Collaborative Multi-User VR Graphics Processing System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current graphics processing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing collaborative multi-user virtual reality environments, particularly in sharing and processing graphics data among multiple users, leading to suboptimal performance and increased computational load.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a collaborative multi-user graphics processing system that utilizes a centralized sharer, depth sharer, shared preprocessor, multi-port graphics subsystem, and decode sharer to identify and share graphics components, distribute workload, and prioritize decoding of overlapped regions, enhancing the efficiency of graphics processing and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If graphics data is processed independently for each user in VR environments, then processing simplicity is maintained, but system resource utilization is low and performance is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegraphics processing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the graphics processing system into specialized functional units: a centralized sharer for managing shared graphics data, depth sharer for depth buffer operations, shared preprocessor for common preprocessing tasks, and decode sharer for video decoding. This segmentation allows each unit to handle specific tasks efficiently while working collaboratively, resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and increased device complexity by organizing complexity into manageable, specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple graphics processing functions into a unified collaborative system where multiple users share common graphics processing resources. The centralized sharer consolidates shared graphics data management, while the depth sharer merges depth buffer operations across users. This merging approach improves system resource utilization and graphics processing efficiency by eliminating redundant processing, directly addressing the productivity improvement goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If all graphics data is processed and transmitted to each user device, then complete visual information is provided, but bandwidth consumption increases and processing load is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a selective copying mechanism where only necessary graphics data is replicated and transmitted to user devices. The centralized sharer identifies shared graphics components that can be commonly referenced, and the decode sharer prioritizes decoding of overlapped regions. This approach provides complete visual information to users while minimizing redundant data transmission and processing, thereby reducing computational load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality optimization by prioritizing the decoding and processing of overlapped regions (areas visible to multiple users) through the decode sharer. This ensures that shared visual content is efficiently processed and transmitted, while user-specific regions receive appropriate processing attention. This localized optimization reduces overall computational load while maintaining complete visual information delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users access shared graphics resources simultaneously, then collaborative VR experience is enabled, but access conflicts occur and performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-user collaboration capabilityVSAvoidaccess stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized sharer as an intermediary component that manages access to shared graphics resources between multiple users. This intermediary coordinates read/write operations, manages shared buffers, and resolves potential access conflicts before data is transmitted to user devices. By placing this mediating layer between resource holders and consumers, the system enables multi-user collaboration while maintaining access stability and preventing performance degradation from concurrent access conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If graphics processing is distributed across multiple independent units, then processing parallelism is achieved, but coordination overhead increases and system complexity grows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparallel processing capabilityVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functional shared processing units that can serve multiple users and multiple graphics processing tasks simultaneously. The centralized sharer, depth sharer, and decode sharer are designed as universal components that handle various operations (rendering, depth testing, video decoding) for multiple users through a unified interface and shared data structures. This universality enables parallel processing across users while minimizing coordination overhead by eliminating the need for separate dedicated processing paths for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3392827B1Collaborative multi-user virtual reality
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 INTEL CORP
  • EP3392827B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3392827B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3392827B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An embodiment of a graphics apparatus may include a processor, memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and a collaboration engine communicatively coupled to the processor to identify a shared graphics component between two or more users in an environment, and share the shared graphics components with the two or more users in the environment. Embodiments of the collaboration engine may include one or more of a centralized sharer, a depth sharer, a shared preprocessor, a multi-port graphics subsystem, and a decode sharer. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.