Multi-Camera Thumbnail Generation for Rapid Recording Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Confirming whether video recordings from multiple cameras were successfully shot as intended is time-consuming and difficult, especially when settings between cameras may differ, requiring manual playback or review of each file.

Innovation Solution

A multi-camera system with a confirmation device that allows users to start and stop recording, generate thumbnail images at specified timings, and display these images on a UI screen for quick verification, enabling easy confirmation of recording success and settings consistency across cameras.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video files are played back on each camera or downloaded to a personal computer for verification, then recording success can be confirmed, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording verification accuracyVSAvoidverification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates thumbnail images as simplified copies of the full video content. These thumbnails serve as representative samples that can be quickly viewed to verify recording success without watching the entire video file, thus maintaining verification reliability while dramatically reducing time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts key frames or representative moments from the video content to generate thumbnail images. By taking out only the essential visual information needed for verification, the system enables rapid assessment of recording quality without processing or viewing the complete video data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If each video file is individually reviewed to ensure proper capture, then recording quality can be verified, but the complexity of managing multiple cameras increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording quality verificationVSAvoidmulti-camera management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the verification process for multiple cameras into a single unified interface. By displaying thumbnails from all cameras simultaneously on one screen, the system consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate review processes, reducing management complexity while maintaining comprehensive quality verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification system serves multiple functions through a single mechanism: it provides quick visual confirmation of recording success, compares settings across cameras, and identifies potential issues all through the thumbnail display interface, thereby reducing overall system complexity while enhancing verification capabilities

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

3Productivity

If thumbnail images are generated for multiple still images and video, then video content search becomes faster, but the ability to confirm successful recording by each camera is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent search speedVSAvoidrecording verification capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate visual feedback by displaying thumbnails that represent the actual captured content. This feedback mechanism allows users to quickly assess whether each camera successfully recorded the intended scene, maintaining verification reliability while enabling fast content identification and search capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3357235B1Information processing apparatus, multi-camera system and non-transitory computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3357235B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3357235B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3
  • EP3357235B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A multi-camera system, including a first camera apparatus, and second camera apparatus., and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a communication interface, and processing circuitry that receives a predetermined request from a user while the first camera apparatus captures a first video and the second camera apparatus captures a second video. The processing circuitry, in response to the predetermined request, transmits a first control signal to the first camera apparatus that causes the first camera apparatus to generate a first thumbnail of a frame of the first video, and transmits a second control signal to the second camera apparatus that causes the second camera apparatus to generate a second thumbnail of a frame of the second video. The processing circuitry receives the first thumbnail from the first camera apparatus and the second thumbnail from the second camera apparatus.