730 lines
28 KiB
ReStructuredText
730 lines
28 KiB
ReStructuredText
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.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 OR GFDL-1.1-no-invariants-or-later
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.. _encoder:
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*************************************************
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Memory-to-Memory Stateful Video Encoder Interface
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*************************************************
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A stateful video encoder takes raw video frames in display order and encodes
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them into a bytestream. It generates complete chunks of the bytestream, including
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all metadata, headers, etc. The resulting bytestream does not require any
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further post-processing by the client.
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Performing software stream processing, header generation etc. in the driver
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in order to support this interface is strongly discouraged. In case such
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operations are needed, use of the Stateless Video Encoder Interface (in
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development) is strongly advised.
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Conventions and Notations Used in This Document
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===============================================
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1. The general V4L2 API rules apply if not specified in this document
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otherwise.
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2. The meaning of words "must", "may", "should", etc. is as per `RFC
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2119 <https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2119>`_.
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3. All steps not marked "optional" are required.
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4. :c:func:`VIDIOC_G_EXT_CTRLS` and :c:func:`VIDIOC_S_EXT_CTRLS` may be used
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interchangeably with :c:func:`VIDIOC_G_CTRL` and :c:func:`VIDIOC_S_CTRL`,
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unless specified otherwise.
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5. Single-planar API (see :ref:`planar-apis`) and applicable structures may be
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used interchangeably with multi-planar API, unless specified otherwise,
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depending on encoder capabilities and following the general V4L2 guidelines.
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6. i = [a..b]: sequence of integers from a to b, inclusive, i.e. i =
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[0..2]: i = 0, 1, 2.
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7. Given an ``OUTPUT`` buffer A, then A' represents a buffer on the ``CAPTURE``
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queue containing data that resulted from processing buffer A.
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Glossary
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========
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Refer to :ref:`decoder-glossary`.
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State Machine
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=============
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.. kernel-render:: DOT
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:alt: DOT digraph of encoder state machine
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:caption: Encoder State Machine
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digraph encoder_state_machine {
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node [shape = doublecircle, label="Encoding"] Encoding;
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node [shape = circle, label="Initialization"] Initialization;
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node [shape = circle, label="Stopped"] Stopped;
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node [shape = circle, label="Drain"] Drain;
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node [shape = circle, label="Reset"] Reset;
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node [shape = point]; qi
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qi -> Initialization [ label = "open()" ];
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Initialization -> Encoding [ label = "Both queues streaming" ];
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Encoding -> Drain [ label = "V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP" ];
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Encoding -> Reset [ label = "VIDIOC_STREAMOFF(CAPTURE)" ];
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Encoding -> Stopped [ label = "VIDIOC_STREAMOFF(OUTPUT)" ];
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Encoding -> Encoding;
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Drain -> Stopped [ label = "All CAPTURE\nbuffers dequeued\nor\nVIDIOC_STREAMOFF(OUTPUT)" ];
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Drain -> Reset [ label = "VIDIOC_STREAMOFF(CAPTURE)" ];
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Reset -> Encoding [ label = "VIDIOC_STREAMON(CAPTURE)" ];
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Reset -> Initialization [ label = "VIDIOC_REQBUFS(OUTPUT, 0)" ];
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Stopped -> Encoding [ label = "V4L2_ENC_CMD_START\nor\nVIDIOC_STREAMON(OUTPUT)" ];
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Stopped -> Reset [ label = "VIDIOC_STREAMOFF(CAPTURE)" ];
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}
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Querying Capabilities
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=====================
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1. To enumerate the set of coded formats supported by the encoder, the
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client may call :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT` on ``CAPTURE``.
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* The full set of supported formats will be returned, regardless of the
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format set on ``OUTPUT``.
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2. To enumerate the set of supported raw formats, the client may call
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT` on ``OUTPUT``.
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* Only the formats supported for the format currently active on ``CAPTURE``
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will be returned.
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* In order to enumerate raw formats supported by a given coded format,
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the client must first set that coded format on ``CAPTURE`` and then
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enumerate the formats on ``OUTPUT``.
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3. The client may use :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMESIZES` to detect supported
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resolutions for a given format, passing the desired pixel format in
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:c:type:`v4l2_frmsizeenum` ``pixel_format``.
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* Values returned by :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMESIZES` for a coded pixel
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format will include all possible coded resolutions supported by the
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encoder for the given coded pixel format.
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* Values returned by :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMESIZES` for a raw pixel format
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will include all possible frame buffer resolutions supported by the
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encoder for the given raw pixel format and coded format currently set on
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``CAPTURE``.
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4. The client may use :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMEINTERVALS` to detect supported
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frame intervals for a given format and resolution, passing the desired pixel
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format in :c:type:`v4l2_frmsizeenum` ``pixel_format`` and the resolution
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in :c:type:`v4l2_frmsizeenum` ``width`` and :c:type:`v4l2_frmsizeenum`
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``height``.
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* Values returned by :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMEINTERVALS` for a coded pixel
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format and coded resolution will include all possible frame intervals
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supported by the encoder for the given coded pixel format and resolution.
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* Values returned by :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMEINTERVALS` for a raw pixel
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format and resolution will include all possible frame intervals supported
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by the encoder for the given raw pixel format and resolution and for the
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coded format, coded resolution and coded frame interval currently set on
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``CAPTURE``.
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* Support for :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMEINTERVALS` is optional. If it is
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not implemented, then there are no special restrictions other than the
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limits of the codec itself.
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5. Supported profiles and levels for the coded format currently set on
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``CAPTURE``, if applicable, may be queried using their respective controls
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via :c:func:`VIDIOC_QUERYCTRL`.
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6. Any additional encoder capabilities may be discovered by querying
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their respective controls.
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Initialization
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==============
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1. Set the coded format on the ``CAPTURE`` queue via :c:func:`VIDIOC_S_FMT`.
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* **Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``CAPTURE``.
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``pixelformat``
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the coded format to be produced.
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``sizeimage``
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desired size of ``CAPTURE`` buffers; the encoder may adjust it to
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match hardware requirements.
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``width``, ``height``
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ignored (read-only).
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* **Return fields:**
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``sizeimage``
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adjusted size of ``CAPTURE`` buffers.
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``width``, ``height``
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the coded size selected by the encoder based on current state, e.g.
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``OUTPUT`` format, selection rectangles, etc. (read-only).
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.. important::
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Changing the ``CAPTURE`` format may change the currently set ``OUTPUT``
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format. How the new ``OUTPUT`` format is determined is up to the encoder
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and the client must ensure it matches its needs afterwards.
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2. **Optional.** Enumerate supported ``OUTPUT`` formats (raw formats for
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source) for the selected coded format via :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT`.
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* **Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT``.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* **Return fields:**
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``pixelformat``
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raw format supported for the coded format currently selected on
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the ``CAPTURE`` queue.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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3. Set the raw source format on the ``OUTPUT`` queue via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_S_FMT`.
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* **Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT``.
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``pixelformat``
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raw format of the source.
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``width``, ``height``
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source resolution.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* **Return fields:**
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``width``, ``height``
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may be adjusted to match encoder minimums, maximums and alignment
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requirements, as required by the currently selected formats, as
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reported by :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FRAMESIZES`.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* Setting the ``OUTPUT`` format will reset the selection rectangles to their
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default values, based on the new resolution, as described in the next
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step.
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4. Set the raw frame interval on the ``OUTPUT`` queue via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_S_PARM`. This also sets the coded frame interval on the
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``CAPTURE`` queue to the same value.
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* ** Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT``.
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``parm.output``
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set all fields except ``parm.output.timeperframe`` to 0.
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``parm.output.timeperframe``
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the desired frame interval; the encoder may adjust it to
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match hardware requirements.
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* **Return fields:**
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``parm.output.timeperframe``
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the adjusted frame interval.
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.. important::
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Changing the ``OUTPUT`` frame interval *also* sets the framerate that
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the encoder uses to encode the video. So setting the frame interval
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to 1/24 (or 24 frames per second) will produce a coded video stream
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that can be played back at that speed. The frame interval for the
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``OUTPUT`` queue is just a hint, the application may provide raw
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frames at a different rate. It can be used by the driver to help
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schedule multiple encoders running in parallel.
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In the next step the ``CAPTURE`` frame interval can optionally be
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changed to a different value. This is useful for off-line encoding
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were the coded frame interval can be different from the rate at
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which raw frames are supplied.
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.. important::
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``timeperframe`` deals with *frames*, not fields. So for interlaced
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formats this is the time per two fields, since a frame consists of
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a top and a bottom field.
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.. note::
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It is due to historical reasons that changing the ``OUTPUT`` frame
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interval also changes the coded frame interval on the ``CAPTURE``
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queue. Ideally these would be independent settings, but that would
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break the existing API.
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5. **Optional** Set the coded frame interval on the ``CAPTURE`` queue via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_S_PARM`. This is only necessary if the coded frame
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interval is different from the raw frame interval, which is typically
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the case for off-line encoding. Support for this feature is signalled
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by the :ref:`V4L2_FMT_FLAG_ENC_CAP_FRAME_INTERVAL <fmtdesc-flags>` format flag.
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* ** Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``CAPTURE``.
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``parm.capture``
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set all fields except ``parm.capture.timeperframe`` to 0.
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``parm.capture.timeperframe``
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the desired coded frame interval; the encoder may adjust it to
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match hardware requirements.
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* **Return fields:**
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``parm.capture.timeperframe``
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the adjusted frame interval.
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.. important::
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Changing the ``CAPTURE`` frame interval sets the framerate for the
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coded video. It does *not* set the rate at which buffers arrive on the
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``CAPTURE`` queue, that depends on how fast the encoder is and how
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fast raw frames are queued on the ``OUTPUT`` queue.
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.. important::
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``timeperframe`` deals with *frames*, not fields. So for interlaced
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formats this is the time per two fields, since a frame consists of
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a top and a bottom field.
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.. note::
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Not all drivers support this functionality, in that case just set
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the desired coded frame interval for the ``OUTPUT`` queue.
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However, drivers that can schedule multiple encoders based on the
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``OUTPUT`` frame interval must support this optional feature.
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6. **Optional.** Set the visible resolution for the stream metadata via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_S_SELECTION` on the ``OUTPUT`` queue if it is desired
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to be different than the full OUTPUT resolution.
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* **Required fields:**
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT``.
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``target``
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set to ``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP``.
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``r.left``, ``r.top``, ``r.width``, ``r.height``
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visible rectangle; this must fit within the `V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP_BOUNDS`
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rectangle and may be subject to adjustment to match codec and
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hardware constraints.
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* **Return fields:**
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``r.left``, ``r.top``, ``r.width``, ``r.height``
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visible rectangle adjusted by the encoder.
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* The following selection targets are supported on ``OUTPUT``:
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``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP_BOUNDS``
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equal to the full source frame, matching the active ``OUTPUT``
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format.
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``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP_DEFAULT``
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equal to ``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP_BOUNDS``.
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``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP``
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rectangle within the source buffer to be encoded into the
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``CAPTURE`` stream; defaults to ``V4L2_SEL_TGT_CROP_DEFAULT``.
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.. note::
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A common use case for this selection target is encoding a source
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video with a resolution that is not a multiple of a macroblock,
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e.g. the common 1920x1080 resolution may require the source
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buffers to be aligned to 1920x1088 for codecs with 16x16 macroblock
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size. To avoid encoding the padding, the client needs to explicitly
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configure this selection target to 1920x1080.
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.. warning::
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The encoder may adjust the crop/compose rectangles to the nearest
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supported ones to meet codec and hardware requirements. The client needs
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to check the adjusted rectangle returned by :c:func:`VIDIOC_S_SELECTION`.
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7. Allocate buffers for both ``OUTPUT`` and ``CAPTURE`` via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS`. This may be performed in any order.
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* **Required fields:**
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``count``
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requested number of buffers to allocate; greater than zero.
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT`` or
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``CAPTURE``.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* **Return fields:**
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``count``
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actual number of buffers allocated.
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.. warning::
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The actual number of allocated buffers may differ from the ``count``
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given. The client must check the updated value of ``count`` after the
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call returns.
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.. note::
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To allocate more than the minimum number of OUTPUT buffers (for pipeline
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depth), the client may query the ``V4L2_CID_MIN_BUFFERS_FOR_OUTPUT``
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control to get the minimum number of buffers required, and pass the
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obtained value plus the number of additional buffers needed in the
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``count`` field to :c:func:`VIDIOC_REQBUFS`.
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Alternatively, :c:func:`VIDIOC_CREATE_BUFS` can be used to have more
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control over buffer allocation.
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* **Required fields:**
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``count``
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requested number of buffers to allocate; greater than zero.
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``type``
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a ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_*`` enum appropriate for ``OUTPUT``.
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other fields
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follow standard semantics.
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* **Return fields:**
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``count``
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adjusted to the number of allocated buffers.
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8. Begin streaming on both ``OUTPUT`` and ``CAPTURE`` queues via
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:c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMON`. This may be performed in any order. The actual
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encoding process starts when both queues start streaming.
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.. note::
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If the client stops the ``CAPTURE`` queue during the encode process and then
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restarts it again, the encoder will begin generating a stream independent
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from the stream generated before the stop. The exact constraints depend
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on the coded format, but may include the following implications:
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||
|
* encoded frames produced after the restart must not reference any
|
||
|
frames produced before the stop, e.g. no long term references for
|
||
|
H.264/HEVC,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* any headers that must be included in a standalone stream must be
|
||
|
produced again, e.g. SPS and PPS for H.264/HEVC.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Encoding
|
||
|
========
|
||
|
|
||
|
This state is reached after the `Initialization` sequence finishes
|
||
|
successfully. In this state, the client queues and dequeues buffers to both
|
||
|
queues via :c:func:`VIDIOC_QBUF` and :c:func:`VIDIOC_DQBUF`, following the
|
||
|
standard semantics.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The content of encoded ``CAPTURE`` buffers depends on the active coded pixel
|
||
|
format and may be affected by codec-specific extended controls, as stated
|
||
|
in the documentation of each format.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Both queues operate independently, following standard behavior of V4L2 buffer
|
||
|
queues and memory-to-memory devices. In addition, the order of encoded frames
|
||
|
dequeued from the ``CAPTURE`` queue may differ from the order of queuing raw
|
||
|
frames to the ``OUTPUT`` queue, due to properties of the selected coded format,
|
||
|
e.g. frame reordering.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The client must not assume any direct relationship between ``CAPTURE`` and
|
||
|
``OUTPUT`` buffers and any specific timing of buffers becoming
|
||
|
available to dequeue. Specifically:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* a buffer queued to ``OUTPUT`` may result in more than one buffer produced on
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` (for example, if returning an encoded frame allowed the encoder
|
||
|
to return a frame that preceded it in display, but succeeded it in the decode
|
||
|
order; however, there may be other reasons for this as well),
|
||
|
|
||
|
* a buffer queued to ``OUTPUT`` may result in a buffer being produced on
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` later into encode process, and/or after processing further
|
||
|
``OUTPUT`` buffers, or be returned out of order, e.g. if display
|
||
|
reordering is used,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* buffers may become available on the ``CAPTURE`` queue without additional
|
||
|
buffers queued to ``OUTPUT`` (e.g. during drain or ``EOS``), because of the
|
||
|
``OUTPUT`` buffers queued in the past whose encoding results are only
|
||
|
available at later time, due to specifics of the encoding process,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* buffers queued to ``OUTPUT`` may not become available to dequeue instantly
|
||
|
after being encoded into a corresponding ``CAPTURE`` buffer, e.g. if the
|
||
|
encoder needs to use the frame as a reference for encoding further frames.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
To allow matching encoded ``CAPTURE`` buffers with ``OUTPUT`` buffers they
|
||
|
originated from, the client can set the ``timestamp`` field of the
|
||
|
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` struct when queuing an ``OUTPUT`` buffer. The
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` buffer(s), which resulted from encoding that ``OUTPUT`` buffer
|
||
|
will have their ``timestamp`` field set to the same value when dequeued.
|
||
|
|
||
|
In addition to the straightforward case of one ``OUTPUT`` buffer producing
|
||
|
one ``CAPTURE`` buffer, the following cases are defined:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* one ``OUTPUT`` buffer generates multiple ``CAPTURE`` buffers: the same
|
||
|
``OUTPUT`` timestamp will be copied to multiple ``CAPTURE`` buffers,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* the encoding order differs from the presentation order (i.e. the
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` buffers are out-of-order compared to the ``OUTPUT`` buffers):
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` timestamps will not retain the order of ``OUTPUT`` timestamps.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
To let the client distinguish between frame types (keyframes, intermediate
|
||
|
frames; the exact list of types depends on the coded format), the
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` buffers will have corresponding flag bits set in their
|
||
|
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` struct when dequeued. See the documentation of
|
||
|
:c:type:`v4l2_buffer` and each coded pixel format for exact list of flags
|
||
|
and their meanings.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Should an encoding error occur, it will be reported to the client with the level
|
||
|
of details depending on the encoder capabilities. Specifically:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* the ``CAPTURE`` buffer (if any) that contains the results of the failed encode
|
||
|
operation will be returned with the ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_ERROR`` flag set,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* if the encoder is able to precisely report the ``OUTPUT`` buffer(s) that triggered
|
||
|
the error, such buffer(s) will be returned with the ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_ERROR`` flag
|
||
|
set.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
If a ``CAPTURE`` buffer is too small then it is just returned with the
|
||
|
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_ERROR`` flag set. More work is needed to detect that this
|
||
|
error occurred because the buffer was too small, and to provide support to
|
||
|
free existing buffers that were too small.
|
||
|
|
||
|
In case of a fatal failure that does not allow the encoding to continue, any
|
||
|
further operations on corresponding encoder file handle will return the -EIO
|
||
|
error code. The client may close the file handle and open a new one, or
|
||
|
alternatively reinitialize the instance by stopping streaming on both queues,
|
||
|
releasing all buffers and performing the Initialization sequence again.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Encoding Parameter Changes
|
||
|
==========================
|
||
|
|
||
|
The client is allowed to use :c:func:`VIDIOC_S_CTRL` to change encoder
|
||
|
parameters at any time. The availability of parameters is encoder-specific
|
||
|
and the client must query the encoder to find the set of available controls.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The ability to change each parameter during encoding is encoder-specific, as
|
||
|
per the standard semantics of the V4L2 control interface. The client may
|
||
|
attempt to set a control during encoding and if the operation fails with the
|
||
|
-EBUSY error code, the ``CAPTURE`` queue needs to be stopped for the
|
||
|
configuration change to be allowed. To do this, it may follow the `Drain`
|
||
|
sequence to avoid losing the already queued/encoded frames.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The timing of parameter updates is encoder-specific, as per the standard
|
||
|
semantics of the V4L2 control interface. If the client needs to apply the
|
||
|
parameters exactly at specific frame, using the Request API
|
||
|
(:ref:`media-request-api`) should be considered, if supported by the encoder.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Drain
|
||
|
=====
|
||
|
|
||
|
To ensure that all the queued ``OUTPUT`` buffers have been processed and the
|
||
|
related ``CAPTURE`` buffers are given to the client, the client must follow the
|
||
|
drain sequence described below. After the drain sequence ends, the client has
|
||
|
received all encoded frames for all ``OUTPUT`` buffers queued before the
|
||
|
sequence was started.
|
||
|
|
||
|
1. Begin the drain sequence by issuing :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENCODER_CMD`.
|
||
|
|
||
|
* **Required fields:**
|
||
|
|
||
|
``cmd``
|
||
|
set to ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP``.
|
||
|
|
||
|
``flags``
|
||
|
set to 0.
|
||
|
|
||
|
``pts``
|
||
|
set to 0.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. warning::
|
||
|
|
||
|
The sequence can be only initiated if both ``OUTPUT`` and ``CAPTURE``
|
||
|
queues are streaming. For compatibility reasons, the call to
|
||
|
:c:func:`VIDIOC_ENCODER_CMD` will not fail even if any of the queues is
|
||
|
not streaming, but at the same time it will not initiate the `Drain`
|
||
|
sequence and so the steps described below would not be applicable.
|
||
|
|
||
|
2. Any ``OUTPUT`` buffers queued by the client before the
|
||
|
:c:func:`VIDIOC_ENCODER_CMD` was issued will be processed and encoded as
|
||
|
normal. The client must continue to handle both queues independently,
|
||
|
similarly to normal encode operation. This includes:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* queuing and dequeuing ``CAPTURE`` buffers, until a buffer marked with the
|
||
|
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST`` flag is dequeued,
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. warning::
|
||
|
|
||
|
The last buffer may be empty (with :c:type:`v4l2_buffer`
|
||
|
``bytesused`` = 0) and in that case it must be ignored by the client,
|
||
|
as it does not contain an encoded frame.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
Any attempt to dequeue more ``CAPTURE`` buffers beyond the buffer
|
||
|
marked with ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST`` will result in a -EPIPE error from
|
||
|
:c:func:`VIDIOC_DQBUF`.
|
||
|
|
||
|
* dequeuing processed ``OUTPUT`` buffers, until all the buffers queued
|
||
|
before the ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP`` command are dequeued,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* dequeuing the ``V4L2_EVENT_EOS`` event, if the client subscribes to it.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
For backwards compatibility, the encoder will signal a ``V4L2_EVENT_EOS``
|
||
|
event when the last frame has been encoded and all frames are ready to be
|
||
|
dequeued. It is deprecated behavior and the client must not rely on it.
|
||
|
The ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST`` buffer flag should be used instead.
|
||
|
|
||
|
3. Once all ``OUTPUT`` buffers queued before the ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP`` call are
|
||
|
dequeued and the last ``CAPTURE`` buffer is dequeued, the encoder is stopped
|
||
|
and it will accept, but not process any newly queued ``OUTPUT`` buffers
|
||
|
until the client issues any of the following operations:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_START`` - the encoder will not be reset and will resume
|
||
|
operation normally, with all the state from before the drain,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* a pair of :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` and :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMON` on the
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` queue - the encoder will be reset (see the `Reset` sequence)
|
||
|
and then resume encoding,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* a pair of :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` and :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMON` on the
|
||
|
``OUTPUT`` queue - the encoder will resume operation normally, however any
|
||
|
source frames queued to the ``OUTPUT`` queue between ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP``
|
||
|
and :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` will be discarded.
|
||
|
|
||
|
.. note::
|
||
|
|
||
|
Once the drain sequence is initiated, the client needs to drive it to
|
||
|
completion, as described by the steps above, unless it aborts the process by
|
||
|
issuing :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` on any of the ``OUTPUT`` or ``CAPTURE``
|
||
|
queues. The client is not allowed to issue ``V4L2_ENC_CMD_START`` or
|
||
|
``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP`` again while the drain sequence is in progress and they
|
||
|
will fail with -EBUSY error code if attempted.
|
||
|
|
||
|
For reference, handling of various corner cases is described below:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* In case of no buffer in the ``OUTPUT`` queue at the time the
|
||
|
``V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP`` command was issued, the drain sequence completes
|
||
|
immediately and the encoder returns an empty ``CAPTURE`` buffer with the
|
||
|
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST`` flag set.
|
||
|
|
||
|
* In case of no buffer in the ``CAPTURE`` queue at the time the drain
|
||
|
sequence completes, the next time the client queues a ``CAPTURE`` buffer
|
||
|
it is returned at once as an empty buffer with the ``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST``
|
||
|
flag set.
|
||
|
|
||
|
* If :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` is called on the ``CAPTURE`` queue in the
|
||
|
middle of the drain sequence, the drain sequence is canceled and all
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` buffers are implicitly returned to the client.
|
||
|
|
||
|
* If :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF` is called on the ``OUTPUT`` queue in the
|
||
|
middle of the drain sequence, the drain sequence completes immediately and
|
||
|
next ``CAPTURE`` buffer will be returned empty with the
|
||
|
``V4L2_BUF_FLAG_LAST`` flag set.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Although not mandatory, the availability of encoder commands may be queried
|
||
|
using :c:func:`VIDIOC_TRY_ENCODER_CMD`.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Reset
|
||
|
=====
|
||
|
|
||
|
The client may want to request the encoder to reinitialize the encoding, so
|
||
|
that the following stream data becomes independent from the stream data
|
||
|
generated before. Depending on the coded format, that may imply that:
|
||
|
|
||
|
* encoded frames produced after the restart must not reference any frames
|
||
|
produced before the stop, e.g. no long term references for H.264/HEVC,
|
||
|
|
||
|
* any headers that must be included in a standalone stream must be produced
|
||
|
again, e.g. SPS and PPS for H.264/HEVC.
|
||
|
|
||
|
This can be achieved by performing the reset sequence.
|
||
|
|
||
|
1. Perform the `Drain` sequence to ensure all the in-flight encoding finishes
|
||
|
and respective buffers are dequeued.
|
||
|
|
||
|
2. Stop streaming on the ``CAPTURE`` queue via :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMOFF`. This
|
||
|
will return all currently queued ``CAPTURE`` buffers to the client, without
|
||
|
valid frame data.
|
||
|
|
||
|
3. Start streaming on the ``CAPTURE`` queue via :c:func:`VIDIOC_STREAMON` and
|
||
|
continue with regular encoding sequence. The encoded frames produced into
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` buffers from now on will contain a standalone stream that can be
|
||
|
decoded without the need for frames encoded before the reset sequence,
|
||
|
starting at the first ``OUTPUT`` buffer queued after issuing the
|
||
|
`V4L2_ENC_CMD_STOP` of the `Drain` sequence.
|
||
|
|
||
|
This sequence may be also used to change encoding parameters for encoders
|
||
|
without the ability to change the parameters on the fly.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Commit Points
|
||
|
=============
|
||
|
|
||
|
Setting formats and allocating buffers triggers changes in the behavior of the
|
||
|
encoder.
|
||
|
|
||
|
1. Setting the format on the ``CAPTURE`` queue may change the set of formats
|
||
|
supported/advertised on the ``OUTPUT`` queue. In particular, it also means
|
||
|
that the ``OUTPUT`` format may be reset and the client must not rely on the
|
||
|
previously set format being preserved.
|
||
|
|
||
|
2. Enumerating formats on the ``OUTPUT`` queue always returns only formats
|
||
|
supported for the current ``CAPTURE`` format.
|
||
|
|
||
|
3. Setting the format on the ``OUTPUT`` queue does not change the list of
|
||
|
formats available on the ``CAPTURE`` queue. An attempt to set the ``OUTPUT``
|
||
|
format that is not supported for the currently selected ``CAPTURE`` format
|
||
|
will result in the encoder adjusting the requested ``OUTPUT`` format to a
|
||
|
supported one.
|
||
|
|
||
|
4. Enumerating formats on the ``CAPTURE`` queue always returns the full set of
|
||
|
supported coded formats, irrespective of the current ``OUTPUT`` format.
|
||
|
|
||
|
5. While buffers are allocated on any of the ``OUTPUT`` or ``CAPTURE`` queues,
|
||
|
the client must not change the format on the ``CAPTURE`` queue. Drivers will
|
||
|
return the -EBUSY error code for any such format change attempt.
|
||
|
|
||
|
To summarize, setting formats and allocation must always start with the
|
||
|
``CAPTURE`` queue and the ``CAPTURE`` queue is the master that governs the
|
||
|
set of supported formats for the ``OUTPUT`` queue.
|