Sectional Video Coding for Multi-Display Camera Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video conferencing systems face issues with high costs and reliability due to electromechanical panning, tilting, and zooming devices, and lack flexibility in switching between views, requiring multiple cameras for dual or multi-display setups.

Innovation Solution

The method involves capturing and processing video images to create a sectional view with controllable zoom, pan, and tilt within a general video view using coding techniques, allowing dual or multi-display without additional cameras, by extracting and compressing pixel values within defined boundaries, and adjusting resolution and frame rate for improved visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electromechanical panning, tilting, and zooming devices are used to change field of view, then the camera can mechanically adjust views, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of view adjustment capabilityVSAvoidcamera structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electromechanical panning, tilting, and zooming devices with a digital processing system. A single fixed camera captures the entire scene, and software algorithms digitally pan, tilt, and zoom by selecting and processing portions of the captured image data. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical components while achieving the same field of view adjustment functionality through computational methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multiple virtual camera views from a single physical camera by generating digital copies and transformations of the captured image data. Through digital processing, it produces multiple simultaneous views (e.g., survey view and zoomed view) that would traditionally require multiple physical cameras, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining view diversity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If electromechanical devices are used for view switching, then mechanical adjustments can be made, but the reliability decreases due to motion-induced failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveview switching capabilityVSAvoidcamera reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electromechanical view switching devices with a digital processing system. A single fixed camera captures the entire scene, and software algorithms digitally pan, tilt, and zoom by selecting and processing portions of the captured image data. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical components while achieving the same field of view adjustment functionality through computational methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cameras are used to provide multiple views, then viewer flexibility improves, but the cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-view capabilityVSAvoidcamera system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes a single camera system perform multiple functions that would traditionally require multiple cameras. By capturing the entire scene with one camera and using digital processing to generate multiple simultaneous views (survey view, zoomed views, pan/tilt views), the system achieves multi-view capability without the complexity of multiple camera units. The single camera serves as a universal device that can provide any desired view through software control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical devices are used for zooming, then focal length can be changed, but the response time increases due to adjustment lag

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezoom capabilityVSAvoidpreset switching time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical zoom devices with a digital processing system. The camera maintains a fixed focal length, and digital zoom is achieved by selectively processing and enlarging portions of the captured image data through software algorithms. This eliminates mechanical adjustment lag, allowing instant zoom transitions between presets without the time delays inherent in mechanical focal length changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7679648B2Method and apparatus for coding a sectional video view captured by a camera at an end-point

Publication Date: 2010.03.16 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

The present invention utilizes video compression techniques in providing multi display and user control of picture layout with a single non-mechanical camera. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a subsection of interest within a general view captured by the camera is coded based on the prediction of the main picture. In one aspect of the embodiment, scaling of the predicted pixel values in the subsection to match with the corresponding raw pixel data of extended resolution is carried out before subtracting the prediction from the raw data to provide the residual in the coding process. In a second aspect, the frame rate and the number of quantization intervals are increased when coding the subsection relative to the coding of the general view.