Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an image on a vertical scan panel determines whether a mode of operation for a vertical scan panel is either a scan conversion pass-through mode or a horizontal scan conversion mode. If the determined mode is the horizontal scan conversion mode, the method and apparatus converts display data in the vertical scan panel from a horizontal scan format to a vertical scan format and displays the converted display data on the vertical scan panel. However, if the determined mode is the scan conversion pass-through mode, the method and apparatus includes displaying display data on the vertical scan panel in a vertical scan format without applying a scan conversion operation on the display data.

Abstract: A video source, a display and a method of processing multilayered video are disclosed. The video source decodes a multilayered video bit stream to transmit synchronized streams of decompressed video images and corresponding overlay images to an interconnected display. The display receives separate streams of video and overlay images. Transmission and reception of corresponding video and overlay images is synchronized in time. A video image received in the display can be selectively processed separately from its corresponding overlay image. The video image as processed at the display is later composited with its corresponding overlay image to form an output image for display.

Abstract: When content, such as premium video or audio, is decoded, the content is stored in protected memory segments. Read access to the protected memory segments from a component not in a frame buffer protected (FBP) mode is blocked by a memory controller. The memory controller also blocks components in the FBP mode from writing to unprotected memory segments. The content may be processed by a processing engine operating in the FBP mode and may only be written back to protected memory segments. The memory segment may later be marked as unprotected if the memory segment is no longer needed. If the content is encrypted in protected memory, the encrypting key associated with the memory segment may be removed. If the content is stored in the clear, the protected memory segments are scrubbed before releasing the segments for use as unprotected memory segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures an integrated circuit by determining a multi-bit configuration value on a single node. The multi-bit configuration value is determined by using at least a voltage level at the single node and also by detecting a time to reach a voltage threshold level at the single node, based on a voltage ramp generation circuit. The method and apparatus also includes configuring an operation mode of a circuit in the integrated circuit based on the determined multi-bit configuration value from the single node. Multi-bit configuration values may be obtained on multiple single nodes in an integrated circuit. In one example, a voltage level is employed in addition to a time to reach a voltage threshold level whereas in another example a current level on a single node is utilized in combination with detection of a time to reach a voltage threshold level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for controlling the distribution and installation of operating systems. In one example, the method and apparatus partitions a storage device of a device into a first partition and a second partition. The method and apparatus installs a first operating system into the first partition of the storage device, obtains an image of the second operating system, the image including at least the second operating system pre-configured for operation with the device, and installs, using the first operating system, the image of the operating system to the second partition of the storage device. In an embodiment, the image is transmitted from one or more other devices. In an embodiment, two or more images are cached on the device according to the likelihood they will be used in the future.

Abstract: A method for coding a dependent view picture based on a reference picture includes selecting a reference picture from a base view picture list if a metric of intra macroblocks in an evaluated picture is greater than a first threshold, selecting a reference picture from a dependent view picture list if a metric of skipped macroblocks in the evaluated picture is greater than a second threshold, and coding a dependent view picture using the selected reference picture. An application-controlled weighting mechanism may be used if both of the thresholds are not met.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for determining a temperature-independent bandgap reference voltage are disclosed. The method includes determining a quantity proportional to an internal series resistance of a p-n junction diode and determining the temperature-independent bandgap reference voltage using the quantity proportional to an internal series resistance.

Abstract: A method for performing an operation using more than one resource may include several steps: requesting an operation performed by a resource; populating a ring frame with an indirect buffer command packet corresponding to the operation using a method that may include for the resource requested to perform the operation, creating a semaphore object with a resource identifier and timestamp, in the event that the resource is found to be unavailable; inserting a command packet (wait) into the ring frame, wherein the command packet (wait) corresponds to the semaphore object; and submitting the ring frame to the graphics engine.

Abstract: An efficient rendering method for processing computer graphics in tiles. First a frame of data, typically at least one polygon, is received for rendering. While rendering a polygon the tile for the polygon is assigned so that it minimizes the number of the tiles needed for processing the polygon. It is possible to compute an offset value between the static tiles and the assigned tiles. If the offset value is computed, the rendering into an actual screen may be based on that.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing is provided that includes placing a thermal management device in thermal contact with a first semiconductor chip of a semiconductor chip device. The semiconductor chip device includes a first substrate coupled to the first semiconductor chip. The first substrate has a first aperture. At least one of the first semiconductor chip and the thermal management device is at least partially positioned in the first aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a processing unit configured to process video data, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the processing unit includes a buffer and an execution unit. The buffer is configured to store a data word, wherein the data word comprises a plurality of bytes of video data. The execution unit is configured to execute a single instruction to (i) shift bytes of video data contained in the data word to align a desired byte of video data and (ii) process the desired byte of the video data to provide processed video data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a multi-processor apparatus including a plurality of integrated circuit processors having a shared thermal platform. Each processor has at least one subsystem operable at a plurality of different power settings, at least one internal thermal parameter detector providing power data related to the processor, and a power management unit. The method and apparatus illustratively shares power data from the at least one internal thermal parameter detector of each processor between the power management units of the plurality of processors; compares the shared power data from the plurality of processors to a thermal design power limit for the shared thermal platform; and controls a power setting of the at least one subsystem of the plurality of processors within the shared thermal platform based on the comparison of the shared power data to the thermal design power limit for the shared thermal platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines an activity history context for each of a plurality of virtual machines sharing use of a graphics processing core. Each activity history context provides information related to a power setting of at least one engine of the graphics processing core during at least one prior use of the graphics processing core by the corresponding virtual machine. The method and apparatus controls a power setting of the at least one engine of the graphics processing core based on the activity history context corresponding to an active virtual machine using the graphics processing core.

Abstract: A method and a graphics control and monitoring system are described. The graphics control and monitoring system is configurable and is equipped with a control and processing device, a computer, a data acquisition device, and a display. The control and processing device is equipped with a field programmable device that is configurable to work with a variety of data acquisition devices. The control and processing device receives data collected by the data acquisition device and processes the data. Further, graphics processing is performed by the processor which can be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), general purpose computation on GPU (GPGPU) that is equipped with parallel computation capability, among others. After processing, display data is provided to a display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling multiple user participation with a single multimedia computing platform and multiple displays. In particular, the methods enable multi-display rendering. For example, in a gaming environment, each user has the ability to select a particular view of the game that maybe different from other users and is private to that user. A system has a single multimedia computing platform with wired, wireless or combinations thereof. In a multiuser multiple display configuration, an application designates and renders particular or different frames to each of the users that may not be seen by the other users. Each frame is rendered from the perspective of the specific user or based on user selection. A display controller directs the frames to the appropriate displays. A video encoder engine encodes the frames and transmits the compressed frames to the appropriate wireless displays.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for providing an image for display on a monitor. A method for providing an image for display includes detecting an exclusive display mode. In the exclusive display mode, an application is blocked from display on a monitor. In response to detecting the exclusive display mode, a composited surface is generated that comprises display data of a blocked application surface and display data of an exclusive application surface. A disclosed system includes a display mode detector that detects an exclusive display mode and a surface compositing module that causes a generation of a composited surface.

Abstract: Wafer sort data can be converted to binary data, whereby each integrated circuit of the wafer is assigned a value of one or zero, depending on whether test data indicates the integrated circuit complies with a specification. In addition, each integrated circuit is assigned position data to indicate its position on the wafer. A frequency transform, such as a multidimensional discrete Fourier transform (DFT), is applied to the binary wafer sort data and position data to determine a spatial frequency spectrum that indicates error patterns for the wafer. The spatial frequency spectrum can be analyzed to determine the characteristics of the wafer formation process that resulted in the errors, and the wafer formation process can be modified to reduce or eliminate the errors.

Abstract: Power management for a processing system that has multiple processing units, (e.g., multiple graphics processing units (GPUs), is described herein. The processing system includes a power manager that obtains performance, power, operational or environmental data from a power management unit associated with each processor (e.g., GPU). The power manager determines, for example, an average value with respect to at least one of the performance, power, operational or environmental data. If the average value is below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time, then the power manager notifies a configuration manager to alter the number of active processors (e.g., GPUs), if possible. The power may then be distributed among the remaining GPUs or other processors, if beneficial for the operating and environmental conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controls power management of a graphics processing core when multiple virtual machines are allocated to the graphics processing core on a much finer-grain level than conventional systems. In one example, the method and apparatus processes a plurality of virtual machine power control setting requests to determine a power control request for a power management unit of a graphics processing core. The method and apparatus then controls power levels of the graphics processing core with the power management unit based on the determined power control request.

Abstract: A device and method for unobtrusively conducting security access checks via biometric data. The device and method obtains biometric data in response to a request for content and initiates a security clearance process that is substantially unobservable to an individual with clearance to access the requested content.