Which Windows driver architecture to choose for monolithic video decoder: DXVA, AVStream or something else?
WR
I need to advice on the choice of device driver architecture for video
decoding hardware that needs to be integrated with Windows
architecture.
Ideally the chosen architecture would run the same binary on Windows
XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Additionally it would be great if the
architecture could tackle also use cases for content with some
bitstream encryption DRM and HDPC in addition to regular Windows Media
Player or DShow-based playback playback of various formats. Hardware
is capable of 1080p@30fps decoding with minimal CPU load and I would
like not to mess that benefit up by using ineffective software design.
I have been initially looking into AVStream driver and DXVA as options
for architecture but have not yet been able to conclude which one to
use. I don't even know yet whether it is possible to use DXVA with HW
decoder which has been abstracted to level where the decoder takes
care of everything starting from the bitstream parsing and outputs
postprocessed pictures.
I would appreciate any insight people might have on this issue. I'd be
glad to provide more details if needed.
WR
tuvman
> Hi,
>
> I need to advice on the choice of device driver architecture for video
> decoding hardware that needs to be integrated with Windows
> architecture.
>
> Ideally the chosen architecture would run the same binary on Windows
> XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Additionally it would be great if the
> architecture could tackle also use cases for content with some
> bitstream encryption DRM and HDPC in addition to regular Windows Media
> Player or DShow-based playback playback of various formats. Hardware
windows media foundation for HD playback.DirectShow appears to be a
legacy technology now..
best,
Tuviah
Tim Roberts
>
>I need to advice on the choice of device driver architecture for video
>decoding hardware that needs to be integrated with Windows
>architecture.
For now, I would say AVStream is the right choice. An AVStream decoder
will play in both DShow and MFT via provided proxy wrappers.
>Ideally the chosen architecture would run the same binary on Windows
>XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Additionally it would be great if the
>architecture could tackle also use cases for content with some
>bitstream encryption DRM and HDPC in addition to regular Windows Media
>Player or DShow-based playback playback of various formats. Hardware
>is capable of 1080p@30fps decoding with minimal CPU load and I would
>like not to mess that benefit up by using ineffective software design.
Support for DRM basically involves providing a rather cryptic set of KS
properties, plus a special certificate signature from Microsoft after
proving yourself "reliable".
>I have been initially looking into AVStream driver and DXVA as options
>for architecture but have not yet been able to conclude which one to
>use.
You can't use DXVA. In XP, that is only available for decoding hardware
that is built-in to the graphics card and exposed through the display
driver.
--
Tim Roberts, ti...@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.