Computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem supporting single-GPU non-parallel (multi-threading) and multi-GPU application-division parallel modes of graphics processing operation

• US 9,275,430 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucidlogix Technologies Ltd. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakalash, Reuven
• Primary Examiner(s): Merouan, Abderrahim
• Application Number:
  US12/985,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 345501-506, 382/304, 718102-108, 712 32- 34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/08 Power processing, i.e. workload management for processors involved in display operations, such as CPUs or GPUs
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2088 with use of a plurality of processors, each processor controlling a number of individual elements of the matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

A computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem supporting single-GPU non-parallel (i.e. multi-tasking) and multi-GPU parallel application-division modes of graphics processing operations, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD) render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications, while managing and conserving electrical power and graphics processing resources. An automatic mode control module (AMCM) analyzes the application profiles assigned to graphics applications running on the computing system, and automatically controls the mode of operation of the multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem during the run-time of the multiple graphics-based applications.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem having at least one internal GPU and at least one discrete external GPU, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD) and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during a run-time of a graphics-based application;

an automatic mode control module (AMCM) to automatically control the selection of either the at least one external GPU or the at least one internal GPU of said multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

wherein said AMCM comprises a database to store graphic application profiles (APDB) associated with said graphics-based application, and verifies said stored (APDB) during run times of said graphic-based application to update said stored application profiles for successive runs;

wherein said AMCM estimates a graphics load associated with said graphics-based application by analyzing said APDB real-time and directs low graphics load applications to the at least one internal GPU and high graphics load applications to one of;

the at least one external GPU or the at least one external GPU and the at least one internal GPU; and

wherein for an unknown graphics based application that has not been previously profiled for graphic processing requirements, said AMCM automatically reads the initialization header of said graphics based application to determine whether the said unknown graphics based application is a low graphics based application or a high graphics based application, and based on such determination automatically sends the graphics commands and data (GCAD), associated with said unknown graphics based application to said at least one internal GPU or the said at least one discrete GPU.

2. The computing device of claim 1 wherein said multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem can automatically and periodically download, over the Internet, APDB for storage and use within said AMCM database.

3. The computing device of claim 2 wherein by enabling the automatic download of APDB into said AMCM database, a user can enjoy high performance graphics on said display device.

4. The computing device of claim 1 wherein said APDB includes 3D application initialization parameters.

5. The computing device of claim 4 wherein said 3D application initialization parameters comprise any one or more of an anti-aliasing and a resolution.

6. The computing device of claim 1 comprising a mobile computing device.

7. The computing device of claim 1 comprising a desktop personal computer.

8. The computing device of claim 1 wherein said AMCM database comprises two lists for storing said APDB.

9. The computing device of claim 8 wherein one of said two lists comprises a first list of all APDB having light graphics processing load requirements.

10. The computing device of claim 9 wherein said second list of APDB is designated for processing by said at least one discrete GPU.

11. The computing device of claim 8 wherein one of said two lists comprises a second list of all APDB having high graphics processing load requirements.

12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one discrete external GPU comprises two or more discrete external GPUs, the subsystem supporting single external GPU non-parallel and multi-external GPU parallel modes of graphics processing and wherein the AMCM selects one of the parallel or non-parallel processing modes in addition to, optionally, processing by the internal GPU;

and

wherein said AMCM estimates a graphics load associated with said graphics-based application by analyzing said APDB real-time and directs low graphics load applications to the at least one internal GPU and high graphics load applications to one of;

two or more external GPUs or two or more external GPUs and the at least one internal GPU.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one external GPU includes two or more external GPUs and wherein the AMCM is enabled to control selection of the two or more external GPUs as well as the at least one internal GPU;

and

wherein said AMCM estimates a graphics load associated with said graphics-based application by analyzing said APDB real-time and directs low graphics load applications to the at least one internal GPU and high graphics load applications to one of the two or more external GPUs or at least one of the two or more external GPUs and the at least one internal GPU.

14. A processor chip comprising:

at least one internal GPU, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD), and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during a run-time of a graphics-based application;

at least one CPU (central processing unit) including an automatic mode control module (AMCM) to automatically balance a graphics load between said at least one internal GPU and at least one external GPU during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

wherein said AMCM comprises a database to store graphic application profiles (APDB) associated with said graphics-based application, and verifies said stored APDB during run times of said graphic-based application to update said stored application profiles for successive runs;

wherein said AMCM estimates a graphics load associated with said graphics-based application by analyzing said APDB real-time and directs low graphics load applications to the at least one internal GPU and high graphics load applications to one of;

the at least one external GPU or the at least one external GPU and the at least one internal GPU; and

wherein for an unknown graphics based application that has not been previously profiled for graphic processing requirements, said AMCM automatically reads the initialization header of said graphics based application to determine whether the said unknown graphics based application is a low graphics load application or a high graphic load application, and based on such determination, automatically sends the graphics commands and data (GCAD) associated with said unknown graphics based application to said at least one internal GPU or the said at least one discrete GPU or to the at least one external GPU and the at least one internal GPU.

15. The processor chip of claim 14 wherein said AMCM comprises a database for storing said APDB associated with said graphics-based application.

16. The processor chip of claim 15 wherein said APDB are downloaded over the Internet for use by said AMCM.

17. The processor chip of claim 14 wherein said APDB includes 3D application initialization parameters.

18. The processor chip of claim 14 wherein said 3D application initialization parameters comprise any one or more of an anti-aliasing and a resolution.

19. A computing device comprising:

a multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem having at least two external GPUs and supporting single external GPU non-parallel and multi-external GPU application-division parallel modes of graphics processing, in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data (GCAD) and render pixel-composited images containing graphics for display on a display device during a run-time of a graphics-based applications;

an automatic mode control module (AMCM) to automatically control the selection of one or more external GPUs of said multi-GPU graphics processing and display subsystem during the run-time of said graphics-based applications;

wherein said AMCM comprises a database to store graphic application profiles (APDB) associated with said graphics-based application, and verifies said stored APDB during run times of said graphic-based application to update said stored application profiles for successive runs;

wherein said AMCM estimates a graphics load associated with said graphics-based application by analyzing said APDB real-time and direct low graphics load application to a single external GPU and high graphics load applications to the at least two external GPUs; and

wherein for an unknown graphics based application that has not been previously profiled for graphic processing requirements, said AMCM automatically reads the initialization header of said graphics based application to determine whether the said unknown graphics based application is a low graphics load based application or a high graphics load application, and based on such determination, automatically sends the graphics commands and data (GCAD) associated with said unknown graphics based application to a single discrete GPU or to the at least two external GPUs.