Activity Signatures for Real-Time Video Classification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deep learning is computationally expensive and has been unable to be effectively applied to video classification tasks due to the temporal aspect of video analysis, large search space, and high data size, leading to intractable problems and impractical real-time applications.

Innovation Solution

The creation of a visual flowprint or activity signature, which summarizes video frames into a smaller, more descriptive data structure, allowing for efficient processing and memory utilization through machine-learning algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If deep learning algorithms are applied to video classification tasks, then classification accuracy can be improved, but computational cost and processing time increase exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The video processing task is segmented into two distinct stages: (1) an optimization stage that performs exhaustive search over a limited temporal window to find optimal parameters, and (2) a production stage that uses these pre-computed parameters for rapid real-time classification. This segmentation allows the computationally intensive optimization to be performed once, while subsequent classifications benefit from the pre-computed parameters, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary optimization of classification parameters by analyzing a short temporal window of video data before actual classification begins. This preliminary action pre-computes optimal parameters (such as spatial-temporal weighting factors and feature extraction parameters) that are then reused during real-time classification, eliminating the need to perform exhaustive searches during production and enabling both high accuracy and real-time processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If exhaustive search methods are used to optimize machine learning parameters for video analysis, then classification accuracy improves, but the computational complexity becomes intractable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter optimization accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs exhaustive search optimization only partially - specifically over a limited temporal window of recent video frames rather than the entire video dataset. This partial optimization is sufficient to capture the essential temporal dynamics for accurate classification while keeping computational complexity tractable. The pre-computed parameters from this partial exhaustive search are then reused for all subsequent classifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the temporal window size and optimization parameters based on the specific video content and classification task requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the exhaustive search to be performed efficiently by concentrating computational resources on the most relevant temporal range, achieving optimal parameter finding without intractable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If all video frames are processed individually through machine learning algorithms, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but memory utilization and processor load become extremely taxed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis completenessVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple video frames into a condensed temporal representation by computing aggregated features over a temporal window. Instead of processing each frame independently through the full machine learning pipeline, the system combines information from multiple frames into a single optimized feature vector that captures essential temporal dynamics, dramatically reducing data volume while preserving analysis completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the most relevant features and parameters from the video data by performing optimization over a limited temporal window. This extraction process identifies and isolates the critical temporal patterns and features that contribute most to classification accuracy, discarding redundant information and reducing the overall data volume that needs to be processed through the machine learning model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3945434B1Image/video analysis with activity signatures
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 NCR VOYIX CORP
  • EP3945434B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3945434B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3945434B1 patent drawingFigure 1D

AI summary

Video frames from a video are compressed into a single image or a single data structure that represents a unique visual flowprint or visual signature for a given activity being modeled from the video frames. The flowprint comprises a computed summary of the original pixel values associated with the video frames within the single image and the flowprint is specific to movements occurring within the video frames that are associated with the given activity. In an embodiment, the flowprint is provided as input to a machine-learning algorithm to allow the algorithm to perform object tracking and monitoring from the flowprint rather than from the video frames of the video, which substantially improves processor load and memory utilization on a device that executes the algorithm, and substantially improved responsiveness of the algorithm.