Digital Camera Image Data Association with GPS and Ambient Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to effectively store and display additional, detailed, and customized information with digital images, such as location and ambient data, which is often difficult to remember or associate with the images at the time of capture.
Innovation Solution
A digital camera or cellular telephone system that captures images, includes a controller, storage medium, data entry mechanism, and positioning or ambient sensing systems to automatically associate user-supplied data, location information, and ambient conditions with the image, storing them as a combined data file, allowing for later retrieval and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If additional information (location, ambient data, user-supplied data) is automatically associated with digital images, then the quantity and detail of information stored with images is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data sources (GPS positioning system, ambient sensing system, user-supplied data via data entry mechanism) into a single integrated system that automatically associates all information with the digital image. The controller receives inputs from multiple sources and consolidates them into one combined data set stored with the image, eliminating the need for separate storage and retrieval processes for each data type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically capturing location information through GPS and ambient conditions through sensors at the moment the image is captured, before the user even becomes aware of the need to store this information. This automatic preliminary data collection occurs without requiring user intervention, and the data is pre-associated with the image file, ready for future retrieval.
2Loss of information
If multiple data sources (GPS, ambient sensors, user input) are integrated to capture comprehensive information, then the quantity and detail of associated data is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple input mechanisms and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically collecting location data via GPS and ambient data via sensors without requiring user action. The controller automatically associates all collected data with the digital image, and the system autonomously manages the storage and retrieval processes. Users simply need to capture the image; all other data collection and association occurs automatically without user intervention.
3Loss of time
If all data (image, location, ambient, user input) is stored as a combined data file, then the ease of retrieval is improved, but the storage medium requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the digital image file with all associated data (location information, ambient conditions, user-supplied data) into a single combined data file stored in one location on the storage medium. This consolidation eliminates the need to store and manage separate files for each data type, reducing the overhead of file management and metadata structures that would otherwise be required to link multiple separate data sources to an image.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for storing data with a digital image comprises providing a digital camera for capturing and storing digital images, the digital camera having a controller, a storage medium, a data entry mechanism, and a positioning system. The method further includes the camera receiving direction from a user to capture a digital image and capturing and storing the digital image in response to the user's direction. Additionally, the positioning system determines location information corresponding to the location of the digital camera when the image is captured. The camera receives user-supplied data input to be associated with the captured digital image captured via the data entry mechanism and the controller automatically associates the user-supplied data input and the location information with the digital image and stores the data input, the location information, and the digital image in the storage medium as a combined data file.