Method of and apparatus for processing graphics

An apparatus for rendering a group of graphics primitives for display in a graphics processing system that includes a plurality of geometry processors, the apparatus comprising:

• index allocation circuitry configured to allocate an index to each primitive in a group of primitives;
• primitive distributing circuitry configured to distribute the primitives from a group of primitives across multiple geometry processors of the graphics processing system;
• primitive group recombining circuitry configured to recombine a group of primitives that have been processed in the geometry processors into a single stream of primitives using the indices allocated to the primitives;
• rendering circuitry configured to render primitives from the stream of primitives;
• and
• a display operable to display the rendered primitives.

A method of operating a graphics processing system in which a scene to be rendered is divided into a plurality of sub-regions for rendering, each sub-region including a respective area of the scene to be rendered, the method comprising:

• preparing lists of primitives for rendering, each list of primitives listing primitives for rendering for one or more sub-regions of the scene;
• generating indices for primitives that are included in the primitive lists;
• and
• associating with each graphics primitive that is listed in a primitive list, an index for the primitive;
• the method further comprising:
• when rendering a sub-region of the scene, selecting from a primitive list a next primitive to be rendered for that sub-region of the scene;
• wherein the primitive selection step uses plural different primitive lists simultaneously and selects the next primitive to render for a sub-region of the scene from one of the plural primitive lists using the indices associated with the graphics primitives in the primitive lists. 15

A method of rendering a group of graphics primitives for display in a graphics processing system, comprising:

• allocating an index to each primitive in the group of primitives;
• distributing the primitives from the group of primitives across multiple geometry processors of the graphics processing system;
• processing the primitives in the geometry processors;
• recombining the primitives that have been processed in the geometry processors into a single stream of primitives using the indices allocated to the primitives;
• rendering primitives from the stream of primitives;
• and
• displaying the rendered primitives. 10

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, said storage medium storing computer software code which, when implemented on a graphics processing system, performs a method of operating a graphics processing system in which a scene to be rendered is divided into a plurality of sub-regions for rendering, each sub-region including a respective area of the scene to be rendered, the method comprising:

• preparing lists of primitives for rendering, each list of primitives listing primitives for rendering for one or more sub-regions of the scene;
• generating indices for primitives that are included in the primitive lists;
• and
• associating with each graphics primitive that is listed in a primitive list, an index for the primitive;
• the method further comprising:
• when rendering a sub-region of the scene, selecting from a primitive list a next primitive to be rendered for that sub-region of the scene;
• wherein the primitive selection step uses plural different primitive lists simultaneously and selects the next primitive to render for a sub-region of the scene from one of the plural primitive lists using the indices associated with the graphics primitives in the primitive lists.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, said storage medium storing computer software code which, when implemented on a graphics processing system, performs a method of rendering a group of graphics primitives for display in a graphics processing system, comprising:

• allocating an index to each primitive in the group of primitives;
• distributing the primitives from the group of primitives across multiple geometry processors of the graphics processing system;
• processing the primitives in the geometry processors;
• recombining the primitives that have been processed in the geometry processors into a single stream of primitives using the indices allocated to the primitives;
• rendering primitives from the stream of primitives;
• and
• displaying the rendered primitives.