Method of audio-visual communication using a television and television using the same

Abstract

An example method and apparatus for audio-visual communication is provided. In some examples, a method as disclosed herein may include receiving an incoming call indication comprising a conversation request from a remote party, wherein the outgoing call request is displayed in a visual communication screen area on a display; 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 audio and visual conversation; and causing a received video of the remote party to be displayed in the visual communication screen area, wherein the display is operable to display multimedia content in a multimedia screen area simultaneously with the received video of the remote party in the visual communication screen area.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a received sound signal and a received video signal over a communications link from a remote party;   processing, using the processing unit, the received sound signal and the received video signal for display as a received video of the remote party; and   providing non-interrupted audio and video communication with the remote party over the communications link by simultaneously displaying the received video in a visual communication screen area of a display, outputting the received sound signal, and transmitting a transmit sound signal and a transmit video signal to the remote party.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display is operable to display multimedia content in a multimedia screen area simultaneously with the received video of the remote party in the visual communication screen area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing sound captured by a sound pickup unit to be transmitted as a transmit sound signal to the remote party and video captured by the video shooting unit to be transmitted as a transmit video signal to the remote party, wherein the transmit sound signal is interlaced with the transmit video signal to enable a multi-directional audio and visual conversation.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications link enables a multi-directional audio and video conversation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications link comprises at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the internet and multimedia content is received via a broadcast signal. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising a processor unit and a memory unit, the processor unit configured to cause the apparatus to:
 receive a received sound signal and a received video signal over a communications link from a remote party;   process the received sound signal and the received video signal for display as a received video of the remote party; and   provide non-interrupted audio and video communication with the remote party over the communications link by simultaneously displaying the received video in a visual communication screen area of a display, outputting the received sound signal, and transmitting a transmit sound signal and a transmit video signal to the remote party.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the display is operable to display multimedia content in a multimedia screen area simultaneously with the received video of the remote party in the visual communication screen area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor unit further causes the apparatus to:
 cause sound captured by a sound pickup unit to be transmitted as a transmit sound signal to the remote party and video captured by the video shooting unit to be transmitted as a transmit video signal to the remote party, wherein the transmit sound signal is interlaced with the transmit video signal to enable a multi-directional audio and visual conversation.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the communications link enables a multi-directional audio and video conversation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the communications link comprises at least one of a wired or wireless connection to the interne and multimedia content is received via a broadcast signal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is a television or a mobile device.