Buffer Storage for Reverse Video Playback Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image devices playing MPEG-formatted video sequences face issues with cutoff and time delays during reverse play, as they often only display I pictures and cut off P pictures, due to the structure of Group of Pictures (GOP) and the need to decode and store previous GOPs for reverse playback.

Innovation Solution

An image device with a buffer capable of storing more than one GOP, including decoded I and P pictures, and a controller to manage the buffer for seamless reverse playback by storing a previous GOP alongside the current one, allowing continuous display without cutoff or delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If one GOP is stored in the buffer for reverse play, then reverse play of that GOP is achieved, but time delay occurs when decoding and storing previous GOPs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereverse play continuityVSAvoidtime delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-decoding and pre-storing multiple GOPs (specifically two GOPs worth of pictures) in the buffer before reverse play is initiated. This allows the system to immediately output pictures in reverse order without waiting to decode previous GOPs during reverse play, thereby eliminating time delay while maintaining continuous reverse playback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from storing one GOP to storing two GOPs (I-picture GOP and P-picture GOP) in the buffer, adding an additional dimension of storage capacity. This dimensional change allows the system to have both current and previous GOPs available simultaneously, enabling seamless reverse playback without time delay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If only I pictures are displayed during reverse play, then decoding complexity is reduced, but picture quality and continuity deteriorate due to cutoff of P pictures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding complexityVSAvoidpicture continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-decoding both I pictures and P pictures and storing them in the buffer before reverse play begins. This allows the system to output both I and P pictures in reverse order during reverse playback, maintaining picture continuity and quality without increasing decoding complexity during the reverse play operation itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of previous GOPs (I-picture GOP and P-picture GOP) in the buffer, storing multiple versions of picture data. This copying approach allows the system to retrieve and display P pictures during reverse play without needing to re-decode them, maintaining picture continuity while avoiding additional decoding complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP1895773B1Method and apparatus to reverse play with minimal delay
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 HANWHA VISION CO LTD
  • EP1895773B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1895773B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1895773B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An image device capable of reverse play with minimal time delay, and a method thereof. The image device includes a buffer to store a greater number of pictures than constitute a single group of pictures (GOP), and a controller to operate the buffer to store decoded pictures. Accordingly, problems such as cutoff of pictures or time delays are minimized when performing reverse play.