Image Frame Test Line Insertion for Data Integrity Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for verifying the integrity of image data in image data processing chains, particularly in safety-critical environments where erroneous image data can lead to hazardous situations, such as in automotive systems, industrial processes, and medical equipment, due to the potential for errors in image recognition and automated reactions.

Innovation Solution

A system is introduced that inserts test lines with specific color codings into image frames, which are then verified at the receiving end to ensure the integrity of the image data stream, using a coding scheme that selects color codings deterministically or based on signaling information, allowing for detection of errors and mismatches in the data processing path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If test lines with color codings are inserted into image frames for verification, then the reliability of image data is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of image dataVSAvoidcomplexity of verification system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Test lines with color codings are inserted into image frames at the encoder side before transmission. This preliminary action embeds verification data in advance, allowing the decoder side to detect errors without requiring complex real-time verification mechanisms during processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different color codings are assigned to test lines based on predetermined sequences or signaling information. The color changes serve as encoded verification data that can be detected by comparing expected versus actual colors at the decoder side, providing a simple yet effective integrity check mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If color coding verification is performed on each image frame, then the detection precision of errors is improved, but the loss of time in processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection accuracyVSAvoidverification processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The verification process extracts only the color coding information from test lines in each image frame, rather than analyzing the entire frame. This selective extraction maintains high error detection accuracy while significantly reducing processing time compared to full-frame verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification system changes its approach by focusing on specific parameters (color values of test lines) rather than analyzing all image data. By monitoring only these critical color parameters, the system achieves precise error detection with minimal processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple test lines with different color codings are used, then the reliability of verification is improved, but the loss of information in the data stream increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification robustnessVSAvoidbandwidth overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Test lines serve multiple functions: they act as both image content and verification carriers. The same test lines that could be part of the normal image also embed color coding verification data, eliminating the need for separate verification channels and reducing overall information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification data (color codings) is merged with the image data by embedding it in test lines within the image frames. This combination allows the verification information to be transmitted along with the image content without requiring additional dedicated bandwidth, thus minimizing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3244622B1System, encoder and decoder for verification of image sequences
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 NXP USA INC
  • EP3244622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3244622B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3244622B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to a system for verifying integrity of a stream of image frames including an encoder logic module and a decoder logic module. On source side, a test line insertion logic module receiving the stream is arranged upstream to the encoder logic module encoding the stream. The test line insertion logic module is configured to include one or more test lines into the image frames. A color coding is assigned to the one or more test lines. The color coding is selected from a coding scheme. On destination side, a test line detection and extraction logic module is arranged downstream to the decoder logic module receiving the encoded stream. The test line detection and extraction logic module extracts the color coding from the received image frames and verifies extracted coding data against the coding scheme. The coding data comprises at least the extracted color coding.