Method and apparatus for automatically sending a captured image to a phone call participant

Abstract

A method for automatically sending a captured data to a phone call participant using a communication device having a data capture apparatus, includes initiating a communication session to a participant, such as a phone call; initiating a data capture event during the communication session, such as capturing an image; and automatically transmitting the captured data to the participant concurrently with the communication session.

1 . A method for automatically sending captured data to a voice communication session participant using a mobile communication device having a data capture apparatus, comprising:
 initiating a voice communication session to a participant while the mobile communication device is operating in a mode capable of performing a data capture event;   detecting when the mobile communication device performs the data capture event;   determining that the voice communication session between the mobile communication device and the participant is being conducted when the device performs the data capture event; and   in response to detecting the data capture event, automatically generating a message that includes data from the data capture event and automatically transmitting, concurrently with the voice communication session, the message to the participant independent of user input.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving second captured data during at least one of the voice communication with the participant and a second voice communication session with a second participant;   recognizing that the second captured data originated from at least one of the participant and the second participant; and   presenting the second captured data to the user during the at least one of the voice communication session and the second voice communication session.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data capture event comprises at least one of movie capture, saving/closing of a document, and opening of any viewable file/resource, including URL addressed resources, images, audio, and games. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: determining addressing information for the participant by examining metadata regarding the voice communication session and using the metadata to lookup addressing information related to the participant. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: looking up the addressing information by using at least one of a user's local address book, a user's remote address book, a directory service, and data available to the other call participants devices. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: transmitting the captured data to a switch that handles routing of both voice and data for the mobile communication device and that is configured to lookup addressing information related to the participant and for sending the message to the participant. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising: configuring the switch to use a transport connection associated with the phone call to open another channel to the participant of the call and to forward the message. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: transmitting the data to the participant using a data communication session concurrent with the voice communication session. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: configuring the mobile communication device to support at least two communication modes, including phone calls, e-mail, SMS, MMS, direct network connections, and datagram/packet type exchanges. 
   
   
       10 . A network-enabled mobile communication device having a data capture apparatus, comprising:
 means for initiating a voice communication session to a participant while the mobile communication device is operating in a mode capable of performing a data capture event;   means for detecting that a voice communication session with at least one participant is in progress;   means for capturing data during the voice communication session;   means for determining that the voice communication session between the mobile communication device and the at least one participant is being conducted when means for capturing data performs a data capture event;   means responsive to the determining means for automatically constructing a message that includes the captured data independent of user input; and   means responsive to the determining means for automatically transmitting the message to the at least one participant independent of user input during the voice communication session.   
   
   
       11 . The mobile communication device of  claim 10  further including means for receiving a message containing captured data from a second mobile communication device during at least one of the voice communication session and a second voice communication session, and for presenting the captured data during the at least one of the voice communication session and the second voice communication session. 
   
   
       12 . The mobile communication device of  claim 10  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a camera phone. 
   
   
       13 . The mobile communication device of  claim 10  wherein the mobile communication device supports at least two communication modes for initiating respective communication sessions, including phone calls, e-mail, SMS, MMS, direct network connections, and datagram/packet type exchanges. 
   
   
       14 . The mobile communication device of  claim 10  wherein the data capture means includes at least one of a digital still image capture device, a microphone, a scanner, user interface keys, programmable soft keys, and a touchscreen. 
   
   
       15 . The mobile communication device of  claim 10  wherein the determining means comprises a data bridge client for determining that means for capturing data performs the data capture event during the voice communication session, and for automatically generating and transmitting the message including the captured data. 
   
   
       16 . The mobile communication device of  claim 15  wherein the data bridge client further includes means for transmitting the message to a switch that is configured to address the message to the participant and forward the message to the participant. 
   
   
       17 . A method for presenting data received during a voice communication session, comprising:
 initiating, on a mobile communication device, a communication session with a participant;   receiving a message on the mobile communication device, the message from a source and including data from a data capture event during the communication session;   determining the participant is the source of the message including the captured data; and   presenting the captured data during the communication session in response to determining the participant is the source of the message.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the communication session is a voice communication session. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein determining the participant is the source of the message includes determining addressing information for the participant by examining metadata regarding the voice communication session. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising: looking up the addressing information in an address book available to the mobile communication device based on the metadata. 
   
   
       21 . A computer-readable medium containing programming instructions for presenting data received during a voice communication session, the program instructions for:
 conducting, on a mobile communication device, a communication session with a participant;   receiving a message on the mobile communication device, the message from a source and including data from a data capture event during the communication session;   determining the participant is the source of the message including the captured data; and   presenting the captured data during the communication session in response to determining the participant is the source of the message.