Multi-stage trigger for capturing video images

• US 9,106,820 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hartford, Stephen, Wever, Pascal, Gartrell, Andrew, Hammendorp, Maarten
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/218,786
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

Mechanisms are described for capturing video images using a multi-stage trigger button, where the effect of the trigger button is dependent on how a user interacts with the trigger button, such as during what timeframe the user releases the trigger button. For example, if the user ceases actuating the trigger button during a first time period following actuation, the capture of the video image is halted. If the user ceases actuating the trigger button during a second time period, the capture of the video image is continued. If the user ceases actuating the trigger button during a third time period, the capture of the video image is halted. Thus, for short actuations and long actuations, video images are only recorded while the trigger button is continued to be depressed. For video images in between, the video is continued to be recorded until a second actuation is received from the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a trigger button has been actuated;

causing, with a processor, sensor data to be captured in response to actuation of the trigger button;

halting the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a first time period following the actuation;

continuing the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a second time period following the actuation; and

halting the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a third time period following the actuation,

wherein the first, second and third time periods are mutually exclusive.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period, and wherein the third time period is subsequent to the second time period.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the first time period commences upon actuation of the trigger button and continues until a first predefined time.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the second time period commences at the first predefined time and continues until a second predefined time, and wherein the third time period commences at the second predefined time and continues thereafter until the actuation of the trigger button ceases.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication that the actuation of the trigger button has been ceased once the sensor data has been caused to be captured.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising causing a display of a predefined type of indicia to commence during the second time period.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sensor data comprises video images.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one a processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive an indication that a trigger button has been actuated;

cause sensor data to be captured in response to actuation of the trigger button;

halt the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a first time period following the actuation;

continue the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a second time period following the actuation; and

halt the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a third time period following the actuation,

wherein the first, second and third time periods are mutually exclusive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period, and wherein the third time period is subsequent to the second time period.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first time period commences upon actuation of the trigger button and continues until a first predefined time, wherein the second time period commences at the first predefined time and continues until a second predefined time, and wherein the third time period commences at the second predefined time and continues thereafter until the actuation of the trigger button ceases.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive an indication that the actuation of the trigger button has been ceased once the sensor data has been caused to be captured.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause a display of a predefined type of indicia to commence during the second time period.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the predefined type of indicia comprises an elapsed recording time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the sensor data comprises video images.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication that a trigger button has been actuated;

causing sensor data to be captured in response to actuation of the trigger button;

halting the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a first time period following the actuation;

continuing the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a second time period following the actuation; and

halting the capture of the sensor data in an instance in which the actuation of the trigger button ceases during a third time period following the actuation,

wherein the first, second and third time periods are mutually exclusive.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period, and wherein the third time period is subsequent to the second time period.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the first time period commences upon actuation of the trigger button and continues until a first predefined time, wherein the second time period commences at the first predefined time and continues until a second predefined time, and wherein the third time period commences at the second predefined time and continues thereafter until the actuation of the trigger button ceases.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the computer-executable program code portions further comprise program code instructions for receiving an indication that the actuation of the trigger button has been ceased once the sensor data has been caused to be captured.

19. The computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the computer-executable program code portions further comprise program code instructions for causing a display of a predefined type of indicia to commence during the second time period.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the sensor data comprises video images.