Patent Application
20250082094
The present invention relates to the field of personal care devices, and in particular to the field of personal care devices that capture digital impressions of one or more features of a user.
It is known to provide personal care devices with the ability or functionality to capture digital impressions (e.g. images) of a feature or part of a user during use. For example, Intra-Oral Scanner (IOS) devices use projected light (e.g. laser or structured light) and an image sensor to capture images of the dentogingival tissues. These images can be processed to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the scanned surface. Data provided by IOS can therefore be useful for oral care, including the detection of common dental pathologies such as caries, tooth discoloration, misalignment. Also, it may be advantageous to capture and compare repeated IOS images, to enable identification of changes in dentogingival tissues over time for example.
Because personal care devices, such as electric brushing devices, are used in the oral cavity on a regular (e.g. daily basis), they may provide a suitable vehicle to regularly capture the images of a part of a user. Accordingly, there is trend to integrate cameras or imaging sensors into personal care devices, such as toothbrushes for example. However, because a main usage characteristic of such a personal care device may be its vibration or cyclical/periodic movement, images acquired by a camera integrated with a personal care device are typically distorted and/or blurred by the movement/vibration of the device.
Although image stabilization techniques are known for portable handheld devices (e.g. smart phone, digital photo cameras, etc.), such techniques are only designed and optimized for low frequency (e.g. <10 Hz), erratic (e.g. non-periodic, random, etc.) user-induced motions. Because a personal care device (such as an electric toothbrush) typically moves or vibrates at a much higher periodic frequency (e.g. >20-300 Hz), there remains a need to stabilize the image capture process and/or make the image acquisition process robust to device movements/vibrations generated by a personal care device.
The invention is defined by the claims.
According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of processing captured images from an personal care device, wherein the personal care device comprises: vibratory means (12) adapted to vibrate the personal care device so that, in use, a vibratory portion of the personal care device vibrates; and a camera adapted, in use, to capture an image of one or more features of a user, the captured image being influenced by vibration of the personal care device, and wherein the method comprises:
Proposed concepts thus aim to provide schemes, solutions, concepts, designs, methods and systems pertaining to aiding and/or improving image acquisition from a vibratory personal care device having a camera that is configured to capture an image which is influenced by the device vibration. This may either be a camera fixed rigidly to the vibrating device which may then vibrate with the device. Alternatively the camera sensor itself may be situated in a stationary part of a device (e.g. a brush handle) whilst the optical system of the device (like an optical fiber, the imaging lens of the optical system) are subject to the device vibrations. In particular, embodiments of the invention propose determining the position (i.e. relative location and/or orientation) of the vibratory portion at the time the image, or the portion of the image, is captured. The pixel shift caused by the difference in position of the vibratory portion, e.g. in terms of position or orientation relative to a reference point/axis, can then be calculated and the pixel data shifted/moved accordingly. Thus, through shifting/adjusting the pixel data based on the position of the vibratory portion, improved images (e.g. images exhibiting less wobble) may be constructed/generated. In this way, improved images may be obtained from a vibratory personal care device.
The position of the vibratory portion may describe at least one of its location and orientation so that when the position is known both the location and/or orientation of the vibratory portion is known. This description may be with respect (i.e. defined relative to) a reference configuration, such as a rest location and orientation).
In particular, it is proposed that, to reduce or minimize the wobble caused by the capture of data at different points in the vibration cycle, image data may be adapted based on the point in the vibration cycle at which the data is captured. For instance, image data may be shifted based on the point in the vibration cycle, thus ensuring that image data is shifted and repositioned to generate a reconstructed image with fewer wobbles due to the vibratory motion.
It has been realized that the position (including the location and/or orientation) of the vibratory portion may be identified and therefore the direction of the optical path of the camera may also be known. Thus, the position from which image data is captured may be determined, and this can be used to ensure that the image data is assigned to the correct area of an image therefore reducing the effect of data being captured at different times in the vibratory cycle. This can then be used to construct a high quality image (in terms of reduced distortion), thus facilitating improved oral/dental care decision making. Thus, by compensating for the vibratory motion improved images (e.g. images exhibiting less distortion) may be constructed/generated.
In other words, embodiments propose to adjust the pixel data position for a region based on the specific arrangement/configuration of the vibratory portion when data for that region is captured.
By adjusting the pixel data position to reduce/eliminate the effect of the different position of the vibratory portion, images of improved quality may be generated. Embodiments may therefore facilitate stable and high-quality image acquisition during tooth brushing. Such embodiments may be particularly relevant to tele-dentistry propositions, for example, by enabling improved imaging of a user's tooth, gum, tongue, etc. For instance, images obtained by proposed embodiments may aid dental care treatments and/or decision-making. Accordingly, embodiments may be used in relation to dental treatment selection so as support a dental care professional when selecting treatment for a subject.
Further, embodiments may facilitate image-based diagnostics, superior location sensing, therapy planning (e.g. orthodontics, aligners) and/or dental treatment monitoring.
By being integrated into the normal brushing regimen of a user (instead of using separate devices such as smart phones, dental endo-scopes or handheld intraoral scanners), embodiments may support improved dental care. Improved image-based dental care may therefore be provided by proposed concepts.
Embodiments may, however, be applicable to other vibratory personal care devices, such as shavers, skin cleansing devices, and the like. Embodiments may therefore provide the advantage that decision making in selecting a care treatment can be improved through the use of images captured by a vibratory personal care device. For example, embodiments may enable a larger number of oral care treatment options to be available (e.g. through the provision of more and/or improved information about a subject's oral health).
In some embodiments the step of mapping comprises mapping each region of a plurality of different regions of the captured image to a respective position of the vibratory portion. Thus, each different region of the captured image may be mapped to a position of the vibratory portion and the pixel data for each region may then be shifted according to the position of the vibratory portion when the data is captured.
In some embodiments the step of calculating may comprise calculating the pixel shift for each region based on the position of the vibratory portion. The appropriate pixel shift of each region can therefore be calculated so that the pixel data for each region is shifted by the correct amounts. The pixel shift for different regions may be different although the pixel shift for some regions may be the same.
In some embodiments shifting comprises shifting the pixel data in each region by the calculated pixel shift for each region to generate a corrected image. Again, this ensures that the different regions can be compensated by different amounts.
By mapping each regions, calculating the pixel shift for each region and shifting each region the displacement caused by the motion (and different direction of) the personal care device can be compensated to generate a reconstructed image with less distortion and wobble.
In some embodiments, the pixel shift may be proportional to the distance, d, between the vibratory portion and an image plane of the camera. The position of the vibratory portion from a central axis may be given by θvib, and the pixel shift may then be calculated based on both the distance d and the angle θvib, and preferably by d·tan θvib as the pixel shift distance.
By way of further example, embodiments may define in the captured image a region of minimal pixel shift. Calculating the pixel shift for the at least one region may then be further based on the distance of the at least one region from the region of minimal pixel shift.
In an embodiment, the pixel shift for the at least one region may be further based the angle of rotation of the vibration, θrot
That is, some personal care devices may rotate from a central axis and the position of the vibratory portion from a central axis may then be given by θvib. In some embodiments the pixel shift may then be calculated using d·tan θvib or indeed other similar geometric constructions using both the distance d and the angle θvib to give the pixel shift distance where the distance between the vibratory portion and an image plane of the camera may be given by d. In this way, the pixel shift for a region of the image may be calculated.
In other personal care devices the vibratory portion vibrates rotationally around a z axis and the position of the vibratory portion from a central rotational position is given by θrot. In this example, the rotational displacement is dependent upon the distance, r, from the rotational axis. The pixel shift distance in an x direction, dx is calculated using r·sin θrot. sin θrot and the pixel shift distance in a y direction, dy, is calculated using r·sin θrot. cos θrot where d is the distance between the vibratory portion and an image plane of the camera. These give an accurate calculation of the necessary pixel shift to compensate for the rotational motion of the optical path of the camera.
By way of example, mapping each region of the captured image to a position of the vibratory portion may comprise determining the position of the vibratory portion at the time the image of respective region was captured.
In some embodiments calculating the pixel shift for each region may use the pixel density of the captured image (or the sensor of the camera) to calculate the pixel shift for each region. This can be used to determine the number of pixels by which the pixel data must be shifted to generate a corrected image. Here, reference to pixel may encompass a single sensing element of an image sensor or a sensing element (single sensor) of an image sensor array. That is, a pixel may be thought of as being a single element of a sensed image, wherein the sensed image is formed from a plurality of sensed elements (i.e. pixels).
Regions may be allocated according to the time at which a part of an image is captured. For example, a region is an area in which the image data is captured at a particular time, or within a particular time period.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program comprising computer program code means which is adapted, when said computer program is run on a computer, to implement the method according to a proposed embodiment.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for processing captured images from a personal care device, wherein the personal care device comprises: vibratory means (12) adapted to vibrate the personal care device so that, in use, a vibratory portion of the personal care device vibrates; and a camera adapted, in use, to capture an image of one or more features of a user, the captured image being influenced by vibration of the personal care device. The system comprises:
Thus, pixel data can be shifted to compensate for the position of the vibratory portion so that a less distorted image is obtained.
Such a system may be provided as a standalone system for use with one or more personal care devices. Thus, a system according to an embodiment may be employed with a conventional vibratory personal care device to provided improved and/or extended functionality.
According to an embodiment there is provided a personal care device comprising:
In some embodiments the camera may be located on the vibratory portion. When the camera is located on the vibratory portion the optical path of the camera is changed similarly to the position, i.e. location or orientation, of the vibratory portion. In other embodiments the camera may be located on another, non-vibratory portion of the personal care device but the optical path passes through the vibratory portion.
The personal care device may comprise a toothbrush, and may preferably comprise an electric toothbrush that is adapted to vibrate in use. In other embodiments, the personal care device may comprise a mouthpiece, shaver or a skin cleansing device that is adapted to vibrate in use. One or more proposed concept(s) may therefore be employed in a range of different personal care devices. Embodiments may therefore have wide application in the field of personal care devices (and image capture and/or processing concepts for images captured by vibratory personal care devices).
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.
It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.
The invention proposes concepts for aiding and/or improving image acquisition from a vibratory personal care device having a camera where the camera image vibrates together with the device, such that an image captured by camera is influenced by vibration of the personal care device. In particular, embodiments may provide a system, device and/or method which identifies image data captured during a vibratory period when the vibratory portion is not at a specific position. The vibratory portion could be measured relative to a central target position (e.g. reference location and/or reference orientation), or another position. Image data capture when the vibratory portion is not at the specific position is identified and the displacement from the specific, target position calculated. Pixel data can then be moved (e.g. shifted or translated) to compensate for the deviation from the target position. For example, the pixel data can then be moved so that it is at the specific target position. Through such control of the image data acquisition, improved images (e.g. images exhibiting reduced distortion or wobble) may be obtained.
Referring to
The electric toothbrush 10 also comprises a camera 16 (e.g. digital camera) that is adapted, in use, to capture images of one or more oral features of a user. Furthermore,
More specifically, the motor 12 is configured to cause the brush head 14 to repeatedly vibrate. The vibrations can either be rotating around a y axis (as depicted in
Purely by way of example, the brush head 14 may repeatedly rotate clockwise then anti-clockwise by around 10°-25° from a rest position in a periodic manner. Other embodiments may, however, employ a brush head that vibrates in a different manner. For instance, alternative embodiments may comprise a brush head that shakes (left and right, or up and down) repeatedly, i.e. repeatedly displaces (laterally or vertically) in opposite directions from a rest position.
By way of further illustration,
As can be seen from the variation in
Referring back to the embodiment of
Specifically, the processor arrangement 18A obtains the time at which a region of the image is obtained and maps this to the position of the brush head 14 at the time the image of the region is captured. The vibratory motion of the brush head 14 is known and therefore can easily be mapped to the time at which the image of the region is captured.
Using the example of the vibratory motion depicted in
Similarly, using the example of the vibratory motion depictured in
In the example depicted in
The image processor 18B is then adapted to calculate the pixel shift for the region based on the position of the brush head. An example of this for the vibratory motion of
Once the displacement is known the pixel density can then be used to determine how far in the image the pixel data for a region is shifted or moved.
For a specific example of an image frame with 620 columns and 480 rows of pixels capturing an area of 10 mm×10 mm. If the displacement (calculated above) due to the vibratory motion at the time of image capture is 2 mm then the pixel data should be shifted by 20% of the image. If the vibration is in the row direction this will result in a shift of 124 pixels (20% of 620). If the vibration is in the column direction it will result in a shift of 96 pixels (20% of 480). If the vibration makes an angle β with the column direction then the shift will be a vector with length 2 mm comprising a 96·sin β number of rows and 128·cos β number of columns.
We have described the shift of the image as a function of the distance of the feature in the image from the region of the image with minimal pixel shift, r, and the angle of rotation of the vibration, θrot. Here we describe an example of a further the step of converting the pixel shift from the rotational co-ordinate system to the cartesian system of the camera image. In this example, for the rotational motion depicted in
Once the displacement is known, it can be converted to a number of pixels in the image in a similar manner as described above.
Although two different vibratory motions are described in conjunction with
The image processor 18C then shifts, or moves, the pixel data to generate a corrected image. In an embodiment pixel data is shifted by the distance calculated by processor 18B.
The present invention uses the known geometry and vibrational motion of the camera to correct for different directions of the camera during image capture.
In some embodiments, a plurality of regions of an image are processed by processors 18A, 18B and 18C so, for each of the plurality of regions the position of the vibratory portion is mapped, a pixel shift is calculated and the pixels are shifted by the distance calculated. In some embodiments, each region of an image is processed by processors 18A, 18B and 18C so, for each region the position of the vibratory portion is mapped, a pixel shift is calculated and the pixels are shifted by the distance calculated.
To aid reduction in the exposure duration that is required to capture an adequately exposed image, the camera 16 of the embodiment of
Also, although the embodiment of
Additionally, the embodiment described above shifts the pixel data of the region for which the displacement is calculated. Alternatively pixel data from other regions could be shifted to compensate for the displacement.
Referring to
The mouthpiece 40 comprises vibratory means 42 (specifically, an electric motor) that is adapted, in use, to cause the mouthpiece to vibrate with periodic vibration waveform (having a frequency in the range of 100 Hz-500 Hz).
The mouthpiece 40 also comprises a camera 44 positioned in the tray of the mouthpiece and adapted, in use, to capture images of one or more oral features of the user. A flash LED 46 is also provided in the tray of the mouthpiece for illuminating the oral cavity of the user, in use. The camera 44 and LED 46 are configured to be controlled by a control unit (i.e. controller) 48 of the mouthpiece.
Incorporated with the control unit 48 is a system 49 for processing captured images from the camera 44. The system 49 is configured to map at least one region of the captured image to a position of the camera. For assisting the system 50, the mouthpiece 40 also comprises a sensor arrangement 50 that is adapted to sense an operating parameter of the mouthpiece 40. Specifically, in this example, the sensor arrangement 50 comprises an accelerometer and gyroscope for detecting variations in displacement and velocity of the mouthpiece 40. Information about the detected variations in displacement and velocity of the mouthpiece 40 is provided to the system 50 and, further based on this information, the system 49 maps a region of the captured image to the position of the camera, or optical path of the camera.
As already explained above with reference to the embodiment of
It is noted that the camera in the embodiments described above comprises a rolling shutter camera configured to operate at an image capture frame rate. With respect to such a rolling shutter camera, trade-offs in operating characteristics may be required. For example, rolling shutter cameras may be more cost effective (e.g. cheaper) but may take longer for a full image capture depending on the acquisition settings and/or capabilities.
For a rolling shutter camera, the shutter and capture are typically per line, and thus different lines will have different displacements due to the vibratory motion. Each line, or region, may be displaced by a different amount resulting in a distorted image with a “wobble” effect. Examples of such images are shown in
Thus, it will be appreciated that the rolling shutter camera can be free running and out of synchronization with vibration of the personal care device (and thus the image data capture frequency). A full image may then be reconstructed from image data acquired from multiple difference frames of the rolling shutter camera.
Also, a similar principle may be employed a high-speed global shutter camera where rather than lines being shifted, individual images are shifted and can be corrected as a whole for the motion. For instance, where a first image is taken left and a second image taken right, the pixel shift between both can be calculated and thus these two images can be corrected for location and added to increase S/N ratio (or wide angle image created by using the correct parts of each image), as can be done per line in the rolling shutter camera implementation.
For example,
As depicted in
The brush head position is determined for each of the first, second and third times by processor 18A and displacement for each of the regions 551, 552 and 553 is calculated by processor 18B. As depicted in
The inventors have realized that the cause of the wobble is related to the precise angle of the camera (or, specifically, the focusing lens of the camera) to the tooth which can cause wobbly images.
Examples of scenarios in which wobbly images may result in:
It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention can be applied to the situations, and scenarios described above. After correction of the displaced regions, an improved quality image can result.
It will therefore be appreciated that embodiments may be configured to determine the position of the vibratory portion and then correct the image data for the variation from a specific point. The image data may be corrected to a central point, or may be corrected to another specific point. By adjusting, or correcting, the image data to a single point in the vibratory cycle the distortion due to the vibration can be reduced or eliminated.
Removing the distortion enables improves images to be obtained and therefore improved oral care to be administered.
In the example of
By way of example, referring now to
For this exemplary embodiment, the personal care device comprises: a vibratory portion and a camera adapted, in use, to capture images of one or more oral features of a user and having an optical path that passes through the vibratory portion. Each image comprises one or more regions.
The method 600 begins with the initialization 610 of a reconstruction image. For instance, the reconstruction image may be initialized with a first raw captured image from the camera.
Next, in step 620, a captured image from the camera image is processed with an image processing algorithm to map at least one region of the captured image to a position of the vibratory portion. Such a region may be as little as a single pixel for example. Specifically, the image processing algorithm compares the position of the vibratory portion at a time the image of the region was captured.
Then, the pixel shift for the region is calculated in step 630.
In step 640, pixel data is shifted. In an embodiment, pixel data from the region is shifted by the amount calculated in step 630. Thus, a corrected image is generated using the pixel shifted data. As indicated by the arrow labelled “650”, the process of mapping a region can be repeated for each region in an image.
From the above description of various concepts and embodiments, it will be appreciated that there is proposed a method of processing captured images from an personal care device. Such a method may be employed in a processing system or computer, and such a system/computer may be integrated with a vibratory personal care device.
The computer 70 includes, but is not limited to, PCs, workstations, laptops, PDAs, palm devices, servers, storages, and the like. Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, the computer 70 may include one or more processors 71, memory 72, and one or more I/O devices 73 that are communicatively coupled via a local interface (not shown). The local interface can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The local interface may have additional elements, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components.
The processor 71 is a hardware device for executing software that can be stored in the memory 72. The processor 71 can be virtually any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the computer 70, and the processor 71 may be a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip) or a microprocessor.
The memory 72 can include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and non-volatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), tape, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette, cartridge, cassette or the like, etc.). Moreover, the memory 72 may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory 72 can have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remote from one another, but can be accessed by the processor 71.
The software in the memory 72 may include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. The software in the memory 72 includes a suitable operating system (O/S) 74, compiler 76, source code 75, and one or more applications 77 in accordance with exemplary embodiments. As illustrated, the application 77 comprises numerous functional components for implementing the features and operations of the exemplary embodiments. The application 77 of the computer 70 may represent various applications, computational units, logic, functional units, processes, operations, virtual entities, and/or modules in accordance with exemplary embodiments, but the application 77 is not meant to be a limitation.
The operating system 74 controls the execution of other computer programs, and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services. It is contemplated by the inventors that the application 77 for implementing exemplary embodiments may be applicable on all commercially available operating systems.
Application 77 may be a source program, executable program (object code), script, or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be performed. When a source program, then the program is usually translated via a compiler (such as the compiler 76), assembler, interpreter, or the like, which may or may not be included within the memory 72, so as to operate properly in connection with the O/S 74. Furthermore, the application 77 can be written as an object oriented programming language, which has classes of data and methods, or a procedure programming language, which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions, for example but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Pascal, BASIC, API calls, HTML, XHTML, XML, ASP scripts, JavaScript, FORTRAN, COBOL, Perl, Java, ADA, .NET, and the like.
The I/O devices 73 may include input devices such as, for example but not limited to, a mouse, keyboard, scanner, microphone, camera, etc. Furthermore, the I/O devices 73 may also include output devices, for example but not limited to a printer, display, etc. Finally, the I/O devices 73 may further include devices that communicate both inputs and outputs, for instance but not limited to, a NIC or modulator/demodulator (for accessing remote devices, other files, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, etc. The I/O devices 73 also include components for communicating over various networks, such as the Internet or intranet.
If the computer 70 is a PC, workstation, intelligent device or the like, the software in the memory 72 may further include a basic input output system (BIOS) (omitted for simplicity). The BIOS is a set of essential software routines that initialize and test hardware at startup, start the O/S 74, and support the transfer of data among the hardware devices. The BIOS is stored in some type of read-only-memory, such as ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or the like, so that the BIOS can be executed when the computer 70 is activated.
When the computer 70 is in operation, the processor 71 is configured to execute software stored within the memory 72, to communicate data to and from the memory 72, and to generally control operations of the computer 70 pursuant to the software. The application 77 and the O/S 74 are read, in whole or in part, by the processor 71, perhaps buffered within the processor 71, and then executed.
When the application 77 is implemented in software it should be noted that the application 77 can be stored on virtually any computer readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer readable medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method.
The application 77 can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium.
The proposed image capture and/or processing methods, may be implemented in hardware or software, or a mixture of both (for example, as firmware running on a hardware device). To the extent that an embodiment is implemented partly or wholly in software, the functional steps illustrated in the process flowcharts may be performed by suitably programmed physical computing devices, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs) or graphics processing units (GPUs). Each process—and its individual component steps as illustrated in the flowcharts—may be performed by the same or different computing devices. According to embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program comprising computer program code configured to cause one or more physical computing devices to carry out an encoding or decoding method as described above when the program is run on the one or more physical computing devices.
Storage media may include volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, optical discs (like CD, DVD, BD), magnetic storage media (like hard discs and tapes). Various storage media may be fixed within a computing device or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor.
To the extent that an embodiment is implemented partly or wholly in hardware, the blocks shown in the block diagrams of
Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. If a computer program is discussed above, it may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. If the term “adapted to” is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term “adapted to” is intended to be equivalent to the term “configured to”. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21217451.0 | Dec 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/084894 | 12/8/2022 | WO |
