Multi-mode parallel graphics rendering system (MMPGRS) embodied within a host computing system and employing the profiling of scenes in graphics-based applications

Abstract

Multi-mode parallel graphics rendering system (MMGRPS) embodied within a host computing system and employing the profiling of scenes in a graphics-based application. The MMPGRS supports multiple modes of parallel operation selected from the group consisting of object division, image division, and time division. A plurality of graphic processing pipelines (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 MMPGRS during the run-time of the graphics-based application.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES [0001] The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 897,536 filed Aug. 30, 2007; which is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of the following Applications: U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 789,039 filed Apr. 23, 2007; U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 655,735 filed Jan. 18, 2007, which is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 759,608 filed Jan. 18, 2006; U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 648,160 filed Dec. 31, 2006; U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 386,454 filed Mar. 22, 2006; U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 340,402 filed Jan. 25, 2006, which is based on Provisional Application No. 60 / 647,146 filed Jan. 25, 2005; U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 579,682 filed May 17, 2006, which is a National Stage Entry of International Application No. PCT / IL2004 / 001069 filed Nov. 19, 2004, which is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 523,084 filed Nov. 19, 2003; each said patent application being commonly owned by Lucid Information Technology, Ltd., a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the Object Division (Sort-Last) Method of Parallel Graphics Rendering decomposes the 3D scene (i.e. rendered database) and distributes graphics display list data and commands associated with a portion of the scene to the particular graphics pipeline (i.e. rendering unit), and recombines the partially rendered pixel frames, during recomposition. The geometric database is therefore shared among GPUs, reducing the load on the geometry buffer, the geometry subsystem, and even to some extent, the pixel subsystem. The main concern is how to divide the data in order to keep load balance. An exemplary multiple-GPU platform of FIG. 3B for supporting the object-division method is shown in FIG. 3A. The platform requires complex and costly pixel compositing hardware which prevents its current application in a modern PC-based computer architecture.

[0035] Today, real-time graphics applications, such as advanced video games, are more demanding than ever, utilizing massive textures, abundance of polygons, high depth-complexity, anti-aliasing, multi-pass rendering, etc., with such robustness growing exponentially over time.

Problems solved by technology

This, in turn, causes both computational and buffer contention challenges which slow down the working rate of the graphics system.

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