Image Frame Locking for Stable Video Transmission During Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capturing systems fail to maintain stable image transmission quality during user movement, leading to delayed transmission of high-quality frames due to network bandwidth and encoding characteristics, and may replace video feeds with static images during motion.

Innovation Solution

An image capturing apparatus with an imaging processing unit that generates and transmits image frames, a communication unit for transmitting locked frames upon user instruction, and a movement detection unit to lock frames when the apparatus is stationary, ensuring consistent image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If image frames are transmitted continuously without locking, then transmission speed is improved, but image quality stability deteriorates during user movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidimage quality stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between continuous transmission mode and locked frame transmission mode based on the detection of user movement. When movement is detected, the system locks onto a high-quality frame and repeatedly transmits it, preventing quality degradation. When no movement is detected, the system returns to continuous transmission for faster updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission parameters (frame selection, transmission frequency) are changed based on movement detection state. The system adjusts between transmitting successive frames at normal speed versus locking and retransmitting the same high-quality frame, optimizing both speed and quality stability according to real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the system waits for high-quality frames after user stops moving, then image quality is improved, but transmission delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The movement detection unit continuously monitors user movement in advance, allowing the system to proactively lock onto high-quality frames before quality degradation occurs. This preemptive approach eliminates waiting time by preparing the locked frame transmission mode ahead of actual quality issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of waiting for the next high-quality frame to naturally occur after movement stops, the system rushes through the delay by locking onto the current acceptable frame and repeatedly transmitting it immediately, bypassing the natural encoding and bandwidth limitations that would otherwise cause delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Stability of the object's composition

If static images replace video feeds during motion, then image stability is improved, but visual continuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidvisual continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system serves itself by automatically detecting movement and selecting appropriate transmission modes without external intervention. The movement detection unit and lock instruction unit work together to maintain stability during motion while preserving visual continuity, eliminating the need for manual switching or external control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4492771B1Image capturing apparatus, transmission method, and carrier means
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4492771B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4492771B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4492771B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image capturing apparatus (10) includes: an imaging processing unit (13) configured to perform an image capturing process to repeatedly generate image frames included in a moving image captured by an imaging unit (101); a communication unit (11) configured to transmit the image frames repeatedly generated by the imaging processing unit (13) to a communication terminal at a site different from a site at which the image capturing apparatus is located; and an acceptance unit (12) configured to accept a lock instruction to lock an image frame to be transmitted to the communication terminal among the image frames. The communication unit (11) is configured to repeatedly transmit the image frame for which the lock instruction is received to the communication terminal in response to the acceptance unit (12) accepting the lock instruction.