U.S. patent application number 14/021701 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for method of audio-visual communication using a television and television using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Fang-Yuan Shyu.
Application Number | 20140015915 14/021701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37893342 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140015915 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shyu; Fang-Yuan |
January 16, 2014 |
METHOD OF AUDIO-VISUAL COMMUNICATION USING A TELEVISION AND
TELEVISION USING THE SAME
Abstract
A method of audio-visual communication using a television and a
television using the same are provided, wherein the broadband
network and television technologies are used to achieve services of
audio-visual communication over a network, such that a user uses
the television to conduct audio-visual communications.
Inventors: |
Shyu; Fang-Yuan; (Taipei,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Taipei |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
37893342 |
Appl. No.: |
14/021701 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11468647 |
Aug 30, 2006 |
8013938 |
|
|
14021701 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/14.07 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4316 20130101;
H04N 21/4223 20130101; H04N 7/15 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101;
H04N 7/14 20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; H04N 7/173 20130101;
H04N 7/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/14.07 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/15 20060101
H04N007/15 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 5, 2006 |
TW |
095116128 |
Claims
1. A method for audio-visual communication using a television
configured to simultaneously display a main picture and a secondary
picture using a display unit, the method comprising: receiving an
incoming call indication comprising a conversation request from a
remote party, wherein the incoming call indication is displayed in
the secondary picture; establishing a communication link with the
remote party in an instance in which an answering signal has been
received, the communication link enabling a multi-directional
conversation that comprises the exchange of audio-visual
communications; and causing a received video of the remote party to
be displayed in the secondary picture, wherein the display unit is
operable to display video in the main picture simultaneously with
the received video of the remote party in the secondary
picture.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: causing a video
shooting unit to be activated in response to the answering signal;
and causing video captured by the video shooting unit to be
transmitted as a transmit video signal to the remote party for the
conversation.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: causing a sound
pickup unit to be activated in response to the answering signal;
and causing sound captured by the sound pickup unit to be
transmitted as a transmit sound signal to the remote party for the
conversation, wherein the transmit sound signal is interlaced with
the transmit video signal.
4. The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving a received
sound signal and a received video signal over the communications
link; processing the received sound signal and the received video
signal for display as the received video of the remote party; and
providing, using the processing unit, non-interrupted audio and
visual communication with the remote party by simultaneously
displaying the received video, outputting the received sound
signal, and transmitting the interlaced transmit sound signal and
transmit video signal to the remote party.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a received
sound signal and a received video signal over the communications
link; and processing the received sound signal and the received
video signal for display as the received video of the remote
party.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the television further comprises
the video shooting unit and the sound pickup unit.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary picture is
displayed instead of the main picture in an instance in which the
answering signal is received.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the answering signal is received
from a remote controller.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link comprises
at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the internet and
the video in the main picture is received via a broadcast.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming call indication is
received in an instance in which a video is being displayed in the
main picture.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving video in
the form of at least one of a television program, a web-browser, a
movie, or a multimedia clip; and displaying the video in the main
picture.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that a
termination signal has been received; and causing the secondary
picture to be removed from the display unit.
13. An apparatus comprising a processor unit, a display unit
configured to simultaneously display a main picture and a secondary
picture, and a memory unit, the processor unit configured to cause
the apparatus to: receive an incoming call indication comprising a
conversation request from a remote party, wherein the incoming call
indication is displayed in the secondary picture; establish a
communication link with the remote party in an instance in which an
answering signal has been received, the communication link enabling
a multi-directional conversation that comprises the exchange of
audio-visual communications; and cause a received video of the
remote party to be displayed in the secondary picture, wherein the
display unit is operable to display video in the main picture
simultaneously with the received video of the remote party in the
secondary picture.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: cause a video shooting unit to be
activated in response to the answering signal; and cause video
captured by the video shooting unit to be transmitted as a transmit
video signal to the remote party for the conversation.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: cause a sound pickup unit to be activated
in response to the answering signal; and cause sound captured by
the sound pickup unit to be transmitted as a transmit sound signal
to the remote party for the conversation, wherein the transmit
sound signal is interlaced with the transmit video signal.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: receive a received sound signal and a
received video signal over the communications link; process the
received sound signal and the received video signal for display as
the received video of the remote party; and provide non-interrupted
audio and visual communication with the remote party by
simultaneously displaying the received video, outputting the
received sound signal, and transmitting the interlaced transmit
sound signal and transmit video signal to the remote party.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: receive a received sound signal and a
received video signal over the communications link; and process the
received sound signal and the received video signal for display as
the received video of the remote party.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further
comprises the video shooting unit and the sound pickup unit.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the secondary picture is
displayed instead of the main picture in an instance in which the
answering signal is received.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the answering signal is
received from a remote controller.
21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communications link
comprises at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the
interne and the video in the main picture is received via a
broadcast.
22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the incoming call indication
is received in an instance in which a video is displayed in the
main picture.
23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: receive video in the form of at least one
of a television program, a movie, or a multimedia clip; and display
the video in the main picture.
24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor unit further
causes the apparatus to: determine that a termination signal has
been received; and cause the secondary picture to be removed from
the display unit.
25. A television comprising: a receiving unit, the receiving unit
configured to receive an incoming call indication comprising a
conversation request from a remote party, wherein the incoming call
indication is displayed in a secondary picture; a processing unit,
the processing unit configured to establish a communication link
with the remote party in an instance in which an answering signal
has been received, the communication link enabling a
multi-directional conversation that comprises the exchange of
audio-visual communications; and a display unit, the display unit
configured to display a received video of the remote party in the
secondary picture, wherein the display unit is operable to display
video in the main picture simultaneously with the received video of
the remote party in the secondary picture.
26. The television of claim 25, further comprising: a sound pickup
unit configured to capture sound in an instance in which an
answering signal has been received; a video shooting unit
configured to capture video in an instance in which an answering
signal has been received; and a transmitting unit configured to
transmit the sound and the video to the remote party for the
conversation.
27. The television of claim 26, wherein the processing unit is
further configured to interlace the sound and the video for the
conversation.
28. The television of claim 25, further comprising: a receive unit
configure to receive a received sound signal and a received image
signal over the communications link, and wherein the processor unit
is further configured to process the received sound signal and
received video signal for display as the received video of the
remote party.
29. The television of claim 25, wherein the processing unit is
further configured to provide non-interrupted audio and visual
communication with the remote party by simultaneously displaying
the received video, outputting received sound interlaced with
received video and transmitting an interlaced transmit sound signal
and transmit video signal to the remote party.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/193,560 filed Jul. 28, 2011, which is a
divisional of Ser. No. 11/468,647 filed Aug. 30, 2006, now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,013,938, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095116128 filed in
Taiwan, R.O.C. on May 5, 2006, the entire contents of the foregoing
are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0002] This non-provisional application is also a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 13/193,567 filed Jul. 28, 2011, which is
a divisional of Ser. No. 11/468,647 filed Aug. 30, 2006, now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,013,938, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095116128 filed in
Taiwan, R.O.C. on May 5, 2006, the entire contents of the foregoing
are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a television, and more
particularly, to a television integrated with a network.
[0005] 2. Related Art
[0006] The number of users of audio-visual communication services
over a network is growing rapidly with the maturity of the
broadband network environment, due to the high quality of the
audio-visual communication of the Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) and the network visual specifications (H.323), and the
development of specifically designed communication software for
these applications.
[0007] However, currently, many video content and services are
conducted over Internet, thus, the user has to use personal
computers (PCs) or specialized network phones and specialized
network video phones to enjoy the convenience of these services.
Though many users spend more time on computers than on televisions,
and they soon get used to take the computer as a tool for instant
visual or voice communication, as for users who are not accustomed
to or unfamiliar with computer operations, these services cannot be
prevailing.
[0008] The recent phone surveys conducted by two American market
research companies: Points North Group and Horowitz Associates
shows, 25% of the Internet users prefer to watch downloaded TV
programs and movies on the computer, while 38% of the users prefer
to enjoy this kind of videos on televisions. As for users with the
age of 18-34, 68% of them are more interested in televisions, while
45% of them prefer to enjoy videos on computers. These data show
that, though the computer has multiple functions and better
interactivity, most users still prefer to use televisions, for
example, to watch TV programs or films, to ease their busy
activities on computers and to relax themselves.
[0009] As can known from the above that, the television is a
non-resistible medium for most consumers, and its popularity and
convenience are far beyond the computer. Therefore, if the network
visual or voice communication service can become available through
simple operations on the televisions, the popularity of such
service will be enhanced, thereby providing better opportunity to
both networks and televisions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention
discloses a method of audio-visual communication using a television
and the television using the same, which aims at enabling users to
enjoy the network visual and voice communication service with a
television, wherein the techniques of wired broadband or wireless
broadband network and the digital television are integrated
together. Thus, the television is not only capable of receiving
broadcasted signals passively, but also capable of achieving
bi-directional communication among users, and receiving the latest
TV information while conducting communications synchronically.
[0011] According to specific embodiments of the present invention,
as for the network communication using the television, when the
television is in standby or playing state, there are different
processing procedures directed to incoming and outgoing calls.
[0012] When the television is in the standby state, it receives the
incoming call signals from a remote user, and conducts different
operations according to the auto wakeup setting set by the user,
i.e., the television is automatically turned on or not turned on.
Then, the incoming-call information is displayed on the image of
the television, and/or the incoming-call reminding sound is played
with a remote controller or a built-in speaker of the television.
At this time, the user can use the remote controller of the
television or the television to select whether to answer the phone
to enter the conversation state or not answer the phone to
terminate the calling respectively.
[0013] When the television is in the playing state, the television
receives the incoming-call signal from the remote user, and
displays the incoming-call information on the image, and/or plays
the incoming-call reminding sound with the remote controller or the
built-in speaker of the television. At this time, similarly, the
user can further use the remote controller of the television or the
television to select whether to answer the phone to enter the
conversation state or not answer the phone to terminate the program
respectively.
[0014] When the user wants to make an outgoing call, he/she uses
the remote controller of the television or the television to
display the dial menu on the TV image, and then selects the remote
user to be contacted with from the contact list of the dial menu,
or inputs the number of the outgoing call via the remote controller
to complete the dialing operation. Then, the user waits for a
response from the remote user.
[0015] The present invention further comprises a program of
establishing the contact list. The user uses the remote controller
of the television or the television to display the contact list on
the TV image, and utilizes the functions of establishing and
searching contacts on the contact list to connect to the network
server terminal to search the contactor information, and to decide
whether to add the contact information into the contact list or not
depending upon the successful or failed searching response from the
network server.
[0016] According to the disclosure of the present invention, the
user can utilize the Picture in Picture (PIP) technology to conduct
the bi-directional visual conversation with the remote called party
while watching television programs. Furthermore, multiple parties
can make the visual communication at the same time without being
influenced by the TV broadcasting, such as sports or educational
programs. Through the method of the present invention, the users
can hold discussions or research together, and the
telecommunication cost can be saved significantly. On the other
aspect, the user for example, can remote monitor his/her house with
a personal digital assistant (PDA) or mobile phone via a built-in
video camera or the remote controller of the television, thereby
ensuring the security of the house.
[0017] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below for illustration only,
which thus is not limitative of the present invention, and
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a method of audio-visual
communication using a television and a television using the same
according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a remote controller used
together with the method of audio-visual communication using a
television and the television using the same according to the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a processing flow chart for the television in the
standby state according to the present invention, when there is an
incoming call;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a processing flow chart of the television in the
playing state according to the present invention, when there is an
incoming call;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a processing flow chart of an outgoing call
according to the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for establishing the contact list
according to the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of functions for the television of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Detailed features and advantages of the present invention
are described below through embodiments, which is sufficient for
those skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the
present invention and to implement the present invention
accordingly.
[0027] Through the content of the specification, the claims, and
the drawings, those skilled in the art can easily understand the
objects and advantages of the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, it is a schematic view of a method of
audio-visual communication using a television and a television
using the same according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
1, the PIP 111 technology is used in the present invention, thus,
the users 101-103 conduct network visual or voice conversation with
remote users 101-103 over Internet 120 while watching TV 110.
Certainly, the Internet 120 can be a wired or wireless broadband
network. According to a specific embodiment of the present
invention, the users 101-103 can conduct a one-to-one visual
communication or a multi-party visual communication. Referring to
FIG. 2, it is a schematic view of a remote controller used together
with a television according to the present invention. A video
camera 112 used for visual communication is installed in the
television 110 or on the remote controller 200 of the
television.
[0029] According to the circumstance that the television 110 is in
a standby state or a playing state, there are different procedures
for the incoming and outgoing calls in the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, it is a processing flow chart 30 for the
television 110 in the standby state when there is an incoming call.
When there is an incoming call from a remote user (Step 301), the
television 110 receives the incoming call signal from the remote
user (Step 302). Then, the television 110 has different actions
according to the auto wakeup setting set by the user (Step 303). If
the user sets the television to have the auto wakeup function, the
television 110 is automatically turned on and displays TV programs
and information of the incoming call on the TV image, and plays the
incoming-call reminding sound together with/without the remote
controller 200 or the built-in speakers 213, 113 of the television
(Step 304). When the incoming-call information or the incoming-call
reminding sound has been received, the user selects whether to
answer the call or not (Step 305). When the user selects to answer
the call, he/she presses the OK/Talk button 201 on the remote
controller 200 or the OK/Talk button on the operation panel of the
television 110 to answer the call, and uses the built-in microphone
214 and speaker 213 of the remote controller 200 or the built-in
microphone 114 and speaker 113 of the television 110 to answer and
receive the call, and then, enters the conversation state (Step
306) until the call is over (Step 309). When the user selects not
to answer the call, he/she presses the Cancel/End button 202 of the
remote controller 200 or the Cancel/End button on the operation
panel of the television 110 to select not to answer the call (Step
307), and thereby directly terminating the incoming call procedure
(Step 309).
[0030] On the other hand, when the user sets the television 110 to
the non-auto wakeup state, the television 110 will not display any
image, and the incoming-call reminding sound is played via the
built-in speakers 213, 113 of the television 110 or the remote
controller 200 (Step 308). At this time, the user selects whether
to answer the call or not (Step 305). When the user selects to
answer the call, he/she presses the OK/Talk button 201 on the
remote controller 200 or the OK/Talk button on the operation panel
of the television 110 to answer the call, and uses the built-in
microphone 214 and speaker 213 of the remote controller 200 or the
built-in microphone 114 and speaker 113 of the television 110 to
answer and receive the call, and then, enters the conversation
state (Step 306) until the call is over (Step 309). When the user
selects not to answer the call, he/she presses the Cancel/End
button 202 of the remote controller 200 or the Cancel/End button on
the operation panel of the television 110 to select not to answer
the call (Step 307) and thereby directly terminating the incoming
call procedure (Step 309).
[0031] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention,
in Step 304, when the remote user turns on the visual image, and
when the television 110 is turned on, besides the broadcasted TV
programs and the information of the incoming call, the visual image
of the remote user is also displayed in the TV image. The user can
set the TV programs to be displayed in the mother picture 115 (main
picture) of the television 110, and set the visual image of the
user to be displayed in the son picture 111 of the television 110.
Alternatively, the user can also set the TV programs to be
displayed in the son picture 111 of the television 110, and set the
visual image of the user to be displayed in the son picture 115
(main picture) of the television 110. The incoming-call information
can be displayed in one of the mother and son images, which can be
the ID/account of the remote user or the phone number of the
incoming call. When the user answers the incoming call, the
incoming call information is changed into information about the
conversation state, for example, the information of "In
Conversation" is displayed.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, it is a processing flow chart 40 of the
television 110 in the playing state when there is an incoming call.
The processing procedure comprises: when there is an incoming call
from the remote user (Step 401), the television 110 receives
signals of the remote user (Step 402) and at this time, displays
the broadcasted TV programs and the incoming call information on
the TV image, and/or plays the incoming-call reminding sound by the
built-in speakers 113, 213 of the television or the remote
controller 200 of the television (Step 403). After the user has
received the incoming call information, the user selects whether to
answer the call or not (Step 404). When the user selects to answer
the call, he/she presses the OK/Talk button 201 on the remote
controller 200 or the OK/Talk button on the operation panel of the
television 110 to answer the call, and uses the built-in microphone
214 and speaker 213 of the remote controller 200 or the built-in
microphone 114 and speaker 113 of the television 110 to answer and
receive the call, and then, enters the conversation state (Step
405) until the call is over (Step 407). When the user selects not
to answer the call, he/she presses the Cancel/End button 202 of the
remote controller 200 or the Cancel/End button on the operation
panel of the television 110 to select not to answer the call (Step
406) and thereby directly terminating the incoming call procedure
(Step 407).
[0033] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention,
in Step 403, when the 30 remote user turns on the visual image,
besides the broadcasted TV programs and the incoming-call
information, the visual image of the remote user is also displayed
on the TV image. The user can set the TV programs to be displayed
in the mother picture 115 (main picture) of the television 110, and
set the visual image of the user to be displayed in the son picture
111 of the television 110. Alternatively, the user can also set the
TV programs to be displayed in the son picture 111 of the
television 110, and set the visual image of the user to be
displayed in the mother picture 115 (main picture) of the
television 110. The incoming-call information is displayed in one
of the mother and son images, which can be the ID/account of the
remote user or the phone number of the incoming call. When the user
answers the incoming call, the incoming-call information is changed
into information about the conversation state, for example, the
information of "In Conversation" is displayed.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, it is a processing flow chart 50 of an
outgoing call. When the user turns on the television 110 (Step
501), he/she uses the dial button 205 of the remote controller 200
or the dial button on the operation panel of the television 110 to
display the dial menu on the TV image (Step 502). The dial menu
comprises the contact list. The user uses the select button on the
operation panel of the television 110 or the select button 206 of
the remote controller 200 to select the remote user to be contacted
with from the contact list, or uses the number buttons 207 of the
remote controller 200 to input and dial the phone number of the
outgoing call (Step 503). When the user presses the OK/Talk button
201 of the remote controller 200 or the OK/Talk button on the
operation panel of the television 110 to select to confirm the
dialing operation, the dialing operation is completed, and at this
time, the user waits for the response from the remote user (Step
504). If the remote user answers the call, both two parties enter
the conversation state (Step 505) until the call is over (Step
507). If the remote user doesn't answer the phone or hangs up the
phone (Step 506), the user uses the re-dial button 203 of the
remote controller 200 to re-dial or directly terminate the
outgoing-call procedure (Step 507). According to a specific
embodiment of the present invention, in Step 504, when the user
completes the dialing operation, the information about the current
dialing state is displayed on the images of the television 110, for
example, the information of "Dialing" is displayed.
[0035] As described above, the contact list in the processing flow
chart of an outgoing call 50 30 can be established by way of
searching. For example, a remote user is added into the contact
list by means of searching an account or an IP address. Referring
to FIG. 6, it is a flow chart 60 for establishing the contact list.
Firstly, the user turns on the television 110 (Step 601). The user
uses the dial button 205 of the remote controller 200 or the dial
button on the operation panel of the television 110 to display the
contact list on the TV image 5 (Step 602). The contact list has the
functions of establishing and searching information. The user uses
the select button on the operation panel of the television 110 or
the select button 206 of the remote controller 200 to input the
information of the account or IP address of the remote user to be
added or searched. At this time, if the user wants to cancel the
establishing or searching function, he/she selects to leave the
interface by pressing the skip button 204 of the remote controller
200 or the skip button on the operation panel of the television 110
(Step 603, Step 607). After the user has completed the input of the
information to be established, the information is stored in the
contact list; or after the user has completed the input of the
information to be searched, the operations of searching and
comparing the information can be conducted by connecting to the
server terminal of the network via the Internet (Step 604). If the
network server gives a respond of success, the user adds the
account or IP address of the remote user into the contact list, and
then, the user can perform the information searching again, or
select to leave (Step 605). If the network server gives a response
of failure, the user can input the information to search again, or
select to leave (Step 606, Step 607).
[0036] Referring to FIG. 7, it is a block diagram 70 of functions
for the television of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7,
the television 110 comprises a receiving unit 701, a transmitting
unit 702, a processing unit 703, a display unit 704, a sound
amplifying unit 705, a sound pickup unit 706, a video shooting unit
707, a memory unit 708, and a control unit 709. The aforementioned
components are used to achieve the procedures of incoming and
outgoing calls of the present invention. The receiving unit 701 is
used to receive the incoming call signal or TV signal from remote
users 101-103, and is connected to the processing unit 703, so as
to pass the incoming call signal to the processing unit 703 for
being processed. The processing unit 703 decides whether to turn on
the image of the television or not according to the auto wakeup
settings set by the user, and compares the account or phone number
of the remote user who sent out the incoming call signal with the
information in the memory unit 708. If the image of the television
110 is turned on, the processing unit 703 transmits the compared
account or phone number of the remote user to the display unit 704,
so as to display the information of the incoming call. Meanwhile,
the processing unit 703 plays the incoming-call reminding sound via
the sound amplifying unit 705, and/or transmits a control command
to the remote controller 200 via the transmitting unit 702, such
that the sound amplifying unit (e.g., speaker 113) of the remote
controller 200 also plays the incoming-call reminding sound,
thereby reminding the user of an incoming call, wherein the sound
amplifying unit 705 may be, for example, the speaker 213. If the
image of the television 110 is not turned on, the processing unit
703 only plays the incoming-call reminding sound via the sound
amplifying unit 705 and/or the speaker 113 of the remote controller
200.
[0037] The user can use the control unit 709, such as the OK/Talk
button on the operation panel of the television 110, or use the
OK/Talk button 201 on the remote controller 200 to select to answer
the call, or uses the control unit 709, such as the Cancel/End
button on the operation panel of the television 110, or use the
Cancel/End button 202 on the remote controller 200 to select not to
answer the call. After the call has been answered, the user uses
the sound pickup unit 706, such as the built-in microphone 114 of
the television 110, or use the built-in microphone 214 of the
remote controller 200 to make a conversation, and uses the video
shooting unit 707, such as the built-in video camera 112 of the
television 110 or the built-in video camera 112 of the remote
controller 200 to capture images to achieve the visual
communication. Then, the sound pickup unit 706 and the video
shooting unit 707 respectively transmit the received sound signals
and image signals to the processing unit 703, or the built-in
microphone 214 and the video camera 112 of the remote controller
200 respectively transmit the received sound signals and image
signals to the processing unit 703. Thus, the processing unit 703
performs the digital signal processing of the sound signals and
image signals, including encoding/compressing/modulating signals,
and then transmits the processed signals to the remote user via the
transmitting unit 702.
[0038] When an outgoing call of the user is processed, and the user
presses the control unit 709, such as the OK/Talk button on the
operation panel of the television 110, or the dial 30 button 205 of
the remote controller 200, the control unit 709 transmits the
control command to the processing unit 703, or the remote
controller 200 transmits the control command to the receiving unit
701, and then, the receiving unit 701 transmits the control command
to the processing unit 703. The processing unit 703 receives the
control command, and commands the display unit 704 to display the
dial menu. The user inputs the dialing number/account number via
the control unit 709, such as the select buttons on the operation
panel of the television 110, and transmits the number to the
processing unit 703, or inputs the dialing number/account number
via the select buttons 206 or number buttons 207 of the remote
controller 200, and transmits the number to the receiving unit 701,
and then, the receiving unit 701 transmits the dialing
number/account number to the processing unit 703. When the user has
completed the input, he/she inputs the dial command via the control
unit 709, such as the OK/Talk button on the operation panel of the
television 110, and transmits the dial command to the processing
unit 703, or inputs the dial command with the OK/Talk button 206 of
the remote controller 200, and transmits the dial command to the
receiving unit 701, and then, the receiving unit 701 transmits the
dial command to the processing unit 703. After the processing unit
703 has received the dial command, the dialing action is conducted,
and the information of the above remote user is sent to the
Internet 120 via the transmitting unit 702. As described above, the
Internet 120 can be a wired or wireless broadband network.
[0039] When the user wants to establish the contact list, he/she
presses the control unit 709, such as the OK/Talk button on the
operation panel of the television 110, or the dial button 205 of
the remote controller 200. At this time, the control unit 709
transmits the control command to the processing unit 703, or the
remote controller 200 transmits the control command to the
receiving unit 701, and then, the receiving unit 701 transmits the
control command to the processing unit 703. After the processing
unit 703 has received the control command, it commands the display
unit 704 to display the dial menu. The dial menu contains the
contact list. The user inputs a first searching command via the
control unit 709, such as the select buttons on the operation panel
of the television 110, and transmits the first searching command to
the processing unit 703, or inputs the first searching command via
the select buttons 206 on the remote controller 200, and transmits
the first searching command to the receiving unit 701, and then,
the receiving unit 701 transmits the first searching command to the
processing unit 703. After the processing unit 703 has received the
first searching command, it commands the display unit 704 to
display the accounts to be input or address list. The user inputs
the accounts or addresses via the control unit 709, such as select
buttons on the control panel of the television 110, and transmits
the accounts or addresses to the processing unit 703, or inputs the
accounts or addresses via select buttons 206 or number buttons 207
of the remote controller 200, and transmits the accounts or
addresses to the receiving unit 701, and then, the receiving unit
701 transmits the accounts or addresses to the processing unit 703.
After the user has completed the input operation, he/she inputs a
second searching command via the control unit 709, such as the
OK/Talk button on the operation panel of the television 110, and
transmits the second searching command to the processing unit 703,
or inputs the second searching command via the OK/Talk button 206
of the remote controller 200, and transmits the second searching
command to the receiving unit 701, and then, the receiving unit 701
transmits the second searching command to the processing unit 703.
After the processing unit 703 has received the second searching
command, it conducts the searching operation, and transmits the
aforementioned accounts or addresses to Internet 120 via the
transmitting unit 702.
[0040] To sum up, as for the audio-visual communication method
disclosed in the present invention, operation flows of both the
"incoming call procedure" and the "outgoing call procedure" are
similar to that of the normal local phones or mobile phones. As for
the publics who are not accustomed to or unfamiliar with computer
operations, the present invention provides optimal convenience in
operation. Furthermore, through the method and apparatus of the
present invention, the user can non-interruptedly receive
information broadcasted via televisions together with the
audio-visual communication on the basis of a simple architecture.
Therefore, the user can acquire more sufficient experiences on
communications.
[0041] Till now, descriptions about different procedures for
incoming and outgoing calls and the procedures for establishing and
searching the contact list according to the present invention have
been disclosed, and furthermore, the devices for achieving the
procedures have also been disclosed.
[0042] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
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