Real-Time Full-Screen Frame Capture via Shared Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing full-screen frames, especially in online gaming, are inadequate as they either degrade video quality or are inefficient, particularly when converting analog video to digital for network broadcasting, and existing software can only capture single frames, not full-screen frames in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A frame capture apparatus and method utilizing a display unit with a first and second buffer, a display driver unit, and a capture unit that generates and converts image data from the front buffer to a temporary buffer and then to a shared buffer, creating a video bitstream for real-time full-screen frame capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If analog video is converted to digital video for network broadcasting, then video can be transmitted over network, but video quality deteriorates after multiple conversions and construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frame capture function directly from the display system by accessing the frame buffer memory where full-screen frames are stored before display. This allows direct digital capture of frames without going through analog video output, thereby avoiding conversion losses and maintaining video quality while enabling network broadcasting.
2Ease of operation
If Print Screen key is used to capture frames, then single frame capture is possible, but full-screen frames cannot be captured in real-time and only single frames are available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a share buffer as an intermediary between the display driver unit and the capture unit. The display driver unit copies full-screen frame data from the front buffer to the share buffer, which the capture unit then reads to generate video bitstreams. This intermediary mechanism enables real-time full-screen frame capture without interfering with the normal display operation.
3Ease of operation
If full-screen frames are captured through analog video output, then frame capture is possible, but video quality degrades and conversion procedure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/analog video output system with a direct digital access method. Instead of capturing video through analog output and conversion, the system directly reads frame buffer data in digital form and transfers it through memory buffers to the capture unit, eliminating analog-to-digital conversion and associated quality losses.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for capturing full-screen frames, which are displayed by a display unit having a first display buffer and a second display buffer, in real time. The display unit selects one of the first and second display buffers as a front buffer for displaying the full-screen frames. The apparatus includes a capture unit, and a display driver unit for driving the display unit. When data in the front buffer is updated, the display driver unit generates image data and saves the image data in a temporary buffer. Then, the display driver unit copies the image data to a share buffer. The capture unit reads the image data from the share buffer and generates a video bitstream accordingly.