Implementation of mobile phone’s camera as a webcam for video conferencing over Internet (27-Jan-2012)

Avago Technologies                                    

Implementation of mobile phone’s camera as a webcam for video conferencing over Internet

Abstract

Described is a method to utilize the camera on a mobile phone as a webcam for video conferencing over the Internet. This is a concept similar to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). Instead of transmitting and receiving the voice data over the Internet, the proposed system transmits and receives video data through the mobile phone’s camera over a high-speed Internet network.

Description

A.   Prior solutions and their disadvantages

A web camera (webcam) is a real time camera that allows users to access images using the World Wide Web/Internet, instant messaging (IM), or a personal computer (PC) video calling application. Generally, a digital camera delivers real-time images to a web server, either continuously or at regular intervals. It is becoming increasingly popular with the growing use of high-speed Internet.

Also increasing in popularity is the camera on a mobile phone. Mobile phones are now equipped with high resolution and high speed cameras.

It will be very useful if the mobile phone’s camera is also usable as a webcam, eliminating the need to attach a second webcam device.

B.   Problems solved by the invention

For a user to have both a camera on their mobile phone and a method for enabling a webcam, they need two devices. This is both inefficient and expensive.

In addition, instant messaging applications are popular and cost-effective ways to communicate in real-time between users in two remote sites. Video conferencing is one of the advanced features...