Metadata-Based Photo Animation Storage Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack the ability to seamlessly integrate metadata-based photo and video animation across devices, particularly in scenarios where devices may not support animation, leading to inconsistent user experiences and inefficient storage management.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that associates metadata with primary images, allowing devices to access and display image sequences for animation, while falling back to static images for non-supporting devices, and includes features for automatic deletion of animations to manage storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If image sequences are stored for all contacts to enable animation on capable devices, then user experience is improved for capable devices, but storage space is wasted on devices that do not support animation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanimation supportVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary capability detection during device boot-up or contact synchronization, identifying which devices support animation before storing image sequences. This allows the system to proactively avoid storing animation data for incapable devices, preventing storage waste before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where devices report their animation capability status to the server. The server uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust storage decisions, only storing image sequences for devices that have confirmed animation support, thereby optimizing storage space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system stores both primary images and image sequences for all contacts, then animation can be provided on capable devices, but storage efficiency decreases and management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-device compatibilityVSAvoidstorage management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores only the essential primary image for all contacts, while selectively storing image sequences only for capable devices. This separation allows the system to maintain a core image set for universal compatibility while adding animation capability where needed, reducing overall storage management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact image data is segmented into two distinct components: primary images (stored for all contacts) and image sequences (stored only for capable devices). This segmentation allows independent management of each component type, simplifying the overall storage architecture and making it easier to manage different data types with different retention requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If image sequences are automatically deleted after a period of time, then storage space is optimized, but user experience may be degraded if animations are deleted before expected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidanimation persistence
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic cleanup operations that automatically delete image sequences after a predetermined time period. This periodic action optimizes storage space by removing old animation data while maintaining a rotation of recent animations, balancing storage efficiency with user experience through time-based lifecycle management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3565241B1Metadata-based photo and/or video animation
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3565241B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3565241B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3565241B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Techniques are described herein that are capable of providing metadata-based photo and/or video animation. For instance, multiple images (e.g., still images) of a scene may be combined into an image sequence. An image may be selected from the multiple images to represent the scene. Such an image may be referred to as a primary image. Metadata may be associated with the primary image. The metadata may include a reference to the image sequence.