Virtualization of graphics resources
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJohn Stauffer, Bob Beretta, Ken Dyke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Graphics resources are virtualized through an interface between graphics hardware and graphics clients. The interface allocates the graphics resources across multiple graphics clients, processes commands for access to the graphics resources from the graphics clients, and resolves conflicts for the graphics resources among the clients.
Claims40
A computerized method of virtualizing graphics resources comprising:
- receiving, by a graphics kernel, an allocation request for a graphics resource from a graphics client;
- allocating, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- returning, by the graphics kernel, an address for the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- receiving, by the graphics kernel, a command from the graphics client specifying the address;
- and
- managing, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource.
A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a processing system to perform a method comprising:
- receiving, by a graphics kernel, an allocation request for a graphics resource from a graphics client;
- allocating, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- returning, by the graphics kernel, an address for the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- receiving, by the graphics kernel, a command from the graphics client specifying the address;
- and
- managing, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource.
A processing system comprising:
- a processor coupled to a memory through a bus;
- a graphics processor coupled to the processor through the bus and associated with graphics resources;
- and
- a kernel driver executed by the graphics processor to cause the graphics processor to
- receive an allocation request for a graphics resource from a graphics client,
- allocate the graphics resource to the graphics client,
- return an address for the graphics resource to the graphics client,
- receive a command from the graphics client specifying the address, and
- manage the graphics resource.
A graphics system comprising:
- a graphics processor associated with graphics resources;
- and
- a kernel driver executed by the graphics processor to cause the graphics processor to
- receive an allocation request for a graphics resource from a graphics client,
- allocate the graphics resource to the graphics client,
- return an address for the graphics resource to the graphics client,
- receive a command from the graphics client specifying the address, and
- manage the graphics resource.
An apparatus for virtualizing graphics resources comprising:
- means for receiving, by a graphics kernel, an allocation request for a graphics resource from a graphics client;
- means for allocating, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- means for returning, by the graphics kernel, an address for the graphics resource to the graphics client;
- means for receiving, by the graphics kernel, a command from the graphics client specifying the address;
- and
- means for managing, by the graphics kernel, the graphics resource.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.