Remote Support Video Synchronization via Timestamp Buffering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote support communication systems face challenges in synchronizing video displays with graphical elements, leading to delays that hinder communication, especially in applications like telemedicine where synchronization is critical.
Innovation Solution
A remote support communication system that includes a user terminal unit and an operator terminal unit, where the user terminal unit receives video frames and timestamps, and the operator terminal unit sends graphical elements with timestamps, allowing for precise synchronization through a synchronization procedure that adjusts for transmission delays and clock drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graphical elements are superimposed on video in real-time remote support communication, then the support operator can point at specific portions of the physical object, but the transmission delay causes desynchronization between video and graphical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and buffering video frames before they are displayed, and by pre-processing graphical elements before transmission. The video frame buffer stores captured frames with timestamps, allowing the system to retrieve and display frames in synchronization with graphical elements, compensating for transmission delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the timestamps of video frames and graphical elements, detecting desynchronization, and adjusting the display timing accordingly. The buffer management system uses feedback from timestamp comparisons to maintain proper synchronization between video and graphical elements.
2Speed
If video transmission is performed in real-time, then the user can see the physical object during communication, but transmission delays cause the video and graphical elements to become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
Video frames are captured and buffered in advance with timestamps before being displayed. This preliminary buffering action allows the system to maintain a reservoir of video frames that can be displayed in synchronization with graphical elements, ensuring reliable alignment despite transmission speed variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The video frame buffer acts as an intermediary between video capture and display, decoupling the video transmission timeline from the graphical element display timeline. This intermediary buffer absorbs timing variations and ensures that video and graphical elements remain properly aligned.
3Ease of manufacture
If graphical elements are generated at the support operator side with delay, then processing can be completed, but the enriched video received by the user is delayed with respect to when the video is acquired
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary buffering of video frames with timestamps before they are displayed or processed further. This preliminary action creates a time buffer that compensates for the processing time required to generate and transmit graphical elements, ensuring that the enriched video remains synchronized with the original capture time.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A remote support communication system (100) is provided. The remote support communication system (100) comprises a user terminal unit (T1) and an operator terminal unit (T2). Said user terminal unit (T1) comprises a camera module (104) configured to shoot video images of an object (O) in order to acquire an ordered sequence of video frames (f(i)) forming a corresponding first video (V) of the object (O) and a video transmission module (108) configured to transmit the video frames (f(i)) to the operator terminal unit (T2). Said operator terminal unit (T2) comprises a display and drawing module (146) configured to display the video frames (f(i)) and allow an operator (B) of the operator terminal unit (T2) to generate digital graphic components (g(j)) to be superimposed on respective video frames (f(i)); a graphic transmitter module (150) configured to transmit said graphic components (g(j)) to the user terminal unit (T1). The user terminal unit (T1) further comprises a graphic receiver module (110) configured to receive from the operator terminal unit (T2) the digital graphic components (g(j)); a display module (112) configured to display a second video (D) based on the video frames (f(i)) and based on the received digital graphic components (g(j)); a synchronization module (114) configured to control the display module (112) in such a way to display received digital graphic components (g(j)) superimposed on respective video frames (f(i)).