Information processing device, medium and method for using a touch screen display to capture at least one image

1. An information processing device comprising: control circuitry configured to:

control a touch screen display to display a touch graphical user interface (GUI) including a movable display object, and a movement path including a plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI;

operate an autofocus function in a first imaging mode in response to detecting an operation of touching the movable display object when the movable display object is in an initial predetermined position of the plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI;

instruct an image sensor to begin capturing one or more images in a second imaging mode associated with a second predetermined position along the movement path in response to detecting an operation of moving the movable display object in the touch GUI to the second predetermined position; and

instruct the image sensor to stop capturing the one or more images in the second imaging mode in response to the movable display object moving from the second predetermined position toward the initial predetermined position,

wherein

the second imaging mode associated with the second predetermined position is different from the first imaging mode associated with the initial predetermined position.

2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute operations comprising:

displaying a touch graphical user interface (GUI) including a movable display object on a touch screen display, and a movement path including a plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI;

operating an autofocus function in a first imaging mode in response to detecting an operation of touching the movable display object when the movable display object is in a an initial predetermined position of the plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI; and

instructing an image sensor to begin capturing one or more images in a second imaging mode associated with a second predetermined position along the movement path in response to detecting an operation of moving the movable display object in the touch GUI to the second predetermined position; and,

instructing the image sensor to stop capturing the one or more images in the second imaging mode in response to the movable display object moving from the second predetermined position toward the initial predetermined position,

wherein

the second imaging mode associated with the second predetermined position is different from the first imaging mode associated with the initial predetermined position.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes performing a continuous shoot operation.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the autofocus function is an operation in which focus position control is executed.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the second imaging mode is set in advance based on an instruction from a user via the touch GUI.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes capturing a moving image.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes capturing a plurality of still images captured as a series of images.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes:

instructing the image sensor to begin an image capturing operation in the second imaging mode in response to detecting the operation of moving the movable display object to the second predetermined position; and

instructing the image sensor to end the image capturing operation in response to the movable display object moving back toward the initial predetermined position.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the initial predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and the movement path are displayed on the touch GUI as a slider positioned at a right end portion of the touch screen display, and the display object is configured for movement in an upward direction and a downward direction when the information processing device is maintained in a horizontal orientation.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the initial predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and the movement path are displayed on the touch GUI as a slider at either a first end portion or a second end portion along a major axis of the touch screen display.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein images are captured in the second imaging mode while the display object is moved from the initial predetermined position to the predetermined second predetermined position.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein when a selected state of the display object is cancelled at a position at which a movement amount from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position is less than a threshold, the display object is caused to move back to the initial predetermined position.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein when a selected state of the display object is cancelled at a position at which a movement amount from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position is equal to or greater than a threshold, the control circuitry causes the display object to move to the second predetermined position.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein when the display object is moved from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position and the touching of the display object is ceased, the position of the display object is maintained at the second predetermined position.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein operation of the image sensor in the second imaging mode is continued as long as the display object remains at the second predetermined position.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more captured images or a reduced image of the captured images are transmitted corresponding to a thumbnail image selected among a listing of thumbnail images in response to a touch display operation.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein the touch screen display is controlled to display the movable display object and a second display object, which is located at the second predetermined position, below a preview image on the display.

18. An information processing method comprising:

displaying a touch graphical user interface (GUI) including a movable display object in a touch screen display, and a movement path including a plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI;

operating an autofocus function in a first imaging mode in response to detecting an operation of touching the movable display object when the movable display object is in a an initial predetermined position of the plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI;

instructing, by a processor, an image sensor to begin capturing one or more images in a second imaging mode associated with a second predetermined position along the movement path in response to detecting an operation of moving the movable display object in the touch GUI to the second predetermined position; and,

instructing the image sensor to stop capturing the one or more images in the second imaging mode in response to the movable display object moving from the second predetermined position toward the initial predetermined position,

wherein

the second imaging mode associated with the second predetermined position is different from the first imaging mode associated with the initial predetermined position.

19. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes capturing a moving image.

20. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes performing a continuous shoot operation.

21. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the autofocus function is an operation in which focus position control is executed.

22. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the second imaging mode is set in advance based on an instruction from a user via the touch GUI.

23. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes capturing a plurality of still images captured as a series of images.

24. The information processing method according to claim 18 , wherein the capturing the one or images in the second imaging mode includes:

instructing the image sensor to begin an image capturing operation in the second imaging mode in response to detecting the operation of moving the movable display object to the second predetermined position; and

instructing the image sensor to end the image capturing operation in response to the movable display object moving back toward the initial predetermined position.

25. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising displaying the initial predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and the movement path are on the touch GUI as a slider positioned at a right end portion of the touch screen display, wherein the display object is configured for movement in an upward direction and a downward direction when the information processing device is maintained in a horizontal orientation.

26. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising displaying the initial predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and the movement path on the touch GUI as a slider at either a first end portion or a second end portion along a major axis of the touch screen display.

27. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising capturing images in the second imaging mode while the display object is moved from the initial predetermined position to the predetermined second predetermined position.

28. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising, when a selected state of the display object is cancelled at a position at which a movement amount from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position is less than a threshold, the causing the display object to move back to the initial predetermined position.

29. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising, when a selected state of the display object is cancelled at a position at which a movement amount from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position is equal to or greater than a threshold, causing the display object to move to the second predetermined position.

30. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising, when the display object is moved from the initial predetermined position to the second predetermined position and the touching of the display object is ceased, maintaining the position of the display object at the second predetermined position.

31. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising continuing operation of the image sensor in the second imaging mode as long as the display object remains at the second predetermined position.

32. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising transmitting at least one of the one or more captured images or a reduced image of the captured images corresponding to a thumbnail image selected among a listing of thumbnail images in response to a touch display operation.

33. The information processing method according to claim 18 , further comprising controlling the touch screen display to display the movable display object and a second display object, which is located at the second predetermined position, below a preview image on the display.

34. An imaging device comprising:

an image sensor; and

circuitry configured to:

execute an autofocus function, wherein a corresponding touch screen display displays a touch graphical user interface (GUI) including a movable display object, and a movement path including a plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI, and the autofocus function operates in a first imaging mode in response to detecting an operation of touching the movable display object when the movable display object is in an initial predetermined position of the plurality of predetermined positions in the touch GUI; and

instruct the image sensor to begin capturing one or more images in a second imaging mode associated with a second predetermined position along the movement path in response to detecting an operation of moving the movable display object in the touch GUI to the second predetermined position; and

instruct the image sensor to stop capturing the one or more images in the second imaging mode in response to the movable display object moving from the second predetermined position toward the initial predetermined position,

wherein the second imaging mode associated with the second predetermined position is different from the first imaging mode associated with the initial predetermined position.