Remote control of an image capturing unit in a portable electronic device

Abstract

A method and computer program product are described herein for remotely controlling a first image capturing unit in a portable electronic device as well as to such a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may include a first and a second image capturing unit. The device detects and tracks an object via the second capturing unit and detects changes in an area of the object. These changes are then used for controlling the first image capturing unit remotely. When the control involves capturing of images an improved image quality can be obtained. Also the time it takes to capture an image is reduced.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for controlling a first image capturing unit of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 capturing, by a second image capturing unit, image data of a field of view of the second image capturing unit;   segmenting, based on fields of color, the captured image data into a plurality of segments;   determining that one or more of the plurality of segments are associated with an area of the captured image data;   detecting, based on the one or more of the plurality of segments, a first change in the area of the captured image data; and   controlling, based on detecting the first change, the first image capturing unit to perform a first operation.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 detecting a second change in the area of the captured image data, where the second change is different from the first change; and   controlling, based on detecting the second change, the first image capturing unit to perform a second operation that is different than the first operation.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving an instruction to activate remote control of the portable electronic device via inputs made by a user of the portable electronic device, and   where the image data is captured by the second image capturing unit based on receiving the instruction.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 focusing, in response to receiving the instruction, the first image capturing unit on an element in a scene viewed by the first image capturing unit.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 indicating, to a user of the portable electronic device, that the object is being tracked.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 presenting, via a display associated with the portable electronic device, a scene viewed by the first image capturing unit to a user of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , where detecting the first change includes:
 detecting a blinking of at least one eye of a user of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         34 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a control unit to:
 cause a first image capturing unit, of the portable electronic device, to capture image data, of a field of view, of the first image capturing unit, 
 segment, based on fields of color, the captured image data into a plurality of segments, 
 identify an area of the captured image data that is associated with one or more of the plurality of segments, 
 detect, based on the one or more of the plurality of segments, a first change in the identified area, and 
 control, based on detecting the first change, a second image capturing unit, of the portable electronic device, to perform a first operation. 
   
     
     
         35 . The portable electronic device of  claim 34 , where the control unit is further to:
 detect a second change in the identified area, the second change being different from the first change, and   control, based on detecting the second change, the second image capturing unit to perform a second operation, the second operation being different than the first operation.   
     
     
         36 . The portable electronic device of  claim 34 , where the control unit is further to:
 receive, via an input from a user of the portable electronic device, an instruction to activate remote control of the portable electronic device, and   cause the first image capturing unit to capture the image data based on receiving the instruction.   
     
     
         37 . The portable electronic device of  claim 36 , where the control unit is further to:
 focus, in response to receiving the instruction, the second image capturing unit on an element in a scene viewed by the second image capturing unit.   
     
     
         38 . The portable electronic device of  claim 34 , where the control unit is further to:
 indicate, to a user of the portable electronic device, that the object is being tracked.   
     
     
         39 . The portable electronic device of  claim 34 , where the control unit is further to:
 present a scene viewed by the second image capturing unit to a user of the portable electronic device via a display associated with the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         40 . The portable electronic device of  claim 34 , where, when detecting the first change, the control unit is to:
 detect a blinking of at least one eye of a user of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         41 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions executable by a processor of a device, the computer-readable medium comprising:
 one or more instructions to cause a first image capturing unit, of the device, to capture image data, of a field of view, of the first image capturing unit;   one or more instructions to segment, based on fields of color, the captured image data into a plurality of segments;   one or more instructions to identify an area of the captured image data that is associated with one or more of the plurality of segments;   one or more instructions to detect, based on the one or more of the plurality of segments, a first change in the identified area; and   one or more instructions to cause, based on detecting the first change, a second image capturing unit, of the device, to perform a first operation.   
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to detect a second change in the identified area, the second change being different from the first change, and   one or more instructions to cause, based on detecting the second change, the second image capturing unit to perform a second operation, the second operation being different than the first operation.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to determine that a remote control function is activated, and   one or more instructions to cause the first image capturing unit to capture the image data based on the remote control function being activated.   
     
     
         44 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to adjust, in response to receiving the instruction, a focus of the second image capturing unit.   
     
     
         45 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to present a scene viewed by the second image capturing unit via a display associated with the device.   
     
     
         46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 41 , where the one or more instructions to detect the first change include:
 one or more instructions to detect a particular movement of at least one eye of a user of the device.