Method for programmable timeouts of tree traversal mechanisms in hardware

A method implemented by a hardware-based traversal coprocessor coupled to a processor, the method comprising:

• receiving from the processor a first query including first ray information and a second query including second ray information;
• in response to receiving the first query, traversing an acceleration data structure to determine bounding volumes or geometric primitives that the first ray intersects;
• in response to receiving the second query, traversing the acceleration data structure to determine bounding volumes or geometric primitives that second first ray intersects;
• simultaneously monitoring how much the traversal coprocessor is used to traverse the acceleration data structure for the first ray and how much the traversal coprocessor is used to traverse the acceleration data structure for the second ray;
• interrupting the traversal coprocessor in traversing the acceleration data structure for the first ray if an amount the traversal coprocessor is used in traversing the acceleration data structure for the first ray exceeds a first threshold value programmable for the first ray without interrupting the traversal hardware in traversing the acceleration data structure for the second ray;
• and
• interrupting the traversal coprocessor in traversing the acceleration data structure for the second ray if an amount the traversal coprocessor is used in traversing the acceleration data structure for the second ray exceeds a second threshold value programmable for the second ray without interrupting the traversal hardware in traversing the acceleration data structure for the first ray.