Frame metadata is a set of parameters providing details about the conditions and settings when a frame of data was captured.
Based on the provided definition, frame metadata is precisely a set of parameters (or attributes) that provide a snapshot of the sensor configuration and/or system state present during the frame's generation. Think of it as a digital tag attached to each frame, containing vital information about how and when that specific frame was created.
These attributes are dynamic, meaning they are recalculated and updated on a per-frame basis. This is crucial because conditions like light, focus, or the device's orientation can change rapidly between frames, and the metadata needs to reflect these changes accurately for each individual frame.
What Information Does Frame Metadata Include?
Frame metadata captures data related to two main areas:
- Sensor Configuration: This describes the settings of the sensor (like a camera or other data capture device) at the moment the frame was generated.
- System State: This pertains to the overall condition or environment of the system producing the frame.
Examples of information commonly found in frame metadata include:
- Sensor Configuration Attributes:
- ISO speed
- Aperture value
- Shutter speed
- White balance settings
- Focus distance or mode
- Frame rate
- Resolution
- Sensor temperature
- System State Attributes:
- Timestamp (exact time of capture)
- Device orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape)
- GPS location (if available and enabled)
- Battery level
- Processing or encoding flags
By providing this detailed snapshot for every single frame, frame metadata is essential for various applications, from image and video processing to scientific data analysis, ensuring that each frame can be properly interpreted and utilized based on the exact conditions under which it was captured.
