Reference Point Designation in Time-Axis Image Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in designating a reference point on a display area when changing the display range, especially when an image is overlaid, as the underlying display area is obscured, making it hard to accurately move a mouse cursor to the desired point.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a display unit showing images on a time axis based on photo shooting time, a designation unit for user operation, and a changing unit that adjusts the display range using either the image's photo shooting time or the corresponding time axis as a reference, allowing easy point designation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an image is displayed on the display area, then the image visibility is improved, but the underlying display area becomes hidden making it difficult to designate a reference point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporary reference point marker as an intermediary element that appears when the user hovers over the display area. This marker serves as a mediator between the user's mouse cursor and the actual reference point location, allowing users to accurately designate reference points even when images obscure the underlying display area. The marker provides visual feedback without requiring the user to see the actual reference point location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes and visual transformations of the reference point marker to indicate different states. When the user hovers over the display area, a marker appears with specific visual characteristics that change based on the underlying content (image or time axis). These visual changes help users understand what they are designating without needing to see the actual reference point location beneath the image.
2Measurement precision
If the display range is changed using the image's photo shooting time as reference, then the reference point accuracy is improved, but the user loses control over the exact position designation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic reference designation system that adapts based on user interaction. When the user hovers over the display area, the system dynamically determines whether to use the image's photo shooting time or the time axis position as the reference, depending on what the mouse cursor is over. This dynamic behavior allows the system to switch between automatic reference (photo shooting time) and manual reference (time axis position) based on real-time user intent, maintaining both precision and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reference parameter based on the user's cursor position and interaction state. If the cursor is over an image, the reference parameter becomes the image's photo shooting time; if the cursor is over the time axis, the reference parameter becomes the time axis position. This parameter switching mechanism allows the system to maintain high reference accuracy while preserving user control over the exact position designation through intuitive interaction.
3Ease of operation
If the display range is changed using the time axis position as reference, then the user control is improved, but the reference accuracy decreases when images are present
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two reference modes based on real-time user interaction. When the user hovers over an image, the system automatically uses the image's photo shooting time as the reference to ensure high accuracy. When the user hovers over the time axis, the system uses the time axis position as the reference to maintain user control. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the reference method to the current interaction context.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference parameter is changed based on the underlying element at the cursor position. The system detects whether the cursor is over an image or the time axis and switches the reference parameter accordingly - using photo shooting time for images and time axis position for the time axis. This parameter adaptation maintains both user control and reference accuracy by selecting the appropriate reference source for each interaction scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
One of the aspects of the disclosure is directed to displaying an image according to attribute information thereof in a display area having a time axis based on an item of predetermined attribute information, and when changing a display range on the time axis, allowing a user to easily designate a point to be a reference thereof. An information processing apparatus according to the present invention displays an image in the display area having the time axis according to date and time information of the image. The information processing apparatus moves a mouse cursor on the display area according to a user's operation, and sets a reference after the display range is changed.