Ground system and image processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12348910-B2
Application number	US-202118257532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2021
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

Provided is an image processing method to efficiently acquire data from an artificial satellite. A ground system includes an image processing unit that requests transmission of additional data related to partial data from an artificial satellite to a ground station, on the basis of an analysis result of the partial data of a satellite image captured by the artificial satellite.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ground system, comprising:
an artificial satellite configured to:
capture a satellite image;
execute a subsample extraction process on the captured satellite image;
generate first partial data based on the execution of the subsample extraction process, wherein
the generated first partial data corresponds to a first subsampled image;

generate additional data based on the execution of the subsample extraction process, wherein
the generated additional data corresponds to a second subsampled image,
a first pixel of the first subsampled image is sampled by the subsample extraction process,
a second pixel of the second subsampled image is sampled by the subsample extraction process, and
the second pixel is different from the first pixel;

a ground station; and
an image processing unit configured to:
analyze the generated first partial data; and
request transmission of the generated additional data from the artificial satellite to the ground station, based on a analysis result of the analysis of the generated first partial data, wherein
the generated additional data corresponds to the generated first partial data.

2. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image processing unit is further configured to:
acquire the generated first partial data;
acquire second partial data of the captured satellite image;
determine a difference between the acquired first partial data and the acquired second partial data; and
request the transmission of the generated additional data based on the determined difference, and

the second partial data is acquired prior to the first partial data.

3. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit is further configured to:
acquire the generated first partial data;
execute a recognition process on the acquired first partial data; and
request the transmission of the generated additional data based on a result of the recognition process.

4. The ground system according to claim 3 , wherein the image processing unit is further configured to:
determine a reliability of the recognition process is lower than a threshold; and
request the transmission of the generated additional data based on the determination that the reliability of the recognition process is lower than the threshold.

5. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit is further configured to:
execute an additional data setting process to set the generated additional data; and
request the transmission of the generated additional data based on the execution of the additional data setting process.

6. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image processing unit is further configured to:
acquire the generated first partial data;
acquire the generated additional data from the artificial satellite; and
execute a data integration process of integration of the acquired first partial data and the acquired additional data, and

the generated first partial data is acquired prior to the generated additional data.

7. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image processing unit is further configured to acquire the generated first partial data and the generated additional data in one path, and
the generated first partial data is acquired prior to the generated additional data.

8. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the image processing unit is further configured to acquire the generated first partial data and the generated additional data in different paths, and
the generated first partial data is acquired prior to the generated additional data.

9. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the generated first partial data has one of a lower resolution, a lower frame rate, or a lower bit length with respect to the captured satellite image, and
the generated additional data has one of a higher resolution, a higher frame rate, or a higher bit length than the generated first partial data.

10. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein the generated first partial data is information indicating a feature amount corresponding to a specific recognition target.

11. The ground system according to claim 1 , wherein
the captured satellite image includes an ocean as a subject, and
the image processing unit is further configured to:
recognize at least one of a specific offshore mobile object or a specific offshore structure in the ocean; and
request the transmission of the generated additional data based on the recognition.

12. An image processing method comprising:
in a ground system that includes an artificial satellite, a ground station, and an image processing unit:
capturing, by the artificial satellite, a satellite image;
executing, by the artificial satellite, a subsample extraction process on the captured satellite image;
generating, by the artificial satellite, first partial data based on the execution of the subsample extraction process, wherein
the generated first partial data corresponds to a first subsampled image;

generating, by the artificial satellite, additional data based on the execution of the subsample extraction process, wherein
the generated additional data corresponds to a second subsampled image,
a first pixel of the first subsampled image is sampled by the subsample extraction process,
a second pixel of the second subsampled image is sampled by the subsample extraction process, and
the second pixel is different from the first pixel;

analyzing, by the image processing unit, the generated first partial data; and
requesting, by the image processing unit, transmission of the generated additional data from the artificial satellite to the ground station, based on a analysis result of the analysis of the generated first partial data, wherein
the generated additional data corresponds to the generated first partial data.

13. A ground system, comprising:
an artificial satellite configured to capture a satellite image;
a ground station; and
an image processing unit configured to:
acquire first partial data of the captured satellite image;
acquire second partial data of the captured satellite image;
determine a difference between the acquired first partial data and the acquired second partial data; and
request transmission of additional data from the artificial satellite to the ground station, based on the determined difference, wherein
the second partial data is acquired prior to the first partial data, and
the additional data corresponds to the acquired first partial data.

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Aoki Suguru
• Satoh Ryuta
• Shimizu Itaru

Classifications

• G06V20/13

  Satellite images · CPC title

• G06V10/40

  Extraction of image or video features · CPC title

• G06T7/254

  involving subtraction of images · CPC title

• G06Q50/10

  Services · CPC title

• H04W84/06

  Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) · CPC title