Video Codec Power Architecture for VSP Leakage Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video encoding and decoding technologies face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly leakage power, due to the inefficiencies in powering on and off processing engines with differing processing speeds, leading to significant power loss as hardware designs shrink.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a video codec architecture with independently power-controlled Video Syntax Processing (VSP) and Video Pixel Processing (VPP) engines, allowing the VSP engine to be powered off when idle to reduce leakage power, while maintaining efficient data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the VSP engine is kept powered on continuously to maintain processing capability, then the processing speed and readiness to handle video data is improved, but the leakage power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidleakage power

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power management by transitioning the VSP engine between powered-on and powered-off states based on operational requirements. The controller monitors whether the VSP engine needs to be activated and adjusts its power state accordingly, making the system adaptable rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between processing readiness and power consumption based on actual operational context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic power cycling of the VSP engine, transitioning between active and idle states in a rhythmic manner. The controller periodically activates the VSP engine only when needed and powers it off during idle periods, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces cumulative leakage power while maintaining processing capability when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of energy

If the VSP engine is powered off to reduce leakage power, then the power consumption is improved, but the processing delay and time to become operational increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage powerVSAvoidprocessing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary assessment before activating the VSP engine, determining in advance whether the engine needs to be powered on based on the current operational state and upcoming processing requirements. This preliminary action allows the system to optimize the timing of power activation, reducing unnecessary delays while ensuring the VSP engine is ready when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors the operational state of the VSP engine and adjusts power management decisions accordingly. The feedback loop ensures that the VSP engine is activated only when necessary and that any processing delays are minimized through real-time monitoring and adaptive power state transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If independent power control of VSP and VPP engines is implemented, then the power management flexibility and efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video processing system into independently controllable power units - the VSP engine and VPP engine can be powered on and off separately. This segmentation allows flexible power management where each engine can be optimized independently based on its specific operational requirements, enhancing adaptability while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary component that manages the power states of both the VSP and VPP engines. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing power management decisions, making the complex independent power control mechanism more manageable and easier to implement through a dedicated control unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260019596A1Low leakage architecture for video coding

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A video encoder and video decoder may include a video syntax processing (VSP) engine configured to process the video data at a syntax element level, and a video pixel processing (VPP) engine configured to process the video data at a pixel level. The video encoder and video decoder may further include a controller configured to control a power of the VSP engine based on the VSP engine being idle.