Scene-aware automatic-exposure control

An exposure control method, comprising:

• obtaining a first image having a plurality of blocks;
• obtaining a second image having a plurality of blocks;
• comparing a first plurality of blocks in the first image with co-located blocks in the second image;
• selecting a second plurality of blocks, from the first plurality of blocks, in the first image based the act of comparing;
• calculating a first value of a first metric based on the selected second plurality of blocks;
• and
• suppressing an image capture device's automatic exposure control operation if the calculated first value is stable with respect to a specified number of prior calculated values of the first metric and, after the act of suppressing
• obtaining a third image having a plurality of blocks,
• comparing a third plurality of blocks in the third image with co-located blocks in the first image,
• selecting a fourth plurality of blocks, from the third plurality of blocks, in the third image based the act of comparing,
• calculating a second value of the first metric based on the selected fourth plurality of blocks, and
• restoring the image capture device's automatic exposure control operation if the calculated second value is significantly different from a specified number of prior calculated values for the first metric, each of the specified number of prior calculated values for the first metric having been calculated after the act of suppressing the image capture device's exposure control operation.