System, method and apparatus for photo barter

Abstract

The embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices The method comprises analyzing a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality, wherein each device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application. The method includes detecting one or more images in the photo gallery of each device that comprise a face of a user associated with another electronic device. Further, the method includes determining that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices contain mutual images comprising the face of the user associated with the other of the at least two devices. The method further comprises triggering notifications on each of the at least two devices. The method further includes automatically enabling the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images, upon receiving user approvals from each device.

Description

SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOBARTERCROSS REFERENCEThis application claims the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 202441097617, filed on 10thDecember 2024, titled System, Method and Apparatus for Photo Barter, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of digital media sharing, and more particularly to a method and system for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The rise of digital photography and the widespread use of mobile devices have led to an exponential increase in the number of photographs being captured and stored globally. It is estimated that over 15 trillion photographs exist today, with approximately 2 trillion new images being added each year. This staggering volume represents a vast repository of both public and private visual memories. Despite the proliferation of digital photos and the existence of numerous photosharing platforms, a significant portion of these images remain un-exchanged, highlighting a major disconnect in the current state of photo sharing.

[0003] Conventional photo- sharing platforms predominantly utilize unidirectional sharing models in which one party initiates the sharing process, often without any expectation or mechanism for reciprocal exchange. This one-sided approach limits the incentive for participation and frequently results in a lack of mutual engagement. Users who possess photographs relevant to each other may not exchange them simply because there is no structured or automated system in place that encourages such mutual sharing. Consequently, opportunities for meaningful interaction and collective memory-building are lost.

[0004] Furthermore, many users experience cognitive hesitation when engaging in manual photo selection and sharing tasks, particularly when there is no immediate benefit or gratification. The process tends to be time-consuming, repetitive, and lacking in emotional or practical motivation, thereby reducing the likelihood of user participation. This friction significantly hampers the sharing of photographic content, even when users have relevant images that could be valuable or meaningful to others.

[0005] In addition, photo data is often fragmented across multiple devices, cloud storages, and platforms, which complicates long-term access, retrieval, and contextualization. There is currently no unified mechanism that allows seamless and intelligent sharing of photographs across personal or social networks. As a result, vast quantities of visual content remain inaccessible or undiscovered, leading to a significant loss of engagement potential.

[0006] Addressing these challenges has become increasingly important in a globally connected world where visual communication plays a central role in relationships and experiences. Enhancing the value derived from shared photographic content requires innovations that not only simplify the sharing process but also promote reciprocal and contextually relevant exchanges.

[0007] Accordingly, there exists a need for improved digital media systems, methods, devices, and apparatus that overcome the limitations of current approaches by facilitating reciprocal sharing, reducing user friction, improving image organization and retrieval, and enabling more meaningful and efficient interactions around photographic content.

[0008] The foregoing need and challenges may also arise with video content, which often faces similar limitations in sharing, discovery, and reciprocal exchange.OBJECT OF INVENTION

[0009] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to disclose a method and system for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices, wherein the method is configured to detect mutual images, comprising at least oneimage stored in a gallery of a first electronic device that includes a face of a user associated with a second electronic device, and at least one image stored in a gallery of the second electronic device that includes a face of a user associated with the first electronic device, and to trigger a mutual photo bartering request based on the respective user approvals, thereby enabling the exchange of the mutual images between the respective devices.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a review period associated with the mutual photo bartering process, wherein users are enabled to review and selectively approve or cancel the exchange of mutual images during the review period before sharing.

[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to enable the mutual photo bartering process to be automatically initiated on each respective electronic device upon expiration of the review period, in the absence of any user action, thereby facilitating seamless exchange of mutual images.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to allow the mutual photo bartering process to be initiated prior to the expiration of the review period upon receipt of explicit confirmations from any of the respective users indicating their readiness to proceed with the exchange of mutual images.

[0013] Yet another object of the invention is to store an exchange permission status upon receipt of user approvals, enabling the mutual photo bartering process to be automatically initiated for subsequent mutual images detected between the same electronic devices without requiring further user approvals.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to utilize facial recognition to detect mutual images within the photo galleries of the respective electronic devices, ensuring accurate identification of mutual images based on the presence of a user's face in the gallery of another device.

[0015] Yet another object of the invention is to include preview images or videos and timestamps associated with each mutual photo bartering request, providing users with a clear and informative view of the images prior to approval.

[0016] Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate the communication of photo bartering requests and management of mutual photo bartering processes between the electronic devices through a photo bartering application installed on the respective electronic devices.

[0017] Yet another object of the invention is to enable one-way photo sharing between devices, where a user of a first electronic device may propose a photo sharing request to a second electronic device, even when the second device's gallery does not contain images of the user of the first electronic device.

[0018] Yet another object of the invention is to enable on-boarding of an unregistered user by sending an invitation via a device of a registered user, allowing non-users to participate in the photo bartering process after installing the photo bartering application.

[0019] Yet another object of the invention is to enable the detection of mutual video content, including videos or video frames, within the photo galleries of electronic devices, thus facilitating mutual video exchanges between the corresponding devices.

[0020] Yet another object of the invention is to ensure secure photo sharing by encrypting the mutual images during transmission between electronic devices of the plurality of devices.SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0021] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a method for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices. The method comprising analyzing a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein each electronic device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application. Further, the method includes detecting one or more images in the photo gallery of each electronic device that comprise a face of a user associated with another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices. Further, the method includes determining that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices containmutual images comprising the face of the user associated with the other of the at least two electronic devices. Further, the method includes triggering notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering. Further, the method includes receiving user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicate consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices. Further, the method includes automatically enabling, by an approval management unit, the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices, upon receipt of mutual user approvals.

[0022] In an embodiment, upon receipt of the user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices, a review period of a predefined duration is enabled on each of the respective electronic devices for reviewing the mutual images prior to sharing.

[0023] In an embodiment, during the review period enabled on each of the respective electronic devices, each user is enabled to selectively approve or cancel the exchange of one or more of the mutual images from their respective electronic device.

[0024] In an embodiment, the mutual photo bartering process is automatically initiated on each of the respective electronic devices upon expiration of the review period, in the absence of any user action.

[0025] In an embodiment, enabling the mutual photo bartering process prior to expiration of the review period, upon receipt of explicit confirmations from any of the respective users of the at least two electronic devices indicating readiness to proceed.

[0026] In an embodiment, the method further comprises storing, upon receipt of the mutual user approvals, an exchange permission status associated with thecorresponding electronic devices; and automatically enabling the mutual photo bartering process for any subsequent mutual images detected between the corresponding electronic devices without requiring additional user approvals.

[0027] In an embodiment, wherein the photo detection unit utilizes facial recognition to detect whether a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices contains images of one or more users associated with the plurality of electronic devices.

[0028] In an embodiment, wherein each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices is communicatively connected to other electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices through the photo bartering application.

[0029] In an embodiment, the method further comprises detecting that a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices contains one or more images comprising a face of a user of a second electronic device, while the photo gallery of the second electronic device does not contain any image comprising a face of the user of the first electronic device. The method includes initiating a photo sharing request on the first electronic device, requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device to propose a one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device. Upon receipt of the approval from the user of the first electronic device, the method further includes triggering a notification on the second electronic device, requesting approval to receive one or more images from the first electronic device. The method also includes receiving an approval response from the second electronic device, and enabling a one-way photo sharing process for transmitting the one or more images from the first electronic device to the second electronic device upon receipt of the approval response.

[0030] In an embodiment, the method further comprises detecting that one or more images within a photo gallery of a source electronic device include a face of a person who is an unregistered user of the photo bartering application. The method includes triggering a notification on the source electronic device, prompting the user of the source electronic device to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of the unregistered user, wherein the notificationindicates that the gallery of the source electronic device contains one or more images of the unregistered user. The method further includes enabling the source electronic device to send the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user upon receipt of approval from the user of the source electronic device, wherein the photo bartering invitation message comprises a link to install the photo bartering application and a notification indicating the number of images in which the face of the unregistered user was identified in the gallery of the source electronic device.

[0031] In an embodiment, wherein the photo detection unit is further configured to detect mutual video content, comprising one or more video files or video frames stored in the photo galleries of the respective electronic devices, that include facial representations of the users of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, enabling mutual video exchange between the corresponding electronic devices.

[0032] In an embodiment, wherein the mutual images are encrypted during transmission between the electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices to ensure secure photo sharing.

[0033] In an embodiment, wherein the term mutual images refer to images stored on one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices that include a face of the user of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, and images stored on the another electronic device that include a face of the user of the one electronic device.

[0034] Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a photo bartering server for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices. The photo bartering server includes a photo detection unit configured to analyze a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein each electronic device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application. Further, the photo detection unit configured to detect one or more images within the respective photo galleries of each electronic device, wherein the one or more images contain a face of a user of another electronic deviceof the plurality of electronic devices. Further, the photo detection unit configured to determine that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices contain mutual images comprising the respective faces of the users of one another. Further, the photo bartering server includes a mutual request sharing unit configured to trigger notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering. Further, the mutual request sharing unit configured to receive user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, the user approvals indicating consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices. Further, the photo bartering server includes an approval management unit configured to automatically enable upon receipt of mutual user approvals, a mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices.

[0035] These and other aspects of the example embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating example embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the example embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the example embodiments herein include all such modifications.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary System architecture for enabling mutual photo bartering, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for enabling a one-way photo sharing request from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of an unregistered user, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0041] FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are exemplary screenshots illustrating the initial step in the mutual photo bartering process facilitated by the photo bartering application, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0042] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are exemplary screenshots illustrating the internal operation of the photo bartering application to scan a photo gallery of a user’s electronic device, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0043] FIG. 10 is an example screenshot illustrating an invitation widget for inviting users to the photo bartering application, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0044] FIG. 11 is an example illustrating a review screen displayed on a user interface, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein;

[0045] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are example screenshots illustrating an approval interface that facilitates the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging mutual images, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

[0046] FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 are example screenshots illustrating a photo review window interface that enables users to review individual images prior to mutual sharing, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein;

[0047] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are screenshots showing a feed interface that displays only sent and received mutual photos, according to embodiments disclosed herein; and

[0048] FIG. 19 is a screenshot illustrating a feed displaying received and sent photos in a grid view, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The example embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the nonlimiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The description herein is intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the example embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the example embodiments herein. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the example embodiments herein.

[0050] The embodiments herein achieve a method and system for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices. The method comprising analyzing a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein each electronic device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application. Further, the method includes detecting one or more images in the photo gallery of each electronic device that comprise a face of a user associated with another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices. Further, the method includes determining that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices contain mutual images comprising the face of the user associated with the other of the at least two electronic devices. Further, the method includes triggering notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing theusers to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering. Further, the method includes receiving user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicate consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices. Further, the method includes automatically enabling, by an approval management unit, the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices, upon receipt of mutual user approvals. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 through 19, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown example embodiments.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary System 100 architecture for enabling mutual photo bartering, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0052] The System 100 comprises a Photo Bartering Server 200, a plurality of electronic devices 300, and a communication network 400. The communication network 400 is configured to establish bi-directional data transmission between the Photo Bartering Server 200 and the plurality of electronic devices 300. The Photo Bartering Server 200 is a centralized processing and coordination unit responsible for orchestrating all interactions enabling mutual photo bartering. The Photo Bartering Server 200 includes a number of functionally distinct modules, namely, a Photo Detection Unit 202, a Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204, an Approval Management Unit 206, a Communication Interface Unit 208, and a Memory 210.

[0053] In an embodiment, the Photo Detection Unit 202 configured to perform automated image analysis on a photo gallery associated with each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300. Each electronic device, including but not limited to devices 302, 304, 306, 308, is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application. The Photo Detection Unit 202 is communicatively coupled with each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300 via a communication network 400 and is operable to access and analyze one or more images stored within a photo gallery of each respective electronic device. In one embodiment, the plurality of electronic devices 300, wherein each ofthe plurality of electronic devices 300 may include, but is not limited to: smartphones, tablet computers, laptop or desktop computers, smart cameras with network connectivity, wearable devices with imaging and communication capabilities (e.g., smartwatches, smart glasses), Internet of Things (loT) devices with facial recognition functionality, smart televisions or connected displays with integrated cameras, handheld gaming consoles supporting imaging and applications, and digital kiosks or terminals with user interfaces and photo processing capabilities. The plurality of electronic devices 300 can be configured to execute components of the photo bartering application and communicate via the Communication network 400.

[0054] The Photo Detection Unit 202 can be configured to apply one or more facial recognition techniques to the analyzed one or more images stored within the photo gallery of each respective electronic device to detect the presence of human facial features. In particular, the Photo Detection Unit 202 can be configured to detect, within the photo gallery of a first electronic device 302 of the plurality of electronic devices 300, one or more images comprising a face of a user associated with a second electronic device 304 of the plurality of electronic devices 300. Similarly, the Photo Detection Unit 202 can be configured to detect, within the photo gallery of the second electronic device 304 of the plurality of electronic devices 300, one or more images comprising a face of a user associated with the first electronic device 302. Upon detecting such instances, the Photo Detection Unit 202 is further configured to determine that the photo galleries of the first electronic device 302 and the second electronic devices 304 contain one or more mutual images i.e., the first electronic devices 302 contain one or more images comprising the facial representation of the user associated with the second electronic devices 304 and the second electronic devices 304 contain the facial representation of the user associated with the first electronic device 302.

[0055] In an embodiment, the term “mutual images” refers to images stored on a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300 that include a face of the user of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300,and images stored on the another electronic device that include a face of the user of the first electronic device. For example, where a first user associated with the first electronic device (e.g., device 302) captures one or more images comprising a second user associated with the second electronic device (e.g., device 304), and the second user likewise captures images comprising the first user, the Photo Detection Unit 202 identifies such mutual images by comparing biometric facial data.

[0056] Once the mutual images are identified, these mutual images serve as the basis for initiating a mutual photo bartering process, wherein such images can be shared between the users through the photo bartering application. The Photo Detection Unit 202 ensures that no mutual images are missed, enhancing the comprehensiveness of the photo bartering process.

[0057] In an embodiment, when the mutual images are detected, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 can be configured to trigger notifications on the respective electronic devices. These notifications contain a mutual photo bartering request, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering. Upon receiving user approvals, the Approval Management Unit 206 processes these consents and verifies that both users have reciprocally approved the mutual bartering of images. Upon successful verification, the system proceeds to execute the mutual photo bartering process for secure transmission of the mutually identified photos.

[0058] In an example embodiment, consider a scenario where User A’s electronic device 302 contains one or more photos of User B, and User B’s electronic device 304 also contains one or more photos of User A. Upon detecting this mutual presence of images, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 triggers notifications on both devices. The notification received by the User A indicates that a mutual match has been found and states: “You have photos of User B, and User B has photos of you.” Similarly, the notification on User B’s electronic device states: “You have photos of User A, and User A has photos of you. Preview the images and approve the exchange if you wish to proceed.”

[0059] In an embodiment, the system further includes an Approval Management Unit 206 configured to receive user approvals in response to the mutual photo bartering notifications. Upon receipt of mutual consent from both devices, the Approval Management Unit 206 can be configured to initiate a review period of a predefined duration, rather than immediately executing the image exchange. This review period is configured to provide each user with an interface through which individual mutual images can be selectively approved or cancelled, thereby allowing granular control over the final set of images to be exchanged. In the absence of any further user input during the review period, the Approval Management Unit 206 is further configured to automatically proceed with the mutual photo bartering process upon expiration of the review period (for example 24 hours), thereby completing the secure exchange of the mutually retained and approved images. In another, embodiment, enabling the approval management unit can be configured enable the mutual photo bartering process prior to expiration of the review period, upon receipt of explicit confirmations from any of the respective users of the at least two electronic devices indicating readiness to proceed.

[0060] In an embodiment, the Approval Management Unit 206 can also be configured to store an exchange permission status in a Memory 210 upon successful completion of mutual approval. The exchange permission status indicates that both users have previously authorized photo bartering with each other. Upon detection of newly appearing mutual images between the same pair of users, the system is configured to reference the stored permission status and, if present and not revoked, to automatically initiate the review period and follow the same approval and exchange flow without requiring fresh approval prompts. This persistent approval mechanism, managed by the Approval Management Unit 206 and recorded in the Memory 210, enables efficient and seamless future exchanges while preserving the ability of users to revoke previously granted permissions.

[0061] In an embodiment, the Photo Bartering Server 200 can be configured to enable one-way photo sharing mechanism in scenarios where mutual images are not detected between a pair of electronic devices of the plurality of electronicdevices 300. The Photo Detection Unit 202 is configured to analyze the photo gallery of a first electronic device (e.g., device 302) and identify that it contains one or more images comprising a face of a user associated with a second electronic device (e.g., device 304). Concurrently, the Photo Detection Unit 202 is further configured to determine that the photo gallery of the second electronic device does not contain any images comprising a face of the user associated with the first electronic device. This asymmetric condition is flagged as a potential one-way sharing scenario. In response to this detection, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 can be configured to initiate a photo sharing request on the first electronic device 302, thereby requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device 302 to propose a one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device 304. Upon receipt of the user’s consent on the first electronic device 302, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 can be further configured to trigger a notification on the second electronic device. This notification prompts the user of the second electronic device 304 to approve the receipt of one or more images from the first electronic device 302, with the request contextually presented as a one-way photo sharing proposal. Following this, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 is configured to receive an approval response from the second electronic device 304, indicating the user's willingness to receive the proposed images. Upon receipt of the approval response from both the first and second electronic devices, the Approval Management Unit 206 can be configured to enable the one-way photo sharing process. This process facilitates the secure transmission of the identified images from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. In some embodiments, the Approval Management Unit 206 may also log the transaction in the Memory 210 for auditability, record-keeping, or to support future context-aware decision making in subsequent sharing workflows. This one-way sharing workflow ensures that image exchange can still proceed even in non-mutual detection cases, while preserving explicit consent from both participants and maintaining user control over outbound and inbound content.

[0062] In an embodiment, the Photo Detection Unit 202 can be configured to analyze a photo gallery stored on a source electronic device (e.g., device 306) ofthe plurality of electronic devices 300. During this analysis, the Photo Detection Unit 202 can be further configured to detect one or more images comprising a facial representation of a person who is not associated with a registered user account of the photo bartering application. Upon detection of such images, the Photo Detection Unit 202 can be configured to trigger a notification on the source electronic device 306, prompting the registered user associated with the source electronic device 306 to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message. The notification includes an indication that the gallery of the source electronic device 306 contains one or more images of the identified unregistered person. In response to receiving approval from the user of the source electronic device 306, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 can be configured to enable the source electronic device 306 to transmit the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user. The invitation message includes a hyperlink to download or install the photo bartering application, and also comprises an image count summary indicating the number of images in the gallery of the source electronic device in which the unregistered person was identified.

[0063] In an example embodiment, consider a scenario wherein User A, operating the source electronic device 306, captures multiple event photos wherein a friend, User C, appears. If User C has not yet registered with the photo bartering application, the Photo Detection Unit 202 detects User C’s facial features in the gallery of User A. Consequently, the system triggers a prompt on User A’s device stating, “We found 10 photos of User C who hasn’t joined yet / installed with the photo bartering application. Would you like to invite them?” Upon User A’s confirmation, the Mutual Request Sharing Unit 204 generates a personalized invitation message, including a download link to the photo bartering application and a note: “User A has 10 photos of yours. Install the app to receive them.” The personalized invitation message can be transmitted to User C via any of the selected communication channel (like, through a message or through any of the messaging platforms).

[0064] In an embodiment, the photo bartering server 200 can be configured to detect mutual video content, comprising one or more video files or video frames stored in the photo galleries of the respective electronic devices (302, 304, 306, 308) of the plurality of electronic devices 300. The photo detection unit 202 can be configured analyze the video files or video frames to detect the presence of facial representations of users from other electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices 300. Upon detection, the photo bartering server 200 enables mutual video exchange between the corresponding electronic devices through the mutual request sharing unit 204, facilitating the transfer of identified videos. Additionally, throughout the entire photo bartering process, the system 100 ensures secure sharing by utilizing robust encryption methods to encrypt both still images and video content during transit. The encryption process prevents unauthorized access or interception of the multimedia content being exchanged. For example, if User A on electronic device 302 has a video containing User B and User B has a video with User A, the photo detection unit 202 detects these mutual video files. Upon approval by both users, the mutual request sharing unit 204 facilitates the encrypted exchange of these videos and any corresponding images between the devices, ensuring that the entire data transfer is secure and private.

[0065] In an embodiment, the system 100 further comprises the Communication Interface Unit 208 configured to manage the secure transmission of mutual images or videos over the communication network 400. The communication network 400 can include, but is not limited to, a variety of transmission mediums such as Wi-Fi, cellular networks, or peer-to-peer connections (e.g., Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct). The Communication Interface Unit 208 ensures that the mutual images or videos are securely transmitted over the network by applying robust encryption protocols to protect the mutual images or videos during transit.

[0066] In an embodiment, the system 100 further comprises the memory 210. The Memory 210 can be configured to store critical data including user approvals, image exchange history, and exchange permissions for enabling future automatic photo exchanges. For example, once users A and B approve a mutual image exchange, theApproval Management Unit 206 can record the corresponding permission status in the Memory 210. This enables the system 100 to carry out automatic exchanges in subsequent interactions without requiring repeated consent, unless explicitly revoked, thereby streamlining the photo bartering process. The memory 210 may include one or more computer-readable storage media. The memory 210 may include non-volatile storage elements. Examples of such non-volatile storage elements may include magnetic hard discs, optical discs, floppy discs, flash memories, or forms of electrically programmable memories (EPROM) or electrically erasable and programmable (EEPROM) memories. In addition, the memory 210 may, in some examples, be considered a non-transitory storage medium. The term “non-transitory” may indicate that the storage medium is not embodied in a carrier wave or a propagated signal. However, the term “non- transitory” should not be interpreted to mean that the memory 210 is non-movable. In some examples, the memory 210 can be configured to store larger amounts of information than the memory. In certain examples, a non-transitory storage medium may store data that can, over time, change (e.g., in Random Access Memory (RAM) or cache).

[0067] The system 100 architecture depicted in FIG. 1 establishes a seamless, realtime, and secure framework for mutual photo bartering. The Photo Bartering Server 200 facilitates continuous mutual photo bartering across the plurality of electronic devices, while maintaining user control and privacy. The communication network (400) ensures that all system components interact and function in a synchronized manner, thus providing an efficient, user-friendly media exchange experience.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows exemplary components / units of the Photo Bartering Server 200, wherein some of the components / units are shown and some are not shown in the FIG.l, but it is to be understood that other embodiments and components / units are not limited thereon. In other embodiments, the Photo Bartering Server 200 may include less or a greater number of components / units. Further, the labels or names of the components / units are used only for illustrative purpose and does not limit the scope of the embodiments herein. One or more components / attachments can becombined to perform same or substantially similar function in the Photo Bartering Server 200.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows exemplary components / units of the system 100, wherein some of the components / units are shown and some are not shown in the FIG.l, but it is to be understood that other embodiments and components / units are not limited thereon. In other embodiments, the system 100 may include less or a greater number of components / units. Further, the labels or names of the components / units are used only for illustrative purpose and does not limit the scope of the embodiments herein. One or more components / attachments can be combined to perform same or substantially similar function in the system 100.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 500 illustrating a method for enabling mutual photo bartering among the plurality of electronic devices 300, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0071] At step 502, the method includes analyzing a photo gallery of each electronic device (302, 304, 306, 308, etc.,) of the plurality of electronic devices 300. The method allows the photo detection unit 202 to analyze the photo gallery of each electronic device (302, 304, 306, 308, etc.,) of the plurality of electronic devices 300, wherein each electronic device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application.

[0072] At step 504, the method includes detecting one or more images in the photo gallery of each electronic device that contain a face of a user associated with another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300. The method allows the photo detection unit 202 to detect one or more images in the photo gallery of each electronic device that contain a face of a user associated with another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices 300.

[0073] At step 506, the method includes determining that the photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices 300 contain mutual images that include the face of the user associated with the other electronic device of the at least two electronic devices. The method allows the photo detection unit202 to determine that the photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices 300 contain mutual images that include the face of the user associated with the other of the at least two electronic devices.

[0074] At step 508, the method includes triggering notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit 204 to trigger notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises the mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering.

[0075] At step 510, the method includes receiving user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicate consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit 204 to receive user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicate consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices.

[0076] At step 512, the method includes automatically enabling the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices, upon receipt of mutual user approvals. The method allows the approval management unit 206 to automatically enable the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices, upon receipt of mutual user approvals.

[0077] In an example flow, consider an embodiment involving two users, Alice and Bob, each operating their own electronic device (e.g., smartphones 302 and 304), respectively, wherein each device is configured with a photo bartering application. At step 502, the photo detection unit 202 analyzes the photo gallery of each user’selectronic device. At step 504, the system detects that Alice’s device contains one or more images that include the face of Bob, and Bob’s device similarly contains one or more images that include the face of Alice. At step 506, the system determines that mutual images exist i.e., that the photo galleries of both devices contain images featuring the other user. At step 508, the mutual request sharing unit 204 triggers a notification on each of the respective devices, indicating the identification of mutual images and the presence of a mutual photo bartering request. At step 510, both Alice and Bob provide approval through the application interfaces on their own devices, thereby consenting to the image exchange. At step 512, upon receipt of both user approvals, the approval management unit 206 automatically initiates the mutual photo bartering process, enabling the secure exchange of the approved mutual images between Alice’s and Bob’s respective devices. This embodiment exemplifies how the system supports user-controlled, consent-based sharing of mutual images across independently operated electronic devices.

[0078] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the method and the flow diagram 500 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0079] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 600 illustrating a method for enabling a one-way photo sharing request from a first electronic device 302 to a second electronic device 304, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0080] At step 602, the method includes detecting that the first electronic device 302 of the plurality of electronic devices 300 contains one or more images comprising a face of a user of the second electronic device 304 of the plurality of electronic devices 300, while the photo gallery of the second electronic device 304 does not contain any image comprising a face of the user of the first electronic device 302. The method allows the photo detection unit 202 to detect that the first electronic device 302 of the plurality of electronic devices contains one or moreimages comprising the face of the user of the second electronic device 304 of the plurality of electronic devices 300, while the photo gallery of the second electronic device 304 does not contain any image comprising the face of the user of the first electronic device 302.

[0081] At step 604, the method includes initiating a photo sharing request on the first electronic device 302, requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device 302 to propose a one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device 304. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit 204 initiate the photo sharing request on the first electronic device 302, requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device 302 to propose the one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device 304.

[0082] At step 606, the method includes triggering a notification on the second electronic device 304 requesting approval to receive one or more images from the first electronic device 302, upon receipt of the approval from the user of the first electronic device 302. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit to trigger the notification on the second electronic device 304 requesting approval to receive one or more images from the first electronic device 302, upon receipt of the approval from the user of the first electronic device 302.

[0083] At step 608, the method includes receiving an approval response from the second electronic device 304. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit 204 to receive the approval response from the second electronic device 304.

[0084] At step 610, the method includes enabling, by the approval management unit 206, a one-way photo sharing process for transmitting the one or more images from the first electronic device 302 to the second electronic device 304 upon receipt of the approval response. The method allows the approval management unit 306 to initiate a secure one-directional transmission of the selected images from the first electronic device’ s 302 gallery to the second device 304, completing one-way photo sharing process based on approvals.

[0085] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the method and the flow diagram 600 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0086] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 700 illustrating a method for sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of an unregistered user, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0087] At step 702, the method includes detecting that one or more images within a photo gallery of a source electronic device 306 of the plurality of electronic devices 300 include a face of a person who is an unregistered user of the photo bartering application. The method allows the photo detection unit 202 to detect that one or more images within a photo gallery of the source electronic device 306 of the plurality of electronic devices 300 include the face of a person who is the unregistered user of the photo bartering application.

[0088] At step 704, the method includes triggering a notification on the source electronic device 306, prompting the user of the source electronic device 306 to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of the unregistered user, wherein the notification indicates that the gallery of the source electronic device contains one or more images of the unregistered user. The method allows the photo detection unit 202 to trigger the notification on the source electronic device, prompting the user of the source electronic device to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of the unregistered user, wherein the notification indicates that the gallery of the source electronic device contains one or more images of the unregistered user.

[0089] At step 706, the method includes enabling the source electronic device 306 to send the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user upon receipt of approval from the user of the source electronic device, wherein the photo bartering invitation message comprising a link to install the photo bartering application and a notification indicating the number of imagesin which the face of the unregistered user was identified in the gallery of the source electronic device. The method allows the mutual request sharing unit 204 to enable the source electronic device 306 to send the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user upon receipt of approval from the user of the source electronic device, wherein the photo bartering invitation message comprising a link to install the photo bartering application and a notification indicating the number of images in which the face of the unregistered user was identified in the gallery of the source electronic device 306.

[0090] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the method and the flow diagram 700 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0091] FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are exemplary screenshots illustrating the initial step in the mutual photo bartering process facilitated by the photo bartering application, according to embodiments disclosed herein. In these embodiments, the application initiates a facial capture sequence as shown in FIG.5 by accessing the camera of the user’s electronic device to capture a real-time image or selfie of the user. This captured image serves as a reference for performing facial recognition. Once the user’s facial image is captured as shown in FIG.6, the system extracts facial features and generates unique facial signatures. These facial signatures are then used by the photo bartering server 200 to initiate a distributed scan across the photo galleries of a plurality of electronic devices 300 that are either linked within the user’s trusted network or part of the broader bartering ecosystem with appropriate permissions. The purpose of this initial capture step, as shown in FIG. 7, is to identify images that contain the user’s face across various devices. The application automatically detects and flags images that match the captured face, thereby enabling the detection of mutual images. These identified mutual images serve as candidates for initiating the photo bartering process.

[0092] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are exemplary screenshots illustrating the internal operation of the photo bartering application to scan a photo gallery of a user’s electronic device, according to embodiments disclosed herein. This scanning process is part of the facial recognition implemented within the photo bartering application to detect mutual images and initiate the photo bartering workflow. As shown in FIG. 8, the photo bartering application is enabled to initiate a scan of the local photo gallery of the user’s electronic device to identify any images that include the face of another user, such as a friend or contact, who may also be a participant in the photo bartering network. During this phase, the phot bartering server 200 leverages the facial detection and recognition techniques to compare the faces in the gallery against one or more photo galleries of known or registered users. Once the scan is complete, FIG. 9 illustrates the result of the operation, where the phot bartering application displays list of user or friends whose images found on the user’s device. These identified users serve as potential candidates for initiating a mutual photo bartering exchange. Additionally, this interface allows the user to invite the detected individuals, encouraging them to reciprocate and share photos from their own galleries that may include the scanning user.

[0093] FIG. 10 is an example screenshot illustrating an invitation widget for inviting users to the photo bartering application, according to embodiments disclosed herein. FIG. 10 shows the invitation widget within the photo bartering application, allowing a user to invite contacts who are not currently using the bartering application. The invitation interface supports various modes including QR code sharing, direct message invitations, and social media integration, facilitating seamless onboarding of new users into the mutual photo bartering ecosystem.

[0094] FIG. 11 is an example illustrating a review screen displayed on a user interface, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. The review screen enables a user to preview a list of other users with whom mutual images have been identified by the photo bartering server 200. The user is provided with selectable options to individually approve or reject each identified user for sending and / orreceiving mutual images. This interface facilitates granular user control over image sharing permissions.

[0095] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are example screenshots illustrating an approval interface that facilitates the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging mutual images, according to embodiments disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the approval interface is presented to a user upon receiving a mutual photo bartering notification. The interface allows the user to review the mutual images identified for potential exchange and provides options to approve the exchange immediately, reject it, or defer the decision until the expiration of a predefined review period. This interface ensures that the mutual exchange of images occurs only with the informed and voluntary consent of both users involved.

[0096] FIG. 14 - FIG. 16 are example screenshots illustrating a photo review window interface that enables users to review individual images prior to mutual sharing, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. As depicted in FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG.16, the photo review window presents users with a detailed interface for inspecting each image that is pending approval. The photo review window operates within a predefined review period, during which users can make granular decisions on whether to approve or reject each mutual image. If no action is taken within the designated timeframe, the system automatically proceeds with the exchange based on the predefined review period. This review mechanism ensures that users retain meaningful control over the content being shared and the timing of the mutual exchange.

[0097] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are screenshots showing a feed interface that displays only sent and received mutual photos, according to embodiments disclosed herein. This feed shows a list of mutual photos that have been shared between users through the mutual photo bartering process. It includes photos that were approved by both users and contain the faces of both parties.

[0098] FIG. 19 is a screenshot illustrating a feed displaying received and sent photos in a grid view, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 19, the interface presents a gallery-style grid layout of photos received bythe user and sent by the user. This view enables users to visually browse through images shared with them, whether through mutual photo bartering or one-way sharing. The grid view provides an organized and aesthetically arranged display of received images and may include interactive options such as downloading, marking as favorite, or adding comments. This interface enhances usability by offering a convenient and intuitive way to explore and engage with received content.

[0099] In the context of the present invention, the term "photo gallery" refers to a collection of media content stored on an electronic device, which may include camera-captured photos, camera-captured videos, and other types of media, such as device-stored photos, user- authorized collections, and cloud-synchronized media. The invention facilitates mutual photo bartering and sharing among multiple electronic devices, enabling the exchange of photos and videos from any of these categories. While the preferred embodiment describes camera-captured photos and videos, the invention may be adapted to support additional types of media, provided they are part of the user's authorized media collection on the electronic device.

[0100] It is understood that the scope of the claims may be adapted to focus on specific media categories, such as camera-captured photos and videos, depending on the particular requirements of the implementation.

[0101] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices (300), the method comprising: analyzing, by a photo detection unit (202), a photo gallery of each electronic device (302, 304, 306, 308) of the plurality of electronic devices (300), wherein each electronic device is associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application; detecting, by the photo detection unit (202), one or more images in the photo gallery of each electronic device that comprise a face of a user associated with another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300); determining, by the photo detection unit (202), that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices (300) contain mutual images comprising the face of the user associated with the other of the at least two electronic devices; triggering, by a mutual request sharing unit (204), notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the respective users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering; receiving, by the mutual request sharing unit (204), user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicate consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices; and automatically enabling, by an approval management unit (206), the mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices, upon receipt of mutual user approvals.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upon receipt of the user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices, a review periodof a predefined duration is enabled on each of the respective electronic devices for reviewing the mutual images prior to sharing.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during the review period enabled on each of the respective electronic devices, each user is enabled to selectively approve or cancel the exchange of one or more of the mutual images from their respective electronic device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mutual photo bartering process is automatically initiated on each of the respective electronic devices upon expiration of the review period, in the absence of any user action.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises enabling, by the approval management unit (206), the mutual photo bartering process prior to expiration of the review period, upon receipt of explicit confirmations from any of the respective users of the at least two electronic devices indicating readiness to proceed.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: storing, by the approval management unit (206), upon receipt of the mutual user approvals, an exchange permission status associated with the corresponding electronic devices; and automatically enabling, by the approval management unit (206), the mutual photo bartering process for subsequent mutual images detected between the corresponding electronic devices without requiring further user approvals.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photo detection unit (202) utilizes facial recognition to detect whether a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) contains images of one or more users associated with the plurality of electronic devices (300).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) is communicatively connected to otherelectronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices (300) through the photo bartering application.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: detecting, by the photo detection unit (202), that a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) contains one or more images comprising a face of a user of a second electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300), while the photo gallery of the second electronic device does not contain any image comprising a face of the user of the first electronic device; initiating, by the mutual request sharing unit (204), a photo sharing request on the first electronic device, requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device to propose a one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device; triggering, by the mutual request sharing unit (204), a notification on the second electronic device requesting approval to receive one or more images from the first electronic device, upon receipt of the approval from the user of the first electronic device; receiving, by the mutual request sharing unit (204), an approval response from the second electronic device; and enabling, by the approval management unit (206), a one-way photo sharing process for transmitting the one or more images from the first electronic device to the second electronic device upon receipt of the approval response.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: detecting, by the photo detection unit (202), that one or more images within a photo gallery of a source electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices include a face of a person who is an unregistered user of the photo bartering application; triggering, by the photo detection unit (202), a notification on the source electronic device, prompting the user of the source electronic device to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronicdevice of the unregistered user, wherein the notification indicates that the gallery of the source electronic device contains one or more images of the unregistered user; and enabling, by the mutual request sharing unit (204), the source electronic device to send the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user upon receipt of approval from the user of the source electronic device, wherein the photo bartering invitation message comprising a link to install the photo bartering application and a notification indicating the number of images in which the face of the unregistered user was identified in the gallery of the source electronic device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photo detection unit (202) is further configured to detect mutual video content, comprising one or more video files or video frames stored in the photo galleries of the respective electronic devices, that include facial representations of the users of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, enabling mutual video exchange between the corresponding electronic devices.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mutual images are encrypted during transmission between the electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices to ensure secure photo sharing.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the term mutual images refer to images stored on one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) that include a face of the user of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, and images stored on the another electronic device that include a face of the user of the one electronic device.

14. A photo bartering server (200) for enabling mutual photo bartering among a plurality of electronic devices (300), the photo bartering server (200) comprising: a photo detection unit (202) configured to: analyze a photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300), wherein each electronic deviceis associated with a respective user and configured with a photo bartering application; detect one or more images within the respective photo galleries of each electronic device, wherein the one or more images contain a face of a user of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300); determine that photo galleries of at least two electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices contain mutual images comprising the respective faces of the users of one another; a mutual request sharing unit (204) configured to: trigger notifications on each of the at least two electronic devices whose photo galleries contain mutual images, wherein each notification comprises a mutual photo bartering request that indicates the presence of mutual images and includes actionable items allowing the users to approve or deny the mutual photo bartering; receive user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices in response to the respective notifications, wherein the user approvals indicating consent for mutual photo exchange between the corresponding electronic devices; and an approval management unit (206) configured to: automatically enable upon receipt of mutual user approvals, a mutual photo bartering process for exchanging the mutual images between the corresponding electronic devices.

15. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the approval management unit (206) is configured to enable a review period of a predefined duration on each of the respective electronic devices for reviewing the mutual images prior to sharing, upon receipt of the user approvals from each of the at least two electronic devices.

16. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the approval management unit (206) is configured to allow each user, duringthe review period enabled on their respective electronic device, to selectively approve or cancel the exchange of one or more of the mutual images from their respective electronic device.

17. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the approval management unit (206) is configured to automatically initiate the mutual photo bartering process on each of the respective electronic devices upon expiration of the review period, in the absence of any user action.

18. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the approval management unit (206) is configured to enable the mutual photo bartering process prior to expiration of the review period, upon receiving explicit confirmations from any of the respective users of the at least two electronic devices indicating readiness to proceed.

19. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the approval management unit (206) is further configured to: store, upon receipt of the mutual user approvals, an exchange permission status associated with the corresponding electronic devices; and automatically enable the mutual photo bartering process for subsequent mutual images detected between the corresponding electronic devices without requiring further user approvals.

20. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the photo detection unit (202) is configured to utilize facial recognition to detect whether the photo gallery of each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) contains images of one or more users associated with the plurality of electronic devices.

21. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices is communicatively connected to other electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices through the photo bartering application.

22. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the photo bartering server (200) configured to:enable the photo detection unit (200) to detect that a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) contains one or more images comprising a face of a user of a second electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300), while the photo gallery of the second electronic device does not contain any image comprising a face of the user of the first electronic device; enable the mutual request sharing unit (204) to initiate a photo sharing request on the first electronic device, requesting approval from the user of the first electronic device to propose a one-way photo sharing request to the second electronic device; enable the mutual request sharing unit (204) trigger a notification on the second electronic device requesting approval to receive one or more images from the first electronic device, upon receipt of the approval from the user of the first electronic device; enable the mutual request sharing unit (204) to receive an approval response from the second electronic device; and enable the approval management unit (206) to initiate a one-way photo sharing process for transmitting the one or more of the images from the first electronic device to the second electronic device upon receipt of the approval response.

23. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the photo bartering server (200) further configured to: enable the photo detection unit (202) to detect that one or more images within a photo gallery of a source electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices (300) include a face of a person who is an unregistered user of the photo bartering application; enable the photo detection unit (202) to trigger a notification on the source electronic device, prompting the user of the source electronic device to approve sending a photo bartering invitation message to an electronic device of the unregistered user, wherein the notification indicates that thegallery of the source electronic device contains one or more images of the unregistered user; and allow the mutual request sharing unit (204) to enable the source electronic device to send the photo bartering invitation message to the electronic device of the unregistered user upon receipt of approval from the user of the source electronic device, the photo bartering invitation message comprising a link to install the photo bartering application and a notification indicating the number of images in which the face of the unregistered user was identified in the gallery of the source electronic device.

24. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the photo detection unit (202) is further configured to detect mutual video content, comprising one or more video files or video frames stored in the photo galleries of the respective electronic devices, that include facial representations of the users of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, enabling mutual video exchange between the corresponding electronic devices.

25. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mutual images are encrypted during transmission between the electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices to ensure secure photo sharing.

26. The photo bartering server (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the term mutual images refers to images stored on one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices that include a face of the user of another electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices, and images stored on another electronic device that include a face of the user of the one electronic device.

Images