IP Library Granted Patent US 9,374,521
Granted Patent B1
US 9,374,521 · App. 14/633,662 · Granted Jun 21, 2016

Systems and methods for capturing images from a lock screen

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,374,521
App. No.
14/633,662
Granted
Jun 21, 2016
Kind
B1
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 or displayed concurrently with 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 (31)

1. A method comprising:

displaying, by a mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface, has entered a landscape orientation, displaying a live image-capture preview concurrently with at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of the lock-screen user interface are still visible; and

responsive to receiving, at the mobile device, user input corresponding to an image capture command, capturing, by the mobile device, 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 a portrait orientation, maintaining the display of the live image-capture preview.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input corresponding to the image capture command is received at a physical widget of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the physical widget is configured to effect a change in volume control while the live image-capture preview is not being displayed.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a virtual widget, wherein the user input corresponding to the image capture command is received at the virtual widget.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input corresponding to the capture image command is a second user input, the method further comprising displaying one or more camera user interface controls responsive receiving a first user input.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input corresponding to the image capture command is a second user input, the method further comprising hiding the 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 hiding the one more elements of the lock-screen user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a physical button for controlling a volume of the mobile device, wherein the user input corresponding to the image capture command is received at the physical button.

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:

displaying, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface, has entered a landscape orientation, displaying a live image-capture preview concurrently with at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of the lock-screen user interface are still visible; and

responsive to receiving, at the mobile device, user input corresponding to an image capture command, capturing, by the mobile device, 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 widget, wherein the user input corresponding to the image capture command is received at the physical widget.

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

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

15. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the physical widget is configured to effect a change in volume control 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, maintaining the display of 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:

displaying, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface;

responsive to determining that the mobile device, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface, has entered a landscape orientation, displaying a live image-capture preview concurrently with at least a portion of the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of the lock-screen user interface are still visible; and

responsive to a predetermined amount of time elapsing without receiving user input at the mobile device, stopping the displaying of 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 the predetermined amount of time elapsing.

19. The computer-program product of claim 17 , wherein the one or more elements include an indication of a current time of day.

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

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044566/0657 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2015
From: BRAUER, ROBERT; AMORIM, SEBASTIAN
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 035051/0508 →