Camera Image Backup Prioritizing User-Specified Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital cameras inefficiently upload user-specified and non-user-specified image data due to lack of priority in transmission, leading to low efficiency in data transmission processes.

Innovation Solution

A camera system that prioritizes the transmission of user-specified image data by correlating image files with destination email addresses, allowing for efficient data transmission and notification by storing the e-mail notification target image list in the camera's flash memory and transmitting it along with the image files to an image storage server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple connections are performed to upload user-specified and non-user-specified image data separately, then all image data can be uploaded, but the transmission efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidupload time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments image data into two categories: user-specified image data (high priority) and non-user-specified image data (low priority). This segmentation allows the system to establish a single connection and transmit high-priority data first, followed by low-priority data, thereby improving transmission efficiency without requiring multiple separate connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission priorities to different portions of the data set. User-specified image data is assigned high priority with immediate transmission, while non-user-specified data is assigned low priority and transmitted after high-priority data completes. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing transmission efficiency through priority-based segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If user-specified image data is transmitted with higher priority, then transmission efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to priority management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpriority management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic priority management system where the transmission priority is determined by user specification. The control unit dynamically adjusts the transmission order based on whether image data is user-specified or not, allowing efficient priority management without excessive system complexity through automated decision-making logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages transmission priorities without requiring complex user intervention. The control unit self-determines which data to transmit first based on pre-stored user specifications, reducing the complexity of priority management while maintaining high transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a single connection is used to upload all image data, then connection management is simplified, but user-specified data may be delayed behind non-user-specified data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection management simplicityVSAvoiduser-specified data upload time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification of image data into user-specified and non-user-specified categories before transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that when a single connection is established, the control unit can immediately prioritize user-specified data for transmission, preventing delays while maintaining connection management simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from user specifications to control transmission priority. The control unit continuously monitors which data is user-specified and adjusts transmission order accordingly, ensuring user-specified data is transmitted promptly while maintaining simple single-connection management through automated feedback-based priority adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2026554B1Camera with variable priorities for back up of images to an external device
Publication Date: 2015.05.27 NIKON CORP
  • EP2026554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2026554B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2026554B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A camera includes: an image-capturing means that captures an image of a subject to acquire image data; an image storing means that stores a plurality of image data acquired by the image-capturing means in a storage medium; an image specifying means that specifies image data designated by a user from among the plurality of image data stored in the the storage medium; and a transmission controlling means that when transmitting the plurality of image data to an external device using a wireless communication device, identifies specified image data specified by the image specifying means and non-specified image data that are not specified by the image specifying means from each other and transmits the specified image data to the external device with priority over the backup of the non-specified image data to the external device.