Reconfiguring flash for status notification during video capture

Abstract

A computing device comprising a camera unit, a memory, and processing circuitry may¬ be configured to perform various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure. The camera unit may include a camera configured to capture video content of a scene, and a flash configured to illuminate the scene during capture of the video content. The memory may be configured to store the video content. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture the video content. The processing circuitry may also be configured to, responsive to receiving the start capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content, and output the video content.

Description

RECONFIGURING FLASH FOR STATUS NOTIFICATIONDURING VIDEO CAPTUREBACKGROUND

[0001] Computing devices, such as smartphones, may include sophisticated camera units that exceed, from a performance perspective (such as image quality, image processing, latency, etc.), camera units of more traditional computing devices, such as tablet computers, laptop computers, etc., and even some dedicated camera units, such as add-on webcams. Moreover, some traditional computers may not include a camera unit, such as desktop computers. Rather than rely on a dedicated camera unit, such as a webcam, to improve existing camera performance of traditional computing devices, a smartphone may be added as a virtual webcam service to the traditional computing device, thereby allowing the smartphone (which many users already have for different purposes) to function as a webcam with better camera performance and litle to no extra expense.SUMMARY

[0002] In general, various aspects of the techniques are directed to reconfiguring a flash of a camera unit to function, not for image and / or video capture purposes, but for status notification purposes during video capture. Repurposing the flash of the camera unit of a smartphone or other computing device to present status notifications may allow the camera unit to better accommodate virtual webcam services when connected to a host computing device that receives video content streamed from the smartphone. Rather than begin capture of video content with litle to no status notification (especially when using a camera unit disposed on the back of the smartphone in which the display is disposed on the front of the smartphone and thereby potentially unviewable during video capture), the smartphone may reconfigure the flash of the camera unit to pulse at a configurable frequency and a configurable luminosity to notify a user of the host computing device that the smartphone is actively capturing video content that is being streamed or otherwise output to a computing device, such as the host computing device.Furthermore, the configurable luminosity may be configured such that the flash luminosity does not degrade capture of video content (e.g., luminosity may be configured sufficiently low enough to enable the user to view the flash without impacting the image quality of the video contentbeing captured).

[0003] The various aspects of the techniques may therefore improve operation of the computing device itself. For example, reconfiguring the flash as a status notification to alert the user of the smartphone and / or host computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content may improve privacy given that the user may have inadvertently started video capture or a malicious user may be actively capturing video content via malicious (unauthorized) apps, malware, adware, ransomware, etc. Further, reconfiguring the flash to pulse at a configurable luminosity (e.g., a low luminosity) may reduce power consumption, heat generation, etc. associated with using a the flash continuously over long durations (e.g., a half hour, hour, or more given increased web conference use) at a single high luminosity associated with capture of images (particularly when a scene being captured is not well illuminated in the typical flash use case).

[0004] In one example, various aspects of the techniques are directed to a method comprising: receiving, by a computing device comprising a camera unit that includes a camera and a flash, a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing, by the computing device, the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputing, by the computing device, the video content.

[0005] In another example, various aspects of the techniques are directed to a computing device comprising: a camera unit comprising: a camera configured to capture video content of a scene; and a flash configured to illuminate the scene during capture of the video content; a memory configured to store the video content; and processing circuitry configured to: receive a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture the video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and output the video content.

[0006] In another example, various aspects of the techniques are directed to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry of a computing device to: receive a start capture indication that a camera of acamera unit is to be used to actively capture video content, the camera unit also comprises a flash: responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputting, by the computing device, the video content.

[0007] In another example, various aspects of the techniques are directed to an apparatus comprising: means for receiving a start capture indication that a camera of a camera unit is to be used to actively capture video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, means for reconfiguring a flash of the camera unit to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and means for outputting the video content.

[0008] The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims,BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device configured to reconfigure a flash of the computing device to output status notifications during video capture in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating example operation of a smartphone reconfiguring a flash to operate as a status notification during video streaming in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure.[OOH] FIG. 3 is a flowchart, illustrating example operation of the computing device shown in the example of FIG. 1 in reconfiguring the flash to present status notifications during video capture in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. l is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device configured to reconfigure a flash of the computing device to output status notifications during video capture in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure. In the example of FIG. 1, a computing device 100 is shown, where examples of computing device 100 mayinclude, but are not limited to, portable or mobile devices such as mobile phones (including smartphones), wearable computers (which may include extended reality --- XR. - headsets, such as virtual reality - VR - headsets, augmented reality - AR - headsets, mixed reality --- MR --- headsets, etc., smartwatches, activity trackers, smart glasses, etc.), laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers, smart television platforms, gaming controllers, gaming systems, servers, mainframes, etc.

[0013] As shown in the example of FIG. 1, computing device 100 may include one or more processors 102, a system memory 104, input devices 106, output devices 108, storage devices 110, and camera units 112, which may each be connected to one or more of each other via one or more communication channels 114. In some examples, communication channels 114 may include a system bus, network connection, inter-process communication data structure, or any other channel for communicating data.). In other words, each of components 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 may be interconnected (physically, communicatively, and / or operatively) via communication channels 114 for inter-component communications. Other examples of a computing device 100 may include a subset of the components or may include additional components not shown in FIG. 1. In some examples, one or more processors 102, storage devices 110, communication channels 114, and other hardware components that may not be shown in FIG.1 may be configured as an isolated system on a chip (SoC). That is, various components of the SoC may be physically separated from the other portions of computing device 100 for additional security.

[0014] One or more processors 102 may implement functionality and / or execute instructions associated with computing device 100. Examples of processors 102 include application processors, display controllers, auxiliary processors, one or more sensor hubs, and any other hardware configured to function as a processor, a processing unit, a processing device, and / or processing circuitry. Modules 122 and 124 may be operable by processors 102 to perform various actions, operations, or functions of computing device 100. For example, processors 102 of computing device 100 may retrieve and execute instructions stored by storage devices 110 that cause processors 102 to perform the operations discussed herein with respect to modules 122 and 124. The instructions, when executed by processors 102, may cause computing device 100 to store information within storage devices 110.

[0015] System memory 104 may be random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), other forms of DRAM such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (e.g. DDR1 SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, etc.) and similar types of computer memory. System memory 104 may be implemented as one or more external memory modules connected as a bank of memory and accessible by processor 102 using a directly connected memory bus or accessible by other system components using communication channels 114. System memory 104 may be configured as single in-line memory’ modules (SIMM), dual in-line memory' modules (DIAIM), Rambus in-line memory' modules (RIMM), or other interconnection configurations. Processor 102 may store information at system memory 104 for use in performing operations. For example, processor 102 may’ cause data to be moved from storage device 110 into system memory 104. In some examples, the information may be instructions that processor 102 may use to perform an operation. After performing an operation using the information retrieved from storage device 110 and stored at system memory 104, processor 102 may cause the data from system memory 104 to be writen back to storage device 110. In some examples, processor 102 may perform subsequent operations using the information stored at system memory' 104.

[0016] Computing device 100 may include input devices 106, In some examples, input devices 106 may include motion sensors, one or more location sensors (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an indoor positioning sensor, or the like), one or more light sensors, one or more temperature sensors, one or more pressure (or grip) sensors, one or more physical switches, one or more proximity sensors, and one or more bio-sensors that can measure properties of the skin / blood, such as oxygen saturation, pulse, alcohol, blood sugar, etc. The example of FIG. 1 shows input devices 106 as internal to computing device 100, but in other examples, input devices 106 may include components that are external to computing device 100. One example may be an external keyboard connected via wared or wireless connection. Other examples may include a touch sensitive screen that may be part of output devices 108.

[0017] One or more output devices 108 of computing device 100 may generate output. Examples of output are tactile, audio, and video output. Output devices 108 of computing device 100, in one example, includes a presence-sensitive display, sound card, video graphics adapter card, speaker, liquid crystal display (LCD), or any other type of device for generating output to a human or machine.

[0018] One or more storage devices 110 within computing device 100 may store information for processing during operation of computing device 100 (e.g., computing device 100 may store data accessed by modules 122 and 124 during execution by processors 102 of computing device 100). In some examples, storage devices 110 is a temporary memory, meaning that a primary purpose of storage devices 110 is not long-term storage. Storage devices 110 of computing device 100 may be configured for short-term storage of information as volatile memory and therefore not retain stored contents if powered off. Examples of volatile memories include random access memories (RAM), dynamic random access memories (DRAM), static random access memories (SRAM), and other forms of volatile memories known in the art.

[0019] Storage devices 110, in some examples, also include one or more computer-readable storage media. Storage devices 110 m some examples include one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums. Storage devices 110 may be configured to store larger amounts of information than typically stored by volatile memory? (e.g,, as represented by system memory 104), Storage devices 110 may further be configured for long-term storage of information as non-volatile memory space and retain information after power on / off cycles. Examples of non-volatile memories include magnetic hard discs, optical discs, flash memories, or forms of electrically programmable memories (EPROM) or electrically erasable and programmable (EEPR.OM) memories. Storage devices 110 may store program instructions and / or information (e.g., data) associated with modules 122 and / or 124. Storage devices 110 may include a memory configured to store data or other information associated with modules 122 and / or 124.

[0020] As shown in the example of FIG. 1 , module 122 (which may also be referred to as operating system 122) may include a kernel 123. Kernel 123 may operate in what is referred to as a kernel space, which is separate from an application space presented by operating system 122 for execution of apps 124. Kernel 123 may have more privileges when compared to the application space, and presents an interface to the application space by which to interact with the underlying hardware of computing device 100. Kernel 123 is therefore separate from apps 124 in terms of executing with increased privileges and interfacing directly with the underly ing hardware of computing device 100, potentially on behalf of higher-level aspects of operating system 122 and / or apps 124.

[0021] Apps 124 represent all the various individual applications and services executing at and accessible from computing device 100. A user of computing device 100 may interact with a graphical user interface associated with one or more apps 124 to cause computing device 100 to perform a function. Application modules may include, a word processing application, spreadsheet or calculator application, a fitness application, a calendar application, a personal assistant or prediction engine, a search application, a map or navigation application, a transportation service application (e.g., a bus or tram tracking application), a social media application, a game application, an e-mail application, a chat or messaging application, an Internet browser application, or any and all other applications that may execute at computing device 100.

[0022] As further shown in the example of FIG. 1, computing device 100 may, via input devices 106 and / or output devices 108, establish a communication session according to one or more communication protocols with a host computing device 150 (where computing device 100 may be referred to as a client computing device 100). Host computing device 150 may represent any type of computing device, such as a cellular handset (including a so-called smartphone), a smartwatch, a head mounted display (HMD, such as a virtual reality headset, a mixed reality headset, an augmented reality headset, etc.), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, a workstation, etc.

[0023] Host computing device 150 may include one or more processors 152, a system memory 154, one or more input devices 156, one or more output devices 158, and one or more storage devices 160. Processors 152 may be similar to, if not the same as, processor 102. System memory 154 may be similar to, if not the same as, system memory 104. Input / output devices 156 / 158 may be similar to, if not the same as, input / output devices 106 / 108. Storage devices 160 may be similar to, if not the same as, storage devices 110.

[0024] In the example of FIG. 1, client computing device 100 is assumed to represent a smartphone (and as such may be referred to as “smartphone 100”), while host computing device 150 is assumed to represent a laptop computer (and as such may be referred to as “laptop computer 150”). Smartphone 100 may include a sophisticated camera unit 112 that exceeds, from a performance perspective (such as image quality, image processing, latency, etc.), camera units of more traditional computing devices, such as tablet computers, laptop computers, etc., and even some dedicated camera units, such as add-on webcams. Moreover, some traditionalcomputers, such as laptop computer 150, may not include a camera unit. Rather than rely on a dedicated camera unit, such as a webcam, to improve existing camera performance of laptop computer 150, smartphone 100 may be added as a virtual webcam service to laptop computer 150, thereby allowing smartphone 100 (which many users already have for different purposes) to function as a webcam with better camera performance and little to no extra expense.

[0025] While camera unit 112 of smartphone 100 may improve video and / or image capture when used as a virtual webcam service compared to a camera unit (not shown in FIG. 1) of laptop computer 150, camera unit 112 of smartphone 100 may not include a status notification light to signal when camera unit 112 is actively capturing video content and streaming such video content to laptop computer 150. Camera unit 112 may not include a status notification light given that camera unit 112 is intended to utilize flash 116 for purposes of illuminating a scene when ambient light is unavailable or of low quality (in terms of luminosity). As such, flash 116 is intended to generate brief, high luminosity over a period of milliseconds for purposes of capturing an image (or, in other words, a photo).

[0026] Recently, smartphones, such as smartphone 100, may allow' the user to reconfigure flash 116 for use as a flashlight in which no image and / or video content is captured. In both instances of image capture mode and flashlight mode, camera unit 112 may configure flash 116 for a single high level of luminosity (typically, only a single level of luminosity is available for flash 116), which is intended for brief (e.g., on the order of milliseconds or single seconds for image capture) or slightly extended (e.g., on the order of single digit minutes for flashlight mode) operation. Use of flash 116 for longer durations (e.g., on the order of 10’s of minutes if not an hour or more) at the single high level of luminosity may result in excessive heat generation, power consumption, etc. that may impact other computing components, such as processors 102, system memory 104, etc. due to excessive heat, which requires scaling back operation of processors 102, system memory 104, etc.

[0027] In accordance with techniques of this disclosure, computing device 100 may reconfigure flash 116 of camera unit 112 to function, not for image and / or video capture purposes, but for status notification purposes during video capture. Repurposing flash 116 of camera unit 112 to present status notifications may allow camera unit 112 to better accommodate virtual webcam services when connected to host computing device 150 that receives video content streamed from smartphone 100. Rather than begin capture of video content with little to no statusnotification (especially when using camera unit 112 disposed on the back of smartphone 100 in which the display --- represented by output device 108 and hence may be referred to as display- 108 - is disposed on the front of smartphone 100 and thereby potentially unviewable during video capture), smartphone 100 may reconfigure flash 116 of camera unit 112 to pulse at a configurable frequency and a configurable luminosity to notify a user of host computing device 150 that smartphone 100 is actively capturing video content that is being streamed or otherwise output to computing device, such as host computing device 150. Smartphone 100 may reconfigure flash 116 to provide a luminosity' that is sufficiently bright to notify the user without degrading capture of the video content (e.g., saturating the scene being captured and / or otherwise injecting noticeable noise during capture of the video content).

[0028] In operation, camera 114 is configured to capture video content of a scene (e.g., “video 115” shown stored to system memory' 104), while flash 116 is initially configured to illuminate the scene prior to capture of the video content. Processors 102 may execute operating system 122, which presents one or more interface drivers 132 and a camera and / or flash (“camera / flash”) application programming interface (“API”) 134 (“camera / flash API 134”). Interface drivers 132 enable kernel 123 to interface with underlying communication sessions to support a virtual webcam service 153 (“VWS 153” shown stored to storage device 160”) executed by processor 152 of host computing device 150. Interface driver 132 may represent a universal system bus (USB) protocol driver, a wireless network protocol (e.g., an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - IEEE - 802.1 X protocol) driver, or any other type of wired or wireless communication protocol used for establishing wired or wireless communication sessions.

[0029] Camera / flash API 134 may represent an interface with which operating system 122 (“OS 122”) and / or application modules 124 (“apps 124”) may invoke to control or otherwise configure or reconfigure camera 114 and / or flash 116. Camera / flash API 134 may allow OS 122 and / or apps 124 to configure camera 114 to capture video 115 (including exposure, white balance, filters, pre-image processing, post-image processing, etc.) and / or flash 116 during capture of video 115 (including luminosity level, duration, pulse frequency, chromaticity, etc.). Luminosity refers to a brightness of light emitted by flash 116, while chromaticity refers to a color of light emitted by flash 116.

[0030] Initially, a user may interact with smartphone 100 via input / output devices 106 / 108 to establish a communication session between smartphone 100 and laptop computer 150. The user may interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) presented by OS 122 and / or one or more apps 124 to establish the communication session between smartphone 100 and laptop computer 150. Assuming for purposes of illustration that one of apps 124 (e.g., app 124 A) presented the GUI, app 124A may invoke, responsive to receiving the input from the user via the GUI, interface driver 132, calling a function of interface driver 132 to initiate the communication session between smartphone 100 and laptop computer 150.

[0031] After establishing the communication session (which again may be via a wired USB connection or a wireless communication session), app 124A may receive a start capture indication (e.g., via the GUI, which may also be referred to as a “start action indication” or a “start streaming indication”) that camera 114 is to be used to actively capture video 115.Capture of video 115 may refer to temporary capture for purposes of streaming, forwarding, redirecting, recording, or other forms of capture of video 115. Responsive to receiving the start capture indication that camera 114 is to be used to actively capture video 115, app 124 A may invoke camera / flash API 134 to interface with (or otherwise cause) camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 116 to operate as a status indication light during capture of video 115 in order to alert a user of smartphone 100 that camera 114 is actively capturing video 115 (while also potentially limiting the luminosity of flash 116 to avoid injecting noise or otherwise degrading capture of video 115). App 124A may interface with (or otherwise cause) camera unit 112 via camera / flash API 134 to reconfigure flash 116 to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance (e.g., such as a lowest luminance, or a lowest visible luminance, for which flash 1 16 is configurable, which may vary' depending on the setting - where, for example, outdoor settings with higher ambient lighting may require a higher luminance for visibility).

[0032] In this respect, camera / flash API 134 may reconfigure flash 116 to be barely visible (depending on ambient light ) so as not to oversaturate capture of video 115 being s treamed.“Barely visible” may refer to a threshold or minimum luminance at which a typical human visual system is able to identify visible light determined relative to a given ambient lighting condition.

[0033] App I24A may output video 115 to, in this example, host computing device 150. App 124A may not store video 115 to storage device 110 for later retrieval or viewing, but instead “stream” video 115 to VWS 153. App 124 A may, in the example of FIG. 1, represent a webconference application or video conference application or any other so-called “streaming application” capable of streaming video 115 to a laptop computer 150. Streaming may refer to local capture and wired or wireless communication of such video 115 to a computing host device, such as laptop computer 150.

[0034] At some later point in time after beginning streaming of video 115, app 124A may receive a stop action indication (which may be referred to as a “stop capture indication” or a “stop streaming indication”) indicating that camera 114 is going to stop capture of video 115. Responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, app 124A may interface with camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 116 to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of video content. In other words, app 124A may disable flash 116 via camera / flash API 134 from operating as the status notification (e.g., pulsing at the configurable frequency and with the configurable luminosity). App 124A may interface with (or otherwise cause) camera 114 via camera / flash API 134 to refrain from outputting video 115, while also disabling or tearing down via interface drivers 132 the communication session between smartphone 100 and laptop computer 150.

[0035] In this way, various aspects of the techniques may improve operation of the computing device itself. For example, reconfiguring flash 116 as a status notification to alert the user of the smartphone 100 and / or laptop computer 150 that the camera is actively capturing video 115 may improve privacy given that the user may have inadvertently started video capture or a malicious user may be actively capturing video content via malicious (unauthorized) apps, malware, adware, ransomware, etc. Further, reconfiguring flash 116 to pulse at a configurable luminosity (e.g., a low luminosity) may reduce power consumption, heat generation, etc. associated with using flash 116 continuously over long durations (e.g., a half hour, hour, or more given increased web conference use) at a single high luminosity associated with capture of images (particularly when a scene being captured is not well illuminated in the typical flash use case). In addition, the configurable luminosity may be configured such that the flash luminosity does not degrade capture of video content (e.g., luminosity may be configured sufficiently low enough to allow the user to view the flash without impacting capture of the video content).

[0036] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating example operation of a smartphone reconfiguring a flash to operate as a status notification during video streaming in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, a smartphone 200 is mounted via a mount 240 to a laptop computer 250. Smartphone 200 may represent anexample of computing device 100 shown in the example of FIG. I, while laptop computer 250 may represent an example of host computing device 150 also shown in the example of FIG. 1.

[0037] Mount 240 may represent a mechanical device that is configured to attach to top of laptop computer 250 and, via magnets, adhesives, suction, and / or mechanical force, physically hold smartphone 200. While described with respect to a mount 240 positioned on top of laptop computer 250 (i.e., above a screen on the upper half of folding laptop computer 250 in the example of FIG. 2), various other mounts, stands, tripods, etc. may be used to facilitate utilization of smartphone 200 as a wired and / or wireless web camera for laptop computer 250 in various positions and / or locations.

[0038] In the example of FIG. 2, smartphone 200 is shown with a back housing 203 facing towards a potential user of laptop computer 250, while a front housing 201 is shown facing away from the potential user of laptop computer 250 (where front housing 201 has an arrow with dashes to reflect that front housing 201 is not currently visible). Front housing 201 may mostly surround a display (now shown), a camera (not shown; which may also be referred to as a “selfie camera”), a flash, other sensors (e.g., proximity sensors, ambient light sensors, etc.), possibly speakers, etc. Back housing 203 may largely form the back of smartphone 200, but does house the camera unit in which camera 214 and flash 216 are exposed in order to capture image and / or video content. That is, camera 214 and flash 216 may be integrated within back housing 203 of smartphone 200.

[0039] ,As noted above, a user may initially interact with smartphone 200 to establish a communication session between smartphone 200 and laptop computer 250. The user may interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) to establish the communication session between smartphone 200 and laptop computer 250. After establishing the communication session (which again may be via a wired USB connection or a wireless communication session), an app (e.g., app 124A shown in the example of FIG. 1) may receive a start capture indication (e.g., via the GUI) that camera 214 is to be used to actively capture video, such as video 115. Responsive to receiving the start capture indication that camera 214 is to be used to actively capture video 115, app 124A may invoke camera / flash API 134 to interface with (or otherwise cause) camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 216 to operate as a status indication light during capture of video 115 (potentially with a luminosity that does not degrade capture of video 115) in order to alert a user of smartphone 200 that camera 214 is actively capturing video 115.

[0040] App 124A may interface with (or otherwise cause) camera unit 112 via camera / flash API 134 to reconfigure flash 216 to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance (e.g., such as a lowest luminance, or a lowest visible luminance, for which flash 116 is configurable, which may vary depending on the setting - where, for example, outdoor settings with higher ambient lighting may require a higher luminance for visibility). In addition, camera unit 112 may reconfigure flash 216 with the configurable luminance such that the luminance does not oversaturate video 115. In the example of FIG. 2, flash 216 is surrounded by dashed lines to indicate that flash 216 is pulsing at a fixed frequency with low' luminance (e.g., a luminosity that remains visible to the user without degrading capture of video 115).

[0041] In addition, app 124A may interface with OS 122 to disable the display integrated within front housing 201 of smartphone 200. While described as OS 122 presenting an interface (e.g., an Application Programming Interface - API) with which app 124A may interact to control flash, OS 122 may be programmed to control the flash and / or camera unit in response to the start capture indication and / or the stop capture indication provided by app 124A, where OS 122 may not allow' app 124 A to directly interface with the flash and / or camera.

[0042] The display (again, not shown in FIG. 2 due to front housing 201 facing away from a potential user of laptop computer 250) integrated into front housing 201 may normally be configured to present a preview of the video content (e.g., when capturing video 115 for local storage and not for streaming). However, given that displays may consume significant power (compared to other components of smartphone 200), app 124A may determine that back camera 214 is being used when streaming video 115 to laptop computer 250. Responsive to determining that the back camera 214 is being used and the start capture indication, app 124 may interface with OS 122 to disable presentation of the preview of video 115 by the display integrated within front housing 201 of smartphone 200. In this respect, disabling the presentation of the preview of video 115 during streaming of video 115 to laptop computer 250 may reduce power consumption and thereby allow' smartphone 200 to be used for longer video streaming sessions as w'ell as generally preserve batery life to avoid requiring frequent charging, etc.

[0043] In any event, app 124A may output video 115 to, in this example, laptop computer 250. App 124 A may not store video 115 to storage device 110 for later retrieval or viewing, but instead “stream” video 115 to VWS 153.

[0044] At some later point in time after beginning streaming of video 115, app 124A may receive a stop capture indication indicating that camera 114 is going to stop capture of video 115. Responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, app 124A may interface with camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 116 to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of video content. In other words, app 124A may disable flash 116 via camera / flash API 134 from operating as the status notification (e.g., pulsing at the configurable frequency and with the configurable luminosity). App 124A may interface with (or otherwise cause) camera 114 via camera / flash API 134 to refrain from outputting video 115, while also disabling or tearing down via interface drivers 132 the communication session between smartphone 200 and laptop computer 250.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating example operation of the computing device shown in the example of FIG. 1 in reconfiguring the flash to present status notifications during video capture in accordance with various aspects of the techniques described in this disclosure. Initially, a user may interact with computing device 100 via input / output devices 106 / 108 to establish a communication session between computing device 100 and host computing device 150 (which may also be referred to as “host device 150”). The user may interface with a graphical user interface (GUI) presented by OS 122 and / or one or more apps 124 to establish the communication session between computing device 100 and host computing device 150.Assuming for purposes of illustration that one of apps 124 (e.g., app 124A) presented the GUI, app 124 A may invoke, responsive to receiving the input from the user via the GUI, interface driver 132, calling a function of interface driver 132 to initiate the communication session between computing device 100 and host computing device 150.

[0046] After establishing the communication session (which again may be via a wired USB connection or a wireless communication session), app 124A may receive a start capture indication (e.g., via the GUI) that camera 114 is to be used to actively capture video 115 (300). Responsive to receiving the start capture indication that camera 114 is to be used to actively capture video 115, app 124 A may invoke camera / flash API 134 to interface with (or otherwise cause) camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 116 to operate as a status indication light during capture of video 115 in order to alert a user of smartphone 100 that camera 114 is actively capturing video 115 (302). Camera unit 112 may reconfigure flash 116 with a luminosity that is sufficiently bright (e.g., given external light conditions) to notify the user that camera 114 iscapturing and / or streaming video 115 but not so bright as to degrade capture of video 115 (e.g., by injecting noise or otherwise overly saturating capture of video 115).

[0047] App I24A may output video 115 to, in this example, host computing device 150 (304). At some later point in time after beginning streaming of video 115, app 124A may receive a stop capture indication indicating that camera 114 is going to stop capture of video 115 (306).Responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, app 124A may interface with camera unit 112 to reconfigure flash 116 to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of video content (308). In other words, app 124A may disable flash 116 via camera / flasli API 134 from operating as the status notification (e.g., pulsing at the configurable frequency and with the configurable luminosity). App 124A may interface with (or otherwise cause) camera 114 via camera / flash API 134 to refrain from outputting video 115 (310), while also disabling or tearing down via interface drivers 132 the communication session between smartphone 100 and laptop computer 150.

[0048] Various aspects of the techniques may enable various examples set forth below with respect to the following clauses.

[0049] Clause 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device comprising a camera unit that includes a camera and a flash, a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing, by the computing device, the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputting, by the computing device, the video content.

[0050] Clause 2, The method of clause 1 , wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance.

[0051] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein the configurable luminance comprises a lowest luminance for which the flash is configurable.

[0052] Clause 4. The method of clause 1, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to emit light at a configurable chromaticity.

[0053] Clause 5. The method of clause 1, further comprising establishing a communication session with a host device, and wherein outputting the video content comprises outputting the video content to the host device.

[0054] Clause 6. The method of clause 5, wherein the communication session comprises one or more of a wired communication session and a wired communication session.

[0055] Clause 7. The method of clause 6, wherein the wired communication session is established according to a universal system bus (USB) protocol.

[0056] Clause 8. The method of clause 1, further comprising: receiving a stop capture indication that the camera is going to stop capture of the video content; responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of the video content; and refraining from outputting the video content.

[0057] Clause 9. The method of any combination of clauses 1-8, further comprising obtaining an ambient light level, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible,

[0058] Clause 10, The method of any combination of clauses 1-9, further comprising obtaining an ambient light level, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible without oversaturating the video content.

[0059] Clause 11. A computing device comprising: a camera unit comprising: a camera configured to capture video content of a scene; and a flash configured to illuminate the scene during capture of the video content, a memory configured to store the video content; and processing circuitry configured to: receive a start, capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture the video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and output the video content.

[0060] Clause 12. The computing device of clause 11, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance.

[0061] Clause 13. The computing device of clause 12, wherein the configurable luminance comprises a lowest luminance for which the flash is configurable.

[0062] Clause 14. The computing device of clause 11, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to emit light at a configurable chromaticity.

[0063] Clause 15. The computing device of clause 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to establish a communication session with a host device, and wherein, to output the video content, the processing circuitry is configured to output the video content to the host device.

[0064] Clause 16. The computing device of clause 15, wherein the communication session comprises one or more of a wired communication session and a wared communication session.

[0065] Clause 17. The computing device of clause 16, wherein the wired communication session is established according to a universal system bus (USB) protocol.

[0066] Clause 18, The computing device of clause 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: receive a stop capture indication that the camera is going to stop capture of the video content; responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of the video content; and refrain from outputting the video content.

[0067] Clause 19. The computing device of any combination of clauses 1 1-18, further comprising an ambient light sensor configured to obtain an ambient light level, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible without oversaturating the video content.

[0068] Clause 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry of a computing device to: receive a start capture indication that a camera of a camera unit is to be used to actively capture video content, the camera unit also comprises a flash; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputting, by the computing device, the video content.

[0069] Clause 21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 20, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance.

[0070] Clause 22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 21, wherein the configurable luminance comprises a lowest luminance for which the flash is configurable.

[0071] Clause 23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 20, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processing circuitry to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to emit light at a configurable chromaticity.

[0072] In one or more examples, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over, as one or more instructions or code, a computer-readable medium and executed by a hardware-based processing unit. Computer-readable media may include computer-readable storage media, which corresponds to a tangible medium such as data storage media, or communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another, e.g., according to a communication protocol. In this manner, computer-readable media generally may correspond to (1) tangible computer- readable storage media, which is non-transitory or (2) a communication medium such as a signal or carrier wave. Data storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by one or more computers or one or more processors to retrieve instructions, code and / or data structures for implementation of the techniques described in this disclosure. A computer program product may include a computer-readable medium.

[0073] By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable storage media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory', or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if instructions are transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. It should be understood, however, that computer-readable storage media and datastorage media do not include connections, carrier waves, signals, or other transient media, but are instead directed to non-transient, tangible storage media. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc, where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer- readable media.

[0074] Instructions may be executed by one or more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry; Accordingly, the term “processor,” as used herein may refer to any of the foregoing structures or any other structure suitable for implementation of the techniques described herein. In addition, in some aspects, the functionality described herein may be provided within dedicated hardware and / or software modules. Also, the techniques could be fully implemented in one or more circuits or logic elements.

[0075] The techniques of this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of devices or apparatuses, including a wireless handset, an integrated circuit (IC) or a set of ICs (e.g., a chip set). Various components, modules, or units are described in this disclosure to emphasize functional aspects of devices configured to perform the disclosed techniques, but do not necessarily require realization by different hardware units. Rather, as described above, various units may be combined in a hardware unit or provided by a collection of inter operative hardware units, including one or more processors as described above, in conjunction with suitable software and / or firmware.

[0076] Various aspects of the disclosure have been described. These and other aspects are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A method comprising : receiving, by a computing device comprising a camera unit that includes a camera and a flash, a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing, by the computing device, the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputting, by the computing device, the video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configurable luminance comprises a lowest luminance for which the flash is configurable.

4. The method of any combination of claims 1-3, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to emit light at a configurable chromaticity.

5. The method of any combination of claims 1-4, further comprising establishing a communication session with a host device, and wherein outputting the video content comprises outputting the video content to the host device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication session comprises one or more of a wared communication session and a wired communication session.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wired communication session is established according to a universal system bus (USB) protocol.

8. The method of any combination of claims I -7, further comprising: receiving a stop capture indication that the camera is going to stop capture of the video content; responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of the video content; and refraining from outputting the video content.

9. The method of any combination of claims 1-8, further comprising obtaining an ambient light level, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible.

10. The method of any combination of claims 1-9, further comprising obtaining an ambient light level, wherein causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash comprises causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible without oversaturating the video content.

11. A computing device comprising: a camera unit comprising: a camera configured to capture video content of a scene; and a flash configured to illuminate the scene during capture of the video content; a memory configured to store the video content; and processing circuitry configured to: receive a start capture indication that the camera is to be used to actively capture the video content; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and output the video content.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to pulse at a configurable frequency with a configurable luminance.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the configurable luminance comprises a lowest luminance for which the flash is configurable.

14. The computing device of any combination of claims 11-13, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to emit light at a configurable chromaticity.

15. The computing device of any combination of claims 11-14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to establish a communication session with a host device, and wherein, to output the video content, the processing circuitry is configured to output the video content to the host device.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the communication session comprises one or more of a wired communication session and a wired communication session.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the wired communication session is established according to a universal system bus (USB) protocol.

18. The computing device of any combination of claims 11-17, wherein the processing circuitry’ is further configured to: receive a stop capture indication that the camera is going to stop capture of the video content; responsive to receiving the stop capture indication, cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to illuminate a scene during subsequent capture of the video content; and refrain from outputting the video content.

19. The computing device of any combination of claims 11 -18, further comprising an ambient light sensor configured to obtain an ambient light level, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the camera unit to reconfigure the flash, based on the ambient light level, with a configurable luminance that is barely visible without oversaturating the video content.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry of a computing device to: receive a start capture indication that a camera of a camera unit is to be used to actively capture video content, the camera unit also comprises a flash; responsive to receiving the start capture indication, causing the camera unit to reconfigure the flash to operate as a status indication light during capture of the video content in order to alert a user of the computing device that the camera is actively capturing video content; and outputting, by the computing device, the video content.

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