Patent ID: 7027073

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of digital imaging, the method implemented through use of a virtual camera, wherein the virtual camera comprises automated computing machinery operating under software program control, wherein the virtual camera includes a user interface, a display device, a lens assembly having a first moveable element; a zoom sensor, the zoom sensor further comprising a potentiometer having a wiper and a wiper contact, wherein the wiper is moveably coupled to the first moveable element of the lens assembly; and an analog-to-digital converter electrically coupled to the wiper contact of the potentiometer; the method comprising the steps of: creating an image request for an existing digital image, wherein the image request comprises an image request data structure representing and describing the digital image, wherein the image request data structure comprises image request data elements, wherein the image request data elements comprise data elements for location coordinates and a data element for view direction, wherein the image request data elements further comprise a data element for zoom; storing the image request data elements in the image request; communicating the image request from the virtual camera to a Web site for imaging for virtual cameras; receiving a digital image from the Web site; and displaying the digital image on the display device.