Abstract:
In one embodiment, a mobile device system capable of viewfinder operation includes a memory device, a photosensitive device capable of receiving light providing an image of an external object, a video screen, and a processing device coupled at least indirectly to each of the memory and photosensitive devices and the screen, where the processing device provides signal(s) to the screen configured to cause the screen to operate as a viewfinder that displays a further image based upon the external object image. The mobile device further includes at least one sensing device either distinct from or associated with the screen, and configured to detect input commands indicated by movement or positioning of at least one object. The processing device causes the screen to display a plurality of options and subsequently to modify the further image displayed by the viewfinder in accordance with the detected commands. Related operational methods are also described.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to imaging technology and, more particularly, to imaging technology employed in mobile devices and other devices having camera functionality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Camera functionality has become commonplace in, among things, a variety of mobile devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, and other devices. Electronic (particularly digital) processing and storage technologies implemented in such mobile devices make it possible for an operator (e.g., person desiring to take a picture) to rapidly and easily capture, store and review images, among other things, on the operator&#39;s mobile device. 
         [0003]    Mobile devices (and other devices) having camera-type functionality often include an electronic viewfinder capability. In traditional cameras a viewfinder often was merely a window through which an operator could look to see, directly through the window, an image about to be photographed. Using the window in this manner, the operator could obtain a preview of the image, prior to actually taking a photograph. However, in mobile devices (and other devices) capable of electronic processing and storage of information, a viewfinder is often an electronic display that provides a computer-generated (simulated) image corresponding to the actual image which is in the view of the lens of the mobile device. 
         [0004]    Notwithstanding the benefits of current electronic viewfinders in mobile devices, the operation of such viewfinders is not always easy to control. This is particularly of concern as the operations afforded by such viewfinders become more varied and complicated. Therefore, for at least the above reasons, it would be advantageous if an improved method and system for enhancing electronic viewfinder operation in a mobile (or other) device could be developed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of providing viewfinder functionality on a mobile device. The method includes providing a mobile device having a processing device, a memory, a photoreceiving device capable of receiving light providing an image of an external object, and a video screen, and detecting a first user input command provided in relation to the mobile device. The method also includes controlling the video screen to operate as a viewfinder so as to display, in addition to a further image identical to or based upon the image of the external object, a first plurality of selectable items in response to the detecting of the first user input command, and detecting a second user input command provided in relation to the mobile device, the second input command being indicative of the user&#39;s selection of one of the selectable items. The method additionally includes further controlling the video screen to modify the further image being displayed so as to conform the further image either to the user&#39;s selection of the one selectable item or to a setting of a characteristic corresponding to the one selectable item in accordance with a third user input command. 
         [0006]    In at least some additional embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of providing viewfinder functionality on a mobile device. The method includes providing a mobile device having a processing device, a memory, a photoreceiving device capable of receiving light providing an image of an external object, and a video screen. The method further includes controlling the video screen to operate as a viewfinder so as to display, in addition to a further image identical to or based upon the image of the external object, a plurality of selectable options in response to the detecting of the first user input command, and detecting a first user input command provided in relation to the video screen, the first user input command being indicative of one of the selectable options selected by the user. Additionally, the method includes further controlling the video screen to display a plurality of selectable suboptions corresponding to the one selectable option selected by the user, and detecting a second user input command provided in relation to the video screen, the second user input command being indicative of one of the selectable suboptions selected by the user. Also, the method includes additionally controlling the video screen to conform the further image either to the user&#39;s selection of the one selectable suboption or to a setting of a characteristic corresponding to the one selectable suboption in accordance with a third user input command. 
         [0007]    Further, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a mobile device capable of viewfinder operation. The mobile device includes a memory device, a photosensitive device capable of receiving light providing an image of an external object, and a video screen. The mobile device also includes a processing device coupled at least indirectly to each of the memory device, the photosensitive device and the video screen, where the processing device provides one or more signals to the video screen configured to cause the video screen to operate as a viewfinder that displays a further image based upon the image of the external object. The mobile device further includes at least one sensing device either distinct from or associated with the video screen, the at least one sensing device configured to detect user input commands indicated by movement or positioning of at least one user-controlled object. The processing device additionally causes the video screen to first display a plurality of user-selectable options and subsequently to modify the further image displayed by the viewfinder in accordance with the detected user input commands. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example mobile device equipped with camera and viewfinder functionality in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating example components of the mobile device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing example steps of a method of operating the mobile device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  to achieve enhanced viewfinder operation; and 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are schematic illustrations of example viewfinder operation by the mobile device in accordance with several of the steps of the flow chart of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example mobile device  2  is shown that is capable of camera-type functionality including electronic viewfinder functionality as discussed in further detail below. In the present example shown, the mobile device  2  is a personal digital assistant (PDA). Nevertheless, in other embodiments the mobile device can take a variety of other forms. That is, the mobile device of  FIG. 1  is also intended to be representative of a variety of other mobile devices that are encompassed within the scope of the present invention including, for example, digital cameras, cellular telephones, smart phones, other handheld or portable electronic devices such as notebook or laptop computing devices, headsets, MP3 players and other portable video and audio players, navigation devices, touch screen input devices, pen-based input devices, battery-powered devices, wearable devices, radios, pagers, PMPs (personal media players), DVRs (digital video recorders), gaming devices, and other mobile devices. 
         [0013]    Further included among the components of the mobile device  2  as shown in  FIG. 1  are a sensing assembly  4 , video screen  6 , a keypad  8  having numerous keys, a navigation device (in this case, a “five-way navigation area”)  10 , and a camera lens/photosensor  16  capable of receiving light representative of images. As shown, while each of the sensing assembly  4 , video screen  6 , keypad  8  and navigation device  10  of the mobile device  2  is located along a front surface  14  of the mobile device, the camera lens/photosensor  16  in contrast is located on a rear side of the mobile device, as indicated by the camera lens/photosensor being shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 . Upon light from an external target such as a target  17  reaching the camera lens/photosensor  16 , a signal representative of the external target is generated by the camera lens/photosensor and digitally processed and stored by the mobile device  2 . An image  18  representative of the external target  16  (and corresponding to the image of that target received by the camera lens/photosensor  16 ) can then be displayed on the video screen  6 . 
         [0014]    In the present embodiment, the video screen  6  and sensing assembly  4  operate in concert with one another to display images and detect user inputs. More particularly, in the present embodiment, the sensing assembly  4  is a pyramid-type sensing assembly that is capable of being used to detect the presence and movements (e.g., gestures) of an object such as (as shown partly in cutaway) a hand  11  of a human being. The sensing assembly  4  not only detects the presence of such an object in terms of whether such object is sufficiently proximate to the sensing assembly (and/or the mobile device), but also detects the object&#39;s three-dimensional location relative to the mobile device  2  in three-dimensional space. The sensing assembly can take, for example, any of the forms described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/471,062 filed May 22, 2009, entitled “Sensing Assembly for Mobile Device” and assigned to the beneficial assignee of the present application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0015]    Further, in the present embodiment, the sensing assembly  4  operates by transmitting one or more (typically multiple) infrared signals  13  out of the sensing assembly, the infrared signals  13  being generated by one or more infrared phototransmitters (e.g., photo-light emitting diodes (photo-LEDs)). The phototransmitters can, but need not, be near-infrared photo-LEDs transmitting light having wavelength(s) in the range of approximately 850 to 890 nanometers. Portions of the infrared signal(s)  13  are then reflected by an object or objects that is/are present such as the hand  11 , so as to constitute one or more reflected signals  15 . The reflected signals  15  are in turn sensed by one or more infrared light sensing devices or photoreceivers (e.g., photodiodes), which more particularly can (but need not) be suited for receiving near-infrared light having wavelength(s) in the aforementioned range. By virtue of employing either multiple phototransmitters or multiple photoreceivers, the three-dimensional position of the hand  11  relative to the sensing assembly (and thus relative to the mobile device) can be accurately determined. 
         [0016]    Notwithstanding the above description of the sensing assembly  4  and video screen  6 , the present invention is intended to encompass numerous other arrangements by which images can be displayed to an operator and operator commands as indicated by operator movements (such as by way of the hand  11 ) can be detected. For example, the video screen  6  can be a capacitive touch screen or resistive touch screen that is both capable of displaying images such as the image  18 , and also capable of sensing operator movements across or in relation to the surface of the touch screen. In such case, the video screen can be considered to have a touch-sensitive apparatus integrated with the video display apparatus of the video screen. Also, where a touch screen is employed, the sensing assembly  4  need not be present. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is provided a block diagram illustrating exemplary internal components  200  of a mobile device such as the mobile device  2 , in accordance with the present invention. The exemplary embodiment includes wireless transceivers  202 , a processor  204  (e.g., a microprocessor, microcomputer, application-specific integrated circuit, etc.), a memory portion  206 , one or more output devices  208 , and one or more input devices  210 . In at least some embodiments, a user interface is present that comprises one or more output devices  208  and one or more input device  210 . The internal components  200  can further include a component interface  212  to provide a direct connection to auxiliary components or accessories for additional or enhanced functionality. The internal components  200  preferably also include a power supply  214 , such as a battery, for providing power to the other internal components while enabling the mobile device  2  to be portable. As will be described in further detail, the internal components  200  in the present embodiment further include sensors  228  such as the sensing assembly  4  of  FIG. 1 . All of the internal components  200  can be coupled to one another, and in communication with one another, by way of one or more internal communication links  232  (e.g., an internal bus). 
         [0018]    Each of the wireless transceivers  202  utilizes a wireless technology for communication, such as, but not limited to, cellular-based communication technologies such as analog communications (using AMPS), digital communications (using CDMA, TDMA, GSM, iDEN, GPRS, EDGE, etc.), and next generation communications (using UMTS, WCDMA, LTE, IEEE 802.16, etc.) or variants thereof, or peer-to-peer or ad hoc communication technologies such as HomeRF, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g or n), or other wireless communication technologies such as infrared technology. In the present embodiment, the wireless transceivers  202  include both cellular transceivers  203  and a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver  205  (which particularly can employ infrared technology), although in other embodiments only one of these types of wireless transceivers (and possibly neither of these types of wireless transceivers, and/or other types of wireless transceivers) is present. Also, the number of wireless transceivers can vary and, in some embodiments, only one wireless transceiver is present and further, depending upon the embodiment, each wireless transceiver  202  can include both a receiver and a transmitter, or only one or the other of those devices. 
         [0019]    Exemplary operation of the wireless transceivers  202  in conjunction with others of the internal components  200  of the mobile device  2  can take a variety of forms and can include, for example, operation in which, upon reception of wireless signals, the internal components detect communication signals and the transceiver  202  demodulates the communication signals to recover incoming information, such as voice and/or data, transmitted by the wireless signals. After receiving the incoming information from the transceiver  202 , the processor  204  formats the incoming information for the one or more output devices  208 . Likewise, for transmission of wireless signals, the processor  204  formats outgoing information, which may or may not be activated by the input devices  210 , and conveys the outgoing information to one or more of the wireless transceivers  202  for modulation to communication signals. The wireless transceiver(s)  202  convey the modulated signals to a remote device, such as a cell tower or a remote server (not shown). 
         [0020]    Depending upon the embodiment, the input and output devices  208 ,  210  of the internal components  200  can include a variety of visual, audio and/or mechanical outputs. For example, the output device(s)  208  can include a visual output device  216  such as a liquid crystal display and light emitting diode indicator, an audio output device  218  such as a speaker, alarm and/or buzzer, and/or a mechanical output device  220  such as a vibrating mechanism. The visual output devices  216  among other things can include the video screen  6  of  FIG. 1 . Likewise, by example, the input devices  210  can include a visual input device  222  such as an optical sensor (for example, the camera lens/photosensor  16  of  FIG. 1 ), an audio input device  224  such as a microphone, and a mechanical input device  226  such as a flip sensor, keyboard, keypad, selection button, touch pad, touch screen, capacitive sensor, motion sensor, and switch. The mechanical input device  226  can in particular include, among other things, the keypad  8  and the navigation device  10  of  FIG. 1 . Actions that can actuate one or more input devices  210  can include, but need not be limited to, opening the mobile device, unlocking the device, moving the device to actuate a motion, moving the device to actuate a location positioning system, and operating the device. 
         [0021]    Although the sensors  228  of the internal components  200  can in at least some circumstances be considered as being encompassed within input devices  210 , given the particular significance of one or more of these sensors  228  to the present embodiment the sensors instead are described independently of the input devices  210 . In particular as shown, the sensors  228  can include both proximity sensors  229  and other sensors  231 . The proximity sensors  229  in turn can include, among other things, the sensing assembly  4  of  FIG. 1  by which the mobile device  2  is able to detect the presence of (e.g., the fact that the mobile device is in sufficient proximity to) and location of one or more external objects including portions of the body of a human being such as the hand  11  of  FIG. 1 . By comparison, the other sensors  231  can include other types of sensors, such as a location circuit  228  that can include, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a triangulation receiver, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other information collecting device that can identify a current location of the mobile device  2 . 
         [0022]    Notwithstanding the above description, in other embodiments where a capacitive or resistive touch screen is employed as the video screen  6  for the purpose of both displaying images and receiving user inputs (instead of the sensing assembly  4  and video screen  6 ), the touch screen can be considered to be one of the visual output devices  216  as well as one of the mechanical input devices  226 . 
         [0023]    The memory portion  206  of the internal components  200  can encompass one or more memory devices of any of a variety of forms (e.g., read-only memory, random access memory, static random access memory, dynamic random access memory, etc.), and can be used by the processor  204  to store and retrieve data. The data that is stored by the memory portion  206  can include, but need not be limited to, operating systems, applications, and informational data. Each operating system includes executable code that controls basic functions of the communication device, such as interaction among the various components included among the internal components  200 , communication with external devices via the wireless transceivers  202  and/or the component interface  212 , and storage and retrieval of applications and data to and from the memory portion  206 . Each application includes executable code that utilizes an operating system to provide more specific functionality for the communication devices, such as file system service and handling of protected and unprotected data stored in the memory portion  206 . 
         [0024]    As for the informational data, that data is non-executable code or information that can be referenced and/or manipulated by an operating system or application for performing functions of the communication device. Such data can include, for example, image data representative of images such as the image  17  obtained by the camera lens/photosensor  16 . 
         [0025]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart  300  is provided that shows example steps of the mobile device  2  in effecting operation of an electronic viewfinder as part of camera functionality provided by the mobile device. As will be discussed further below, FIGS.  1  and  4 A- 4 C also provide schematic illustrations of the video screen  6  operating as an electronic viewfinder at different points in the process represented by the flow chart  300 . Operating in the manner described, the viewfinder enhances the camera-related functionality of the mobile device in terms of, among other things, facilitating adjustments in the manner of viewfinder display by way of user inputs (e.g., gesture inputs), and affording real-time preview capabilities. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , upon commencing at a start step  302 , the process represented by the flow chart  300  begins with a first group of steps  304  including first, second and third substeps  306 ,  308  and  310 . The first substep  306  involves launching of the camera function of the mobile device, which can be accomplished when an operator/user selects camera functionality from among a variety of possible functions available on the mobile device  2  as represented on a menu (not shown) displayed by the video screen  6 . As with other user inputs, such a user selection can be sensed by sensing assembly  4  or, in other embodiments where the video screen  6  is a touch screen, can be sensed by the video screen itself, based upon movements or positioning of the hand  11  (where the touch screen is used, this would typically involved touching of the hand to the screen). 
         [0027]    Once the camera function has been launched at the substep  306 , the video screen  6  then automatically enters a viewfinder mode of operation such that, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the video screen displays the image  18  corresponding to the target  17  that is within view of the camera lens/photosensor  16 . That is,  FIG. 1  shows the mobile device  2  to be operating in a standard viewfinder mode of operation upon the launching of the camera function of the mobile device. Once the mobile device  2  is operating in this manner, the mobile device then awaits a further user instruction. In particular, such instruction can be provided at the substep  308  when the user touches the video screen  6 , again by way of the hand  11 , as sensed by way of the sensing assembly  4 . Upon the touching of the video screen  6  at the substep  308 , then an action bar is shown on the video screen  6 , at the substep  310 . 
         [0028]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 4A  in this regard, the video screen  6  no longer shows merely the image  18  as shown in  FIG. 1 , but rather is shown to be updated to include an action bar  402 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the action bar  402  in the present embodiment is a strip including several (in this example, four) option buttons  404 , which in this case include a scenes button, an effects button, a flash button, and a multishot button. Generally speaking, the action bar  402  sets forth various types/categories of actions that the user can select from in terms of causing a modification in viewfinder (or camera) operation. Upon one of the option buttons  404  of the action bar  402  being selected by a user (again for example when the user touches the respective button with the hand  11 ), a type of action corresponding to that button is taken by the mobile device  2  in terms of identifying options that can be implemented in regards to further viewfinder operation. 
         [0029]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , upon the completion of the substep  310 , the first group of steps  304  is completed and the process advances to a second group of steps  312  encompassing first and second substeps  314  and  316 , respectively. At the first substep  314 , the user further selects from the action bar one of the option buttons  404 . In the present example, it is particularly assumed that it is the effects button that is selected, albeit in other embodiments the other ones of the option buttons  404  can alternatively be selected. As already mentioned, the effects button can be selected by the user when the hand  11  touches a portion of the video screen  6  displaying that button of the action bar  402 . Upon receiving the user input specifying selection of the effects button, the viewfinder functionality changes state such that the video screen  6  no longer displays the action bar  402 . Rather, at this time, the video screen  6  instead displays (in addition to the image  18  corresponding to the target  17  within the view of the camera lens/photo sensor  16 ) an effects bar  406  having additional option buttons  408  concerning various available viewfinder effects that can be selected and applied, as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0030]    The additional option buttons  408  can be considered to allow selection of suboptions corresponding to the effects option button already selected at the substep  314 . Although not shown in detail, it should be understood that, in the present embodiment, each of the other actions corresponding to the other ones of the option buttons  404  similarly have associated therewith one or more suboptions that are selectable by the user in the event those respective option buttons are selected by the user. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, while one or more of the action items corresponding to the option buttons  404  have corresponding selectable suboptions, other one(s) of the actions do not. 
         [0031]    More particularly, in the present embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4B , the additional options buttons  408  provided by the effects bar  406  include a color to black and white (color to B/W) option button, an exposure (or shutter speed) selection button, an ISO (film speed) button, and an “other” button. It should be noted that, in other embodiments, or other circumstances, one or more other buttons (e.g., an aperture selection button) can be present in addition to or instead of the particular additional options buttons  408  shown in  FIG. 4B . For example, the presence of the color to B/W option button appears when the video screen  6  is currently operating as a color viewfinder, such that the video screen is displaying the image  18  in color (as is presumed to be the case for  FIG. 4B ). However, if the image  18  was currently displayed in black and white, then a different additional option button for changing black and white to color would instead appear. 
         [0032]    Next, upon the video screen  6  viewfinder showing the effects bar  406  with the additional options buttons  408  corresponding to available effects, the process advances to a third step grouping  317  that particularly includes first, second, and third substeps  318 ,  320  and  322 , respectively. At the first substep  318 , similar to the first substep  314 , the user further selects from the effects bar  406  one of the additional option buttons  408 . In the present example, it is particularly assumed that it is the color to B/W additional option button that is selected, albeit in other embodiments the other ones of the additional option buttons  404  can alternatively be selected. As mentioned earlier, the color to B/W additional options button (or any of the other additional option buttons  404 ) can be selected by the user when the hand  11  touches a portion of the video screen  6  displaying that button of the effects bar  404 . 
         [0033]    Often, if not universally, a selected effect as specified at the substep  318  is an effect that in turn can be provided at a variety of settings. For example, the degree to which an image such as the image  18  is shown in color versus black and white can vary along a continuum having more or less vivid colors. Likewise, the degree of exposure can be varied along a continuum, as can the film speed. Thus, the selection of a particular effect at the substep  318  does not necessarily fully specify a user selection. Rather, in such cases and particularly in the present embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the user upon selecting an effect at the substep  318  is then further provided, at the substep  320 , with an opportunity to further specify a setting of the effect. More particularly, in the present embodiment, the video screen  6  at the second substep  320  displays a corresponding effect setting bar and the user then swipes the hand  11  leftward or rightward along the video screen  6  (and particularly the effect setting bar). By providing that motion/gesture, a desired effect setting or level is specified and consequently the video screen  6  viewfinder operation shows the effect setting to be implemented in real time, in the third substep  322 , by applying the effect setting immediately to the image displayed by the viewfinder. 
         [0034]    For example, as further shown in  FIG. 4C , assuming that the additional option button  406  selected in the first substep  318  concerns the exposure, then an exposure effect setting bar  410  is displayed on the video screen  6  as part of the viewfinder operation. Further assuming that the hand  11  is sensed by the mobile device  102  as moving leftward, a darker exposure setting is selected and correspondingly the image  18  displayed by the video screen  6  viewfinder becomes darker (as represented by the diagonal hash lines shown as extending across the video screen). 
         [0035]    Although in this example, the hand  11  is swiped leftward (or rightward) to select an effect setting, in other embodiments other motions or actions can specify a selection. For example, the hand  11  instead can be moved toward or away from the video screen  6 , upward or downward (perpendicular to the leftward/rightward movement mentioned above) along the video screen, or moved so as to touch a particular portion of the video screen  6 . This can particularly be the case if an effect setting bar is oriented in a different (e.g., vertical rather than horizontal as shown in  FIG. 4C ) orientation, or if other input icon(s) (e.g., multiple selectable buttons) are provided by which a user can specify an effect setting. 
         [0036]    Finally, the process advances to a fourth step grouping  324 , which includes first and second substeps  326  and  328 , respectively, after which the process ends at an end step  330 . During the fourth step grouping  324 , the user confirms the previous setting that was specified at the substep  320  and displayed tentatively in the substep  322 , such that ongoing operation of the viewfinder and camera functionality is in accordance with that setting. More particularly, in the present embodiment at the first substep  326 , the user touches the video screen  6  to confirm the previous setting specified at the substep  320 . By touching the video screen  6 , the user therefore specifies that the selected effect setting should be applied to any image that is then captured and recorded (permanently or semi-permanently) by the mobile device  2 . Although touching of the video screen  6  is interpreted as the confirmation signal in this embodiment, it should be recognized that in other embodiments other movements of the hand  11  can also be considered by the mobile device  2  as indicative of a user confirmation of an effect setting. 
         [0037]    Once the video screen  6  has been touched at the first substep  326 , then at the second substep  328  the image  18 , shown by the video screen acting as the viewfinder, continues to be displayed in a manner consistent with the chosen effect setting. Further, in the event an additional user input is received indicating a user command that an image/photograph/snapshot or video be taken, then the effect setting already displayed by the viewfinder is further applied to the taking of the image/photograph/snapshot or video. Although not shown, multiple images/photographs/snapshots and/or videos can be taken that are consistent with the chosen effect setting. 
         [0038]    Although the process is shown to end in  FIG. 3  at the end step  330 , it should be understood that the process represented by the flow chart  300  can be performed repeatedly such that multiple different actions, effects, and effect settings are selected (or modified) and implemented. That is, the previously-described example of an action, effect and effect setting that are selected by a user with respect to the operation of the viewfinder is only one example, and numerous other actions, effects and effect settings can be selected by a user. Not only can several of the different actions be taken (e.g. actions to change effects as well as actions to changes scenes), but also each of the different effects (color to B/W, exposure, ISO, other) can be selected and set to different settings that each apply to the viewfinder. 
         [0039]    Further, notwithstanding the action bars  402 ,  406  and associated option buttons  404  and  408  and setting bars shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , in other embodiments other options than those shown can be made available to a user. Among other things, the particular effects that are available on any given mobile device can vary with the mobile device or the application. Also, while the above-described manner of operation is such that, to completely perform an action, it is envisioned that a user will provide not only an action bar input (e.g., the selection of the effects option) but also a subsequent selection input (e.g., the selection of an effect of interest) as well as a subsequent setting input (e.g., setting the exposure level), this need not be the case in all embodiments or with respect to all selected actions. Rather, some actions in some circumstances or embodiments instead will be able to specified by a user simply based upon a single subsequent input by the user. 
         [0040]    For example, in one alternate embodiment, upon a user input selecting the effects option from the action bar, an effects listing will appear that will specifically list all possible effects from which an option can be selected by a user, and consequently no user input setting a level is required (that is, there is no need for a step corresponding to  FIG. 4A ). Alternatively, in another alternate embodiment, multiple setting bars are immediately displayed upon the choice of one of the action options from the action bar, and the user can therefore specify a particular setting of interest immediately without choosing any option from an effects bar (that is, there is no need for a step corresponding to  FIG. 4B ). 
         [0041]    It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.