Dynamic GPU Switching for Energy-Efficient Display Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) face high power consumption and low energy efficiency due to uniform use of GPUs for both complex and simple graphical user interfaces (GUIs), leading to inefficient power management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that dynamically switches between graphics processing subsystems with varying performance and power consumption based on GUI complexity, using high-performance GPUs for complex GUIs and low-performance GPUs for simple GUIs to balance display processing performance and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a high-performance GPU is used to display all GUIs, then display processing performance is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay processing performanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between high-performance and low-performance graphics processing subsystems based on the complexity of the GUI being displayed. The system dynamically selects the appropriate subsystem to balance performance requirements with power consumption, rather than using a fixed high-performance configuration always.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the performance parameter of the graphics processing subsystem by switching between different subsystems with different performance levels. This allows the system to adjust the graphics processing capability according to the actual needs of different GUIs, thereby optimizing the trade-off between performance and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If a low-performance GPU is used for simple GUIs, then power consumption is reduced, but display processing capability becomes insufficient for complex GUIs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the graphics processing capability by switching between subsystems based on GUI complexity. For simple GUIs, the low-performance subsystem is activated to save power, while for complex GUIs, the high-performance subsystem is activated to provide sufficient processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the performance parameter dynamically by selecting different graphics processing subsystems. This ensures that the display processing capability matches the requirements of the current GUI, preventing both over-performance (wasting energy) and under-performance (failing to render complex GUIs).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple graphics processing subsystems are provided, then adaptability to different GUI complexities is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different GUI complexitiesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the graphics processing function into multiple independent subsystems with different performance levels. Each subsystem is dedicated to handling specific types of GUIs, allowing the system to choose the appropriate segment (subsystem) based on the task requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal graphics processing solution by providing multiple subsystems that can handle different types of GUIs. The system includes both high-performance and low-performance subsystems, making it universally capable of handling both simple and complex graphical tasks with appropriate resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4053783B1Energy-efficient display processing method, and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4053783B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4053783B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP4053783B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide an energy-efficient display processing method and a device, and relate to the field of electronic technologies, so that graphics processing subsystems with different performance and power consumption can be switched to based on complexity of different to-be-displayed GUIs, to perform GUI display processing. This can reduce overall power consumption of an electronic device and improve energy efficiency of the electronic device. A specific solution is as follows: The electronic device includes a first graphics processing subsystem, a second graphics processing subsystem, and a screen. The first graphics processing subsystem includes a first application processor, a first graphics processing unit, and a first memory. The second graphics processing subsystem includes a second application processor, a second graphics processing unit, and a second memory. The first graphics processing unit renders a first GUI. The screen displays the first GUI. The second graphics processing unit renders a second GUI, and the second GUI and the first GUI belong to different interface types. The screen displays the second GUI. Embodiments of this application are used for display processing.