Video-Based Breathing Monitoring via Motion Vector Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring infant breathing activity, such as wearable sensors, cause skin irritation and discomfort, making them unsuitable for continuous monitoring of newborns, which is crucial for preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Innovation Solution
A method using an electronic device that processes video frames to detect breathing activity through motion vector analysis, converting them into one-dimensional waveforms and frequency domains to determine abnormal breathing without the need for wearable devices, utilizing a processor and memory with modules for image processing, motion vector processing, and breathing frequency analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable sensors are attached to the infant to monitor breathing activity, then breathing monitoring capability is improved, but skin irritation and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wearable sensor system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using physical sensors that contact the infant's body, the invention uses a camera to capture images of the infant's chest movement, processes these images through motion vector analysis, and extracts breathing frequency information. This substitution eliminates direct skin contact while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary imaging system between the observer and the infant's breathing motion. Rather than direct sensor contact, the camera captures visual information about chest movement, and computational algorithms process this intermediate data to derive breathing parameters. This intermediary approach allows remote monitoring without physical contact.
2Reliability
If wearable sensors are used for continuous monitoring, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex wearable sensor systems with a simpler optical imaging approach. The camera system captures visual data that is processed through computational algorithms, eliminating the need for multiple sensors, wires, and processing units that would be required for a complete wearable system. This reduces both device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the infant's chest movement through image processing. Instead of directly measuring physiological signals with sensors, the system captures visual images and extracts motion information algorithmically. This copying approach simplifies the hardware requirements while maintaining monitoring functionality.
3Measurement precision
If motion vector analysis is applied to video frames, then breathing detection accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video frame into multiple blocks and processes each block independently through motion vector calculation. This segmentation allows parallel processing and reduces the computational burden on any single processing unit. By breaking down the complex analysis into smaller manageable segments, the system maintains accuracy while improving processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies motion vector analysis selectively to specific regions of interest within the video frames rather than processing the entire image uniformly. By focusing computational resources on areas where breathing motion is most likely to occur, the system achieves accurate breathing detection with reduced processing time compared to comprehensive analysis of all visual data.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium for monitoring breathing activity. The method includes the following steps. A time series of incoming frames of a monitored subject is received and each incoming frame is spitted into multiple blocks, where each block of the time series of incoming frames with a same position forms a time series of incoming blocks. A motion vector of each block is computed and projected onto multiple non-parallel axes to be assigned a sign. The projected motion vectors of each time series of incoming blocks with respect to each axis are respectively merged into a corresponding 1D waveform and converted into a frequency domain, and an observe area is located accordingly. A breathing frequency of the monitored subject corresponding to the observe area is determined and whether or not the monitored subject is breathing abnormally is thereby determined.