Digital Camera Storage Controller Segmentation for Image Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital cameras with communication functions are not user-friendly, particularly in terms of efficiently managing image data storage and sharing, as they often lack intuitive methods for sending and receiving images, leading to limitations in capacity and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A digital camera design that incorporates a wireless communicator for sending and receiving image data, an image storage system that differentiates between full-size and display image data, and a storage controller that prioritizes new data by replacing display image data under certain conditions, such as inactivity or full storage capacity, while ensuring playback accessibility without constant internet connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If digital image data is sent to an outside server to free up storage capacity, then the digital camera storage capacity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex communication management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments image data into two types: full-size image data for archiving and display image data for playback. This segmentation allows the system to manage different data categories with different retention policies, automatically deleting full-size data after server upload while preserving display data for local playback, thereby simplifying user operation without compromising storage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller automatically manages the deletion of full-size image data after successful server upload without requiring user intervention. The system self-monitors storage capacity and autonomously performs data deletion decisions, freeing users from complex manual management while maintaining optimal storage capacity
2Reliability
If all digital image data is kept in the image storage portion, then the reliability of image playback is improved, but the storage capacity is consumed faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates two distinct data categories: full-size image data for long-term archiving and display image data for immediate playback. By segmenting the storage function, the system maintains reliable playback capability through preserved display data while enabling aggressive deletion of full-size data after server synchronization, thus balancing playback reliability with storage capacity management
3Adaptability or versatility
If the digital camera incorporates communication functions for sending and sharing images, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex communication and data management logic into an autonomous storage controller that operates independently. This controller automatically handles image upload, deletion decisions, and data categorization without requiring user engagement with complex communication protocols, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing perceived device complexity for the user
4Reliability
If display image data is protected from replacement to ensure playback availability, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity of storage utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage resources into protected display image data and deletable full-size image data. This segmentation enables the system to guarantee playback availability by preserving display data while maximizing storage utilization by aggressively deleting full-size data after server upload, achieving both reliability and storage efficiency simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.