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System and method for speculative execution in a geometry accelerator

  • US 5,883,641 A
  • Filed: 04/29/1997
  • Issued: 03/16/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for performing speculative execution of state machine operation in a graphics accelerator, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) executing steps in a graphic primitive transformation state machine;

    (b) receiving second to last primitive vertex parameters into the transformation state machine;

    (c) evaluating branch codes that indicate whether steps in a clipping state machine need to be executed, based upon the primitive vertex parameters already received;

    (d) branching and beginning execution of steps in another state machine, based upon tentative values of the branch codes, and continuing execution of the steps in the transformation state machine in parallel with the execution of the steps in the another state machine;

    (e) reevaluating the branch codes after a predetermined number of states, at which time the value of the branch codes is no longer tentative, but determinative of the next state information;

    (f) invoking a reset condition, aborting execution of the steps in the another state machine, and returning execution to a predetermined step in the transformation state machine, if the branch codes of the evaluating and reevaluating steps are inconsistent; and

    (g) terminating the execution of the transformation state machine and continuing the execution of the steps in the another state machine, if the branch codes of the evaluating and reevaluating steps are consistent.

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