Meshlet Compression and Parallel Decompression for Geometry Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Graphics processing units (GPUs) in computing devices face limitations due to restricted memory and bandwidth, particularly in mobile devices, which affect the rendering of detailed geometric models, leading to increased power consumption and computational overheads in streaming geometry over networks.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing meshes into groups of primitives, compressing them into compressed primitives with random access, storing and transmitting these groups, and decompressing them in parallel for rendering, utilizing mesh shaders to render directly from a compressed representation, optimizing memory usage and locality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If geometry is streamed over networks, then rendering capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The geometry is divided into independent meshlets that can be streamed and processed separately. Each meshlet is a self-contained unit with its own vertex buffer and index buffer, allowing selective streaming of only the necessary portions of geometry rather than the entire model, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining rendering capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Geometry is compressed into a compact representation before streaming. The compression process creates a condensed format that reduces the amount of data to be transmitted and processed, enabling faster streaming operations and lower power consumption while preserving the essential geometric information needed for rendering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed geometric models are rendered, then visual quality is improved, but memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidmemory requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The geometry is transformed from a detailed representation into a compressed representation with reduced data size. The compression process modifies the parameter storage efficiency, allowing detailed geometric models to be stored and processed with significantly reduced memory requirements while maintaining visual quality through intelligent compression algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple levels of geometry representation are nested within each other. The compressed format allows for hierarchical storage where coarser approximations can be stored within the structure of detailed models, enabling memory-efficient loading of geometry at different levels of detail based on current rendering requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Loss of substance

If geometry is compressed, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compression and decompression processes use standardized algorithms that create efficient data representations. The compressed format is designed to be decomposed back into usable geometry through well-defined processes, balancing the reduction in bandwidth consumption with manageable processing complexity through established compression techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The compressed format serves as an intermediary between the detailed geometry and the rendering pipeline. This intermediate representation reduces bandwidth requirements during transmission while maintaining sufficient information for accurate rendering, acting as a bridge that balances compression benefits with processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Speed

If meshlets are decompressed in parallel, then rendering speed is improved, but memory access requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering speedVSAvoidmemory access requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parallel decomposition of meshlets is enabled by segmenting the geometry into independent units. Each meshlet can be decompressed simultaneously without interfering with others, improving rendering speed. The segmentation also allows for optimized memory access patterns where each meshlet's data is processed locally, reducing overall memory access complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compression scheme organizes data in a way that enables parallel processing across multiple dimensions. The compressed format structures information to allow simultaneous access and decompression of multiple meshlets, transforming sequential processing into parallel operations and improving rendering speed while managing memory access requirements through structured data organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12567209B2Compressed geometry rendering and streaming
Publication Date: 2026.03.03 QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US12567209B2 patent drawing
  • US12567209B2 patent drawing
  • US12567209B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for graphics processing. The apparatus may identify at least one mesh associated with at least one frame. The apparatus may also divide the at least one mesh into a plurality of groups of primitives, each of the plurality of groups of primitives including at least one primitive and a plurality of vertices. The apparatus may also compress the plurality of groups of primitives into a plurality of groups of compressed primitives, the plurality of groups of compressed primitives being associated with random access. Additionally, the apparatus may decompress the plurality of groups of compressed primitives, at least one first group of the plurality of groups of compressed primitives being decompressed in parallel with at least one second group of the plurality of groups of compressed primitives.