Mobile Device Video Suppression via Spatial State Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices face battery life and bandwidth wastage issues when supporting packet-based video calls, as these resources are consumed even when the device is held to the user's ear, where video functionality is not beneficial or useful to the user.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device with a transceiver, screen, and communication processing apparatus that uses sensors to detect spatial states, enabling or suppressing video functionality based on whether the device is in a video capture or ear-held position, thereby conserving resources by pausing or suspending video transmission and processing when not needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video functionality is continuously enabled during packet-based video calls, then video communication quality is maintained, but battery life is reduced and bandwidth is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo communication qualityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the video functionality dynamic rather than static. The video call function changes its state based on detected spatial conditions - it is enabled when the device is in video capture position and disabled when held to the ear, creating an adaptive system that responds to user behavior patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses self-service by automatically detecting the device's spatial state through sensors and autonomously controlling the video function without requiring manual user intervention. The device monitors its own position and independently decides when to enable or disable video based on predefined spatial criteria

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If video transmission is continuously maintained, then video call functionality is preserved, but network bandwidth is consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo call functionalityVSAvoidbandwidth wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by continuously monitoring the device's spatial state through sensors and periodically adjusting video transmission based on detected position changes. The system checks spatial conditions at regular intervals and toggles video functionality accordingly, creating a rhythm of enable/disable operations that aligns with actual usage patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2540118B1Mobile device for selectively suppressing a video function of a packet-based video call
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 SKYPE
  • EP2540118B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2540118B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2540118B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A mobile device (102a) and corresponding method and program. The mobile device (102a) comprises: a transceiver (303) for accessing a packet-based network (101); a screen (201); communication processing apparatus (301) coupled to the transceiver (303) and screen (201), for conducting a packet-based video call with a remote device (102b) via a channel established over the packet-based network (101); and a sensor (304) for sensing a spatial state of the mobile device (102a). The communication processing apparatus (301) is coupled to the sensor (304) and configured so as to detect, during the video call, whether the mobile device (102a) is in a first spatial state or a second spatial state, e.g. being held away from or against a user's ear and to suppress a video function of the call when in the second spatial state but not in the first spatial state.