Graphics rendering methods for satisfying minimum frame rate requirements

• US 8,766,984 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mark, John Liam, Schwartz, Michael U., Rogers, Sean S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCulley, Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US12/859,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation

Abstract

Methods and devices enable rendering of graphic images at a minimum frame rate even when processing resource limitations and rendering processing may not support the minimum frame rate presentation. While graphics are being rendered, a processor of a computing device may monitor the achieved frame rate. If the frame rate falls below a minimum threshold, the processor may note a current speed or rate of movement of the image and begin rendering less computationally complex graphic items. Rendering of less computationally complex items continues until the processor notes that the speed of rendered items is less than the noted speed. At this point, normal graphical rendering may be recommenced. The aspects may be applied to more than one type of less computationally complex item or rendering format. The various aspects may be applied to a wide variety of animations and moving graphics, as well as scrolling text, webpages, etc.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a display animation on a computing device, comprising:

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining a speed of animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

rendering less computationally complex items when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below a minimum acceptable value, wherein the less computationally complex items are standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items, are recalled from a memory of the computing device, and can be rendered faster than normal items, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value; and

rendering normal items when the determined speed of the animation falls below the stored speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the less computationally complex items are defined as part of an application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

6. A method for implementing a display animation on a computing device, comprising:

designating a first rendering format for rendering images at an initiation of the display animation;

rendering images using the designated first rendering format;

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining when the monitored frame rate falls below a minimum acceptable value;

designating a second rendering format for rendering images when it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value, wherein the second rendering format requires less processing than the first rendering format by using standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items and are recalled from a memory of the computing device, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

determining a speed of the animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when it is determined that the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed; and

designating the first rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the second rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

designating a third rendering format for rendering images and storing a second speed of the animation, wherein the second speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the second format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed; and

designating the second rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the third rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

designating a fourth rendering format for rendering images and storing a third speed of the animation, wherein the third speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the third format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed; and

designating the third rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the fourth rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first, second and third rendering formats are defined as part of an application.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the display animation is a rapid list scroll animation.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the display animation is generated by a game application.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining a speed of animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

rendering less computationally complex items when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below a minimum acceptable value, wherein the less computationally complex items are standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items, are recalled from the memory of the computing device, and can be rendered faster than normal items, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value; and

rendering normal items when the determined speed of the animation falls below the stored speed.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the less computationally complex items are defined as part of an application.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

19. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

designating a first rendering format for rendering images at an initiation of the display animation;

rendering images using the designated rendering format;

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining when the monitored frame rate falls below a minimum acceptable value;

designating a second rendering format for rendering images when it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value, wherein the second rendering format requires less processing than the first rendering format by using standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items and are recalled from the memory of the computing device, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

determining a speed of the animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when it is determined that the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed; and

designating the first rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the second rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

designating a third rendering format for rendering images and storing a second speed of the animation, wherein the second speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the second format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed; and

designating the second rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the third rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

designating a fourth rendering format for rendering images and storing a third speed of the animation, wherein the third speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the third format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed; and

designating the third rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the fourth rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed.

22. The computing device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the first, second and third rendering formats are defined as part of an application.

23. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

24. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

25. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

26. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that the display animation is generated by a game application.

27. A computing device, comprising:

means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

means for determining a speed of animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

means for rendering less computationally complex items when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below a minimum acceptable value, wherein the less computationally complex items are standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items, are recalled from a memory of the computing device, and can be rendered faster than normal items, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

means for storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value; and

means for rendering normal items when the determined speed of the animation falls below the stored speed.

28. The computing device of claim 27, wherein means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered comprises means for monitoring the rate of frames rendered based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

29. The computing device of claim 27, wherein means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered comprises means for monitoring the rate of frames rendered based upon a running average frame rate.

30. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the less computationally complex items are defined as part of an application.

31. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

32. A computing device, comprising:

means for designating a first rendering format for rendering images at an initiation of the display animation;

means for rendering images using the designated rendering format;

means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

means for determining when the monitored frame rate falls below a minimum acceptable value;

means for designating a second rendering format for rendering images when it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value, wherein the second rendering format requires less processing than the first rendering format by using standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items and are recalled from a memory of the computing device, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

means for determining a speed of the animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

means for storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when it is determined that the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value;

means for determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed; and

means for designating the first rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the second rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed.

33. The computing device of claim 32, further comprising:

means for designating a third rendering format for rendering images and storing a second speed of the animation when, wherein the second speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined the currently designated rendering format is the second format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

means for determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed; and

means for designating the second rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the third rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed.

34. The computing device of claim 33, further comprising:

means for designating a fourth rendering format for rendering images and storing a third speed of the animation, wherein the third speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the third format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

means for determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed; and

means for designating the third rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the fourth rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed.

35. The computing device of claim 34, wherein the first, second and third rendering formats are defined as part of an application.

36. The computing device of claim 33, wherein means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered comprises means for monitoring the rate of frames rendered based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

37. The computing device of claim 33, wherein means for monitoring a rate of frames rendered comprises means for monitoring the rate of frames rendered based upon a running average frame rate.

38. The computing device of claim 33, wherein the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

39. The computing device of claim 33, wherein the display animation is generated by a game application.

40. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining a speed of the animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

rendering less computationally complex items when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below a minimum acceptable value, wherein the less computationally complex items are standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items, are recalled from a memory of the computing device, and can be rendered faster than normal items, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value; and

rendering normal items when the determined speed of the animation falls below the stored speed.

41. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

42. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

43. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the less computationally complex items are defined as part of an application.

44. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

45. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

designating a first rendering format for rendering images at an initiation of the display animation;

rendering images using the designated rendering format;

monitoring a rate of frames rendered during the display animation;

determining when the monitored frame rate falls below a minimum acceptable value;

designating a second rendering format for rendering images when it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value, wherein the second rendering format requires less processing than the first rendering format by using standard graphic items comprising fixed image elements that are representative of normal items and are recalled from a memory of the computing device, wherein the fixed image elements are the same for each of the less computationally complex items;

determining a speed of the animation, wherein the speed of animation represents a rate at which an object displayed in the animation moves;

storing a first speed of the animation, wherein the first speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when it is determined that the monitored frame rate is determined to be below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed; and

designating the first rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the second rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored first speed.

46. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations further comprising:

designating a third rendering format for rendering images and storing a second speed of the animation, wherein the second speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the second format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed; and

designating the second rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the third rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored second speed.

47. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations further comprising:

designating a fourth rendering format for rendering images and storing a third speed of the animation, wherein the third speed of animation is the speed of animation that is determined when the currently designated rendering format is the third format and it is determined that the monitored frame rate falls below the minimum acceptable value;

determining when the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed; and

designating the third rendering format when the current designated rendering format is the fourth rendering format and it is determined that the determined speed of the animation is less than the stored third speed.

48. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the first, second and third rendering formats are defined as part of an application.

49. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a number of frames rendered during a predefined preceding interval.

50. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the monitored frame rate is based upon a running average frame rate.

51. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the display animation is one of a rapid list scroll animation, a rapid scroll or pan of a webpage, a rapid scroll of a text document, a rapid scroll or pan of a portable document format (PDF) document, a rapid scroll of a slide presentation, and a rapid scroll or pan of photographic images.

52. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations such that the display animation is generated by a game application.