Apparatus and method for automatically activating a camera application based on detecting an intent to capture a photograph or a video

A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a storage device having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first signal from an accelerometer included in a mobile device that detects at least one of movement, position and orientation of the mobile device;
• and
• activating a camera application implemented in the mobile device when the processor determines that the mobile device has remained in a stationary portrait position or a stationary landscape position for a period of time based on the first signal,
• wherein activating the camera application includes signaling by the processor to a display device included in the mobile device to display a camera screen from a locked screen, wherein the display device displays the locked screen when the mobile device is in locked mode.

A mobile device comprising:

• an external housing;
• a processor;
• data storage containing an operating system and application software for execution by the processor;
• a display screen to display a locked screen when the mobile device is in locked mode;
• a camera module including a camera lens facing a housing camera lens cover;
• an accelerometer to detect at least one of movement, position and orientation of the mobile device;
• and
• a hardware state machine including hardwired logic to filter data from the accelerometer,
• wherein, when the hardware state machine determines that the mobile device has remained in a stationary portrait position or a stationary landscape position for a period of time based on the data from the accelerometer, the hardware state machine signals to the processor to activate a camera application, wherein the activation of the camera application includes signaling to the display screen to display a camera screen from the locked screen.