Apple Inc.

Jae Han Lee

Shaohai Chen

Phillip George Tamchina

E-Cheng Chang

Richard Hung Minh Dinh

Adam Duckworth Mittleman

Wendell B Sander

Trent Weber

Michelle Yu

Sawyer Isaac Cohen

Christopher R Wilk

Scott P Porter

Ruchir M Dave

Andrew P Bright

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 power savings mode for data updates is provided. The power savings mode prevents data updates to occur while a screen of a portable electronic device is turned off and the device is in a sleep state. The power savings mode waits until the screen is turned on and the portable electronic device is in a wake state before allowing applications and widgets to update data from network repositories. By preventing applications and widgets from updating data while the portable electronic device is in a sleep state, the power savings mode conserves battery life and network bandwidth by limiting possibly unnecessary data transmissions.

Power saving application update in a portable electronic device

A connector for receiving a cylindrical plug includes a body defining a plug aperture and a cavity for receiving the cylindrical plug. A plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the cavity make electrical connections with the cylindrical plug and retain the cylindrical plug. A microphone is coupled to the body such that the plug aperture and the cavity provide an acoustic path to the microphone. The microphone may be at an end of the connector opposite the plug aperture or on a side of the connector adjacent the plug aperture. The connector allows a microphone to be added to a device, such as a mobile telephone, without the need for an additional external aperture. The microphone in the connector may operate with a second microphone and processing electronics in the device to provide audio processing functions such as noise cancellation or audio beamforming.

Audio jack with included microphone

A device includes a microphone array fixed to the device. A signal processor produces an audio output using audio beamforming with input from the microphone array. The signal processor aims the beamforming in a selected direction. An orientation sensor&#x2014;such as a compass, an accelerometer, or an inertial sensor&#x2014;is coupled to the signal processor. The orientation sensor detects a change in the orientation of the microphone array and provides an orientation signal to the signal processor for adjusting the aim of the beamforming to maintain the selected direction. The device may include a camera that captures an image. An image processor may identify an audio source in the image and provide a signal adjusting the selected direction to follow the audio source. The image processor may receive the orientation signal and adjust the image for changes in the orientation of the camera before tracking movement of the audio source.

Stabilizing directional audio input from a moving microphone array

A portable electronic device having an outer case having a substantially planar face in which a microphone associated acoustic port is formed. The device also has a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone positioned within the outer case, the MEMS microphone having a diaphragm facing the microphone associated acoustic port. An acoustic mesh is positioned between the front face of the outer case and the diaphragm, the acoustic mesh having a non-linear acoustic resistance so as to minimize an effect of an incoming air burst on the diaphragm. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Microphone with acoustic mesh to protect against sudden acoustic shock

An originating communications device is configured to transmit a text message to a recipient mobile device when the originating device determines that the recipient device has failed to connect with a call that was initiated by the originating device. The text message is designed to indicate that the recipient device has failed to connect with the call; in addition or as an alternative, the text message includes a code that indicates to the recipient device that it is potentially in a poor RF coverage area. The recipient mobile device, upon receiving and displaying the text message, may determine that it is indeed in an area with poor coverage and will in response store its current geographic location as a poor coverage area. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Text message transmissions indicating failure of recipient mobile device to connect with a call

An audio player includes an audio headset having two earpieces. A playback circuit provides one of a stereophonic program and a monaural program to the audio headset. The monaural program may be created by mixing channels of the stereophonic program. A mode control is coupled to the playback circuit and to the audio headset. The mode control detects when at least one of the two earpieces is not adjacent a listener's ear and causes the playback circuit to deliver the monaural program to the audio headset.

Audio player with monophonic mode control

A system detects the repositioning of an earphone that is worn by a user, and changes an operation mode of a host coupled to the earphone. Within the earphone is a pressure transducer that detects a pressure change caused by the repositioning of the earphone. A signaling mechanism sends a repositioning detection signal to the host in response to a signal from the pressure transducer indicating the detection of the pressure change.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jae Han Lee