Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphic processing system – Plural graphics processors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-03
2001-05-29
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphic processing system
Plural graphics processors
C345S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239815
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to systems for processing, transmission and storage of video data, where the video data has a precision that differs from the precision of a data processing or transport path.
BACKGROUND
Video data generally is composed of one to four components per pixel. Each component is represented using data of the same precision, and is commonly represented using a variety of precisions, such as 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit formats. The pixel rate generally is constant, regardless of the number of components or the precision of the components.
Processing, storage and transmission of video data having different precisions in a computer system may be difficult because a computer system typically has processing elements and data storage and transmission elements that are byte-oriented, i.e., the data paths have precisions that are integer multiples of 8-bits. Processing, storage and transmission of 10-bit and 12-bit video data using byte-oriented computing equipment may result in inefficient use of transmission and processing bandwidth and data storage. Although some computer systems have 16-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit data paths, video processing equipment that has such a precision is typically expensive.
SUMMARY
In order to efficiently use processing and transmission bandwidth and data storage of a computer system, video data is represented using integer and fractional values. The integer value has a precision defined by the precision of the data paths of the computer system. These integer and fractional components are packed into byte-oriented data packets in a manner that minimizes waste of storage space and transmission bandwidth. This packing of data also may be done in such a way so as to minimize processing for performing packing and unpacking of the data.
Because the video data may be easily separated and combined into its integer and fractional components, these components may be processed or transported separately, in parallel or in series, and then later recombined. As a result, lower precision devices may be used in parallel to process or transport streams of higher precision data without having a high precision data processing or transport path.
Accordingly, in one aspect, a computer-readable medium has computer-readable signals defining a data structure recorded thereon. The data structure represents video data defined by a plurality of components having a first precision, for use by a video device operating on the video data using a second precision smaller than the first precision. The data structure includes an integer portion defined by higher order bits of a video component, wherein the precision of the integer portion is defined by the second precision, and a fractional portion defined by lower order bits of the data for a video component, wherein the precision of the fractional portion is defined by a difference between the first precision and the second precision. In one embodiment, the fractional portions for video components of a pixel are stored such that one or more fractional portions are present in a data word of the second precision and the fractional portion is stored in one data word of the second precision.
In another aspect, a process for generating a representation of video data defined by a plurality of components having a first precision, for use by a video device operating on the video data using a second precision smaller than the first precision, the representation including an integer portion defined by higher order bits of a video component, wherein the precision of the integer portion is defined by the second precision and a fractional portion defined by lower order bits of the data for a video component, wherein the precision of the fractional portion is defined by a difference between the first precision and the second precision. The process involves receiving data for each component of the video data in the first precision. The fractional portions of the components of the video data are combined into data in the second precision. The integer portions of the components of the video data are output in the second precision. In one embodiment, the fractional portions are multiplexed into a first data word and a sequence of integer portions are latched into separate data words. The output provided is the first data word and the integer portions. In another embodiment, the fractional portions are read from a first memory location. The fractional portions are combined into data words in a second memory location. The integer portions are read from a third memory location and are combined into data words in a fourth memory location.
Another aspect is a process for accessing data in a representation of video data defined by a plurality of components having a first precision, for use by a video device operating on the video data using a second precision smaller than the first precision, the representation including an integer portion defined by higher order bits of a video component, wherein the precision of the integer portion is defined by the second precision and a fractional portion defined by lower order bits of the data for a video component, wherein the precision of the fractional portion is defined by a difference between the first precision and the second precision. The process involves receiving the data defining the integer and fractional components of the video data. The fractional portions of each component of the video data are combined with the integer portion of each component of the data into data having the first precision. In one embodiment, the fractional portions are demultiplexed from a first data word. Each fractional portion of a component is combined with the integer portion of the component and is provided as an output data in the first precision. In another embodiment, the fractional portions are read from a first memory location. The integer portions are read from a second memory location. The fractional portions and integer portions of a component are combined into data having the first precision.
Another aspect is a method for processing video data defined by a plurality of components having a first precision using video devices operating on the video data using a second precision smaller than the first precision, wherein the video data is stored in a format defining an integer portion defined by higher order bits of a video component, wherein the precision of the integer portion is defined by the second precision and a fractional portion defined by lower order bits of the data for a video component, wherein the precision of the fractional portion is defined by a difference between the first precision and the second precision data. The method involves processing the integer portion of the video data using a first video processing device. The fractional portion of the video data is processed using a second video processing device. The results obtained by processing the fractional portion and the integer portion are combined into data in first precision.
Another aspect is a method for processing video data defined by a plurality of components having a first precision using a video processing device operating on the video data using the first precision, wherein the video data is transported to the video processing device using video devices having a data path having a second precision smaller than the first precision, wherein the video data is stored in a format defining an integer portion defined by higher order bits of a video component, wherein the precision of the integer portion is defined by the second precision and a fractional portion defined by lower order bits of the data for a video component, wherein the precision of the fractional portion is defined by a difference between the first precision and the second precision data. The method involves transporting the integer portion of the video data to the video processing device using a first video device. The fractional portion of the video data to the video processing device is transported using a se
Cacciatore Raymond D.
Eshraghian Hamed
Frink Craig R.
Avid Technology Inc.
Brier Jeffery
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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