Providing area zoom functionality for a camera

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a digital camera. The invention also relates to a corresponding device and a corresponding computer program. An original image recorded by the camera is received. The original image has an original aspect ratio. A first user input defining a center point of an area of interest within the original image is received. A second user input defining a perimeter for the area of interest of the original image is received. The perimeter for the area of interest has the same aspect ratio as the original aspect ratio. The camera view is adjusted based on the first user input and the second user input to provide a zoomed image of the defined area of interest. The zoomed image is centered on the center point defined by the first user input. Finally, the zoomed image is displayed to the user on a display screen.

1 . A method, in a computer system, for adjusting a camera, the method comprising:
 receiving an original image captured by the camera, the original image having an original aspect ratio;   receiving a first user input defining a center point of an area of interest of the original image;   receiving a second user input defining a perimeter for the area of interest, the perimeter is being set to the same aspect ratio as the original aspect ratio;   adjusting the camera view based on the first user input and the second user input to provide a zoomed image of the defined area of interest, the zoomed image being centered on the center point defined by the first user input; and   displaying the zoomed image to the user on a display screen.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein receiving the first user input includes receiving a user selection with a pointing device of a point in the original image. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the point is defined by an (x, y) coordinate pair in an orthogonal coordinate system for the original image. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second user input includes receiving a second location at a distance from the center point. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second location is defined by a user using a pointing device in a click-and-drag operation starting at the center point. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the center point and the second location is equal to half the distance between two diagonally opposite corners on the perimeter. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein drawing the perimeter of the area of interest occurs only when the second location is at a minimum distance from the center point. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the minimum distance is defined by a number of pixels. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the minimum distance is defined by a zooming-capability of the camera. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a zoom factor as the ratio of a diagonal distance between two corners of the area of interestand a diagonal distance between two corners of the original image; and   providing the calculated zoom factor to the camera for use in adjusting the camera.   
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a zoom factor smaller than one corresponds to zooming in, a zoom factor equal to one corresponds to no zooming, and a zoom factor larger than one corresponds to zooming out. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the entire perimeter of the area of interest is located inside the perimeter of the original image and the zoomed image is a zoomed-in image. 
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the area of interest extends outside the perimeter of the original image. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein area of interest includes the entire original image and the zoomed image is a zoomed-out image. 
   
   
       15 . A computer program for adjusting a camera, the program comprising instructions corresponding to the steps of:
 receiving an original image captured by the camera, the original image having an original aspect ratio;   receiving a first user input defining a center point of an area of interest of the original image;   receiving a second user input defining a perimeter for the area of interest, the perimeter having the same aspect ratio as the original aspect ratio;   adjusting the camera view based on the first user input and the second user input to provide a zoomed image of the defined area of interest, the zoomed image being centered on the center point defined by the first user input; and   displaying the zoomed image to the user on a display screen.   
   
   
       16 . A digital storage medium comprising a computer program as claimed in  claim 15 . 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the center point and the second location is equal to half the distance between two diagonally opposite corners on the perimeter.