Patent ID: 8237807

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for operating a portable, handheld electronic device having a built-in digital camera and a display screen, comprising: displaying on the display screen an image that is captured by the camera; receiving, on the display screen, a user selection of a selected region displayed on the display screen; in response to the user selection, initiating a touch to focus mode in which the camera automatically focuses using a focus area associated with the selected region; automatically monitoring data representing a set of light values of the focus area for images captured by the device; and comparing data representing a first set of light values of the focus area of a first captured image to data representing a second set of light values of the focus area of a second captured image to determine whether a scene associated with the focus area has changed, wherein determining whether the scene has changed comprises determining whether the data representing the first set of light values and the data representing the second set of light values are approximately equal to each other or within a predetermined value of each other, wherein the touch to focus mode adjusts exposure parameters for an exposure metering area associated with the selected region if the data representing the first set of light values and the data representing the second set of light values are approximately equal to each other or within a predetermined value of each other.