Subpass Interleaving for Tiled Image Rendering Latency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In graphics processing, the sequential execution of subpasses in a graphics pipeline introduces latency and inefficiency due to waiting periods for previously ordered subpasses to complete, leading to idle processor time and increased frame latency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves interleaving the execution of same subpasses across multiple tiles or bins, allowing subsequent subpasses to utilize the time previously spent waiting for earlier subpasses to finish, thereby reducing latency and improving processor utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If subpasses are executed sequentially in the graphics pipeline, then the execution order is simple and easy to manage, but latency increases and processor idle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame rendering process into multiple independent tiles, allowing subpasses to be executed in an interleaved manner across different tiles rather than sequentially within a single tile. This segmentation enables parallel execution of subpasses from different tiles, reducing processor idle time and frame latency while maintaining manageable execution complexity through systematic tile-based organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by preparing and staging subpass commands for multiple tiles in advance, organizing them in a command buffer with proper synchronization barriers. This preliminary organization allows the graphics processor to efficiently execute subpasses in an interleaved pattern without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus reducing latency while keeping execution management simple.
2Device complexity
If subpasses are executed sequentially, then resource allocation is simple, but processor utilization is low due to idle waiting periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by interleaving subpass execution across multiple tiles, ensuring the processor continuously executes useful work without idle waiting periods. While one tile waits for a subpass to complete, the processor executes subpasses for other tiles, maintaining continuous utilization. This is achieved through systematic organization of subpass commands in a command buffer with appropriate synchronization, keeping resource allocation simple while dramatically improving processor productivity.
3Device complexity
If subpasses are executed in order, then data dependency is easily managed, but overall rendering speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential subpass execution within a single tile to a two-dimensional execution space across multiple tiles. By organizing subpasses in a tile matrix and executing them in an interleaved pattern across tiles, the system maintains data dependency management simplicity through systematic tile-based organization while achieving parallel execution that significantly increases overall rendering speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods method of tiled rendering are provided which comprises dividing a frame to be rendered, into a plurality of tiles, receiving commands to execute a plurality of subpasses of the tiles, interleaving execution of same subpasses of multiple tiles of the frame by executing one or more subpasses as skip operations, storing visibility data, for subsequently ordered subpasses of the tiles, at memory addresses allocated for data of corresponding adjacent tiles in a first direction of traversal and rendering the tiles for the subsequently ordered subpasses using the visibility data stored at the memory addresses allocated for corresponding adjacent tiles in a second direction of traversal, opposite the first direction of traversal.


