Video Conferencing Background Processing for Mobile Power Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video conferencing on battery-powered mobile devices consumes significant power due to continuous processing of both foreground and background elements, which can be optimized to extend battery life.

Innovation Solution

Distinguish between static and dynamic backgrounds in video frames, processing the foreground at full frame rate and the background at reduced frame rate, and optionally blending with stored images to reduce processing load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous processing of both foreground and background elements is performed, then video quality is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video frame into foreground and background regions, applying different processing frequencies to each. The foreground is processed at full frame rate while the background is processed at reduced frame rate, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining video quality for the most important elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing quality levels to different regions of the video frame. The foreground receives high-quality processing to maintain clarity and communication effectiveness, while the background receives reduced processing, optimizing the trade-off between quality and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If background processing is reduced, then power consumption decreases, but processing accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the image into foreground and background, the system can apply full processing accuracy to the foreground where it matters most, while using reduced processing for the background. This segmented approach maintains overall processing accuracy for critical elements while reducing total power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250217997A1Power-efficient video conferencing

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Unique characteristics of a video in video conferencing can be exploited for power savings by reducing the rate of processing of a background. The background, if sufficiently static enough, the signal processing of the background can be skipped to save power. Skipping the background means the signal processing processes a cropped image having the foreground only. As a result, the foreground would be processed by the signal processing at a full frame rate, while the background is processed at a reduced frame rate. Optionally, the processed cropped image can be blended with a stored image. Optionally, the processed cropped image can be output without blending.