Wrist-Wearable Image Processing Delayed Downscaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face challenges in efficiently processing images due to high computing resource and battery power requirements, leading to battery depletion and slowed performance, especially when fully processing images captured by image sensors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of delayed image processing techniques, where image data is downscaled to reduce computing resources and power consumption, allowing for faster processing without degrading user experience, and enabling users to edit and share images efficiently while preserving battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full image processing is applied at the wrist-wearable device, then image quality is improved, but battery life is depleted and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing workflow into two distinct stages: (1) immediate downscaling processing at the wrist-wearable device to produce a preview image, and (2) deferred full-resolution processing at a remote server or cloud service. This segmentation allows the wearable device to maintain battery life while still enabling high-quality image processing eventually, resolving the contradiction between image quality and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step where a downscaled preview image is generated locally at the wearable device, which then serves as an intermediary representation before the full-resolution image is processed remotely. This intermediary approach allows users to interact with image previews using limited local resources while preserving the option for high-quality processing elsewhere, thus resolving the energy-quality tradeoff.
2Measurement precision
If full image processing is applied at the wrist-wearable device, then image quality is improved, but device performance slows down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing workload by performing only downscaling operations locally at the wearable device (which are computationally lightweight) and deferring the intensive full-resolution image processing to a remote server. This segmentation enables fast preview generation at the device while maintaining the capability for high-quality processing, thus resolving the contradiction between image quality and processing speed.
3Loss of time
If immediate image processing is performed, then user feedback is provided quickly, but computing resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing only a subset of the full image processing pipeline immediately at the wearable device - specifically, the downscaling operation to create a preview. This partial processing provides timely user feedback with minimal computing resources, while the remaining processing steps are deferred to when additional resources are available, thus resolving the contradiction between processing speed and resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the delayed processing of image data captured by a wrist-wearable device is provided. The method includes receiving, at a wrist-wearable device, image data having a first resolution. The method includes, responsive to receiving the image data having the first resolution, storing the image data on the wrist-wearable device. The method further includes downscaling at least a portion of the image data to produce downscaled image data having a second resolution and presenting, on the wrist-wearable device, the downscaled image data having the second resolution. The method further includes receiving a request to send a representation of the image data to a device distinct from the wrist-wearable device. Responsive to the request, the method includes causing image-processing algorithms to be applied to the stored image data such that processed image data is generated and made available at the distinct device.