Changing display images of a camera timer remote control

• US 9,860,436 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, James A., Lee, Eric S., Johnson, Hugh W., Dovey, James C., Chapman, Gregory R., Batson, James D., Williams, George E., Eagleston, Walker J., Novick, Gregory B., Karunamuni, Chanaka G.
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US15/643,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20170310874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to control a camera from a wearable mechanism device, such as a watch, pendant or other device with its own limited display. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a wearable mechanism device for remotely controlling a camera with an intuitive user interface and sequencing of interface options. In one embodiment, the display on the wearable mechanism changes before a picture or video is taken with the electronic camera. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to partially control a camera from the wearable mechanism device, providing split control.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between a wearable device and an electronic device comprising a camera;

providing, on a display screen of the wearable device, a first display comprising a control interface for controlling the camera;

receiving, at the display screen, a user selection of the control interface that identifies a request for the camera to capture an image after a time period;

transmitting, to the electronic device, a timer control signal for the camera to provide a countdown time before an image capture event based at least in part on the user selection, the countdown time based at least in part on the time period;

monitoring the countdown time;

providing a countdown signal on the first display during the monitoring of the countdown time;

in response to the countdown time reaching a threshold value, changing the first display on the display screen to a second display on the display screen; and

in response to receiving the image from the electronic device, changing the second display on the display screen back to the first display, the first display configured to include a thumbnail of the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display comprises a substantially blank screen or an image of a watch face.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display further comprises a preview of the image viewed by the camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises a first control interface and is provided adjacent to a second control interface, and wherein the second control interface is configured to identify, upon selection, a request for the camera to capture the image before the countdown time reaches the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the countdown signal comprises at least one of an audible sound, a visual effect, or a haptic effect.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the visual effect comprises flashing the control interface, enlarging and contracting the control interface, or changing a color of the control interface.

7. A wearable device, comprising:

a wireless interface configured for communication with an electronic device having a camera;

a display screen; and

a processor in communication with the wireless interface and the display screen, the processor configured to;

provide, on the display screen, a first display comprising a control interface for controlling the camera and a preview of an image viewed by the camera;

receive, at the display screen, a user selection of the control interface that identifies a request for the camera to capture the image after a time period;

monitor a countdown time of the electronic device;

in response to the countdown time reaching a threshold amount of the time period, turn off light being emitted from the display screen; and

in response to receiving the image from the electronic device, change the display screen back to the first display.

8. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein turning off the light being emitted from the display screen comprises providing a substantially blank screen.

9. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein the user selection generates a timed shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image after a countdown period corresponding to the time period, and wherein the processor is further configured to provide a user feedback signal in response to the countdown time reaching a threshold value prior to turning off the light being emitted from the display screen.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein a countdown signal provided while monitoring the countdown time comprises at least one of an audible sound, a visual effect, or a haptic effect.

11. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein the control interface is a first control interface, and wherein the first display further comprises a second control interface provided adjacent to the first control interface.

12. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the first control interface identifies the time period, and wherein the second control interface is configured for instructing the camera to capture the image in response to selection of the second control interface.

13. The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the first display is further configured to include a thumbnail of the image at least in response to receiving the image from the electronic device.

14. The wearable device of claim 13, wherein the thumbnail is provided adjacent to at least one of the first control interface or the second control interface.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing, on a display screen of a wearable device, a first display comprising a control interface for controlling a camera of a user device and a preview of an image viewed by the camera;

receiving, via the display screen, a user selection of the control interface that identifies a request for the camera to capture the image after a time period;

monitor a countdown time of the user device;

in response to the countdown time reaching a threshold amount of the time period, turning off light being emitted from the display screen; and

in response to receiving the image from the user device, displaying a second display on the display screen.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first display further includes a shutter control icon that;

when selected, generates a shutter activation signal that instructs the camera to capture an image.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the threshold amount of the time period comprises an end of the time period.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the image is received from the user device after the end of the time period.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second display includes a user-selectable icon that, upon being selected, instructs the wearable device to display the image captured by the camera on the display screen.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the user-selectable icon comprises a thumbnail image of the image captured by the camera.