Framemoment

Framemoment is a term used in digital video processing and computer graphics to denote the instant in time associated with a particular frame within a sequence. It is a coined term that researchers and practitioners use to discuss synchronization, latency, and timing analysis across a rendering or streaming pipeline.

Definition and scope

A framemoment refers to the time coordinate linked to a given frame, often corresponding to the presentation time stamp (PTS) or the start of the frame’s decoding or rendering. In a sequence produced at a constant frame rate, framemoment can be expressed as a time value t_n for frame number n, relative to a chosen reference t_0.

Notation and example

If the sequence runs at a rate of R frames per second, then frames occur at intervals of 1/R seconds. For frame n, a typical framemoment might be t_n = t_0 + n/R. For a video at 30 fps starting at t_0 = 0, framemoment for frame 120 would be 4.0 seconds.

Applications

Framemoments are used in latency budgeting, synchronization between capture, processing, and display, and in performance analysis of streaming and real-time rendering pipelines. They help compare delays introduced by encoding, network transport, or post-processing and are useful in debugging timing-related issues.

Relation to related concepts

Framemoment is closely related to frame timestamps, presentation timestamps (PTS), decoding timestamps (DTS), and frame latency. It is distinct in that it emphasizes the explicit time instant associated with a specific frame within a sequence rather than broader rate or delay metrics.

Limitations

As a coined term, framemoment is not standardized and its exact definition can vary between systems. Practitioners should specify the timing reference used (PTS, DTS, rendering start, or display time) when discussing framemoments.