Communication Management for Multi-Camera Viewing Without Manual Conflicts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require users to individually operate multiple image capturing devices to view a specific area, leading to conflicts and difficulty in providing exclusive viewing of different portions for multiple users.

Innovation Solution

An image communication system that allows users to intuitively select and view predetermined areas within spherical images captured by multiple devices, using a communication management apparatus to manage and distribute images across a network, enabling seamless viewing of diverse portions without manual device operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple image capturing devices are individually operated to view specific areas, then users can access different portions of the distributed site, but operational conflicts arise and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to different portionsVSAvoidoperational conflicts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management apparatus serves as an intermediary between multiple image capturing devices and users. It receives requests from communication terminals, determines target areas, and controls the corresponding image capturing devices automatically. This mediator eliminates direct user-device interaction conflicts while enabling access to different portions of the distributed site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the communication management apparatus automatically selects and controls image capturing devices based on user requests. The apparatus determines which device should capture which area without requiring users to manually operate multiple devices, thereby eliminating operational conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple image capturing devices are individually operated to view specific areas, then users can access different portions of the distributed site, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to different portionsVSAvoidmultiple devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management apparatus merges the control functions of multiple image capturing devices into a single centralized system. Instead of requiring users to operate multiple devices independently, the apparatus consolidates device management and automatically selects appropriate devices based on user requests, thereby reducing perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication management apparatus serves multiple functions: receiving user requests, determining target areas, selecting appropriate image capturing devices, and controlling their operation. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for users to directly manage multiple specialized devices, reducing overall system complexity from the user's perspective.

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

3Ease of operation

If users manually operate image capturing devices, then they can view specific areas, but real-time distribution and exclusive viewing for multiple users becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual operationVSAvoidreal-time distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication management apparatus implements a feedback loop where user requests are received, processed, and translated into device control commands. The system continuously monitors and adjusts device operation based on real-time requests, enabling fast and reliable real-time distribution of image data to multiple users without requiring manual device operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The communication management apparatus performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the relationship between users, communication terminals, and image capturing devices. When a user requests to view a specific area, the apparatus has already determined which device should capture which area, enabling immediate real-time distribution without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3979631B1Communication management apparatus, image communication system, communication management method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3979631B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3979631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979631B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A communication management apparatus (50) for communicating with a communication terminal (70) configured to display images captured by a plurality of image capturing devices, includes receiving means (51) for receiving, from the communication terminal, predetermined-position information indicating a predetermined position in an area where the plurality of image capturing devices are provided and number-of-division information indicating the number of divisions for dividing the area from the predetermined position; and transmitting means (51) for transmitting, to the communication terminal, first predetermined-area information indicating a predetermined area including the predetermined position in an image captured by a first image capturing device among the plurality of image capturing devices, and second predetermined-area information indicating a predetermined area including the predetermined position in an image captured by a second image capturing device among the plurality of image capturing devices. The first image capturing device is arranged at a shortest distance from the predetermined position corresponding to the predetermined-position information. The second image capturing device being arranged such that an angle between the second image capturing device and the first image capturing device is closest to an angle obtained by dividing the area in accordance with the number of divisions indicated by the number-of-division information. An image communication system including the communication management apparatus, a communication management method, and carrier means are provided.