Pixel storage for graphical frame buffers

A method, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of data units comprising a plurality of pixels stored in memory, a first one of the plurality of data units comprising a first pixel of the plurality of pixels packed in succession with at least a portion of a second pixel of the plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels being represented by a number of bits;
• obtaining a group of pixels from the plurality of pixels;
• and
• storing the group of pixels using a targeted number of bits,
• wherein:
• a second one of the plurality of data units comprises other portion of the second pixel of the plurality of pixels;
• and
• the other portion of the second pixel of the plurality of pixels is absent from the first one of the plurality of data unit, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• retrieving a block of pixel data from the memory;
• removing one or more padding bits from the block of pixel data;
• processing the block of pixel data;
• adding at least one padding bit to the block of pixel data;
• and
• storing the block of pixel data with the added at least one padding bit to the memory.

A computer program product comprising instructions stored in a tangible computer-readable storage medium, the instructions comprising:

• instructions for receiving a plurality of data units comprising a plurality of pixels stored in memory, a first one of the plurality of data units comprising a first pixel of the plurality of pixels packed in succession with at least a portion of a second pixel of the plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels being represented by a number of bits;
• instructions for obtaining a group of pixels from the plurality of pixels;
• and
• instructions for storing the group of pixels using a targeted number of bits,
• wherein:
• a second one of the plurality of data units comprises other portion of the second pixel of the plurality of pixels;
• and
• the other portion of the second pixel of the plurality of pixels is absent from the first one of the plurality of data unit, and
• wherein the instructions comprise:
• instructions for retrieving a block of pixel data from the memory;
• instructions for removing one or more padding bits from the block of pixel data;
• instructions for processing the block of pixel data;
• instructions for adding at least one padding bit to the block of pixel data;
• and
• instructions for storing the block of pixel data with the added at least one padding bit to the memory.