Dynamic frame rate adjustment

Abstract

An image rendering unit (IRU) of a device determines the dynamic frame rate capabilities (DFRCs) of a display and an image frame rate of content to be displayed. Preferably, the DFRCs are stored in a storage device deployed within the display itself. Based on the DFRCs and the image frame rate for the content, the IRU determines an updated frame rate and thereafter provides the content to the display at the updated frame rate. Where control of power consumption is desired, selection of a reduced frame rate can effect a power savings. In this manner, the present invention provides flexible control over display frame rates and/or power consumption of the device.

1 . In a device comprising an image rendering unit for communication with a display, a method for dynamically adjusting a frame rate of the display by the image rendering unit, the method comprising:
 determining dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display;   determining an image frame rate of content to be provided to the display; and   providing the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the dynamic frame rate capabilities further comprises receiving information regarding the dynamic frame rate capabilities from the display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the image frame rate of the content further comprises determining the image frame rate based on at least one of: content type, static frame detection, image rendering unit loading and a power condition of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the image frame rate based on the image rendering unit loading further comprises:
 determining a target processing load for the image rendering unit; and   setting the image frame rate so that the image rendering unit operates substantially at the target processing load.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the content at the updated frame rate further comprises modifying at least one of: a pixel period, a horizontal parameter and a vertical parameter corresponding to the frame rate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting a frame rate that is less than or equal to a maximum frame rate of the display, based on the dynamic frame rate capabilities, as an initial frame rate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the updated frame rate is less than the initial frame rate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the content to the display at the updated frame rate based on the image frame rate, the dynamic frame rate capabilities and a power condition of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the content to the display at the updated frame rate based on the image frame rate, the dynamic frame rate capabilities and an input from a user of the device. 
     
     
         10 . In a device comprising an image rendering unit in communication with a display, a method for dynamically adjusting a frame rate of the display by the image rendering unit, the method comprising:
 determining an image frame rate of content to be provided to the display;   determining a power condition of the device; and   providing the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the power condition of the device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining the image frame rate of the content further comprises determining the image frame rate based on at least one of: content type, static frame detection and image rendering unit loading. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the image frame rate based on the image rendering unit loading further comprises:
 determining a target processing load for the image rendering unit; and   setting the image frame rate so that the image rendering unit operates substantially at the target processing load.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein providing the content at the updated frame rate further comprises modifying at least one of: a pixel period, a horizontal parameter and a vertical parameter corresponding to the frame rate. 
     
     
         14 . In a display in communication with a device comprising an image rendering unit, a method for receiving content for display from the image rendering unit, the method comprising:
 providing dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display to the image rendering unit;   receiving first content from the image rendering unit at a first frame rate; and   receiving second content from the image rendering unit at a second frame rate that is different from the first frame rate,   wherein the second frame rate is based at least upon the dynamic frame rate capabilities.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first frame rate is a maximum frame rate for the display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second frame rate is based on modification of at least one of: a pixel period, a horizontal parameter and a vertical parameter corresponding to the first frame rate. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a display; and   an image rendering unit in communication with the display and operative to:   determine dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display;   determine an image frame rate of content to be provided to the display; and   provide the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the dynamic frame rate capabilities.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the image rendering unit comprises a graphics processing unit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to receive information regarding the dynamic frame rate capabilities from the display interface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to determine the image frame rate based on at least one of: content type, static frame detection, image rendering unit loading and a power condition of the system. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein image rendering unit, when determining the image frame rate based on the image rendering unit loading, is further operative to:
 determine a target processing load for the image rendering unit; and   set the image frame rate so that the image rendering unit operates substantially at the target processing load.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to provide the content at the updated frame rate via modification of at least one of: a pixel period, a horizontal parameter and a vertical parameter corresponding to the frame rate. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a power monitor, in communication with the image rendering unit, operative to determine a power condition of the system,   wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to provide the content to the display at the updated frame rate based on the image frame rate, the dynamic frame rate capabilities and the power condition of the device.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a user input device, in communication with the image rendering unit, operative to receive an input from a user of the device,   wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to provide the content to the display interface at the updated frame rate based on the image frame rate, the dynamic frame rate capabilities and the input from the user of the device.   
     
     
         25 . A device comprising:
 a power monitor operative to determine a power condition of the device; and   an image rendering unit, in communication with the power monitor, operative to:   determine an image frame rate of content to be provided to a display; and   provide the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the power condition of the device.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to determine the image frame rate based on at least one of: content type, static frame detection and image rendering unit loading. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the image rendering unit is further operative to provide the content at the updated frame rate via modification of at least one of: a pixel period, a horizontal parameter and a vertical parameter corresponding to a frame rate. 
     
     
         28 . A display for use with an image rendering unit, comprising:
 a storage device comprising information regarding dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display; and   an interface, in communication with the storage device, operative to provide the information regarding the dynamic frame rate capabilities to the image rendering unit.   
     
     
         29 . A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, adapt a device to:
 determine an image frame rate of content to be provided to a display; and   provide the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display.   
     
     
         30 . A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, are adapted to create a device which is adapted to:
 determine an image frame rate of content to be provided to a display; and   provide the content to the display at a updated frame rate based on the image frame rate and the dynamic frame rate capabilities of the display.