Picture File Search Using Location and Direction Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for managing and sharing content from electronic devices, such as digital cameras, are inefficient in searching for pictures that capture a specific subject, as they require identifying all pictures taken at a specific location rather than just the subject itself.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for providing picture files that allow users to easily search and display pictures based on the location and direction of a subject, using a system that includes a controller to search for and display picture files with location and direction information, which can be stored on a computer-readable medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users search for pictures taken at a specific location using existing technology, then they can find pictures at that location, but they cannot efficiently identify pictures that captured a specific subject
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments picture search into two independent dimensions: location information and subject direction information. By storing and querying these separate attributes, the system can efficiently search for pictures based on specific criteria without requiring users to manually identify all pictures at a location, thus resolving the contradiction between search efficiency and subject identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces direction information as an intermediary parameter between location data and subject identification. This intermediary enables the system to bridge the gap between geographic location and visual content, allowing users to find pictures of specific subjects by searching for pictures taken in a certain direction at a location, thereby improving both search efficiency and identification accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores detailed location and direction information for each picture, then picture search capability is improved, but data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential search-related information (location coordinates and direction angles) from complete picture metadata, storing only what is necessary for efficient searching. This selective extraction maintains versatile search capability while minimizing data storage requirements by excluding redundant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms complex picture information into simplified parametric representations (latitude, longitude, azimuth, altitude) that are compact yet highly versatile for various search operations. This parameter transformation enables efficient searching while reducing storage burden compared to storing complete picture metadata.
3Ease of operation
If the system displays direction information for each picture, then users can easily identify subject direction, but screen display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring users to mentally rotate or interpret picture orientations, the patent inverts the approach by directly displaying direction information (such as arrows or angular indicators) overlaid on the pictures. This inversion makes subject direction immediately visible and intuitive, greatly improving ease of operation while the display complexity is managed through standardized graphical representations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for providing a picture file are provided. The picture file providing apparatus includes a controller which searches for one or more picture files based on a location of a subject, and a screen display unit which forms a display screen to display the one or more picture files that were found, in order to provide a user with the direction information included in each picture file. Each picture file includes picture data, information on a location in which the picture data was created, and information on a direction of a captured image of a subject included in the picture data.