Multi-format vertex data processing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method for accessing stored vertex data that may be stored in a plurality of different formats comprising the steps of:
- receiving variable vertex format information defining at least a first format of variable format vertex data;
generating multiformat description data from the variable vertex format information;
controlling retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format based on the multiformat description data; and
communicating the retrieved data in a second format suitable for a graphics processing unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method allows efficient processing of vertex data received in any suitable format. The method and apparatus accesses stored vertex data that may be stored in a plurality of different formats. A single copy of the received vertex data is stored in memory so that the system does not require a block of memory containing differing formats of the vertex data. The apparatus and method utilizes a universal vertex data fetching mechanism which controls retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format in memory based on multi-format description data. As such, the vertex data that may be received in one of a plurality of formats, is effectively coded so that a data fetcher may appropriately fetch vertex parameter data from suitable addresses independent of the format in which the vertex data was received.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for accessing stored vertex data that may be stored in a plurality of different formats comprising the steps of:
-
receiving variable vertex format information defining at least a first format of variable format vertex data;
generating multiformat description data from the variable vertex format information;
controlling retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format based on the multiformat description data; and
communicating the retrieved data in a second format suitable for a graphics processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15)
-
-
8. An apparatus for accessing stored vertex data that may be stored in a plurality of different formats comprising:
-
a multiformat description provider operative to receive variable vertex format information defining at least a first format of variable format vertex data and operative to generate multiformat description data from the variable vertex format information; and
a multiformat vertex data fetcher operative to control retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format based on the multiformat description data; and
communicate the retrieved data in a second format suitable for a graphics processing unit.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
16. An apparatus for accessing stored vertex data that may be stored in a plurality of different formats comprising:
-
a multiformat description provider operative to receive variable vertex format information defining at least a first format of variable format vertex data and operative to generate multiformat description data from the variable vertex format information, wherein the multiformat description data includes vertex array descriptor data representing, on a per array basis, at least array based address data and a number of vertex parameters per structure and wherein the multiformat description provider maps the variable vertex format information into the vertex array descriptor data and a multiformat vertex data fetcher operative to control retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format based on the multiformat description data; and
communicate the retrieved data in a second format suitable for a graphics processing unit and wherein the graphics processing unit receives data in a different format from the first format and the multiformat vertex data fetcher controls retrieval of vertex data stored in the first format and includes a vertex data address generator that obtains stored vertex parameters for the graphics processing unit consistent with the different format. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification