Dynamic Video Data Compression for Memory Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video processing systems face inefficiencies in memory bandwidth due to the large quantity of video data being moved between system memory and the video SOC, leading to increased costs and limited performance, as existing solutions require substantial memory bandwidth that is costly to enhance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic video data compression technique that decompresses video data based on fundamental blocks and recompresses it in a different order, using a low-latency compressor to alternate compression of partial lines, reducing memory bandwidth usage and enhancing throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If uncompressed video data is moved between system memory and video SOC, then video processing can be performed, but memory bandwidth consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The video data is divided into fundamental blocks (e.g., 16x16 pixel blocks) that can be independently compressed and processed. This segmentation allows the compressor to work on small units sequentially, reducing the amount of data that needs to be transferred at once while maintaining processing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional approach of reading uncompressed data from memory, processing it, and writing results back, this invention inverts the flow by reading compressed data, decompressing it into fundamental blocks, and immediately recompressing it in a different order (line-by-line vs. block-by-block). This inversion eliminates the need for large uncompressed data transfers.
2Productivity
If system memory is increased to enhance memory bandwidth, then video processing performance improves, but system cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the compression rate parameter dynamically. The first compressor uses a first compression rate to compress video data into fundamental blocks, while the second compressor uses a second compression rate to recompress the data in line order. This parameter change allows efficient data representation without requiring high memory bandwidth infrastructure.
3Productivity
If video data is compressed and decompressed using traditional methods, then video processing is achieved, but processing time increases due to data transfer delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by immediately recompressing the decompressed fundamental blocks without waiting for complete frame assembly or large data transfers. The compressor continuously processes fundamental blocks as they are decompressed, converting them to the final compressed format in real-time, eliminating idle transfer delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary compression of video data into fundamental blocks before the actual video processing pipeline needs the data. By pre-compressing and storing data in a compact format, the system reduces the time required for subsequent data retrieval and processing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes decompressing first compressed video data to provide uncompressed video data in a first order. The method includes compressing the uncompressed video data to provide second compressed video data in a second order. The decompressing and compressing are based on first and second compression rates, respectively. The first order may be based on fundamental blocks of a frame of video data and the second order is based on lines of the frame of video data. The compressing may include alternating compression of partial portions of a first line of uncompressed video data with compression of partial portions of at least a second line of uncompressed video data to thereby generate a first line of compressed video data corresponding to the first line of uncompressed video data and at least a second line of compressed video data corresponding to the second line of uncompressed video data.