image data from the packet data communication network during execution of the mobile messenger service;

decoding the second transmission packet of the image data; and

displaying the decoded image data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying of the decoded image data includes displaying the second packet in a second image display section of a display unit also having a dialogue display section and a message input section.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying the first packet in a first image display section separated from the second image display section.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining validity of the decoded image data,

wherein the displaying of the decoded image data includes displaying a valid image only.