Systems and Methods for Supporting a Video Call in a Dark or Low Light Environment

• US 20150358520A1
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Thimmappa, Sheela, Zhang, Ning, Lane, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,380,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3426 the different display panel areas being distributed in two dimensions, e.g. matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing illumination for a video call in a low-lighting environment. The light source may be a hardware component integrated on the front of a mobile device. The light source may be implemented as one or more lit spaces on the device'"'"'s screen. The intensity of the light from the light source may be based on ambient light levels measured by one or more sensors on the device. When the mobile device receives an incoming video call, the sensors may detect the level of ambient light and activate the light source to illuminate the face of the call recipient if he or she answers the incoming video call. The device may include an interface to allow the user to configure and adjust the intensity, coloring, and lighting pattern of the light during the video call.

Claims

1. A user device, comprising:

a screen;

at least one camera adjacent to the screen;

a processor; and

a memory comprising computer-readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

detect a video call signal,

receive a first measured ambient light level from at least one sensor,

compare the first measured ambient light level with a threshold value,

if the measured ambient light level is less than the threshold value, activate at least one light source to emit light at a first intensity level to illuminate a face of a user receiving the video call signal on the user device, and

facilitate a video call for the user based on the video call signal.

2. The user device of claim 1, wherein the first intensity level is a function of the difference between the first measured ambient light level and the threshold value.

3. The user device of claim 2, wherein the function is at least one of a linear function, a nonlinear function, and a step function.

4. The user device of claim 3, wherein the memory comprises additional computer-readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

receive, after receiving the first measured ambient light level, a second measured ambient light level from the at least one sensor,

compare the second measured ambient light level with the threshold value, and

signal the at least one light source to adjust the first intensity level to emit light at a second intensity level, wherein the second intensity level is the function of the difference between the second measured ambient light level and the threshold value.

5. The user device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises additional computer-readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to generate an interface on the screen to enable the user to configure at least one of the color and intensity level of the light emitted by the at least one light source.

6. The user device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The user device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light-emitting element generated on the screen.

8. The user device of claim 1, wherein the video call signal is one of an outgoing signal indicating the user device attempting to make a video call to another device or an incoming signal indicating another device is attempting to make a video call to the user device.

9. The user device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises additional computer-readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

compare the video call signal to one or more contacts in an address list stored on the user device, wherein the video call signal includes a contact number, and

if the contact number matches one of the one or more contacts in the address list, activate the at least one light source to emit light based on a custom configuration associated with the one of the one or more contacts.

10. The user device of claim 9, wherein the custom configuration controls at least one of the color, intensity, and direction of the light emitted from the at least one light source.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting a video call signal at a user device;

receiving a first measured ambient light level from at least one sensor associated with the user device;

comparing the first measured ambient light level with a threshold value;

if the measured ambient light level is less than the threshold value, activating at least one light source to emit light at a first intensity level to illuminate a face of a user receiving the video call signal on the user device; and

facilitating a video call for the user based on the video call signal;

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first intensity level is a function of the difference between the first measured ambient light level and the threshold value.

13. The user device of claim 12, wherein the function is at least one of a linear function, a nonlinear function, and a step function

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, after receiving the first measured ambient light level, a second measured ambient light level from the at least one sensor,

comparing the second measured ambient light level with the threshold value, and

signaling the at least one light source to adjust the first intensity level to emit light at a second intensity level, wherein the second intensity level is the function of the difference between the second measured ambient light level and the threshold value.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an interface on the user device to enable the user to configure at least one of the color and intensity level of the light emitted by the at least one light source.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light-emitting element generated on the screen.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the video call signal is one of an outgoing signal indicating the user device attempting to make a video call to another device or an incoming signal indicating another device is attempting to make a video call to the user device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the video call request to one or more contacts in an address list on the user device, wherein the video call request includes a contact number, and

if the contact number matches one of the one or more contacts in the address list, activating the at least one light source to emit light based on a custom configuration associated with the one of the one or more contacts.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the custom configuration controls at least one of the color, intensity, and direction of the light emitted from the at least one light source.