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

An apparatus comprising:

• camera circuitry to capture an image;
• wireless communications circuitry;
• a receiver, a speaker phone, a microphone, and a headset interface coupled to the wireless communications circuitry;
• a processor coupled to the camera circuitry;
• a memory coupled to the processor and stores instructions that when executed by the processor,
• detect that a wireless call is being received or placed,
• in response to detecting the call, activate the camera circuitry to capture an image and then deactivate the camera circuitry after capturing the image and before the call is disconnected, and
• activate speaker phone mode for the call, based on having analyzed the captured image.

A machine-implemented method to enable speaker phone mode in a wireless communications device using a built-in camera of the device, comprising:

• receiving or placing a call using the device, while the device is not connected to a headset;
• capturing an image using the camera while receiving or placing the call;
• comparing the captured image to a plurality of previously stored captured images;
• and
• activating speaker phone mode of the device for the call, based on results of the comparison.

A machine-implemented method to enable speaker phone mode in a wireless communications device using a built-in camera of the device, comprising:

• receiving or placing a call using the device;
• capturing an image using the camera during the call;
• determining status of the speaker phone mode when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated;
• and
• storing the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog including a plurality of previously stored captured images and associated speaker phone mode statuses.

An apparatus comprising:

• camera circuitry to capture an image;
• wireless communications circuitry;
• a processor coupled to the camera circuitry and the wireless communications circuitry;
• and
• memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor, automatically activate the camera circuitry and use it to capture an image,
• determine status of speaker phone mode when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated for a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and
• store the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog.

An apparatus comprising:

• camera circuitry to capture an image;
• wireless communications circuitry;
• a processor coupled to the camera circuitry and the wireless communications circuitry;
• and
• memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor,
• place the apparatus in a speaker phone training mode, wherein in the training mode a) the camera circuitry is activated and a shutter button is enabled, b) an image is captured, using the camera circuitry, in response to manual actuation of the shutter button by a user of the apparatus, c) status of speaker phone mode of the apparatus is detected when the image is captured, the speaker phone mode status indicating whether or not the speaker phone mode is activated for a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and d) store the speaker phone mode status and the captured image in a catalog.

A communications apparatus comprising:

• camera circuitry;
• an ambient light sensor;
• a sensor to detect movement of the apparatus;
• wireless communications circuitry;
• a speaker coupled to the wireless communications circuitry;
• a processor coupled to the camera circuitry;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and that stores instructions that when executed by the processor,
• automatically signal the camera circuitry to capture an image, while receiving or placing a call that uses the wireless communications circuitry, and
• activate the speaker for the call, dependent on having analyzed the captured image and output data from one of (a) the ambient light sensor, (b) the sensor that detects movement, and (c) a clock function.