Subshader mechanism for programming language
US7463259B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T15/50
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphics processing subsystem is programmed with shader programs that make calls to an abstract interface. One or more subshaders implementing the functions of the abstract interface can also be defined. The binding of interfaces to functions is resolved by a language runtime module that compiles the subshaders. As shader programs are compiled, the runtime module determines whether each method call is associated with an interface function. For each interface method call, the runtime module determines the appropriate implementation of the interface to be bound to the method call. Once the appropriate implementation is identified, the interface binding is created using string substitution or indirect addressing instructions. At the time of compilation, which may be during the execution of the rendering application, the desired combinations of subshaders are specified and compiled into a combined shader program, which can then be executed by the graphics processing subsystem.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.