Video Synchronization Using OCR Timestamp Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronizing recorded videos from multiple camera feeds is challenging due to differences in start time and frame rates, leading to lag and errors during testing and analysis, especially when external factors like network interruptions affect recording devices.
Innovation Solution
The system uses optical character recognition to determine timestamps in video frames, synchronizing frames by finding the earliest matching time and skipping frames with significant time differences, ensuring accurate processing and comparison of video analytics results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If video files are recorded at different frame rates due to external factors, then recording can proceed independently without synchronization, but frame-by-frame processing results in lag and errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary synchronization mechanism that uses visual timestamps embedded in each video frame as a mediator. The system extracts these timestamps via OCR, compares them across multiple video feeds, and adjusts frame processing accordingly. This intermediary layer allows independent recording while ensuring reliable synchronized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding visual timestamps in each video frame during the recording process itself. This pre-prepared synchronization data is then used during processing to align frames from different cameras, eliminating the need for complex real-time synchronization while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If frames are processed sequentially without synchronization, then processing is simpler and faster, but errors occur when comparing live analytics to recorded video
Solution Approach 1:
The visual timestamp acts as an intermediary that enables rapid frame-by-frame processing while maintaining precision. By extracting and comparing timestamps from each frame, the system can quickly identify corresponding frames across different video feeds without complex real-time synchronization, thus maintaining both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical synchronization system (which would require precise timing hardware and real-time coordination) with an optical character recognition system that reads visual timestamps. This substitution allows simple sequential processing while achieving the synchronization needed for accurate analytics comparison.
3Reliability
If visual timestamps are extracted using optical character recognition, then frame synchronization can be achieved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential synchronization information (visual timestamps) from each video frame using OCR, rather than processing the entire frame data. This extraction approach maintains high synchronization reliability while minimizing processing complexity by focusing only on the timestamp elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by performing OCR only on specific regions of each frame where timestamps are located, rather than processing the entire frame. This localized approach reduces computational complexity while maintaining the reliability needed for accurate synchronization.
4Adaptability or versatility
If test data is used for multi-source analytics, then comprehensive testing can be performed, but data usability decreases over time due to synchronization issues
Solution Approach 1:
By embedding visual timestamps in each frame during the original recording, the patent creates a permanent synchronization reference that remains valid indefinitely. This preliminary action ensures that test data can be reused for multi-source analytics long after recording, as the timestamps provide a reliable basis for synchronization regardless of when the analysis occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for synchronizing recorded videos. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of receiving a first video and a second video, determining first time stamps from pixels in the first video, determining second time stamps from pixels in the second video, determining an earliest frame in each of the videos that time stamps match, pairing the earliest frames, determining that a subsequent frame in each of the videos have corresponding time stamps that have a difference that satisfies a criteria, and pairing the subsequent frame in the first video with a frame after the subsequent frame in the second video.