Image Identifier Storage for Multi-Source Scene Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing resolution and frame rate of images captured by multiple devices pose significant computational challenges for storage, transmission, and real-time processing, particularly in environments like sporting events where integrating and analyzing images from diverse sources is difficult due to limited resources.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that generate and store image identifiers based on image content, allowing for efficient identification and processing of images from multiple sources, including those with different specifications, by using hash functions and subsampling techniques to reduce processing load and improve real-time analysis capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If images are captured at high resolution and high frame rate from multiple devices, then image quality and detail are improved, but computational resources required for storage, transmission and processing increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides images into blocks and processes only the differences between frames (delta encoding) rather than entire images. This segmentation approach reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed while maintaining image quality through selective encoding of changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and stores only the essential information about image changes and differences rather than complete image data. By extracting only the delta information between frames and spatial differences between multiple camera views, the system reduces computational burden while preserving critical visual information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If images from multiple image capture devices are collated and analyzed in real time, then comprehensive scene analysis is improved, but computational complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescene analysis capabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges image data from multiple capture devices by establishing correspondence between images from different cameras and temporal sequences. By combining synchronized image streams and merging them into a unified representation, the system achieves comprehensive scene analysis while managing computational complexity through efficient data integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing by pre-synchronizing image streams from multiple devices and pre-establishing spatial and temporal relationships. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during real-time analysis by having data prepared and organized in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If images from devices with different frame rates are integrated, then comprehensive coverage is improved, but synchronization and processing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-source integrationVSAvoidprocessing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic frame rate adaptation by independently processing images from devices with different frame rates and synchronizing them in real-time. The system dynamically adjusts processing parameters and synchronization mechanisms to accommodate varying frame rates while maintaining ease of operation through automated rate matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3716095B1A method, apparatus and computer program product for storing images of a scene
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 SONY EUROPE BV
  • EP3716095B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3716095B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3716095B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A method of storing images of a scene, the method comprising receiving an image of a scene; generating at least one image identifier of the image, the at least one image identifier being indicative of the content of the image; storing the at least one image identifier of the image in association with temporal information for that image in a first storage; determining a degree of similarity between the content of the image and previous images which have been received based on a correspondence between the at least one image identifier of the image and the at least one images identifiers of the previous images in the first storage; and storing the at least one image identifier of subsequently received images in a second storage in association with temporal information corresponding to a first previous image when the determined degree of similarity between the image and the first previous image exceeds a predetermined threshold.