Methods and apparatuses for facilitating processing of interlaced video images for progressive video displays

• US 7,219,352 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Estrop, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho; Andy
• Application Number:
  US10/273,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 719/321, 719/322, 719/323, 719/327, 719/328
• US Class Current: 719/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0229 De-interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/643 Hue control means, e.g. flesh tone control

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating processing of interlaced video images for progressive video displays. In accordance with certain exemplary implementations, a method includes receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data, communicating the query to the graphics device driver, receiving from the graphics device driver a response to the query that identifies the graphics processing capability/capabilities to the renderer, and communicating the response to the renderer. The method further includes receiving from the renderer a further query for the graphics device driver as to at least one input requirement associated with the identified graphics processing capability, communicating the further query to the graphics device driver, receiving from the graphics device driver a further response to the further query that identifies the input requirement(s) associated with the graphics processing capability, and communicating the further response to the renderer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a renderer to identify to a graphics device driver a description of interlaced video data to be processed by a graphics device associated with said graphics device driver;

causing said graphics device driver to identify to said renderer at least one graphics processing capability associated with said graphics device;

causing said renderer to select at least one identified graphics processing capability and request input requirements from said graphics device driver for said at least one identified graphics processing capability; and

causing said graphics device driver to identify to said renderer at least one input requirement associated with said at least one identified graphics processing capability.

2. An apparatus comprising:

rendering logic;

graphics device logic; and

interface logic operatively coupled to said rendering logic and said graphics device logic, and wherein using said interface logic;

said rendering logic provides a description of interlaced video data to be processed by a graphics device associated with said graphics device logic,

said graphics device logic, identifies at least one graphics processing capability associated with said graphics device,

said rendering logic requests input requirements from said graphics device logic for at least one selected graphics processing capability, and

said graphics device logic identifies at least one input requirement associated with said at least one selected graphics processing capability.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said interface logic includes at least one application programming interface (API).

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

providing an interface capability that allows;

a renderer to identify&

to a graphics device driver a description of interlaced video data to be processed by a graphics device associated with said graphics device driver;

said graphics device driver to identify to said renderer at least one graphics processing capability associated with said graphics device;

said renderer to select at least one identified graphics processing capability and request input requirements from said graphics device driver for said at least one identified graphics processing capability; and

said graphics device driver to identify to said renderer at least one input requirement associated with said at least one identified graphics processing capability.

5. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 4, wherein said interface capability includes at least one application programming interface (API).

6. A method for interfacing a renderer and a graphics device driver, the method comprising:

providing at least one application programming interface (API) that is configurable to;

allow a renderer to query a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data,

allow said graphics device driver to respond to said query by identifying to said renderer said at least one graphics processing capability,

allow said renderer to further query said graphics device driver as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability, and

allow said graphics device driver to respond to said further query by identifying to said renderer said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit operatively configured to provide rendering logic, graphics device driver logic, and at least one application programming interface (API) configured such that;

said rendering logic queries said graphics device driver logic through said at least one API to determine at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data when operatively coupled to said at least one processing unit,

said graphics device driver logic responds through said at least one API identifying to said rendering logic said at least one graphics processing capability,

said rendering logic further queries said graphics device driver logic through said at least one API as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability, and

said graphics device driver logic responds through said at least one API identifying to said rendering logic said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

establishing an interface environment wherein;

rendering logic can query graphics device driver logic as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data,

said graphics device driver logic can respond to said query by identifying to said rendering logic said at least one graphics processing capability,

said rendering logic can further query said graphics device driver logic as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability, and

said graphics device driver logic can respond to said further query by identifying to said rendering logic said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein said interface environment is operatively provided using at least one application programming interface (API).

10. A method comprising:

receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data;

communicating said query to said graphics device driver;

receiving from said graphics device driver a response to said query that identifies said at least one graphics processing capability to said renderer; and

communicating said response to said renderer.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, farther comprising:

receiving from said renderer a further query for said graphics device driver as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability;

communicating said further query to said graphics device driver;

receiving from said graphics device driver a further response to said further query that identifies said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability; and

communicating said farther response to said renderer.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data;

communicating said query to said graphics device driver;

receiving from said graphics device driver a response to said query that identifies said at least one graphics processing capability to said renderer; and

communicating said response to said renderer.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, having further computer-executable instructions for causing the at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

receiving from said renderer a further query for said graphics device driver as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability;

communicating said further query to said graphics device driver;

receiving from said graphics device driver a further response to said further query that identifies said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability; and

communicating said further response to said renderer.

14. An apparatus comprising:

rendering logic configured to support de-interlacing of video data;

graphics device driver logic; and

interface logic operatively configured to;

receive a query from said rendering logic requesting graphics processing capabilities that can be performed by a graphics device associated with said graphics device driver logic, said graphics device being configured to support de-interlacing of said video data,

communicate said query to said graphics device driver logic,

receive from said graphics device driver logic a response to said query tat identifies said at least one graphics processing capability, and

communicate said response to said rendering logic.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said interface logic is further operatively configured to:

receive another query from said rendering logic as to at least one input requirement associated with said identified at least one graphics processing capability;

communicate said another query to said graphics device driver logic;

receive another response from said graphics device driver logic identifying said at least one input requirement associated with said graphics processing capability; and

communicate said another response to said rendering logic.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said interface logic includes at least one application programming interface (API).

17. A method of communicating between a rendering process and a graphics device driver process that is associated with a graphics device, the method comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and graphics device and said at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide are associated with de-interlacing said video data.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing capabilities comprising a BOB line doubling capability, a switching adaptive capability, a thee-dimensional adaptive capability, and a motion vector steered capability.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing capabilities comprising a frame repeat/drop capability, a linear temporal interpolation capability, and a motion-vector steered capability.

19. A method of communicating between a rendering process and a graphics device driver process that is associated with a graphics device, the method comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and graphics device and said at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide are associated with frame-rate converting said video data.

21. A method of communicating between a rendering process and a graphics device driver process that is associated with a graphics device, the method comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said at least one acknowledgment parameter includes at least one generally unique identifier (GUID) associated with said at least one supportive processing capability;

wherein said query acknowledgment call includes a plurality of generally unique identifiers (GUIDs) associated with a plurality of supportive processing capabilities; and

wherein said plurality of GUIDs are arranged in an order corresponding to at least one comparative factor associated with said plurality of supportive processing capabilities.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one comparative factor includes a quality factor associated with said plurality of supportive processing capabilities.

23. A method of communicating between a rendering process and a graphics device driver process that is associated with a graphics device, the method comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said query call includes a DeinterlaceQueryAvailableModes call.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and said graphics device and said at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide are associated with de-interlacing said video data.

25. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing capabilities comprising a BOB line doubling capability, a switching adaptive capability, a three-dimensional adaptive capability, and a motion vector steered capability.

27. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing cap abilities comprising a frame repeat/drop capability, a linear temporal interpolation capability, and a motion-vector steered capability.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and graphics device and said at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide are associated with frame-rate convening said video data.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said at least one acknowledgment parameter includes at least one generally unique identifier (GUID) associated with said at least one supportive processing capability;

wherein said query acknowledgment call includes a plurality of generally unique identifiers (GUIDs) associated with a plurality of supportive processing capabilities; and

wherein said plurality of GUIDs are arranged in an order corresponding to at least one comparative factor associated with said plurality of supportive processing capabilities.

29. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 28, wherein said at least one comparative factor includes a quality factor associated with said plurality of supportive processing capabilities.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said rendering process and a graphics device;

receiving, by said graphics device driver process, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said graphics device can provide based on said description of video data;

wherein said query call includes a DeinterlaceQueryAvailableModes call.

31. A method of communicating between a rendering process and a graphics device driver process that is associated with a graphics device, the method comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call relating to video de-interlacing and having at least one call parameter comprising an identifier for a selected supportive processing capability that a graphics device can provide to process selected video data;

receiving, by a graphics device driver process associated with said graphics device, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising at least one input requirement associated with said selected supportive processing capability.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein said query call includes a DeinterlaceQueryModesCaps call.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein said at least one acknowledgment parameter includes at least one acknowledgement parameter selected from a group of acknowledgement parameters comprising a previous output frames parameter, an input pool parameter, a forward reference samples parameter, a backward reference samples parameter, an output frame format parameter, a video processing capability parameter, a de-interlace sub-rectangle parameter, a de-interlace YUV-to-RGB parameter, a de-interlace stretch X parameter, a de-interlace stretch Y parameter, a de-interlace alpha-blend parameter, a color modifying parameter, a gamma modifying parameter, a rotation parameter, and a sheering parameter.

34. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising:

issuing, by a rendering process, a query call relating to video de-interlacing and having at least one call parameter comprising an identifier for a selected supportive processing capability that a graphics device can provide to process selected video data;

receiving, by a graphics device driver process associated with said graphics device, said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

issuing, by said graphics device driver process, a query acknowledgment having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising at least one input requirement associated with said selected supportive processing capability.

35. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein said query call includes a DeinterlaceQueryModesCaps call.

36. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein said at least one acknowledgment parameter includes at least one acknowledgement parameter selected from a group of acknowledgement parameters comprising a previous output frames parameter, an input pool parameter, a forward reference samples parameter, a backward reference samples parameter, an output frame format parameter, a video processing capability parameter, a de-interlace sub-rectangle parameter, a de-interlace YUV-to-RGB parameter, a de-interlace stretch X parameter, a de-interlace stretch Y parameter, a de-interlace alpha-blend parameter, a color modifying parameter, a gamma modifying parameter, a rotation parameter, and a sheering parameter.

37. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data;

means for communicating said query to said graphics device driver;

means for receiving from said graphics device driver a response to said query that identifies said at least one graphics processing capability to said renderer; and

means for communicating said response to said renderer.

38. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

at least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising;

receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data;

communicating said query to said graphics device driver;

receiving from said graphics device driver a response to said query that identifies said at least one graphics processing capability to said renderer; and

communicating said response to said renderer.

39. An apparatus comprising:

means for rendering; and

means for driving a graphics device;

wherein said means for rendering comprises;

means for issuing a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said means for rendering and said means for driving a graphics device;

wherein said means for driving a graphics device comprises;

means for receiving said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

means for issuing a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said means for driving a graphics device can provide based on said description of video data; and

wherein (i) said description of video data to be processed by said means for rendering and said means for driving a graphics device and (ii) said at least one supportive processing capability that said means for driving a graphics device can provide are both associated with de-interlacing said video data.

40. The apparatus as recited in claim 39, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing capabilities comprising a BOB line doubling capability, a switching adaptive capability, a three-dimensional adaptive capability, and a motion vector steered capability.

41. The apparatus as recited in claim 39, wherein said at least one supportive processing capability includes at least one processing capability selected from a group of processing capabilities comprising a frame repeat/drop capability, a linear temporal interpolation capability, and a motion-vector steered capability.

42. An apparatus comprising:

means for rendering; and

means for driving a graphics device;

wherein said means for rendering comprises;

means for issuing a query call having at least one call parameter comprising a description of video data to be processed by said means for rendering and said means for driving a graphics device;

wherein said means for driving a graphics device comprises;

means for receiving said query call and parsing said query call to retrieve said at least one call parameter; and

means for issuing a query acknowledgment call having at least one acknowledgment parameter comprising an identifier for at least one supportive processing capability that said means for driving a graphics device can provide based on said description of video data; and

wherein (i) said description of video data to be processed by said means for rendering and said means for driving a graphics device and (ii) said at least one supportive processing capability that said means for driving a graphics device can provide are both associated with frame-rate converting said video data.