Lock Screen Camera Activation via Orientation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing user interface (UI) of smartphones buries the camera activation process deep within the device, leading to a significant delay between a user's intention to take a picture and the ability to do so, potentially resulting in missed moments.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows a mobile device to display a live image-capture preview on the lock-screen UI, enabling image capture while the device is still in a locked state by detecting changes in orientation, such as from portrait to landscape, and providing visual notice through concurrent display of image-capture UI elements with the lock-screen elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the camera activation process is buried deep within the smartphone's user interface, then the device maintains security through lock-screen protection, but the time delay increases significantly between user intention and picture capture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock-screen securityVSAvoidtime delay for picture capture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the camera application to be pre-loaded and activated directly from the lock screen by detecting specific orientation patterns. This preliminary action allows the camera to be ready for immediate capture without requiring full device unlock, thus maintaining security while reducing capture delay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the lock screen itself becomes the activation interface for the camera. By detecting specific orientation gestures on the lock screen, the system mediates between security requirements and quick access needs, allowing camera launch without full authentication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the camera application is activated from the lock screen through orientation detection, then the speed of picture capture improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensor processing and UI coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicture capture activation speedVSAvoidsensor processing and UI coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the lock screen serve multiple functions: it remains the primary authentication interface while simultaneously acting as a camera activation interface through orientation detection. This multi-functionality allows the same UI element to trigger different applications based on gesture context, reducing the need for separate hardware buttons or interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the device's existing orientation sensors and lock screen UI infrastructure to automatically detect and respond to camera activation gestures. The lock screen itself provides the interface for camera activation without requiring additional external sensors or complex intermediary systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3262483B1Systems and methods for capturing images from a lock screen
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3262483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3262483B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3262483B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

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.