Hierarchical Color Management Policy System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing diversity of input and output devices in color management systems makes it unmanageable to provide desired color conversions, as prior art requires users to configure policies separately for each application, device, and system, leading to a lack of consistency and efficiency in color management.
Innovation Solution
A color management system that processes images according to a policy structured in a hierarchical fashion, with policy levels including system, user, operational, profile, and device levels, allowing for consolidated configuration through a series of dialog boxes and an application programming interface (API) for setting and retrieving policy settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users configure color management policies separately for each application, device, and system, then each specific configuration can be optimized, but the system complexity and user burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments color management policy configuration into multiple hierarchical levels: system level, user level, application level, and device level. Each level can independently configure policies for specific aspects of color management, allowing optimized configurations without requiring users to manage all configurations manually. The segmentation reduces complexity by organizing policies in a structured hierarchy while maintaining the ability to provide precise color conversions at each level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal policy configuration system that can manage color management settings across multiple applications, devices, and systems through a unified interface. The hierarchical policy structure serves multiple functions: it provides system-wide defaults, allows user-specific overrides, supports application-level customization, and enables device-specific adjustments. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate configuration processes while maintaining comprehensive control over color conversions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple device profiles and conversions are managed manually, then color accuracy can be maintained, but the time and effort required for configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing system-level default color management policies that automatically apply to all devices and applications. These pre-configured policies provide baseline color accuracy without requiring manual configuration. Users can then selectively override defaults only when specific customization is needed, significantly reducing the time and effort required for color management setup while maintaining accurate color reproduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical policy system enables self-service operation where the system automatically selects and applies appropriate color management policies based on the current context (device, application, user preferences). The system autonomously manages the complexity of multiple device profiles and conversions, freeing users from manual configuration tasks while ensuring accurate color reproduction through automatically applied policies.
3Productivity
If a hierarchical policy structure is implemented, then configuration efficiency improves, but the system architecture becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to policy configuration, organizing settings across multiple levels (system, user, application, device) rather than managing all configurations at a single level. This dimensional organization improves configuration efficiency by allowing users to work at the most appropriate level for each task while automatically inheriting or overriding policies as needed. The hierarchical structure manages architectural complexity through clear separation of concerns and well-defined inheritance relationships between levels.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for supporting a color management system that processes an image in accordance to a hierarchically-structured policy are provided. The policy may be modeled with a schema in which the policy is organized with a plurality of policy levels. Policy settings at a lower policy level may override policy settings at a higher policy level, which may be inhibited with a lockout mechanism. A user interface supports the capability of a user configuring policy settings through a series of dialog boxes. The dialog boxes are hierarchically organized in accordance with configuration levels, where the configuration levels are associated with the policy levels. The dialog boxes provide a consolidated approach for configuring a color management system by a user. An interface is supported, enabling a component to send inputs to a color management system in order to configure the policy.