linux-fbdev-devel

[Linux-fbdev-devel] Framebuffer and Video

[<so...@ma...>]

Hi,
    A lot of the latest display hardware has a seperate overlay buffer for
Video data. In most of the cases, this buffer resides within the graphics
memory. Does the linux frame-buffer have support to handle these memory
regions? Is anyone working on a "Video extension" for the frame-buffer?

I feel a video extension is necessary at the lowest level because the
memory for graphics and video reside in graphics memory and the chance
that these regions overlap if separate drivers are used is quite high. 

Having a video extension for the framebuffer device will be very helpful
for embedded platforms like the geode processor which has a separate video
engine.

Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks and regards
Sojan.

Re: [Linux-fbdev-devel] Framebuffer and Video

[Romain D. <do...@ir...>]

so...@ma... wrote:

> Is anyone working on a "Video extension" for the frame-buffer?

I've made a draft proposal that's available as linux/include/fbvid.h
in the linux-console project (aka 'Ruby'). You can check
at <http://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxconsole/>

Any comments welcome.

-- 
DOLBEAU Romain               |   I have lost the will to live             
ENS Cachan / Ker Lann        |    Simply nothing more to give             
Thesard IRISA / CAPS         |       -- Metallica,                        
dol...@cl...    |            'Fade to Black'

Re: [Linux-fbdev-devel] Framebuffer and Video

[<so...@ma...>]

Hi,
      This looks good. I would like to suggest an alpha blend
feature. This might be a hardware specific, but the geode processors
support three alpha blend windows which can be anywhere within the video
window. I haven't given a thought to how this can be
added/implemented. Any ideas?

How long is this going to be a draft? Are there any issues in using it
before it has been approved?

Thanks and regards
Sojan.


 On Fri, 12 Oct 2001, Romain Dolbeau wrote:

> so...@ma... wrote:
> 
> > Is anyone working on a "Video extension" for the frame-buffer?
> 
> I've made a draft proposal that's available as linux/include/fbvid.h
> in the linux-console project (aka 'Ruby'). You can check
> at <http://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxconsole/>
> 
> Any comments welcome.
> 

Re: [Linux-fbdev-devel] Framebuffer and Video

[Romain D. <do...@ir...>]

so...@ma... wrote:

>       This looks good. I would like to suggest an alpha blend
> feature. This might be a hardware specific, but the geode processors
> support three alpha blend windows which can be anywhere within the video
> window. I haven't given a thought to how this can be
> added/implemented. Any ideas?

Well, if you use FB_VIDOVERLAY_CAPABILITY_ALPHAKEY and
FB_VIDOVERLAY_CAPABILITY_BLEND the hardware can do
alpha blending. Anything more sophisticated is probably
hardware-specific / application-specific...

> How long is this going to be a draft? Are there any issues
> in using it before it has been approved?

It's extremely unlikely to be integrated before Ruby itself
get integrated. And even when Ruby will be, it's not sure
that adding video overlay support to the FB device will
be approved by 'those in charge'. And we will need
driver support... But if enough people show interest odds
are better :-)

Issue is, if the interface change, you will need to change
your code :-)

-- 
DOLBEAU Romain               |  Energy derives from both                  
ENS Cachan / Ker Lann        |    the plus and negative                   
Thesard IRISA / CAPS         |       -- Metallica,                        
dol...@cl...    |           'Eye of the Beholder'