Automatic Image Source Switching for Continuous Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing devices often require user intervention to switch images when communication connections between remote controllers and imaging devices are disconnected, leading to potential interruptions in image display.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device that automatically switches images from one imaging device to another based on stored display history, ensuring continuous image display without user manipulation by identifying and connecting to the last active or most stable imaging device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual switching operation is implemented, then user control over image selection is improved, but operation complexity and user intervention requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects connection status changes and switches image sources without requiring user intervention. The control device monitors communication connections between imaging devices and autonomously selects alternative devices when connections are lost, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating manual switching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes multiple imaging device connections and maintains a ready list of alternative devices. When a connection is lost, the switch to a pre-identified alternative device occurs immediately without requiring user decision-making or manual intervention, thus simplifying operation while maintaining control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If automatic switching is implemented, then user intervention is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic switchingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors communication connection status between imaging devices and receives feedback when connections are established or lost. Based on this real-time feedback, the system automatically detects connection failures and triggers switching to alternative devices, implementing automation through a simple feedback-driven mechanism rather than complex autonomous decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs multiple functions: it manages communication with multiple imaging devices, monitors connection status, selects active devices, and executes switching operations. By consolidating these functions in a single control device, the system achieves automatic switching without distributing complexity across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple imaging devices are connected, then image display continuity is improved, but communication management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage display continuityVSAvoidcommunication management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the imaging device management into independent individual device connections, each with its own communication channel and status monitoring. This allows the control device to manage multiple devices separately and switch between them based on individual connection status, maintaining reliability while simplifying communication management through modular independence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device pre-establishes communication connections with multiple imaging devices before operation begins. This preliminary setup creates a ready pool of alternative devices, so when a connection is lost, the system can immediately switch to a pre-connected alternative without requiring complex real-time connection establishment or management during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3039862B1Information processing device, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3039862B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3039862B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3039862B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The embodiments describe an information processing device, which is connected to a plurality of imaging devices and a method for receiving images by the information processing device. The imaging devices have a first imaging device and a second imaging device. The method includes displaying a first image captured by the first imaging device and switching, at a time that the first image is not received by the information processing device, to a second image captured by the second imaging device.