Abstract: A videophone input apparatus includes a body part configured to protect a circuit board of the apparatus; a cover part configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and when in said closed position, to at least partially received by the body part. The apparatus further includes a lens located in the cover part, configured to receive incoming rays of light in an operating position when the cover part being in said open position, and the lens configured to be hidden, by the body part, in a standby position when the cover part being in said closed position; an image sensor located on the circuit board, configured to convert the directed rays of light to an electronic image signal; and a mirror configured to direct the rays of light from the lens to the image sensor.

Abstract: A method for providing a video call service in a videophone apparatus comprising: establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone apparatus and a peer over a wireless connection; generating a local video stream in the videophone apparatus based on a video signal provided by a camera of the videophone apparatus; and rendering the local video stream to provide a first preview video of the video call for a user of the videophone apparatus. The method further comprises receiving at least one frame of a peer video stream; rendering the at least one frame of the peer video stream to provide a second preview video of the video call for the user of the videophone apparatus; and cross-fading the second preview video with the received peer video stream in response to a frame rate of the peer video stream exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: A videophone input apparatus has a communication interface for communicating with a system server, a peer and an A/V output apparatus; a processor; and a memory which causes the videophone apparatus to connect the videophone input apparatus via a local connection to the A/V output apparatus and via a first wireless connection to the system server. The videophone input apparatus transceives configuration information between the videophone input apparatus and the system server via the first wireless connection; establish a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone input apparatus and the peer over a second wireless connection; and trigger a videophone service over the peer-to-peer connection utilizing a service account defined by the system server. Furthermore, the videophone input apparatus provides user input data for the videophone service using the videophone input apparatus; and provide user output data, from the peer, for the videophone service using the A/V output apparatus.

Abstract: A videophone apparatus includes a communication interface for communicating with a system server and a peer; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code cause the videophone apparatus to connect the videophone apparatus via a first wireless connection to the system server; transmit authentication information from the videophone apparatus to the system server via the first wireless connection for initiating account generation for at least one video call service; and receive client information from the system server. The videophone apparatus further determines a client application based on the received client information; establishes a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone apparatus and the peer over a second wireless connection; and triggers a video call service over the peer-to-peer connection utilizing the determined client application and the account generated by the system server.

Abstract: A method for tracking an active subject in a video call service includes establishing a peer-to-peer connection between a videophone input apparatus and a peer over a wireless connection; receiving information of a first resolution display of an A/V output apparatus of the peer; and generating a local video stream in the videophone apparatus based on a video signal provided by a second resolution camera of the videophone apparatus, the second resolution being greater than the first resolution.

Abstract: A videophone input apparatus includes a body part configured to protect a circuit board of the apparatus; a cover part configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and when in said closed position, to at least partially received by the body part. The apparatus further includes a lens located in the cover part, configured to receive incoming rays of light in an operating position when the cover part being in said open position, and the lens configured to be hidden, by the body part, in a standby position when the cover part being in said closed position; an image sensor located on the circuit board, configured to convert the directed rays of light to an electronic image signal; and a mirror configured to direct the rays of light from the lens to the image sensor.

Abstract: A method for providing a video call service in a videophone apparatus comprising: establishing a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone apparatus and a peer over a wireless connection; generating a local video stream in the videophone apparatus based on a video signal provided by a camera of the videophone apparatus; and rendering the local video stream to provide a first preview video of the video call for a user of the videophone apparatus. The method further comprises receiving at least one frame of a peer video stream; rendering the at least one frame of the peer video stream to provide a second preview video of the video call for the user of the videophone apparatus; and cross-fading the second preview video with the received peer video stream in response to a frame rate of the peer video stream exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: A videophone input apparatus has a communication interface for communicating with a system server, a peer and an A/V output apparatus; a processor; and a memory which causes the videophone apparatus to connect the videophone input apparatus via a local connection to the A/V output apparatus and via a first wireless connection to the system server. The videophone input apparatus transceives configuration information between the videophone input apparatus and the system server via the first wireless connection; establish a peer-to-peer connection between the videophone input apparatus and the peer over a second wireless connection; and trigger a videophone service over the peer-to-peer connection utilizing a service account defined by the system server. Furthermore, the videophone input apparatus provides user input data for the videophone service using the videophone input apparatus; and provide user output data, from the peer, for the videophone service using the A/V output apparatus.