Video Decoder Frame Throttle for Real-Time Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video decoding in real-time systems often fails to meet constraints due to high informational content in frames, leading to potential stalling or loss of video frames, especially when shared CPU resources are overwhelmed, necessitating a method to optimize computational resource usage without compromising picture quality.
Innovation Solution
A frame throttle mechanism is introduced in the video decoder that selectively drops video frames before decoding, using feedback from the decoder and renderer to adjust the frame drop rate based on predicted decoding times and frame informational content, prioritizing the dropping of frames with lower informational content such as B-frames and then P-frames before I-frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video decoding is performed by a shared CPU in real-time, then other receiver functions can be supported, but video frames may be lost when computational resources are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The frame throttle performs preliminary assessment of frame informational content and predicted decoding time before the actual decoding process. By evaluating frames in advance and making proactive decisions about which frames to drop, the system prevents resource overload before it occurs, ensuring reliable decoding of critical frames while maintaining shared CPU resource availability for other receiver functions.
2Manufacturing precision
If frames with high informational content are decoded, then picture quality is maintained, but real-time decoding constraints cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality preservation strategies to different frames based on their informational content. Frames with high informational content (such as I-frames) are prioritized for decoding to maintain picture quality, while frames with lower informational content (such as B-frames) are more readily dropped when time constraints are violated. This localized quality approach ensures that critical visual information is preserved while allowing non-critical frames to be sacrificed to meet real-time constraints.
3Productivity
If frame dropping is performed before decoding, then real-time constraints are met, but picture quality may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame throttle utilizes feedback from the video decoder and renderer regarding actual decoding times and frame presentation status. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from past performance and adjust its frame dropping decisions dynamically. By incorporating feedback about which frames were actually displayed versus which were dropped, the system optimizes its predictions and makes more informed decisions about future frame processing, thereby minimizing unnecessary frame drops and preserving picture quality while maintaining real-time throughput.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure is directed to a receiver. The receiver includes a video decoder and a frame throttle configured to receive a video sequence comprising a plurality of video frames. The frame throttle is further configured to drop one or more of the video frames from the video sequence before providing the video sequence to the video decoder.