Multipurpose navigation keys for an electronic imaging device

1. A portable electronic imaging device, comprising:

a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and

a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the device is configured to detect that a navigation key has been pressed, to interpret the current key press as one of a navigation event and a user selection event if a time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than a predetermined double-press time, and to interpret the current key press as the other of the navigation event and the user selection event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is less than the double-press time to allow the user to select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed for implementing navigation and select functions on a single key.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to detect a press-and-hold when the current key is pressed, but not released, for a time greater than a release time and to interpret the press-and hold as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device distinguishes between fast scrolling during navigation and a double-press by determining if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time, and if so, by examining whether a last plurality of presses were performed on the same navigation key, and if so, then determining that the user is fast-scrolling through displayed objects during navigation.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein if the time between the previous press of the same key and the current press is less than the double-press time, but the last plurality of presses were not performed on the same navigation key, then the device is configured to interpret the current key press as a selection event.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises at least one of a digital camera, a camera-enabled cell phone, an MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant.

6. A method for providing a portable electronic imaging device with a multipurpose navigation controller, comprising:

displaying objects on a display screen, wherein the objects include any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons;

providing the device with a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects;

detecting that a navigation key has been pressed;

interpreting the current key press as one of a navigation event and a user selection event if a time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than a predetermined double-press time; and

interpreting the current key press as the other of the navigation event and the user selection event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is less than the double-press time;

wherein the device is configured to allow the user to select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed for implementing navigation and select functions on a single key.

7. The method of claim 6 further including:

detecting a press-and-hold when the current key is pressed, but not released, for a time greater than a release time; and

interpreting the press-and hold as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

8. The method of claim 6 further including: distinguishing between fast scrolling during navigation and a double-press by determining if the time between a previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time, and if so, by examining whether a last plurality of presses were performed on the same navigation key, and if so, then determining that the user is fast-scrolling through displayed objects during navigation.

9. The method of claim 8 further including: if the time between the previous press of the same key and the current press is less than the stored double-press time, but the last plurality of presses were not performed on the same navigation key, then interpreting the current key press as a selection event.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the device includes at least one of a digital camera, a camera-enabled cell phone, an MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant.