Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of reducing interrupts using buffering for data processing. In a first example, information is received at an operating system from an application. The information indicates multiple buffers, including a triggering buffer to trigger an interrupt from hardware. Portions of the data are stored in the respective buffers. A schedule for processing the buffers is provided to the hardware. The schedule indicates that the interrupt is to be delayed until the triggering buffer is processed by the hardware. In a second example, a network interface controller is configured to provide one interrupt to the operating system for each of multiple subsets of network packets that is processed by the network interface controller. Each subset includes a number of the network packets that is greater than one. The network packets are associated with a common network socket.

Abstract: Innovations in rendering of high dynamic range (“HDR”) content are described. A playback system can adjust a tone mapping function used when rendering the HDR content, thereby improving quality when rendering the HDR content. For example, the playback system includes decision logic, which is configured to receive summary information (e.g., histogram information) for sample values of a picture of HDR content, and set a tone mapping function based at least in part on the summary information. The tone mapping function can be selected from among multiple available tone mapping functions, and parameters of the selected tone mapping function can be determined based at least in part on the summary information. A tone mapper is configured to apply tone mapping to input values for the sample values of the picture of HDR content, according to the tone mapping function, and thereby produce output values.

Abstract: Innovations in rendering of high dynamic range (“HDR”) content are described. A playback system can dynamically and proactively adjust the brightness level of a target display device. In some cases, this can reduce power consumption when rendering HDR content, without any noticeable degradation in quality. For example, the playback system includes decision logic. The decision logic is configured to receive summary information for sample values of a picture of HDR content and determine (based at least in part on the summary information) a brightness level of the target display device. The playback system can send, to the target display device, a control signal that indicates the brightness level of the target display device. A tone mapper can be configured to apply tone mapping to input values for the sample values of the picture of HDR content, according to a tone mapping function, and thereby produce output values.

Abstract: Innovations in rendering of high dynamic range (“HDR”) content are described. A playback system can dynamically and proactively adjust the brightness level of a target display device. In some cases, this can reduce power consumption when rendering HDR content, without any noticeable degradation in quality. For example, the playback system includes decision logic. The decision logic is configured to receive summary information for sample values of a picture of HDR content and determine (based at least in part on the summary information) a brightness level of the target display device. The playback system can send, to the target display device, a control signal that indicates the brightness level of the target display device. A tone mapper can be configured to apply tone mapping to input values for the sample values of the picture of HDR content, according to a tone mapping function, and thereby produce output values.

Abstract: Innovations in rendering of high dynamic range (“HDR”) content are described. A playback system can adjust a tone mapping function used when rendering the HDR content, thereby improving quality when rendering the HDR content. For example, the playback system includes decision logic, which is configured to receive summary information (e.g., histogram information) for sample values of a picture of HDR content, and set a tone mapping function based at least in part on the summary information. The tone mapping function can be selected from among multiple available tone mapping functions, and parameters of the selected tone mapping function can be determined based at least in part on the summary information. A tone mapper is configured to apply tone mapping to input values for the sample values of the picture of HDR content, according to the tone mapping function, and thereby produce output values.

Abstract: In one example, a processor may schedule a processing thread for execution based on a dynamic scheduling priority. A memory may associate a scheduling priority with a processing thread. A scheduler may adjust the scheduling priority based on a time frame. The scheduler may set a processing schedule for execution of the processing thread based on a scheduling parameter set including the scheduling priority. At least one processing core may execute the processing thread based on the processing schedule.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for facilitating decoding of protected media information using a secure operating system. According to one exemplary technique, encoded media information that is encrypted is received at a secure process of a secure operating system of a computing system. At least a portion of the encoded media information that is encrypted is decrypted in the secure process. The portion of the encoded media information includes header information. Additionally, the header information is sent from the secure operating system to a software decoder for control of decoding hardware. The software decoder is included in a process for an application. Also, the decoding hardware is securely provided access to the encoded media information for decoding of the encoded media information to produce decoded media information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for facilitating decoding of protected media information using a secure operating system. According to one exemplary technique, encoded media information that is encrypted is received at a secure process of a secure operating system of a computing system. At least a portion of the encoded media information that is encrypted is decrypted in the secure process. The portion of the encoded media information includes header information. Additionally, the header information is sent from the secure operating system to a software decoder for control of decoding hardware. The software decoder is included in a process for an application. Also, the decoding hardware is securely provided access to the encoded media information for decoding of the encoded media information to produce decoded media information.

Abstract: The various methods and systems described herein are directed to supplying a secure channel for software executing on a host computer. The methods and systems address and provide solutions for an attack model in which rogue software executing on the host computer attempts to inappropriately obtain or otherwise manipulate data. Some embodiments can provide pixel data that can be kept confidential (in that untrusted software applications cannot read the data off of the display screen). In addition, other embodiments can preserve the integrity of the pixel data by detecting whether the pixel data has been inappropriately manipulated. Various embodiments are based on a decryption engine that is located on a video card very late in the video processing chain such that programmatic access to decrypted pixel data is denied.

Abstract: Various methods and systems permit digital data, such as video data, audio/video data, audio/video/subpicture data and the like, to be processed in a manner that permits playback at different speeds in both forward and reverse directions. Various embodiments are also directed to handling playback rate changes in a manner that can enhance the experience of a user.

Abstract: A video encoding acceleration service to increase one or more of the speed and quality of video encoding is described. The service acts as an intermediary between an arbitrary video encoder computer program application and arbitrary video acceleration hardware. The service receives one or more queries from the video encoder to identify implementation specifics of the video acceleration hardware. The service interfaces with the video acceleration hardware to obtain the implementation specifics. The service communicates the implementation specifics to the video encoder. The implementation specifics enable the video encoder to: (a) determine whether one or more of speed and quality of software encoding operations associated with the video encoder can be increased with implementation of a pipeline of one or more supported encoding pipeline configurations and capabilities, and (b) implement the pipeline by interfacing with the service.

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: Methods for mapping color data having at least one color associated therewith to an output device based on an input-device profile and an output-device profile, each profile having a tone curve and a color matrix, are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving color data from an input device and determining whether the color data is in a linear space. If it is determined that the color data is not in a linear space, the method further includes applying the tone curve of the input device profile to the color data to convert it into a linear space. The method further includes converting the color(s) associated with the color data from the input linear space to an output linear space by applying the color matrix of the input device profile and the inverse color matrix of the output device profile to create color-converted image data.

Abstract: In a digital media pipeline, hardware-accelerated transform functions enable longer CPU idle time and a reduction in data transfer between the CPU and hardware, for the primary purpose of conserving power or increasing content security. Multiplexer/de-multiplexer functions can be configured as either stand-alone transform units or as plug-in components to a “pluggable” (host) media source or to a “pluggable” (host) media sink, so that the benefit of hardware acceleration can be applied to the source and sink as well as to the media foundation transform (MFT). Further data processing and control can be routed to a remote processing entity. The disclosed pluggable media source has a single input and one or more outputs; the pluggable media sink has one or more inputs and a single output. The pluggable media source and sink can be configured to accept plug-in components that support a wide range of data formats.

Abstract: Strategies are described for processing image information using a data structure which conveys color information. The color information describes color-related formatting applied to the image information. The data structure can be passed down a video processing pipeline, which includes a video mixing renderer module, a device driver, and a graphics module. Each functional component in the pipeline can draw color information from the data structure to improve the accuracy of its processing.

Abstract: The various methods and systems described herein are directed to supplying a secure channel for software executing on a host computer. The methods and systems address and provide solutions for an attack model in which rogue software executing on the host computer attempts to inappropriately obtain or otherwise manipulate data. Some embodiments can provide pixel data that can be kept confidential (in that untrusted software applications cannot read the data off of the display screen). In addition, other embodiments can preserve the integrity of the pixel data by detecting whether the pixel data has been inappropriately manipulated. Various embodiments are based on a decryption engine that is located on a video card very late in the video processing chain such that programmatic access to decrypted pixel data is denied.

Abstract: Various methods and systems permit digital data, such as video data, audio/video data, audio/video/subpicture data and the like, to be processed in a manner that permits playback at different speeds in both forward and reverse directions. Various embodiments are also directed to handling playback rate changes in a manner that can enhance the experience of a user.

Abstract: Various methods and systems permit digital data, such as video data, audio/video data, audio/video/subpicture data and the like, to be processed in a manner that permits playback at different speeds in both forward and reverse directions. Various embodiments are also directed to handling playback rate changes in a manner that can enhance the user's experience.

Abstract: The various methods and systems described herein are directed to supplying a secure channel for software executing on a host computer. The methods and systems address and provide solutions for an attack model in which rogue software executing on the host computer attempts to inappropriately obtain or otherwise manipulate data. Some embodiments can provide pixel data that can be kept confidential (in that untrusted software applications cannot read the data off of the display screen). In addition, other embodiments can preserve the integrity of the pixel data by detecting whether the pixel data has been inappropriately manipulated. Various embodiments are based on a decryption engine that is located on a video card very late in the video processing chain such that programmatic access to decrypted pixel data is denied.