Indirect Draw Fetch Accelerator for Low-Latency Graphics Queues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional draw indirect fetching methods in graphics processing suffer from inefficiencies due to unsynchronized fetches, leading to memory bottlenecks, latency, and reduced processing throughput, particularly in cases of multiple independent fetches and pipeline resets.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fetch accelerator that independently fetches data structures indicated by a pre-fetch processor, eliminating redundant requests and synchronizing data access for micro engines, allowing for aligned or unaligned data structures to be processed with equivalent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple independent fetches are used for pre-fetch processor and micro engine processor, then data can be fetched in parallel, but memory bandwidth is exceeded and bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent fetch operations into a single unified fetch request. The pre-fetch processor and micro engine processor share a common fetch buffer, allowing them to coordinate their data requests and merge multiple fetch operations into one, thereby reducing memory bandwidth consumption while maintaining parallel processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The fetch buffer is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a shared resource for both the pre-fetch processor and micro engine processor, enabling a single fetch operation to satisfy data requirements of multiple processing units simultaneously, thus optimizing memory bandwidth utilization.
2Ease of operation
If separate fetch operations are performed for pre-fetch processor and micro engine processor, then each processor can access data independently, but processing latency increases due to redundant fetches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary coordination mechanism where the pre-fetch processor and micro engine processor communicate their data requirements in advance through a shared fetch buffer. This allows the system to prepare and coordinate fetch operations beforehand, eliminating redundant fetches and reducing processing latency while preserving independent data access capabilities.
3Reliability
If conventional draw indirect fetching is used with indirect buffers, then system security and reliability are enhanced, but processing throughput is reduced due to fetch bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fetch operations of multiple processing units into a single coordinated request, reducing the total number of memory access operations. This maintains the security benefits of indirect buffering while eliminating the throughput penalties associated with multiple independent fetches, as the merged fetch operation reduces memory bandwidth consumption and bottlenecks.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for implementing accelerated draw indirect fetching are disclosed. A fetch accelerator enables streamlined data fetching by looping internally and filling a draw queue for a micro engine. By using a dedicated fetch accelerator rather than processing data fetches separately and individually using a conventional processor, significant processing overhead is eliminated and computational latency is reduced. Additionally, different types of aligned or unaligned data structures are usable with equivalent or nearly equivalent performance.