Packed Pixel Data Averaging via Bitwise Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in processing and downsizing images due to limited resources, leading to increased costs and power consumption when using high-powered processing chips for image processing tasks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves averaging packed data words containing image data in a format that allows processing while still packed, using logical operations like AND, XOR, and right shifting to generate an average without unpacking, reducing processing cycles and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional unpacking and separate averaging is used, then processing accuracy is maintained, but processing time and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate processing operations (unpacking, individual channel averaging, repacking) into a single packed-format averaging operation. By performing bitwise operations on entire pixel data words simultaneously, the invention combines what would traditionally require multiple sequential steps into one unified operation, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy through the mathematical equivalence of the averaging algorithm.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter representation by keeping pixel data in packed format throughout processing rather than converting to unpacked format. This parameter change (maintaining compact representation) enables more efficient processing by operating on complete pixel data words simultaneously, reducing the number of operations required while preserving processing accuracy through careful design of the bitwise averaging algorithm.
2Productivity
If high-powered processing chips are used, then image processing capability is improved, but device cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables standard, low-power processors to perform image processing tasks efficiently by utilizing the packed format averaging method. The algorithm is designed to work with basic bitwise operations (AND, OR, addition, right shift) that are natively supported by common mobile device processors, allowing these processors to handle image processing without requiring specialized high-performance chips, thereby reducing power consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, widely available processor units that are less expensive and consume less power compared to dedicated video/image processing chips. By optimizing the software algorithm to work efficiently on standard processors, the invention replaces expensive hardware solutions with more economical processing approaches, reducing device cost and power consumption while maintaining adequate processing capability for mobile devices.
3Productivity
If packed format processing is used, then processing efficiency increases, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical-style processing (unpacking, separate channel processing, repacking) with a streamlined computational approach using bitwise operations. By substituting the traditional multi-step mechanical process with a unified mathematical operation working directly on packed data, the patent reduces implementation complexity while maintaining processing efficiency, as the bitwise operations can be executed in a single instruction cycle on standard processors.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for averaging data in packed format are provided. The data may be image data, such as data words containing color-specific data portions representative of pixels of a captured image. A first data word containing first image data is received. A second data word containing second image data is received. A logical AND of the first data word and the second data word is performed to generate a third data word. A logical exclusive OR (XOR) of the first data word and the second data word is performed to generate a fourth data word. A right shift of the fourth data word is performed. The third data word and the right shifted fourth data word are summed to generate a fifth data word that is an average of the first and second data words.