IP Library Granted Patent US 9,888,172
Granted Patent B2
US 9,888,172 · App. 15/378,399 · Granted Feb 6, 2018

Systems and methods for capturing images from a lock screen

Inventors: Robert Brauer (Munich, DE); Sebastian Amorim (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Google LLC
H04N5/23222G06F3/165H04M1/0264H04N5/23216H04N5/23293G06F3/0346
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,888,172
App. No.
15/378,399
Filed
Dec 14, 2016
Granted
Feb 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2662
USPC
348/333.02
Abstract

Techniques for entering an image-capture user interface from a locked mobile device and capturing an image while the mobile device is still in a locked state. In an example implementation, a mobile device at a lock-screen may detect a change in orientation of the mobile device from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation. In response, the mobile device may display an image-capture UI. In some implementations, the image-capture UI may be overlaid over one or more elements of the lock-screen. Accordingly, the mobile device may provide visual notice to a user that the phone is still in a locked state while offering image capture functionality. In another implementation, the mobile device may provide another indication that the mobile device is still locked.

Claims (33)

1. A method comprising:

outputting, for display by a mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device has entered a landscape orientation, outputting a live image-capture preview for display while still outputting at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface for display; and

capturing an image corresponding to the live image-capture preview.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to determining that the mobile device has re-entered the portrait orientation, continuing to output, for display, the live image-capture preview.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing an image is responsive to a command received at a physical element of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the physical element of the mobile device is configured to effect a change in output volume while the live image-capture preview is not being output for display.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting, for display, a virtual control, wherein the capturing an image is responsive to a user input associated with the virtual control.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing an image is in response to a second user input, the method further comprising outputting, for display, one or more camera user interface controls responsive to receiving a first user input.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing an image is in response to a second user input, the method further comprising ceasing to output for display one or more elements of the lock-screen user interface responsive to receiving a first user input.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile device remains in a locked state after ceasing to output for display the one more elements of the lock-screen user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing an image is in response to a user input associated with a physical button for controlling a volume of the mobile device.

10. A mobile device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured for storing data and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform a method comprising:

outputting for display, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device has entered a landscape orientation, outputting a live image-capture preview for display while still outputting at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface for display; and

capturing an image corresponding to the live image-capture preview.

11. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising a first front image-capture device and a second rear image-capture device, the method further comprising determining a direction of rotation associated with the mobile device entering the landscape orientation, and wherein the live image-capture preview corresponds to the front image-capture device based on a first direction of rotation and the live image-capture preview corresponds to the rear image-capture device based on a second direction of rotation.

12. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising a physical element, wherein the capturing an image is in response to a capture image command associated with the physical element.

13. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the physical element is depressible.

14. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the physical element is depressible, is a first physical element, and is positioned on the mobile device on a side opposite a second physical element of the mobile device, the second physical element being a power button.

15. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the physical element is configured to effect a change in output volume while the phone is unlocked.

16. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the mobile device has re-entered a portrait orientation, continuing to output, for display, the live image-capture preview.

17. A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a mobile device, causes the mobile device to perform a method comprising:

outputting, for display, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device has entered a landscape orientation, outputting a live image-capture preview for display while still outputting at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface for display; and

capturing an image corresponding to the live image-capture preview.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17 , the method further comprising powering down a display device of the mobile device, responsive to a predetermined amount of time elapsing.

19. The computer-program product of claim 17 , wherein the mobile device outputs, for display, an indication of a current time of day when outputting, for display, the live image-capture preview.

20. The computer-program product of claim 17 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the mobile device has re-entered a portrait orientation, continuing to output, for display the live image-capture preview.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044129/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: BRAUER, ROBERT; AMORIM, SEBASTIAN
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 040735/0582 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15184132 · Jun 16, 2016
Continuation 14633662 · Feb 27, 2015
Related Publication 20170094162A1 · Mar 30, 2017