Image Processing Apparatus for Composite Image Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies face challenges in creating composite images using uploaded images from social networks, as processed images often lack supplementary information, leading to degraded image quality and improper layout, which can diminish the value of composite products like photo books.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that determines whether candidate images are original or processed, prioritizes original images over processed ones based on supplementary information and processing degree, and selectively uses processed images when original images fall below a threshold, ensuring suitable image selection for composite creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If processed images are used to create composite images, then the variety of available images increases, but image quality and design consistency deteriorate due to missing supplementary information and processing artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image selection process into distinct stages: candidate image acquisition, processed image determination, image count determination, and use image determination. This segmentation allows the system to handle original and processed images differently, ensuring high-quality original images are prioritized while still allowing processed images to be used when necessary, thus resolving the contradiction between image availability and quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of image selection criteria by introducing a threshold-based mechanism. When the number of original images meets the threshold, only original images are selected; when it falls below the threshold, processed images are permitted. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the selection strictness based on image availability
2Quantity of substance
If processed images are used in photo books, then more images can be included, but the value of the photo book degrades due to mismatching with design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of whether candidate images are processed images before creating the composite image. By identifying processed images in advance and comparing their count against a threshold, the system can make informed decisions about image selection, ensuring that photo books maintain high value while still incorporating sufficient images
3Adaptability or versatility
If images with missing supplementary information are used, then image selection flexibility increases, but automatic layout and classification become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the processed image determination unit and threshold-based selection) that bridges the gap between images with and without supplementary information. This intermediary allows the system to handle diverse image sources flexibly while maintaining automated processing capabilities by using the presence/absence of processed image flags as a mediation criterion
Data Source
AI summary
The image processing apparatus includes a candidate image acquisition unit acquiring candidate images for use in creating a composite image, a processed image determination unit determining about whether candidate images are unprocessed original images or processed images, an image count determination unit determining about whether or not the number of original images included in the candidate images is equal to or greater than a threshold value set in advance based on the determination result by the processed image determination unit, and a use image determination unit which determines when the number of original images is equal to or greater than the threshold value, only the original images are used in creating the composite image and determines when the number of original images is less than the threshold value, the original images and the processed images are used in creating the composite image or stops the creation of the composite image.