Abstract: In some examples, techniques and architectures for modifying resolution of video displayed on a display device include receiving information from a distance sensor and one or more image sensors, detecting an activity of a viewer of the display device based, at least in part, on the information received from the distance sensor and the one or more image sensors, and transmitting a request to a remote server to adjust bandwidth of media content streaming to the display device to a new bandwidth. The new bandwidth may be based, at least in part, on one or more of the activity of the viewer, size of the display device, or an ability of the viewer to resolve images displayed on the display device.

Abstract: In some examples, techniques and architectures for modifying resolution of video displayed on a display device include receiving information from a distance sensor and one or more image sensors, detecting an activity of a viewer of the display device based, at least in part, on the information received from the distance sensor and the one or more image sensors, and transmitting a request to a remote server to adjust bandwidth of media content streaming to the display device to a new bandwidth. The new bandwidth may be based, at least in part, on one or more of the activity of the viewer, size of the display device, or an ability of the viewer to resolve images displayed on the display device.

Abstract: Strategies for effectively discovering, selecting, configuring, and controlling components used in media processing applications are described. According to one exemplary implementation, the strategies described configure the components based on profile information, configuration information, and a hierarchical ordering of configuration parameters. The hierarchical ordering may combine different coding paradigms, where one or more high level nodes in the ordering may define configuration parameters which are common to multiple coding paradigms. In this ordering, selection of a configuration parameter may cascade down to affect lower-ranking dependent parameters in the hierarchical ordering. According to one advantage, the hierarchical ordering provides a more uniform, extensible, and problem-free approach to configuring components than unstructured approaches to configuration. Moreover, applications can utilize the hierarchical ordering at different levels of granularity.

Abstract: Strategies for effectively discovering, selecting, configuring, and controlling components used in media processing applications are described. According to one exemplary implementation, the strategies described configure the components based on profile information, configuration information, and a hierarchical ordering of configuration parameters. The hierarchical ordering may combine different coding paradigms, where one or more high level nodes in the ordering may define configuration parameters which are common to multiple coding paradigms. In this ordering, selection of a configuration parameter may cascade down to affect lower-ranking dependent parameters in the hierarchical ordering. According to one advantage, the hierarchical ordering provides a more uniform, extensible, and problem-free approach to configuring components than unstructured approaches to configuration. Moreover, applications can utilize the hierarchical ordering at different levels of granularity.

Abstract: Strategies are set forth for performing a scaling operation on image information using a filter. According to one exemplary implementation, the strategies involve: computing, based on scaling to be performed, a number of filter kernels required to implement the filter and a number of taps required for each filter kernel; pre-computing and storing the number of filter kernels; and applying the filter kernels to a row or column of the image information by repeatedly sequencing through the filter kernels if there are more pixel elements in the row or column than there are pre-calculated filter kernels. The scaling operation can employ a Catmull-Rom filter. Further, the scaling operations can be implemented by a pixel shader by assigning weighting information and delta-shifted versions of the image information to respective texture units of the pixel shader.

Abstract: Strategies are set forth herein for quantizing and dithering original image information to produce quantized image information. According to one exemplary implementation, the strategies involve: quantizing a sum that combines an original value taken from the original image information, a noise value, and an error term, to produce a quantized value; and calculating an error term for a subsequent quantizing operation by computing a difference between the quantized value and the original value. By virtue of his process, the strategies essentially add noise information to the quantization process, not the original image information, which results in quantized image information having reduced artifacts. The strategies can be used in conjunction with the Floyd-Steinberg error dispersion algorithm. According to another feature, the noise value is computed using a random number generator having a long repeat period, which further reduces artifacts.

Abstract: Strategies are described for processing image information in a linear form to reduce the amount of artifacts (compared to processing the data in nonlinear form). Exemplary types of processing operations can include, scaling, compositing, alpha-blending, edge detection, and so forth. In a more specific implementation, strategies are described for processing image information that is: a) linear; b) in the RGB color space; c) high precision (e.g., provided by floating point representation); d) progressive; and e) full channel. Other improvements provide strategies for: a) processing image information in a pseudo-linear space to improve processing speed; b) implementing an improved error dispersion technique; c) dynamically calculating and applying filter kernels; d) producing pipeline code in an optimal manner; and e) implementing various processing tasks using novel pixel shader techniques.