Patent ID: 8131322

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for using speaker phone mode of a portable communications device having a built-in camera, 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; analyzing the image to determine if the device is placed either flat or nearly flat on an opaque surface, wherein the image is black when the camera is flat on the opaque surface and the image is nearly black when the camera is nearly flat on the opaque surface; receiving ambient light data from one or more ambient light sensors of the device, wherein the ambient light data can indicate one of a low ambient light level and a high ambient light level; and activating speaker phone mode of the device if (i) the image is black or nearly black and (ii) the ambient light data indicates the high ambient light level and not the low ambient light level.