Unified Media Interface for Exposure Compensation and Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user interfaces for managing media on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple key presses or keystrokes, leading to wasted user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of faster and more efficient methods and interfaces for managing media, including displaying a camera user interface with exposure compensation indicators and managing brightness to conserve battery life, allowing for time-efficient and input-efficient media capture and display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing user interfaces for managing media are used, then media capture and management functions are provided, but the interface becomes cumbersome and inefficient requiring multiple key presses or keystrokes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface efficiencyVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple media management functions (capture, store, edit, share) into a single integrated user interface that responds to minimal user input. The system merges camera interface display with media library navigation, allowing users to access and manage media without transitioning between separate applications or screens, thereby reducing the number of key presses required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - displaying camera preview, showing media library contents, enabling capture, and providing editing capabilities within a single unified interface. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate interfaces for each media management task, improving operational efficiency.

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

2Productivity

If existing media management techniques are used, then media can be captured and managed, but user time is wasted due to complex interfaces requiring multiple inputs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia management speedVSAvoiduser time consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares and displays media library contents and camera interface simultaneously in the background before user input is required. When the user provides minimal input, the system has already processed and ready the necessary information, eliminating delays associated with loading screens or sequential processing, thus reducing user time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the system to skip intermediate steps in the media management process by directly transitioning from camera capture to media library display or editing without requiring separate confirmation screens or additional navigation steps. This rushes through the media management workflow, significantly reducing the time users spend on each operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex user interfaces with multiple key presses are used, then comprehensive media management is achieved, but device energy is wasted particularly in battery-operated systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia management capabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By merging camera interface and media library functions into a single display interface, the system eliminates the need to activate separate applications or screens for each function. This reduces the cumulative power consumption that would result from repeatedly activating different software modules, thereby conserving battery power while maintaining comprehensive media management capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains the camera interface display continuously active while enabling media capture and library access functions within the same interface. This continuous operation avoids the energy spikes associated with repeatedly activating and deactivating different applications or screens, providing sustained media management capability with optimized power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4231655A1User interfaces for managing media-capture
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 APPLE INC

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces for managing exposure compensation when capturing media (e.g., an image, video), displaying representations of media (an image, video), and displaying a status indicator (e.g., status indicator indicating that media is and/or has been captured).