Variable Resolution Image Distribution with Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photo sharing systems inefficiently transmit high-resolution images, wasting bandwidth and storage resources as they send entire image sets regardless of the recipient's needs, as recipients may only require low-resolution images for viewing or small prints.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an image processor that creates low-resolution copies of images for distribution, accompanied by permission information specifying whether recipients can retrieve high-resolution copies, allowing access only when necessary, thus controlling the retrieval of high-resolution images based on user permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-resolution images are transmitted to all recipients, then image quality is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transmitting different resolution images to different recipients based on their specific needs and device capabilities. Each recipient receives an image quality appropriate to their local requirements rather than all receiving the same high-resolution images, thus optimizing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining necessary image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting only the necessary portion of image data to each recipient. Instead of sending complete high-resolution images to all users, the system sends partial image data (lower resolution) to recipients who don't require high quality, and only transmits full high-resolution images to authorized recipients who need them for printing or editing.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution images are transmitted to all recipients, then image quality is improved, but storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by storing and transmitting different resolution versions of images based on recipient requirements. Each recipient receives and stores only the image quality appropriate to their needs, reducing overall storage resource consumption while maintaining necessary image quality for each user's specific use case.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating multiple versions of images at different resolutions. The system generates thumbnail copies for general viewing and full-resolution copies for authorized users who need printing or editing capabilities, allowing efficient storage and retrieval based on specific requirements.
3Reliability
If permission information is embedded in the image file, then access control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges permission information directly into the image file structure itself, combining the image data and access control metadata into a single integrated file. This approach simplifies the system by eliminating the need for separate permission management systems, as the permission data travels with the image and can be processed locally by the receiving device.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processor receives an image. The image processor creates a low-resolution copy of the image for distribution to one or more recipients. Prior to distribution, the image processor produces permission information specifying whether a recipient is enabled to retrieve a high-resolution copy of the image. In addition to transmitting the low-resolution copy of the image to the recipient, the image processor forwards the permission information to the recipient as well. The recipient uses the permission information to determine whether the recipient is enabled to retrieve the high-resolution copy of the image. If enabled, the recipient can retrieve the high-resolution copy of the image. If disabled, the recipient cannot retrieve the high-resolution copy of the image. Accordingly, the permission information transmitted with the low-resolution copy can be used as a way of preventing or allowing access to the higher resolution copy of the image.