Apparatus for creating a scalable graphics system with efficient memory and bandwidth usage
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A scalable graphics subsystem comprising:
- a first graphics module including a first rendering module to create a display image, the first rendering module coupled to a first memory; and
a second graphics module including a second rendering module to create the display image, the second rendering module coupled to a second memory and in communication with the first rendering module, the second rendering module having access to information contained within the first memory.
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Abstract
A scalable, three-dimensional (3D) graphics subsystem. The graphics subsystem includes a plurality of graphics modules each including a rendering module and a dedicated memory. In one embodiment, the rendering modules of the graphics modules are coupled together, possibly through a routing device, such that each rendering module views the memory space, formed by all dedicated memory, as one continuous shared memory.
43 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A scalable graphics subsystem comprising:
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a first graphics module including a first rendering module to create a display image, the first rendering module coupled to a first memory; and a second graphics module including a second rendering module to create the display image, the second rendering module coupled to a second memory and in communication with the first rendering module, the second rendering module having access to information contained within the first memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A scalable graphics subsystem comprising:
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a first graphics module including a first rendering module to create a display image and a first memory; a second graphics module including a second rendering module to create the display image and a second memory; and a first routing device coupled to the first graphics module and the second graphics module so that the first and second modules view memory space, formed by the first and second memories, as one continuous shared memory to enable the second rendering module to access a first set of display primitives contained in the first memory and the first rendering module to access a second set of display primitives contained in the second memory. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a scalable graphics subsystem having at least a first graphics module and a second graphics module, a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a read request from a requesting agent by the first graphics module, the read request including a source identification, a request code and a device address; decoding the read request to determine if the device address is associated with a local memory of the first graphics module; mapping the device address into a device identification; transmitting to a routing device information including the device identification, the request code, an address of the requesting agent, an assigned request number and a memory address; determining whether a second graphics module identified by the device identification is coupled to the routing device; accessing data contained at the memory address within a dedicated memory of the second graphics module if the second graphics module identified by the device identification is coupled to the routing device; and returning the data to the requesting agent.
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17. In a scalable graphics subsystem having at least a first graphics module and a second graphics module, a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a write request from a requesting agent by the first graphics module, the write request including data, a source identification, a request code and a device address; decoding the write request to determine if the device address is associated with a local memory of the first graphics module; mapping the device address into a device identification; transmitting to a routing device information including the data, the device address, the request code, an address of the requesting agent, an assigned request number and a memory address; determining whether a second graphics module identified by the device identification is coupled to the routing device; writing the data into the memory address of a dedicated memory of the second graphics module if the second graphics module identified by the device identification is coupled to the routing device; and returning an acknowledgment (ACK) to the requesting agent.
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Specification