3D Mode Selection Mechanism for Seamless Video Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in seamlessly switching between 2D and 3D video content while maintaining backwards compatibility with legacy devices and ensuring a smooth transition to avoid artifacts like black frames during playback.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that organize video information into a primary stream for 2D display and an additional stream for 3D display, with playback settings determining which stream to process, allowing seamless switching by controlling the playback device and display configuration, particularly during predefined moments like scene cuts, and using techniques like gain and offset parameters for gradual depth changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If 3D video content is introduced with new formats and coding methods, then 3D display capability is improved, but backwards compatibility with legacy 2D devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3D display capabilityVSAvoidbackwards compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The video content is segmented into separate 2D and 3D streams, allowing legacy devices to process only the 2D stream while 3D-capable devices can utilize both streams. This segmentation enables simultaneous support for both 2D and 3D playback without compromising compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The playback system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both 2D and 3D video streams universally. The same playback device can adapt its processing based on its capabilities, making the system universally compatible across different device types while maintaining reliable playback for all users.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If switching between 2D and 3D content is enabled, then user preference and viewing conditions adaptability is improved, but playback continuity deteriorates due to potential artifacts like black frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching capabilityVSAvoidplayback continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing both 2D and 3D streams and preparing transition parameters in advance. This allows seamless switching between modes by utilizing pre-computed data, avoiding artifacts that would otherwise occur during real-time mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes parameter changes in the video stream metadata to indicate 2D/3D mode transitions. By changing specific parameters in the playback information rather than fundamentally altering the playback mechanism, the system achieves smooth transitions without disrupting playback continuity or introducing visual artifacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional information stream for 3D display is added, then 3D playback functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3D playback functionalityVSAvoidstream processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The 3D processing capability is extracted as an optional additional function rather than being integrated into the core playback path. Legacy devices simply ignore the additional 3D information stream, while 3D-capable devices extract and process only the necessary additional data, keeping overall system complexity manageable through selective processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9338428B23D mode selection mechanism for video playback
Publication Date: 2016.05.10 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

The invention relates to a signal comprising video information and associated playback information, the video information and associated playback information being organized according to a playback format, the video information comprising a primary video stream for two-dimensional (2D) display, and an additional information stream for enabling three-dimensional (3D) display, wherein that the associated playback information comprises display information indicating the types of display possible. The invention also relates to a method and device for playback of such a signal, the method comprising receiving the video information and the associated playback information, processing the display information to determine that both two-dimensional (2D) display possible and three-dimensional (3D) display are possible for the received video information; determining a playback setting of a playback device indicating whether the video information should be displayed two-dimensional (2D) or three dimensional (3D); and processing for display either the primary video stream or the primary video stream and the additional information stream, in accordance with the playback setting of the playback device.