Dynamic Frame Buffer Resolution Scaling for GPU Frame Rate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Graphics-intensive applications, such as video games, experience frame-rate slowdowns when running on low-end GPU hardware, especially in stereoscopic modes, due to inadequate resolution settings and the need for manual user intervention to adjust resolutions, leading to jerky and unappealing imagery.
Innovation Solution
Dynamically adjusting frame buffer resolutions by calculating a target scaling factor based on average frame rates and incrementally changing the current scaling factor to maintain optimal frame rates, allowing for transparent resolution adjustments without pausing applications, using viewport and scissor extents to adjust the resolution of data rendered to the frame buffer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the GPU hardware delivers stereoscopic display data with left and right display images, then the stereoscopic 3D viewing capability is improved, but the frame rate slows down because the amount of work the GPU hardware has to perform is doubled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the frame buffer resolution dynamically adjustable based on real-time frame rate measurements. The system transitions from static predefined resolutions to dynamic resolution scaling that adapts to hardware capabilities and workload, allowing the resolution to change automatically to maintain optimal frame rates in stereoscopic mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resolution parameter dynamically by calculating a target scaling factor based on measured frame rates and adjusting the frame buffer resolution accordingly. The system monitors frame rates and adjusts the resolution parameter in real-time to balance between maintaining high frame rates and providing adequate visual quality for stereoscopic viewing.
2Ease of operation
If predefined standard display resolutions are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the resolution range and granularity are insufficient to run on a variety of GPUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the system automatically determine and adjust the optimal resolution based on measured frame rates and hardware capabilities. Instead of requiring users to manually select from predefined resolutions, the system self-adjusts the frame buffer resolution to achieve target frame rates, eliminating the need for user intervention while adapting to different GPU hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static predefined resolutions to dynamic resolution adjustment based on real-time performance monitoring. The resolution is no longer fixed but adapts automatically to match the specific GPU hardware and workload conditions, providing both ease of operation and broad adaptability.
3Productivity
If a different selectable resolution is chosen, then the frame rate may be optimized for particular hardware, but the user must pause the currently running application to make the selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for user intervention by having the system automatically adjust resolutions based on measured frame rates. The self-service mechanism continuously monitors performance and adjusts the frame buffer resolution without pausing the application, maintaining optimal frame rates while preventing user intervention and application pauses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous operation by adjusting resolutions in real-time without pausing the application. The system continuously monitors frame rates and adjusts resolutions on-the-fly, ensuring that the useful action of rendering continues uninterrupted while still achieving optimal performance for the specific hardware.
4Productivity
If the frame buffer resolution is reduced to improve frame rate, then the frame rate is improved, but the visual quality and imagery smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully manages the resolution parameter by calculating target scaling factors based on measured frame rates and adjusting the frame buffer resolution accordingly. The system changes resolution parameters dynamically to achieve target frame rates while monitoring visual quality to prevent degradation, balancing between frame rate and image smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring actual frame rates and using these measurements to adjust the frame buffer resolution. The system uses feedback from frame rate monitoring to automatically adjust resolutions, ensuring that frame rate improvements do not compromise visual quality by over-downscaling the resolution.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method of dynamically adjusting a frame buffer resolution. An average frame rate is dynamically computed based on the frame rates with respect to rendering a sequence of previous frames to a frame buffer. The frame rates may vary with the processing load of an associated graphics processor. A target scaling factor for frame buffer resolution is computed based upon the dynamic average frame rate and a desired frame rate. The current scaling factor of frame buffer resolution for rendering a respective frame data of a sequence of frame data to the frame buffer is adjusted incrementally to reach the target scaling factor. Accordingly, frame resolutions for rendering the sequence of frame data to the frame buffer are incrementally adjusted based on corresponding current scaling factors.