Image Capture Datastore for Modular Process Component Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capture devices face inflexibility due to direct connections between process components, making changes to or adding new components difficult and complicating state monitoring and debugging.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a datastore to establish indirect connections between process components, allowing components to communicate through the datastore without direct links, enabling modularization and flexibility in component changes or additions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If direct connections are established between process components, then information exchange efficiency is improved, but system flexibility and ease of modification deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation exchange efficiencyVSAvoidsystem flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a datastore as an intermediary component that mediates information exchange between process components. Instead of direct point-to-point connections, components communicate through the shared datastore, which acts as a central hub. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining efficient information flow (all components can access needed data) while eliminating the need for complex direct connection mappings, thereby improving system flexibility and ease of modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If direct connections are established between process components, then real-time communication is improved, but system complexity and debugging difficulty worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time communicationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual communication channels into a single shared datastore structure. Instead of having separate direct connection pathways between each pair of components, all components interact through the unified datastore interface. This reduces system complexity by consolidating communication infrastructure while maintaining real-time capabilities, as the datastore provides centralized access points that simplify routing and monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The datastore serves as an intermediary that simplifies the communication architecture. By routing all interactions through this central mediator, the system reduces the complexity of direct peer-to-peer connections while maintaining real-time information exchange. The mediator abstracts the communication complexity, making the system easier to debug and manage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If process components are tightly coupled through direct connections, then operational coordination is improved, but ease of maintenance and component independence deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational coordinationVSAvoidease of maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system architecture by introducing the datastore as a separate, independent component from the process components. This segmentation allows each process component to maintain operational coordination through standardized datastore interactions while being loosely coupled in terms of implementation details. Components can be maintained, replaced, or updated independently without affecting others, as they all interface through the same datastore contract.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The datastore acts as an intermediary layer that enables operational coordination while preserving component independence. By mediating all interactions, it allows components to be loosely coupled - they can be maintained separately while still coordinating operations through the shared data interface. This resolves the contradiction between coordination stability and maintenance ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates flexible design and operation by allowing individual process components to be changed, added, or versioned without affecting others, while enabling efficient state monitoring and debugging without disrupting real-time behavior.

Implementation Method 1

The image sensor may generate a visual output signal conveying visual information based on light that becomes incident thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12363238B1Image capture device with a datastore for process component integration
Publication Date: 2025.07.15 GOPRO INC
  • US12363238B1 patent drawing
  • US12363238B1 patent drawing
  • US12363238B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An image capture device stores in a datastore information used and generated by different process components (e.g., firmware components, software components) of the image capture device. The datastore modularizes process components of the image capture device. The datastore is used as a centralized information exchange system for process components so that no direct links exist between process components. The modularization of the process component via the datastore enables autonomy in process component development.