Wireless Media Attachment to Electronic Documents

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching media captured by a mobile computing device to an electronic document are cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly when transferring files between devices, as they often require additional steps and do not allow for real-time capture and seamless integration.

Innovation Solution

Establishing a short-range wireless communication link between a computing device and a mobile computing device to provide a selectable option for attaching media items, allowing the mobile device to initiate a media capture mode and transmit the captured media item directly to the computing device for attachment to an electronic document, using Bluetooth or WiFi Direct for communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users use mobile computing devices to capture media items, then the ease of capturing media is improved, but the time required to transfer the media item to the computing device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of capturing mediaVSAvoidtime required to transfer media

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the media capture function and the document editing function into a single integrated workflow. The mobile computing device captures media items and automatically transfers them to the computing device, merging two separate operations (capture and transfer) into one seamless process. This eliminates the manual transfer step and reduces time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a wireless communication link between the mobile device and computing device before the media capture is needed. This preliminary connection setup allows for immediate transfer of captured media without delays associated with establishing connections during the transfer process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If users manually transfer captured media items to the computing device, then the media can be attached to the electronic document, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia attachment to documentVSAvoidcomplexity of file transfer process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic media transfer without requiring user intervention. After the mobile device captures a media item, it automatically transfers the file to the computing device through the established wireless connection, and the media is then automatically attached to the electronic document. This self-service mechanism eliminates complex manual transfer steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication link acts as an intermediary between the mobile computing device and the computing device. This intermediary channel enables seamless data transfer, abstracting away the complexity of file transfer protocols and authentication from the user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If users want to quickly attach media to electronic documents, then user efficiency is improved, but the integration between capture and document editing becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser efficiency in attaching mediaVSAvoidintegration complexity between capture and document

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the document editing platform and the media receiving endpoint. The system integrates document management and media handling capabilities into a single universal platform, allowing users to perform both document editing and media attachment without switching between separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback during the media attachment process. The computing device receives confirmation when media is successfully transferred and attached to the document, allowing users to verify the operation's success immediately. This feedback mechanism streamlines the workflow by eliminating uncertainty about whether the attachment was successful.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10574726B2Techniques for attaching media captured by a mobile computing device to an electronic document

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A computer-implemented technique can include establishing, between a computing device and a mobile computing device, a short-range wireless communication link. In response to establishing the communication link, the computing device can provide a selectable option for a user to attach a media item to an electronic document accessed by the computing device. In response to a user selection of the selectable option, the computing device can transmit, to the mobile computing device via the communication link, a command, wherein receipt of the command causes the mobile computing device to initiate a media capture mode. The computing device can then receive, from the mobile computing device via the communication link, the captured media item and, in response to receiving the captured media item, the computing device can attach the captured media item to the electronic document.