Connecting to an onscreen entity

• US 9,350,944 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Arthur Chung-Hao, Lindner, Mark A
• Primary Examiner(s): Zenati, Amal
• Application Number:
  US13/969,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/95 structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/173 face re-identification, e.g. recognising unknown faces across different face tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/179 metadata assisted face recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method for identifying unknown third parties appearing within video call data based on generated image characteristics data. A user'"'"'s computing device and a participant computing device may exchange and render video call data in which the user'"'"'s computing device may display the unknown third-party. The user'"'"'s computing device may generate image characteristics data based on selected imagery. The user'"'"'s computing device may compare the image characteristics data to stored contact information on the user'"'"'s computing device to find a match, and may transmit the image characteristics data to the participant computing device for comparison with local stored information stored. The participant computing device may transmit a report message to the user'"'"'s computing device indicating whether a match is found. In an embodiment, a server may transmit the facial data to other devices for comparison. In another embodiment, the user'"'"'s computing device may request contact information from participant computing devices.

Claims

1. A method for a user computing device participating in a video call to identify an unknown third-party imaged within the video call, comprising:

applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate image characteristics data within the user computing device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device, wherein the data within the first contacts database includes at least a first image;

transmitting a message that requests information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device;

receiving a response message corresponding to data within a second contacts database of another device, wherein the data within the second contacts database includes at least a second image;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on the received response message;

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database;

transmitting, to a computing device associated with the obtained contact information, an identity confirmation message requesting location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information;

receiving, in the user computing device, a message indicating location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information in response to transmitting the identity confirmation message;

determining whether the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to a device participating in the video call based on the location information; and

using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to the device participating in the video call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted to at least one of a computing device participating in the video call, a descendant computing device, and a server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated image characteristics data includes metadata information describing at least one of facial features, physical measurements, gender, race, weight, clothing attributes, location, body dimensions, hair color, tattoos, and group associations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a user input to the user computing device indicating a selection within imagery of the video call, and

wherein applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call comprises applying facial recognition techniques to a face represented in the indicated selection within the imagery of the video call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated image characteristics data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on information within the received response message that indicates whether a match was found in the second contacts database; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises transmitting a message that requests contact information data from the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data received in the response message; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party comprises:

transmitting an invitation message to a computing device of the unknown third-party using the obtained contact information; and

admitting the unknown third-party to the video call as a participant.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting lip movement information associated with imagery of the unknown third-party appearing within the video call; and

generating identifying audio data related to the unknown third-party based on the detected lip movement information and audio data of the video call, and

wherein transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated identifying audio data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated identifying audio data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device, and

wherein the received response message indicates whether the generated identifying audio data matches audio data within the second contacts database.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtained contact information for the unknown third-party includes contact information for a plurality of potential matches, the method further comprising:

transmitting, from the user computing device to a computing device associated with each of the plurality of potential matches, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match;

receiving, in the user computing device, messages indicating location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

determining a proximity of each in the plurality of potential matches to devices participating in the video call based on the location information in the received messages indicating the location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

in response to determining that multiple potential matches of the plurality of potential matches are close to the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities, transmitting a confirmation message to a computing device associated with each of the multiple potential matches; and

identifying the unknown third-party as a certain potential match of the plurality of potential matches in response to determining that only the certain potential match is close to one of the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call;

applying facial recognition techniques to the second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate new image characteristics data within the user computing device in response to obtaining the second face image;

determining whether the new image characteristics data matches the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device; and

transmitting a second message that includes the new image characteristics data and that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the new image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message, to a computing device of an individual not participating in the video call, that includes the generated image characteristics data and requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, within the video call, signaling information associated with the unknown third-party; and

obtaining identification information of the unknown third-party based on processing of the detected signaling information, and

wherein the detected signaling information is at least one of a sound, an image, sequences of images, sequences of sound, a symbol, and any form of Morse code signaling.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the another device is a first participant computing device in a plurality of devices participating in the video call, the method further comprising:

transmitting the message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party to other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data from the second contacts database associated with the first participant computing device in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call based on the received response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, to all computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from descendant computing devices indicated within contact databases of the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, wherein the descendant computing devices are contacted by the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in order of proximity to the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving additional response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the descendant computing devices;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices based on the received additional response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the descendant computing devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

recursively transmitting additional messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from devices indicated within contacts databases of devices that have transmitted response messages received by the user computing device in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any of the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices, wherein the devices that have transmitted the response messages includes at least the descendant computing devices; and

determining whether to continue recursively transmitting the additional messages based on one of whether the user computing device has identified the unknown third-party based on received response messages, an elapsed timer, and a number of received response messages.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device comprises comparing the generated image characteristics data to images within the first contacts database on the user computing device.

17. A user computing device, comprising:

means for applying image recognition techniques to an image of an unknown third-party within a video call to generate image characteristics data within the user computing device;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device, wherein the data within the first contacts database includes at least a first image;

means for transmitting a message that requests information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device;

means for receiving a response message corresponding to data within a second contacts database of another device, wherein the data within the second contacts database includes at least a second image;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on the received response message;

means for obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database;

means for transmitting, to a computing device associated with the obtained contact information, an identity confirmation message requesting location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information;

means for receiving a message indicating location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information in response to transmitting the identity confirmation message;

means for determining whether the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to a device participating in the video call based on the location information; and

means for using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to the device participating in the video call.

18. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein the message is transmitted to at least one of another computing device participating in the video call, a descendant computing device, and a server.

19. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein the generated image characteristics data includes metadata information describing at least one of facial features, physical measurements, gender, race, weight, clothing attributes, location, body dimensions, hair color, tattoos, and group associations.

20. The user computing device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for detecting a user input to the user computing device indicating a selection within imagery of the video call,

wherein means for applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call comprises means for applying facial recognition techniques to a face represented in the indicated selection within the imagery of the video call.

21. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein:

means for transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises means for transmitting a request message that includes the generated image characteristics data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on information within the received response message that indicates whether a match was found in the second contacts database; and

means for obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises means for obtaining the contact information from the response message.

22. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein:

means for transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises means for transmitting a message that requests contact information data from the second contacts database of the another device;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data received in the response message, and

means for obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises means for obtaining the contact information from the response message.

23. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein means for using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party comprises:

means for transmitting an invitation message to a computing device of the unknown third-party using the obtained contact information; and

means for admitting the unknown third-party to the video call as a participant.

24. The user computing device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for detecting lip movement information associated with imagery of the unknown third-party appearing within the video call; and

means for generating identifying audio data related to the unknown third-party based on the detected lip movement information and audio data of the video call,

wherein means for transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party comprises means for transmitting a request message that includes the generated identifying audio data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated identifying audio data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device, and

wherein the received response message indicates whether the generated identifying audio data matches audio data within the second contacts database.

25. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein the obtained contact information for the unknown third-party includes contact information for a plurality of potential matches, the user computing device further comprising:

means for transmitting, from the user computing device to a computing device associated with each of the plurality of potential matches, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match;

means for receiving in the user computing device messages indicating location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

means for determining a proximity of each in the plurality of potential matches to devices participating in the video call based on the location information in the received response messages indicating the location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

means for transmitting a confirmation message to a computing device associated with each potential match of the plurality of potential matches determined to be close to the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities; and

means for identifying the unknown third-party as a certain potential match of the plurality of potential matches in response to determining that only the certain potential match is close to one of the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities.

26. The user computing device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for obtaining a second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call;

means for applying facial recognition techniques to the second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate new image characteristics data within the user computing device in response to obtaining the second face image;

means for determining whether the new image characteristics data matches the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device; and

means for transmitting a second message that includes the new image characteristics data and that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the new image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device.

27. The user computing device of claim 17, further comprising means for transmitting a message, to a computing device of an individual not participating in the video call, that includes the generated image characteristics data and requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device.

28. The user computing device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for detecting, within the video call, signaling information associated with the unknown third-party; and

means for obtaining identification information of the unknown third-party based on processing of the detected signaling information, and

wherein the detected signaling information is at least one of a sound, an image, sequences of images, sequences of sound, a symbol, and any form of Morse code signaling.

29. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein the another device is a first participant computing device in a plurality of devices participating in the video call, the user computing device further comprising:

means for transmitting the message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party to other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data from the second contacts database associated with the first participant computing device in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

means for receiving response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call based on the received response messages; and

means for obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call.

30. The user computing device of claim 29, further comprising:

means for transmitting, to all computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from descendant computing devices indicated within contact databases of the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, wherein the descendant computing devices are contacted by the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in order of proximity to the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

means for receiving additional response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the descendant computing devices;

means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices based on the received additional response messages; and

means for obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the descendant computing devices.

31. The user computing device of claim 30, further comprising:

means for recursively transmitting additional messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from devices indicated within contacts databases of devices that have transmitted response messages received by the user computing device in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any of the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices, wherein the devices that have transmitted the response messages includes at least the descendant computing devices; and

means for determining whether to continue recursively transmitting the additional messages based on one of whether the user computing device has identified the unknown third-party based on received response messages, an elapsed timer, and a number of received response messages.

32. The user computing device of claim 17, wherein means for determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device comprises means for comparing the generated image characteristics data to images within the first contacts database on the user computing device.

33. A user computing device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

applying image recognition techniques to an image of an unknown third-party within a video call to generate image characteristics data;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database stored in the memory, wherein the data within the first contacts database includes at least a first image;

transmitting a message that requests information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory;

receiving a response message corresponding to data within a second contacts database of another device, wherein the data within the second contacts database includes at least a second image;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on the received response message;

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database;

transmitting, to a computing device associated with the obtained contact information, an identity confirmation message requesting location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information;

receiving a message indicating location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information in response to transmitting the identity confirmation message;

determining whether the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to a device participating in the video call based on the location information; and

using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to the device participating in the video call.

34. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the message is transmitted to at least one of another computing device participating in the video call, a descendant computing device, and a server.

35. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the generated image characteristics data includes metadata information describing at least one of facial features, physical measurements, gender, race, weight, clothing attributes, location, body dimensions, hair color, tattoos, and group associations.

36. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting a user input to the user computing device indicating a selection within imagery of the video call, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call comprises applying facial recognition techniques to a face represented in the indicated selection within the imagery of the video call.

37. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated image characteristics data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on information within the received response message that indicates whether a match was found in the second contacts database; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

38. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory comprises transmitting a message that requests contact information data from the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data received in the response message; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

39. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party comprises:

transmitting an invitation message to a computing device of the unknown third-party using the obtained contact information; and

admitting the unknown third-party to the video call as a participant.

40. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting lip movement information associated with imagery of the unknown third-party appearing within the video call; and

generating identifying audio data related to the unknown third-party based on the detected lip movement information and audio data of the video call,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated identifying audio data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated identifying audio data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device, and

wherein the received response message indicates whether the generated identifying audio data matches audio data within the second contacts database.

41. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the obtained contact information for the unknown third-party includes contact information for a plurality of potential matches and the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, from the user computing device to a computing device associated with each of the plurality of potential matches, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match;

receiving, in the user computing device, messages indicating location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

determining a proximity of each in the plurality of potential matches to devices participating in the video call based on the location information in the received messages indicating the location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

transmitting a confirmation message to a computing device associated with each potential match of the plurality of potential matches determined to be close to the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities; and

identifying the unknown third-party as a certain potential match of the plurality of potential matches in response to determining that only the certain potential match is close to one of the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities.

42. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining a second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call;

applying facial recognition techniques to the second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate new image characteristics data within the user computing device in response to obtaining the second face image;

determining whether the new image characteristics data matches the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory; and

transmitting a second message that includes the new image characteristics data and that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the new image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory.

43. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting a message, to a computing device of an individual not participating in the video call, that includes the generated image characteristics data and requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database stored in the memory.

44. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting, within the video call, signaling information associated with the unknown third-party; and

obtaining identification information of the unknown third-party based on processing of the detected signaling information, and

wherein the detected signaling information is at least one of a sound, an image, sequences of images, sequences of sound, a symbol, and any form of Morse code signaling.

45. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the another device is a first participant computing device in a plurality of devices participating in the video call and the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting the message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party to other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data from the second contacts database associated with the first participant computing device in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call based on the received response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call.

46. The user computing device of claim 45, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, to all computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from descendant computing devices indicated within contact databases of the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, wherein the descendant computing devices are contacted by the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in order of proximity to the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving additional response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the descendant computing devices;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices based on the received additional response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the descendant computing devices.

47. The user computing device of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

recursively transmitting additional messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from devices indicated within contacts databases of devices that have transmitted response messages received by the user computing device in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any of the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices, wherein the devices that have transmitted the response messages includes at least the descendant computing devices; and

determining whether to continue recursively transmitting the additional messages based on one of whether the user computing device has identified the unknown third-party based on received response messages, an elapsed timer, and a number of received response messages.

48. The user computing device of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database stored in the memory comprises comparing the generated image characteristics data to images within the first contacts database stored in the memory.

49. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a user computing device to perform operations comprising:

applying image recognition techniques to an image of an unknown third-party within a video call to generate image characteristics data within the user computing device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device, wherein the data within the first contacts database includes at least a first image;

transmitting a message that requests information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device;

receiving a response message corresponding to data within a second contacts database of another device, wherein the data within the second contacts database includes at least a second image;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on the received response message;

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database;

transmitting, to a computing device associated with the obtained contact information, an identity confirmation message requesting location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information;

receiving, in the user computing device, a message indicating location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information in response to transmitting the identity confirmation message;

determining whether the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to a device participating in the video call based on the location information; and

using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to the device participating in the video call.

50. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the message is transmitted to at least one of another computing device participating in the video call, a descendant computing device, and a server.

51. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the generated image characteristics data includes metadata information describing at least one of facial features, physical measurements, gender, race, weight, clothing attributes, location, body dimensions, hair color, tattoos, and group associations.

52. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

detecting a user input to the user computing device indicating a selection within imagery of the video call, and

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call comprises applying facial recognition techniques to a face represented in the indicated selection within the imagery of the video call.

53. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated image characteristics data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device based on information within the received response message that indicates whether a match was found in the second contacts database; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

54. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that:

transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device comprises transmitting a message that requests contact information data from the second contacts database of the another device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the another device comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data received in the response message; and

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches the data from the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message.

55. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party comprises:

transmitting an invitation message to a computing device of the unknown third-party using the obtained contact information; and

admitting the unknown third-party to the video call as a participant.

56. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

detecting lip movement information associated with imagery of the unknown third-party appearing within the video call; and

generating identifying audio data related to the unknown third-party based on the detected lip movement information and audio data of the video call, and

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that transmitting a message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party comprises transmitting a request message that includes the generated identifying audio data and that requests the another device to determine whether the generated identifying audio data matches data within the second contacts database of the another device, and

wherein the received response message indicates whether the generated identifying audio data matches audio data within the second contacts database.

57. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the obtained contact information for the unknown third-party includes contact information for a plurality of potential matches and the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, from the user computing device to a computing device associated with each of the plurality of potential matches, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match;

receiving, in the user computing device, messages indicating location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

determining a proximity of each in the plurality of potential matches to devices participating in the video call based on the location information in the received messages indicating the location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

transmitting a confirmation message to a computing device associated with each potential match of the plurality of potential matches determined to be close to the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities; and

identifying the unknown third-party as a certain potential match of the plurality of potential matches in response to determining that only the certain potential match is close to one of the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities.

58. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining a second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call;

applying facial recognition techniques to the second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate new image characteristics data within the user computing device in response to obtaining the second face image;

determining whether the new image characteristics data matches the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device; and

transmitting a second message that includes the new image characteristics data and that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the new image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the user computing device.

59. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising transmitting a message, to a computing device of an individual not participating in the video call, that includes the generated image characteristics data and requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database within the user computing device.

60. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

detecting, within the video call, signaling information associated with the unknown third-party; and

obtaining identification information of the unknown third-party based on processing of the detected signaling information, and

wherein the detected signaling information is at least one of a sound, an image, sequences of images, sequences of sound, a symbol, and any form of Morse code signaling.

61. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the another device is a first participant computing device in a plurality of devices participating in the video call and the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting the message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party to other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data from the second contacts database associated with the first participant computing device in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call based on the received response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call.

62. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, to all computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from descendant computing devices indicated within contact databases of the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the other computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call, wherein the descendant computing devices are contacted by the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call in order of proximity to the computing devices in the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving additional response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the descendant computing devices;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices based on the received additional response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the descendant computing devices.

63. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 62, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

recursively transmitting additional messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from devices indicated within contacts databases of devices that have transmitted response messages received by the user computing device in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any of the contacts databases of the descendant computing devices, wherein the devices that have transmitted the response messages includes at least the descendant computing devices; and

determining whether to continue recursively transmitting the additional messages based on one of whether the user computing device has identified the unknown third-party based on received response messages, an elapsed timer, and a number of received response messages.

64. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the user computing device comprises comparing the generated image characteristics data to images within the first contacts database on the user computing device.

65. A system, comprising a plurality of computing devices including a first computing device, and a second computing device,

wherein the first computing device comprises:

a first memory;

a first transceiver configured to communicate with a network; and

a first processor coupled to the first memory and the first transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

applying image recognition techniques to an image of an unknown third-party within a video call to generate image characteristics data within the first computing device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the first computing device, wherein the data within the first contacts database includes at least a first image;

transmitting, via the first transceiver, a message to the second computing device that requests information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the first computing device;

receiving, via the first transceiver, a response message from the second computing device corresponding to data within a second contacts database of the second computing device;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the second computing device based on the received response message;

obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database;

transmitting, via the first transceiver to a computing device associated with the obtained contact information, an identity confirmation message requesting location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information;

receiving, via the first transceiver, a message indicating location information of the computing device associated with the obtained contact information in response to transmitting the identity confirmation message;

determining whether the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to a device participating in the video call based on the location information; and

using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the computing device associated with the obtained contact information is close to the device participating in the video call, and

wherein the second computing device comprises;

a second memory;

a second transceiver configured to communicate with the network; and

a second processor coupled to the second memory and the second transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via the second transceiver, the message from the first computing device that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party; and

transmitting, to the first computing device via the second transceiver, the response message corresponding to the data within the second contacts database.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the second computing device is participating in the video call.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the generated image characteristics data includes metadata information describing at least one of facial features, physical measurements, gender, race, weight, clothing attributes, location, body dimensions, hair color, tattoos, and group associations.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting a user input to the first computing device indicating a selection within imagery of the video call, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that applying image recognition techniques to an image of the unknown third-party within the video call comprises applying facial recognition techniques to a face represented in the indicated selection within the imagery of the video call.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting, via the first transceiver, a message to the second computing device that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the first computing device comprises:

transmitting, to the second computing device via the first transceiver, a request message that includes the generated image characteristics data and that requests the second computing device to determine whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the second computing device based on the received response message comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the second computing device based on information within the received response message that indicates whether a match was found in the second contacts database, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message, and

wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving, via the second transceiver, the message from the first computing device that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party comprises;

receiving, via the second transceiver, the message that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party, wherein the message includes the image characteristics data; and

determining whether the received image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database, and

wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting, to the first computing device via the second transceiver, the response message corresponding to the data within the second contacts database comprises transmitting, to the first computing device via the second transceiver, the response message that indicates whether the received image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the received image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database comprises comparing the received image characteristics data to images within the second contacts database.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the received image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database comprises determining whether audio data within the received message matches audio data within the second contacts database.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

identifying devices that are indicated in the data of the second contacts database and that are close to the second computing device; and

transmitting, to the identified devices, messages including the received image characteristics data and requesting the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the image characteristics data does not match any data within the second contacts database stored on the second computing device.

73. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting, via the first transceiver, a message to the second computing device that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the first computing device comprises:

transmitting, via the first transceiver, the message to the second computing device that requests contact information data from the second contacts database of the second computing device, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the second contacts database of the second computing device based on the received response message comprises determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data received in the response message, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that obtaining contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one of the first contacts database or the second contacts database comprises obtaining the contact information from the response message, and

wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting, to the first computing device via the second transceiver, the response message corresponding to the data within the second contacts database comprises transmitting, to the first computing device via the second transceiver, the response message including the data of the second contacts database.

74. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that using the obtained contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party comprises:

admitting the unknown third-party to the video call as a participant based on the obtained contact information.

75. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting lip movement information associated with imagery of the unknown third-party appearing within the video call; and

generating identifying audio data related to the unknown third-party based on the detected lip movement information and audio data of the video call, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that transmitting, via the first transceiver, a message to the second computing device that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the first computing device comprises transmitting, via the first transceiver, a request message that includes the generated identifying audio data and that requests the second computing device to determine whether the generated identifying audio data matches data within the second contacts database.

76. The system of claim 65, wherein the obtained contact information for the unknown third-party includes contact information for a plurality of potential matches, the system further comprising a plurality of devices associated with the plurality of potential matches,

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting, via the first transceiver to each of the plurality of devices associated with the plurality of potential matches, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match;

receiving, via the first transceiver from the plurality of devices associated with the plurality of potential matches, messages indicating location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

determining a proximity of each in the plurality of potential matches to devices participating in the video call based on the location information in the received messages indicating the location information for each in the plurality of potential matches;

transmitting, via the first transceiver, confirmation messages to devices associated with potential matches of the plurality of potential matches that are determined to be close to the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities; and

identifying the unknown third-party as a certain potential match of the plurality of potential matches in response to determining that only the certain potential match is close to one of the devices participating in the video call based on the determined proximities, and

wherein each device of the plurality of devices associated with the plurality of potential matches comprises;

a third memory;

a third transceiver configured to communicate with the network; and

a third processor coupled to the third memory and the third transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from the first computing device via the third transceiver, the identity confirmation message requesting location information of each potential match; and

transmitting, via the third transceiver to the first computing device, one of the response messages indicating the location information.

77. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining a second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call;

applying facial recognition techniques to the second face image of the unknown third-party within the video call to generate new image characteristics data within the first computing device in response to obtaining the second face image;

determining whether the new image characteristics data matches the data within the first contacts database within the first computing device; and

transmitting, to the second computing device via the first transceiver, a second message that includes the new image characteristics data and that requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the new image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database of the first computing device.

78. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

a third computing device of an individual not participating in the video call, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting, via the first transceiver, a third message to the third computing device of the individual not participating in the video call that includes the generated image characteristics data and requests the information regarding the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data within the first contacts database within the first computing device.

79. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

detecting, within the video call, signaling information associated with the unknown third-party; and

obtaining identification information of the unknown third-party based on processing of the detected signaling information, and

wherein the detected signaling information is at least one of a sound, an image, sequences of images, sequences of sound, a symbol, and any form of Morse code signaling.

80. The system of claim 65, further comprising:

a plurality of devices participating in the video call, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising;

transmitting, via the first transceiver, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party to the plurality of devices participating in the video call in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match the data from the second contacts database;

receiving, via the first transceiver, response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the plurality of devices participating in the video call based on the received response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the plurality of devices participating in the video call, and

wherein each in the plurality of devices participating in the video call comprises;

a third memory;

a third transceiver configured to communicate with the network; and

a third processor coupled to the third memory and the third transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via the third transceiver, one of the messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from the first computing device; and

transmitting, to the first computing device via the third transceiver, one of the response messages corresponding to the data within the contacts databases of the plurality of devices participating in the video call.

81. The system of claim 80, further comprising:

a plurality of descendant computing devices indicated within contact databases of the plurality of devices participating in the video call, and

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising;

transmitting, via the first transceiver to the plurality of devices participating in the video call, messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from the plurality of descendant computing devices in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the plurality of devices participating in the video call, wherein the second computing device is within the plurality of devices participating in the video call;

receiving, via the first transceiver, additional response messages corresponding to data within contacts databases of the plurality of descendant computing devices;

determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches the data within the contacts databases of the plurality of descendant computing devices based on the received additional response messages; and

obtaining the contact information corresponding to the unknown third-party in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data matches data from at least one contacts database of the plurality of descendant computing devices, and

wherein the third processor of each of the plurality of devices participating in the video call is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting, via the third transceiver, the messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party to the plurality of descendant computing devices, wherein the plurality of descendant computing devices are contacted in order of proximity to the plurality of devices participating in the video call, and

wherein each of the plurality of descendant computing devices comprises;

a fourth memory;

a fourth transceiver configured to communicate with the network; and

a fourth processor coupled to the fourth memory and the fourth transceiver, and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via the fourth transceiver, one of the messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from the plurality of devices participating in the video call; and

transmitting, via the fourth transceiver to the first computing device, one of the additional response messages corresponding to the data within the contacts databases of the plurality of descendant computing devices.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

recursively transmitting, via the first transceiver, additional messages that request the information regarding the unknown third-party from devices indicated within contacts databases of devices that have transmitted response messages received by the first computing device in response to determining that the generated image characteristics data does not match data from any contacts database of the plurality of descendant computing devices, wherein the devices that have transmitted the response messages includes at least the plurality of descendant computing devices; and

determining whether to continue recursively transmitting the additional messages based on one of whether the first computing device has identified the unknown third-party based on received response messages, an elapsed timer, and a number of received response messages.

83. The system of claim 65, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the generated image characteristics data matches data within a first contacts database within the first computing device comprises comparing the generated image characteristics data to images within the first contacts database on the first computing device.