Cellphone video imaging

• US 8,948,813 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maluf, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US13/713,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20130100234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1406, 455/566, 4555751-5759, 455 901- 903
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02835 in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate light-guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A system for forming and transmitting a plurality of video images, at an image transmission rate of at least 1-3 images per sec, from a first cell phone to a second cell phone spaced apart from the first cell phone. A first cell phone user can choose to illuminate and transmit an image of the user or an image of a selected object distinct from the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing facial data associated with a user of a first electronic device, wherein the capturing of the facial data includes receiving image data through a lens of the first electronic device as it operates in a first position;

capturing audio data at the first electronic device;

receiving a signal from a keyboard of the first electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the facial data is to be provided with the signal and with the audio data to form an output signal; and

communicating the output signal to a second electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device includes a first light source and a second light source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first light source is activated when a retroreflector of the first electronic device is in a first position for capturing the facial data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second light source is activated when a retroreflector of the first electronic device is in a second position for capturing image data associated with an object, which is adjacent to the user.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

comparing ambient light intensity to a threshold value; and

activating at least one of the first and second light sources based on the comparing.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein an aperture of a retroreflector of the first electronic device is positioned over the lens of the first electronic device when operating in a second position for capturing image data associated with an object, which is adjacent to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the object is one or more pages of a document.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the object is part of a visual supplement to a conference call involving the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are cellphones operating in a conference call.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device includes a second position for capturing image data associated with an object, which is adjacent to the user, and wherein the image data captured in the second position is transmitted at a rate slower than a rate at which the audio data is transmitted.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the facial data is passed through an optical filter before transmission from an antenna of the first electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical filter is configured for reducing an image contrast associated with at least a portion of the facial data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical filter is configured for increasing a contrast of a document page that is to be transmitted.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical filter is configured to render as opaque a selected portion of a page of a document to be transmitted.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the optical filter uses a complementary color filter in order to render the selected portion.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device includes a flexible image forming mechanism comprising one or more optical fibers that include an associated lens.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flexible image forming mechanism is rotatable for capturing image data associated with an object.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a keyboard;

a retroreflector;

an antenna;

a processing module; and

a lens, wherein the electronic device is configured to;

capture facial data associated with a user of the electronic device when the electronic device is in a first position;

capture image data associated with an object adjacent to the user when the electronic device is in a second position;

capture audio data at the electronic device, wherein the image data is transmitted at a rate slower than a rate at which the audio data is transmitted;

receive a signal from a keyboard of the electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the facial data is to be provided with the signal and with the audio data to form an output signal; and

communicate the output signal to a next destination.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a first light source to be activated when the electronic device is in the first position; and

a second light source to be activated when the electronic device is in the second position, wherein at least one of the first and second light sources are activated based on ambient light intensity.