diff mbox series

[v4,03/17] drm/uAPI: Add "active bpc" as feedback channel for "max bpc" drm property

Message ID 20210618091116.14428-4-wse@tuxedocomputers.com (mailing list archive)
State New, archived
Headers show
Series New uAPI drm properties for color management | expand

Commit Message

Werner Sembach June 18, 2021, 9:11 a.m. UTC
Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.

While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
quick way to double check the setup.

In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
this information being available.

Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
---
 drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
 2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)

Comments

Pekka Paalanen June 22, 2021, 6:46 a.m. UTC | #1
On Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:11:02 +0200
Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:

> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
> 
> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
> quick way to double check the setup.
> 
> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
> this information being available.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
> ---
>  drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>  2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>   *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>   *	property to the connector during initialization.
>   *
> + * active bpc:
> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
> + *	this property.
> + *
>   * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
>   *
>   * CRTC_ID:
> @@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@ int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>  }
>  EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
>  
> +/**
> + * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
> + * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
> + * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
> + * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
> + *
> + * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
> + *
> + * Returns:
> + * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
> + */
> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
> +{
> +	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
> +	struct drm_property *prop;
> +
> +	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
> +		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
> +						 min, max);
> +		if (!prop)
> +			return -ENOMEM;
> +
> +		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
> +		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
> +	}
> +
> +	return 0;
> +}
> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
> +
> +/**
> + * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
> + * @connector: drm connector
> + * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
> + *
> + * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
> + */
> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
> +{
> +	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
> +}
> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
> +
>  /**
>   * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
>   * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
> diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
> --- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> +++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> @@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@ struct drm_connector {
>  	 */
>  	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
>  
> +	/**
> +	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
> +	 * to be driven out of the connector.
> +	 */
> +	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
> +
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
> @@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@ int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
>  	int width, int height);
>  int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>  					  int min, int max);
> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
>  
>  /**
>   * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata

Acked-by: Pekka Paalanen <pekka.paalanen@collabora.com>


Thanks,
pq
Werner Sembach June 28, 2021, 5:03 p.m. UTC | #2
Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:
> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
>
> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
> quick way to double check the setup.
>
> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
> this information being available.
>
> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
> ---
>  drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>  2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>   *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>   *	property to the connector during initialization.
>   *
> + * active bpc:
> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
> + *	this property.
> + *

Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
register here:

- https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534

- https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571

So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?

The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?

Similar things happen on amd. Here the output dither depth seems to be written to a fixed value however:

- https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L828

- https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L769

Does anyone know about a resource where I can read up on the used registers and what this hardware actually does?

My proposal for now: "max bpc" affects what happens before dither, so I would keep "active bpc" the same and add another
drm property "dither active: true/false". No additional property to control dither, as amdgpu does have one already
(which isn't always active?) and Intel driver does only seem prepared for dithering at 6bpc (albeit I don't know why to
dither at 6bpc and what depth to dither to?).

>   * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
>   *
>   * CRTC_ID:
> @@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@ int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>  }
>  EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
>  
> +/**
> + * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
> + * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
> + * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
> + * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
> + *
> + * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
> + *
> + * Returns:
> + * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
> + */
> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
> +{
> +	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
> +	struct drm_property *prop;
> +
> +	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
> +		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
> +						 min, max);
> +		if (!prop)
> +			return -ENOMEM;
> +
> +		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
> +		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
> +	}
> +
> +	return 0;
> +}
> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
> +
> +/**
> + * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
> + * @connector: drm connector
> + * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
> + *
> + * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
> + */
> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
> +{
> +	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
> +}
> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
> +
>  /**
>   * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
>   * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
> diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
> --- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> +++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> @@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@ struct drm_connector {
>  	 */
>  	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
>  
> +	/**
> +	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
> +	 * to be driven out of the connector.
> +	 */
> +	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
> +
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
> @@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@ int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
>  	int width, int height);
>  int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>  					  int min, int max);
> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
>  
>  /**
>   * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata
Werner Sembach June 29, 2021, 11:02 a.m. UTC | #3
Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:
> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:
>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
>>
>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
>> quick way to double check the setup.
>>
>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
>> this information being available.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
>> ---
>>  drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>  include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>>  2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
>>
>> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
>> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>>   *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>>   *	property to the connector during initialization.
>>   *
>> + * active bpc:
>> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
>> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
>> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
>> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
>> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
>> + *	this property.
>> + *
> Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
> register here:
>
> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
>
> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
>
> So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
>
> The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?

Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537

As found in this documentation p.548:
https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf

So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.

>
> Similar things happen on amd. Here the output dither depth seems to be written to a fixed value however:
>
> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L828
>
> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L769
>
> Does anyone know about a resource where I can read up on the used registers and what this hardware actually does?
Searching now for a similar register reference for AMD GPUs.
>
> My proposal for now: "max bpc" affects what happens before dither, so I would keep "active bpc" the same and add another
> drm property "dither active: true/false". No additional property to control dither, as amdgpu does have one already
> (which isn't always active?) and Intel driver does only seem prepared for dithering at 6bpc (albeit I don't know why to
> dither at 6bpc and what depth to dither to?).
>
>>   * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
>>   *
>>   * CRTC_ID:
>> @@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@ int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>>  }
>>  EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
>>  
>> +/**
>> + * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
>> + * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
>> + * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
>> + * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
>> + *
>> + * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
>> + *
>> + * Returns:
>> + * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
>> + */
>> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
>> +{
>> +	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
>> +	struct drm_property *prop;
>> +
>> +	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
>> +		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
>> +						 min, max);
>> +		if (!prop)
>> +			return -ENOMEM;
>> +
>> +		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
>> +		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
>> +	}
>> +
>> +	return 0;
>> +}
>> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
>> +
>> +/**
>> + * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
>> + * @connector: drm connector
>> + * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
>> + *
>> + * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
>> + */
>> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
>> +{
>> +	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
>> +}
>> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
>> +
>>  /**
>>   * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
>>   * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
>> diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>> index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
>> --- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>> +++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>> @@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@ struct drm_connector {
>>  	 */
>>  	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
>>  
>> +	/**
>> +	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
>> +	 * to be driven out of the connector.
>> +	 */
>> +	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
>> +
>>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
>>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
>>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
>> @@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@ int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
>>  	int width, int height);
>>  int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>>  					  int min, int max);
>> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
>> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
>>  
>>  /**
>>   * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata
> _______________________________________________
> amd-gfx mailing list
> amd-gfx@lists.freedesktop.org
> https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/amd-gfx
Pekka Paalanen June 30, 2021, 8:21 a.m. UTC | #4
On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:

> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:
> > Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
> >> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
> >> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
> >>
> >> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
> >> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
> >> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
> >> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
> >> quick way to double check the setup.
> >>
> >> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
> >> this information being available.
> >>
> >> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
> >> ---
> >>  drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>  include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
> >>  2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
> >>
> >> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
> >> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
> >>   *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
> >>   *	property to the connector during initialization.
> >>   *
> >> + * active bpc:
> >> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
> >> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
> >> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
> >> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
> >> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
> >> + *	this property.
> >> + *  
> > Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
> > register here:
> >
> > - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
> >
> > - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
> >
> > So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
> >
> > The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?  
> 
> Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537

Hi,

I obviously do not know the intel driver or hardware at all, but
to me that just looks like translating from bits per pixel to bits per
channel in RGB mapping?

> As found in this documentation p.548:
> https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf
> 
> So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.

By definition, if the cable carries N bpc, then dithering does not
change that. The cable still carries N bpc, but due to spatial or
temporal dithering, the *observed* color resolution may or may not be
higher than the cable bpc.

Of course, if the cable bpc is 8, and dithering targets 6 bpc, then 2
LSB on the cable are always zero, right?

Maybe one would want to do that if the monitor has a 6 bit panel and it
simply ignored the 2 LSB, and the cable cannot go down to 6 bpc.

So, what does "max bpc" mean right now?

It seems like dither on/off is insufficient information, one would also
need to control the dithering target bpc. I suppose the driver has a
policy on how it chooses the target bpc, but what is that policy? Is
the dither target bpc the cable bpc or the sink bpc?

Needless to say, I'm quite confused.


Thanks,
pq

> >
> > Similar things happen on amd. Here the output dither depth seems to be written to a fixed value however:
> >
> > - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L828
> >
> > - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L769
> >
> > Does anyone know about a resource where I can read up on the used registers and what this hardware actually does?  
> Searching now for a similar register reference for AMD GPUs.
> >
> > My proposal for now: "max bpc" affects what happens before dither, so I would keep "active bpc" the same and add another
> > drm property "dither active: true/false". No additional property to control dither, as amdgpu does have one already
> > (which isn't always active?) and Intel driver does only seem prepared for dithering at 6bpc (albeit I don't know why to
> > dither at 6bpc and what depth to dither to?).
> >  
> >>   * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
> >>   *
> >>   * CRTC_ID:
> >> @@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@ int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
> >>  }
> >>  EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
> >>  
> >> +/**
> >> + * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
> >> + * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
> >> + * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
> >> + * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
> >> + *
> >> + * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
> >> + *
> >> + * Returns:
> >> + * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
> >> + */
> >> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
> >> +{
> >> +	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
> >> +	struct drm_property *prop;
> >> +
> >> +	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
> >> +		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
> >> +						 min, max);
> >> +		if (!prop)
> >> +			return -ENOMEM;
> >> +
> >> +		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
> >> +		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
> >> +	}
> >> +
> >> +	return 0;
> >> +}
> >> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
> >> +
> >> +/**
> >> + * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
> >> + * @connector: drm connector
> >> + * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
> >> + *
> >> + * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
> >> + */
> >> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
> >> +{
> >> +	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
> >> +}
> >> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
> >> +
> >>  /**
> >>   * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
> >>   * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
> >> diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> >> index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
> >> --- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> >> +++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
> >> @@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@ struct drm_connector {
> >>  	 */
> >>  	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
> >>  
> >> +	/**
> >> +	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
> >> +	 * to be driven out of the connector.
> >> +	 */
> >> +	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
> >> +
> >>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
> >>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
> >>  #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
> >> @@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@ int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
> >>  	int width, int height);
> >>  int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
> >>  					  int min, int max);
> >> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
> >> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
> >>  
> >>  /**
> >>   * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata  
> > _______________________________________________
> > amd-gfx mailing list
> > amd-gfx@lists.freedesktop.org
> > https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/amd-gfx
Werner Sembach June 30, 2021, 9:42 a.m. UTC | #5
Am 30.06.21 um 10:21 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
> On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
>
>> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:
>>> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:
>>>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
>>>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
>>>>
>>>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
>>>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
>>>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
>>>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
>>>> quick way to double check the setup.
>>>>
>>>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
>>>> this information being available.
>>>>
>>>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
>>>> ---
>>>>   drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>>   include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>>>>   2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
>>>>
>>>> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
>>>> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>>>>    *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>>>>    *	property to the connector during initialization.
>>>>    *
>>>> + * active bpc:
>>>> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
>>>> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
>>>> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
>>>> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
>>>> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
>>>> + *	this property.
>>>> + *
>>> Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
>>> register here:
>>>
>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
>>>
>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
>>>
>>> So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
>>>
>>> The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?
>> Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
>> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537
> Hi,
>
> I obviously do not know the intel driver or hardware at all, but
> to me that just looks like translating from bits per pixel to bits per
> channel in RGB mapping?
No, if i understand the documentation correctly: Writing bit depth here 
with dithering enabled sets the dithering target bpc.
>
>> As found in this documentation p.548:
>> https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf
>>
>> So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.
> By definition, if the cable carries N bpc, then dithering does not
> change that. The cable still carries N bpc, but due to spatial or
> temporal dithering, the *observed* color resolution may or may not be
> higher than the cable bpc.
Yes, and max bpc and active bpc tell the cable bpc ist not the 
*observed* bpc.
>
> Of course, if the cable bpc is 8, and dithering targets 6 bpc, then 2
> LSB on the cable are always zero, right?
I would assume that in this case only 6 bpc are actually send? Isn't the 
whole thing of dithering that you can't send, for example, 8 bpc?
>
> Maybe one would want to do that if the monitor has a 6 bit panel and it
> simply ignored the 2 LSB, and the cable cannot go down to 6 bpc.

Is there dithering actually doing this? aka is my assumption above wrong?

AMD code that confused me before, is hinting that you might be right: 
https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L826

there is a set_clamp depth and a separate DCP_SPATIAL_DITHER_DEPTH_30BPP

>
> So, what does "max bpc" mean right now?
>
> It seems like dither on/off is insufficient information, one would also
> need to control the dithering target bpc. I suppose the driver has a
> policy on how it chooses the target bpc, but what is that policy? Is
> the dither target bpc the cable bpc or the sink bpc?
>
> Needless to say, I'm quite confused.

... We need someone who knows what dithering on intel and amd gpu 
actually means.

But I don't want this to become a blocker for this patchset, because if 
there is no dithering, which seems to be the norm, the active bpc 
property is already really usefull as it is. So add a note to the docs 
that the value might be invalid when dithering is active for now?

>
>
> Thanks,
> pq
>
>>> Similar things happen on amd. Here the output dither depth seems to be written to a fixed value however:
>>>
>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L828
>>>
>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L769
>>>
>>> Does anyone know about a resource where I can read up on the used registers and what this hardware actually does?
>> Searching now for a similar register reference for AMD GPUs.
>>> My proposal for now: "max bpc" affects what happens before dither, so I would keep "active bpc" the same and add another
>>> drm property "dither active: true/false". No additional property to control dither, as amdgpu does have one already
>>> (which isn't always active?) and Intel driver does only seem prepared for dithering at 6bpc (albeit I don't know why to
>>> dither at 6bpc and what depth to dither to?).
>>>   
>>>>    * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
>>>>    *
>>>>    * CRTC_ID:
>>>> @@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@ int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>>>>   }
>>>>   EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
>>>>   
>>>> +/**
>>>> + * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
>>>> + * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
>>>> + * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
>>>> + * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
>>>> + *
>>>> + * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
>>>> + *
>>>> + * Returns:
>>>> + * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
>>>> + */
>>>> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
>>>> +{
>>>> +	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
>>>> +	struct drm_property *prop;
>>>> +
>>>> +	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
>>>> +		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
>>>> +						 min, max);
>>>> +		if (!prop)
>>>> +			return -ENOMEM;
>>>> +
>>>> +		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
>>>> +		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
>>>> +	}
>>>> +
>>>> +	return 0;
>>>> +}
>>>> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
>>>> +
>>>> +/**
>>>> + * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
>>>> + * @connector: drm connector
>>>> + * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
>>>> + *
>>>> + * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
>>>> + */
>>>> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
>>>> +{
>>>> +	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
>>>> +}
>>>> +EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
>>>> +
>>>>   /**
>>>>    * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
>>>>    * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
>>>> diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>>>> index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
>>>> --- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>>>> +++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
>>>> @@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@ struct drm_connector {
>>>>   	 */
>>>>   	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
>>>>   
>>>> +	/**
>>>> +	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
>>>> +	 * to be driven out of the connector.
>>>> +	 */
>>>> +	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
>>>> +
>>>>   #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
>>>>   #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
>>>>   #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
>>>> @@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@ int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
>>>>   	int width, int height);
>>>>   int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
>>>>   					  int min, int max);
>>>> +int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
>>>> +void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
>>>>   
>>>>   /**
>>>>    * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> amd-gfx mailing list
>>> amd-gfx@lists.freedesktop.org
>>> https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/amd-gfx
Pekka Paalanen July 1, 2021, 7:42 a.m. UTC | #6
On Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:42:10 +0200
Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:

> Am 30.06.21 um 10:21 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
> > On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
> > Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
> >  
> >> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
> >>> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
> >>>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
> >>>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
> >>>>
> >>>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
> >>>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
> >>>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
> >>>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
> >>>> quick way to double check the setup.
> >>>>
> >>>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
> >>>> this information being available.
> >>>>
> >>>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
> >>>> ---
> >>>>   drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>>>   include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
> >>>>   2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
> >>>>
> >>>> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >>>> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
> >>>> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >>>> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
> >>>> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
> >>>>    *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
> >>>>    *	property to the connector during initialization.
> >>>>    *
> >>>> + * active bpc:
> >>>> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
> >>>> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
> >>>> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
> >>>> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
> >>>> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
> >>>> + *	this property.
> >>>> + *  
> >>> Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
> >>> register here:
> >>>
> >>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
> >>>
> >>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
> >>>
> >>> So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
> >>>
> >>> The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?  
> >> Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
> >> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537  
> > Hi,
> >
> > I obviously do not know the intel driver or hardware at all, but
> > to me that just looks like translating from bits per pixel to bits per
> > channel in RGB mapping?  
> No, if i understand the documentation correctly: Writing bit depth here 
> with dithering enabled sets the dithering target bpc.
> >  
> >> As found in this documentation p.548:
> >> https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf
> >>
> >> So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.  
> > By definition, if the cable carries N bpc, then dithering does not
> > change that. The cable still carries N bpc, but due to spatial or
> > temporal dithering, the *observed* color resolution may or may not be
> > higher than the cable bpc.  
> Yes, and max bpc and active bpc tell the cable bpc ist not the 
> *observed* bpc.
> >
> > Of course, if the cable bpc is 8, and dithering targets 6 bpc, then 2
> > LSB on the cable are always zero, right?  
> I would assume that in this case only 6 bpc are actually send? Isn't the 
> whole thing of dithering that you can't send, for example, 8 bpc?
> >
> > Maybe one would want to do that if the monitor has a 6 bit panel and it
> > simply ignored the 2 LSB, and the cable cannot go down to 6 bpc.  
> 
> Is there dithering actually doing this? aka is my assumption above wrong?
> 
> AMD code that confused me before, is hinting that you might be right: 
> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L826
> 
> there is a set_clamp depth and a separate DCP_SPATIAL_DITHER_DEPTH_30BPP
> 
> >
> > So, what does "max bpc" mean right now?
> >
> > It seems like dither on/off is insufficient information, one would also
> > need to control the dithering target bpc. I suppose the driver has a
> > policy on how it chooses the target bpc, but what is that policy? Is
> > the dither target bpc the cable bpc or the sink bpc?
> >
> > Needless to say, I'm quite confused.  
> 
> ... We need someone who knows what dithering on intel and amd gpu 
> actually means.
> 
> But I don't want this to become a blocker for this patchset, because if 
> there is no dithering, which seems to be the norm, the active bpc 
> property is already really usefull as it is. So add a note to the docs 
> that the value might be invalid when dithering is active for now?

Hi,

not necessarily invalid. It all depends on how "max bpc" and "active
bpc" are defined.

If they are defined and implemented as "on the cable", then they are
both well-defined and always valid, regardless of what dithering or bit
clamping does, so this is the semantics I'd would prefer. It's clear,
but of course does not tell full story.

When better properties for dithering are added, those can then define
how it works on top of cable bpc, with no impact on "max bpc" or
"active bpc" properties.

So if we cannot tell what "max bpc" is, then "active bpc" should just
be defined as the same thing as "max bpc" affects, and leave the
precise definition of both for later.

If the definition was observed bpc, then we would have problems and
would need to know everything right now. But you can't really make
promises of observed bpc anyway, because you don't know what the
monitor does to the video signal I suppose. Unless you define it "as if
observed through an ideal theoretical monitor" which then gets awkward
to explain.


Thanks,
pq
Werner Sembach July 1, 2021, 11:30 a.m. UTC | #7
Am 01.07.21 um 09:42 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:42:10 +0200
> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
>
>> Am 30.06.21 um 10:21 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
>>> On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
>>> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
>>>  
>>>> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
>>>>> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
>>>>>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
>>>>>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
>>>>>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
>>>>>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
>>>>>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
>>>>>> quick way to double check the setup.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
>>>>>> this information being available.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>   drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>>>>   include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>>>>>>   2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
>>>>>> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>>>>>>    *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>>>>>>    *	property to the connector during initialization.
>>>>>>    *
>>>>>> + * active bpc:
>>>>>> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
>>>>>> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
>>>>>> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
>>>>>> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
>>>>>> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
>>>>>> + *	this property.
>>>>>> + *  
>>>>> Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
>>>>> register here:
>>>>>
>>>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
>>>>>
>>>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
>>>>>
>>>>> So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
>>>>>
>>>>> The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?  
>>>> Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
>>>> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537  
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I obviously do not know the intel driver or hardware at all, but
>>> to me that just looks like translating from bits per pixel to bits per
>>> channel in RGB mapping?  
>> No, if i understand the documentation correctly: Writing bit depth here 
>> with dithering enabled sets the dithering target bpc.
>>>  
>>>> As found in this documentation p.548:
>>>> https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf
>>>>
>>>> So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.  
>>> By definition, if the cable carries N bpc, then dithering does not
>>> change that. The cable still carries N bpc, but due to spatial or
>>> temporal dithering, the *observed* color resolution may or may not be
>>> higher than the cable bpc.  
>> Yes, and max bpc and active bpc tell the cable bpc ist not the 
>> *observed* bpc.
>>> Of course, if the cable bpc is 8, and dithering targets 6 bpc, then 2
>>> LSB on the cable are always zero, right?  
>> I would assume that in this case only 6 bpc are actually send? Isn't the 
>> whole thing of dithering that you can't send, for example, 8 bpc?
>>> Maybe one would want to do that if the monitor has a 6 bit panel and it
>>> simply ignored the 2 LSB, and the cable cannot go down to 6 bpc.  
>> Is there dithering actually doing this? aka is my assumption above wrong?
>>
>> AMD code that confused me before, is hinting that you might be right: 
>> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L826
>>
>> there is a set_clamp depth and a separate DCP_SPATIAL_DITHER_DEPTH_30BPP
>>
>>> So, what does "max bpc" mean right now?
>>>
>>> It seems like dither on/off is insufficient information, one would also
>>> need to control the dithering target bpc. I suppose the driver has a
>>> policy on how it chooses the target bpc, but what is that policy? Is
>>> the dither target bpc the cable bpc or the sink bpc?
>>>
>>> Needless to say, I'm quite confused.  
>> ... We need someone who knows what dithering on intel and amd gpu 
>> actually means.
>>
>> But I don't want this to become a blocker for this patchset, because if 
>> there is no dithering, which seems to be the norm, the active bpc 
>> property is already really usefull as it is. So add a note to the docs 
>> that the value might be invalid when dithering is active for now?
> Hi,
>
> not necessarily invalid. It all depends on how "max bpc" and "active
> bpc" are defined.
>
> If they are defined and implemented as "on the cable", then they are
> both well-defined and always valid, regardless of what dithering or bit
> clamping does, so this is the semantics I'd would prefer. It's clear,
> but of course does not tell full story.
>
> When better properties for dithering are added, those can then define
> how it works on top of cable bpc, with no impact on "max bpc" or
> "active bpc" properties.
>
> So if we cannot tell what "max bpc" is, then "active bpc" should just
> be defined as the same thing as "max bpc" affects, and leave the
> precise definition of both for later.
But as long as I don't know exactly how dithering is affected by max bpc I can't tell for sure if active bpc is acting
the same. That's why I wrote it is "undefined" to not run into a trap where the actual behavior have to change after the
fact.
>
> If the definition was observed bpc, then we would have problems and
> would need to know everything right now. But you can't really make
> promises of observed bpc anyway, because you don't know what the
> monitor does to the video signal I suppose. Unless you define it "as if
> observed through an ideal theoretical monitor" which then gets awkward
> to explain.
Yes, that's why I think describing the "raw" signal is the best and leave it to the user to know what his or her Monitor
is making out of it.
>
>
> Thanks,
> pq
Werner Sembach July 14, 2021, 6:18 p.m. UTC | #8
Am 01.07.21 um 13:30 schrieb Werner Sembach:
> Am 01.07.21 um 09:42 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:42:10 +0200
>> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Am 30.06.21 um 10:21 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:
>>>> On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
>>>> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
>>>>   
>>>>> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:
>>>>>> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:
>>>>>>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
>>>>>>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
>>>>>>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
>>>>>>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
>>>>>>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
>>>>>>> quick way to double check the setup.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
>>>>>>> this information being available.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>>    drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>>>>>    include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
>>>>>>>    2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>>> index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
>>>>>>> --- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>>> +++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
>>>>>>> @@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@ static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
>>>>>>>     *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
>>>>>>>     *	property to the connector during initialization.
>>>>>>>     *
>>>>>>> + * active bpc:
>>>>>>> + *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
>>>>>>> + *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
>>>>>>> + *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
>>>>>>> + *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
>>>>>>> + *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
>>>>>>> + *	this property.
>>>>>>> + *
>>>>>> Regarding "on the cable" and dithering: As far as I can tell, what the dithering option does, is setting a hardware
>>>>>> register here:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4534
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4571
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So dithering seems to be calculated by fixed purpose hardware/firmware outside of the driver?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Intel driver does not seem to set a target bpc/bpp for this hardware so I guess it defaults to 6 or 8 bpc?
>>>>> Never mind it does. This switch-case does affect the dithering output:
>>>>> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_display.c#L4537
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I obviously do not know the intel driver or hardware at all, but
>>>> to me that just looks like translating from bits per pixel to bits per
>>>> channel in RGB mapping?
>>> No, if i understand the documentation correctly: Writing bit depth here
>>> with dithering enabled sets the dithering target bpc.
>>>>   
>>>>> As found in this documentation p.548:
>>>>> https://01.org/sites/default/files/documentation/intel-gfx-prm-osrc-lkf-vol02c-commandreference-registers-part2.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> So max bpc and active bpc are affecting/affected by the bpc after dithering.
>>>> By definition, if the cable carries N bpc, then dithering does not
>>>> change that. The cable still carries N bpc, but due to spatial or
>>>> temporal dithering, the *observed* color resolution may or may not be
>>>> higher than the cable bpc.
>>> Yes, and max bpc and active bpc tell the cable bpc ist not the
>>> *observed* bpc.
>>>> Of course, if the cable bpc is 8, and dithering targets 6 bpc, then 2
>>>> LSB on the cable are always zero, right?
>>> I would assume that in this case only 6 bpc are actually send? Isn't the
>>> whole thing of dithering that you can't send, for example, 8 bpc?
>>>> Maybe one would want to do that if the monitor has a 6 bit panel and it
>>>> simply ignored the 2 LSB, and the cable cannot go down to 6 bpc.
>>> Is there dithering actually doing this? aka is my assumption above wrong?
>>>
>>> AMD code that confused me before, is hinting that you might be right:
>>> https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v5.13/source/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/dce/dce_transform.c#L826
>>>
>>> there is a set_clamp depth and a separate DCP_SPATIAL_DITHER_DEPTH_30BPP
>>>
>>>> So, what does "max bpc" mean right now?
>>>>
>>>> It seems like dither on/off is insufficient information, one would also
>>>> need to control the dithering target bpc. I suppose the driver has a
>>>> policy on how it chooses the target bpc, but what is that policy? Is
>>>> the dither target bpc the cable bpc or the sink bpc?
>>>>
>>>> Needless to say, I'm quite confused.
>>> ... We need someone who knows what dithering on intel and amd gpu
>>> actually means.
>>>
>>> But I don't want this to become a blocker for this patchset, because if
>>> there is no dithering, which seems to be the norm, the active bpc
>>> property is already really usefull as it is. So add a note to the docs
>>> that the value might be invalid when dithering is active for now?
>> Hi,
>>
>> not necessarily invalid. It all depends on how "max bpc" and "active
>> bpc" are defined.
>>
>> If they are defined and implemented as "on the cable", then they are
>> both well-defined and always valid, regardless of what dithering or bit
>> clamping does, so this is the semantics I'd would prefer. It's clear,
>> but of course does not tell full story.
>>
>> When better properties for dithering are added, those can then define
>> how it works on top of cable bpc, with no impact on "max bpc" or
>> "active bpc" properties.
>>
>> So if we cannot tell what "max bpc" is, then "active bpc" should just
>> be defined as the same thing as "max bpc" affects, and leave the
>> precise definition of both for later.
> But as long as I don't know exactly how dithering is affected by max bpc I can't tell for sure if active bpc is acting
> the same. That's why I wrote it is "undefined" to not run into a trap where the actual behavior have to change after the
> fact.
>> If the definition was observed bpc, then we would have problems and
>> would need to know everything right now. But you can't really make
>> promises of observed bpc anyway, because you don't know what the
>> monitor does to the video signal I suppose. Unless you define it "as if
>> observed through an ideal theoretical monitor" which then gets awkward
>> to explain.
> Yes, that's why I think describing the "raw" signal is the best and leave it to the user to know what his or her Monitor
> is making out of it.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> pq
New idea: Instead of the "active"-properties with various if cases in 
the kernel code, there could just be blob properties exposing the hdmi 
infoframes, hdmi general control packages, dp misc0 and misc1 and dp vsc 
sdp.

Combined they have all the color information and it is made sure that 
it's what is actually send to the monitor (I would consider sending 
something differed then what is told in the infoframes a bug).

They also have built in version numbers, if in the future they contain 
more information.

Only disadvantage: We leave parsing for human readable output to the 
userspace.

Alternatively keep the "active"-properties but fill them from the 
infoframes.

I'm not entirely sure where to do that on amd, because there the 
infoframes are directly created in the dc code shortly before writing 
them to the hardware registers and immediately forgotten afterwards. But 
you still have access to the connector struct from that code so the 
property could be updated directly there.
Pekka Paalanen July 15, 2021, 9:10 a.m. UTC | #9
On Wed, 14 Jul 2021 20:18:57 +0200
Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:

> Am 01.07.21 um 13:30 schrieb Werner Sembach:
> > Am 01.07.21 um 09:42 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:  
> >> On Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:42:10 +0200
> >> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
> >>  
> >>> Am 30.06.21 um 10:21 schrieb Pekka Paalanen:  
> >>>> On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:02:05 +0200
> >>>> Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com> wrote:
> >>>>     
> >>>>> Am 28.06.21 um 19:03 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
> >>>>>> Am 18.06.21 um 11:11 schrieb Werner Sembach:  
> >>>>>>> Add a new general drm property "active bpc" which can be used by graphic
> >>>>>>> drivers to report the applied bit depth per pixel back to userspace.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> While "max bpc" can be used to change the color depth, there was no way to
> >>>>>>> check which one actually got used. While in theory the driver chooses the
> >>>>>>> best/highest color depth within the max bpc setting a user might not be
> >>>>>>> fully aware what his hardware is or isn't capable off. This is meant as a
> >>>>>>> quick way to double check the setup.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> In the future, automatic color calibration for screens might also depend on
> >>>>>>> this information being available.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Signed-off-by: Werner Sembach <wse@tuxedocomputers.com>
> >>>>>>> ---
> >>>>>>>    drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>>>>>>    include/drm/drm_connector.h     |  8 ++++++
> >>>>>>>    2 files changed, 59 insertions(+)

> New idea: Instead of the "active"-properties with various if cases in 
> the kernel code, there could just be blob properties exposing the hdmi 
> infoframes, hdmi general control packages, dp misc0 and misc1 and dp vsc 
> sdp.
> 
> Combined they have all the color information and it is made sure that 
> it's what is actually send to the monitor (I would consider sending 
> something differed then what is told in the infoframes a bug).
> 
> They also have built in version numbers, if in the future they contain 
> more information.
> 
> Only disadvantage: We leave parsing for human readable output to the 
> userspace.
> 
> Alternatively keep the "active"-properties but fill them from the 
> infoframes.
> 
> I'm not entirely sure where to do that on amd, because there the 
> infoframes are directly created in the dc code shortly before writing 
> them to the hardware registers and immediately forgotten afterwards. But 
> you still have access to the connector struct from that code so the 
> property could be updated directly there.
> 

Hi,

I'm not fundamentally against that as long as we have a common
userspace library to parse those blobs. In libdrm perhaps? Or a new
library?

But I also don't know about the technical feasibility, is it a good
idea.

OTOH, that could be the best thing for testing drivers vs. KMS UAPI
when you don't have a hardware HDMI/DP grabber to inspect the
infoframes. So maybe kernel CI would like that?


Thanks,
pq
diff mbox series

Patch

diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
index da39e7ff6965..943f6b61053b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_connector.c
@@ -1197,6 +1197,14 @@  static const struct drm_prop_enum_list dp_colorspaces[] = {
  *	drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property() to create and attach the
  *	property to the connector during initialization.
  *
+ * active bpc:
+ *	This read-only range property tells userspace the pixel color bit depth
+ *	actually used by the hardware display engine on "the cable" on a
+ *	connector. The chosen value depends on hardware capabilities, both
+ *	display engine and connected monitor, and the "max bpc" property.
+ *	Drivers shall use drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property() to install
+ *	this property.
+ *
  * Connectors also have one standardized atomic property:
  *
  * CRTC_ID:
@@ -2152,6 +2160,49 @@  int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property);
 
+/**
+ * drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property - attach "active bpc" property
+ * @connector: connector to attach active bpc property on.
+ * @min: The minimum bit depth supported by the connector.
+ * @max: The maximum bit depth supported by the connector.
+ *
+ * This is used to check the applied bit depth on a connector.
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ * Zero on success, negative errno on failure.
+ */
+int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max)
+{
+	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
+	struct drm_property *prop;
+
+	if (!connector->active_bpc_property) {
+		prop = drm_property_create_range(dev, DRM_MODE_PROP_IMMUTABLE, "active bpc",
+						 min, max);
+		if (!prop)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
+		connector->active_bpc_property = prop;
+		drm_object_attach_property(&connector->base, prop, 0);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property);
+
+/**
+ * drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property - sets the active bits per color property for a connector
+ * @connector: drm connector
+ * @active_bpc: bits per color for the connector currently active on "the cable"
+ *
+ * Should be used by atomic drivers to update the active bits per color over a connector.
+ */
+void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc)
+{
+	drm_object_property_set_value(&connector->base, connector->active_bpc_property, active_bpc);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property);
+
 /**
  * drm_connector_attach_hdr_output_metadata_property - attach "HDR_OUTPUT_METADA" property
  * @connector: connector to attach the property on.
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_connector.h b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
index 714d1a01c065..eee86de62a5f 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_connector.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_connector.h
@@ -1380,6 +1380,12 @@  struct drm_connector {
 	 */
 	struct drm_property *max_bpc_property;
 
+	/**
+	 * @active_bpc_property: Default connector property for the active bpc
+	 * to be driven out of the connector.
+	 */
+	struct drm_property *active_bpc_property;
+
 #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_HPD (1 << 0)
 #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_CONNECT (1 << 1)
 #define DRM_CONNECTOR_POLL_DISCONNECT (1 << 2)
@@ -1702,6 +1708,8 @@  int drm_connector_set_panel_orientation_with_quirk(
 	int width, int height);
 int drm_connector_attach_max_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector,
 					  int min, int max);
+int drm_connector_attach_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int min, int max);
+void drm_connector_set_active_bpc_property(struct drm_connector *connector, int active_bpc);
 
 /**
  * struct drm_tile_group - Tile group metadata