System and method for load balancing in a multi-channel graphics system

• US 6,614,440 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Simoncic, Paul A., Bowen, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Application Number:
  US09/408,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 345/535, 345/531, 345/543, 345/520, 345/530, 345/541, 711/170-173, 711/147, 711/151, 709/213, 709/103, 709/219, 709/104, 709/105, 709/107, 710/107, 710/110-114, 710/116, 710/305, 710/306, 710/309, 370/230, 370/232, 370/254, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 345/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/18 based on priority control G06F13/1605 takes precedence

Abstract

A pull-model system and method provides display data over a network to a plurality of display devices having the same or different video format requirements. Utilization of image memory bandwidth is balanced between the plurality of display devices. Based on image memory bandwidth requirements for the plurality of display devices, a bandwidth allocation table is generated to indicate a servicing priority for the display devices. A plurality of requests for pixel data are received and stored in a request buffer. The requests are then serviced in an order indicated by the bandwidth allocation table.

Claims

1. A method for balancing utilization of image memory bandwidth between a plurality of display devices having different bandwidth requirements, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, for each display device, an image memory bandwidth requirement;

(b) generating, based on said image memory bandwidth requirements for said plurality of display devices, a bandwidth allocation table indicating a servicing priority for said display devices;

(c) receiving into a request buffer, from each display device, a plurality of requests for pixel data from the image memory;

(d) selecting, based on said servicing priority indicated by said bandwidth allocation table, a request to be serviced from said plurality of requests in said request buffer;

(e) for said selected request, retrieving at least a portion of requested pixel data from the image memory;

(f) sending said retrieved pixel data to the requesting display device;

(g) if said sent pixel data represents all of said requested pixel data, removing said selected request from said request buffer;

(h) if said sent pixel data does not represent all of said requested pixel data, updating said selected request in said request buffer to indicate that said portion of said requested pixel data has been sent; and

(i) repeating steps (d)-(i) for the plurality of requests received in step (c).

2. A method for balancing utilization of image memory bandwidth between a plurality of display devices, the method comprising:

(a) generating, based on image memory bandwidth requirements for said plurality of display devices, a bandwidth allocation table indicating a servicing priority for said display devices;

(b) receiving into a request buffer, from each display device, a plurality of requests for pixel data from the image memory; and

(c) servicing said plurality of requests in an order indicated by said bandwidth allocation table, wherein said servicing step comprises;

(i) selecting, based on said servicing priority indicated by said bandwidth allocation table, a request to be serviced from said plurality of requests in said request buffer;

(ii) for said selected request, retrieving at least a portion of requested pixel data from the image memory;

(iii) sending said retrieved pixel data to the requesting display device;

(iv) if said sent pixel data represents all of said requested pixel data, removing said selected request from said request buffer;

(v) if said sent pixel data does not represent all of said requested pixel data, updating said selected request in said request buffer to indicate that said portion of said requested pixel data has been sent; and

(vi) repeating steps (i)-(v) for the plurality of requests received in step (b).

3. A system for balancing utilization of image memory bandwidth between a plurality of display devices having different bandwidth requirements, comprising:

a bandwidth allocation table indicating a servicing priority for said plurality of display devices;

a request buffer for storing at least one request for pixel data from each of said plurality of display devices; and

a controller for controlling servicing of said requests in said request buffer in an order specified by said bandwidth allocation table, wherein said controller comprises;

means for selecting, based on said servicing priority indicated by said bandwidth allocation table, a request to be serviced from said plurality of requests in said request buffer;

means for causing, for said selected request, at least a portion of requested pixel to be retrieved from an image memory;

means for causing said retrieved pixel data to be sent to the requesting display device;

means for causing said selected request to be removed from said request buffer, if said sent pixel data represents all of said requested pixel data; and

means for causing said selected request in said request buffer to be updated to indicate that said portion of said requested pixel data has been sent, if said sent pixel data does not represent all of said requested pixel data.