Multi-camera Image Capture with Segmented Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic devices with multiple cameras often struggle to choose the best camera for capturing an image, as they may not know which camera is most suitable for the scene, and even experts may not have time to select the ideal camera.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving a user command to capture an image using a selected camera, while simultaneously capturing a second image using one or more other cameras. The first image is stored internally, while the second image is sent to external storage for backup, allowing users to access alternative images if needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cameras are used to capture images, then the quality and variety of captured images are improved, but the storage space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two segments: internal storage for the primary selected image and external storage for alternative images from non-selected cameras. This segmentation allows the device to maintain multiple image copies without overwhelming the internal storage capacity, resolving the contradiction between image quality reliability and storage space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts alternative images from the main storage flow by directing them specifically to external storage rather than internal storage. This extraction mechanism ensures that internal storage is conserved for primary images while still capturing and preserving alternative images externally, thus maintaining image quality options without proportionally increasing internal storage requirements.
2Speed
If alternative images are stored internally, then user access speed is improved, but internal storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces external storage as an intermediary for storing alternative images, rather than placing them directly in internal storage. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain fast access to primary images in internal storage while still providing access to alternative images through the external storage interface, balancing access speed with storage capacity preservation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method carried out by an electronic device (100) which comprises a plurality of cameras (101) is provided. A user command to capture an image using a selected one of the plurality of cameras (101a) is received (S210) at the electronic device (100). In response to receiving said user command, a first image is captured (S221) using the selected camera (101a) and at least one second image is captured (S222) using at least one other, non-selected, camera (101b, 101c, 101d). The first image is stored (S231) to a data storage (102) internal to the electronic device (100), and the at least one second image is sent (S232) to a data storage (300) external of the electronic device (100) for storage at said external storage (300).