Detecting static images and reducing resource usage on an electronic device

• US 8,872,836 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabii, Khosro M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAU H
• Application Number:
  US13/013,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 345/530, 345/534
• US Class Current: 345/530
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/103 Detection of image changes, e.g. determination of an index representative of the image change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

An electronic device for detecting static images and reducing resource usage is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The electronic device determines image memory. The electronic device also sets a timer. The electronic device further monitors the image memory. The electronic device also determines whether there is a write access request for the image memory. Furthermore, the electronic device determines whether a time threshold has been reached based on the timer if there is not a write access request for the image memory. The electronic device also reduces display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached.

Claims

1. An electronic device for detecting static images and reducing resource usage, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

determine image memory;

set a timer;

monitor the image memory;

determine whether there is a write access request for the image memory;

determine whether an image change threshold is reached if there is a write access request;

determine whether a time threshold has been reached based on the timer if there is not a write access request for the image memory; and

reduce display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises reducing at least one display resource that is not image memory.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to reset the timer if there is a write access request for the image memory.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises one selected from the group consisting of reducing display contrast, reducing display brightness, reducing a display refresh rate, reducing clocking, reducing image processing, reducing decoding, adjusting bus priorities, adjusting bus speed, adjusting a display interface and adjusting a voltage.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the contrast is reduced based on an image dynamic range.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein monitoring the image memory comprises monitoring addresses in the memory that are used for displaying one or more images on a display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the image memory comprises one or more memory buffers in a display controller.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to adjust display resource usage if there is a write access request for the image memory after reducing display resource usage.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a display.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to reduce image memory usage if the time threshold has been reached.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to, if there is a write access request for the image memory:

determine whether the time threshold has been reached based on the timer if the image change threshold has not been reached; and

reduce display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached.

11. A method for detecting static images and reducing resource usage, comprising:

determining image memory on an electronic device;

setting a timer;

monitoring the image memory;

determining, on the electronic device, whether there is a write access request for the image memory;

determining whether an image change threshold is reached if there is a write access request;

determining whether a time threshold has been reached based on the timer if there is not a write access request for the image memory; and

reducing, on the electronic device, display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises reducing at least one display resource that is not image memory.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising resetting the timer if there is a write access request for the image memory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises one selected from the group consisting of reducing display contrast, reducing display brightness, reducing a display refresh rate, reducing clocking, reducing image processing, reducing decoding, adjusting bus priorities, adjusting bus speed, adjusting a display interface and adjusting a voltage.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the contrast is reduced based on an image dynamic range.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring the image memory comprises monitoring addresses in memory that are used for displaying one or more images on a display.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the image memory comprises one or more memory buffers in a display controller.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting display resource usage if there is a write access request for the image memory after reducing display resource usage.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic device comprises a display.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising reducing image memory usage if the time threshold has been reached.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising, if there is a write access request for the image memory:

determining whether the time threshold has been reached based on the timer if the image change threshold has not been reached; and

reducing display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached.

21. A computer-program product for detecting static images and reducing resource usage, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for causing an electronic device to determine image memory;

code for causing the electronic device to set a timer;

code for causing the electronic device to monitor the image memory;

code for causing the electronic device to determine whether there is a write access request for the image memory;

code for causing the electronic device to determine whether an image change threshold is reached if there is a write access request;

code for causing the electronic device to determine whether a time threshold has been reached based on the timer if there is not a write access request for the image memory; and

code for causing the electronic device to reduce display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises reducing at least one display resource that is not image memory.

22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises one selected from the group consisting of reducing display contrast, reducing display brightness, reducing a display refresh rate, reducing clocking, reducing image processing, reducing decoding, adjusting bus priorities, adjusting bus speed, adjusting a display interface and adjusting a voltage.

23. An apparatus for detecting static images and reducing resource usage, comprising:

means for determining image memory;

means for setting a timer;

means for monitoring the image memory;

means for determining whether there is a write access request for the image memory;

means for determining whether an image change threshold is reached if there is a write access request;

means for determining whether a time threshold has been reached based on the timer if there is not a write access request for the image memory; and

means for reducing display resource usage if the time threshold has been reached, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises reducing at least one display resource that is not image memory.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein reducing display resource usage comprises one selected from the group consisting of reducing display contrast, reducing display brightness, reducing a display refresh rate, reducing clocking, reducing image processing, reducing decoding, adjusting bus priorities, adjusting bus speed, adjusting a display interface and adjusting a voltage.