Graphics processing unit memory usage reduction

A method for reducing the amount of memory consumed by a graphics processing unit having an associated memory in a system involving a first processing unit having an associated memory, the method comprising:

• performing a data collection process on one or more of the graphical resources stored in the memory associated with the first processing unit as the one or more graphical resources are read from the memory associated with the first processing unit and stored in the memory associated with the graphics processing unit;
• building a data record based on information collected during the data collection process;
• determining whether one or more of the graphical resources are to be compressed prior to loading into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit based on the data record;
• compressing the one or more graphical resources identified to be loaded into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit in the compressed state;
• loading compressed graphical resources into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit based on the data record;
• and
• performing a compression quality process on one or more of the graphical resources.

A memory usage reduction system comprising:

• a first processing unit having an associated memory and a graphics processing unit having an associated memory, wherein the first processing unit is in communication with the graphics processing unit, wherein the first processing unit and the graphics processing unit have software or one or more circuits for:
• performing a data collection process on one or more of the graphical resources stored in the memory associated with the first processing unit as the one or more graphical resources are read from the memory associated with the first processing unit and stored in the memory associated with the graphics processing unit;
• building a data record based on information collected during the data collection process;
• determining whether one or more of the graphical resources are to be compressed prior to loading into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit based on the data record;
• compressing the one or more graphical resources identified to be loaded into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit in the compressed state;
• and
• loading compressed graphical resources into the memory associated with the graphics processing unit based on the data record.

A memory usage reduction system in a virtualized environment comprising:

• a server having a central processing unit with a system memory, a graphics processing unit with a video memory and a network interface, wherein the central processing unit is in communication with the graphics processing unit, and wherein the central processing unit executes virtualization software to concurrently run a plurality of virtual machines, each virtual machine having a virtual operating system for running one or more applications;
• a plurality of client devices in communication with the server over a communication network such that a first virtual machine corresponds to a first client device and a second virtual machine corresponds to a second client device, wherein each of the client devices has a network interface, a display, and one or more user input devices;
• and
• wherein the central processing unit or the graphics processing unit compresses graphical resources associated with the one or more applications and loads the compressed graphical resources into the video memory.