Temporal Fallback For High Frame Rate Picture Rate Conversion

• US 20110128448A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Data Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Entropic Communications Incorporated (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bellers, Erwin, Janssen, Johan G., W., M.,
• Granted Patent: US 8,804,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/614
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0247 Flicker reduction other than flicker reduction circuits used for single beam cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/106 Determination of movement vectors or equivalent parameters within the image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/08 Power processing, i.e. workload management for processors involved in display operations, such as CPUs or GPUs
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/14 Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0127 by changing the field or frame frequency of the incoming video signal, e.g. frame rate converter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0137 dependent on presence/absence of motion, e.g. of motion zones H04N7/014 takes precedence; movement detection in television signals H04N5/144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0147 the interpolation using an indication of film mode or an indication of a specific pattern, e.g. 3:2 pull-down pattern

Abstract

An apparatus to provide a fall-back procedure for a PRC imaging device is described. The apparatus includes a PRC controller, a system resource monitor, and a PRC setting calculator. The PRC controller outputs a stream of images at an adjustable temporal rate. The adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate. The system resource monitor obtains a measurement of system resource utilization. The PRC setting calculator determines a setting for the PRC controller in response to the measurement of system resource utilization. Additionally, the PRC controller determines a value for the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a Picture Rate Conversion (PRC) controller configured to output a stream of images at an adjustable temporal rate, wherein the adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate;

a system resource monitor configured to obtain a measurement of system resource utilization; and

a PRC setting calculator coupled to the system resource monitor and to the PRC controller, the PRC setting calculator configured to determine a setting for the PRC controller, wherein the setting is calculated in response to the measurement of system resource utilization;

wherein the PRC controller is further configured to determine a value for the adjustable temporal rate based on the setting.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the setting further comprises a temporal interpolation position, wherein the temporal interpolation position is the position of an object in picture associated with a time stamp between two neighboring pictures.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temporal rate is one hundred and twenty (120) Hertz (Hz) and the second predetermined temporal rate is sixty (60) Hz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system resource monitor comprises a system resource estimator configured to generate an estimate of available system resources, wherein the measurement of system resource utilization comprises the estimate of available system resources.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PRC controller comprises a temporal rate adjustor configured to automatically adjust the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting from the PRC setting calculator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the PRC setting calculator further comprises a threshold monitor configured to compare the measurement of system resource utilization with a first predetermined threshold, and to trigger the PRC setting calculator to gradually reduce a value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the first predetermined threshold, wherein the temporal rate adjustor is further configured to reduce the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the threshold monitor is further configured to compare the measurement of system resource utilization with a second predetermined threshold, and to trigger the PRC setting calculator to abruptly reduce the value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the second predetermined threshold, wherein the temporal rate adjustor is further configured to reduce the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.

8. A system comprising:

an image source configured to supply a first stream of images;

an image controller in communication with the image source, the image controller comprising;

a Picture Rate Conversion (PRC) controller configured to output a second stream of images at an adjustable temporal rate, wherein the adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate;

a system resource monitor configured to obtain a measurement of system resource utilization; and

a PRC setting calculator coupled to the system resource monitor and to the PRC controller, the PRC setting calculator configured to determine a setting for the PRC controller, wherein the setting is calculated based on the measurement of system resource utilization;

wherein the PRC controller is further configured to determine a value for the adjustable temporal rate based on the setting; and

an image display panel in communication with the image controller, the image display panel configured to display the second stream of images at the adjustable temporal rate.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the setting further comprises a temporal interpolation position.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined temporal rate is one hundred and twenty (120) Hertz (Hz) and the second predetermined temporal rate is sixty (60) Hz.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the system resource monitor comprises a system resource estimator configured to generate an estimate of available system resources, wherein the measurement of system resource utilization comprises the estimate of available system resources.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the PRC controller comprises a temporal rate adjustor configured to automatically adjust the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting from the PRC setting calculator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the PRC setting calculator further comprises a threshold monitor configured to compare the measurement of system resource utilization with a first predetermined threshold, and to trigger the PRC setting calculator to gradually reduce a value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the first predetermined threshold, wherein the temporal rate adjustor is further configured to reduce the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the threshold monitor is further configured to compare the measurement of system resource utilization with a second predetermined threshold, and to trigger the PRC setting calculator to abruptly reduce the value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the second predetermined threshold, wherein the temporal rate adjustor is further configured to reduce the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining a measurement of system resource utilization;

determining a setting corresponding to an adjustable temporal rate, wherein the setting is calculated based on the measurement of system resource utilization; and

outputting a stream of images at the adjustable temporal rate in response to the setting, wherein the adjustable temporal rate is constrained within a range defined by a first predetermined rate and a second predetermined rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the setting further comprises a temporal interpolation position; and

the first predetermined temporal rate is one hundred and twenty (120) Hertz (Hz) and the second predetermined temporal rate is sixty (60) Hz.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating an estimate of available system resources, wherein the measurement of system resource utilization comprises the estimate of available system resources.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically adjusting the adjustable temporal rate in response to a change of the setting.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the measurement of system resource utilization with a first predetermined threshold;

gradually reducing a value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the first predetermined threshold; and

automatically reducing the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the measurement of system resource utilization with a second predetermined threshold;

abruptly reducing a value of the setting in response to a determination that the system resource utilization exceeds the second predetermined threshold; and

automatically reducing the adjustable temporal rate in response to the reduction of the value of the setting.