Gesture control for managing an image view display

• US 9,350,918 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Leo Benedict
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Christopher K
• Application Number:
  US13/672,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/681 Motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

Approaches are described for managing an image displayed on a computing device. An image of an object is displayed on an interface of the device. An activation movement performed by a user (such as a forward and backward motion) can cause the device to enable an image view control mode (such as a zoom control mode) that can be used to adjust a portion of the image being displayed on the interface. The activation movement can also be used to set a detection range, where a movement of the device within the range can cause the device to adjust the displayed image based on the image view control mode. Thereafter, in response to a motion being detected (such as moving the device towards the object), the device can adjust a portion of the image being displayed on the interface, such as displaying a “zoomed in” portion of the image.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing an image view display, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

activating a first camera on a first side of a computing device;

displaying a first image, captured by the first camera using a first zoom level within a zoom range, on a display element on a second opposing side of the computing device;

detecting, using at least a pair of second cameras on the second opposing side of the computing device, a first movement of the computing device relative to a user of the computing device within a predefined period of time after the first camera is activated, the first movement including a forward motion from a first position to a second position and a backward motion from the second position to the first position;

determining, using the first position and the second position, a range of movement for the computing device;

generating a mapping of the range of movement to the zoom range;

detecting a second movement of the computing device within the range of movement;

determining a second zoom level based at least in part on the mapping and the second movement within the range of movement; and

displaying a second image, captured by the first camera using the second zoom level, on the display element.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the range of movement includes:

determining, based on a first distance between a facial feature of the user and the computing device at the first position, as a start position;

determining, based on a second distance between the facial feature and the computing device at the second position, as a stop position; and

determining the range of movement based at least in part on the start position and the stop position.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a lateral movement of the computing device relative to the user of the computing device during a time the second image is displayed, the lateral movement being one of a left movement or a right movement of the computing device relative to the user; and

displaying a third image, captured by the second camera at the second zoom level, on the display element, the third image including at least a portion of an object positioned in a direction, corresponding to the lateral movement, relative to the user.

4. A computer implemented method, comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

detecting, using at least a pair of first cameras on a first side of a computing device, a first movement of the computing device relative to a user of the computing device, the first movement including a forward motion from a first position to a second position and a backward motion from the second position to the first position;

determining, using the first position and the second position, a range of movement for the computing device;

determining a zoom range based at least upon the range of movement;

detecting a second movement of the computing device relative to the user within the range of movement;

determining a zoom level within the zoom range based at least in part on the second movement within the range of movement; and

configuring a second camera on a second opposing side of the computing device to use the zoom level.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the range of movement includes:

determining a first distance, between a facial feature of the user and the computing device at the first position, as a start position;

determining a second distance, between the facial feature and the computing device at the second position, as a stop position; and

determining the range of movement based at least in part on the start position and the stop position.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the first movement corresponds to at least a particular pattern of movement of the computing device relative to the user of the computing device.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

activating the second camera based on detecting one of an indication of a depression of a button on the computing device, an indication of a shaking of the computing device, or an indication of a selection of a user-selectable element on a display element on the first side of the computing device;

detecting an indication of a deactivation action; and

deactivating the second camera.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the forward motion and the backward motion are performed within a predefined period of time after the second camera is activated.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying an image, captured using the second camera using the zoom level, on a display element on the first side of the computing device.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

configuring the second camera to use one of a selected saturation level, a selected contrast level, or a selected exposure level.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a depression of a button on the computing devices;

receiving an indication that the button is released; and

capturing an image using the second camera at the zoom level.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a lateral movement during a time the second camera is using the zoom level, the lateral movement being one of a left movement or a right movement of the computing device relative to the user; and

displaying an image, captured by the second camera using the zoom level, on a display element on the first side of the computing device, the image including a representation of at least a portion of an object positioned in a direction, corresponding to the lateral movement, relative to the user.

13. A computing system, comprising:

at least a pair of first cameras on a first side of the computing system;

a second camera on a second opposing side of the computing system;

a display element on the first side;

at least one processor; and

memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to;

display an image, captured by the second camera using a first zoom level, on the display element;

detect, using at least the pair of first cameras, a first movement of the computing system relative to a user of the computing system, the first movement including a forward motion from a first position to a second position and a backward motion from the second position to the first position;

determine, using the first position and the second position, a range of movement for the computing system;

determine a zoom range based at least in part on the range of movement;

detect a second movement within the range of movement;

determine a second zoom level within the zoom range based at least in part on the second movement within the range of movement; and

configure the second camera to use the second zoom level.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing system to:

detect a lateral movement of the computing system relative to the user of the computing system during a time the second camera is using the second zoom level, the lateral movement being one of a left movement or a right movement of the computing system relative to the user; and

display a second image, captured by the second camera using the second zoom level, on the display element, the second image including a representation of at least a portion of an object positioned in a direction, corresponding to the lateral movement, relative to the user.

15. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to determine the range of movement, include causing the computing system to:

determine a first distance, between a facial feature of the user and the computing system at the first position, as a start position;

determine a second distance, between the facial feature and the computing system at the second position, as a stop position; and

determine the range of movement based at least in part on the start position and the stop position.

16. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing system to:

activate the second camera based on detecting one of an indication of a depression of a button on the computing system, an indication of a shaking of the computing system, or an indication of a selection of a user-selectable element on the display element;

detect an indication of a deactivation action; and

deactivate the second camera.

17. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the forward motion and the backward motion are performed within a predefined period of time after the second camera is activated.

18. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing system to:

display a second image, captured using the second camera at the second zoom level, on the display element.

19. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computing system device to:

detect a depression of a button on the computing system,

receive an indication that the button is released; and

capture a second image using the second camera at the second zoom level.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:

detect, using at least a pair of first cameras on a first side of a computing device, a first movement of the computing device relative to a user of the computing device, the first movement including a forward motion from a first position to a second position and a backward motion from the second position to the first position;

determine, using the first position and the second position, a range of movement for the computing device;

determine a zoom range corresponding to the range of movement;

detect a second movement of the computing device relative to the user within the range of movement;

determine a zoom level within the zoom range based at least in part on the second movement within the range of movement; and

configure a second camera of the computing device to use the zoom level.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to determine the range of movement include causing the one or more processors to:

determine a first distance, between a facial feature of the user and the computing device at the first position, as a start position;

determine a second distance, between the facial feature and the computing device at the second position, as a stop position; and

determine the range of movement based at least in part on the start position and the stop position.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first movement corresponds to at least a particular pattern of movement of the computing device relative to a user of the computing device.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to;

activate the second camera based on detecting one of an indication of a depression of a button on the computing device, an indication of a shaking of the computing device, or an indication of a selection of a user-selectable element on a display element on a first side of the computing device;

detect an indication of a deactivation action; and

deactivate the second camera.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the forward motion and the backward motion are performed within a predefined period of time after the second camera is activated.