The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2003

Filed:

Feb. 21, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Junji Sukeno, Tokyo, JP;

Yoshiko Hatano, Tokyo, JP;

Takuji Kurashita, Tokyo, JP;

Tadashi Minobe, Tokyo, JP;

Kazuhiro Sugiyama, Tokyo, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/14 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/14 ;
Abstract

A videophone takes a live picture of the user, sends the live picture during part of a call, generates a processed picture different from the live picture, and sends the processed picture during another part of the call. The processed picture may be prepared in advance, or may be generated by combining the live picture with a prepared picture. Alternatively, the processed picture may be obtained by increasing a quantization coefficient of the live picture, producing a mosaic effect that disguises the live picture. The processed picture can be sent to protect the privacy of the videophone user, or to provide appropriate transition at the beginning or end of the call. The processed picture can also be sent when the call is placed on hold.


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