Context-Aware Mobile Image Display for Surprising Photo Recall

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image display techniques on mobile terminals fail to provide surprising information to users, as they typically rely on user-initiated recall of past images, limiting unexpected and nostalgic experiences.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that automatically displays images highly related to the user's context, such as location, time, or fellow persons, on the device's display area, using sensor information to select and present images unexpectedly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If images are displayed based on user-selected travel courses, then images that are easily recalled are provided, but surprising information is not provided to the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser recall capabilityVSAvoidsurprising information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of displaying images based on user-selected travel courses (top-down approach), the system inverts the approach by automatically selecting and displaying images based on contextual data such as GPS location, timestamp, and sensor information (bottom-up approach). This inversion enables the system to present surprising images without requiring user initiation, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of recall and provision of surprising information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If only images from user-selected travel courses are displayed, then recall ease is improved, but information diversity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage recall easeVSAvoidinformation diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies multi-functionality by using contextual data (GPS, timestamp, sensor info) for multiple purposes: both for easy recall based on user behavior patterns and for discovering diverse, surprising images. This universal use of contextual information enables the system to serve both recall ease and information diversity simultaneously

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

3Loss of information

If automatic context-based image display is implemented, then surprising information is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurprising information provisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by automatically collecting contextual data from sensors and GPS, automatically selecting relevant images based on this data, and automatically displaying them without requiring user intervention. This automation reduces the perceived complexity for users while maintaining the capability to provide surprising information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3819780B1Information processing device and information processing method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3819780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3819780B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3819780B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To achieve presenting surprising information to the user. [Solution] Provided is an information processing apparatus including a control unit that controls display of visual information performed by a display unit included in a mobile terminal, in which the control unit controls to display, based on a recognized context, one or more images highly related to the context among images captured by a user in past, onto a part of a display area of the display unit. Further provided is an information processing method including controlling, by a processor, display of visual information performed by a display unit included in a mobile terminal, in which the controlling further includes controlling to display, based on a recognized context, one or more images highly related to the context among images captured by a user in past, onto a part of a display area of the display unit.