Computing system having multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem (MMPGRS) employing real-time automatic scene profiling and mode control
First Claim
1. A computing system comprising:
- CPU memory for storing one or more graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data during the execution of said one or more graphics-based applications;
a CPU for executing said at least one of graphics-based applications during run-time;
a display device for displaying images of a 3D scene containing graphics during the execution of said graphics-based application; and
a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem (MMPGRS) supporting multiple modes of parallel operation and including;
(i) three parallelization stages including a decompose module, a distribute module and a recompose module, and(ii) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) for supporting a graphics rendering process that employs two or more of modes of parallel graphics rendering operation during a single session of said graphics-based application in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data and generate images of said 3D scene for display on said display device;
wherein said GPPLs include a primary GPPL and one or more secondary GPPLs, and wherein each GPPL includes a frame buffer; and
a profiling and control mechanism (PCM) having a profiling and control cycle for automatically and dynamically profiling, on a frame by frame basis, said graphics-based application being executed by said CPU, and controlling the modes of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS during the run-time of said graphics based application;
wherein for each said mode of parallel graphics rendering operation supported by said MMPGRS, said MMPGRS has one state of corresponding operation;
wherein said PCM performs profiling and control functions using multiple data stores, including(i) a historical repository for continuously storing up acquired data having historical depth, for constructing behavioral profile of currently running graphics-based application, and(ii) a behavioral profile database (DB) for storing an application profile library of prior-known graphics-based applications, and enriched by newly created profiles for each said prior-known graphics-based application using data accessed from said historical depository;
wherein said decompose module divides up the stream of graphic commands and data according to the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation determined by said PCM;
wherein said distribute module physically distributes the streams of graphics commands and data to said plurality of GPPLs;
wherein said GPPLs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data and generate partial pixel data sets associated with frames of pixel images to be composited in said MMPGRS;
wherein said recompose module merges together the partial pixel data sets produced from said GPPLs, according to said mode of parallel operation, and producing a final pixel data set within the frame buffer of the primary GPPL, for display on said display device;
wherein said decompose module, said distribute module and said recompose module each have multiple sub-states of operation, and cooperate to early out all functions required by the different modes of parallel graphics rendering operation supported on said MMPGRS;
wherein said PCM controls the sub-states of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules, and interstate transitions thereof; and
wherein each of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules is induced into a sub-state by setting parameters, andwherein the state and thus the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS is established by the combination of sub-states.
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Abstract
A parallel graphics rendering system is embodied within a host computing system and includes a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) and graphics processing modules. The parallel graphics rendering system supports one or more modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division. a plurality of graphic processing pipelines The GPPLs support a parallel graphics rendering process that employs one or more of the object division, image division and/or time division modes of parallel operation in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data, and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the graphics-based application. An automatic mode control module automatically controls the mode of parallel operation of the parallel graphics rendering system during the run-time of the graphics-based application. The graphics processing modules of the parallel graphics rendering system can be embodied within diverse system architectures.
234 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computing system comprising:
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CPU memory for storing one or more graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data during the execution of said one or more graphics-based applications; a CPU for executing said at least one of graphics-based applications during run-time; a display device for displaying images of a 3D scene containing graphics during the execution of said graphics-based application; and a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem (MMPGRS) supporting multiple modes of parallel operation and including; (i) three parallelization stages including a decompose module, a distribute module and a recompose module, and (ii) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) for supporting a graphics rendering process that employs two or more of modes of parallel graphics rendering operation during a single session of said graphics-based application in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data and generate images of said 3D scene for display on said display device; wherein said GPPLs include a primary GPPL and one or more secondary GPPLs, and wherein each GPPL includes a frame buffer; and a profiling and control mechanism (PCM) having a profiling and control cycle for automatically and dynamically profiling, on a frame by frame basis, said graphics-based application being executed by said CPU, and controlling the modes of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS during the run-time of said graphics based application; wherein for each said mode of parallel graphics rendering operation supported by said MMPGRS, said MMPGRS has one state of corresponding operation; wherein said PCM performs profiling and control functions using multiple data stores, including (i) a historical repository for continuously storing up acquired data having historical depth, for constructing behavioral profile of currently running graphics-based application, and (ii) a behavioral profile database (DB) for storing an application profile library of prior-known graphics-based applications, and enriched by newly created profiles for each said prior-known graphics-based application using data accessed from said historical depository; wherein said decompose module divides up the stream of graphic commands and data according to the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation determined by said PCM; wherein said distribute module physically distributes the streams of graphics commands and data to said plurality of GPPLs; wherein said GPPLs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data and generate partial pixel data sets associated with frames of pixel images to be composited in said MMPGRS; wherein said recompose module merges together the partial pixel data sets produced from said GPPLs, according to said mode of parallel operation, and producing a final pixel data set within the frame buffer of the primary GPPL, for display on said display device; wherein said decompose module, said distribute module and said recompose module each have multiple sub-states of operation, and cooperate to early out all functions required by the different modes of parallel graphics rendering operation supported on said MMPGRS; wherein said PCM controls the sub-states of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules, and interstate transitions thereof; and wherein each of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules is induced into a sub-state by setting parameters, and wherein the state and thus the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS is established by the combination of sub-states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification