METHOD FOR PERFORMING CODING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND ASSOCIATED PROCESSING CIRCUIT

• US 20120068873A1
• Filed: 09/19/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Chuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,330,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1012 using codes or arrangements adapted for a specific type of error G06F11/1048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A method for performing coding resource management is provided, where the method is applied to a processing circuit. The method includes: with regard to a specific coding operation, selecting a specific module from a hardware module and a program module; and performing the specific coding operation by utilizing the specific module. In particular, the step of selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module further includes: based upon at least one characteristic of the specific coding operation, default settings, and/or user settings, selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module. An associated processing circuit is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing coding resource management, the method being applied to a processing circuit, the method comprising:

with regard to a specific coding operation, selecting a specific module from a hardware module and a program module; and

performing the specific coding operation by utilizing the specific module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module further comprises:

based upon at least one characteristic of the specific coding operation, selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one estimation result;

and the method further comprises;

performing estimation operations by utilizing the hardware module and the program module, respectively, in order to obtain the at least one estimation result.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises classification of the specific coding operation;

and the method further comprises;

storing classification information that represents the classification of the specific coding operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module further comprises:

determining whether it requires only a single command to accomplish the specific coding operation; and

when it is determined that it requires only the single command to accomplish the specific coding operation, selecting the hardware module as the specific module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the specific module from the hardware module and the program module further comprises:

determining whether a number of commands for accomplishing the specific coding operation reaches a predetermined value; and

when it is determined that the number of commands for accomplishing the specific coding operation reaches the predetermined value, selecting the program module as the specific module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware module comprises an encoder and/or a decoder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the program module comprises an encoding procedure and/or a decoding procedure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in a situation where the program module is selected as the specific module, the step of performing the specific coding operation by utilizing the specific module further comprises:

utilizing a processor executing the program module to perform the specific coding operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the processor is arranged to control operations of the processing circuit.

11. A processing circuit, comprising:

at least one hardware module arranged to perform at least one coding operation when needed; and

a resource manager arranged to perform coding resource management, wherein with regard to a specific coding operation, the resource manager selects a specific module from the hardware module and a program module;

wherein the processing circuit performs the specific coding operation by utilizing the specific module.

12. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein based upon at least one characteristic of the specific coding operation, the resource manager selects the specific module from the hardware module and the program module.

13. The processing circuit of claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one estimation result;

and the processing circuit performs estimation operations by utilizing the hardware module and the program module, respectively, in order to obtain the at least one estimation result.

14. The processing circuit of claim 12, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises classification of the specific coding operation;

and the processing circuit stores classification information that represents the classification of the specific coding operation.

15. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the resource manager determines whether it requires only a single command to accomplish the specific coding operation;

and when it is determined that it requires only the single command to accomplish the specific coding operation, the resource manager selects the hardware module as the specific module.

16. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the resource manager determines whether a number of commands for accomplishing the specific coding operation reaches a predetermined value;

and when it is determined that the number of commands for accomplishing the specific coding operation reaches the predetermined value, the resource manager selects the program module as the specific module.

17. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the hardware module comprises an encoder and/or a decoder.

18. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the program module comprises an encoding procedure and/or a decoding procedure.

19. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the resource manager is a processor arranged to control operations of the processing circuit;

and in a situation where the program module is selected as the specific module, the processing circuit utilizes the processor executing the program module to perform the specific coding operation.

20. The processing circuit of claim 11, further comprising:

a processor arranged to control operations of the processing circuit;

wherein in a situation where the program module is selected as the specific module, the processing circuit utilizes the processor executing the program module to perform the specific coding operation.

21. The processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit obtains the program module from a storage outside the processing circuit.

22. The processing circuit of claim 11, further comprising:

A memory arranged to store the program module.