Variable pre- and post-shot continuous frame buffering with automated image selection and enhancement

Abstract

A 'Moment Capture System' automatically captures and buffers multiple image frames, both prior to and following digital camera shutter activation. This capture and buffering is performed in combination with real-time automatic control of camera settings (e.g., exposure time, capture rate, ISO, white balance, aperture, etc.) based on an ongoing real-time evaluation of contents and characteristics of most recent previously buffered frames. Whenever a shutter activation (e.g., a 'tap') is detected, the Moment Capture System pulls some number of pre-tap frames from the buffer and adds some number of post-tap frames to create an “image moment.” Image moments are defined as sets of sequential frames spanning a time period before and after the detected tap. In various implementations, the Moment Capture System performs automated selection of perceptually best images from the buffered frames associated with each tap. This automated selection closely emulates human selection based on subjective subtleties of human preferences.