IP Library › Granted Patent US 12707140
Granted Patent B2
US 12707140 · App. 18/204,881 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

User interfaces for camera management

Inventors: Johnnie B. Manzari (San Francisco, CA); Brandon J. Corey (Palo Alto, CA); Jonathan I. McCormack (Los Altos, CA); Marius Tico (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04N23/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12707140
App. No.
18/204,881
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to camera management. In some embodiments, methods, computer systems, user interface, and techniques are provided for managing the resolution of media, managing zoom controls for capturing media, managing predefined zoom levels for capturing media, and managing media stabilization.

Claims (84)

1 . A computer system configured to communicate with one or more cameras, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting a request to capture visual media at a respective zoom level; and

in response to detecting the request to capture visual media, initiating capture of visual media via the one or more cameras at the respective zoom level, including combining multiple frames taken at different times into a composite visual media item:

in accordance with a determination that a device setting is in a first state and a first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a first composite visual media item that has a first resolution;

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in the first state and a second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, wherein the second set of environmental lighting conditions is different from the first set of environmental lighting conditions, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a second composite visual media item that has a second resolution that is different from the first resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a third composite visual media item that has the first resolution that is different from the second resolution without regard to whether the first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected or the second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected.

2 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a lighting condition that is based on an amount of light in a field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

3 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected based on whether a flash is enabled for media capture.

4 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions and the second set of environmental lighting conditions do not include a condition that is dependent on a user-configurable resolution setting.

5 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the second resolution is more than fifty percent higher than the first resolution.

6 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the first composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media that has a respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media that has the respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

7 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the first composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media using one or more capture settings that are in a respective state; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media using the one or more capture settings that are in the respective state.

8 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the second resolution is a resolution that is less than a maximum resolution that is available for generating visual media captured using the one or more cameras.

9 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

in accordance with a determination that a first user-configurable setting is in a first state, the second resolution is a third resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the first user-configurable setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, the second resolution is a fourth resolution that is lower than the third resolution.

10 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected when a user-configurable setting to capture media at the first resolution is set.

11 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first resolution is a resolution that is used for capturing video media.

12 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more cameras include a fixed focal length camera;

initiating capture of the visual media via the one or more cameras includes initiating capture of the visual media via the fixed focal length camera;

the first resolution is a native resolution of the fixed focal length camera; and

the second resolution is not the native resolution of the fixed focal length camera.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system in communication with one or more cameras, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting a request to capture visual media at a respective zoom level; and

in response to detecting the request to capture visual media, initiating capture of visual media via the one or more cameras at the respective zoom level, including combining multiple frames taken at different times into a composite visual media item:

in accordance with a determination that a device setting is in a first state and a first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level is a first composite visual media item that that has a first resolution;

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in the first state and a second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, wherein the second set of environmental lighting conditions is different from the first set of environmental lighting conditions, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a second composite visual media item that has a second resolution that is different from the first resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that that is a third composite visual media item has the first resolution that is different from the second resolution without regard to whether the first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected or the second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a lighting condition that is based on an amount of light in a field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected based on whether a flash is enabled for media capture.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions and the second set of environmental lighting conditions do not include a condition that is dependent on a user-configurable resolution setting.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the second resolution is more than fifty percent higher than the first resolution.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media that has a respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media that has the respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the first composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media using one or more capture settings that are in a respective state; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media using the one or more capture settings that are in the respective state.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the second resolution is a resolution that is less than a maximum resolution that is available for generating visual media captured using the one or more cameras.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:

in accordance with a determination that a first user-configurable setting is in a first state, the second resolution is a third resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the first user-configurable setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, the second resolution is a fourth resolution that is lower than the third resolution.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected when a user-configurable setting to capture media at the first resolution is set.

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first resolution is a resolution that is used for capturing video media.

24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:

the one or more cameras include a fixed focal length camera;

initiating capture of the visual media via the one or more cameras includes initiating capture of the visual media via the fixed focal length camera;

the first resolution is a native resolution of the fixed focal length camera; and

the second resolution is not the native resolution of the fixed focal length camera.

25 . A method, comprising:

at a computer system in communication with one or more cameras:

detecting a request to capture visual media at a respective zoom level; and

in response to detecting the request to capture visual media, initiating capture of visual media via the one or more cameras at the respective zoom level, including combining multiple frames taken at different times into a composite visual media item:

in accordance with a determination that a device setting is in a first state and a first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a first composite visual media item that has a first resolution;

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in the first state and a second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected, wherein the second set of environmental lighting conditions is different from the first set of environmental lighting conditions, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a second composite visual media item that has a second resolution that is different from the first resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the device setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is a third composite visual media item that has the first resolution that is different from the second resolution without regard to whether the first set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected or the second set of environmental lighting conditions that affect media capture are detected.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a lighting condition that is based on an amount of light in a field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected based on whether a flash is enabled for media capture.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions and the second set of environmental lighting conditions do not include a condition that is dependent on a user-configurable resolution setting.

29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the second resolution is more than fifty percent higher than the first resolution.

30 . The method of claim 25 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the first composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media that has a respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media that has the respective field-of-view of the one or more cameras.

31 . The method of claim 25 , wherein:

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the first composite visual media item that has the first resolution includes generating visual media using one or more capture settings that are in a respective state; and

generating visual captured media at the respective zoom level that is the second composite visual media item that has the second resolution includes generating visual media using the one or more capture settings that are in the respective state.

32 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the second resolution is a resolution that is less than a maximum resolution that is available for generating visual media captured using the one or more cameras.

33 . The method of claim 25 , wherein:

in accordance with a determination that a first user-configurable setting is in a first state, the second resolution is a third resolution; and

in accordance with a determination that the first user-configurable setting is in a second state that is different from the first state, the second resolution is a fourth resolution that is lower than the third resolution.

34 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the first set of environmental lighting conditions includes a condition that is detected when a user-configurable setting to capture media at the first resolution is set.

35 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the first resolution is a resolution that is used for capturing video media.

36 . The method of claim 25 , wherein:

the one or more cameras include a fixed focal length camera;

initiating capture of the visual media via the one or more cameras includes initiating capture of the visual media via the fixed focal length camera;

the first resolution is a native resolution of the fixed focal length camera; and

the second resolution is not the native resolution of the fixed focal length camera.