Image Processing Apparatus for Automated Photo Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

In facilities like theme parks, the increasing number of images captured by multiple cameras makes it difficult for visitors to find desired images, increasing the effort required to locate and purchase preferred photos.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that obtains a reference image from a visitor, extracts images from a storage unit containing images from multiple cameras, and displays the extracted images on a terminal, using identification information from wireless communication devices or electronic tags to associate and filter images based on positional and temporal criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the number of captured images is increased to provide more images visitors want to purchase, then the variety and quality of available images is improved, but the effort required for visitors to find desired images increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of captured imagesVSAvoideffort to find desired image

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically extracts images containing specific persons without requiring manual search or selection by visitors. The extraction unit autonomously identifies and selects relevant images based on person recognition, allowing the system to serve itself rather than relying on visitor effort to navigate through numerous images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of visitors browsing and searching through images is replaced by an automated information processing system using image recognition and person matching technology. The extraction unit automatically identifies images containing target persons, substituting the manual search mechanism with automated computational processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual browsing through all captured images is required, then no additional processing is needed, but the time and effort required for visitors to locate desired images increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidtime to locate desired image

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary extraction of relevant images before visitors need to view them. The extraction unit pre-identifies and prepares images containing specific persons, so that when visitors want to purchase images, the relevant ones are already selected and ready for display, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual browsing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the specific images containing target persons from the large set of all captured images. This extraction process separates the relevant information (images with specific persons) from the irrelevant majority, allowing visitors to directly access desired images without wading through unrelated content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12200352B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 NEC CORP

AI summary

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus (10) including: an obtainment unit (12) which obtains a reference image; an extraction unit (13) which extracts, from a storage unit (11) which stores a provision image generated by a plurality of provision-image generation cameras installed in a facility, the provision image including a person included in the reference image; and a display control unit (14) which causes a display to display the provision image extracted by the extraction unit (13).