Automated Photo Calendar Design System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in managing and selecting images from large collections for creating image products like photo calendars and photobooks, as existing methods are time-consuming and require significant user effort.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that automatically analyzes, ranks, and clusters images, then designs image products such as photo calendars and photobooks without user intervention, using a computer system to group images by capture months and distribute them chronologically or based on adjacency, allowing for easy preview and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually select and organize images from large collections to create photo calendars, then image product design quality can be controlled, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic image selection, ranking, and organization without requiring user intervention. The computer system autonomously analyzes stored images, applies ranking criteria, clusters related images, and generates photo calendar designs, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous user input and manual arrangement of images
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (user manually selecting, dragging, and arranging images) with automated computational processes. The system uses computer-based image analysis, automatic ranking algorithms, and automated layout generation to substitute the mechanical user actions, significantly reducing the time and effort required for photo calendar creation
2Ease of operation
If users manually design photo calendars with multiple iterative steps including image selection, distribution, styling, and layout, then design customization is achieved, but the complexity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and automates the complex design tasks from the user's workflow. The system automatically performs image selection, clustering, ranking, and distribution to calendar pages, removing these complex operations from manual user execution. Users are left with simplified tasks of reviewing and approving the automatically generated design
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary design actions automatically before user review. Images are pre-selected, pre-ranked, pre-clustered, and pre-distributed to appropriate calendar months based on capture dates. Layouts and styles are pre-configured, so when users access the design interface, the majority of design work has already been completed in advance
3Productivity
If automatic image analysis and design is implemented without user requests, then user time and effort are reduced, but the system must determine when and what to create automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where users can review automatically generated photo calendar designs, provide corrections, suggest modifications, or request additional designs. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from user preferences and adjust its automatic design process, maintaining adaptability while preserving productivity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic system that can operate in multiple modes: fully automatic design generation, semi-automatic with user guidance, or manual design. The system adapts its level of automation based on user input, allowing flexibility in how users interact with the design process while maintaining the core benefit of reduced user effort
Data Source
AI summary
System and method are disclosed for creating a photo calendar. A computer storage medium stores images taken in a time period spanning a plurality of capture months. A computer processor automatically divides the images into groups based the capture months, distributes the images in one of the capture month to one or more calendar months according to an adjacency distribution function, and creates a design of a photo calendar comprising a plurality of calendar months and images distributed in the calendar months.