Methods and systems for communicating sensor data on a mobile device

A processing unit in a mobile device, the processing unit comprising:

• data storage;
• and
• instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processing unit to perform functions comprising:
• receiving from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the mobile device sensor data corresponding to a first timeframe,
• receiving from at least one camera of the mobile device image data corresponding to the first timeframe,
• accessing stored sensor data corresponding to a second timeframe, wherein the second timeframe precedes the first timeframe,
• generating a digital image that includes at least the image data corresponding to the first timeframe, the stored sensor data corresponding to the second timeframe, and the sensor data corresponding to the first timeframe, wherein the stored sensor data corresponding to the second timeframe and the sensor data corresponding to the first timeframe are embedded in pixels of the digital image, and
• providing the digital image to an application processor of the mobile device.

A mobile device, comprising:

• at least one camera;
• an inertial measurement unit (IMU);
• a first data buffer;
• a second data buffer;
• a processor, the processor configured to:
• receive from the IMU sensor data corresponding to a first timeframe,
• receive from the at least one camera image data corresponding to the first timeframe,
• access, from the first data buffer, stored sensor data corresponding to a second timeframe, wherein the second timeframe precedes the first timeframe, and
• generate a digital image that includes at least the image data corresponding to the first timeframe, the stored sensor data corresponding to the second timeframe, and the sensor data corresponding to the first timeframe, wherein the stored sensor data corresponding to the second timeframe and the sensor data corresponding to the first timeframe are embedded in pixels of the digital image;
• and
• an application processor, the application processor configured to:
• receive the digital image from the processor, and
• store the image data corresponding to the first timeframe and the sensor data corresponding to the first timeframe in the second data buffer.