Video NIC Direct Frame-Buffer Transfer for High-Speed Pixel Streams
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network interface controllers (NICs) inefficiently process pixel streams from Ethernet networks due to the need to copy fragmented payload data into video buffers, leading to processing overhead and inefficiencies in high-speed video transport.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a video-enhanced network interface controller (NIC) that directly transfers pixel data into video frame buffers without software intervention, using a video transport accelerator to manage packet handling and error correction, thereby optimizing high-speed video transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional NIC processes pixel streams by copying fragmented payload data from network buffers to video buffers, then video data can be transported through the network, but processing overhead increases and processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video payload data from the Ethernet packet structure and separates it from the network protocol headers. The NIC directly extracts the pixel data portion from incoming video packets and writes it directly to video frame buffers, eliminating the intermediate copying step through conventional network buffer processing. This extraction approach removes unnecessary network protocol processing overhead while maintaining video data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized video processing path as an intermediary between the network interface and video processing systems. This dedicated path includes video-specific buffer structures and processing logic that directly handle video payload data without requiring conversion through general-purpose network buffers. The intermediary structure optimizes the data flow specifically for video applications, reducing processing time and overhead.
2Device complexity
If conventional NIC copies fragmented payload data through multiple buffers, then network protocol compatibility is maintained, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts video payload data directly from network packets and places it into dedicated video buffers, bypassing the conventional multi-buffer network processing path. This extraction eliminates the complexity of managing fragmented data across multiple network buffers while maintaining protocol compatibility at the packet reception level. The video-specific buffer structure simplifies memory management and reduces processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements video-optimized buffer structures with specific characteristics tailored for video data processing. These local optimizations include contiguous memory allocation for video frames, specialized buffer descriptors for video packet tracking, and direct memory access paths that differ from general network buffer management. This local quality approach maintains protocol compatibility while optimizing the video processing path.
3Reliability
If conventional NIC processes video data through general network protocols, then network interoperability is achieved, but data integrity and error correction for video increase processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video data processing into distinct phases: packet reception with protocol validation, payload extraction with integrity verification, and direct writing to video buffers. This segmentation allows error checking and data integrity validation to occur at the packet level without requiring extensive processing after extraction. The segmented approach maintains reliability while improving processing speed by performing critical validation early in the data flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary validation and extraction of video payload data from network packets before the data enters the main video processing pipeline. Error checking, payload verification, and buffer allocation occur in advance, allowing the main processing path to operate on already-validated data. This preliminary action ensures data integrity while reducing the processing burden on subsequent video processing stages.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods transfer video data to an image processing system from a video source. Pixel data is received in a local buffer of a network interface controller and provided in a video transport packet. The video transport packet includes the pixel data, a media access control header and a video header. The video transport packet is received by another network interface controller that provides the pixel data directly into a video frame buffer of the image processing system.