Context-Aware Photo Filter Selection via Server Mediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile devices lack the capability to automatically apply content-aware photo filters based on the device's attributes and the attributes of the captured photographs, limiting the enhancement and sharing of mobile photography experiences.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where a server includes a photo filter module that identifies when a client device captures a photograph and selects photograph filters based on attributes of the client device and the photograph, such as geolocation, user preferences, and physical environment, and supplies these filters to the client device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If photo filters are manually selected and applied by users, then users have control over filter selection, but the process is time-consuming and lacks context-awareness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic filter selectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the photo filter selection process. The server receives photograph data, analyzes attributes (location, time, objects), and returns context-aware filter recommendations. This mediator handles the complex analysis work, keeping the mobile device relatively simple while achieving automated, intelligent filter selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of photograph attributes and pre-selects appropriate filters before the user needs to make a decision. By analyzing the photograph's context (location, time, detected objects) and pre-processing filter recommendations, the system prepares filter options in advance, reducing user effort and time required for filter selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If generic photo filters are provided to all users, then the system is simple to operate, but the filters lack relevance to specific contexts and user preferences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontext-awarenessVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by providing different filter recommendations based on specific local contexts. Instead of uniform filters for all users, the system analyzes local attributes such as geographic location, time of day, and detected objects in the photograph, then provides customized filter options tailored to each specific context and user profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters related to filter selection based on analyzed photograph attributes. By detecting objects, analyzing location data, and considering time information, the system dynamically adjusts which filters are recommended, transforming static filter catalogs into dynamic, context-adaptive filter selections that match the specific parameters of each photograph.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive photograph analysis is performed to select context-aware filters, then filter relevance is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter selection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial analysis by focusing on the most relevant photograph attributes for filter selection. Instead of analyzing every possible aspect of a photograph in equal detail, the system prioritizes key attributes such as dominant objects, location context, and time information that have the greatest impact on filter relevance, achieving good accuracy with reduced processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3907980B1Apparatus and method for supplying content aware photo filters
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 SNAP INC
  • EP3907980B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3907980B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3907980B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A server includes a photo filter module with instructions executed by a processor to identify when a client device captures a photograph. Photograph filters are selected based upon attributes of the client device and attributes of the photograph. The photograph filters are supplied to the client device. The photograph filters are configured to be independently selectable in response to gestures applied by the user to the photograph as presented on a display of the client device. A first filter of the plurality of photograph filters is a general filter configured to be selected in response to a first user input, and a second filter of the plurality of photograph filters is an object specific filter configured to be selected in response to a second user input received after the first user input.