Mobile communications

Abstract

A mobile videophone capable of transmitting and receiving information in mobile telecommunications systems, particularly cellular radio networks, is disclosed. The videophone includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion, the second portion including a camera for image capture, the camera including a lens, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion from a first position in which the camera lens is protected by said first portion, to a second position in which the first portion does not protect the camera lens

1 . A mobile telephone handset including a body portion and a housing rotatable with respect to the body portion, wherein the housing includes a camera for image capture, and the handset includes an image inversion function enabling, in the case of rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion, inversion of an image produced by the camera.  
   
   
       2 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical side, and wherein the camera includes a lens built into the cylindrical side of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing is mounted to the body portion such that the cylindrical side surrounds an axis about which the housing is rotatable.  
   
   
       4 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion has a lower end and an upper end, wherein the housing is mounted at the upper end, and wherein the microphone is mounted at the lower end.  
   
   
       5 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion has a front surface, and wherein the housing is rotatable from a first position, in which the camera is directed forward from the body portion, to a second position, in which the camera is directed rearward from the body portion.  
   
   
       6 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the image inversion function is controlled based at least in part on a rotational position of the camera.  
   
   
       7 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 6 , wherein the image inversion function is responsive to rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion beyond a predetermined position.  
   
   
       8 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is mounted to a side of the body portion, and wherein the housing projects from the side of the body portion.  
   
   
       9 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the handset is responsive to rotation of the housing to switch on the camera.  
   
   
       10 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is rotatable with respect to the body portion by at least approximately 180 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing is rotatable with respect to the body portion by approximately 270 degrees.  
   
   
       12 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the telephone handset is configured with videophone capabilities.  
   
   
       13 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the handset is configured to transmit an image captured by the camera from the mobile telephone handset to a remote party.  
   
   
       14 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 13 , wherein the image inversion function is configured to invert an image produced by the camera before the image is transmitted to the remote party.  
   
   
       15 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 1 , wherein the image inversion function includes a data processing function for performing the image inversion.  
   
   
       16 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 15 , wherein the handset includes a camera interface which provides a digital representation of an image produced by the camera, and wherein the camera interface includes the image inversion function.  
   
   
       17 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 15 , wherein the handset includes a video codec, and wherein the video codec includes the image inversion function.  
   
   
       18 . A method of controlling image capture on a mobile telephone handset, wherein the handset includes a body portion and a rotatable housing, wherein the housing includes a camera for image capture, the method comprising: 
 rotating the housing with respect to the body portion, and at least in dependence on the rotation, performing an image inversion process in which an image produced by the camera is inverted.    
   
   
       19 . The method of controlling image capture according to  claim 18 , further comprising controlling the image inversion process in dependence on a rotational position of the camera.  
   
   
       20 . The method of controlling image capture according to  claim 19 , further comprising controlling the image inversion process in response to rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion beyond a predetermined position.  
   
   
       21 . The method of controlling image capture according to  claim 18 , comprising transmitting the image to a remote party after conducting the image inversion process.  
   
   
       22 . The method of controlling image capture according to  claim 18 , comprising conducting the image inversion process after the image is captured by the camera.  
   
   
       23 . A mobile telephone handset comprising a body portion and a rotatable housing, the body portion including a microphone and the housing including a camera for image capture, 
 wherein the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical side, wherein the housing is mounted to the body portion such that the cylindrical side surrounds an axis about which the housing is rotatable, and wherein the camera comprises a lens built into the cylindrical side of the housing,    wherein the body portion has a lower end and an upper end, the housing being mounted at the upper end of the body portion and the microphone being mounted at the lower end of the body portion, and    wherein the handset includes an image inversion flnction enabling, in the case of rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion, inversion of an image produced by the camera.    
   
   
       24 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 23 , wherein the image inverter function is controllable at least in dependence on a rotational position of the camera.  
   
   
       25 . The mobile telephone handset according to  claim 24 , wherein the image inversion function is responsive to rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion beyond a predetermined position.