Camera HAL Direct Trigger Routing to Reduce Shutter Lag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic devices experience significant delays in camera response due to the queuing of trigger events at the hardware abstraction layer, leading to prolonged shutter lag during snap shooting or quick burst shooting, which affects the user's photography experience.

Innovation Solution

Establishing a direct transmission channel or monitoring interface between the camera application and the camera HAL to bypass the queuing of trigger events at the hardware abstraction layer, allowing immediate invocation of 3A algorithms such as autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If trigger events are processed through the hardware abstraction layer queue, then system structure is maintained and standardized, but shutter lag increases and response speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera response speedVSAvoidevent processing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the event processing path into two channels: a standard HAL queue channel for general events and a direct channel for shooting trigger events. This segmentation allows critical shooting events to bypass the queueing delay while maintaining the standardized HAL structure for other operations, thus improving response speed without completely abandoning the existing system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a monitoring interface as an intermediary mechanism that detects shooting trigger events at the HAL layer and directly forwards them to the camera application. This intermediary enables event routing without complete architectural overhaul, balancing structure maintenance with speed improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If a direct transmission channel is established to reduce shutter lag, then response speed improves, but system structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshutter lagVSAvoidtransmission channel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a monitoring interface that proactively detects shooting trigger events before they enter the standard HAL queue. By identifying and intercepting these critical events at the source, the system can directly route them to the camera application, eliminating subsequent queueing delays and reducing shutter lag.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different event types: shooting trigger events receive expedited direct processing through the monitoring interface, while other events continue through the standard HAL queue. This localized optimization reduces time loss for critical operations without requiring complete system restructuring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If events are queued at the hardware abstraction layer, then event processing is organized and manageable, but processing delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent processing efficiencyVSAvoidevent processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic event routing mechanism where the system adapts its processing path based on event type. Shooting trigger events are dynamically routed through the direct monitoring interface channel, while other events use the standard HAL queue. This dynamic approach optimizes processing efficiency for critical events without compromising the organized structure for general event management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4258655B1Electronic device and photographing method thereof, and medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4258655B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4258655B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4258655B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This application relates to the field of computer systems, and specifically, to an electronic device and a shooting method thereof, and a medium. The shooting method includes: A first application generates a shooting instruction. The shooting instruction includes a first shooting control instruction. A camera control module obtains the first shooting control instruction from the first application through a preset transmission channel. The preset transmission channel is used to connect the camera control module to the first application. The camera control module invokes a shooting algorithm corresponding to the first shooting control instruction and controls a camera of the electronic device to complete shooting. The first application is located at an application layer of a software system of the electronic device, and the camera control module is located at a hardware abstraction layer of the software system. According to the shooting method provided in this application, the camera control module can invoke the shooting algorithm based on the first shooting control instruction in a timely manner, to complete shooting. This reduces response time between the camera application of the electronic device and the camera of the electronic device, and improves photographing experience of a user.