Image Management Server Storage Limit Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information processing systems face challenges in efficiently managing and storing data, particularly when using time-lapse image capturing services, as they often exceed storage limits, leading to the need for deleting images without user intervention, which can inconvenience users and hinder the adoption of time-lapse capturing functions.

Innovation Solution

The system implements a management server that manages communication between communication terminals and image capturing devices, utilizing external storage services to store and manage images, including a process for automatically deleting images when storage limits are reached, while allowing users to exclude specific images from deletion through an input screen interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If automatic deletion of images is implemented when storage limits are reached, then storage capacity is managed efficiently, but user convenience deteriorates due to unintended deletion of important images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between ordinary images and important images through user designation. Important images are marked with specific metadata or flags, creating localized quality differences that allow the system to treat different images differently during automatic deletion processes, thereby preserving user-important images while managing storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having users pre-designate certain images as important before the automatic deletion process occurs. This advance designation allows the system to automatically identify and protect these images when storage limits are reached, eliminating the need for user intervention during the deletion process while preventing unintended deletions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If automatic deletion process is implemented, then system automation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential deletion of images users want to keep

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem automationVSAvoidimage preservation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by having users pre-mark important images before automatic deletion is triggered. This advance designation creates a reliable identification mechanism that ensures the automated deletion process only removes non-important images, maintaining both high automation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by providing users with the ability to review and confirm image deletion through a display unit. The system shows information about images scheduled for deletion and allows users to confirm or cancel the deletion process, creating a feedback loop that ensures automated operations align with user intentions and maintains reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If user confirmation interface is added for deletion, then user control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by integrating the confirmation interface into the existing display unit of the image capturing device. The display unit serves multiple functions: showing captured images, displaying deletion confirmation information, and providing user feedback. This multi-functionality approach allows enhanced user control without adding separate complex confirmation hardware interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4125258B1Information processing device, information processing method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4125258B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4125258B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4125258B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing device (50) includes a setting unit (54) to set one or more images transmitted from an image capturing device (30) and stored in a storage unit (91, 90) as ones to be deleted from the storage unit (91, 90) in a case that a condition is satisfied, and set one of the one or more images as one to be excluded from the images to be deleted according to an operation received via an input screen displayed on a communication terminal (10) based on input screen information related to the input screen. The input screen is for inputting information for setting the one to be excluded from the images to be deleted. The information processing device (50) includes a transmission unit (51) to transmit, to the communication terminal (10), the input screen information.