Graphics interface processing methodology in symmetric multiprocessing or distributed network environments
US5818469A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T1/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and implementing multiprocessor computer system 200 in which graphics applications 101 are executed in conjunction with a graphics interface 103 to graphics hardware 115. The methodology is also applicable to an implementing distributed network system. A master thread 105, or master node in a distributed network system, receives commands from a graphics application 101 and assembles 313 the commands into workgroups with an associated workgroup control block 315 and a synchronization tag 317. For each workgroup, the master thread flags changes in the associated workgroup control block. At the end of each workgroup, the master thread copies the changed attributes into the associated workgroup control block 319. The workgroup control blocks are scanned 403 by the rendering threads, or rendering node in a distributed network system, and unprocessed workgroups are locked 406, and the rendering threads attribute state is updated 413 from the previous workgroup control blocks. Once the rendering thread has updated its attributes, it has the necessary state to independently process the workgroup, thus allowing parallel execution. A synchronizer thread reorders the graphics datastr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.