Communication Terminal for Intuitive Multi-Camera Site Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image communication systems require users to individually operate multiple image capturing devices to view specific portions of a distribution site, leading to conflicts and difficulty in intuitive operation, especially when displaying spherical images.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal and method that receive images from multiple image capturing devices, allow users to designate points of interest, select the appropriate device based on the interest's position, and generate predetermined-area information to display a focused image of the selected area, enabling intuitive and conflict-free viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users individually operate multiple image capturing devices to view specific portions, then they can access specific areas of interest, but operation becomes non-intuitive and conflicts occur between multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication terminal as an intermediary device between users and multiple image capturing devices. The terminal receives images from multiple devices, processes them to identify points of interest, and presents a unified interface to users. This mediator eliminates the need for users to directly operate multiple devices, thereby improving ease of operation while preventing conflicts through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic point of interest detection and image selection based on user input. When a user designates a point of interest, the communication terminal automatically determines which image capturing device should serve that area and retrieves the appropriate image without requiring manual device selection. This self-service mechanism enhances intuitiveness while ensuring conflict-free access through automated resource allocation.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple image capturing devices are deployed to cover different areas, then complete site coverage is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication terminal serves multiple functions: it receives images from multiple image capturing devices, processes them to identify points of interest, manages device selection, and presents unified access to users. By consolidating these functions in a single terminal, the system achieves complete site coverage through multiple devices while managing complexity centrally, allowing the terminal to handle diverse operations without requiring proportional increases in user-facing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication terminal acts as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of multiple image capturing devices from users. It receives and processes images from numerous devices, automatically determines optimal device selection based on points of interest, and presents a simplified interface. This mediator layer allows extensive physical coverage through multiple devices while maintaining manageable operational complexity through centralized intelligent control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users directly operate multiple image capturing devices, then they can access specific areas, but conflicts occur when multiple users want to view different portions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the communication terminal monitors user designations of points of interest, automatically selects appropriate image capturing devices, and retrieves corresponding images. This feedback loop ensures that each user's request is processed through centralized control, allowing multiple users to simultaneously view different portions without conflicts, as the terminal manages device allocation and image delivery based on real-time user inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication terminal serves as a mediator that receives requests from multiple users, processes them to determine appropriate points of interest and corresponding image capturing devices, and delivers customized images to each user. This intermediary approach enables high adaptability for viewing different portions while ensuring reliable conflict-free operation through centralized coordination of multiple users' access to multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication terminal including circuitry to: receive images captured by a plurality of image capturing devices in a distribution site; accept designation of a point of interest in the distribution site by a user; acquire predetermined-area information indicating a predetermined area including the designated point of interest, the predetermined area being included in an image captured by a specific image capturing device selected based on a position of the point of interest and positions of the image capturing devices; and display a predetermined-area image based on the acquired predetermined-area information, the predetermined-area image being an image of the predetermined area in the image captured by the specific image capturing device.