INTERNET-BASED GRAPHICS APPLICATION PROFILE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR UPDATING GRAPHIC APPLICATION PROFILES STORED WITHIN THE MULTI-GPU GRAPHICS RENDERING SUBSYSTEMS OF CLIENT MACHINES RUNNING GRAPHICS-BASED APPLICATIONS

• US 20110072056A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LucidLogix Software Solutions, Ltd.
• Inventors: Bakalash, Reuven, Leviathan, Yaniv
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/812
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/501 Performance criteria
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/52 Parallel processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A multi-user computer network, in which graphics performance of client machines running graphics-based applications is optimized using an automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system. The automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system includes an Internet-based communication server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and to a central database server, through an application server. The central database server stores graphic application profiles (GAPs) for different graphics-based applications that are capable of running on the client machines. The graphics application profiles are stored in a profile database in the multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of each client machine. The Internet-based communication server communicates with each client machine over the Internet, and automatically programs updated graphics application profiles (GAPs) in the profile database of each client machine. This allows for the graphics performance of each client machine to be optimized during the run-time of the graphics-based applications.

Claims

1. An Internet-based graphics application profile management system for updating graphics application profiles stored within a plurality of client machines running graphics-based applications, said Internet-based graphics application profile management system comprising:

(1) a plurality of client machines operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, wherein each said client machine includes

CPU memory space for storing graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data (GCAD) during the execution of said graphics-based applications;

a CPU for executing said graphics-based applications;

at least one display device for displaying pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics; and

a multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem having

(i) a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs) supporting a graphics rendering process, and

(ii) a profile database for storing a graphics application profile (GAP) on each graphics-based application running on said client machine,

wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem distributes said stream of graphics commands and data to said one or more GPUs; and

wherein said one or more GPUs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data, and render pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics for display on said at least one display device during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

(2) a central database server, for storing graphic application profiles (GAPs) for a plurality of different graphics-based applications that are capable of running on said plurality of said client machines; and

(3) an Internet-based communication server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and to said central database server by way of an application server, for communicating with said plurality of client machines over the Internet, and automatically programming updated graphics application profiles (GAPs) in said profile database of said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of said client machine, so that the graphics performance of said client machine is optimized during the run-time of said graphics-based applications.

2. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, which further comprises one or more Web-based application servers, interfaced with said central database server, for supporting the following services:

(1) allowing graphics-based applications to be registered with said Internet-based graphics application profile management system;

(2) allowing the users of said client machines to register said client machines with said Internet-based graphics application profile management system; and

(4) allowing registered users of said client machines to subscribe to automated graphics application profile updating services, involving the automated updating of graphics application profiles to said profile database of registered client machines, downloaded from said central database server.

3. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of one or more said client machines further include a performance data collection module for collecting performance data during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

and wherein said Internet-based graphics application profile management system allows the registered user of said client machines to upload performance data collected from said multi-GPU graphics processing subsystems, to said central database server, for automated analysis and processing and formulation of improved graphical application profiles for particular graphics-based applications running on said client machines.

4. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 3, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem with said performance data collection module, includes an application profiling and analysis algorithm that uses the most recently downloaded graphics application profile loaded into said profile database, and then allows system-user interaction, user behavior, and application performance to modify and improve said most recently downloaded graphic application profile, over time until the next automated update of said graphics application profile occurs.

5. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein said graphics-based applications support graphics-based processes selected from the group consisting of games, simulations, business processes, and other processes involving the real-time generation and display of graphics.

6. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein each said client machine is a computing system selected from the group consisting of PC-level computers, application servers, laptop computers, game console systems, and portable computing systems.

7. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem further comprises:

(iii) multiple modes of graphics processing operation, including a first mode of graphics processing operation, and a second mode of graphics processing operation, and

(iv) an automatic mode controller, in communication with said profile database, for automatically controlling the switching into, out of, and transitioning between said multiple modes of said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem distributes said stream of graphics commands and data to said one or more GPUs according to the mode of graphics processing operation controlled by said automatic mode controller during the run-time of said graphics-based applications; and

wherein said one or more GPUs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data, and render pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics for display on said at least one display device during the run-time of said graphics-based applications.

8. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 3, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem with said performance data collection module, includes an application profiling and analysis algorithm that uses the most recently downloaded graphics application profile loaded into said profile database, and then allows the downloaded graphics application profile (GAP) to be modified and improved upon, within particular limits and constraints, and according to particular criteria, so that said downloaded GAP is allowed to evolve in an optimal manner, without performance regression.

9. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein within one or more said client machines, at least one said GPU is disposed within an integrated graphics device (IGD) operably connected to said CPU, and at least one said GPU is disposed on a discrete device such as an external graphics card, or external system on a chip (SOC).

10. The Internet-based graphics application profile management system of claim 1, wherein a first group of said client machines are operably connected to a local area network (LAN), and a second group of said client machines are operably connected to a wide area network (WAN).

12. The multi-user computer network of claim 10, which further comprises one or more Web-based application servers, interfaced with said central database server, for supporting the following services:

(1) allowing graphics-based applications to be registered with said Internet-based graphics application profile management system;

(2) allowing the users of said client machines to register said client machines with said Internet-based graphics application profile management system; and

(4) allowing registered users of said client machines to subscribe to automated graphics application profile updating services, involving the automated updating of graphics application profiles to said profile database of registered client machines, downloaded from said central database server.

11. A multi-user computer network, in which graphics performance of client machines running graphics-based applications is optimized using an automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system, said multi-user computer network comprising:

(1) a plurality of client machines operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, wherein each said client machine is adapted for use by a different user, and includes

CPU memory space for storing graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data (GCAD) during the execution of said graphics-based applications;

a CPU for executing said graphics-based applications;

at least one display device for displaying pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics; and

a multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem having

(i) a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs) supporting a graphics rendering process, and

(ii) a profile database for storing a graphics application profile (GAP) on each graphics-based application running on said client machine,

wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem distributes said stream of graphics commands and data to said one or more GPUs, and

wherein said one or more GPUs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data, and render pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics for display on said at least one display device during the run-time of said graphics-based applications; and

(2) an automated Internet-based graphics application profile management system including;

(i) a central database server for storing graphic application profiles (GAPs) for a plurality of different graphics-based applications that are capable of running on said plurality of said client machines; and

(ii) an Internet-based communication server, operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and to said central database server, through an application server, for communicating with said plurality of client machines over the Internet, and automatically programming updated graphics application profiles (GAPs) in said profile database of said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of said client machine, so that the graphics performance of said client machine is optimized during the run-time of said graphics-based applications.

13. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem of one or more said client machines further include a performance data collection module for collecting performance data during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

and wherein said Internet-based graphics application profile management system allows the registered user of said client machines to upload performance data collected from said multi-GPU graphics processing subsystems, to said central database server, for automated analysis and processing and formulation of improved graphical application profiles for particular graphics-based applications running on said client machines.

14. The multi-user computer network of claim 13, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem with said performance data collection module, includes an application profiling and analysis algorithm that uses the most recently downloaded graphics application profile loaded into said profile database, and then allows system-user interaction, user behavior, and application performance to modify and improve said most recently downloaded graphic application profile, over time until the next automated update of said graphics application profile occurs.

15. The multi-user computer network of claim 13, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem with said performance data collection module, includes an application profiling and analysis algorithm that uses the most recently downloaded graphics application profile loaded into said profile database, and then allows the downloaded graphics application profile (GAP) to be modified and improved upon, within particular limits and constraints, and according to particular criteria, so that said downloaded GAP is allowed to evolve in an optimal manner, without performance regression.

16. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein said graphics-based applications support graphics-based processes selected from the group consisting of games, simulations, business processes, and other processes involving the real-time generation and display of graphics.

17. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein each said client machine is a computing system selected from the group consisting of PC-level computers, application servers, laptop computers, game console systems, and portable computing systems.

18. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem in said client machine further comprises:

(iii) multiple modes of graphics processing operation, including a first mode of graphics processing operation, and a second mode of graphics processing operation, and

(iv) an automatic mode controller, in communication with said profile database, for automatically controlling the switching into, out of, and transitioning between said multiple modes of said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

wherein said multi-GPU graphics rendering subsystem distributes said stream of graphics commands and data to said one or more GPUs according to the mode of graphics processing operation controlled by said automatic mode controller during the run-time of said graphics-based applications; and

wherein said one or more GPUs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data, and render pixel-composited images graphically representing graphics for display on said at least one display device during the run-time of said graphics-based applications.

19. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein within one or more said client machines, at least one said GPU is disposed within an integrated graphics device (IGD) operably connected to said CPU, and at least one said GPU is disposed on a discrete device such as an external graphics card, or external system on a chip (SOC).

20. The multi-user computer network of claim 11, wherein a first group of said client machines are operably connected to a local area network (LAN), and a second group of said client machines are operably connected to a wide area network (WAN).