Video Compression Engine Alternating Row Column Memory Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video data transmission over networks faces memory capacity exhaustion due to double buffering requirements, which is expensive and inefficient, especially when handling high-resolution video data.
Innovation Solution
A processor with a video compression engine that writes and reads video data in alternating row and column orders, using a memory with addresses configured to hold 8 pixels each, allowing for efficient data reorganization and compression, thereby reducing memory usage and enabling compressed video stream transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If double buffering is used to handle video data transmission, then video data processing reliability is improved, but memory capacity is exhausted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffering process into two separate single-buffer operations instead of using one large double-buffer. The video data is processed in two passes: first writing to buffer1 while reading from buffer0, then writing to buffer0 while reading from buffer1. This segmentation achieves the same reliability benefit as double-buffering but with reduced total memory capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a temporal dimension approach (double-buffering where both buffers must be simultaneously available) to a sequential dimension approach (single-buffer alternating operation where buffers are used in sequence). By changing the operational dimension from simultaneous to sequential access patterns, the memory capacity requirement is reduced while maintaining processing reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If video data is stored in RGB format with high resolution, then image quality is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the color space parameter from RGB to YUV format for video data storage and processing. This parameter change allows for more efficient memory utilization because YUV format separates luminance (Y) and chrominance (UV) components, enabling subsampling of the chrominance data without significantly impacting perceived image quality. This reduces the total memory usage while maintaining acceptable image quality standards.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are described for processing video data. In one embodiment, a processor is provided with a video compression engine (VCE) that has a memory having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of addresses. Video data, (luma data or chroma data), is written in row (i.e., raster) order into the addresses of the memory, and then the data is read out of the addresses in column order. Data is written into the addresses of the columns of the memory as they are read out, which is subsequently read out in row order. This process of switching back and forth between reading and writing data in row and column order continues as the data is read and processed by an encoder to generate a compressed video stream.