BR112017006465B1 - A METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIA FOR GENERATING AN ACCELERATED IMAGE GRADIENT BASED ON ONE-DIMENSIONAL DATA - Google Patents

Abstract

A METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIA FOR GENERATING AN ACCELERATED IMAGE GRADIENT BASED ON ONE-DIMENSIONAL DATA. The present invention provides methods and systems for generating an image gradient. In one example, image data for generating a two-dimensional digital image is provided to a hardware graphics processor. The image data may include a single pixel along a first digital image direction and multiple pixels along a second digital image direction. Pixels along the second direction of the digital image can include an image gradient. A one-dimensional stretching operation of the hardware graphics processor is initiated based on the image data to generate the digital image. In response to the stretching operation, the digital image may include multiple pixels along the first direction for each of the single pixels, wherein each of the multiple pixels along the first direction for a corresponding pixel of the single pixels comprises the corresponding pixel.

Description

FIELD

[001] This application refers, in general, to the field of data processing and, in an exemplary modality, to the accelerated generation of an image gradient based on one-dimensional data.

BACKGROUND

[002]In the field of digital image graphics, an image gradient is a directional change in color (often called a color gradient) and/or intensity of an image along one or more directions of picture elements (pixels) . An image gradient can be applied to an entire image or a portion of it. An example of an image gradient is a one-dimensional gradient, where the gradient causes a change in image color or intensity along a single direction or geometric axis. In many cases, a one-dimensional gradient is aligned both vertically and horizontally relative to an orientation of a gradient viewer, although diagonal orientations for one-dimensional gradients are also possible. In some implementations, the gradient may be based on a continuous density function, where the color and/or intensity of each pixel in a digital image is associated with a corresponding value of the function.

[003]Another example of an image gradient is a two-dimensional image gradient, in which the color and/or intensity of an image changes along two directions. In many cases, the two directions are orthogonal, such as vertically and horizontally, or diagonally left and diagonally right. However, two-dimensional image gradients are not necessarily that constrained, and can be aligned along any two axes of a two-dimensional image that are not necessarily orthogonal.

[004] Image gradients were frequently employed in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of any number or type of electronic devices, such as desktop computers, portable computers, set-top boxes, tablet computers, smart phones, and so on. on. Furthermore, image gradients can be employed to provide realistic features, such as shadows, to an image, or merely to provide some visual interest to the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[005] The modalities are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the attached drawings, in which similar references indicate similar elements and in which:

[006] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary user system employable to generate an image gradient;

[007] Figure 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method to generate an image gradient;

[008] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of another exemplary method for generating an image gradient;

[009] Figure 4 is a graphical representation of the generation of a two-dimensional digital image from vertically oriented input image data using a hardware graphics processor;

[010] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of the generation of a two-dimensional digital image from horizontally oriented input image data using a hardware graphics processor; It is

[011] Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of an example of a computer system within which a set of instructions can be executed to make the machine perform any one or more methodologies discussed in this present document.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[012]In the following description, for purposes of explanation, several specific details are presented to provide a complete understanding of the modalities disclosed in the present document. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the modalities can be practiced without these specific details.

[013] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary user system employable to generate an image gradient in a digital image. In the examples described below, the image gradient that is generated is a one-dimensional image gradient within a two-dimensional digital image. In other examples, however, the generated image gradient may be a one-dimensional gradient embedded within a three-dimensional digital image for systems that support three-dimensional graphics.

[014] In the example of Figure 1, the user system 1 can include a user device 100 and a display device 120. The display device 120 can be included as part of the user device 100, or it can exist as a separate device or system communicatively coupled via a wired or wireless communication connection to user device 100. Examples of display device 120 may include, but are not limited to, a television, a computer monitor , a touchscreen, or any other device or component configured to display digital images. Examples of user device 100 may include, but are not limited to, a media gateway, a television set top box, a television, a gaming system, a streaming device (e.g., a Roku®), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

[015] The user device 100, as depicted in Figure 1, may include at least a control processor 102, a hardware graphics processor 104, a display device interface 108, and a memory 110. A memory 110 may include input image data 112 employed to generate a two-dimensional image using hardware graphics processor 104. In some examples, memory 110 may also include or store two-dimensional image data 114 representing the generated two-dimensional image. In at least some embodiments, user device 100 can include other components or devices, including, but not limited to, a user input interface (e.g., a keyboard, touchpad, joystick, mouse, and so on). , a power supply, a communication network interface (for example, an interface for a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular telephone network (for example, a third-generation connection ( 3G) or fourth generation (4G)), and/or Bluetooth®), and the like. However, such components are not discussed in this document to simplify and focus the discussion provided later in this document.

[016] The at least one control processor 102 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, microcontrollers, or any other type of processor that can be configured or programmed to perform the functions assigned to the even in the present document, such as generating the input image data 112 and controlling the hardware graphics processor 104 to generate the two-dimensional image data 114 based on the input image data 112. The controlling processor 102 it can be a hardware-only processor (for example, one or more integrated circuits (ICs), possibly including one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)) or an algorithmic hardware processor capable of executing software or firmware instructions.

[017] The hardware graphics processor 104 may include one or more graphics processing units (GPUs) or any other hardware units to perform one or more operations to produce the two-dimensional digital image represented by the two-dimensional image data 114 based on the input image data 112 generated by the control processor 102. For this purpose, the hardware graphics processor 104 can be configured to perform a one-dimensional "stretching" or "filling" graphics operation that can receive the input image data 112 and using that data to generate the two-dimensional image data 114. In one example, the hardware graphics processor 104 can implement the one-dimensional stretching operation using a stretching/shrinking operation that can be applied to image data of any size up to one maximum size. Furthermore, a one-dimensional stretching operation can increase the size of an input image along a single dimension or direction, both vertically and horizontally, by duplicating and/or interpolating pixels in the input image data to generate the larger output image. In contrast, a one-dimensional shrink operation can reduce the size of an input image along a single dimension or direction, both vertically and horizontally, removing pixels from the input image data to produce the smaller output image. In some embodiments, hardware graphics processor 104 can be configured to execute two-dimensional stretch/shrink commands, however such commands are not the focus of the various embodiments discussed herein.

[018] The memory 110 can be any rewritable, including, but not limited to, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM), capable of storing input image data 112, and possibly the two-dimensional image data 114 generated therefrom. Although the same memory 110 is illustrated in Figure 1 as including both input image data 112 and two-dimensional image data 114, input image data 112 and two-dimensional image data 114 can be stored in separate memory modules or sections. In one example, two-dimensional image data 114 may be stored in a frame buffer or similar memory structure which may be accessed by hardware graphics processor 104 or which may reside within hardware graphics processor 104. frame buffer or similar structure is employed, the two-dimensional image data 114 may also be accessed within that structure via display device interface 108 for presentation to a user via display device 120.

[019] Accordingly, the display device interface 108 can be configured to access the two-dimensional image data 114 and provide that data 114 in some form usable by the display device 120 to the display device 120 for presentation to the user. Depending on the particular display device 120 that is employed, display device interface 108 may incorporate, for example, a coaxial video interface, a composite video interface, a component video interface, a high-end multimedia interface, definition (HDMI), an internal or visual graphical display interface of a standard or proprietary design, or any other interface capable of delivering two-dimensional image data 114 for display to a user as a digital image.

[020] Figure 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 200 for generating an image gradient. Although the following discussion of method 200 assumes the use of user device 100 of Figure 1, other devices or user systems not explicitly discussed herein may also be employed to perform the operations of method 200 in some fashion. -lities.

[021] In method 200, at least one control processor 102 can provide input image data 112 to hardware graphics processor 104 to generate two-dimensional image data 114 (operation 202). In one example, input image data 112 may be one pixel long along one direction and multiple pixels long along a second direction that is perpendicular or orthogonal to the first direction. Furthermore, the multiple pixels along the second direction can represent an image gradient, such as a color gradient, an intensity gradient, a transparency gradient, or the like. As used herein, an image gradient may be represented by any sequence of pixels for which at least the intensity, color, transparency and/or other aspect or trait of the pixel changes across the sequence of pixels. Also, in some examples, the first direction can be a horizontal direction and the second direction can be a vertical direction, or vice versa.

[022] The at least one control processor 102 may then initiate a one-dimensional stretching operation on the hardware graphics processor 104 based on the provided input image data 112 to generate the two-dimensional image data 114 (operation 204). In one example, the two-dimensional image data 114, as a result of the one-dimensional stretching operation, includes multiple pixels along the first direction for each corresponding one of the single pixels of the input image data 112, with each of the multiple pixels being a copy of its single matching pixel. Figures 4 and 5, described in detail below, illustrate an example of input image data 112 and two-dimensional image data 114 resulting from the one-dimensional stretching operation. Two-dimensional image data 114 can then be provided to display device 120 through display device interface 108 for presenting the two-dimensional image to a user.

[023] Although operations 202 and 204 in Figure 2 are shown as occurring in a specific order, the concurrent or overlapping execution of these operations, as well as operations of other methods described in this document, is also possible. In one example, while hardware graphics processor 104 is performing the one-dimensional stretching operation of a first set of input image data 112, the at least one control processor 102 may be generating and/or supplying a subsequent set of data. of input image 112. In other examples, operations 202 and 204 may be performed in some other repetitive manner, possibly in a parallel, simultaneous or concurrent manner.

[024] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of another exemplary method 300 for generating an image gradient. As with exemplary method 200 of Figure 2, although the following discussion of method 300 assumes the use of user device 100 of Figure 1, other devices or user systems not explicitly discussed herein may also be employed to perform the operations of method 300 in other embodiments.

[025] In the method 300, the at least one control processor 102 can generate the input image data 112 based on an image gradient (operation 302). In one example, control processor 102 may employ a formula or equation, such as a continuous density function relating a position of each of multiple pixels along the second direction of the digital image to one or more aspects of that pixel, such as intensity , transparency, color, and the like. Examples of a continuous density function can include, but are not limited to, linear functions, parabolic functions, and so on. In other examples, the at least one control processor 102 may employ a discontinuous function, such as a sawtooth, step, or pulse train function, to determine one or more aspects of each of multiple pixels along the second direction. In still other embodiments, the at least one controller processor 102 may adjust the values of each of the multiple pixels along the second direction randomly, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, or on any other z-deterministic or non-deterministic basis.

[026] The control processor 102 can store the generated input image data 112 in a memory location 110 (operation 304) and then generate a first input to the hardware graphics processor 104 that indicates an address of the location of the Input image data 112 into memory 110 (operation 306). In another example, the control processor 102 may store the input image data 112 in a memory location 110 where the hardware graphics processor 104 waits for the input image data 112 to perform a stretch operation. one-dimensional. Consequently, in that case, the control processor 102 may not provide an explicit first input indicating the address of the location of input image data 112 in memory 110.

[027] The control processor 102 can also generate a second input to the hardware graphics processor 104 that indicates a stretching factor for a one-dimensional stretching operation that will be performed by the hardware graphics processor 104 (operation 308) . In one embodiment, the stretch factor can indicate how much input image data 112, which can specify multiple pixels along the second direction of the image, will be stretched or copied along the first direction. For example, for an image that is intended to have a particular number of pixels along the first direction, control processor 102 may adjust the stretch factor to be one less than the number of pixels along the first direction.

[028] The control processor 102 may then provide the first input and the second input to the hardware graphics processor 104 before, or as part of, the initiation of the one-dimensional stretching operation in the hardware graphics processor 104. In other embodiments, the control processor 102 may provide different, smaller or additional input values for the lengthening operation. For example, control processor 102 may provide an input indicating a position along the first direction in which input image data 112 is located, as well as a second input indicating which direction along the first direction (e.g. , left or right along a horizontal direction, up or down along a vertical direction, etc.) input image data 112 will be stretched or doubled. In some examples, stretching can occur in both directions along the first direction.

[029] Figure 4 is a graphical representation of the generation of a two-dimensional digital image 400 based on the two-dimensional image data 114 generated from vertically oriented input image data 410 using the hardware graphics processor 104. As depicted in Figure 4, the two-dimensional digital image 400 is represented by a set of pixels 401 visually arranged as a two-dimensional array of N horizontal arrows 402 of 401 pixels by M vertical columns 404 of 401 pixels. two-dimensional digital image 400, input image data 410 may be interpreted as a single vertical column of N pixels 401, with a value (e.g., an indication of one or more values of intensity, transparency, color, and/or other aspects) of each of the pixels 401 of the input image data 410 denoted by numbers 1 to N corresponding to one of the lines 402 of the two-dimensional digital image 400. As described above, the values of the input image data 410 may represent some gradient image, such as a linear, parabolic, or some other deterministic or non-deterministic gradient.

[030] Assuming that the input image data 410 will be placed on the extreme left side of the two-dimensional digital image 400, a horizontal stretching operation 420 to the right having a stretching factor of M-1, as initiated by control processor 102 on the hardware graphics processor 104, may then result in each of the pixels 401 of the input image data 410 being duplicated M-1 times to the right to fill the pixels 401 of the two-dimensional digital image 400. for example, the size of the two-dimensional digital image 400 (e.g., N-by-M pixels) may fill or match the dimensions of the display device 120. In other embodiments, the size of the two-dimensional digital image 400 may be smaller in the vertical directions and/or horizontal than one or both dimensions of display device 120. Although stretching operation 420 of Figure 4 is configured such that input image data 410 is assumed to be located at the extreme left end of the two-dimensional digital image 400, and is configured to fill pixels 401 toward the extreme right of digital image 400, stretching operation 420 may instead be configured to assume that input image data 410 is located at the extreme right of the two-dimensional digital image 400, and may be configured to fill pixels 401 towards the left end of the digital image 400. In yet another example, the stretching operation 420 may be configured to position the input image data 410 in some column 404 instead of the leftmost column (e.g. column 1) or the rightmost column (e.g. column M) and can be configured to duplicate pixels 401 of the input image data 410 horizontally in both directions left and right.

[031] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of the generation of a two-dimensional digital image 500 based on the two-dimensional image data 114 generated from horizontally oriented input image data 510 using the hardware graphics processor 104. As shown in Figure 5, the two-dimensional digital image 500 is represented by a set of pixels 501 visually arranged as a two-dimensional matrix of N horizontal arrows 502 of pixels 501 by M vertical columns 504 of pixels 501, similarly to that of Figure 4. However, in this example, to generate two-dimensional image data 114 for two-dimensional digital image 500, input image data 510 can be interpreted as a single horizontal line of M pixels 501, with a value (e.g., an indication of one or plus values of intensity, transparency, color, and/or other aspects) of each of the pixels 501 of the input image data 510 denoted by numbers 1 to M corresponding to one of the columns 504 of the two-dimensional digital image 500. As discussed above, the values of input image data 510 may represent some image gradient.

[032] Assuming that the input image data 510 will be placed on the upper right side of the two-dimensional digital image 500, a vertical stretching operation 520 from top to bottom having a stretching factor of N-1, as started by the control processor 102 on the hardware graphics processor 104, may then result in each of the pixels 501 of the input image data 510 being duplicated N-1 times towards the bottom to fill the pixels 501 of the image two-dimensional digital image 500. As before, the size of the two-dimensional digital image 500 (e.g., N-by-M pixels) may fill or match the dimensions of the display device 120. In other embodiments, the size of the digital image two-dimensional 500 may be smaller in the vertical and/or horizontal directions. Also, although stretching operation 520 of Figure 5 is configured such that input image data 510 is assumed to be located at the extreme top end of two-dimensional digital image 500, and is configured to fill pixels 501 towards to the lower end of digital image 500, stretching operation 520 may instead be configured to assume that input image data 510 is located at the extreme lower end of two-dimensional digital image 500, and may be configured to fill pixels 501 toward the top edge of digital image 500. In other embodiments, stretching operation 520 can be configured to position input image data 510 on some line 502 instead of the topmost line (e.g., line 1) or the bottommost line (e.g. line N) and to duplicate pixels 501 of input image data 510 vertically in both up and down directions.

[033] In both examples of Figure 4 and Figure 5, the hardware graphics processor 104 can store or forward the resulting two-dimensional digital image 400 and 500 to a frame buffer or other memory construct accessible through the display device interface 108 so that the two-dimensional digital image 400, 500 can be presented on the display device 120 to a user. In some examples, the two-dimensional digital image 400, 500 can be stored in a temporary location so that other operations, such as, for example, superimposing and possibly animating another image over the two-dimensional digital image 400, 500, can be performed without regenerating the two-dimensional digital image 400, 500 using the stretch operation 420, 520 of hardware graphics processor 104. Also, in some embodiments, the two-dimensional digital image 400, 500 may be presented to the user as part of a GUI, such as, for example, a background area through which selectable menu items can be presented to the user to allow activation of user commands, selection of command options, and the like.

[034] In at least some embodiments described above, at least one control processor can employ a one-dimensional stretching operation or command by a hardware graphics processor to generate two-dimensional graphic images in which an image gradient is provided to the along one of the dimensions. In such embodiments, the controlling processor can generate or specify, and subsequently store, the gradient along one dimension, such as a row or column, of the two-dimensional image, thereby reducing the amount of memory consumed to represent the image. . Also, by employing the hardware graphics processor to generate the vast majority of the image, thereby relieving the control processor of that load, generation of the total image can be accelerated while allowing the control processor to perform other operations.

[035] Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the use of input image data scaled as a single row (or column) by multiple columns (or rows) of pixels, as described above, since input to a hardware graphics processor can avoid the generation of common visual artifacts associated with stretching or expanding from extremely small images to significantly larger images. Indeed, image data as narrow as two pixels along one dimension, where some variation in color, intensity, or transparency is employed over the two pixels, when expanded or stretched along that same dimension, will often result in a blurred image or in blocks, depending on the particular algorithm employed in the hardware graphics processor to perform the stretching operation. For example, image data two pixels wide that exhibits a black and white checkerboard pattern, when stretched using a nearest neighbor interpolation algorithm, can generate a pattern in which the left and right halves of the resulting stretched image are inverted with respect to each other. In another example, the same image data two pixels wide, when stretched using a bilinear interpolation algorithm, can generate a stretched image where the center of the image converges to gray. Conversely, when single pixel wide image data is employed, as described in conjunction with at least some of the embodiments presented herein, such artifacts are eliminated in the resulting extended or expanded image.

[036] Figure 6 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of an example of a computer system 600 within which a set of instructions 624 can be executed to make the machine perform any one or more methodologies discussed in this document. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a stand-alone device or can be connected (eg networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine can operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine can be a personal computer, a tablet computer, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of execute a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be performed by that machine. Additionally, although only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” should also be used to include any collection of machines that individually or collectively execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform one or more methodologies discussed. in this document.

[037] The exemplary computer system 600 includes a processor 602 (for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory 604 and a static memory 606 that communicate via a bus 608. The computer system 600 may also include a video display 610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode ray tube (CRT)). Computer system 600 also includes an alphanumeric input device 612 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device 614 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive 616, a signal generation device 618 (e.g., a loudspeaker), and a network interface device 620.

[038] The disk drive 616 includes a machine-readable medium 622 in which one or more sets of instructions and data structures (for example, instructions 624) incorporated or used by any one or more methodologies or functions described in this document. Instructions 624 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within static memory 606, within main memory 604, and/or within processor 602 during execution thereof by computer system 600, main memory 604, and the processor 602 which also constitute machine-readable media.

[039] Instructions 624 may additionally be transmitted or received over a computer network 650 via network interface device 620 using any one of several well-known transfer protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP )).

[040] Although machine-readable medium 622 is shown in an exemplary fashion, the term "machine-readable medium" shall be used to include a single medium or multiple means (for example, a centralized database or and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more 624 instruction sets. The term "machine-readable medium" shall also be used to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or transporting a set of instructions. 624 for execution by the machine and which causes the machine to perform any one or more methodologies of the present inventive subject, or which is capable of storing, encoding or transporting data structures used or associated with such set of instructions 624. The term "medium machine-readable”, therefore, should be used to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media.

[041] Throughout this descriptive report, several instances may implement components, operations or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more individual operations may be performed simultaneously, and the operations may be performed in an order other than that illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component can be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions and enhancements are within the scope of the subject matter of this document.

[042] Certain embodiments are described in this document as including logic or various components, modules or mechanisms. Modules can be software modules (for example, code embedded in a machine-readable medium or in a broadcast signal) or hardware modules. A “hardware module” is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain physical way. In various exemplary embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one or more hardware modules of a computer system (eg, a processor or group of processors) may be configured by software (eg, an application or portion of an application) as a hardware module that operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

[043] In some embodiments, a hardware module can be implemented mechanically, electronically or any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware module might be a special-purpose processor, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). A hardware module may also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware module may include software covered by a general-purpose or other programmable processor. It will be understood that the decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, on a dedicated, permanently configured circuitry, or on a temporarily configured (e.g., software-configured) circuitry may be driven by considerations of cost and time.

[044] Consequently, the term "hardware module" must be understood to include a tangible entity, be a physically constructed entity, permanently configured (for example, in hardwire) or temporarily configured (for example, programmed) to operate in a certain way or to perform certain operations described in this document. As used in this document, “hardware-implemented module” refers to a hardware module. Considering arrangements in which the hardware modules are temporarily configured (for example, programmed), each of the hardware modules does not need to be configured or instantiated at any instant of time. For example, when hardware modules comprise a general purpose processor configured by software to become a special purpose processor, the general purpose processor may be configured as respectively different hardware modules at different times. Consequently, software can configure a processor, for example, to build a specific hardware module at one instant of time and to build a different hardware module at a different time instant.

[045] Hardware modules can provide information and receive information from other hardware modules. Consequently, the described hardware modules can be considered as being communicatively coupled. When multiple hardware modules are present contemporaneously, communication can be carried out through signal transmission (for example, through suitable circuits and buses) between or between two or more hardware modules. In embodiments in which multiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated at different times, communication between such hardware modules can be performed, for example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access . For example, a hardware module can perform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memory device to which it is communicatively coupled. An additional hardware module can then, at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the stored output. Hardware modules can also initiate communication with input or output devices, and can operate on a resource (for example, a collection of information).

[046] The various operations of exemplary methods described in this document can be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that are temporarily configured (for example, by software) or permanently configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanently configured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modules that operate to perform one or more operations or functions described herein. As used herein, "processor-implemented module" refers to a hardware module implemented using one or more processors.

[047] Similarly, the methods described in this document can be at least partially implemented per processor, with a processor being an example of hardware. For example, at least some operations of a method may be performed by one or more processors or modules implemented per processor. In addition, the one or more processors may also operate to sustain the performance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some operations may be performed by a group of computers (such as machines including processors), with those operations being accessible over a network (for example, the Internet) and through one or more suitable interfaces (for example, example, an application program interface (API)).

[048] The performance of certain operations can be distributed among one or more processors, which not only reside within a single machine, but are also deployed in multiple machines. In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more processors or modules implemented per processor may be located in a single geographic location (eg, within a home environment, an office environment, or a server tower). In other exemplary embodiments, the one or more processors or modules implemented per processor may be distributed across various geographic locations.

[049] Some parts of this descriptive report are presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations on data stored as bits or binary digital signals within a machine memory (for example, a computer memory). These algorithms or symbolic representations are examples of techniques used by those skilled in the art of data processing to convey the essence of their work to other skilled in the art. As used herein, an "algorithm" is a self-consistent sequence of operations or similar processing leading to a desired result. In this context, algorithms and operations involve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, but not necessarily, such quantities may take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, accessed, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated by a machine. It is sometimes convenient, mainly for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals using words like “data”, “content”, “bits”, “values”, “elements”, “symbols”, “characters”. ”, “terms”, “numbers”, “numerals” or similar. These words, however, are merely convenient identifications and must be associated with suitable physical quantities.

[050]Except where specifically stated otherwise, discussions in this document using words such as “process”, “compute”, “calculate”, “determine”, “present”, “display”, or similar may refer to actions or processes of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical quantities (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical) within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or any suitable combination thereof), registers, or other machine components that receive, store, transmit, or display information. In addition, except where specifically noted to the contrary, the terms "a" or "an" are used herein, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one instance. Finally, as used in this document, the conjunction “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or”, except where specifically indicated otherwise.

[051]Disclosure Summary is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring a summary that will allow the reader to quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. The Summary is presented with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it may be noted that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of simplifying disclosure. This method of disclosure should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments include more features than those expressly referred to in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the inventive matter resides in less than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim by itself as a separate embodiment.

[052] While the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to examples of specific embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of these embodiments. Accordingly, the specification and drawings will be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The attached drawings, which form part of the same, show by way of illustration, and not limitation, specific modalities in which the subject can be practised. The illustrated embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, so that structural and logical substitutions and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, shall not be construed in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims together with the wide range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[053] Such modalities of the inventive subject may be called in this document, individually and/or collectively, by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without the intention of voluntarily limiting the scope of this application to any single inventive concept if more than one is, in fact, revealed. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon review of the above description.

Claims (16)

1. Method for generating an image gradient, the method FEATURED in that it comprises: providing (202) an elongation factor and one-dimensional image data to generate a two-dimensional digital image to a hardware graphics processor (104), wherein the one-dimensional image data comprises a single pixel along a first direction of the two-dimensional digital image and multiple pixels along a second direction of the two-dimensional digital image, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the multiple pixels along along the second direction of the two-dimensional digital image comprise an image gradient; and wherein the stretching factor indicates how much the one-dimensional image data is to be stretched in the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image; and initiating (204) a one-dimensional stretching operation by the hardware graphics processor (104) based on the one-dimensional image data and the stretching factor to generate the two-dimensional digital image; and wherein the one-dimensional stretching operation, when initiated, doubles each of the pixels along the second direction by the stretching factor in a first direction to generate the two-dimensional digital image comprising multiple pixels along the first direction for each pixel of the data. one-dimensional image, with each of the multiple pixels along the first direction duplicating the corresponding pixel. 2. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the first direction comprises a horizontal direction; and the second direction comprises a vertical direction. 3. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the first direction comprises a vertical direction; and the second direction comprises a horizontal direction. 4. Method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: a dimension length corresponding to the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image is equal to a dimension length of a first direction of an employed display unit to display the two-dimensional digital image; and a dimension length corresponding to the second direction of the two-dimensional digital image is equal to a dimension length of a second direction of the display unit employed to display the two-dimensional digital image. 5. Method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that a dimension length corresponding to the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image is smaller than a dimension length of a corresponding direction of a display unit employed for display the two-dimensional digital image. 6. Method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that a dimension length corresponding to the second direction of the two-dimensional digital image is smaller than a dimension length of a corresponding direction of a display unit employed for display the two-dimensional digital image. 7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the image gradient comprises an intensity gradient. 8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the image gradient comprises a color gradient. 9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the image gradient comprises one of a solid-to-transparent gradient or a transparent-to-solid gradient. 10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the one-dimensional stretching operation, when started, duplicates each of the single pixels along the second direction of the two-dimensional digital image a number of times in the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image, where the number of times is equal to a number less than a number of multiple pixels along the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image. 11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that it further comprises: generating (302) the one-dimensional image data to generate the two-dimensional digital image based on the image gradient; storing (304) the one-dimensional image data for generating the two-dimensional digital image at a memory location; generating (306) a first entry comprising an address of the memory location; and generating (308) the stretching factor equal to a number less than a number of the multiple pixels along the first direction of the two-dimensional digital image; wherein providing (202) the one-dimensional digital image data to the hardware graphics processor comprises providing the first input to the hardware processor. 12. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises: employing the two-dimensional digital image in a graphical user interface (108) displayed on a display device (120). 13. Method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the display device (120) comprises the hardware graphics processor (104). 14. Method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that an electronic device (100) communicatively coupled to the display device (120) comprises the hardware graphics processor (104). 15. System CHARACTERIZED by comprising: a hardware graphics processor configured to perform a one-dimensional stretching operation on image data; and at least one control processor configured to perform the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14. 16. Computer-readable non-transient storage medium comprising a set of instructions, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that when executed by at least one processor of a machine, they cause the machine to perform the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14 .