Apparatus for dynamically adjusting video decoding complexity, and associated method

Abstract

An apparatus for dynamically adjusting video decoding complexity includes a decoding resolution control circuit and an adaptive spatial resolution decoder. The decoding resolution control circuit is arranged to dynamically determine whether at least one portion of a plurality of frames should be decoded in accordance with a specific resolution differing from an original resolution of the plurality of frames. In addition, the adaptive spatial resolution decoder is arranged to decode the plurality of frames according to whether the at least one portion of the plurality of frames should be decoded in accordance with the specific resolution. In particular, the apparatus further includes a system capability analyzing circuit arranged to analyze system capability of at least a portion of the apparatus, in order to generate analyzing results for being sent to the decoding resolution control circuit. An associated method is also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to video decoding, and more particularly, to an apparatus for dynamically adjusting video decoding complexity, and to an associated method.[0002]When an end user is viewing a video program utilizing a home theater system at home, encoded data of the video program is decoded for being displayed on a display panel of the home theater system, and the decoded results of the encoded data can be scaled up or scaled down to meet the size and resolution of the display panel. Typically, a decoding device of the home theater system can decode the encoded data with ease, no matter how complicated the algorithm for decoding the encoded data is, and no matter whether the resolution of the video program is high or not.[0003]It would be very convenient for the end user to own a portable electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA)) that can be utilized for viewing the same video program anywhere. However, when a researc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]It is another objective of the claimed invention to provide an apparatus for dynamically adjusting video decoding complexity, and to provide an associated method, in order to reduce the calculation load and the power consumption within a portable electronic device such as that mentioned above.

[0006]It is another objective of the claimed invention to provide an apparatus for dynamically adjusting video decoding complexity, and to provide an associated method, in order to reduce complexity of decoding operations by dynamically adjusting decoding complexity of each of a plurality of frames. More particularly, the apparatus can selectively make at least a portion of components / modules / units therein operate in accordance with a resolution differing from that of original frames, in order to dynamically adjust decoding complexity frame by frame.

Problems solved by technology

However, when a research and development (R&D) team of a manufacturer is designing such a portable electronic device, some problems may arise.

For example, the decoding capability of the portable electronic device may be insufficient in a situation where the algorithm for decoding the encoded data is too complicated and / or the resolution of the video program is high.

In another example, the power consumption may be too high when one or more processing circuits within the portable electronic device operate at the highest operation frequency available.

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