METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIDEO COMMUNICATION

• US 20170353900A1
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHO, Hyung-Rae, KIM, Sun-Ae, KWAHK, Ji-Young, OH, Hyun-Joo
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• 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: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 : Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A method for changing a communication network for video communication is provided. The method includes performing, by a user equipment (UE), video communication through a mobile communication network; searching for whether there is a wireless local area network (WLAN) accessible by the UE; displaying, if a WLAN accessible by the UE is found, the accessible WLAN; and when the displayed WLAN is selected by a user, changing a communication network for the video communication to perform the video communication through the selected WLAN.

Claims

1. A method for performing video communication by an electronic device, the method comprising:

performing the video communication with an external device using a first wireless communication network, the video communication with the external device using the first wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the first wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the first wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through a camera of the electronic device;

displaying a video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network on a touch screen of the electronic device;

identifying, by the electronic device, one or more second wireless communication networks available at a current location of the electronic device based on a signal of each of the one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network;

based on the identifying of the one or more second wireless communication networks, displaying, on the touch screen, one or more user interface items that respectively correspond to the identified one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication networks, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items allows for selecting a corresponding second wireless communication network through which to perform the video communication with the external device, wherein each of the one or more user interface items includes signal strength information for the corresponding second wireless communication network,

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a first user touch input for a user interface item of the displayed one or more user interface items while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, selecting, by the electronic device, a second wireless communication network corresponding to the user interface item,

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a second touch input for connecting to the selected second wireless communication network while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, initiating, by the electronic device, an operation to change a communication network for the video communication from the first wireless communication network to the selected second wireless communication network; and

performing, with the external device using the selected second wireless communication network to which the communication network for the video communication is changed from the first wireless communication network, the video communication, the video communication with the external device using the second wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the second wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the second wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through the camera of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items further comprises at least one of type information or an alphanumeric identifier for a corresponding WLAN.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection of the WLAN is canceled based on an input received while the user interface item corresponding to the WLAN is displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second touch input comprises a touch input, received through the touch screen, for a connect option displayed on the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to receiving the second touch input, displaying, on the touch screen, a user interface for obtaining information for connecting to the selected WLAN; and

connecting to the selected WLAN, through which to send and receive video communication data, using the information obtained through the displayed user interface.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the video communication has been performed using the first wireless communication network until the video communication is performed using the selected WLAN.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising changing the communication network for the video communication from the selected WLAN to one of the first wireless communication network or another first wireless communication network based on the electronic device being outside of a service coverage area of the selected WLAN.

9. An electronic device for performing video communication by an electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to at least;

control to perform the video communication with an external device using a first wireless communication network, the video communication with the external device using the first wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the first wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the first wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through a camera of the electronic device,

control to display a video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network on a touch screen of the electronic device,

control to identify one or more second wireless communication networks available at a current location of the electronic device based on a signal of each of the one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network,

based on the identifying of the one or more second wireless communication networks, control to display, on the touch screen, one or more user interface items that respectively correspond to the identified one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication networks, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items allows for selecting a corresponding second wireless communication network through which to perform the video communication with the external device, wherein each of the one or more user interface items includes signal strength information for the corresponding second wireless communication network,

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a first user touch input for a user interface item of the displayed one or more user interface items while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, control to select a second wireless communication network corresponding to the user interface item,

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a second touch input for connecting to the selected second wireless communication network while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, control to initiate an operation to change a communication network for the video communication from the first wireless communication network to the selected second wireless communication network, and

control to perform, with the external device using the selected second wireless communication network to which the communication network for the video communication is changed from the first wireless communication network, the video communication, the video communication with the external device using the second wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the second wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the second wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through the camera of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second wireless communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items further comprises at least one of type information or an alphanumeric identifier for a corresponding WLAN.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the selection of the WLAN is canceled based on an input received while the user interface item corresponding to the WLAN is displayed.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second touch input comprises a touch input, received through the touch screen, for a connect option displayed on the touch screen.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions further to at least:

in response to receiving the second touch input, control to display, on the touch screen, a user interface for obtaining information for connecting to the selected WLAN, and

control to connect to the selected WLAN, through which to send and receive video communication data, using the information obtained through the displayed user interface.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the video communication has been performed using the first wireless communication network until the video communication is performed using the selected WLAN.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions further to control to change the communication network for the video communication from the selected WLAN to one of the first wireless communication network or another first wireless communication network based on the electronic device being outside of a service coverage area of the selected WLAN.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device to cause the processor to at least:

control to perform video communication with an external device using a first wireless communication network, the video communication with the external device using the first wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the first wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the first wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through a camera of the electronic device;

control to display a video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network on a touch screen of the electronic device;

control to identify one or more second wireless communication networks available at a current location of the electronic device based on a signal of each of the one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network;

based on the identifying of the one or more second wireless communication networks, control to display, on the touch screen, one or more user interface items that respectively correspond to the identified one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication networks, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items allows for selecting a corresponding second wireless communication network through which to perform the video communication with the external device, wherein each of the one or more user interface items includes signal strength information for the corresponding second wireless communication network;

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a first user touch input for a user interface item of the displayed one or more user interface items while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, control to select a second wireless communication network corresponding to the user interface item;

in response to receiving, through the touch screen, a second touch input for connecting to the selected second wireless communication network while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network, control to initiate an operation to change a communication network for the video communication from the first wireless communication network to the selected second wireless communication network; and

control to perform, with the external device using the selected second wireless communication network to which the communication network for the video communication is changed from the first wireless communication network, the video communication, the video communication with the external device using the second wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the second wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the second wireless communication network, wherein video communication data sent towards the external device includes image data obtained through the camera of the electronic device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second wireless communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items further comprises at least one of type information or an alphanumeric identifier for a corresponding WLAN.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the selection of the WLAN is canceled based on an input received while the user interface item corresponding to the WLAN is displayed.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the second touch input comprises a touch input, received through the touch screen, for a connect option displayed on the touch screen.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions cause the processor further to at least:

in response to receiving the second touch input, control to display, on the touch screen, a user interface for obtaining information for connecting to the selected WLAN, and

control to connect to the selected WLAN, through which to send and receive video communication data, using the information obtained through the displayed user interface.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the video communication has been performed using the first wireless communication network until the video communication is performed using the selected WLAN.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions cause the processor further to control to change the communication network for the video communication from the selected WLAN to one of the first wireless communication network or another first wireless communication network based on the electronic device being outside of a service coverage area of the selected WLAN.

25. An electronic device for performing video communication by an electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to at least;

control to perform the video communication with an external device using a first wireless communication network, the video communication with the external device using the first wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the first wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the first wireless communication network, and video communication data sent towards the external device including image data obtained through a camera of the electronic device,

control to display a video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network on a touch screen of the electronic device,

control to identify one or more second wireless communication networks available at a current location of the electronic device based on a signal of each of the one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication network,

based on the identifying of the one or more second wireless communication networks, control to display, on the touch screen, one or more user interface items that respectively correspond to the identified one or more second wireless communication networks while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication networks, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items allows for selecting a corresponding second wireless communication network through which to perform the video communication with the external device, wherein each of the one or more user interface items includes signal strength information for the corresponding second wireless communication network,

based on a touch interaction, through the touch screen, involving a user interface item of the displayed one or more user interface items while displaying the video image of the video communication being performed with the external device using the first wireless communication networks, control to display, on the touch screen, a user interface for obtaining information for connecting to a second wireless communication network corresponding to the user interface item involved in the touch interaction, and

control to perform, with the external device using the selected second wireless communication network to which the communication network for the video communication is changed from the first wireless communication network, the video communication, the video communication with the external device using the second wireless communication network comprising sending video communication data towards the external device through the second wireless communication network and receiving video communication data originating from the external device through the second wireless communication network, video communication data sent towards the external device including image data obtained through the camera of the electronic device, and the second wireless communication network being a wireless local area network (WLAN).

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein each of the displayed one or more user interface items further comprises at least one of type information or an alphanumeric identifier for a corresponding WLAN.

27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the touch interaction involving the user interface item comprises a first touch input, received through the touch screen, for the user interface item for selecting the corresponding WLAN and a second touch input, received through the touch screen, for connecting to the corresponding WLAN.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the selection of the WLAN is canceled based on an input received while the user interface item corresponding to the WLAN is displayed.

29. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions further to control to change the communication network for the video communication from the changed-to WLAN to one of the mobile communication network or another mobile communication network based on the electronic device being outside of a service coverage area of the changed-to WLAN.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the video communication has been performed using the first wireless communication network until the video communication is performed using the selected WLAN.