In-Thread Image Editing With Supplemental Messaging Content

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing messaging applications require users to exit the application, edit images or videos locally, and then re-enter to send modified content, which is time-consuming and disruptive, discouraging the use of image and video modifying features during conversations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing electronic devices with cameras and processing circuitry that allow users to add supplemental content directly within the messaging application, enabling static, animated, or adaptive content to be added to images or video feeds without requiring local storage or exiting the app.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user captures an image and applies filters or effects using a third-party image editing application, then the image can be edited with various effects, but the user must leave the messaging application and manually share the edited image, which interrupts the messaging flow and reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of image editingVSAvoidtime to edit and share image
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the image editing functionality directly within the messaging application by integrating a camera application that provides filters and effects. This merging eliminates the need to switch between separate messaging and image editing applications, allowing users to edit images and share them within the same interface, thus reducing time loss and maintaining messaging flow continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera application integrated within the messaging system provides multiple functions including capturing images, applying filters, adding effects, and direct sharing to messaging threads. This multi-functional integration allows the system to handle both messaging and image editing tasks without requiring separate applications, improving operational efficiency

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user captures an image and stores it locally before editing, then the image can be edited offline, but this requires additional storage space and adds steps to the workflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoffline editing capabilityVSAvoidworkflow complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading or caching filter and effect data in the device's memory or storage before the user needs to edit an image. This allows the camera application to access and apply filters/effects immediately when capturing an image, eliminating the need for complex manual storage and retrieval operations while maintaining offline editing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the messaging application integrates camera and image editing features, then the user can edit and share images within the messaging thread, but this increases the complexity of the messaging application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of image sharingVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integrated system into distinct functional modules: a camera application module for capturing images and applying filters/effects, and a messaging application module for sharing content. These modules communicate through defined interfaces, allowing the messaging application to leverage camera functionality without monolithically increasing its own complexity, as each module can be developed and maintained independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4459951B1Modifying images with supplemental content for messaging
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 APPLE INC
  • EP4459951B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4459951B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4459951B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The subject technology provides a messaging application in which an image can be captured and supplemented with supplemental content such as stickers, animations, etc., from within an active messaging thread. In this manner, a user participating in a messaging conversation with a remote user can add stickers, animations, and/or adaptive content to an image captured by the user, without having to locally cache/store the captured image before editing and without having to leave the messaging conversion (or the messaging application) to access an image editing application.