Camera Light Pulse Injection for Image Stream Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring camera systems face challenges in detecting image data delays, dropped frames, and manipulation, as existing solutions cannot reliably verify the live status of image streams at the source, leading to potential unnoticed frozen or manipulated images.
Innovation Solution
Introducing light pulses into the image sensor data using a camera with specific pixel groups covered by wavelength-transforming materials, allowing for the detection of live, unmanipulated image streams without disturbing the main data flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image data is processed and transmitted through monitoring system components, then the image stream can be displayed and stored, but delays, frozen frames, and manipulation cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
A light source is introduced as an intermediary element that emits light pulses visible in the image stream. This light source acts as a mediator between the camera system and the image processing components, providing a visual reference that traverses the entire system. The light pulses serve as a trusted reference signal that can indicate whether image frames are being updated in real-time or if delays and manipulations are occurring.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes changes in light presence and intensity (analogous to color changes) to encode information about image stream status. By monitoring the presence, absence, or intensity changes of the light source in consecutive image frames, the system can detect delays, frozen frames, and manipulations without adding complex electronic verification systems.
2Measurement precision
If timestamp verification is implemented at the receiver side, then transmission timing can be monitored, but delays occurring before image data arrival cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is established and made visible in the image stream before any processing or transmission occurs. This preliminary establishment of a visible reference allows verification to begin at the very first frame, enabling detection of delays that occur during image capture, processing, or transmission. The light pulses are present from the outset, providing continuous verification capability throughout the entire image stream lifecycle.
3Reliability
If multiple verification methods are added to detect frozen or manipulated images, then image stream reliability improves, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The verification mechanism leverages the existing image processing pipeline and display system to perform self-verification. The light source becomes part of the captured image content, and the existing image processing components naturally handle the light pulses along with the rest of the image data. This eliminates the need for separate verification hardware or processing paths, allowing the system to verify image stream integrity using its own existing resources without additional processing overhead.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time detection of image stream integrity, ensuring that received images are not frozen, delayed, or manipulated, providing reliable and trustworthy video monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the plurality of pixels is covered by a first material which is arranged to transform light of a second wavelength range to light of the first wavelength range
Data Source
AI summary
A camera for introducing light pulses in an image stream, comprising an image sensor arranged to capture an image stream, the image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged to capture light of a first wavelength range. The at least one of the plurality of pixels is covered by a first material which is arranged to transform light of a second wavelength range to light of the first wavelength range. Further the camera comprises a first light source arranged to emit light pulses of light of the second wavelength range onto the first material, thereby causing the image sensor to register light pulses in the at least one pixel covered by the first material.