Mobile Image Relay via Intermediary Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras face challenges with limited battery life and storage capacity, making it difficult to connect to internet-based image storage services while mobile, especially when both battery power and memory are low, preventing reliable data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A method where image data from a mobile entity is transferred to a nearby third-party mobile entity for temporary storage, then relayed to a storage service via communications infrastructure, including checks for authenticity and registration, allowing for flexible data transfer even with low internal resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the digital camera connects directly to the storage service via communications infrastructure, then data transfer reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party mobile entity as an intermediary that receives image data from the first mobile entity and relays it to the storage service. This intermediary approach allows the first mobile entity to transfer data without directly connecting to the communications infrastructure, thereby reducing its battery power consumption while maintaining transfer reliability through the intermediary's network connection.
2Ease of operation
If the digital camera uses wireless connectivity to connect to storage service, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a third-party mobile entity as a mediator that handles the complex communication tasks. The first mobile entity only needs basic transfer capability to send data to the intermediary, while the intermediary manages the complex wireless connectivity and communications infrastructure connections, thereby reducing the complexity requirements of the first mobile entity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the digital camera transfers data directly to storage service, then transfer speed is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The third-party mobile entity serves as an energy-efficient intermediary that performs the energy-intensive tasks of establishing network connections and transmitting data over the communications infrastructure. This allows the first mobile entity to maintain lower energy consumption levels while achieving acceptable transfer speeds through the intermediary's optimized data relay capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Image data generated at a first mobile device is transferred to a storage service that is accessible via a communications infrastructure and with which a first party associated with the first mobile entity is preferably registered. This transfer is effected via one or more nearby third-party mobile devices with the first mobile device initially transferring the image data and an identifier of itself to the or each nearby third-party mobile device by using, for example, a short-range wireless link. The or each third-party device is then responsible for directly or indirectly forwarding the image data and the first-party identifier over the communications infrastructure to the storage service where it is stored. In one preferred embodiment, a reward is credited to any party whose device has been used in the successful transfer of image data to the storage service on behalf of the first party.