Programmable Driver Interface for Custom Graphics Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display subsystems have fixed graphics processing features that cannot be easily customized or extended by third parties, limiting the ability of equipment manufacturers to enhance graphics capabilities without rebuilding device drivers, and preventing software developers from utilizing hardware acceleration effectively.

Innovation Solution

A programmable driver interface (PDI) framework that allows equipment manufacturers and software developers to incorporate custom graphics processing features at the device driver level, enabling third-party add-ons and plug-ins for extended graphics processing capabilities, including support for environmental lighting adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If device drivers are rebuilt to incorporate custom graphics processing features, then graphics processing capabilities can be customized, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraphics processing capabilitiesVSAvoiddevice driver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device driver is segmented into a base driver component and separate plug-in modules. Each plug-in module contains specific graphics processing features that can be independently developed, installed, and removed. This allows custom graphics capabilities to be added without modifying or rebuilding the entire device driver, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base device driver is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple different plug-in modules. The driver framework provides common functionality for loading, managing, and executing plug-ins, allowing a single device driver to support multiple custom graphics processing features through standardized mechanisms rather than requiring separate customized drivers for each feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If device drivers are rebuilt to incorporate custom graphics processing features, then graphics processing capabilities can be customized, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraphics processing capabilitiesVSAvoiddevice driver manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the graphics processing features into separate plug-in modules, each module can be independently manufactured, tested, and distributed. This eliminates the need to rebuild and re-test entire device drivers when adding custom features, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the ability to customize graphics capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base device driver is pre-configured with standardized interfaces and plug-in management capabilities during the manufacturing process. This preliminary setup allows custom plug-in modules to be seamlessly integrated later without requiring complex manufacturing processes, making it easier to manufacture both the base driver and custom features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If third-party add-ons are enabled without a standardized interface, then graphics processing flexibility increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraphics processing flexibilityVSAvoiddriver interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A universal standardized interface is implemented in the base device driver that can accommodate multiple different third-party plug-in modules. This standard interface defines common functions for loading, initializing, and executing custom graphics features, allowing high flexibility in supported features while maintaining low interface complexity through standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base device driver acts as an intermediary layer between the operating system and third-party plug-in modules. It provides a standardized mediation interface that simplifies communication between diverse plug-ins and the system, reducing interface complexity while enabling flexible integration of various custom graphics processing features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10453430B2Methods and apparatus to provide extended graphics processing capabilities

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide extended graphics processing capabilities are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves sending a display panel parameter to a shared library module. The display panel parameter is sent by a programmable driver interface in communication between the shared library module and a graphics hardware device driver. The shared library module includes a first graphics processing capability. The graphics hardware device driver includes a second graphics processing capability different from the first graphics processing capability. The example method also involves performing a render operation via the programmable driver interface on a frame buffer based on the first graphics processing capability. The first graphics processing capability is received at the programmable driver interface from the shared library module based on the display panel parameter. The frame buffer is output to a display.