Multi-directional display communication devices, systems, and methods

• US 8,195,244 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smoyer, Clinton J., Robertson, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/392,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/566.1, 345/659, 345/204, 345/661, 345/536, 379/433.04, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to a systems, methods, and communication devices for displaying an image in a plurality of directions. In one embodiment, the communication device includes a memory adapted to store an image and a plurality of display surfaces. Each of the plurality of display surfaces may face a different direction. Also, the plurality of display surfaces may each be operable to display a different portion of the image.

Claims

1. A communication device for displaying an image in a plurality of directions, the communication device comprising:

a memory adapted to store an image; and

an image recorder operable to receive the image and store the image on the memory;

a plurality of display surfaces, each of the plurality of display surfaces facing a different direction, the plurality of display surfaces each operable to display a different portion of the image;

a transparent film partially covering at least two of the display surfaces, wherein the transparent film creates a curved surface between the at least two of the display surfaces, the curved surface creating the appearance of continuity between images displayed on the at least two of the display surfaces by bending or meshing the light emitted by each of the at least two of the display surfaces; and

a processor that executes instructions to automatically and periodically capture a surrounding image using the image recorder and display the surrounding image on the plurality of display surfaces.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of display surfaces also includes a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of display surfaces face opposite directions.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of display surfaces face orthogonal directions.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the image recorder includes a camera.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a first image and a second image, wherein a first portion of the plurality of display surfaces displays at least a portion of the first image, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of display surfaces displays at least a portion of the second image.

7. A communication device for displaying an image in a plurality of directions, the communication device comprising:

an image recorder operable to receive an image and store the image on a memory;

a plurality of display surfaces operable to display the image and at least partially covering each surface of the communication device, each of the plurality of display surfaces facing a different direction; and

a processor configured to execute instructions to automatically and periodically capture a surrounding image using the image recorder, display the surrounding image on the plurality of display surfaces and to move at least a portion of the surrounding image about the plurality of display surfaces in a path around the plurality of display surfaces.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of display surfaces includes a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface.

9. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of display surfaces includes a curved surface surrounding the communication device, a top surface, and a bottom surface.

10. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the image recorder includes a camera.

11. A method for displaying an image on a communication device in a plurality of directions, the method comprising:

receiving an image using an image recorder of the communication device;

modifying the image to facilitate displaying the image on a plurality of display surfaces on the communication device to form a processed image, each of the plurality of display surfaces facing a different direction, the plurality of display surfaces each operable to display a different portion of the image;

displaying the processed image on the plurality of display surfaces on the communication device, wherein the displayed image depicts a surrounding image of the communication device;

automatically capturing a new image periodically using the image recorder of the communication device; and

repeating the modifying and displaying step using the new image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein modifying the image includes dividing the image to form at least two image portions, further comprising:

displaying each image portion on at least one of the plurality of display surfaces.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein modifying the image includes sizing at least one of the image portions to fit at least one of the plurality of display surfaces.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein sizing the at least one of the image portions includes one of increasing or decreasing the size of the at least one of the image portions.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein modifying the image includes sizing the image to fit at least one of the plurality of display surfaces.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the image includes a first image and a second image, and wherein displaying the processed image on the plurality of display surfaces includes:

displaying the first image on a first portion of the plurality of display surfaces; and

displaying the second image on a second portion of the plurality of display surfaces.