Image Processing Apparatus Thumbnail Display Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing volume of digital image data makes it difficult for users to manage and search for specific images, leading to long search times and forgotten content due to the complexity of managing large datasets.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that includes a user interface for displaying and classifying image data based on attribute information, providing features like list displays, slide shows, and album editing, which utilizes an image analyzing unit to extract metadata and classify images, and a display control unit to manage and present thumbnail images effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large amount of digital image data is stored in a recording apparatus, then the capacity to store images is improved, but the time required to search for specific images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates thumbnails and extracts attribute information from images during the storage process, before the user needs to search. This preliminary organization of data into manageable formats with metadata enables rapid retrieval without requiring users to manually examine each image, thus resolving the contradiction between storing large quantities of images and maintaining fast search capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates thumbnail copies of original images, which are smaller in size and faster to process and display. These thumbnail copies serve as proxies for the full-resolution images, allowing users to browse and search through large collections efficiently while maintaining the ability to access original images when needed
2Quantity of substance
If the number of image data stored in a recording apparatus increases, then the storage capacity utilization is improved, but the difficulty of managing image data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates thumbnail copies of original images, which are smaller in size and faster to process and display. These thumbnail copies serve as proxies for the full-resolution images, allowing users to browse and search through large collections efficiently while maintaining the ability to access original images when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces attribute information (metadata) as an intermediary layer between the user and the image data. This metadata includes extracted features such as objects, scenes, and other characteristics that enable intelligent classification and filtering, making it easier to manage and retrieve images without requiring users to directly handle or remember details of each image
3Productivity
If digital image data are taken frequently, then the productivity of image acquisition is improved, but the complexity of managing the increasing volume of data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic thumbnail generation and attribute extraction without requiring user intervention. The image processing apparatus autonomously organizes incoming images by generating thumbnails and extracting metadata, which reduces the management burden on users and allows them to continue acquiring images at high rates without being overwhelmed by organizational tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically generates thumbnails and extracts attribute information from images during the storage process, before the user needs to search. This preliminary organization of data into manageable formats with metadata enables rapid retrieval without requiring users to manually examine each image, thus resolving the contradiction between storing large quantities of images and maintaining fast search capability
Data Source
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AI summary
A first display control unit configured to display in a first display region a list of thumbnail images of image data. A direction receiving unit (800) configured to acquire a selection by a user for the image data. A second display control unit configured to display a list of thumbnail images of image data that have been selected by the user in a second display region, which is displayed simultaneously with but in a different region from the first display region where the thumbnail images to be displayed by the first display control unit are displayed. The first display control unit acquires the selection by the user from the direction receiving unit (800) and displays the thumbnail images of the image data that have been selected by the user and thumbnail images of the image data that have not been selected by the user, in different display modes.