Video Line Buffer Data Packing via Virtual Channel Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video coding technologies face inefficiencies in packing and processing video data across multiple channels, particularly in handling unbalanced data block sizes and channel configurations, which leads to increased hardware requirements and reduced data processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method for packing video data into a shared buffer by interleaving data blocks from multiple channels in opposite directions, using DDR memory and on-chip memory, and balancing channel data block sizes through virtual channels to optimize data retrieval and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data blocks from multiple channels are packed into a shared buffer, then hardware complexity is reduced, but data processing efficiency may deteriorate due to unbalanced data block sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the buffer into multiple regions, with each region corresponding to a specific channel. Data blocks from different channels are packed into their respective regions, allowing efficient sequential access while sharing the same physical buffer structure. This segmentation strategy reduces hardware complexity by eliminating the need for separate buffers for each channel while maintaining data processing efficiency through organized data layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual channel dimension to manage physical channels with unbalanced data block sizes. By mapping multiple physical channels to a smaller number of virtual channels and using padding bits, the system achieves balanced data distribution across buffer regions. This dimensional transformation allows efficient packing while maintaining processing efficiency through virtual channel abstraction.
2Productivity
If data blocks are interleaved in opposite directions, then data retrieval efficiency is improved, but buffer space utilization worsens due to unused bits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric packing strategies where data blocks from different channels are packed in opposite directions within the buffer. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes data retrieval efficiency by enabling sequential access patterns while minimizing wasted space. The asymmetric packing is combined with padding bit strategies to fill gaps and reduce unused bits in the buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts packing parameters such as block size, padding bit allocation, and directionality based on the specific channel configurations and data block sizes. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes both data retrieval efficiency and buffer space utilization, reducing unused bits while maintaining efficient access patterns.
3Productivity
If channel data block sizes are balanced through virtual channels, then data processing efficiency is enhanced, but system complexity increases due to virtual channel mapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual channels as an intermediary layer between physical channels and the buffer packing mechanism. Virtual channels serve as mediators that abstract the complexity of unbalanced data block sizes, enabling efficient data packing by redistributing data through virtual channel mappings. This intermediary layer simplifies the packing process while maintaining data processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual channel mechanism provides universal functionality by handling multiple physical channel configurations through a single unified packing approach. The same virtual channel mapping and packing algorithm can accommodate various channel configurations and data block sizes, reducing the need for channel-specific handling logic and thereby managing system complexity while enhancing processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Video pixel line buffers are widely used for data processing in video codecs. Video data may be packed into buffers configured to store a plurality of words, each word comprising a series of bits. The video data may be associated with two or more channels. In order to reduce realization costs, data blocks from two different channels may be packed from opposite sides of a word in the buffer in opposite directions. In some embodiments, data blocks from two or more physical channels may be mapped to two or more virtual channels, the virtual channels having balanced data block sizes. The data blocks associated with the virtual channels may then be packed to one or more buffers.