Random accessible lossless parameter data compression for tile based 3D computer graphics systems
AssigneeImagination Technologies Limited
InventorXile Yang
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for compressing vertex parameter data in a 3D computer graphic system, where the vertex parameter data is a data block relating to a plurality of vertices used for rendering an image. The data relating to each vertex includes multiple byte data relating to at least one parameter. The parameters include X, Y and Z coordinates and further coordinates for texturing and shading. The multiple byte data is divided into individual bytes and bytes with corresponding byte positions relating to each vertex are grouped together to form a plurality of byte blocks.
Claims20
A method of compressing vertex parameter data in a 3D computer graphics system, the vertex parameter data comprising data relating to a plurality of vertices, the data relating to each vertex including multiple bytes relating to at least one parameter, the method comprising:
- grouping together individual bytes with corresponding byte significance from the multiple-byte data relating to the plurality of vertices to form a plurality of byte blocks;
- and
- compressing at least one of the byte blocks using a compression algorithm.
Apparatus for compressing vertex parameter data in a 3D computer graphics system, wherein the vertex parameter data comprises data relating to a plurality of vertices, the data relating to each vertex including multiple bytes relating to at least one parameter,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to group together individual bytes with corresponding byte significance from the multiple-byte data relating to the plurality of vertices, to form a plurality of byte blocks;
- wherein the apparatus comprises at least one compression unit configured to compress at least one of the byte blocks using a compression algorithm.
An apparatus for decompressing vertex parameter data in a 3D computer graphics system, the decompressed data relating to each vertex comprising multiple bytes relating to at least one parameter, wherein the compressed vertex parameter data relating to each parameter comprises a plurality of separate byte blocks of compressed data, each byte block containing data relating to individual bytes with corresponding byte significance from the multiple-byte data for a plurality of vertices, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one decompression unit configured to determine a decompression algorithm for each byte block indicated in a header of each byte block and decompress the byte block using the decompression algorithm to provide decompressed byte blocks;
- wherein the apparatus is configured to reassemble the vertex parameter data by merging together the bytes from the decompressed byte blocks relating to each vertex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.