Image signal transmitting/receiving apparatus and method based on a cut-off mode

1. A method in a mobile communications terminal for transmitting an image signal between at least a first mobile communications terminal and a second mobile communications terminal while in a telephonic communication, the mobile communications terminal comprising an image input unit, an encoder for encoding an image from the image input unit, a storing unit for storing an image, an image signal processor and an image selector, the method comprising:

selectively transmitting during the telephonic communication one of a first image signal captured by the image input unit of the first mobile communications terminal or a second image signal stored in the storing unit of the first mobile communications terminal to the second mobile communications terminal depending on a user's setting of the first mobile communications terminal;

detecting whether a cut-off mode has been selected by the user of the first mobile communications terminal;

if the cut-off mode is set, transmitting the second image signal as a main image signal to the second mobile communications terminal during the telephonic communication; and

transmitting the first image signal as the main image signal to the second mobile communications terminal during the telephonic communication if the cut-off mode is not selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image signal comprises at least one of an image signal stored by the user and the previously transmitted first image signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user sets the cut-off mode for the main image signal to be transmitted by operating an input unit of the first mobile communications terminal.

4. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an image input unit, the image input unit capturing a first image signal;

an encoder, the encoder encoding the first image signal captured by the image input unit;

a memory unit, the memory unit storing a second image signal inputted by a user;

an image signal selector, the image signal selector selectively outputting the first image signal or the second image signal; and

a controller cooperating with the image input unit, the encoder, the memory unit and the image signal selector to selectively transmit during a telephonic communication the first image signal or the second image signal to a second mobile communication terminal depending on a user's setting, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect whether a cut-off mode has been set by the user,

transmit the second image signal as the main image signal to the second mobile communication terminal during the telephonic communication if the cut-off mode is set, and

transmit the first image signal as the main image signal to the second mobile commumcation terminal during the telephonic commumcation if the cut-off mode is not selected by the user.

5. The terminal of claim 4 , further comprising an input unit operated by the user to select the cut-off mode.

6. The terminal of claim 5 , wherein the cut-off mode is set via menu selection or key inputting of the mobile communication terminal.

7. The terminal of claim 4 , wherein the second image signal comprises at least one of an image signal stored by the user and the previously transmitted first image signal.

8. The terminal of claim 4 , wherein the cut-off mode is set at an initial stage or during telephonic communication.

9. The terminal of claim 4 , wherein the cut-off mode refers to allowing the user to cut off or prevent an image from being transmitted or displayed to another party.