Video Streaming Buffer Handshake for Memory Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video streaming techniques are limited in efficiently using system resources such as internal memory, leading to substantial memory usage and bandwidth overhead due to the need for full-sized frame buffers and asynchronous store and fetch operations between video sources and sinks, resulting in interruptions during streaming.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a buffer and controller system that synchronizes fetch and store operations by using smaller buffers and selectively stalling operations to maintain synchronization, ensuring continuous video streaming while minimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full-sized frame buffers are used for video streaming, then video data can be stored and transmitted, but memory usage and bandwidth overhead increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video frame data into multiple scanline buffers, where each buffer stores only a portion of the frame (e.g., one scanline at a time) rather than the entire frame. This segmentation allows the system to process and transmit video data in smaller chunks, reducing the peak memory requirement from full frame size to just one scanline size while maintaining continuous video streaming through sequential buffer management.
2Productivity
If asynchronous store and fetch operations are used between video source and sink, then operations can proceed independently, but interruptions occur during streaming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a handshake mechanism with feedback signals between the video source and sink. The sink generates feedback signals indicating its readiness to receive data, and the source uses these signals to coordinate its store and fetch operations. This feedback loop ensures that store and fetch operations are synchronized, preventing interruptions while still allowing independent operation between the two components.
3Reliability
If full-sized frame buffers are allocated for video streaming, then complete frames can be stored, but system resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame buffer into multiple smaller scanline buffers, where each buffer holds only a portion of the frame data (specifically, one scanline). This allows the system to store complete frames over time through sequential processing while using minimal memory at any given moment, thereby eliminating the need to allocate full frame buffer size and reducing system resource overhead significantly.
4Quantity of substance
If smaller buffers are used to reduce memory usage, then resource efficiency improves, but synchronization between fetch and store operations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback signals from the sink to the source to manage synchronization with small buffers. The sink indicates when it is ready to receive the next scanline, and the source coordinates its store and fetch operations based on these signals. This feedback mechanism simplifies synchronization by providing clear timing information, making it easier to manage smaller buffers without increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-coordinating buffer management through handshake signals before data transfer begins. The source and sink establish synchronization protocols in advance, determining when store and fetch operations should occur based on predetermined timing and buffer status. This preliminary coordination reduces the complexity of real-time synchronization during actual video streaming.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices implement video streaming. Methods include receiving video data from a video source, the video data comprising at least one video frame, and determining a plurality of store parameters associated with a store operation and a plurality of fetch parameters associated with a fetch operation for a portion of the video data, wherein the plurality of store parameters and the plurality of fetch parameters identify whether a fetch unit or a store unit should be stalled. Methods also include implementing a store operation in a buffer for a designated number of lines of the video data based on the plurality of store parameters. Methods additionally include implementing a fetch operation from the buffer for the designated number of lines of the video data based on the plurality of fetch parameters.