Television receiver with a TV phone function
A videophone system includes a processor which selectively sets a television (TV) broadcast program viewing function mode and videophone function mode in response to manual operation of a remote control, a decoder which performs, in the TV program view mode, a TV program-use decode function for decoding a broadcast program signal received from a TV tuner to thereby display it on a display screen while producing audio sounds by loudspeakers and which performs, in the videophone function mode a videophone-use decode function for decoding a videophone signal received from a distant party to thereby display on the screen an image of the distant party using the screen and speakers, and an encoder which performs a videophone-use encode function for encoding a video signal from a camera and a voice signal from a microphone to generate a videophone signal, which is sent to the distant party via a network.
1. A communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital information to and from another communication apparatus, comprising:
a network interface configured to receive first digital information which is received from a contents server which is coupled to the communication apparatus via the network interface and second digital information from the another communication apparatus;
a decoder configured to decode the first digital information and the second digital information;
a camera configured to generate video information which is included in a third digital information;
a display configured to display at least one of decoded first digital information or decoded second digital information; and
a controller;
wherein when the controller receives an inbound videophone call notice while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display, the controller is configured to render the camera operative without user interaction;
wherein the controller is configured to output the third digital information to the another communication apparatus, displays the decoded first digital information on the display and displays the decoded second digital information of the videophone call on the display, simultaneously; and
wherein when the controller receives an input for stopping the videophone call, the controller is configured to stop output of the third digital information.
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the controller receives an inbound videophone call notice while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display, the controller is configured to pause the reproduction of the decoded first digital information.
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a speaker,
wherein while simultaneously displaying the decoded first digital information and the decoded second digital information on the display, the controller is configured to output audio information of the first digital information and audio information of the second digital information simultaneously from the speaker.
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a microphone and an echo canceller,
wherein audio information of the third digital information is generated by removing audio information of the first digital information from audio information output from the microphone by the echo canceller.
5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein after receiving an input to stop the videophone call, the controller continues displaying the decoded first digital information.
6. A method for transmitting and receiving digital information for a communication apparatus,
wherein the communication apparatus comprises a camera, a network interface, a decoder, a display and a controller,
wherein the method comprises steps of:
decoding first digital information received from a contents server which is coupled to the communication apparatus via the network interface by the decoder;
displaying the decoded first digital information on the display;
rendering the camera operative by the controller without user interaction when an inbound videophone call notice is received while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display;
decoding second digital information of the videophone call received from another communication apparatus via the network interface by the decoder;
generating video information which is included in third digital information by the camera;
transmitting the third digital information to the another communication apparatus via the network interface, displaying the decoded first digital information on the display and displaying the decoded second digital information on the display, simultaneously; and
when an input for stopping the videophone call is received, stopping transmission of the third digital information by the controller.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises: when the controller receives an inbound videophone call notice while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display, pausing the reproduction of the decoded first digital information.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the communication apparatus further includes a speaker, and the method further comprises:
while simultaneously displaying the decoded first digital information and the decoded second digital information on the display, simultaneously outputting audio information of the first digital information and audio information of the second digital information from the speaker.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the communication apparatus further includes a microphone and an echo canceller, and the method further comprises:
generating audio information of the third digital information by removing audio information of the first digital information from audio information output from the microphone by the echo canceller.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:
after receiving an input to stop the videophone call, continuing displaying the decoded first digital information.
11. A method for transmitting and receiving digital information for a communication apparatus,
wherein the communication apparatus comprises
a network interface configured to receive first digital information which is received from a contents server which is coupled to the communication apparatus and second digital information from another communication apparatus and transmit third information to the another communication apparatus;
a decoder configured to decode the first digital information and the second digital information;
a camera configured to generate video information which is included in the third digital information;
a display configured to display the decoded first digital information and/or the decoded second digital information; and
a controller;
wherein the method is executed by the controller, the method comprising the steps of:
rendering the camera operative without user interaction when an inbound videophone call notice is received while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display;
transmitting the third digital information to the another communication apparatus via the network interface, displaying the decoded first digital information on the display and displaying the decoded second digital information on the display, simultaneously; and
when an input for stopping the videophone call is received, stopping transmission of the third digital information.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
when the controller receives an inbound videophone call notice while displaying the decoded first digital information on the display, pausing the reproduction of the decoded first digital information by the controller.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the communication apparatus further includes a speaker, and the method further comprises:
while simultaneously displaying the decoded first digital information and the decoded second digital information on the display, simultaneously outputting audio information of the first digital information and audio information of the second digital information from the speaker.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the communication apparatus further includes a microphone and an echo canceller, and the method further comprises:
generating audio information of the third digital information by removing audio information of the first digital information from audio information output from the microphone by the echo canceller.
15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
after receiving an input to stop the videophone call, continuing displaying the decoded first digital information.