Adaptive Graphics Compression for Display Buffer Power Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Multimedia computing systems face high power consumption and potential memory deficits due to the continuous loading of uncompressed graphics overlay data from external memory, especially when the data remains unchanged, leading to inefficient use of the memory bus and increased power usage.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive compression of graphics overlay data when it is stable, allowing for reduced overhead on the memory sub-system and power consumption, along with the option to store compressed data in an on-die display buffer to free up external memory for other uses or reduce its power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uncompressed graphics overlay data is continuously loaded from external memory, then display buffer is maintained with sufficient data, but power consumption increases and memory bus overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay buffer data availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the data representation parameter by switching between uncompressed and compressed formats based on data stability. When graphics overlay data remains unchanged (stable), the system loads compressed data from external memory, reducing the data rate and power consumption. When data changes, the system uses uncompressed data to ensure display buffer availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the data loading strategy based on the stability of graphics overlay data. It monitors whether data remains unchanged between frames and adapts the loading behavior accordingly - using compressed data for stable content and uncompressed data for changing content, thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption and display reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If uncompressed graphics overlay data is continuously loaded from external memory, then display buffer is maintained with sufficient data, but memory bus overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay buffer data availabilityVSAvoidmemory bus efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the data representation parameter by switching between uncompressed and compressed formats based on data stability. When graphics overlay data remains unchanged (stable), the system loads compressed data from external memory, reducing the data rate and power consumption. When data changes, the system uses uncompressed data to ensure display buffer availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the data loading strategy based on the stability of graphics overlay data. It monitors whether data remains unchanged between frames and adapts the loading behavior accordingly - using compressed data for stable content and uncompressed data for changing content, thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption and display reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If compressed graphics overlay data is stored in on-die display buffer, then external memory is freed or power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmemory subsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the display buffer into two parts: an on-die buffer for storing compressed graphics overlay data and an external memory interface for loading data. This segmentation allows the system to utilize the faster on-die buffer for stable data while maintaining the flexibility of external memory for larger data volumes, thereby reducing power consumption without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-die display buffer acts as an intermediary between the graphics data processing unit and the external memory. It temporarily stores compressed graphics overlay data, reducing the need for continuous external memory access and lowering power consumption. This intermediary buffer simplifies the overall memory subsystem by caching frequently accessed data locally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10102828B2Method and apparatus for adaptive graphics compression and display buffer switching

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 NXP USA INC

AI summary

There is provided a multimedia computing apparatus for processing and displaying video data with overlay graphic data, said multimedia computing apparatus comprising a compression unit arranged to compress graphic overlay data prior to storage of said compressed overlay graphic data in a compressed display buffer, and a control unit arranged to determine when to compress the overlay graphic data dependent upon a refresh parameter of the overlay graphic data. There is also provided a method of adaptively compressing graphics data in a multimedia computing system comprising dynamically controlling compression of graphic overlay data in a display buffer dependent upon a refresh parameter of the graphic overlay data.