Screen Capture Metadata Embedding for Source Environment Reproduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current screenshot technologies do not allow users to easily access the original resource or environment represented in a screen capture image, as they lack metadata that would enable reproduction of the source state, leading to tedious manual searches or broken links due to asynchronous website operations.
Innovation Solution
Embedding metadata such as resource location, resource navigation, and positional metadata into screen capture images allows users to reproduce the original source environment, enabling direct access to the resource represented in the image by extracting and using this metadata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screenshot is captured and shared as an image, then the user can quickly share visual information, but the recipient cannot access the original resource or reproduce the source environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds metadata (including resource location, navigation, and positional information) within the screenshot image itself, creating a nested structure where the image contains both visual content and embedded data. This allows the recipient to extract and use the embedded metadata to reproduce the source environment while maintaining the simplicity of image sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing metadata (resource location, navigation path, positional information) at the moment of screenshot creation. This preliminary capture of environmental context ensures that when the screenshot is shared, the source environment information is already preserved and embedded, eliminating the need for manual information gathering later.
2Ease of operation
If a URL link is provided instead of a screenshot, then the recipient can access the resource, but the link may not match the actual content due to asynchronous operations on websites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the complete navigation path and positional metadata at the moment of screenshot creation, before any asynchronous operations can alter the website state. This preliminary capture of the exact navigation sequence ensures that the embedded metadata reliably points to the specific content state shown in the screenshot, even if the website changes later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic metadata that captures the navigation path and positional information as variables that can adapt to website changes. Rather than relying on a static URL that may become outdated, the embedded metadata includes dynamic elements like navigation sequences and scroll positions that can reproduce the exact source environment state even if the website structure changes.
3Reliability
If manual searching is required to locate the resource, then the recipient can find the resource, but the process is tedious and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically capturing and embedding the complete navigation path, resource location, and positional metadata at screenshot creation. This eliminates the need for manual searching, as the recipient can directly use the embedded metadata to reproduce the source environment and access the resource immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by embedding all necessary location and navigation information within the screenshot itself. The recipient's device can automatically extract and use this embedded metadata to locate and reproduce the source environment without requiring manual intervention or searching, making the system self-sufficient.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for facilitating access to a resource represented in an image at a later time. A screen capture of an image displayed on a computing device is implemented. Metadata, including the resource location, resource navigation and positional metadata, regarding the source data of the screen capture image is generated. The generated metadata is then embedded into the screen capture image. The screen capture image with the embedded metadata is then transmitted to a different user. By embedding the metadata into the screen capture image, the user receiving the screen capture image will be able to reproduce the state of the source environment when the image was captured using the embedded metadata thereby opening the resource represented in the image.