A programming model for an embedded media processing architecture

Abstract

To follow rapid evolution of media processing algorithms, the latest media processing architecture enhances the execution efficiencies of media applications by adding a programmable vision processor and by improving memory hierarchy, while complicates the programming. In this paper, the features of this architecture are analyzed, the reason of inefficiency of media application implemented by general programming model is studied and SPUR programming model is proposed. In SPUR, media data and operations are expressed as media streams and corresponding operations naturally. Moreover, algorithm is divided into high-level part written by SP-C and low-level part written by UR-C. Fine-grained data parallelism are exploited explicitly as well. Experimental results show that SPUR provides programmer a novel, expressive and efficient programming way, and obviously improves readability, robustness, development efficiency and object-code quality of media applications. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.