Video Decoder Memory Bandwidth Compression via Tile Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video processing systems face challenges with limited bandwidth between the system on chip and external memory due to the inefficiencies of existing compression methods, particularly with lossless compression, which complicates random access and increases latency, making it difficult to efficiently transmit and display video images.
Innovation Solution
A lossless compression algorithm optimized for video data that maps predefined surfaces to image data, encoding differences to achieve significant bandwidth reduction, allowing for deterministic access and addressability, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements by 60-70% without degrading video quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lossless compression is used to reduce memory bandwidth, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but random access becomes complicated and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data into multiple tiles or blocks, allowing independent compression and random access to specific segments without decompressing entire frames. This segmentation enables selective access to compressed data regions, reducing latency while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies compression to image data in advance before storage, creating a pre-compressed state that reduces memory bandwidth requirements. The compression metadata and structure are prepared beforehand to enable efficient random access without real-time decompression overhead.
2Quantity of substance
If interface width is increased to improve bandwidth, then data transfer capacity increases, but system cost increases due to more pins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the data representation parameters through compression algorithms, reducing the number of bits required to represent image data. This parameter transformation allows the same data transfer capacity to be achieved with fewer physical pins and lower interface width, reducing manufacturing costs.
3Productivity
If interface speed is increased to improve bandwidth, then data transfer rate increases, but manufacturing cost increases due to limited technology availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies data compression to change the effective data rate parameter without requiring faster physical interfaces. By reducing the amount of data to be transferred through compression, the system achieves equivalent productivity improvements using standard, cost-effective interface speeds and technologies.
4Quantity of substance
If lossy compression is used to reduce bandwidth, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but data integrity is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments image data into tiles with independent compression, allowing lossless compression to be applied selectively to regions requiring high fidelity while using more aggressive compression where appropriate. This segmentation enables differentiated quality levels within the same image, maintaining overall data integrity while reducing total bandwidth requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program for decompressing video data, storing the compressed video data in such a way that random access is possible and the data can be mapped efficiently into existing memory systems and interface protocols. The compression is accomplished via lossless compression using an algorithm optimized for video data. Due to the compressed format, data transmission consumes less bandwidth than using uncompressed data and prevents degradation in the decoded video.