Hierarchical depth buffer back annotation

A method comprising:

• performing a plurality of depth tests at a processor, wherein the plurality of depth tests comprises a coarse depth test and a final depth test;
• storing coarse depth data in a coarse depth cache;
• storing per pixel depth data in a per pixel depth cache;
• wherein, in response to a determination that a result of the coarse depth test is ambiguous, operations are to be performed at the processor to:
• read the per pixel depth data from the per pixel depth cache, and
• update the coarse depth data in accordance with intermediate depth data in response to a determination that the intermediate depth data has a smaller depth range than the coarse depth data, wherein the coarse depth test and the final depth test are allowed to interact with the per pixel depth cache to access post-shader data, wherein the final depth test receives the intermediate depth data after performance of pixel shading on the intermediate depth data.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed on at least one processor configure the at least one processor to perform one or more operations to:

• perform a plurality of depth tests at the processor, wherein the plurality of depth tests comprises a coarse depth test and a final depth test;
• store coarse depth data in a coarse depth cache;
• store per pixel depth data in a per pixel depth cache;
• wherein, in response to a determination that a result of the coarse depth test is ambiguous, operations are to be performed at the processor to:
• read the per pixel depth data from the per pixel depth cache, and
• update the coarse depth data in accordance with intermediate depth data in response to a determination that the intermediate depth data has a smaller depth range than the coarse depth data, wherein the coarse depth test and the final depth test are allowed to interact with the per pixel depth cache to access post-shader data, wherein the final depth test is to receive the intermediate depth data after performance of pixel shading on the intermediate depth data.