Application binary interface for multi-pass shaders

Abstract

An application binary interface includes a descriptor specifying a binary shader for each pass of a multi-pass shader. The application binary interface also includes a graphics state of a graphics object for each pass of the multi-pass shader. The graphics state for the first pass is an initial graphics state of the graphics object. The graphics state for each subsequent pass specifies a change from the graphics state of a previous pass. The application binary interface further includes parameters for the binary shaders. The application binary interface links the binary shaders together based on the parameters. Further, the parameters of the binary shaders may be modified at run time to configure the multi-pass shader. The binary shader of each pass is then executed based on the graphics state and parameters of the pass to render the graphics object.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to computer graphics. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods of controlling precompiled computer programs in computer graphics systems. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] Prior art computer graphics systems typically execute an application program, such as a computer video game program, to generate graphics images for display on a computer screen. One type of prior art computer graphics system includes an on-line compiler. In this type of computing system, the computer graphics system compiles portions of the application program while executing other portions of the application program in real time. In this way, a first portion of the application program executing in the computer graphics system can provide run time parameters for compiling a second portion of the application program. [0005] In some situations, a portion of the application program written specific...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] An application binary interface addresses the need for simplifying the task of programming a multi-pass shader. Further, the application binary interface addresses the need for a precompiled multi-pass shader that is configurable at run time. For each pass of a multi-pass shader, the application binary interface specifies a binary shader, one or more parameters for the binary shader, and a graphics state. The graphics state for a first pass specifies an initial graphics state of a graphics object, and the graphics state of each subsequent pass specifies a change from the graphics state of a previous pass. The parameters link the binary shaders together so that a binary shader of a given pass can use a result generated by a binary shader of a previous pass. The binary application interface simplifies the task of programming the multi-pass shader by specifying the binary shaders, parameters for the binary shaders, and graphics states for the multi-pass shader in a binary file.

Problems solved by technology

Including a compiler in the computer graphics system, however, increases the cost and complexity of the graphics computer system.

Precompiling the application program avoids the need for an on-line compiler but may complicate portions of the application program written specifically for graphics hardware in the computer graphics system.

Consequently, some compilers cannot compile these application programs for these computer graphics systems.

Consequently, the shader (i.e., the precompiled shader) is not configurable at run time, which may complicate the task of programming the shader.

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