OS Registry Mediator for Multi-App Camera Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses face restrictions where only one application can access and use the camera functions at a time, preventing simultaneous access and usage by multiple applications due to operating system limitations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a processor that supplies imaging data to one application and performs image processing, allowing setting parameters from another application to be passed through the operating system's registry for image quality adjustment, enabling multiple applications to access and use camera functions simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the camera functions are occupied by one application, then the image quality can be adjusted by another application, but the other application fails to access the camera functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the camera function access into two independent parts: imaging data acquisition (supplied to one application) and image processing (controlled by another application through registry parameters). This segmentation allows multiple applications to access different aspects of camera functionality simultaneously without conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the operating system registry as an intermediary mechanism that enables the second application to pass image processing parameters to the camera function without directly accessing the imaging data stream. This intermediary resolves the conflict by providing an indirect control path that doesn't interfere with the primary application's exclusive access to imaging data.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications access camera functions simultaneously, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the operating system restrictions prevent this access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera system multi-functional by allowing it to serve both imaging data acquisition (for one application) and image processing parameter control (for another application) simultaneously. The same camera infrastructure supports multiple access modes without requiring separate hardware or complex access control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the camera functions are exclusively allocated to one application, then the access control is simple, but the image quality adjustment by another application becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The registry serves as an intermediary that enables the second application to adjust image quality parameters without directly accessing or interfering with the camera's imaging data stream. This intermediary mechanism maintains the simplicity of exclusive access control while enabling quality adjustment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables image quality adjustment by allowing the second application to modify parameters (such as brightness, contrast, color settings) through the registry, which then affects the image processing pipeline. This parameter-based control allows quality adjustment without requiring direct access to the imaging data stream.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes: a memory that temporarily stores a program of operating system (OS); and a processor capable of supplying imaging data captured by an imaging unit based on the program of OS to only one of applications running on the OS, and of performing image processing on the imaging data based on an image processing program running on the OS. The processor is configured to when the imaging data is supplied to a first application, pass setting parameters used for the image processing from a second application other than the first application to the image processing via a registry of the OS.