Contiguously packed data
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorsMichael J.M. Toksvig, Justin Michael Mahan, Christopher L. Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Data for data elements (e.g., pixels) can be stored in an addressable storage unit that can store a number of bits that is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Similarly, a number of the data elements can be transferred per unit of time over a bus, where the width of the bus is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Data for none of the data elements is stored in more than one of the storage units or transferred in more than one unit of time. Also, data for multiple data elements is packaged contiguously in the storage unit or across the width of the bus.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of managing data, said method comprising:
- accessing data for a plurality of discrete data elements, wherein each of said data elements comprises a first number of bits of data;
- and
- storing said data in a memory comprising a plurality of addressable storage units, each of said storage units comprising a contiguous segment of a second number of bits that is not a whole number multiple of said first number of bits, wherein data for none of said data elements is stored in more than one of said storage units, and wherein data for multiple data elements is stored contiguously in an addressable storage unit.
A computer-implemented method of managing data, said method comprising:
- accessing data for a plurality of discrete data elements, wherein each of said data elements comprises a first number of bits of data;
- and
- storing said data in a cache comprising a plurality of cache lines, each of said cache lines capable of storing a second number of bits that is not a whole number multiple of said first number of bits, wherein data for none of said data elements is stored in more than one of said cache lines, and wherein data for multiple data elements is stored contiguously in a cache line.
A computer-implemented method of managing data, said method comprising:
- accessing data for a plurality of discrete data elements, wherein each of said data elements comprises a first number of bits of data;
- and
- transferring a number of said data elements per unit of time over a bus, wherein said bus is capable of transferring a second number of bits per said unit of time, wherein said second number is not a whole number multiple of said first number of bits, wherein data for none of said data elements is transferred in more than one said unit of time, and wherein data for multiple data elements is packaged contiguously in said bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.