Tunnel Controller Interrupt Offload for Low-Latency Image Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing amount of image data captured by image capture devices leads to high latency due to a large number of interrupts in processing, particularly in mixed reality systems, affecting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel controller is used to offload interrupt handling from core processors by monitoring memory fill levels and transferring image slices only when the fill level satisfies a threshold, reducing the number of interrupts and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If image data is processed at higher frequencies with fine granularities by dividing images into smaller slices, then processing speed and responsiveness are improved, but the number of interrupts increases significantly causing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides image processing into multiple slices or chunks, allowing parallel processing of different portions of the image data. This segmentation enables the system to process multiple slices simultaneously through different processing pipelines, improving overall processing speed while managing interrupt loads through distributed handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffer or queue mechanism between the interrupt generation stage and the processing stage. This intermediary component decouples the immediate interrupt response from the actual processing timing, allowing interrupts to be coalesced or scheduled more efficiently, thereby reducing latency caused by excessive interrupt handling.
2Productivity
If image frames are divided into smaller slices for processing, then processing granularity and control are improved, but the number of interrupts per frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple slice processing operations into unified processing stages or combines adjacent slices into larger processing units. This merging reduces the total number of separate interrupt events that need to be handled individually, simplifying interrupt management while preserving the benefits of slice-based processing through batched or consolidated operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal processing pipelines or multi-functional processing units that can handle multiple different slice types or processing requirements through a single unified interface. This universality allows the system to process various image slices through the same infrastructure, reducing the complexity of having separate handling logic for each slice type or processing stage.
3Productivity
If more interrupts are handled per second to process image slices, then processing throughput is improved, but latency in mixed reality systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic processing intervals or scheduled processing cycles where image slices are processed in regular time intervals rather than immediately upon each interrupt. This periodic action allows the system to maintain high throughput by continuously processing slices while reducing latency by using predictable, timed processing moments that can be optimized for mixed reality frame rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous processing of image slices through overlapping processing windows or pipelined processing stages where multiple slices are processed in continuous streams. This continuity maintains high processing throughput by eliminating idle time between processing operations while managing latency through sustained, steady-state processing rather than bursty interrupt-driven operations.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for image signal processing that support scalable, low latency interrupt handling. In a first aspect, a method of image processing includes receiving, by a controller, an interrupt notification based on a data write into a portion of a memory; determining, by the controller and based on the interrupt notification, a fill level associated with the portion of the memory; and transferring, by the controller and based on the fill level satisfying a threshold level associated with a processor, data associated with the data write to the processor. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.