IP Library Granted Patent US 11,244,635
Granted Patent B2
US 11,244,635 · App. 16/753,167 · Granted Feb 8, 2022

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, transmission apparatus, transmission method, and reception apparatus

Inventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
G09G3/3406G09G5/10G09G2320/0646G09G2320/0666G09G2360/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,244,635
App. No.
16/753,167
Granted
Feb 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Visual safety is ensured when image switching takes place. When an image is switched by nonlinear reproduction, a display property is kept switched, during a transition display period, to a transition display property with a brightness level kept lower than a normal level, on the basis of pixel statistical information regarding the image. For example, an electro-optic conversion property is controlled to a transition property or the brightness level of a backlight is suppressed.

Claims (42)

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

control circuitry configured to, in response to an instruction of switching from display of a previous image on a display device to display of a current image of a video stream on the display device, the previous image and the current image being not sequential frames in the video stream:

determine pixel statistical information indicating a brightness level of the current image;

determine a transition display period after a time of the switching, the transition display period being calculated based on the pixel statistical information;

for first frames of the video stream within the transition display period, apply a transition display property on the first frames for display on the display device on a basis of the pixel statistical information; and

for second frames of the video stream after the transition display period, apply a normal display property, specified according to control information included in the video stream, on the second frames for display on the display device, the transition display property having a reduced brightness than the normal display property.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the pixel statistical information includes information indicating a ratio, to an entire image, of pixels exceeding a threshold level.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is configured to utilize the pixel statistical information obtained by processing image data.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is configured to utilize information regarding the transition display period obtained on a basis of the pixel statistical information.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is configured to utilize the pixel statistical information or the information regarding the transition display period extracted from encoded image data.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

as the transition display property, a plurality of levels of transition display properties is present, and

the control circuitry is configured to sequentially apply the plurality of levels of transition display properties during the transition display period.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is configured to selectively apply a transition electro-optic conversion property or a normal electro-optic conversion property of the normal display property based on the pixel statistical information during the transition display period.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the control circuitry is configured to keep a brightness level of a backlight of the display device lower than a normal level during the transition display period.

9. An image processing method, comprising, in response to an instruction of switching from display of a previous image on a display device to display of a current image of a video stream on the display device, the previous image and the current image being not sequential frames in the video stream:

determining pixel statistical information indicating a brightness level of the current image;

determining a transition display period after a time of the switching, the transition display period being calculated based on the pixel statistical information;

for first frames of the video stream within the transition display period, applying, by control circuitry of an information processing apparatus, a transition display property on the first frames for display on the display device on a basis of the pixel statistical information; and

for second frames of the video stream after the transition display period, applying, by the control circuitry of the information processing apparatus, a normal display property, specified according to control information included in the video stream, on the second frames for display on the display device, the transition display property has a reduced brightness than the normal display property.

10. A transmission apparatus comprising:

transmission circuitry configured to transmit a video stream obtained by encoding image data, and

processing circuitry configured to include, in the video stream, control information specifying a normal display property for the video stream and pixel statistical information indicating a brightness level of a current image in the video stream, the pixel statistical information is arranged to cause control circuitry of a receiving apparatus to, in response to an instruction of switching from display of a previous image on a display device to display of the current image on the display device, and the previous image and the current image being not sequential frames in the video stream,

determine a transition display period after a time of the switching, the transition display period being calculated based on the pixel statistical information,

for first frames of the video stream within the transition display period, apply a transition display property on the first frames for display on the display device on a basis of the pixel statistical information, and

for second frames of the video stream after the transition display period, apply the normal display property, specified according to the control information included in the video stream, on the second frames for display on the display device, the transition display property having a reduced brightness than the normal display property.

11. The transmission apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the pixel statistical information includes information indicating a ratio, to an entire image, of pixels exceeding a threshold level.

12. The transmission apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the processing circuitry is further configured to include, in the video stream, information regarding the transition display period.

13. The transmission apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the processing circuitry is further configured to include, in the video stream, information regarding at least one transition electro-optic conversion property for the transition display period.

14. The transmission apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the information regarding the at least one transition electro-optic conversion transition property indicates a range of change within with the at least one transition electro-optic conversion transition property differs from a normal electro-optic conversion property of the normal display property.

15. The transmission apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the processing circuitry is further configured to include, in the video stream as the transition property, a plurality of levels of transition properties.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
To: SATURN LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 058442/0365 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058552/0391 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2020
From: TSUKAGOSHI, IKUO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053644/0099 →