Electronic device and method for managing non-destructive editing contents

A method and a device are provided. The device includes a camera module, a communication module, a memory, and a processor operatively coupled to the camera module, the communication module, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to acquire a first content through the camera module or the communication module, generate a second content by editing the first content, based on a user input, store the acquired first content in a secure area of the memory, and store the second content including metadata corresponding to the second content and first content access information corresponding to the first content in a general area of the memory, and the first content access information associates the first content with the second content.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a U.S. National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of an International application number PCT/KR2021/011270, filed on Aug. 24, 2021, which is based on and claimed priority of a Korean patent application number 10-2020-0124525 filed on Sep. 25, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments disclose a method and a device for managing contents, wherein original contents and edited contents are separately stored such that non-destructive editing is possible.

BACKGROUND ART

An electronic device may capture images (or pictures) by using a camera module, and may modify the captured images (or images to be captured) by using a filter or a sticker. When edited contents to which the modifying (or editing) effect has been applied are to be re-edited, it may only be possible to add new effects to the edited contents, and the already-applied editing effect may not be removed. The electronic device provides a function such that original contents (which have not been edited) can be separated stored and can be re-edited based on the original contents (“non-destructive editing function”).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Conventional electronic devices store original contents and modified contents so as to have 1:1 matching. For this reason, if edited contents based on original contents are newly generated, original contents corresponding to the generated edited contents may also be newly generated. Original contents increase in proportion to edited contents and thus may unnecessarily occupy a large proportion of the storage space of the electronic devices. In addition, conventional electronic devices allow users to access original contents, which may then be leaked to the outside or may be damaged.

Various embodiments may disclose a method and a device wherein original contents are stored in a secure area of a memory, and edited contents including metadata, which is an edited version of the original contents, and original content access information are stored in a general area of the memory.

Solution to Problem

An electronic device according to various embodiments may include: a camera module; a communication module; a memory; and a processor operatively coupled to the camera module, the communication module, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to acquire a first content through the camera module or the communication module, generate a second content by editing the first content, based on a user input, and store the acquired first content in a secure area of the memory, and store the second content including metadata corresponding to the second content and first content access information corresponding to the first content in a general area of the memory, and wherein the first content access information associates the first content with the second content.

An operating method of an electronic device according to various embodiments may include: acquiring a first content through a camera module of the electronic device or a communication module of the electronic device; generating a second content by editing the first content, based on a user input; and storing the acquired first content in a secure area of a memory in the electronic device, and storing the second content including metadata corresponding to the second content and first content access information corresponding to the first content in a general area of the memory, wherein the first content access information associates the first content with the second content.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to various embodiments, one or more edited contents generated with reference to a single original content may be stored so as to match with the single original content, thereby minimizing the storage space occupied by images.

According to various embodiments, original contents may be stored in the secure area of a memory and managed such that the user cannot access the same, or such that the original contents can be accessed only by specific rights, thereby managing the original contents such that the same are not exposed to the outside, deleted, or deformed and damaged.

According to various embodiments, edited contents may be stored to be associated with original contents such that, if the original contents are missing or damaged, the edited contents may be used to restore (generate) the original contents. If the edited contents are missing or damaged, the original contents may be used to restore (generate) the original contents.

According to various embodiments, original contents may be stored in a server according to the user's choice such that, if the original contents are necessary, the same can be downloaded from the server and used.

According to various embodiments, original contents may be transmitted to another electronic device together with edited contents according to the user's choice such that the other electronic device can generate new edited contents by using the original contents, thereby facilitating non-destructive editing between different electronic devices.

According to various embodiments, metadata, which is an edited version of original contents, may be encrypted and stored, thereby protecting information regarding the edited contents.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment100according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG.2illustrates components included in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.2, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may include a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1), a camera module (e.g., the camera module180ofFIG.1), and a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1). The memory130may be divided into a secure area210and a general area220. The secure area210may correspond to a separately hidden storage space. The secure area210may be a storage space physically or logically separated from the general area220.

The processor120may store an original content in the secure area210of the memory130, and store an edited content including original content access information and metadata with respect to the original content in the general area220of the memory130. The original content may be a content photographed by the camera module180or a content received from an external device (e.g., the server108or the electronic device102ofFIG.1). The content (or multimedia content) may include at least one of text (or words), an image, audio, or a video. The edited content is a content obtained by applying an editing effect to the original content. For example, the editing effect may refer to text insertion, brightness, color, a filter, or a decoration effect such as a sticker. The processor120may encode the original content to store the original content in the secure area210, and encode the edited content to store the edited content in the general area220. The processor120may store the edited content by including an editable flag (e.g., true) in the edited content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may control such that a user cannot access the original content stored in the secure area210, or can access the original content only by specific authority, so that the processor may manage the original content to be prevented from being exposed to the outside or being damaged due to deletion or transformation. For example, the processor120may selectively allow access to the original content only when user authentication through a fingerprint sensor (e.g., the sensor module176ofFIG.1) is successful. Alternatively, the processor120may not allow any user access to the original content.

The original content access information may include at least one of an access path (e.g., a storage location) of the original content, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the original content. The processor120may generate a first hash key, based on the original content access information, associate the generated first hash key with the original content to store the first hash key in the secure area210, and associate the same first hash key with the edited content to store the first hash key in the general area220. The first hash key may be used for associating the original content with the edited content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may identify whether the original content is stored in the secure area210by using the first hash key stored together with the edited content, and if the original content is not stored, restore (or generate) the original content by using the metadata included in the edited content. If the original content is not stored, the processor120may decode the edited content stored in the general area220to extract metadata, and inversely apply the extracted metadata to the decoded edited content (e.g., an inverse function) to restore (or generate) the original content. If the original content is restored, the processor120may store the original content in the secure area210and generate original content access information (e.g., an access path of the original content) with respect to the original content, so as to update the original content access information stored together with the edited content in the general area220. When the original content access information is updated, the processor120may newly generate a first hash key, based on the original content access information, store the new generated first hash key in the secure area210together with the original content, and store the same first hash key in the general area220together with the edited content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may match and store one or more edited contents generated with reference to one original content, rather than one-to-one matching and storing an original content and an edited content. The processor120may store the edited content in association with the original content, so as to restore (generate) the original content by using the edited content or restore (generate) the edited content by using the original content.

For example, when there are a first edited content obtained by applying a first editing effect to the original content and a second edited content obtained by applying a second editing effect to the original content, the processor120may store, in the general area220, the first edited content including original content access information and first metadata (e.g., the first editing effect) with respect to the original content, and the second edited content including original content access information and second metadata (e.g., the second editing effect) with respect to the original content. According to various embodiments, even when there are a plurality of edited contents corresponding to one original content, there is only one original content and thus a storage space of the memory130can be minimized.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may allow a plurality of edited contents to correspond to one original content (for example, 1:n), so that the processor does not delete the original content even when one edited content is deleted, and deletes the original content when a configured condition (e.g., all edited contents are deleted) is satisfied, so as to efficiently manage the original content.

The metadata may include at least one of editing engine information (e.g., an editing effect) of the edited content, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content. The editing engine information may include at least one of an editing engine name, an editing engine type (e.g., general (public) or personal), or editing engine configuration information (e.g., editing information). The editing engine information may be stored in the general area220. The editing engine information included in the metadata may be stored in the general area220. The processor120may generate a second hash key, based on the editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the metadata. The metadata may include at least one of the second hash key corresponding to the editing engine information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content. Alternately, the processor120may generate a second hash key, based on the editing engine configuration information among the editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the metadata. The metadata may include at least one of an editing engine name, an editing engine type, the second hash key corresponding to the editing engine configuration information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content.

For example, the processor120may separately store editing engine information or a hash key corresponding to the editing engine information in a storage space distinguished from an edited content. When a second hash key included in metadata of a content received from the electronic device102is different from a hash key of the editing engine information stored in the general area220, the processor120may not allow content editing.

The processor120may receive editing engine information from a user or acquire editing engine information by analyzing a content edited by the user. The user can generate, delete, or modify a name or an editing effect of the editing engine information. For example, the processor120may receive, from the user, first editing engine information named “My filter 1” including a brightness of 80% d and a warm tone. Alternatively, the processor120may receive, from the user, second editing engine information named “My photoeditor” including a first filter and a first style. The editing engine information generated, deleted, or modified by the user may have an editing engine type of “personal type,” and the editing engine information, which is not generated by the user, may have an editing engine type of “general (or public) type.”

The processor120may store the metadata in the secure area210together with the original content. The processor120may encrypt and store the metadata in the secure area210. When an edited content is damaged, the processor120may generate (or restore) the edited content by using the metadata and the original content. For example, the processor120may generate the edited content by applying the metadata to the original content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may transmit or share the original content externally (e.g., the server108, the electronic device102, or the electronic device104) according to a user's selection. When the original content is stored in the server108, the processor120may include, in the original content access information, an access path of the server108in which the original content is stored, and store the same in the secure area210, or encrypt the access path of the server108with a first hash key and store the same in the general area220together with the edited content.

When the original content is stored in the server108, the access path of the server108may be included in the original content access information. Since the processor120generates a first hash key, based on the original content access information, when the first hash key is decoded, the processor may identify whether the original content is stored in the secure area210or is stored in the server108. When the original content or the edited content is required, the processor120may download the original content from the server108and generate the edited content by applying the metadata to the downloaded original content.

The electronic device102may receive the original content and the edited content from the electronic device101, and generate a new edited content by using the original content. For example, the edited content received from the electronic device101may be a first edited content obtained by applying a first editing effect to the original content. The electronic device102may generate a second edited content obtained by applying a second editing effect to the original content according to a user's selection. Instead of additionally applying the second editing effect to the first edited content, the electronic device102may maintain the first edited content as it is and generate the second edited content obtained by applying the second editing effect to the original content.

An electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may include a camera module (e.g., the camera module180ofFIG.1), a communication module (e.g., the communication module190ofFIG.1), a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1), and a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1) operatively coupled to the camera module, the communication module, and the memory, wherein the processor acquires a first content through the camera module or the communication module, generates a second content by editing the first content, based on a user input, stores the acquired first content in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of the memory, and stores the second content including metadata corresponding to the second content and first content access information corresponding to the first content in a general area (e.g., the general area220ofFIG.2) of the memory, and the first content access information associates the first content with the second content.

The processor may be configured to generate a first hash key, based on the first content access information, associate the generated first hash key with the first content to store the first hash key in the secure area, and associate the generated first hash key with the second content to store the first hash key in the general area.

The processor may be configured to identify whether the first content is stored in the secure area by using the first hash key stored in the general area, and when the first content is not stored in the secure area, restore the first content by using the metadata included in the second content.

The processor may be configured to, when the first content is restored, store the first content in the secure area, and generate the first content access information corresponding to the first content to update the first content access information included in the second content stored in the general area.

The processor may be configured to, as the first content access information is updated, generate a new first hash key, based on the updated first content access information, associate the generated new first hash key with the first content to store the first hash key in the secure area, and associate the new first hash key with the second content to store the first hash key in the general area.

The processor may be configured to decode the first hash key stored in the secure area to acquire an access path of a server, and download the first content from the server.

The processor may be configured to associate the metadata with the first content to store the metadata in the secure area, and restore the second content by using the metadata and the first content when the second content does not exist in the general area or the second content is damaged.

The processor may be configured to display at least one second content, determine whether the displayed second content can be edited, search for a first content corresponding to the displayed second content when the displayed second content can be edited, and display a second content obtained by applying first metadata to the first content.

The processor may be configured to edit the first content, based on a user input, generate a third content obtained by applying second metadata corresponding to the edit, and further store the third content including the first content access information and the second metadata corresponding to the third content in the general area.

The processor may generate a second hash key by using editing engine information included in the metadata, include the second hash key in the metadata to store the second hash key, and store the editing engine information in the general area.

When a second hash key included in metadata of a second content requested to be edited is different from a hash key of the editing engine information stored in the general area, the processor may be configured to disallow the editing request.

The processor may be configured to, when a content transmission request is received, determine whether a first content corresponding to a second content requested to be transmitted exists, and when the first content exists, transmit at least one of the second content requested to be transmitted or the first content according to a user's selection.

The processor may be configured to determine whether the first content corresponding to the second content requested to be transmitted exists, based on whether the first hash key is included in the second content requested to be transmitted.

FIG.3is a flowchart300illustrating an operating method of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.3, in operation301, a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may acquire a first content. The first content may be a content photographed by the camera module180or a content received from an external device (e.g., the server108or the electronic device102ofFIG.1). The content (or multimedia content) may include at least one of text (or words), an image, audio, or a video. The first content may be an original content, and hereinafter, the original content may be referred to as a first content, and an edited content may be referred to as a second content.

According to various embodiments, when the first content photographed by the camera module180is stored without editing, the processor120may store the first content in a general area (e.g., the general area220ofFIG.2) of the memory130. Alternatively, when the first content received from the server108or the electronic device102is not the edited content, but is the original content (e.g., when metadata of the first content does not include a hash key of editing engine information), the processor120may store the first content in the general area220. When the first content stored in the general area220is later edited by a user, the processor120may store the first content stored in the general area220in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of the memory130, and store an edited second content in the general area220.

In operation303, the processor120may detect a user input. The user input may be an input for editing of the first content. The editing of the first content may be adjusting the brightness or color of the first content, or applying a filter or a sticker to the first content.

In operation305, the processor120may generate a second content by editing the first content, based on the user input. The second content may be an edited content and may be obtained by applying an editing effect to the first content. The editing effect may be generated as metadata of the second content.

In operation307, the processor120may store the first content in the secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of the memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1). According to various embodiments, the processor120may control such that a user cannot access the first content stored in the secure area210, or can access the first content only by specific authority. According to various embodiments, the processor120may store the first content in the secure area210together with access information with respect to the first content. The first content access information (or original content access information) may include at least one of an access path (e.g., a storage location) of the first content, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the first content. The processor120may generate a first hash key, based on the first content access information, and store the generated first hash key in the secure area210together with the first content.

The processor120may identify whether the first content exists by using the first hash key. For example, when the first hash key is stored in the secure area210or the general area220, the processor120may determine that the first content exists, and when the first hash key is not stored, the processor120may determine that the first content does not exist. When only the first hash key is stored and the first content is not stored in the memory130, the processor120may download or restore the first content by using the first hash key. Alternatively, when the first hash key is not stored and the first content is stored in the memory130, the processor120may generate the first hash key by using the first content and store the generated first hash key in the memory130.

In the drawings, although operation307is described as being performed after operation303and operation305, operation307may be performed while operations303and305are performed or simultaneously with operation309. This only corresponds to an implementation issue, and the disclosure is not limited by the description.

In operation309, the processor120may associate the second content with the first content and store the second content in the general area220. The processor120may store the second content including the first content access information and the metadata with respect to the first content in the general area220. The processor120may store a first hash key generated based on the first content access information, and store the generated first hash key in the general area220together with the second content. The processor120may associate the first hash key stored in association with the first content in the secure area210with the second content, and store the first hash key in the general area220. For example, the processor120may insert at least one of the metadata, the first content access information, or the first hash key into the second content. The first hash key may associate (or link) the first content stored in the secure area210with the second content stored in the general area220. The processor120may store the second content by including an editable flag (e.g., true) in the second content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may identify whether the first content exists by using the first hash key. For example, when a second content selected by a user includes the first hash key, the processor may identify whether the same first hash key is stored in the secure area210to determine whether the first content exists.

The metadata may include at least one of editing engine information of the second content, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content. The editing engine information included in the metadata may be stored in the general area220. The processor120may generate a second hash key, based on the editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the metadata. The metadata may include at least one of the second hash key corresponding to the editing engine information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content. Alternately, the processor120may generate a second hash key, based on editing engine configuration information among the editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the metadata. The metadata may include at least one of an editing engine name, an editing engine type, the second hash key corresponding to the editing engine configuration information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the edited content.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a comparison between the disclosure and a comparative example according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.4, according to a comparative example410, conventionally, at the time of storing a second content401(e.g., an edited content) obtained by editing a first content403(e.g., an original content), the first content403is included and stored in the second content401. The second content401may further include first content access information405with respect to the first content403and metadata407(e.g., first metadata) corresponding to the second content401. According to the comparative example410, when a third content (not shown) newly edited with respect to the first content403is generated, the new third content (e.g., a second edited content) may include the first content403, the first content access information405, and metadata (e.g., second metadata) corresponding to the new third content. That is, according to the comparative example410, since the first content403also increases in size proportionally whenever a new third content (not shown) with respect to the first content403is generated, an unnecessarily large amount of storage space of an electronic device may be occupied.

According to the disclosure430, at the time of storing the second content401obtained by editing the first content403, the first content403may be stored in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1), and the second content401may be stored in a general area (e.g., the general area220ofFIG.2) of the memory130together with the first content access information405and the metadata407. According to the disclosure430, when a third content (not shown) newly edited with respect to the first content403is generated, the new third content (e.g., a second edited content) may include the first content access information405and metadata (e.g., second metadata) corresponding to the new third content. According to the disclosure430, there may be one first content403and a plurality of edited contents, and each of the edited contents may be linked with the first content403. In addition, according to the disclosure430, a first hash key may be generated based on the first content access information405, the generated first hash key may be associated with the first content403and stored in the secure area210, and the same first hash key may be associated with the second content401and stored in the general area220.

FIG.5is a flowchart500illustrating a method for re-editing a content by an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.5, in operation501, a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may display a second content. The processor120may display a second content edited after being photographed through a camera module (e.g., the camera module180ofFIG.1), display a second content selected by a user on an execution screen of a gallery application (or a photo viewing application), or display a second content received from an external device (e.g., the server108or the electronic device102ofFIG.1). In the following description, the second content may be described as an edited content. The second content may include metadata corresponding to the second content (e.g., the edited content) and first content access information corresponding to the first content.

In operation503, the processor120may determine whether the displayed second content can be edited. Alternatively, when the displayed second content includes a first hash key, the processor120may determine that the second content can be edited. Alternatively, when a flag indicating editability (e.g., true) or non-editability (e.g., false) in the displayed second content is marked as editable, the processor120may determine that the second content can be edited. The processor120may perform operation505when the displayed second content can be edited, and may perform operation504when the displayed second content cannot be edited.

According to various embodiments, the metadata included in the second content may include at least one of editing engine information of the second content, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the second content. The editing engine information may include at least one of an editing engine name, an editing engine type (e.g., general or personal), or editing engine configuration information (e.g., editing information). The metadata may include a second hash key generated based on the editing engine information or a second hash key generated based on the editing engine configuration information among the editing engine information. When the second content is a content received from the electronic device102, if a second hash key included in the metadata of the second content is different from a hash key of the editing engine information stored in the general area220, the processor120may not allow content editing.

For example, editing engine information included in the metadata or a second hash key corresponding to the editing engine information may be stored in the general area220. Since the second hash key included in the second content is generated based on the editing engine information, when at least one of the editing engine name, editing engine type, or editing engine configuration information is different, the second hash key may be generated differently. For example, even if an editing engine name or an editing engine type is the same, when editing engine configuration information is different, a second hash key may be different. Alternatively, even if editing engine configuration information is the same, when an editing engine name or an editing engine type is different, a second hash key may be different. When the hash key of the editing engine information stored in the general area220is different from the second hash key included in the metadata of the second content, an error may occur during content editing, and thus the processor120may not allow content editing.

According to various embodiments, even in a case where an editing engine name or editing engine type included in the metadata of the second content is the same as an editing engine name or editing engine type stored in the general area220, when a second hash key of the editing engine configuration information included in the metadata is different from a hash key of the editing engine configuration information stored in the general area220, the processor120may not allow content editing.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may selectively compare the hash key of the editing engine configuration information stored in the general area220with the second hash key of the editing engine configuration information included in the metadata of the second content, based on the editing engine type. For example, in a case where the editing engine type is a general type, the editing engine configuration information cannot be edited by a user, and in a case where the editing engine type is a personal type, the editing engine configuration information can be edited by a user. The editing engine type may be determined when the editing engine information is generated. In the case where the editing engine type is the personal type, the processor120may compare the hash key of the editing engine configuration information stored in the general area220with the second hash key of the editing engine configuration information included in the metadata of the second content, and selectively allow content editing only when the hash keys are the same. In the case where the editing engine type is the personal type, when the hash key of the editing engine configuration information stored in the general area220is different from the second hash key of the editing engine configuration information included in the metadata of the second content, the processor120may not allow content editing.

If the displayed content cannot be edited, in operation504, the processor120may edit the displayed second content, based on a user input. If the first content (e.g., the original content) is not stored with respect to the displayed second content, or the first content with respect to the displayed second content cannot be restored, the processor120may edit the displayed second content, based on a user input. The processor120may additionally apply an editing effect to the second content, based on the user input.

If the displayed second content can be edited, in operation505, the processor120may search for a first content corresponding to the displayed second content. In a case where the second content is the first content, operations505to509may be omitted. The processor120may extract a first hash key included in the displayed second content and identify whether the same first hash key is stored in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210inFIG.2) of a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1). The processor120may search for the first content corresponding to the displayed second content in the secure area210.

In operation507, the processor120may determine whether the first content corresponding to the displayed second content is stored. Although the first hash key included in the displayed second content is stored in the secure area210, the first content may not be stored in the secure area210. For example, a user may store the first content in a cloud server (e.g., the server108) for security of the first content. When the first content is stored in the server108, the processor120may generate first content access information including an access path of the server108in which the first content is stored. Since the processor120generates a first hash key, based on the first content access information, the processor may identify that the first content is stored in the server108by decoding the first hash key. Alternatively, only the first hash key may be stored in the secure area210due to the format of the electronic device101. The processor120may perform operation509when the first content is stored, and may perform operation508when the first content is not stored.

According to various embodiments, when the first hash key included in the second content is not stored in the secure area210, the processor120may decode the first hash key to extract a storage location of the first content, and generate the first hash key by using the first content stored in the storage location of the first content and store the first hash key in the secure area210.

If the first content is not stored, in operation508, the processor120may acquire the first content corresponding to the displayed second content. The acquisition of the first content may be downloading of the first content from the server108or restoring (or generating) of the first content by using the second content. For example, the processor120may decode the first hash key stored in the secure area210to acquire the access path of the server108, and download the first content from the server108. The server108may encode and store the first content, and decode and transmit the first content according to a download request of the electronic device101. The processor120may receive the decoded first content from the server108through a communication module (e.g., the communication module190). When the processor120downloads the first content, the processor120may store the first content in the secure area210, generate first content access information (e.g., an access path of the original content) with respect to the first content, and thus update the first content access information included in the second content.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may restore the first content by using metadata included in the displayed second content. The displayed second content is an edited content, and the edited content may include first content access information and metadata with respect to the first content. The processor120may restore the first content by inversely applying the metadata to the displayed second content. When the first content is restored, the processor120may store the first content in the secure area210, generate the first content access information (e.g., an access path of the original content) with respect to the first content, and thus update the first content access information included in the second content.

When the first content access information is updated, the processor120may newly generate a first hash key, based on the updated first content access information, associate the generated first hash key with the first content to store the first hash key in the secure area210, and associate the same first hash key with the second content to store the first hash key in the general area220. When the first content access information is updated, the processor120may update the first hash key included in the second content. The processor120may perform operation509when obtaining the first content.

In operation509, the processor120may display the second content obtained by applying the metadata to the first content. Operation509refers to content displaying for content editing, and since a user can re-edit the edited content, metadata may be applied to the first content and displayed in order to apply a new editing effect to the first content at the time of re-editing. When “revert” is requested according to a user's request, the processor120may cancel the applied metadata and display the first content.

In operation511, the processor120may detect a user input for editing content. The user input may be an input for applying an editing effect to the displayed second content. The processor120may edit the second content by applying an editing effect to the displayed second content, based on the user input.

In operation513, the processor120may receive a content storing request from the user. The storing request may be overwriting (e.g., saving) of a newly edited effect on the edited content, or newly storing (e.g., saving as a different name) of the content to which the newly edited effect is applied. When the application of the metadata is cancelled and the content storing is requested in a state where the first content is displayed, the processor120may update the first content to a third content and store the third content.

In operation515, the processor120may associate the edited third content with the first content, and store the third content in the general area220of the memory130. For example, when the second content displayed in operation501is a first edited content and a new editing effect (e.g., a second editing effect) is applied to the first content in operation511, the processor120may update the first edited content or generate a second edited content according to a user's selection. For example, when a user applies a second editing effect and selects “save,” the processor120may store the second content by applying the second editing effect to the first content. For example, in operation501, the first edited content (e.g., the second content) may have the first editing effect applied thereto, and in operation515, the first edited content (e.g., the second content) may have the second editing effect applied thereto. The processor120may store the first edited content by including first content access information and second metadata that is the second editing effect in the first edited content. In this case, since the first edited content is updated, only the first edited content may be stored in the general area220.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may generate second editing engine information to correspond to the second metadata. The processor120may generate first editing engine information to correspond to the first metadata and store the first editing engine information in the general area220, and generate the second editing engine information to correspond to the second metadata and store the second editing engine information in the general area220. Alternatively, the processor120may update the first editing engine information corresponding to the first metadata, so as to correspond to the second metadata, and store the updated first editing engine information in the general area220.

When a user applies the second editing effect and selects “save as a different name,” the processor120may store the second edited content (e.g., a third content) obtained by applying the second editing effect to the first content. The processor120may store the second edited content by including the first content access information and the second metadata in the second edited content. In this case, since the second edited content is generated, the first edited content (e.g., a second content) and the second edited content (e.g., a third content) may be stored in the general area220. The second content may include the first metadata and the first content access information, and the third content may include the second metadata and the first content access information.

According to various embodiments, the processor120may generate second editing engine information to correspond to the second metadata. The processor120may generate first editing engine information to correspond to the first metadata and store the first editing engine information in the general area220, and generate the second editing engine information to correspond to the second metadata and store the second editing engine information in the general area220. The processor120may generate a second hash key, based on the second editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the second metadata. The second metadata may include at least one of the second hash key corresponding to the second editing engine information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the third content. Alternately, the processor120may generate a second hash key, based on second editing engine configuration information among the second editing engine information, and include the generated second hash key in the second metadata. The second metadata may include at least one of a second editing engine name, a second editing engine type, the second hash key corresponding to the second editing engine configuration information, a resolution, a size, a generation date, or a capacity of the third content.

FIGS.6A to6Dillustrate examples of managing a non-destructively edited content according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG.6Aillustrates a first example of managing a non-destructively edited content according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.6A, a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may provide (or display) a first user interface610including a first content to a display (e.g., the display module160ofFIG.1). The first content may be an original content acquired from the camera module180or an original content received from an external device (e.g., the server108or the electronic device102ofFIG.1). The processor120may apply an editing effect to the first content, based on a user input. For example, the processor120may receive a selection of a first filter612as an editing effect in the first user interface610. The processor120may provide a second user interface611obtained by applying a first editing effect to the first content.

The second user interface611may include a second content obtained by applying the first editing effect to the first content. The processor120may receive a selection of “revert” or “save” from a user in the second user interface611. When “save” is selected, the processor120may store the first content in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1), and store the second content including first content access information (e.g., an access path of the original content) and first metadata corresponding to the second content in a general area (e.g., the general area220FIG.2) of the memory130.

Alternatively, a user may cancel the first editing effect and apply a second editing effect (e.g., a second filter) to the first content. The processor120may provide a third user interface613obtained by applying the second editing effect to the first content. The third user interface613may include a third content (e.g., a second edited content) obtained by applying the second editing effect to the first content. The processor120may receive a selection of “revert” or “save”614from a user in the third user interface613. When “save”614is selected, the processor120may store the third content including the first content access information and second metadata corresponding to the third content in the general area220of the memory130.

FIG.6Billustrates a second example of managing a non-destructively edited content according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.6B, the processor120may provide a first user interface630including a first content. The processor120may apply an editing effect to the first content, based on a user input. A second user interface631may include a second content obtained by applying a first editing effect (e.g., a first filter or first editing engine information) to the first content. A third user interface633may include a third content (e.g., a second edited content) obtained by applying a second editing effect (e.g., a second filter or second editing engine information) to the first content. A fourth user interface635may include a fourth content (e.g., a third edited content) obtained by applying a third editing effect (e.g., cropping or third editing engine information) to the first content. For example, the processor120may store all of the second content to the fourth content according to a user's selection. The processor120may store the first content in the secure area210of the memory130, and store, in the general area220of the memory130, the second content including first content access information and first metadata corresponding to the second content, the third content including the first content access information and second metadata corresponding to the third content, and the fourth content including the first content access information and third metadata corresponding to the fourth content. When three edited contents are generated from one original content, the processor120may store only one original content and store the three edited contents by associating each of the three edited contents with the original content.

FIG.6Cillustrates a third example of managing a non-destructively edited content according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.6C, the processor120may provide a first user interface650including a first content. The processor120may apply an editing effect to the first content, based on a user input. A second user interface651may include a second content (e.g., a first edited content) obtained by applying a first editing effect (e.g., first editing engine information) to the first content. When the processor120receives a selection of “save”652in the second user interface651, the processor120may store the first content in the secure area210of the memory130, and store the second content including first metadata and first content access information in the general area220of the memory130.

A user may select (or load) the second content by executing a gallery application. The processor120may provide a third user interface653including the second content stored in the general area220, based on the user input. The processor120may determine whether the second content can be edited, and if the content can be edited, when the user selects an edit button654in the third user interface653, the processor120may provide a fourth user interface655obtained by applying the first editing effect to the first content stored in the secure area210. When the user selects “revert”657in the fourth user interface655, the processor120may provide the first user interface650including the first content. Alternatively, when the processor120detects a user input for content editing in the fourth user interface655, the processor may edit the second content, based on the user input. When there is a request to save the edited content, the processor120may store the edited second content in association with the first content in the general area220of the memory130.

FIG.6Dillustrates a fourth example of managing a non-destructively edited content according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.6D, the processor120may provide a first user interface670including an original content. The processor120may apply an editing effect to a first content, based on a user input. A second user interface671may include a second content (e.g., a first edited content) obtained by applying a first editing effect (e.g., first editing engine information) to the first content. The processor120may cancel the first editing effect in the second content and apply a second editing effect (e.g., second editing engine information), based on a user input. A third user interface673may include a third content (e.g., a second edited content) obtained by applying the second editing effect to the first content. When the processor120receives a selection of “save copy”672in the third user interface673, the processor120may store the third content including second metadata that is a second editing effect and original content access information in the general area220of the memory130. A fourth user interface675may be an execution screen of a gallery application, and include both the second content681and the third content683. When two edited contents are generated from one original content, the processor120may store only one original content and store the two edited contents by associating each of the two edited contents with the original content.

FIG.7is a flowchart700illustrating a method for managing a non-destructively edited content by an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.7, in operation701, a processor (e.g., the processor120ofFIG.1) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may select a second content. The second content selection may be performed when the content is displayed, the content is transmitted, or the content is shared. For example, the processor120may receive at least one second content selected by a user on an execution screen of a gallery application. Alternatively, the processor120may receive at least one second content selected by a user when a messenger application or a content sharing application transmits (or uploads a file) a file. The processor120may display the selected second content on a display (e.g., the display module160ofFIG.1).

In operation703, the processor120may receive a request to transmit the selected second content. A user requests the transmission (or sharing) of the second content selected through the execution screen of the gallery application, the transmission of the second content selected through the messenger application, or the uploading of the second content selected through the content sharing application.

In operation705, the processor120may determine whether a first content (e.g., an original content) corresponding to the selected second content exists. For example, the processor120may determine whether a first hash key is included in the selected second content. The processor120may determine that the first content exists when the first hash key is included in the selected second content, and determine that the first content does not exist when the first hash key is not included. The processor120may perform operation707when the first content exists, and perform operation710when the first content does not exist.

In a case where the first content does not exist, in operation710, the processor120may transmit the selected second content according to the content transmission request. Alternatively, when the transmission of the first content is not requested, the processor120may transmit only the selected second content. The processor120may upload the selected second content on a web page or transmit the selected second content to a selected electronic device (e.g., the electronic device102ofFIG.1) of another user.

In a case where the first content exists, in operation707, the processor120may identify the first content corresponding to the selected second content. The processor120may identify the first content by searching for the first hash key included in the selected second content from a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of a memory (e.g., the memory130ofFIG.1). When the first content is not stored in the secure area210, the processor120may prepare to download the first content from the server108or prepare to restore the first content by using the selected second content.

In operation709, the processor120may determine whether the transmission of the first content is requested. When the first content corresponding to the second content exists, the processor120may provide, through a display (e.g., the display module160ofFIG.1), a user interface including the first content and a control menu (e.g., transmit or do not transmit) for receiving a selection of whether to transmit the first content. A user may identify the first content displayed through the user interface and select whether to transmit the first content together with the second content. The processor120may receive a request (e.g., a selection of a transmission button) to transmit the first content corresponding to the selected second content from the user. When the processor120does not receive, from the user, a request to transmit the first content corresponding to the selected second content (e.g., selection of a “do not transmit” button), the processor120may perform operation710. The processor120may perform operation711when the transmission of the first content is requested, and perform operation710when the transmission of the first content is not requested.

In a case where the transmission of the first content is requested, in operation711, the processor120may transmit the selected second content and the identified first content. When the first content corresponding to the selected second content is stored in the secure area210, the processor120may transmit the first content stored in the secure area210together with the selected second content. Alternatively, when the first content corresponding to the selected second content exists, but an access path of the server108is stored in the secure area210, the processor120may download the first content from the server108to transmit the first content together with the selected second content. Alternatively, when the first content corresponding to the selected second content exists, but the first content is damaged or is not stored in the secure area210, the processor120may restore the first content by using the selected second content and transmit the first content together with the selected second content.

For example, the processor120may restore the first content by inversely applying metadata to the selected second content. When the first content is restored, the processor120may newly generate a first hash key, based on the first content access information, store the generated first hash key in the secure area210together with the first content, and store the same first hash key in the general area220together with the second content. Alternatively, when the first hash key is not stored and the first content is stored in the memory130, the processor120may generate the first hash key by using the first content and store the generated first hash key in the memory130.

An operating method of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG.1) according to various embodiments may include the operations of: acquiring a first content through a camera module (e.g., the camera module180ofFIG.1) of the electronic device or a communication module (e.g., the communication module190ofFIG.1) of the electronic device; generating a second content by editing the first content, based on a user input; and storing the acquired first content in a secure area (e.g., the secure area210ofFIG.2) of a memory in the electronic device, and storing the second content including metadata corresponding to the second content and first content access information corresponding to the first content in a general area (e.g., the general area220ofFIG.2) of the memory, wherein the first content access information associates the first content with the second content.

The operation of storing may include the operations of: generating a first hash key, based on the first content access information; and associating the generated first hash key with the first content to store the first hash key in the secure area and associating the generated first hash key with the second content to store the first hash key in the general area.

The method may further include the operations of: identifying whether the first content is stored in the secure area by using the first hash key stored in the general area; and when the first content is not stored in the secure area, restoring the first content by using the metadata included in the second content.

The method may include the operations of: when the first content is restored, storing the first content in the secure area; generating the first content access information corresponding to the first content to update the first content access information included in the second content stored in the general area; as the first content access information is updated, generating a new first hash key, based on the updated first content access information; associating the generated new first hash key with the first content to store the first hash key in the secure area; and associating the new first hash key with the second content to store the first hash key in the general area.

The method may further include the operations of: decoding the first hash key stored in the secure area to acquire an access path of a server; downloading the first content from the server and storing the first content in the secure area; and generating the first content access information corresponding to the first content and updating the first content access information included in the second content stored in the general area.

The method may further include the operations of: displaying at least one second content; determining whether the displayed second content can be edited; when the displayed second content can be edited, searching for a first content corresponding to the displayed second content; and displaying a second content obtained by applying first metadata to the first content.

The method may further include the operations of: editing the first content, based on a user input; generating a third content obtained by applying second metadata corresponding to the edit; and storing the third content including the first content access information and the second metadata corresponding to the third content in the general area.

Various embodiments of the disclosure disclosed in the specification and drawings are merely to provide a specific example to easily describe the technical contents of the disclosure and to help understanding of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be interpreted to include all changes or modified forms derived based on the technical spirit of the disclosure in the scope of the disclosure in addition to the embodiments described herein.