Apparatus and method for automatically activating a camera application based on detecting an intent to capture a photograph or a video

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10616464-B2
Application number	US-201816040835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A method of automatically activating a camera application implemented in a mobile device in locked mode starts with the processor receiving a first signal from an accelerometer. The device's processor activates the camera application when the processor determines that the mobile device has remained in a stationary portrait or landscape position for a period of time based on the first signal. Activating the camera application includes signaling by the processor to the display device to display a camera screen from a locked screen. The processor may also receive a second signal from a proximity sensor that detects presence of a nearby object to the mobile device. When the processor determines that there is presence of the nearby object to the mobile device based on the second signal, the mobile device remains in locked mode and the processor does not activate the camera application.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile device comprising:
an external housing;
a set of one or more processors;
data storage containing an operating system and application software for execution by the set of one or more processors, the application software including a camera application;
a display screen to display a locked screen requiring user authentication from a user when the mobile device is in a locked mode in order to unlock the mobile device;
a camera module including a camera lens; and
a sensor to detect at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device and to send a first signal to the set of one or more processors;
wherein, when the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in the locked mode and determines the mobile device is in a portrait position based on the first signal, the processor activates the camera module before the user is authenticated and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device, and the activated camera module operates to capture an image while the mobile device is in the locked mode and in the portrait position.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the set of one or more processors activates the camera module based on the first signal and a second signal.

3. The mobile device of claim 2 , further comprising:
an additional sensor to send the second signal to the set of one or more processors.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 , wherein, when the set of one or more processors receives the first signal and the second signal, the set of one or more processors determines whether to activate the camera module when the portrait position is a stationary portrait position.

5. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the second signal indicates the mobile device is in the portrait position.

6. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is rolled up to ±0.5° from the portrait position.

7. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is pitched up to ±1° from the portrait position.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the camera module allows the user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with the camera module.

9. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more processors is configured to unlock the mobile device in response to receipt of a valid user authentication comprising one of a password or biometric.

10. A method of activating a camera module implemented in a mobile device including a set of one or more processors, a sensor, storage for storing an operating system and a camera application, and a display device, the method comprising:
receiving, by the set of one or more processors, a first signal from the sensor that detects at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device;
activating, by the set of one or more processors, the camera module, while the mobile device is in a locked mode, when the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in a portrait position based on the first signal while in the locked mode,
wherein the set of one or more processors activates the camera module before a user is authenticated and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device, and wherein the camera module operates to capture an image while the mobile device is in the locked mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the set of one or more processors activates the camera module based on the first signal and a second signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, by the set of one or more processors, the second signal from an additional sensor included in the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein, when the set of one or more processors receives the first signal and the second signal, the set of one or more processors determines whether to activate the camera module.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second signal indicates the mobile device is in the portrait position and the portrait position is a stationary portrait position.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±0.5° to left or right of the portrait position.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of one or more processors is configured to unlock the mobile device in response to receipt of a valid user authentication comprising one of a password or a biometric.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the camera module allows a user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with the camera module.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a storage device having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a set of one or more processors causes the set of one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
receiving a first signal from a sensor included in a mobile device that detects at least one of movement, position or orientation of the mobile device; and
activating a camera module implemented in the mobile device, while the mobile the mobile device is in a locked mode, when the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in a portrait position based on the first signal while in the locked mode,
wherein the set of one or more processors activates the camera module before a user is authenticated and while maintaining the locked mode of the mobile device, and wherein the camera module operates to capture an image while the mobile device is in the locked mode.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the set of one or more processors activates the camera module based on the first signal and a second signal.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising:
receiving the second signal from an additional sensor included in the mobile device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the second signal indicates the mobile device is in the portrait position and the portrait position is a stationary portrait position.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the set of one or more processors determines that the mobile device is in the portrait position based on the first signal when the mobile device is in a position that is up to ±0.5° to left or right of the portrait position.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the set of one or more processors is configured to unlock the mobile device in response to receipt of a valid user authentication comprising one of a password or a biometric.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the camera module allows a user of the mobile device to capture photographs and videos with the camera module included in the mobile device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Shultz Conrad A

Classifications

• H04M1/67

  by electronic means · CPC title

• G06F1/1622

  with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure · CPC title

• H04M2250/12

  including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion · CPC title

• H04M2250/52

  including functional features of a camera · CPC title

• H04W12/06 Primary

  Authentication · CPC title