Image Map Processing for Mobile Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices face challenges in displaying images due to limited screen size, often requiring images to be reduced to an illegible state or separating image links from their graphical context, which confuses users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that extract and process image portions based on image maps, generating documents for display on mobile devices, modifying dimensions, and maintaining graphical context for links, using facial recognition and optical character recognition algorithms to specify extraction coordinates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the image is displayed at full size on a portable device, then the image quality is maintained, but the user must scroll to see some parts of the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large image into multiple smaller thumbnail images that can be displayed simultaneously on the portable device screen. Each thumbnail represents a portion of the original image, allowing users to view multiple sections without scrolling. The system extracts these portions based on image maps that define regions of interest.
2Ease of operation
If the image is reduced to fit the small screen, then viewing convenience is improved, but the image becomes illegible or unrecognizable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing the entire image to a small size, the patent segments the image into multiple thumbnail-sized portions. Each thumbnail maintains sufficient resolution for recognition while fitting within the limited screen real estate. This allows the display of multiple image sections without requiring the entire image to be shrunk to an illegible size.
3Device complexity
If image links are separated from the image and listed as textual links, then device complexity is reduced, but the user loses graphical context for selecting links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the graphical thumbnail images with their associated hyperlinks by making the thumbnails themselves clickable. The image map data associates each thumbnail portion with a specific link destination, allowing users to interact directly with the visual representation rather than separate textual links. This maintains graphical context while keeping the system relatively simple.
4Loss of information
If the entire image is transmitted to the portable device, then complete image information is provided, but the device memory and processing resources are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the necessary portions of the image (thumbnails) rather than the complete high-resolution image. The image map defines which portions to extract based on regions of interest or systematic division. This extraction process significantly reduces the data volume transmitted and stored on the portable device while maintaining the essential visual information needed for user interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method of processing an image for display on a mobile communication device includes extracting a portion of an image based on an image map. The image map relates to the portion of the image. The method also includes generating a document that comprises the extracted portion of the image and transmitting the generated document to a remote device for display. The method may also include assigning a selectable link to the extracted portion of the image and receiving a request from the remote device for an initial document having the image and image map. Additionally, the method may include storing in a database the generated document and transmitting the stored generated document in response to future requests for the initial document.