Mobile Geotagging Device Synchronizes Timing for EXIF Metadata
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras lack the capability to integrate location information into image and video metadata, necessitating a cost-effective solution for appending geolocation and timing data to digital files.
Innovation Solution
A mobile geotagging device with a processor, geolocation module, and display module that synchronizes timing with a digital camera, tracks geolocation and timing information, and appends this data to image and video files using a mobile geotagging application, enabling the integration of location and time information into EXIF metadata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a GPS module is added to a conventional digital camera to determine location, then location information can be integrated into image metadata, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the GPS functionality from the camera system and places it in a separate mobile device. The camera only captures images while the mobile device independently tracks location data, then combines them during post-processing. This separation eliminates the need for GPS hardware in the camera while still achieving geotagging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the camera and the geotagging process. It receives images from the camera, independently determines location information through its own GPS module, and appends this data to the image metadata. This intermediary approach allows the camera to remain simple while still producing geotagged images.
2Measurement precision
If timing synchronization between camera and mobile device is implemented, then accurate geotagging is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements timing synchronization in advance by having the mobile device generate a time-coded image that the camera captures. This preliminary action establishes a reference time point before actual image capture begins, allowing the system to calculate time differences and synchronize timing without complex real-time synchronization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the time-coded image to determine the time difference between the camera and mobile device clocks. This feedback mechanism allows automatic timing correction and synchronization, achieving accurate geotagging without requiring complex manual synchronization procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of present disclosure relates to a mobile geotagging device, a mobile geotagging system, and methods of mobile geotagging system. In certain embodiments, mobile geotagging device includes: a display screen, a processor, and a non-volatile storage device storing a mobile geotagging application. When executed by processor, mobile geotagging application causes the processor to: generate a time-coded image containing an initial starting point of time, track timing and geolocation information of mobile geotagging device while a digital camera is in use, and store tracked timing and geolocation data, receive a set of images and videos from digital camera, append timing and geolocation information in EXIF into corresponding image files and video files based on a timing difference between digital camera and mobile geotagging device and tracked timing and geolocation information data stored in geolocation/timing tracking storage, and store the images and videos having updated timing and geolocation information in image/video storage.