Image Processing Device for Portable Terminals Using Region Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-resolution images such as detailed map data or high-definition TV broadcasts are difficult to view smoothly on portable terminals due to limitations in communication speed and storage capacity, leading to inadequate user operability and convenience.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device and method that calculates characteristic amounts of image regions, divides the image into partial regions of varying sizes, decides a display order based on these amounts, sets link regions for associated Web pages, and transmits relevant data to automatically display and link to interested image areas without user direct operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high-resolution image data is transmitted to portable terminals, then image quality is improved, but communication bandwidth and storage capacity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddata amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a large high-resolution image into multiple smaller tile images. Each tile can be independently transmitted and stored, reducing the memory burden on portable terminals. The image processing server manages these segmented tiles, allowing clients to request only the specific tiles they need rather than transmitting the entire high-resolution image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and transmits only the specific tile images that are currently needed for display, rather than transmitting the complete high-resolution image. The system predicts which tiles will be needed based on user behavior patterns and transmits those in advance, while leaving other tiles on the server until they are actually required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If all image data is transmitted in advance, then user convenience is improved, but communication bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting which image tiles the user will need next based on their current position and behavior patterns. These predicted tiles are transmitted and cached in advance, so when the user actually needs them, they are already available locally, providing seamless user experience without requiring continuous bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically predicting user needs and pre-loading appropriate image tiles without requiring explicit user requests. The prediction algorithm continuously learns from user behavior patterns to improve its accuracy, allowing the system to serve itself in anticipating and fulfilling user information needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If image tiles are predicted and transmitted in advance, then user convenience is improved, but prediction accuracy requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidprediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by transmitting only a subset of predicted tiles - specifically those with high probability of being needed - rather than attempting to predict and transmit all possible tiles. This approach balances prediction accuracy requirements with practical bandwidth constraints, focusing computational resources on the most likely candidate tiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring actual user behavior against predicted behavior patterns. This feedback is used to refine and improve the prediction algorithm over time, increasing prediction accuracy through iterative learning from real user interactions with the image data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2495663B1Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program
Publication Date: 2016.02.17 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP2495663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2495663B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2495663B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide an image processing device, an image processing method and an image processing program for achieving user convenience in a terminal. The characteristic amount of a region in an image 40 is calculated, the image is divided into a plurality of partial regions at least one of which has a different size on the basis of the characteristic amount thereby to acquire divided images (S1), a display order of the divided images is decided based on the characteristic amount of each of the divided images (S4) and a link region for linking to a predetermined Web page is set in association with the divided image (S6).