ENABLING SPEAKER PHONE MODE OF A PORTABLE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING A BUILT-IN CAMERA

• US 20100075712A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sethuraman, Anand, Chang, E-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• 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

Apparatuses and methods of using a speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera are described herein. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated if it is determined that an image captured by the device is black or nearly black, which indicates that the device is placed flat or nearly flat against surface. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on the results of comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images wherein the previously stored captured images include images captured by the device in situations where it would be desirable for the speaker phone mode to be activated. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on a comparison of a captured image and previously stored captured images and their respective speaker phone mode statuses. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for using speaker phone mode of a portable communications device having a built-in camera, comprising:

receiving or placing a call using the device, while the device is not connected to a headset;

capturing an image using the camera while receiving or placing the call;

analyzing the image to determine if the image is black or nearly black; and

activating speaker phone mode of the device based on having determined the image is black or nearly black.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving ambient light data from one or more ambient light sensors of the device, and wherein said activating speaker phone mode is further based on the ambient light data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording data output by a built-in accelerometer of the device; and

wherein said activating the speaker phone mode is further based on the recorded data output.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the camera, when receiving or placing the call, prior to capturing the image using the camera; and

then

deactivating the camera once the image is captured, prior to the call being disconnected.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

recording data output by a built-in accelerometer of the device; and

wherein said activating the speaker phone mode is further based on the recorded data output.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving ambient light data from one or more ambient light sensors of the device, and wherein said activating speaker phone mode is further based on the ambient light data.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

recording data output by a built-in accelerometer of the device; and

wherein said activating the speaker phone mode is further based on the recorded data output.

8. An apparatus comprising:

camera circuitry to capture an image;

wireless communications circuitry;

a receiver, a speaker phone, a microphone, and a headset interface coupled to the wireless communications circuitry;

a processor coupled to the camera circuitry;

a memory coupled to the processor and stores instructions that when executed by the processor,

detect that a wireless call is being received or placed,

in response to detecting the call, activate the camera circuitry to capture an image and then deactivate the camera circuitry after capturing the image and before the call is disconnected, and

activate speaker phone mode for the call, based on having analyzed the captured image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a sensor to detect movements of the apparatus wherein the processor is to execute further instructions stored in the memory to detect that the apparatus has remained in a stationary position based on data output by the sensor, wherein the activation of speaker phone mode for the call is further based on data output by the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the captured image is to be analyzed to check for an unchanging scene.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor is to execute further instructions stored in the memory to detect that a headset is not connected to the headset interface, and wherein the activation of speaker phone mode for the call is further based on having detected that no headset is connected.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an ambient light sensor, and wherein the memory has further instructions stored therein that activate the speaker phone mode based on data output by the ambient light sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the stored instructions are such that the speaker phone mode is activated no earlier than when the call is answered.

14. A machine-implemented method to enable speaker phone mode in a wireless communications device using a built-in camera of the device, comprising:

receiving or placing a call using the device, while the device is not connected to a headset;

capturing an image using the camera while receiving or placing the call;

comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images; and

activating speaker phone mode of the device for the call, based on results of the comparison.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

capturing one or more of the plurality of previously stored captured images while the device is in contact with and a camera lens of the device is facing a clear surface.

16. A machine-implemented method to enable speaker phone mode in a wireless communications device using a built-in camera of the device, comprising:

receiving or placing a call using the device;

capturing an image using the camera during the call;

determining status of the speaker phone mode when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated; and

storing the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog including a plurality of previously stored captured images and associated speaker phone mode statuses.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving or placing a second call using the device;

capturing a second image using the camera while receiving or placing the second call;

comparing the second captured image to the plurality of previously stored captured images in the catalog; and

activating speaker phone mode of the device for the call, based on the speaker phone mode status associated with one of the plurality of previously stored captured images that matches the second captured image.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein capturing an image using the camera while receiving or placing the call is performed either automatically by the device.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein capturing an image using the camera while receiving or placing the call is performed in response to a manual command from a user.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the catalog including a plurality of previously stored captured images includes one or more images of the interior of a car and the speaker phone mode status associated with the one or more images of the interior of the car indicates that the speaker phone mode is activated.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the catalog including a plurality of previously stored captured images includes one or more images of a side of a user'"'"'s face and the speaker phone mode status associated with the one or more images of the side of the user'"'"'s face indicates that the speaker phone mode is activated.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the catalog including a plurality of previously stored captured images includes one or more images of the inside of a user'"'"'s hand and the speaker phone mode status associated with the one or more images of the inside of the user'"'"'s hand indicates that the speaker phone mode is activated.

23. An apparatus comprising:

camera circuitry to capture an image;

wireless communications circuitry;

a processor coupled to the camera circuitry and the wireless communications circuitry; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor, automatically activate the camera circuitry and use it to capture an image,

determine status of speaker phone mode when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated for a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and

store the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the memory stores further instructions which when executed by the processor detect that a further call is being received or placed, activate the camera circuitry in response to detecting the further call and use it to capture a further image during the further call, compare the further image to previously stored captured images in the catalog, and determine whether or not to activate the speaker phone mode for the further call based on a result of the comparison.

25. An apparatus comprising:

camera circuitry to capture an image;

wireless communications circuitry;

a processor coupled to the camera circuitry and the wireless communications circuitry; and

memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor,

place the apparatus in a speaker phone training mode, wherein in the training mode a) the camera circuitry is activated and a shutter button is enabled, b) an image is captured, using the camera circuitry, in response to manual actuation of the shutter button by a user of the apparatus, c) status of speaker phone mode of the apparatus is detected when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated for a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and d) store the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the memory stores further instructions which when executed by the processor detect that a further call is being received or placed, activate the camera circuitry in response to detecting the further call and use it to capture a further image during the further call, compare the further image to previously stored captured images in the catalog, and determine whether or not to activate the speaker phone mode for the further call based on a result of the comparison.

27. A communications apparatus comprising:

camera circuitry;

an ambient light sensor;

a sensor to detect movement of the apparatus;

wireless communications circuitry;

a speaker coupled to the wireless communications circuitry;

a processor coupled to the camera circuitry; and

a memory coupled to the processor and that stores instructions that when executed by the processor,

automatically signal the camera circuitry to capture an image, while receiving or placing a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and

activate the speaker for the call, dependent on having analyzed the captured image and output data from one of (a) the ambient light sensor, (b) the sensor that detects movement, and (c) a clock function.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the speaker is not activated if output data from the ambient light sensor indicates a low ambient light level and output data from the clock function indicates a high ambient light level consistent with daytime.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the speaker is activated if

(a) output data from the sensor that detects movement indicates that the device has remained stationary for a predetermined period of time and the captured image has essentially no edges, or

(b) output data from the sensor that detects movement indicates that the device has remained stationary for a predetermined period of time and analysis of the captured image indicates an unchanging scene.