Adjusting Presented Field of View in Transmitted Video Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Physical travel to destinations for cultural experiences is often cost and time prohibitive, and existing remote experiences require passive observation without participation or control.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows users to interactively experience environments at a destination location through near real-time video and audio transmission from a guide device, enabling control of the view and interaction with the guide and others, with enhancements and markers triggering additional information and interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If video data from a wide field of view imaging component is transmitted to a user device, then the user can access more environmental information, but the user cannot control the position of the imaging component to focus on specific areas of interest

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental informationVSAvoidcontrol of imaging component

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the user device and processing circuitry that receives wide field of view video data and generates presented field of view data. This intermediary allows the user to access comprehensive environmental information while the system automatically manages the focusing and framing of specific areas, eliminating the need for direct manual control of the imaging component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copied and processed version of the wide field of view video data as presented field of view data. Instead of directly controlling the original imaging component, the user interacts with a copied representation through the user device, which then generates appropriate viewports from the transmitted video data to focus on areas of interest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of information

If the entire video data from the imaging component is presented to the user, then all environmental information is visible, but the user experience becomes less immersive and engaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental informationVSAvoiduser experience quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by processing the wide field of view video data to generate multiple presented field of view data sets with different viewport positions and sizes. This allows different regions of the environmental information to be highlighted with varying degrees of detail and focus, creating a more engaging and adaptive user experience while preserving access to comprehensive information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the position of the imaging component is physically adjusted to change the field of view, then the user can focus on specific areas, but latency is introduced reducing the near real-time experience quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus controlVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the field of view adjustment functionality through software processing. Instead of physically moving the imaging component, the system generates presented field of view data by processing the existing wide field of view video data to create virtual viewports at different positions, eliminating mechanical latency while maintaining focus control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physically adjusting the imaging component with a computational system that processes video data to generate different presented field of view data sets. This substitution eliminates mechanical inertia and movement time, providing instantaneous field of view changes without the latency inherent in physical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If a fixed field of view is used for transmission, then the system is simpler to implement, but the user cannot explore different areas of the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem implementationVSAvoidexploration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic field of view presentation by processing the transmitted wide field of view video data to generate multiple presented field of view data sets with varying viewport positions and sizes. This allows the system to dynamically adapt to user interests and explore different areas of the environment while maintaining a relatively simple transmission infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10979676B1Adjusting the presented field of view in transmitted data

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

Described are systems and methods that enable users to virtually experience an environment at a destination location from their own user device, control their experience and even interact with others that are physically located within the environment. Likewise, the user's experience may even be improved with the inclusion of enhancements that are presented to the user as the user experiences the environment. User's may interact with the enhancements to obtain additional enhancements, interact with others physically located within the environment, interact with and direct a guide that is physically located within the environment, and receive near real-time video and audio that is transmitted from a guide device located within the environment.