Multi-instruction stream processor
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTimothy Merrick Long, Ian Gibson, Christopher Amies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention discloses apparatus for, and a method of, rendering image data prior to outputting of the resulting image. A graphics co-processor (224) is utilized together with a host CPU (202), the former having a plurality of data calculation streams (241, 242, 243) arranged in parallel fashion. Only one of the data calculation streams (241, 242, 243) is operated at any one time. Preferably at least one (242) of the data calculation streams is able to be reconfigured.
Claims24
A method of rendering image data, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a plurality of instruction streams;
- and
- executing instructions one at a time within a graphics co-processor,
- wherein the graphics co-processor comprises one or more reconfigurable units for executing the instructions, and
- wherein said executing step comprises the sub-steps of:
- (a) determining one instruction stream from the plurality of instruction streams in accordance with a priority and one or more predefined priority rules;
- (b) fetching an instruction not previously fetched from the determined instruction stream;
- (c) decoding the fetched instruction;
- (d) reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable units in accordance with the decoded fetched instruction;
- (e) executing the decoded fetched instruction;
- and
- (f) repeating the sub-steps (a) through (e).
Apparatus adapted for rendering image data, said apparatus comprising:
- a graphics co-processor for accessing and executing instructions of a plurality of instruction streams, said graphics co-processor comprising:
- one or more reconfigurable units;
- a unit for determining one instruction stream from the plurality of instruction streams in accordance with a current priority and one or more predefined priority rules;
- a unit for fetching an instruction not previously fetched from the determined instruction stream;
- a unit for decoding the fetched instruction;
- and
- a unit for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable units in accordance with the decoded instruction,
- wherein each reconfigurable unit is adapted to execute the decoded instruction.
Apparatus adapted for rendering image data, said apparatus comprising:
- a host processor for generating a plurality of instruction streams;
- and
- a graphics co-processor for accessing and executing the instructions of the plurality of instruction streams, said graphics co-processor comprising:
- one or more reconfigurable units;
- a unit for determining one instruction stream from the plurality of instruction streams in accordance with a current priority and one or more predefined priority rules;
- a unit for fetching an instruction not previously fetched from the determined instruction stream;
- a unit for decoding the fetched instruction;
- and
- a unit for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable unit in accordance with the decoded instruction,
- wherein each reconfigurable unit is adapted to execute the decoded instruction.
Apparatus adapted for rendering image data, said apparatus comprising:
- a host processor for generating a plurality of streams of instructions;
- and
- a graphics co-processor for accessing and executing instructions of the plurality of instruction streams, wherein said graphics co-processor is adapted to operate in conjunction with said host processor, said graphics co-processor comprising:
- one or more reconfigurable units;
- a unit for determining one instruction stream from the plurality of instruction streams in accordance with a current priority and one or more predefined priority rules;
- a unit for fetching an instruction not previously fetched from the determined instruction stream;
- a unit for decoding the fetched instruction;
- and
- a unit for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable units in accordance with the decoded instruction,
- wherein each reconfigurable unit is adapted to perform image calculations on a stream of image data in accordance with the decoded instruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.