Virtual Document Object Model Thread Segmentation for Frame-Drop Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for rendering virtual document object models (VDOMs) often result in page stuck issues due to inefficiencies in comparing and updating VDOM nodes, leading to frame-drop problems and delayed reflection of changes in user interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A method involving multiple threads is employed, where a first thread generates and sends a VDOM node to a second thread for comparison with a target VDOM node, and upon determining differences, the first thread sends the updated VDOM node to a third rendering thread, allowing for real-time page rendering without the first thread being overwhelmed by comparison tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single thread is used to generate and compare VDOM nodes, then the process is simple, but the page updating speed is slow and frame-drops occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepage updating speedVSAvoidthread management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the VDOM processing workflow into three separate threads: a first thread for generating VDOM nodes, a second thread for comparing VDOM nodes, and a third thread for rendering. This segmentation allows each thread to specialize in one task, improving overall processing speed and preventing frame-drops by parallelizing operations that were previously sequential.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a second thread as an intermediary between the first thread (VDOM generation) and the third thread (rendering). This intermediary thread handles the comparison task, allowing the first and third threads to operate independently without blocking each other, thus improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through clear interface definitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the first thread performs comparison tasks, then the process is straightforward, but the first thread becomes overwhelmed and rendering is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering timelinessVSAvoidthread interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the rendering pipeline by creating a dedicated second thread for VDOM comparison tasks. This separates the comparison function from the rendering function, ensuring that the first thread (responsible for VDOM generation and rendering coordination) is not overwhelmed by comparison operations, thereby maintaining rendering timeliness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second thread is designed to autonomously perform the VDOM comparison task without requiring intervention from the first or third threads. It receives VDOM nodes from the first thread, performs comparisons independently, and sends results to the third thread, allowing each thread to serve itself and reducing inter-thread dependency complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If VDOM node comparison is performed frequently, then update accuracy is high, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVDOM update detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous VDOM monitoring by having the second thread continuously compare incoming VDOM nodes with the current rendered state. This continuous action ensures high update detection accuracy while the parallel thread architecture distributes the processing load, preventing any single thread from becoming a bottleneck and reducing overall system overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3425511B1Method and apparatus for monitoring virtual document object model
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3425511B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3425511B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3
  • EP3425511B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for monitoring a virtual document object model includes: generating (101), via a first thread, a first VODM node by a first thread and sending the first VODM node to a second thread; comparing (102), via the second thread, the first VODM node to a second VODM node to be updated so as to determine whether the first VODM node is the same as the second VODM node to be updated, and returning a comparison result to the first thread; and sending (103), via the first thread, the first VODM node to a third thread when the comparison result indicates that the first VODM node is different from the second VODM node to be updated. The third thread is configured to perform page rendering based on the first VODM node.