Stereoscopic 3D Image Transmission for Remote Collaboration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current remote collaboration systems for complex activities like surgery lack the ability to transmit high-quality, synchronized stereoscopic 3D images, leading to reduced image quality and increased latency due to the need for frame compression and synchronization issues between left and right video channels, which compromises the reliability and precision of remote monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A method for transmitting and combining multimedia information using stereoscopic 3D image capture and processing, where two data signals are packed into a single progressive stereoscopic 3D image signal, allowing for ultra-low latency and maintaining synchronization without additional hardware or software synchronization, enabling high-resolution, real-time image transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional systems compress frames of both channels into a single frame to reduce transmission complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality is reduced by at least 50%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission system complexityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission process into distinct stages: capturing left and right images separately with stereoscopic cameras, encoding them as independent data streams, transmitting both streams simultaneously over the network, and decoding them separately at the receiving end. This segmentation maintains full image quality for each channel while managing transmission complexity through structured organization of the transmission pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from conventional 2D image transmission to stereoscopic 3D image transmission by adding a temporal and spatial dimension. Instead of compressing depth information into a single 2D frame, the system transmits two separate 3D image streams (left and right channels) that preserve full resolution and depth information, enabling the receiving device to reconstruct accurate stereoscopic images.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional systems use advanced multimedia technology to send high-resolution images, then image quality is improved, but latency increases significantly making real-time monitoring impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes transmission parameters including using efficient stereoscopic image compression algorithms that maintain high quality while reducing data size, adjusting bitrate and resolution dynamically based on network conditions, and optimizing encoding/decoding parameters to minimize processing time. These parameter adjustments enable high-resolution stereoscopic image transmission with reduced latency suitable for real-time surgical monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If conventional systems transmit two video sources over a network, then complete information is transmitted, but synchronization problems cause time lag between signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo information completenessVSAvoidsignal synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements synchronization mechanisms that monitor the timing and arrival of left and right image streams separately, detect any desynchronization, and apply corrective measures such as buffer adjustment or frame reordering to maintain precise synchronization between the two channels throughout transmission over the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes synchronization protocols and timing markers at the beginning of the transmission process, pre-configuring buffer sizes and timing parameters to anticipate and prevent synchronization issues before they occur, ensuring that left and right image streams remain synchronized throughout the entire transmission and playback process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4325845A1Remote audiovisual assistance method
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 3D EXPERIENCES IBERIA SL
  • EP4325845A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4325845A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4325845A1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the technical field of remote cooperative activities by means of augmented reality in three dimensions (3D). More particularly, it is aimed at a method for transmitting and combining multimedia information at remote workstations.