Portable Device Image Retrieval via Remote Indicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for processing images attached to emails are inefficient, requiring multiple actions to retrieve and display multiple images, leading to undue wear on portable electronic devices and inefficient use of computing resources.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for a portable electronic device to retrieve and display images stored on a remote server by using indicators to manage image processing, allowing seamless navigation through images without returning to the email or attachment list, and enabling automatic sequential display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If individual attachment retrieval is used to view multiple images, then each image can be viewed in detail, but the number of operations increases and device wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of viewing multiple imagesVSAvoidtime and operations required
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically retrieving and pre-processing multiple image attachments when the email is initially opened. The images are downloaded and prepared in advance, so when the user navigates through them, no additional retrieval operations are needed. This eliminates the repetitive select-retrieve-process cycle and reduces both time and device wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple select and retrieve commands are processed for each image, then complete image retrieval is achieved, but computing resources are inefficiently used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of image retrievalVSAvoidcomputing resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple separate retrieve operations into a single batch retrieval process. Instead of issuing individual select and retrieve commands for each image attachment, the system retrieves all image attachments simultaneously in one operation. This consolidates computing resource usage and eliminates the overhead of multiple command processing cycles while ensuring complete retrieval of all images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes continuity by maintaining an active image viewing session where multiple images are retrieved and displayed without interrupting the processing flow. Once the initial retrieval is complete, subsequent image displays continue seamlessly from the pre-loaded set, eliminating repeated start-stop cycles of selection and retrieval, thereby optimizing computing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If sequential image viewing requires returning to attachment list, then all images remain accessible, but navigation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of all imagesVSAvoidnavigation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the image viewing experience into distinct phases: an initial attachment list phase for selection, followed by a continuous viewing phase where multiple images are displayed sequentially. During the viewing phase, the system maintains direct access to all retrieved images without requiring return to the attachment list, effectively segmenting navigation complexity into manageable stages while preserving full image accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2346220B1Method and portable electronic device for processing images
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2346220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2346220B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2346220B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and portable electronic device for processing images are provided. Images are stored electronically at a remote server as attachments to message data, message data received at the portable electronic device with indicators identifying corresponding attachments to the message data. The portable electronic device comprises a processing unit interconnected with an input device, and a display device. First input data is received indicative that one of the indicators, corresponding to one of the images, has been selected, causing the image to be retrieved from the remote server. The received image is displayed at the display device. Second input data is received indicative that a next one of the images is to be displayed, the second input data received while the first retrieved images is displayed at the display device. The next images is then received from the remote server and processed to display it at the display device.