Hierarchical Image Navigation via Viewpoint Link Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

As image processing technology advances, content structures become increasingly complex, making it difficult for users to efficiently access desired information within large datasets.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that changes the display area in response to user viewpoint movements, utilizing link setting files to switch between images based on predetermined conditions, allowing seamless navigation through hierarchical image data structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If image processing technology advances to handle complex content structures, then information display capability is improved, but data size increases and access efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidinformation access efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content file into multiple image data units with hierarchical structure (first through fourth hierarchies). Each image data contains multiple link areas that can be independently accessed. This segmentation allows the system to display complex content while enabling efficient access to specific regions without loading entire datasets, thus resolving the contradiction between display capability and access efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested hierarchical structure where image data at each hierarchy level contains link areas that reference image data at other hierarchy levels. The first image data contains link areas linking to second, third, and fourth image data, creating a nested structure similar to nested dolls. This allows efficient navigation through complex content by accessing only the necessary nested level, improving access efficiency while maintaining comprehensive display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If link functions are implemented to switch between images based on inclusion relationships, then navigation capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-establishes link settings between image data during content file creation. Link areas are predefined with their target image data and inclusion relationships are predetermined. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations during navigation, as the system simply follows pre-defined links when inclusion relationships are satisfied, thus improving navigation ease while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The link function operates autonomously based on predefined rules. When a display area inclusion relationship is detected, the system automatically switches to the target image data according to pre-set link settings without requiring complex external control logic. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall system architecture while providing sophisticated navigation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2747033B1Information processing device, information processing method, and data structure of content file
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2747033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2747033B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2747033B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Information is configured in a tree structure, and an image is prepared for each node. To an image 152 of a root node, links to images of internal nodes are set. When a display area satisfies a predetermined link condition by a viewpoint moving operation to a link area "R1," the display target is switched from the image 152 to an image 154a of an internal node. To each of images 154a, 154b and 154c of internal nodes, a link to one of images 156 of leaf nodes is set. Further, an order is defined for the images of the leaf nodes so that the image can be successively fed between the leaf nodes. When the display is switched from a link area "b1" of the image 154b of the internal node to an image "b1" of a leaf node and the display is to return to the internal node after the images are successively fed to progress to an image of "c1," the area "c1" from within the image 154c is displayed.