Camera Orientation Calibration Using Sun Position in Sky Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cloud observation methods using satellites or ground-based cameras face challenges in accurately determining the orientation and slant of cameras, leading to errors in estimating solar radiation, especially when external data like wind velocity is considered, and require complex installation processes or additional sensors.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device and method that determines the orientation or slant of a camera by comparing the photographed sun position with a reference sun position using known camera slant or orientation, without the need for attitude or orientation sensors, and corrects images based on determined camera parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are operated simultaneously in a terminal device, then service versatility is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice versatilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching data objects that are likely to be needed based on predicted user behavior patterns. This allows applications to access required data without real-time network requests, reducing power consumption while maintaining service versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates local copies of data objects in the terminal device's storage based on prediction algorithms. These copies enable fast access without repeated network transmissions, thereby reducing power consumption while supporting multiple simultaneous applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If data is frequently synchronized between terminal device and server, then data freshness is improved, but network traffic increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata freshnessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary actions by predicting which data objects will be needed and proactively pushing them to the terminal device before they are actually requested. This reduces the frequency of synchronization operations while maintaining data freshness, thereby lowering power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device sends usage information to the server, which then adjusts data push strategies accordingly. This feedback loop optimizes synchronization frequency based on actual user behavior, reducing unnecessary network traffic and power consumption while maintaining data freshness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If user behavior is accurately predicted, then service responsiveness is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice responsivenessVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prediction system is segmented into multiple independent modules: behavior pattern recognition module, data object prediction module, and resource allocation module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining service responsiveness through coordinated operation of these specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3978869B1Information processing system, method, and program
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3978869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3978869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3978869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide an information processing device, method and program capable of determining the orientation or slant of a camera while facilitating the installation work of the camera and reducing the number of sensors provided in the camera. The imaging processing device includes an image acquisition module 11 configured to acquire an image G1 [G4] obtained by photographing the sky with a camera 10 having a known orientation or slant; a photographing time stamp acquisition module 12 configured to acquire a photographing date and time of the image G1 [G4]; a photographing position acquisition module 13 configured to acquire position information of a photographing position of the image G1 [G4]; a sun position determination module 14 configured to determine a photographed sun position S1 indicating a sun position in the image G1 [G4]; a reference sun position acquisition module 15 configured to calculate a reference sun position B1 indicating a sun position determined based on the photographing date and time and the position information; and a camera information identification module 17 configured to determine any one of unknown orientation and slant of the camera based on any one of the known orientation and slant of the camera 10, the photographed sun position S1, and the reference sun position B1.