3D Picture-in-Picture Image Overlay and Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in providing three-dimensional (3D) picture-in-picture (PIP) images, including determining whether an image is 2D or 3D, enhancing encoding and decoding efficiency, and effectively combining 3D main and PIP images for stereoscopic display.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that acquire and combine 3D main and PIP images, using multi-view video coding to store them in a single media file, with a PIP combining unit to overlay and synchronize images, and a 3D formatter to ensure stereoscopic display, while determining the type of PIP image based on configuration information and user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multi-view video coding is used to store main image and PIP image in a single media file, then storage efficiency is improved, but image encoding and decoding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video content into multiple independent views (main image and PIP image) that can be independently encoded and decoded. Each view is treated as a separate video stream within the single media file, allowing efficient storage while maintaining independent processing capabilities that reduce decoding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple video streams (main image and PIP image) into a single media file using multi-view video coding. This merging approach improves storage efficiency by eliminating redundant data structures while maintaining the ability to independently process each view through proper stream separation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PIP combining unit overlays main image and PIP image, then 3D PIP display capability is improved, but image processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and pre-synchronizing the main image and PIP image streams before the actual overlay operation. Configuration information is read and analyzed in advance to determine image types (2D/3D), and temporal synchronization is established beforehand, which significantly reduces the processing time during the actual overlay operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary configuration information structure that mediates between the raw video streams and the final overlay operation. This intermediary layer contains pre-analyzed metadata about image types, timing information, and synchronization data, allowing the PIP combining unit to perform efficient overlay operations without real-time analysis overhead.
3Reliability
If frame time comparing unit analyzes time relationship between images, then temporal synchronization is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by embedding time information and synchronization metadata directly within the video streams and configuration information. The frame time comparing unit utilizes these self-contained temporal markers that are automatically generated during encoding, eliminating the need for complex external synchronization mechanisms and reducing processing complexity while maintaining high temporal synchronization reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a device and method for providing a three-dimensional PIP image, for combining and outputting a main image with a PIP image. A device for providing a three-dimensional PIP image according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an image acquisition unit for acquiring a main three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional or three-dimensional PIP image from a broadcast signal, external device, or recording medium; a PIP-combining unit for combining the main image and the PIP image; and a three-dimensional formatter for formatting the combined image of the main image and the PIP image into a format that can be stereoscopically displayed. Accordingly, an image may be provided with a main three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional PIP image or a main three-dimensional image and a three-dimensional PIP image which are overlaid.