Apparatus and method for automatically activating a camera application based on detecting an intent to capture a photograph or a video

• US 10,051,168 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shultz, Conrad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hegarty, Kelly
• Application Number:
  US15/429,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A method of automatically activating a camera application implemented in a mobile device in locked mode starts with the processor receiving a first signal from an accelerometer. The device'"'"'s processor activates the camera application when the processor determines that the mobile device has remained in a stationary portrait or landscape position for a period of time based on the first signal. Activating the camera application includes signaling by the processor to the display device to display a camera screen from a locked screen. The processor may also receive a second signal from a proximity sensor that detects presence of a nearby object to the mobile device. When the processor determines that there is presence of the nearby object to the mobile device based on the second signal, the mobile device remains in locked mode and the processor does not activate the camera application.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

an external housing;

a processor;

data storage containing an operating system and application software for execution by the processor, the application software including a camera application;

a display screen to display a locked screen requiring user authentication when the mobile device is in a locked mode;

a camera module including a camera lens; and

a sensor to detect at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device and to send a first signal to the processor;

wherein, when the processor determines that the mobile device is in a portrait position or a landscape position based on the first signal, the processor activates the camera application, wherein the activation of the camera application includes signaling to the display screen to display a camera screen from the locked screen without requiring user authentication and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device and the activated camera application operates with the camera module to capture an image while the mobile device is in the locked mode.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the processor activates the camera application based on the first signal and a second signal.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, further comprising:

an additional sensor to send the second signal to the processor.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein, when the processor receives the first signal and the second signal, the processor determines whether to activate the camera application.

5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first signal indicates the mobile device is in a landscape position.

6. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is rolled up to ±

0.5°

from the portrait position or the landscape position.

7. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is pitched up to ±

1°

from the portrait position or the landscape position.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the camera application allows a user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with the camera module and use the camera screen to preview the photographs and videos being captured.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to unlock the mobile device in response to receipt of a valid user authentication comprising one of a password or biometric.

10. A method of activating a camera application implemented in a mobile device including a processor, a sensor, and a display device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a first signal from the sensor that detects at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device;

activating, by the processor, the camera application, while the mobile device is in a locked mode, when the processor determines that the mobile device is in a portrait position or a landscape position based on the first signal,

wherein activating the camera application includes signaling by the processor to the display device to display a camera screen from a locked screen without requiring user authentication and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device, wherein the display device displays the locked screen requiring user authentication when the mobile device is in the locked mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the processor activates the camera application based on the first signal and a second signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, the second signal from an additional sensor included in the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, when the processor receives the first signal and the second signal, the processor determines whether to activate the camera application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first signal indicates the mobile device is in a landscape position.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±

0.5°

to left or right of the portrait position or the landscape position.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±

1°

forwards or backwards of the portrait position or the landscape position.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the camera application allows a user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with a camera module included in the mobile device and using the camera screen to preview the photographs and videos being captured.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a storage device having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a sensor included in a mobile device that detects at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device; and

activating a camera application implemented in the mobile device, while the mobile device is in a locked mode, when the processor determines that the mobile device is in a portrait position or a landscape position based on the first signal,

wherein activating the camera application includes signaling by the processor to a display device included in the mobile device to display a camera screen from a locked screen without requiring user authentication and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device, wherein the display device displays the locked screen requiring user authentication when the mobile device is in the locked mode.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the processor activates the camera application based on the first signal and a second signal.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the second signal from an additional sensor included in the mobile device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the first signal indicates the mobile device is in a landscape position.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±

0.5°

to left or right of the portrait position or the landscape position.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the processor determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position or the landscape position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±

1°

forwards or backwards of the portrait position or the landscape position.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the camera application allows a user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with a camera module included in the mobile device and using the camera screen to preview the photographs and videos being captured.