System for dynamically adjusting image quality for interactive graphics applications

• US 6,473,085 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rockhold, Ronald Lynn, Brock, Bishop Chapman, Chiprout, Eli, Elinozahy, Elmootazebllah Nabil, Rajamony, Ramakrishnan, Rawson, III, Freeman Leigh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Application Number:
  US09/465,295
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/502, 345/505, 345/501, 709/105, 709/100, 709/104
• US Class Current: 345/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

A method and system for optimizing image quality while operating an interactive graphics application within a data processing system. First, the image rendering speed for each of the rendering modes available within the interactive graphics application are assessed. Upon initial operation of the interactive graphics system, a default rendering mode is activated. During operation of the interactive graphics application, the processing load imposed on the data processing system is monitored and utilized as a user activity metric. The active rendering mode is updated in accordance with the user activity metric, such that the speed of the selected rendering mode varies inversely with the current processing load.

Claims

1. A method within a data processing system for enhancing image quality while operating an interactive graphics application having a plurality of image rendering modes, said method comprising the steps of:

assessing said plurality of image rendering modes by resource fraction;

during operation of said interactive graphics application within said data processing system, determining a processing load on said data processing system; and

selecting one of said plurality of image rendering modes in accordance with the assessed resource fraction and the determined processing load.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data processing system includes at least one processor having a total processing capacity, and wherein said assessing step comprises the steps of:

determining a resource fraction of said total processing capacity required for each of said plurality of rendering modes; and

assigning a resource fraction range to each of said plurality of rendering modes such that each range encompasses the resource fraction for the corresponding rendering mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said assigning step comprises determining an upper limit, UL, and a lower limit, LL, for each of said ranges in accordance with the relations:

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said assessing step comprises empirically determining a resource fraction range for each of said plurality of rendering modes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said empirically determining step comprises measuring a fraction of said total processing capacity required to render an image for each of said plurality of rendering modes within said data processing system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data processing system further comprises a user input device utilized to interactively impose said processing load on said data processing system during operation of said interactive graphics application, and wherein said step of determining a processing load comprises monitoring a signal density from said user input device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said data processing system further comprises an operating system for implementing said interactive graphics application, and wherein said monitoring step comprises tracking a number of interrupts per unit time as counted by said operating system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said interactive graphics application comprises a load monitoring application, and wherein said step of determining a processing load comprises the steps of:

querying said operating system from said load monitoring application; and

retrieving processing load information from said operating system into said load monitoring application in response to said querying step.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of assembling said interactive graphics application to include said plurality of image rendering modes, wherein each image rendering mode among said plurality of image rendering modes utilizes a corresponding rendering engine for rendering an image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

categorizing the rendering engine corresponding to each of said image rendering modes as providing distinct surface attribute qualities for the rendered image, such that each of said image rendering modes has a unique image quality characterization; and

activating one of said at least one selected image rendering modes in accordance with said unique image quality characterization, such that said data processing system may provide an image rendering quality that is optimized in accordance with said processing load.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said assembling step comprises the step of selecting said plurality of rendering modes from a group including raytracing and wireframe.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessing step is performed within said interactive graphics application, and wherein said method further comprises the step of estimating a fraction of processing resources required to render an image within said interactive graphics application.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said data processing system has a total processing capacity and an available processing capacity which is the difference between said total processing capacity and the determined processing load, and wherein said selecting step further comprises the steps of:

comparing the assessed resource fraction range for each of said plurality of rendering modes with the available processing capacity; and

selecting a rendering mode from said plurality of rendering modes that has a resource fraction range encompassing the available processing capacity.

14. A program product comprising computer readable storage media including program logic that causes control circuitry to execute program instructions for optimizing image quality while operating an interactive graphics application having a plurality of image rendering modes, said program product comprising:

instruction means for assessing said plurality of image rendering modes by resource fraction;

instruction means for determining a processing load on said data processing system; and

instruction means for selecting one of said plurality of image rendering modes in accordance with the assessed resource fraction and the determined processing load.

15. The program product of claim 14, wherein said data processing system includes at least one processor having a total processing capacity, and wherein said assessing step comprises:

instruction means for determining a resource fraction of said total processing capacity required for each of said plurality of rendering modes; and

instruction means for assigning a resource fraction range to each of said plurality of rendering modes such that each range encompasses the resource fraction for the corresponding rendering mode.

16. The program product of claim 15, wherein said instruction means for assigning comprises instruction means for determining an upper limit, UL, and a lower limit, LL, for each of said ranges in accordance with the relations:

17. The program product of claim 15, wherein said instruction means for assessing comprises instruction means for empirically determining a resource fraction range for each of said plurality of rendering modes.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein said instruction means for empirically determining comprises instruction means for measuring a fraction of said total processing capacity required to render an image for each of said plurality of rendering modes within said data processing system.

19. The program product of claim 14, wherein said data processing system further comprises a user input device utilized to interactively impose said processing load on said data processing system during operation of said interactive graphics application, and wherein said instruction means for determining a processing load comprises instruction means for monitoring a signal density from said user input device.

20. The program product of claim 19, wherein said data processing system further comprises an operating system for implementing said interactive graphics application, and wherein said instruction means for monitoring comprises instruction means for tracking a number of interrupts per unit time as counted by said operating system.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein said interactive graphics application comprises a load monitoring application, and wherein said instruction means for determining a processing load comprises:

instruction means for querying said operating system from said load monitoring application; and

instruction means for retrieving processing load information from said operating system into said load monitoring application.

22. The program product of claim 14, further comprising instruction means for assembling said interactive graphics application to includes said plurality of image rendering modes, wherein each image rendering mode among said plurality of image rendering modes utilizes a corresponding rendering engine for rendering an image.

23. The program product of claim 22, further comprising:

instruction means for categorizing the rendering engine corresponding to each of said image rendering modes as providing distinct surface attribute qualities for the rendered image, such that each of said image rendering modes has a unique image quality characterization; and

instruction means for activating one of said at least one selected image rendering modes in accordance with said unique image quality characterization, such that said data processing system may provide an image rendering quality that is optimized in accordance with said processing load.

24. The program product of claim 22, wherein said instruction means for assembling comprises instruction means for selecting said plurality of rendering modes from a group including raytracing and wireframe.

25. The program product of claim 14, wherein said instruction means for assessing is included within said interactive graphics application, and wherein said program product further comprises instruction means for estimating a fraction of processing resources required to render an image within said interactive graphics application.

26. The program product of claim 14, wherein said data processing system has a total processing capacity and an available processing capacity which is the difference between said total processing capacity and the determined processing load, and wherein said instruction means for selecting further comprises:

instruction means for comparing the assessed resource fraction range for each of said plurality of rendering modes with the available processing capacity; and

instruction means for selecting one of said plurality of image rendering modes in accordance with the assessed resource fraction range that encompasses the available processing capacity.