Communication Apparatus Separating Image and Metadata Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transferring image data from image capture devices to servers often fail to transmit associated metadata, leading to incomplete data sets and reduced efficiency in data management for press and communication companies.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that separates image files and metadata files into distinct storage areas and ensures both are transmitted to a server, using a method that involves requesting file lists from the image capture device and associating metadata with image files based on file names and timestamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only image files are stored and transferred to the server, then the transfer process is simple and fast, but metadata is lost and cannot be used for efficient data management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the file management system into two distinct storage areas: a first area for image files and a second area for metadata files. This segmentation allows the system to handle different file types separately, ensuring that metadata is preserved and transferred alongside image files without complicating the overall transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a file management application that acts as an intermediary between the image capture device and the server. This application reads both image files and associated metadata files, maintains their association, and transfers them together to the server, preventing metadata loss while managing complexity centrally.
2Productivity
If both image files and metadata files are transferred to the server, then complete data sets are achieved for efficient management, but the transfer process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The file management application performs preliminary actions by reading and associating metadata files with image files before the transfer process begins. This pre-association ensures that when files are transferred to the server, the complete data sets are already prepared, improving data management efficiency without adding complexity during the actual transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the transfer of image files and metadata files into a single coordinated process. The file management application handles both file types together, maintaining their association throughout the transfer, which simplifies the overall process while ensuring complete data sets reach the server for efficient management.
3Reliability
If metadata files are stored in a separate area from image files, then data organization is improved and metadata is preserved, but storage management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage unit into a first area for image files and a second area for metadata files. This clear separation ensures that metadata is preserved and organized distinctly from image data, improving reliability. The structured segmentation makes storage management systematic rather than chaotic, despite the increased organization requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The file management application implements a feedback mechanism that tracks the association between image files and metadata files across the two storage areas. This feedback system ensures that metadata is correctly linked to corresponding image files, maintaining reliability while providing automated management that reduces the complexity burden on users.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus, comprises an obtainment unit that obtains, from a first external apparatus, an image file and a supplementary information file related to the image file, a first management unit that stores the image file into a first area of a storage unit, a second management unit that stores the supplementary information file associated with the image file into a second area that is different from the first area, and a control unit that transmits, to a second external apparatus, the image file that has been read out from the first area, and the supplementary information file that has been read out from the second area and associated with the image file that has been read out from the second area.