Spatiotemporal Uncertainty Management in Real-Time Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Spatiotemporal misalignments due to latency in real-time, shared first-person perspective sessions can lead to spatial inaccuracies, compromising the fidelity of composite images, particularly in high-stakes environments like microsurgery where precise quantification of errors is crucial.

Innovation Solution

The system employs virtual reality and augmented reality technologies to manage and visualize spatiotemporal uncertainty by using image registration methods, motion estimation algorithms, and processors to render a common field of interest that reflects the presence of both local and remote elements, continuously updating the scene in real-time and accounting for network and processing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If real-time image transmission is implemented in shared first-person perspective sessions, then interaction speed and responsiveness are improved, but spatiotemporal misalignment and spatial inaccuracies worsen due to network and processing latency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction speedVSAvoidspatial accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images at the remote source and preparing them for transmission before they are needed for display. The system proactively manages the image pipeline, including timing stamps and latency compensation, in advance to mitigate the effects of network and processing delays when the images are finally displayed locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring and measuring spatiotemporal uncertainty, then using this information to adjust and compensate for latency effects. The system quantifies the timing differences between image capture and display, and uses this feedback to correct spatial inaccuracies in the composite image visualization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If latency compensation techniques are applied to reduce spatiotemporal uncertainty, then spatial accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating multiple capabilities into a unified architecture. The same image processing pipeline that captures and transmits images also performs timing stamping, latency measurement, and spatial accuracy compensation. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each function.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by dynamically adjusting parameters such as timing stamps and latency compensation values based on actual network and processing conditions. Rather than using fixed complex algorithms, the system adapts parameters in real-time to maintain spatial accuracy while keeping processing requirements manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high-frequency image updates are transmitted to maintain real-time presence, then responsiveness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate frequencyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple image streams and data types into a unified composite image visualization. By combining the local first-person perspective with the remote video feed and overlaying uncertainty visualizations in a single integrated display, the system reduces the need for separate high-frequency transmissions of multiple independent streams, thereby conserving network bandwidth while maintaining real-time responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2853093B1Method for managing spatiotemporal uncertainty
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 VIPAAR
  • EP2853093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2853093B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2853093B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Provided herein are methods and systems for managing spatiotemporal uncertainty in image processing. A method can comprise determining motion from a first image to a second image, determining a latency value, determining a precision value, generating an uncertainty element based upon the motion, the latency value, and the precision value, and rendering the uncertainty element.