Video Overlay for Small Screen Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video communication systems face challenges in displaying local and remote images simultaneously on small screens without occlusion or loss of detail, requiring users to shift attention between the images.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that overlays local video images directly onto remote video images, with image processing operations to ensure separable distinguishability and alignment, allowing for a single composite image to be displayed on limited screens without occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If local and remote images are displayed side by side or in separate portions on the display screen, then both images can be displayed simultaneously, but the screen size must be large enough and user attention must be shifted between images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the local and remote video images into a single composite image by overlaying them in substantial alignment. The scenes from both images are combined such that they appear overlaid on top of each other, creating one integrated visual display that eliminates the need for separate display portions or side-by-side arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side or separate portion display arrangement to a layered three-dimensional overlay arrangement. By combining images in substantial alignment with separable distinguishability, the system effectively uses the depth/layering dimension to display multiple images within the same screen real estate.
2Area of stationary object
If images are overlaid to fit on small screens, then screen space is utilized efficiently, but image detail and distinguishability may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing characteristics to different regions or aspects of the combined image. The local and remote images are processed to have separable distinguishability, meaning they are rendered with different visual properties that allow users to differentiate and focus on either image while maintaining both in the same display area.
3Ease of operation
If images are combined into a single composite image, then occlusion is avoided, but image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing on the local and remote images before combining them. Image processing operations are applied to ensure separable distinguishability, preparing the images in advance for overlay combination. This preliminary preparation simplifies the final combination step and ensures the images can be clearly differentiated when overlaid.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method and system wherein first video images are directly overlaid with remote video images to produce a combined video image which is then displayed to the user and/or stored as appropriate. Preferably at least one of the first and/or remote images is subject to an image processing operation prior to the overlay operation being performed, the image processing operation being such that the scenes contained within the images to be overlaid when processed are separably distinguishable to a user within the combined video image when viewed by the user. The overlay operation is performed such that the scenes contained within the respective video images are substantially in alignment on top of each other. By overlaying the respective first and remote video images as described a single image is obtained within which the respective scenes of the respective first and remote images are still separably distinguishable, but which is still of an appropriate size for display on a screen of limited size without occlusion of one or other of the images.