Parallel Video Pipelines with Dithering for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processing ultra-high definition video content requires significant resources and power, but not all outputs need the full resolution and bit precision, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a primary path for processing video at source quality and secondary paths for processing at lower quality levels, using a centralized scaler-dither module to reduce bit precision and pixel rate, resulting in cost and power savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If video content is processed at higher bit precision, resolution, and pixel rate to maintain source quality, then output quality is improved, but resource consumption and power usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The video processing system is divided into multiple independent paths: a first path processes video at full source quality (10-bit precision, 594 Mpps), while second paths process video at reduced quality levels (lower bit precision and pixel rates). This segmentation allows the system to allocate processing resources according to actual output requirements, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining quality where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different processing quality levels are applied to different output paths based on their specific requirements. The first path maintains high quality for outputs requiring full resolution, while second paths use reduced quality for outputs that do not require full source quality. This local quality approach ensures each output receives appropriate processing power, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.
2Manufacturing precision
If video content is processed at higher bit precision, resolution, and pixel rate to maintain source quality, then output quality is improved, but processing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is segmented into multiple paths with different quality levels. The first path handles full-quality processing only when necessary, while second paths handle standard-quality processing for routine outputs. This segmentation reduces the overall computational burden and associated costs while maintaining the capability for high-quality processing when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes processing parameters (bit precision, pixel rate, resolution) based on the specific output requirements. For standard outputs, parameters are reduced to lower processing costs, while for premium outputs, full parameters are applied. This parameter adaptation optimizes the cost-quality tradeoff.
3Device complexity
If a single processing path is used for all outputs, then system complexity is reduced, but the system cannot optimize for different output quality requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The video processing device incorporates multiple processing paths that can handle different quality requirements within a single unified system. The first path and second paths both process video content but at different quality levels, allowing the system to adapt to various output device requirements without needing separate dedicated systems for each quality level.
4Manufacturing precision
If full source quality processing is applied to all outputs, then all outputs achieve maximum quality, but resource consumption increases for outputs that do not require full quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments video processing into quality-appropriate paths, ensuring that full resource consumption occurs only for outputs requiring maximum quality. Standard outputs utilize second paths with reduced resource requirements, thereby optimizing the ratio of quality delivered to resources consumed.
Solution Approach 2:
Each output path receives the quality level appropriate for its specific requirements. The first path provides high quality for demanding outputs, while second paths provide adequate quality for less demanding outputs. This local quality matching prevents wasteful resource consumption on outputs that do not require full source quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for multiple-quality level video processing includes a primary tap configured to receive prime-quality video content from a source and to provide the prime-quality video content to a primary path and to a secondary tap. The primary tap may be operable in a prime-quality mode. The secondary tap may be disposed after the primary tap and may be coupled to a number of secondary paths. One or more dithering modules may be disposed after the primary tap. The dithering module(s) may be configured to convert the prime-quality video content provided by the primary tap to lower-bit precision and/or lower pixel-rate video content for use in one or more of the secondary paths.