Dynamic Shader Constant Update via Micro-code Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mechanisms for dynamic input to graphics processing units (GPUs) incur CPU and GPU penalties due to recompilation of shaders, leading to inefficiencies in updating shader behavior during execution.

Innovation Solution

Embedding updated constants in a micro-code block and streaming it to the shader program with a jump instruction to implement changes without recompilation, allowing for dynamic updates without recompiling the kernel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If shaders are recompiled with updated data, then the shader behavior can be dynamically altered, but CPU and GPU performance penalties occur due to recompilation overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic input capabilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shader program is segmented into a static compiled portion and a dynamic constant portion. The constants are extracted as separate updateable entities that can be modified without recompiling the entire shader, thus enabling dynamic input while avoiding recompilation overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Constants are extracted from the shader program into separate updateable entities. This extraction allows the constants to be updated independently through a micro-code block mechanism, eliminating the need to recompile the entire shader when constants change

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If recompilation is performed to provide dynamic input, then updated data can be incorporated, but both CPU tracking and recompiling overhead and GPU instruction cache misses occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic data updatingVSAvoidrecompilation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Constants are pre-extracted and organized into updateable entities during shader compilation. This preliminary organization enables rapid constant updates without requiring full recompilation, as the constants are already structured for efficient updating through micro-code blocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of recompiling the entire shader, only the constant values are updated and copied into the executing shader context. The micro-code block mechanism copies updated constant values without triggering a full recompilation process, significantly reducing update time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11461954B2Dynamic constant update mechanism

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An apparatus to facilitate an update of shader data constants. The apparatus includes one or more processors to detect a change to one or more data constants in a shader program, generate a micro-code block including updated constants data during execution of the shader program and transmit the micro-code block to the shader program.