Using camera image light intensity to control system state

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus provide the ability to control a system state of/in an image viewing application using a camera/portable viewing device. A screen of the camera is used to display a virtual reality view and an opening is positioned over a lens of the camera. The screen and physical buttons of the camera are not accessible when the camera is placed into the virtual reality viewing mechanism. An image is acquired from a camera through the opening. Color is used to make choices for operations. Alternatively, based on the toggling of the system state through a light blocking operation, a motion operation is conducted. The motion operation is based on length of time light is blocked and the length controls a speed of the motion operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling a system state in an image viewing application, comprising:
 placing the camera into a virtual reality viewing mechanism, wherein:
 a screen of the camera is used to display a virtual reality view; 
 an opening of the virtual reality viewing mechanism is positioned over a lens of the camera; and 
 the screen and physical buttons of the camera are not accessible when the camera is placed into the virtual reality viewing mechanism; 
   acquiring an image from a camera through the opening of the virtual reality viewing mechanism, wherein the image is a color image;   based on the color image, determining that a user has initiated a light blocking operation using a particular color; and   selecting an operation to conduct based on the particular color.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular color is from a colored glove or finger overlay. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the incoming light to the camera has been blocked in a sequence; and   performing an action based on the sequence and the particular color, wherein different sequences correspond to the performing of different actions.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the camera is controlled without actually touching hardware of the camera. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for controlling a system state in an image viewing application using a portable viewing device comprising:
 (a) a portable viewing device comprising an image acquiring component and a processor that executes software; and   (b) a virtual reality viewing mechanism into which the portable viewing device is inserted, wherein:
 (i) a screen of the portable viewing device is used to display a virtual reality view; 
 (ii) an opening of the virtual reality viewing mechanism is positioned over a lens of the image acquiring component; and 
 (iii) the screen and physical buttons of the portable viewing device are not accessible when the portable viewing device is inserted into the virtual reality viewing mechanism; 
   (c) the software:
 (i) acquiring an image from a camera through the opening of the virtual reality viewing mechanism, wherein the image is a color image; 
 (ii) determining that a user has initiated a light blocking operation using a particular color; and 
 (iii) conducting an operation within the image viewing application, 
   wherein the operation is selected based on the particular color.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the particular color is from a colored glove or finger overlay. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining the incoming light to the camera has been blocked in a sequence; and   performing an action based on the sequence and the particular color, wherein different sequences correspond to the performing of different actions.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein operation of the camera is controlled without actually touching hardware of the camera.