COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF PROCESSING INCOMING CALL BY FACIAL IMAGE

• US 20150138076A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHEN, HONG-SHENG
• Application Number:
  US14/546,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/174 Facial expression recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

A communication device able to manage incoming calls by reference to a user'"'"'s facial expression includes a storage unit, an image capturing unit, an image recognition unit, and an incoming call processing unit. The storage unit stores preset facial images associated with predetermined processing operations. The image capturing unit capturing images of the user'"'"'s face when an incoming call is received and the image recognition unit matches captured images against preset facial images. When at least one of the captured images matches one of the at least one preset facial images, the incoming call processing unit executes a predetermined processing operation.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a storage unit storing at least one preset facial image, the preset facial image associated with a predetermined operation during a process of receiving an incoming call;

an image capturing unit configured to capture images of a scene in front of the image capturing unit;

an image recognition unit configured to determine whether an image captured by the image capturing unit matches the preset facial image; and

an incoming call processing unit configured to execute a predetermined operation associated with the preset facial image to process the incoming call upon the determination that the captured image matches the preset facial image.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect an environmental brightness surrounding the communication device when the incoming call is received by the communication device, and to generate a first detection signal when a value of the environmental brightness is less than a predetermined value; and

a brightness adjustment unit being activated by the first detection signal to increase the environmental brightness.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit is further configured to detect the closeness of a user in relation to the communication device when the incoming call is received, and to generate a second detection signal to activate the image capturing unit to capture the images when the user is detected to be close to the communication device.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the detection unit comprises a first sensor to detect the environmental brightness and a second sensor to detect proximity of any object in relation to the communication device.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the first sensor is a luminance sensor while the second sensor is a proximity sensor.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one preset facial image comprise a first preset facial image and a second preset facial image.

7. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein when a captured image matches the first preset facial image, the incoming call processing unit accepts the incoming call.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein when a captured image matches the second preset facial image, the incoming call processing unit rejects the incoming call.

9. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one preset facial image further comprise a third preset facial image;

when an image matches the third facial image is captured after the incoming call has been accepted, the incoming call processing unit further terminates the incoming call.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the incoming call has not been processed for a predetermined period of time, the incoming call processing unit transfers the incoming call to a predetermined phone number.

11. A method of processing an incoming call received by a communication device, comprising:

storing at least one preset facial image in a storage unit of the communication device, the facial image associated with a predetermined operation during a process of receiving an incoming call;

capturing, by an image capturing unit, of a scene in front of the image capturing unit;

determining whether a captured image matches the preset facial image; and

executing a predetermined operation associated with the preset facial image to process the incoming call when a captured image matches the preset facial image.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting an environmental brightness surrounding the communication device when the incoming call is received by the communication device; and

activating a brightness adjustment unit of the communication device to increase the environmental brightness when a value of the environmental brightness is less than a preset value.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

detecting closeness of a user to the communication device when the incoming call is received, and activating the image capturing unit to capture the images when the user is detected to be close to the communication device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the environmental brightness is detected by a luminance sensor and the closeness of the user to the communication device is detected by a proximity sensor.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one preset facial image comprise a first preset facial image and a second preset facial image.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein when a captured image matches the first preset facial image, the incoming call is accepted.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein when a captured image matches the second preset facial image, the incoming call is rejected.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one preset facial image further comprise a third preset facial image;

when an image matches the third facial image is captured after the incoming call has been accepted, the incoming call is terminated.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the incoming call has not been processed for a predetermined period of time, the incoming call is transferred to a predetermined phone number.