Apple Inc.

E-Cheng Chang

Jason Rundle Rukes

Jae Han Lee

Koji Gardiner

Anand Sethuraman

A handheld communication device is used to capture video streams and generate a multiplexed video stream. The handheld communication device has at least two cameras facing in two opposite directions. The handheld communication device receives a first video stream and a second video stream simultaneously from the two cameras. The handheld communication device detects a speech activity of a person captured in the video streams. The speech activity may be detected from direction of sound or lip movement of the person. Based on the detection, the handheld communication device automatically switches between the first video stream and the second video stream to generate a multiplexed video stream. The multiplexed video stream interleaves segments of the first video stream and segments of the second video stream. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Automatic video stream selection

A portable electronic device includes a camera and a display switchable between a portrait mode and a landscape mode in response to an inertial sensor. When it is determined that the display mode should be switched in response to movement of the device, a feature of a user of the device, such as the user's face, is imaged with the camera. If the imaged feature changes orientation with respect to the display by less than a threshold amount, then the switch in display mode is disabled and the display remains in its current mode. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Camera-based orientation fix from portrait to landscape

An improved image tagging system that tags images in a mobile handheld communications device, based on the user's contacts list stored therein. The image tagging system compares a face in a given picture (that the user has just taken using the built-in camera) to faces in the user's contacts list images. A matching contact is found in the contacts list. The picture is then tagged with information from the matching contact. The picture is tagged by inserting identification information into a header of the picture.

Tagging images in a mobile communications device using a contacts list

An automated image capture mode of a camera in an electronic device insures that a particular subject appears in the captured image. An image of the particular subject, which may be the photographer, is initially captured. Subsequently, another image capture is automatically triggered when the same subject is detected within the camera's field of view. In one embodiment, a motion sensor within the device may be employed to begin a search for the subject, when the camera is subjected to a sudden movement. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Auto-triggered camera self-timer based on recognition of subject's presence in scene

Apparatuses and methods of using a speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera are described herein. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated if it is determined that an image captured by the device is black or nearly black, which indicates that the device is placed flat or nearly flat against surface. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on the results of comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images wherein the previously stored captured images include images captured by the device in situations where it would be desirable for the speaker phone mode to be activated. In one embodiment, the speaker phone mode is activated based on a comparison of a captured image and previously stored captured images and their respective speaker phone mode statuses. Other embodiments are also described.

Enabling speaker phone mode of a portable voice communications device having a built-in camera

Autofocus operations in a digital camera are described. In one embodiment, a processor detects a face in an image captured by the camera, and calculates the size of the face. It selects from amongst a number of previously stored face sizes, one that is closest to the calculated face size. It retrieves a previously stored lens focus position that is associated with the selected, previously stored face size. It signals a moveable lens system of the digital camera to move to a final focus position given by the retrieved, previously stored lens focus position. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

E-Cheng Chang