Using non-lossless compression to save power
First Claim
1. A method of reducing power dissipation comprising:
- with a graphics processor;
monitoring user activity;
if a first duration passes without user activity occurring, thenreading a plurality of pixels from an external memory;
reducing a color fidelity of the plurality of pixels;
storing the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity in the external memory; and
displaying the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity;
thenreading the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity from the external memory; and
displaying the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity; and
if a second duration passes without user activity, the second duration longer than the first duration, thenfurther reducing the color fidelity of the plurality of pixels;
storing the plurality of pixels having the further reduced color fidelity in a memory on the graphics processor; and
displaying the plurality of pixels having the further reduced color fidelity;
otherwise,not reducing the color fidelity of the plurality of pixels; and
displaying the plurality of pixels.
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Abstract
Circuits, methods, and systems that reduce or eliminate the number of data transfers between a system memory and a graphics processor under certain conditions. After inactivity by a user of an electronic device is detected, the color fidelity of pixels being displayed is reduced. Color fidelity can be reduced by compressing pixel values, and the compression may be non-lossless, for example, pixel data bits may be truncated. The degree of compression can be progressively increased for longer durations of inactivity, and this progression may be limited by a threshold. Inactivity may be detected by a lack of input from devices such as a keyboard, pen, mouse, or other input device. Once activity is resumed, uncompressed pixel data, or pixel data that is compressed in a lossless manner, is displayed.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of reducing power dissipation comprising:
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with a graphics processor; monitoring user activity; if a first duration passes without user activity occurring, then reading a plurality of pixels from an external memory; reducing a color fidelity of the plurality of pixels; storing the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity in the external memory; and displaying the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity;
thenreading the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity from the external memory; and displaying the plurality of pixels having the reduced color fidelity; and if a second duration passes without user activity, the second duration longer than the first duration, then further reducing the color fidelity of the plurality of pixels; storing the plurality of pixels having the further reduced color fidelity in a memory on the graphics processor; and displaying the plurality of pixels having the further reduced color fidelity;
otherwise,not reducing the color fidelity of the plurality of pixels; and displaying the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 19)
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5. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a graphics processing unit comprising; a first circuit configured to detect user activity; a second circuit configured to compress pixel data; and an internal memory to store compressed data; and an external memory configured to store compressed pixel data and coupled to the graphics processing unit; wherein when the first circuit detects user inactivity for a first duration, the second circuit compresses pixel data using a first algorithm, wherein when the first circuit detects user inactivity for the first duration, and compressed pixel data is stored in the internal memory, compressed pixel data is read from the internal memory and displayed, wherein when the first circuit detects user inactivity for the first duration, and compressed pixel data is stored in the external memory and not the internal memory, compressed pixel data is read from the external memory and displayed, and wherein when the first circuit detects user inactivity for a second duration, the second circuit compresses pixel data using a second algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of reducing power dissipation by compressing pixel data comprising:
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with a graphics processor; detecting a user'"'"'s inactivity; determining whether compressed pixel values are stored in an external memory; and
if they are not stored in the external memory thenreceiving a first plurality of pixel values from the external memory; compressing the pixel values; storing the compressed pixel values in the external memory; and
if they are stored in the external memory thendetermining whether compressed pixel values are stored in an internal memory on the graphics processor; and
if they are not stored in the internal memory, thenreceiving the compressed pixel values from the external memory; further compressing the compressed pixel values storing the further compressed pixel values in the internal memory; and displaying the further compressed pixel values, and if they are stored in the internal memory, then reading the compressed pixel values from the internal memory; and displaying the compressed pixel values. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification