Floating Edge Adjustment for 3D Depth Conflict Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In stereoscopic presentations, the floating edge technique to avoid depth conflicts is often manually set and impractical in theatrical or video display environments, where masking or image resizing can interfere with the display, leading to visual confusion and distraction from the content.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for automatically determining and adjusting the floating edge in stereoscopic images based on the minimum disparity of foreground objects, allowing for dynamic rendering or metadata-driven placement to avoid depth conflicts, even in constrained display environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a floating edge is manually set to avoid depth conflicts, then depth conflicts are avoided, but the floating edge may be masked by theatrical masking or monitor display limitations, destroying its purpose

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth conflict avoidanceVSAvoiddisplay environment adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floating edge is no longer a static manual setting but becomes a dynamic element that automatically adjusts its position and size based on the displayed image content. The system calculates the floating edge parameters in real-time according to the actual display area and image features, ensuring it remains effective regardless of masking or display limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic floating edge creation and adjustment without requiring professional manual setup. The algorithm independently analyzes the image content, determines appropriate floating edge parameters, and applies them automatically, making the process self-sufficient and adaptable to different display environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If automatic floating edge creation is implemented, then display environment adaptability is improved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay environment adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of professionally setting floating edges is replaced by an automated computational system. The algorithm uses image processing and disparity analysis to automatically determine floating edge parameters, substituting complex manual adjustment procedures with an automated digital solution that simplifies the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Area of stationary object

If the floating edge width is increased to ensure visibility, then the floating edge remains visible despite masking, but foreground elements may be obscured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloating edge visibilityVSAvoidforeground element obscuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The floating edge is not applied uniformly across the entire image but is localized to specific regions where depth conflicts actually occur. The system analyzes the image to identify areas near edges where foreground objects exist and applies the floating edge only in those specific locations, maintaining visibility while preserving foreground elements in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The floating edge parameters (position, width, height) are dynamically adjusted based on the specific image content and display conditions. Rather than using a fixed size, the system calculates optimal parameters for each image and display configuration, ensuring the floating edge is wide enough to be visible but narrow enough to avoid obscuring important foreground elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2553930B1Method and system of using floating window in three-dimensional (3D) presentation
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HLDG
  • EP2553930B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2553930B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2553930B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and system for presenting stereoscopic images are described, in which a portion of at least one stereoscopic image of a stereoscopic pair is blocked while displaying the stereoscopic images. The blocked portion has a width at least equal to a magnitude of a minimum disparity associated with a region of the image near a vertical edge of the image or near a vertical edge of an area for displaying the image. By blocking the portion of the image during content display, one can avoid depth cue conflicts near the edge of the images or the display area.