Low power DMA labeling
First Claim
1. A method for processing an image using a direct memory access engine, comprising:
- acquiring configuration settings for the direct memory access engine, the configuration settings include a maximum pixel value threshold and a minimum pixel value threshold;
initiating a data transfer of the image from a first memory to a second memory using the direct memory access engine;
acquiring a first set of pixels associated with a first portion of the image, the first set of pixels includes a first pixel and a second pixel;
generating a metadata label using a first set of pixel values corresponding with the first set of pixels;
updating the first pixel to embed the metadata label within unused bits of the first pixel while the image is transferred from the first memory to the second memory using the direct memory access engine such that the first pixel includes both the metadata label and a first pixel value corresponding with the first pixel in response to detecting that the first set of pixels includes a pixel value between the maximum pixel value threshold and the minimum pixel value threshold; and
writing the first pixel to the second memory subsequent to embedding the metadata label within the unused bits of the first pixel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for preprocessing pixel data using a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine during a data transfer of the pixel data from a first memory (e.g., a DRAM) to a second memory (e.g., a local cache) are described. The pixel data may derive from an image capturing device (e.g., a color camera or a depth camera) in which individual pixel values are not a multiple of eight bits. In some embodiments, the DMA engine may perform a variety of image processing operations on the pixel data prior to the pixel data being written into the second memory. In one example, the DMA engine may be configured to identify and label one or more pixels as being within a particular range of pixel values and/or the DMA engine may be configured to label pixels as belonging to one or more pixel groups based on their pixel values.
30 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for processing an image using a direct memory access engine, comprising:
-
acquiring configuration settings for the direct memory access engine, the configuration settings include a maximum pixel value threshold and a minimum pixel value threshold; initiating a data transfer of the image from a first memory to a second memory using the direct memory access engine; acquiring a first set of pixels associated with a first portion of the image, the first set of pixels includes a first pixel and a second pixel; generating a metadata label using a first set of pixel values corresponding with the first set of pixels; updating the first pixel to embed the metadata label within unused bits of the first pixel while the image is transferred from the first memory to the second memory using the direct memory access engine such that the first pixel includes both the metadata label and a first pixel value corresponding with the first pixel in response to detecting that the first set of pixels includes a pixel value between the maximum pixel value threshold and the minimum pixel value threshold; and writing the first pixel to the second memory subsequent to embedding the metadata label within the unused bits of the first pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A direct memory access engine, comprising:
-
a memory configured to store configuration settings for the direct memory access engine, the configuration settings include a maximum pixel value threshold and a minimum pixel value threshold; and one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors configured to initiate a data transfer of an image from a first memory to a second memory and acquire a first set of pixels associated with a first portion of the image, the first set of pixels includes a first pixel and a second pixel, the one or more processors configured to update the first pixel to embed a metadata label within unused bits of the first pixel while the image is transferred from the first memory to the second memory such that the first pixel includes both the metadata label and a first pixel value corresponding with the first pixel in response to detecting that the first set of pixels includes a pixel value between the maximum pixel value threshold and the minimum pixel value threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. One or more storage devices containing processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for processing an image using a direct memory access engine comprising:
-
acquiring configuration settings for the direct memory access engine, the configuration settings include a maximum pixel value threshold and a minimum pixel value threshold; initiating a data transfer of the image from a first memory to a second memory using the direct memory access engine; acquiring a first set of pixels associated with a first portion of the image, the first set of pixels includes a first pixel and a second pixel; embedding a metadata label within unused bits of the first pixel while the image is transferred from the first memory to the second memory using the direct memory access engine such that the first pixel includes both the metadata label and a first pixel value corresponding with the first pixel in response to detecting that the first set of pixels includes a pixel value between the maximum pixel value threshold and the minimum pixel value threshold; and writing the first pixel to the second memory subsequent to embedding the metadata label within the unused bits of the first pixel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification