Method and system for defining and controlling algorithmic elements in a graphics display system
First Claim
1. A graphics processing unit (GPU) for processing data in a graphics system on behalf of a host, comprising:
- an interface component that, upon receipt of at least one host graphics application programming interface (API) call, receives and unpackages a plurality of algorithmic elements from the at least one host graphics API call, wherein each algorithmic element is downloadable to the GPU as an instruction set packed into an array of numbers by a host graphics API, represents a computational algorithm, and contains one or more tokens selected by a developer from a list of tokens interpretable by the GPU, said array of numbers for the selected one or more tokens providing an instruction to be performed by at least one computational subunit of the GPU; and
a mapping component that maps the unpackaged plurality of algorithmic elements to at least one computational subunit of the GPU according to a pre-defined protocol for interpreting the at least one host graphics API call, thereby readying the GPU to implement the instructions for the tokens selected by the developer so as to perform the functionality represented by the plurality of algorithmic elements based on the developer'"'"'s selection of tokens interpretable by the GPU.
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Abstract
An API is provided that enables programmability of a 3D chip, wherein programming or algorithmic elements written by the developer can be downloaded to the chip, thereby programming the chip to perform those algorithms. A developer writes a routine that is downloadable to a 3D graphics chip. There are also a set of algorithmic elements that are provided in connection with the API that have already been programmed for the developer, that are downloadable to the programmable chip for improved performance. Thus, a developer may download preexisting API objects to a 3D graphics chip. A developer adheres to a specific format for packing up an algorithmic element, or set of instructions, for implementation by a 3D graphics chip. The developer packs the instruction set into an array of numbers, by referring to a list of ‘tokens’ understood by the 3D graphics chip. This array of numbers in turn is mapped correctly to the 3D graphics chip for implementation of the algorithmic element by the 3D graphics chip.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A graphics processing unit (GPU) for processing data in a graphics system on behalf of a host, comprising:
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an interface component that, upon receipt of at least one host graphics application programming interface (API) call, receives and unpackages a plurality of algorithmic elements from the at least one host graphics API call, wherein each algorithmic element is downloadable to the GPU as an instruction set packed into an array of numbers by a host graphics API, represents a computational algorithm, and contains one or more tokens selected by a developer from a list of tokens interpretable by the GPU, said array of numbers for the selected one or more tokens providing an instruction to be performed by at least one computational subunit of the GPU; and a mapping component that maps the unpackaged plurality of algorithmic elements to at least one computational subunit of the GPU according to a pre-defined protocol for interpreting the at least one host graphics API call, thereby readying the GPU to implement the instructions for the tokens selected by the developer so as to perform the functionality represented by the plurality of algorithmic elements based on the developer'"'"'s selection of tokens interpretable by the GPU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A video card comprising:
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a video memory; and a graphics processing unit (GPU) comprising; an interface component that, upon receipt of at least one host graphics application programming interface (API) call, receives and unpackages a plurality of algorithmic elements from the at least one host graphics API call, wherein each algorithmic element is downloadable to the GPU as an instruction set packed into an array of numbers by a host graphics API, represents a computational algorithm, and contains one or more tokens selected by a developer from a list of tokens interpretable by the GPU, said array of numbers for the selected one or more tokens providing an instruction to be performed by at least one computational subunit of the GPU; and a mapping component that maps the unpackaged plurality of algorithmic elements to at least one computational subunit of the GPU according to a pre-defined protocol for interpreting the at least one host graphics API call, thereby readying the GPU to implement the instructions for the tokens selected by the developer so as to perform the functionality represented by the plurality of algorithmic elements based on the developer'"'"'s selection of tokens interpretable by the GPU. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification