Camera User Interface Framework for Third-Party Content Creation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing client applications lack integrated camera functionality and editing tools, limiting users' ability to create and modify content captured by a client device for use within third-party applications.

Innovation Solution

A framework that enables developers of third-party applications to customize a camera user interface of client applications, allowing access to camera tools and creative features, and return modified content to the third-party application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If third-party applications want to access camera functionality and editing tools, then content creation capability is improved, but device complexity and security management worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent creation capabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a camera user interface developer framework as an intermediary layer between third-party applications and the camera system. This framework includes application programming interfaces (APIs) that mediate access to camera tools and creative features, allowing third-party apps to generate content without directly integrating complex camera hardware control, thus resolving the contradiction between enhanced content creation capability and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If camera user interface is customized for third-party applications, then user experience is improved, but development complexity and time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal camera user interface developer framework that can be applied across multiple third-party applications. The framework provides standardized APIs and tools that work consistently across different apps, allowing developers to access camera functionality without creating custom integration code for each application, thereby improving user experience while reducing development complexity through code reusability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive camera tools and creative features are provided, then content editing capability is improved, but application size and resource consumption worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent editing capabilityVSAvoidapplication resource requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The framework acts as an intermediary that provides comprehensive camera tools and creative features through standardized APIs without requiring third-party applications to bundle all these features locally. The framework mediates resource access between the application and system resources, allowing full editing capability while managing resource consumption efficiently through shared system-level components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4173266B1Camera user interface to generate content
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SNAP INC
  • EP4173266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4173266B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4173266B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one or more implementations, a camera user interface of a client application may be accessed from a third-party application. In one or more examples, the camera user interface may be generated based at least partly on information provided by a developer of the third-party application according to a camera user interface developer framework provided by a service provider related to the client application. User content may be created using the camera user interface. The user content may be returned to the third-party application for use within the third-party application.