Almost-Periodic Signal Duration Alignment for Compact Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to provide a meaningful representation of almost-periodic sensor data, such as biometric signals, which are collected over long periods with varying durations, as the minute changes in these signals are difficult to visualize and compress effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that assigns almost-periodic signal portions to sets, adjusts their durations to be the same, and superimposes them within a combined output signal, allowing for a compact visual representation without losing information content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If sensor data is collected over a long timeframe to capture complete signal patterns, then the information content is preserved, but the data volume increases and becomes difficult to visualize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the long sensor signal into multiple individual signal portions or cycles, each representing a complete period of the almost-periodic signal. These segmented portions are then processed independently through alignment and superposition, allowing the system to preserve complete signal patterns while managing data volume through systematic organization of discrete units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the temporal dimension of the long signal by superimposing multiple signal portions vertically in the output visualization. Instead of displaying signal cycles sequentially along the time axis, the invention stacks them along the amplitude axis, creating a multi-dimensional representation that compresses temporal information while preserving pattern characteristics
2Ease of operation
If the duration of signal portions is adjusted to be uniform for alignment, then the visual representation becomes clearer and more compact, but variations in original signal duration are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by uniformly adjusting the duration of signal portions through time-warping or resampling techniques before superposition. This transformation aligns the temporal parameters of individual cycles to a common reference duration, enabling clear visual alignment while the superposition technique preserves information about original variations through the stacking pattern itself
3Productivity
If multiple signal portions are superimposed within a combined output signal, then the data becomes more compact and easier to view, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing duration adjustment and alignment of signal portions before the superposition operation. This preparatory processing ensures that all signal portions are temporally synchronized to a reference duration, which simplifies the subsequent superposition step and reduces the overall processing complexity compared to attempting to superimpose misaligned signals
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to a method, an apparatus and a computer program for processing an almost-periodic input signal comprising a plurality of signal portions of varying duration, and to a system comprising such an apparatus and a visual output device. The plurality of signal portions are characterized by a common signal shape. The method comprises assigning the plurality of signal portions to a plurality of sets of signal portions. Each set of signal portions comprises two or more signal portions. The method comprises adjusting a duration of at least a subset of the signal portions such that the signal portions of a set have the same duration. The method comprises superimposing the two or more signal portions of a set within a combined output signal.