Video Backlight Power Reduction via Histogram Metadata

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile devices face challenges in dynamically adjusting display settings during video playback to reduce energy consumption, as existing methods either require pre-setting brightness levels or result in flicker when applied to videos, and do not effectively adapt power usage based on content.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dynamic, content-based display adaptation using Supplemental Enhancement Information (SEI) messages to embed metadata within video streams, allowing for real-time adjustment of display settings such as backlight and supply voltage, enabling power reduction without affecting perceived quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If brightness control is adjusted prior to video playback, then power consumption can be reduced, but the brightness cannot be changed dynamically during playback

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddynamic brightness adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic brightness control by computing pixel scaling factors in real-time during video playback based on histogram metadata. The system continuously analyzes video content and adjusts display parameters frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene, transforming the static pre-playback brightness setting into a dynamic adaptive control mechanism that responds to actual content requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses histogram metadata embedded in the video stream as feedback about content characteristics. This metadata provides information about pixel intensity distributions, enabling the display controller to make informed decisions about optimal brightness and scaling factors. The feedback loop continuously monitors content properties and adjusts display parameters accordingly during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If backlight scaling based on image RGB components is performed, then power consumption can be reduced, but flicker occurs when applied to videos

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvisual stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent computes pixel scaling factors in advance based on histogram metadata that is extracted and processed before display. By pre-computing the scaling factors from content analysis, the system avoids real-time computation during playback that could cause timing issues and flicker. The scaling factors are prepared ahead of time and applied smoothly during video rendering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms the brightness control approach by changing from direct RGB component scaling to a more sophisticated model that incorporates histogram-based pixel intensity analysis and display-specific parameters like gamma correction. This parameter transformation enables more accurate and stable brightness control that adapts to content characteristics without causing visual artifacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If high display resolution is used, then image quality is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality optimization by analyzing the actual content requirements and adjusting display parameters accordingly. Instead of uniformly maintaining maximum resolution and brightness for all content, the system selectively applies high-quality display parameters only when the video content warrants it. For scenes with lower complexity or lower perceived quality requirements, the system reduces brightness and applies scaling factors that lower power consumption while maintaining acceptable visual quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3025213B1Display power reduction using histogram metadata
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3025213B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3025213B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3025213B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A method includes identifying an optimal backlight value for at least one quality level of a first video segment.The method also includes transmitting data for thefirst video segment. The transmitted data for the first video segment includes a message containinga first set of display adaptation information. The first set of display adaptation information includes the optimal backlight value for the at least one quality level of the first video segment.The method further includes identifying a backlight value for the at least one quality level of a second video segment.The method also includes determining a maximum backlight value change threshold between successive video segments. In addition, the method includes applying temporal smoothing between the optimal backlight value and the backlight value based on the maximum backlight value change threshold.