Graphics Processor Task-Level Dependency Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphics processing systems face inefficiencies due to strict processing barriers between rendering jobs, leading to underutilization of processing cores and potential deadlocks when switching between applications or sequences of rendering jobs with data dependencies.
Innovation Solution
Implement a mechanism within the graphics processor to manage data dependencies at the task level, allowing concurrent processing of rendering tasks across different cores while ensuring dependencies are enforced, and provide controlled suspend and resume operations for seamless transitions between job sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strict processing barriers are enforced between rendering jobs to ensure data dependency correctness, then processing reliability is improved, but processing core utilization deteriorates due to idle cores waiting for previous jobs to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments rendering jobs into individual rendering tasks that can be independently scheduled and executed. By dividing the work at the task level rather than job level, the system can enforce data dependencies between jobs while allowing concurrent execution of independent tasks across multiple cores, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic scheduling where the graphics processor dynamically determines which rendering tasks can execute based on current data dependency status. This dynamic approach allows the system to maximize core utilization by executing available tasks while maintaining correctness by preventing execution of tasks that depend on incomplete previous jobs
2Productivity
If rendering tasks for later jobs are issued concurrently with earlier jobs to improve core utilization, then productivity is improved, but processing complexity increases due to need for fine-grained dependency management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary data structures (such as task completion status arrays and dependency tracking mechanisms) that mediate between concurrent rendering tasks and data dependencies. These intermediaries automatically track completion status and enforce dependencies, reducing the complexity burden on the scheduling system while enabling concurrent execution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where rendering tasks automatically register their dependencies and the system automatically manages their execution order. This self-managing approach reduces external control complexity while enabling sophisticated concurrent execution with proper dependency enforcement
3Adaptability or versatility
If processing is suspended mid-execution to switch between applications or job sequences, then adaptability is improved, but deadlocks may occur due to held locks and incomplete task states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by tracking and managing task completion status before suspension occurs. The system maintains accurate state information about which tasks have completed and which are in progress, enabling safe suspension and resumption operations that prevent deadlocks by ensuring proper lock release and state consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor task execution state and provide information to the suspension/resumption control logic. This feedback enables the system to make informed decisions about safe suspension points and proper resumption procedures, preventing deadlocks while maintaining adaptability for application switching
Data Source
AI summary
When generating a sequence of render outputs using a graphics processor, the completion status of rendering tasks from different render outputs is tracked so that processing tasks for later render outputs in the sequence of outputs can be processed concurrently with processing tasks for earlier render outputs in the sequence of outputs whilst ensuring that any dependencies between the rendering tasks for the different render outputs are enforced. In particular, there is disclosed a mechanism for suspending the sequence of rendering jobs (so that it may subsequently be resumed).