Video Frame Attribute Analysis for Memory Transfer Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing moving-image reproducing apparatuses face high memory transfer and power consumption due to the need to process and display frames, especially when handling still image insertion during video recording, which increases processing load and power usage.

Innovation Solution

A moving-image reproducing apparatus that includes an attribute analyzing unit to determine if a frame has the same image as the previous frame, allowing only non-identical frames to be decompressed and displayed, while skipping the decompression of identical frames, thereby reducing memory transfer and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all frames are decompressed and displayed to ensure complete video reproduction, then video quality and continuity are maintained, but memory transfer amount and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo reproduction qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the skipping principle by identifying and skipping the decompression of frames that are identical to the previous frame. The attribute analyzing unit determines whether a frame is an SMB image (skip macroblock image) where all macroblocks have the same attribute as the previous frame, and if so, the decompression process is skipped entirely, reducing memory transfer and power consumption while maintaining video reproduction quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of frame processing by introducing an attribute-based determination mechanism. Instead of processing all frames uniformly, the system analyzes the attribute of each frame to determine whether it needs full decompression or can be skipped, thereby optimizing the balance between reproduction quality and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all frames are decompressed and displayed to ensure complete video reproduction, then video quality and continuity are maintained, but memory transfer amount increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo reproduction qualityVSAvoidmemory transfer amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the skipping principle by identifying and skipping the decompression of frames that are identical to the previous frame. The attribute analyzing unit determines whether a frame is an SMB image (skip macroblock image) where all macroblocks have the same attribute as the previous frame, and if so, the decompression process is skipped entirely, reducing memory transfer and power consumption while maintaining video reproduction quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by using the attribute analyzing unit to examine frame attributes before the decompression process. This preliminary determination identifies which frames can be skipped, allowing the system to prepare and execute the decompression only for necessary frames, thereby reducing overall memory transfer requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If still images are inserted during moving image recording to maintain continuous file structure, then recording continuity is maintained, but processing load and power consumption increase during reproduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording continuityVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the skipping principle by identifying and skipping the decompression of frames that are identical to the previous frame. The attribute analyzing unit determines whether a frame is an SMB image (skip macroblock image) where all macroblocks have the same attribute as the previous frame, and if so, the decompression process is skipped entirely, reducing memory transfer and power consumption while maintaining video reproduction quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of frame processing by introducing an attribute-based determination mechanism. Instead of processing all frames uniformly, the system analyzes the attribute of each frame to determine whether it needs full decompression or can be skipped, thereby optimizing the balance between reproduction quality and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8107534B2Moving-image reproducing apparatus and moving-image reproducing method

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 CANON KK

AI summary

A moving-image reproducing apparatus determines whether one frame of a movie has the same image as that of the previous frame on the basis of the analysis of the movie, inputs compressed frame data about a frame that is not determined to have the same image as that of the previous frame into a decompressing unit, causes the image in the frame data decompressed by the decompressing unit to be displayed as at least one frame, and causes the compressed frame data about a frame that is determined to have the same image as that of the previous frame not to be input into the decompressing unit.