Embedding Contact Data in Image Headers for Mobile Dialing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile communication devices face difficulties in remembering the names of individuals in photographs taken with their devices, as they struggle to associate faces with contact information stored on the device, leading to challenges in contacting the people in images.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal equipped with a digital camera and processing logic that captures images, associates subject information such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses with the images, and stores this information in a header portion, allowing users to display and retrieve contact information directly from the image, enabling communication sessions based on the linked data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact information is stored in a separate phonebook application, then the device can store and manage contact data, but users cannot easily associate contact information with visual memory of individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines contact information directly with image data by embedding it in the image header. This merging allows users to view both the visual representation (image) and contact information (name, phone number, email) together, creating an immediate visual association that eliminates the need to switch between photo gallery and phonebook applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The image header serves as an intermediary structure that bridges visual memory and contact information. By embedding contact data within the image file header, the system creates a direct link between the visual subject and associated contact details, allowing users to access contact information directly from the image display without needing to manually search through separate databases.
2Productivity
If users manually access phonebook applications to find contact information, then complete contact data can be retrieved, but significant time is lost in the searching and dialing process
Solution Approach 1:
Contact information is pre-associated with image data during the image capture or import process. The system performs the association action in advance by embedding contact details in the image header, so that when users view the image, the contact information is already prepared and immediately accessible without requiring any additional search or lookup actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the contact information retrieval function directly into the image display function. By embedding contact data in the image header, users can access all contact information (name, phone number, email) simultaneously with the visual display, eliminating the time required to navigate between applications and manually locate contact details.
3Loss of information
If contact information is embedded in the image header, then direct association between image and contact data is achieved, but the image file structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing image header structure, which is a standard component of image files used for storing metadata. By embedding contact information in this existing header structure, the system adds multiple functions (visual identification + contact information storage) to a single data structure without creating a completely new file format, thereby minimizing structural complexity while maximizing functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include an image display component to display an image that includes a subject, where the image has a header portion, and to display subject information that includes a communication identifier related to the subject, and wherein the subject information is stored in the header portion. The device may include a transceiver to contact the subject via the communication identifier. The device may include a processor to provide the image and the subject information to the display component, to receive a request to contact the subject, to retrieve the communication identifier from the header portion, and to send the communication identifier to the transceiver to cause the transceiver to contact the subject.