3D Video Depth Jump Smoothing via Disparity Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Viewers experience discomfort due to significant depth jumps when switching between 3D content on different channels or during commercial insertions in 3D TV broadcasting, as existing techniques are not suitable for real-time adjustment of depth disparities.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that automatically detect depth jumps by changing the disparity of stereoscopic image pairs to ensure a smooth transition, using image shifting and scaling to adjust the perceived depth, thereby reducing viewer discomfort during channel surfing or commercial insertions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If real-time depth adjustment is implemented to reduce viewer discomfort during channel switching, then viewing comfort is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewer discomfortVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of depth jumps by analyzing disparity differences between consecutive image pairs before presenting the content to the viewer. When a depth jump is detected, the system proactively applies disparity adjustment to smooth the transition, preventing viewer discomfort before it occurs rather than reacting after the problem manifests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the disparity parameter of stereoscopic image pairs in real-time based on detected depth jumps. By adjusting the disparity values of affected image pairs and their neighbors, the system smooths abrupt depth transitions while maintaining the overall 3D effect, thus reducing viewer discomfort without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If automatic depth jump detection and adjustment is applied, then viewing comfort during channel surfing is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing discomfortVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies depth adjustment only to specific image pairs where depth jumps are detected, rather than processing the entire video stream uniformly. By identifying and adjusting only the affected local regions (specific image pairs and their neighbors), the system minimizes processing overhead while effectively addressing viewer discomfort at problem points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses simple disparity difference comparison to quickly detect depth jumps, skipping complex analysis methods. When a depth jump is detected, the adjustment is applied immediately to the affected frames without prolonged processing, allowing the system to rush through the critical adjustment phase quickly to minimize processing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS9565415B2Method of presenting three-dimensional content with disparity adjustments

Publication Date: 2017.02.07 THOMSON LICENSING SA

AI summary

Visual discomfort from depth jumps in 3D video content is reduced or avoided by detecting the occurrence of a depth jump and by changing the disparity of a group of received image frames including the frames at the depth jump in order to adjust the perceived depth in a smooth transition across the group of image frames from a first disparity value to a second disparity value. Depth jumps may be detected, for instance, when content is switched from one 3D shot to another 3D shot.