Emulating Graphics Workloads via Pseudo CPU Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing new hardware, such as graphics chips, is cumbersome and cost-prohibitive due to the need for extensive simulation and resource-intensive validation processes, which can take weeks or months and require significant company resources, often making it impractical to configure an entire system for testing.
Innovation Solution
A system that emulates graphics rendering workloads in a device with CPU and GPU using a host computer to control an emulator, where only the graphics hardware is emulated, allowing the host to coordinate execution, manage memory, and initialize graphics hardware, while simulating CPU tasks using pseudo CPU operations and time slicing scheduling to test graphics hardware efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entire system is configured to test new hardware, then testing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the testing system into two parts: the emulator that runs the workload and the host computer that provides control and coordination. This segmentation allows testing to be performed on a simplified device (emulator only) rather than requiring the entire system, thus reducing complexity while maintaining testing accuracy through the host's oversight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses emulation to create a virtual copy of the CPU and its operations. The emulator simulates CPU behavior and workload execution without requiring actual CPU hardware, allowing accurate testing of graphics hardware while avoiding the complexity of configuring and managing complete system hardware.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive simulation is performed to test new hardware, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of running actual hardware simulations with a software-based emulation system. The emulator executes workload binaries and simulates CPU operations in software, which is faster and more flexible than physical hardware simulation, thereby reducing testing time while maintaining validation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the testing system by running the emulator and workload execution at the host computer's native speed rather than simulated hardware speeds. This parameter change accelerates the testing process significantly while still providing accurate validation results through the emulator's faithful reproduction of CPU behavior.
3Reliability
If significant company resources are allocated for simulation, then reliability of testing is improved, but loss of energy and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the host computer perform multiple functions: it controls the emulator, coordinates workload execution, manages memory operations, and validates results. This multi-functionality consolidates resources that would otherwise be distributed across multiple dedicated systems, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining testing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulator is designed to be self-contained, with its own memory and execution environment. It independently executes workload binaries and generates results, requiring minimal external resources. The host computer only provides necessary coordination and control, significantly reducing the energy and computational resources needed compared to full system simulations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for testing graphics hardware may include reading content of a selected capture file from a plurality of capture files. The methods and devices may include transferring content from the selected capture file to an emulator memory of an emulator separate from the computer device. The methods and devices may include executing at least one pseudo central processing unit (pseudo CPU) operation to coordinate the execution of work on a graphics processing unit (GPU) of the emulator using the content from the selected capture file to test the GPU. The methods and devices may include receiving and store rendered image content from the emulator when the work is completed.