Method and device for processing image data stored in a frame buffer
View Patent ↗A device and method for data image processing. The method includes writing, image data to a certain buffer by an image data provider; characterized by repeating steps of reading, by an image processor image data from a first entry of a certain buffer, processing the image data by the image processor, and writing processed image data to a second entry of the certain buffer; wherein the repeating ends when at least two memory pages of the certain buffer are read; wherein a distance between the first and second entries is smaller than a size of a page of the certain buffer and conveniently much smaller than the size of the page; wherein the second entry includes image data that was previously read by the image processor during the certain period; and preventing an image data provider and an image data retriever form accessing the certain buffer during the repetition.
1. A device comprising:
an image data provider;
an image processor; and
an image data retriever;
three buffers, wherein each buffer includes multiple memory pages;
wherein during a certain period the image processor performs a read operation of image data from a first entry of a certain buffer, performs an image data processing operation on the read image data and performs a write operation of processed image data to a second entry of the certain buffer, the first entry different from the second entry;
wherein a distance between the first and second entries is smaller than a size of a page of the certain buffer;
wherein the second entry includes image data that was previously read by the image processor during the certain period;
wherein the image processor repeats the read, image data processing and write operations until it reads at least two pages of the certain buffer;
wherein during that certain period the image data provider and image data retriever are prevented from accessing the certain buffer.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the image processor reads image data and writes processed image data in a sequential manner.
3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the distance between the first and the second entries is smaller than one tenth of the size of the page.
5. The device according to claim 1 , comprising at least one additional image processor and at least one additional buffer.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the distance between the first and the second entries is smaller than one tenth of the size of the page.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein during a majority of the second period the image processor reads image data from a certain buffer page and writes processed image data to the certain buffer page.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a single integrated circuit comprises the image data provider, the image processor and the image data retriever.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and the second entries is smaller than one tenth of the size of the page.
12. A method for data image processing, the method comprises:
writing, image data to a certain buffer by an image data provider;
repeating steps of reading, by an image processor image data from a first entry of a certain buffer, processing the image data by the image processor, and writing processed image data to a second entry of the certain buffer, the first entry different from the second entry;
wherein the repeating ends when at least two memory pages of the certain buffer are read;
wherein a distance between the first and second entries is smaller than a size of a page of the certain buffer;
wherein the second entry includes image data that was previously read by the image processor during the certain period; and
preventing an image data provider and an image data retriever from accessing the certain buffer during the repetition.
13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising repeating steps of reading, by another image processor image data from a first entry of another buffer, processing the image data by the other image processor, and writing processed image data to a second entry of the other buffer.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein one image processor operation comprises re-sizing and another image processing operation comprises filtering.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the distance between the first and the second entries is smaller than one tenth of the size of the page.
18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the repetition of reading, processing and writing involves accessing entries that belong to the same memory page.
19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second entries are proximate to each other.
20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the distance between the first and the second entries is smaller than one tenth of the size of the page.