Time-Series Data Augmentation via Segment Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data augmentation techniques for time-series data primarily focus on class identification across entire video inputs, lacking a specific method for augmenting time-series data that includes frames belonging to different classes.

Innovation Solution

A data augmentation apparatus and method that acquire source time-series data and generate augmented data by performing deletion, length change, or position change processes on target time-series data within the source data, ensuring the augmented data includes frames from different classes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data augmentation is performed on entire video data for class identification, then the number of training data pieces increases, but the technique cannot handle time-series data with multiple classes effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of training data piecesVSAvoidapplicability to multi-class time-series data
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video data into multiple time-series segments, each corresponding to different classes. Instead of treating the entire video as a single unit, the method divides it into discrete temporal segments that can be independently augmented. This segmentation enables the data augmentation technique to handle multi-class time-series data effectively while still increasing the overall quantity of training data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different data augmentation operations to different local segments of the time-series data based on their class characteristics. By treating each time-series segment with appropriate augmentation techniques suited to its specific class, the method maintains class-specific properties while expanding the training dataset. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by making the technique adaptable to multi-class data while preserving the benefits of data augmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If more training data is prepared manually, then the accuracy of classification models improves, but the time and effort required for data preparation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoiddata preparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses data augmentation to create synthetic copies of existing time-series data through various transformations. Instead of manually preparing new training data, the system generates additional training samples by applying deletion, length change, and position change operations to existing data. This copying approach increases the quantity and diversity of training data needed for high classification accuracy while avoiding the time-consuming manual data preparation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If data augmentation operations are applied to time-series data, then the variety of training data increases, but the complexity of the augmentation process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of training dataVSAvoidaugmentation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic data augmentation by allowing different augmentation operations to be applied selectively to different time-series segments based on their characteristics. The system dynamically chooses which operations (deletion, length change, position change) to apply to which segments, creating diverse training data without requiring a fixed complex augmentation pipeline. This dynamic approach increases data variety while managing process complexity through flexible, adaptive operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250131943A1Data augmentation apparatus, data augmentation method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.24 NEC CORP
  • US20250131943A1 patent drawing
  • US20250131943A1 patent drawing
  • US20250131943A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A data augmentation apparatus acquires source time-series data. The data augmentation apparatus generates augmented time-series data by performing a modification process on one or more pieces of target time-series data included in the source time-series data. The target time-series data includes a plurality of frames belonging to the same class. The modification process includes a deletion process of deleting the target time-series data, a length change process of changing a length of the target time-series data, or a position change process of changing a position of the target time-series data on a time axis.