Networked Device Data Acquisition Status Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems face challenges in alleviating user stress due to slow metadata and image data acquisition from multiple network-connected devices, particularly when transfer speeds are low, leading to incomplete data displays and unclear acquisition statuses.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that acquires and displays metadata and image data from multiple peripheral devices, with a display control unit showing acquisition status, device images, and metadata association, along with system resource management for prioritizing data acquisition based on device and image data specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If thumbnails are displayed in advance to reduce user stress, then user stress is reduced, but display time is extended because thumbnail acquisition is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data display process into two stages: first displaying only metadata (file names, basic information) quickly, then progressively adding thumbnail images as they are acquired. This segmentation allows the system to provide immediate feedback to users with metadata while asynchronously loading the more time-consuming thumbnail images, thereby reducing user stress without significantly extending the initial display time.
2Speed
If the number of displayed data items is reduced to match transfer speed, then response speed becomes manageable, but data completeness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic display approach where the number of displayed data items is not fixed but adapts based on the actual transfer speed and acquisition status. The system continuously monitors the loading progress of thumbnails and dynamically adjusts the display to show all available metadata items while progressively revealing thumbnails as they become available, thus maintaining manageable response speeds while maximizing data completeness over time.
3Ease of operation
If processing progress is displayed to alleviate user stress, then user stress is reduced, but it does not explicitly show which devices data is being acquired from
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces device images as visual intermediaries that represent the peripheral devices from which data is being acquired. These device images are displayed alongside or near the metadata and thumbnail information, serving as a visual mediator that connects the user to the source devices. This allows the system to provide comprehensive processing progress information while explicitly identifying the source devices, thereby maintaining user stress reduction benefits without losing device identification information.
4Quantity of substance
If all contents data is displayed regardless of transfer speed, then data completeness is maintained, but response speed becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first displaying all metadata information immediately without waiting for thumbnail acquisition. This preliminary display of complete metadata provides users with immediate access to all data items' basic information, ensuring data completeness in terms of item count. Meanwhile, the system continues to acquire and load thumbnails in the background, so the complete set of data becomes available progressively without blocking the initial display, thus maintaining both data completeness and predictable response speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus that can alleviate the stress of a user by clearly showing the acquisition status of contents data that is held by a peripheral device in a situation in which a plurality of devices are connected by a network. Contents data including metadata and image data that are held in the peripheral devices is acquired. A list of at least one of device data that represent the peripheral devices, the metadata, and the image data is displayed on the display unit in accordance with a stage of acquisition of the contents data by the contents data acquiring unit.