Chronological Image Sorting with Moving ID Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for displaying images, including those extracted from moving images, often result in undesired arrangements where still images captured during different scenes are intermixed, leading to confusion and difficulty in user selection, especially when imaging dates and times are not accurately synchronized.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that analyzes and sorts images based on their imaging dates and times, assigns unique IDs to images extracted from moving images, and displays them in a chronological order to prevent mixing of images from the same moving image, enhancing user visibility and selection usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If images are sorted and displayed according to shooting date and time, then chronological order is maintained, but images from the same moving image may be incorrectly separated and interleaved with other still images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechronological ordering accuracyVSAvoidimage source association
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sorting process into two distinct phases: primary sorting by shooting date/time and secondary sorting by moving image ID. This segmentation allows chronological ordering to be maintained while preventing interleaving of images from the same moving image, as all images with the same moving image ID are grouped together in the sorted sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a moving image ID as an intermediary sorting key that bridges the gap between chronological ordering and source association. By using the moving image ID as a secondary sort criterion, the system maintains temporal sequence while preserving the grouping of images from the same source, thus preventing information loss about image origins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If still images and moving image frames are mixed in display order, then all images are displayed, but user selection becomes difficult and visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay completenessVSAvoiduser selection ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display sequence by grouping images according to their moving image ID after chronological sorting. This creates distinct blocks of images from the same source, allowing users to easily identify and select images from specific moving images without confusion from interleaved content, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining complete display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If images from different imaging scenes are displayed together without distinction, then all captured content is shown, but coherence and recognizability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal image countVSAvoiddisplay coherence
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the heterogeneous collection of images into coherent groups based on moving image ID. This segmentation preserves the complete quantity of images while organizing them into stable, recognizable units that correspond to specific imaging scenes or sequences, thereby enhancing display coherence and recognizability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3467830B1Information processing method for displaying images, information processing apparatus, and program
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 CANON KK
  • EP3467830B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3467830B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3467830B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

First time information individually corresponding to a plurality of first images extracted from a designated moving image is assigned to the plurality of first images. The plurality of first images and a second image captured as a still image are individually displayed such that the plurality of first images are consecutively arranged irrespective of the first time information and second time information corresponding to the second image and the plurality of first images and the second image are arranged in order based on time information corresponding to the designated moving image and the second time information.