Depth analyzer and shading rate controller

A system for reducing graphics processing unit load by programmatically controlling shading rates in computer graphics, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• process at a client device at least one graphic command to present a first frame of a computer graphic;
• calculate one or more depth thresholds by analyzing a spatial distribution of depth in a depth buffer associated with the first frame;
• and
• control a shading rate for a second frame of the computer graphic by applying one or more shading rates to one or more screen regions of the second frame based on the one or more depth thresholds.

A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to perform operations for reducing graphics processing unit load by programmatically controlling shading rates in computer graphics, the operations comprising:

• processing at a client device at least one graphic command to present a first frame of a computer graphic;
• calculating one or more depth thresholds by analyzing a spatial distribution of depth in a depth buffer associated with the first frame;
• and
• controlling a shading rate for a second frame of the computer graphic by applying one or more shading rates to one or more screen regions of the second frame based on the one or more depth thresholds.