Virtual Image Frames Mask USB Camera Stream Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera processing in computing devices often results in significant resource usage, leading to pauses in image streams during preview or recording, causing user confusion and a need for improved processing methods.
Innovation Solution
The system detects pauses in image streams from imaging devices and generates virtual image frames with status indicators, which are inserted into the data stream to maintain a continuous display, masking latency and providing user feedback on camera status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the camera performs image processing (auto-focus, white balance, resolution reconfiguration), then image quality and processing capabilities are improved, but the camera cannot capture additional images until processing is completed, causing pauses in the image stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual image frames as an intermediary element between the camera hardware and the display/application. When the camera is busy processing images, the system generates virtual frames that fill the gap in the image stream, mediating between the camera's intermittent capture capability and the continuous display requirement. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the camera to focus on processing quality while the virtual frames maintain continuous output appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of the actual image data in the form of virtual image frames. These virtual frames are generated by copying and manipulating existing image data (such as the last captured frame or predicted frames) to fill gaps in the stream. This allows the system to maintain continuous frame output without requiring the camera to continuously capture images, thus resolving the productivity-quality tradeoff.
2Reliability
If the camera pauses to complete processing, then processing resources are allocated properly, but the display shows pauses that confuse users about device status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating status indicators within the virtual image frames that communicate camera processing status to the user. These indicators (such as loading icons, status icons, or visual cues) provide immediate feedback about whether the camera is capturing, processing, or busy, eliminating user confusion while maintaining reliable processing completion. The feedback mechanism bridges the gap between backend processing and user perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual image frames serve as an intermediary layer that translates camera processing status into visible feedback for users. Instead of showing raw pauses or errors, the intermediary virtual frames transform the processing state into user-friendly visual indicators, maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the system maintains continuous frame rate display, then user experience is improved, but actual image data is lost during camera processing pauses
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses copying by creating virtual image frames that replicate or interpolate actual image data during camera processing pauses. These virtual frames copy existing frame data or generate predicted frames to maintain the continuous frame rate appearance. While some information is inevitably lost during processing, the copying mechanism minimizes the impact by preserving visual continuity and providing status feedback, thus balancing productivity with information preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for masking latency may include detecting a pause in receiving an image stream from an imaging device and generating one or more virtual image frames, each including a status indicator to indicate a status of the imaging device when the pause in receiving the image stream is detected. The methods and devices may also include generating, at the operating system, a data stream with the one or more virtual image frames inserted after a last image frame of the received image stream. In addition, the methods and devices may include transmitting the data stream to an application.