Tile Compression for Multi-Sampled Anti-Aliasing Color Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional graphics processing applications face challenges with large memory requirements for color data storage and slow data transfer from memory to the graphics processor, particularly in multi-sampled anti-aliasing applications, where the number of samples per pixel increases data demands significantly.
Innovation Solution
A compression scheme that groups adjacent pixels into tiles, storing color values in a compressed format with pointers, taking advantage of sample-to-sample correlation, reduces memory usage and enables efficient data transfer by allowing the graphics processor to process tiles in their compressed form without decompression, using a Tile Format Table to manage compression formats and optimize processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multi-sampled anti-aliasing is used to improve image quality, then the visual quality is improved, but the memory requirements and data transfer time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image data into tiles of adjacent pixels, where each tile is processed and stored independently. This segmentation allows the system to manage large amounts of multi-sampled anti-aliased data by breaking it into smaller, manageable units that can be compressed and transferred more efficiently, thus reducing overall memory requirements while preserving image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage parameter from uncompressed color data to compressed color data using a compression scheme that exploits sample-to-sample correlation. By transforming the data representation from raw multi-sampled color values to compressed formats with pointers, the system significantly reduces memory requirements while maintaining the anti-aliased image quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If multi-sampled anti-aliasing increases the number of samples per pixel, then the anti-aliasing quality is improved, but the data transfer time from memory to processor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs compression of the color data in advance, before the data needs to be transferred to the graphics processor. By pre-compressing the multi-sampled anti-aliased data into tiles with compressed color formats, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred, thereby decreasing transfer time while preserving the anti-aliasing quality achieved through multiple samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the data parameter from uncompressed to compressed format, changing the data representation to reduce its size. This parameter change enables faster data transfer from memory to processor by reducing the bandwidth requirements, thus decreasing transfer time while maintaining the anti-aliasing quality.
3Ease of operation
If color data is stored in uncompressed format, then the data can be processed directly, but the memory usage and bandwidth requirements are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the data parameter from uncompressed to compressed format, transforming the color data into a more compact representation that reduces memory usage. The compression scheme maintains processing capability by using pointer-based references that can be efficiently decoded during graphics processing, thus balancing memory efficiency with operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a compression scheme that creates a compressed copy of the color data with reduced redundancy. By copying only the essential color information and using pointers to reference repeated color values, the system reduces memory usage while maintaining the ability to process the data effectively during graphics rendering.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a scheme for compressing the color components of image data, and in particular, data used in multi-sampled anti-aliasing applications. Adjacent pixels are grouped into rectangular tiles, with the sample colors stored in compressed formats accessible via an encoded pointer. In one embodiment, duplicate colors are stored once. Unlike prior compression schemes that rely on pixel to pixel correlation, the present invention takes advantages of the sample to sample correlation that exists within the pixels. A memory and graphics processor configuration incorporating the tile compression schemes is also provided. The configuration defines the tile sizes in main memory and cache memory. In one embodiment, graphics processor relies on a Tile Format Table (TFT) to process incoming tiles in compressed formats. The present invention reduces memory consumption and speeds up essential and oft-repeated operations in rendering. Thus it is valuable in the design and manufacture of graphic sub-systems.