System and method for discarding frames of an image during transport across a network link
View Patent ↗An image pipeline ( 60 ) provides image data to a capture unit ( 61 ). The capture unit ( 61 ) generates a frame from the image data for compression by a compression unit ( 64 ). A frame spoiler ( 62 ) determines whether the frame is to be discarded prior to compression by the compression unit ( 64 ). An output buffer ( 66 ) to a network link provides an output indication to the frame spoiler ( 62 ) indicating that the output buffer ( 66 ) is congested. The frame spoiler ( 62 ) discards the frame in accordance with the output indication. Similarly, an input buffer ( 63 ) to the compression unit ( 64 ) provides an input indication to the frame spoiler ( 62 ) indicating that the input buffer ( 63 ) is congested. The frame spoiler ( 62 ) may discard the frame in accordance with the input indication or in accordance with a combination of the input indication and the output indication.
1. A system for discarding frames of an image during transport across a network link, comprising:
a capture unit operable to generate a frame associated with an image;
a compression unit operable to compress the frame in preparation for transport;
an input buffer operable to queue the frame prior to compression, the input buffer operable to provide an input value used in generating an input congestion indication in response to a number of frames being queued in the input buffer;
an output buffer operable to queue the frame prior to transport, the output buffer operable to provide an output value used in generating an output congestion indication in response to a number of frames being queued in the output buffer;
a frame spoiler operable to discard the frame in response to the input congestion indication and independently in response to the output congestion indication prior to the frame being compressed by the compression unit.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compression unit performs interframe compression.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a compressed frame is transported from the output buffer to a network link.
4. A method for discarding frames of an image during transport across a network link, comprising:
generating a frame associated with an image;
queuing the frame in an input buffer;
compressing the frame queued in the input buffer;
transporting the frame to an output buffer;
providing an input indication that the input buffer is congested;
providing an output indication that the output buffer is congested;
discarding the frame prior to compression in response to the input indication and independently in response to the output indication.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining whether a fill level of the output buffer has reached a threshold level;
generating the output indication in response to the fill level of the output buffer reaching the threshold level.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
dynamically adjusting the threshold level of the output buffer.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining whether a fill level of the input buffer has reached a threshold level;
generating the input indication in response to the fill level of the input buffer reaching the threshold level.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
dynamically adjusting the threshold level of the input buffer.
9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
generating a discard indication in response to the input indication and the output indication;
discarding the frame prior to compression in response to the discard indication.
10. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining whether discarding of frames is enabled.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
requesting an image source to delay providing a subsequent image in response to the output buffer being congested and the discarding of frames being disabled.
12. An apparatus for discarding frames of an image during transport across a network link, comprising:
a frame spoiler operable to receive a frame of image data, the frame spoiler operable to determine whether to discard the frame of image data prior to compression of the frame of image data, the frame spoiler operable to receive an input indication from an input buffer coupled to a compressing unit, the input indication providing a congestion status of the input buffer, the frame spoiler operable to receive an output indication from an output buffer coupled to a network link, the output indication providing a determination of a congestion status of the output buffer, the frame spoiler operable to discard the frame of image data in response to the input indication and independently in response to the output indication.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the frame spoiler is operable to discard the frame of image data in response to a combination of the input indication and the output indication.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the frame spoiler is operable to determine whether frame discarding is enabled.