Tiled 3D Image Depth Border Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating three-dimensional image representations struggle with providing sufficient information for all viewpoints and directions, leading to suboptimal image quality, increased complexity, and resource demands, especially in applications like virtual reality where dynamic and omnidirectional views are required.
Innovation Solution
A tiled three-dimensional image representation system that modifies depth values across neighboring tiles to reduce inconsistencies, using a processor to adjust depth values in border regions to ensure consistency and improve image quality, allowing for efficient communication, storage, and processing while supporting flexible view generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tiles are used to represent different view directions, then coverage of viewing directions is improved, but inconsistencies at tile borders degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying depth values specifically in border regions of tiles rather than uniformly across all tiles. The processing identifies border pixels and adjusts their depth values based on neighboring tiles, applying different processing rules to border regions versus interior regions. This localized approach maintains image quality at critical transition zones while preserving the multi-tile structure for comprehensive view direction coverage.
2Manufacturing precision
If depth values are modified to reduce inconsistencies, then image quality is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing into distinct stages: identifying border regions, retrieving depth values from neighboring tiles, comparing depth values, and conditionally modifying them. This segmentation allows the complex depth modification process to be broken down into manageable steps, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining image quality improvements at tile borders.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses self-service by automatically retrieving depth values from neighboring tiles and using them to guide modifications in border regions. The process is self-regulating, where the depth modification is driven by the actual depth relationships between adjacent tiles rather than requiring external intervention or complex manual processing.
3Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution depth maps are used for all tiles, then image quality is improved, but data storage and transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by modifying depth values only in border regions of tiles rather than processing all depth values in all tiles. This selective approach maintains high image quality at critical transition zones while significantly reducing the total amount of depth data that requires storage and transmission, as interior regions of tiles can use standard depth map resolution without modification.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image representation of a scene comprises a receiver (301) receiving a tiled three-dimensional image representation of a scene from a first viewpoint, the representation comprising a plurality of interconnected tiles, each tile comprising a depth map and a texture map representing a viewport of the scene from the first viewpoint and the tiles forming a tiling pattern. A first processor (311) determines neighboring border regions in at least a first tile and in a second tile in response to the tiling pattern. A second processor (309) modifies at least a first depth value of a first border region of the first tile in response to at least a second depth value in a second border region of the second tile, the border regions being neighboring regions. The modified depth maps may be used to generate a mesh based on which images may be generated.