Method for context switching a graphics accelerator comprising multiple rendering pipelines
US6952214B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2210/52
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphics system comprising a plurality of rendering pipelines and a scheduling network. Each rendering pipeline couples to the scheduling network, and includes a media processor, a rendering unit and a memory. A communication bus may couple the scheduling network and the memory of each rendering pipeline. The media processor in each rendering pipeline may direct the saving of state information of the corresponding rendering pipeline to the corresponding memory in response to receiving a corresponding context switch indication. A first of the media processors initiates the transfer of a resume token to the scheduling network through the corresponding rendering pipeline if the context switch occurs during an ordered processing mode. The scheduling network unblocks one or more rendering pipelines other than the first rendering pipeline in response to receiving the resume token.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.