Memory Allocation for 3-D Graphics Rendering
AssigneeImagination Technologies Limited
InventorMichael John Livesley
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for allocating memory for geometry processing in a 3-D graphics rendering system comprising multiple cores. Geometry processing work is divided up into discrete work-packages, which form an ordered sequence. Cores are assigned different work-packages to process, and make memory allocation requests to enable them to store the results of the processing. Memory allocation requests relating to the current earliest uncompleted work-package in the sequence are treated differently to other requests, and may be prioritised.
Claims20
A method of allocating memory in a system comprising multiple cores, the method comprising:
- obtaining information describing a sequence of work-packages distributed among the multiple cores;
- and
- allocating memory in response to a request from one of the cores to allocate memory, the allocation being at least in part in dependence on determining that the request was received from the core processing the earliest work-package in the sequence that is currently being processed by any one of the cores.
A core configured to allocate memory in a system comprising multiple cores, the core comprising a master unit configured to:
- obtain information describing a sequence of work-packages distributed among the multiple cores;
- and
- allocate memory in response to a request from one of the cores to allocate memory, the allocation being at least in part in dependence on determining that the request was received from the core processing the earliest work-package in the sequence that is currently being processed by any of the cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.