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US 7,623,131 B1Granted
Graphics processing systems with multiple processors connected in a ring topology
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorPhilip Browning Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multiple graphics processors in a graphics processing system are interconnected in a unidirectional or bidirectional ring topology, allowing pixels to transferred from any one graphics processor to any other graphics processor. The system can automatically identify one or more “master” graphics processors to which a monitor is connected and configures the links of the ring such that one or more other graphics processors can deliver pixels to the master graphics processor, facilitating distributed rendering operations. The system can also automatically detect the connections or lack thereof between the graphics processors.
Claims22
A graphics subsystem comprising:
- a plurality of graphics processors, each graphics processor having:
- at least two input/output (I/O) ports, each I/O port being configurable to communicate pixel data into the graphics processor or out of the graphics processor;
- and
- a display head configured to generate output pixel data, the display head being connectable to deliver the output pixel data to either of the I/O ports and further connectable to receive pixel data from at least one of the I/O ports;
- and
- a plurality of links, each link connecting one of the I/O ports of one of the graphics processors to one of the I/O ports of another one of the graphics processors such that the plurality of graphics processors are connected in a ring topology,
- wherein each of the plurality of graphics processors is connected by respective links to two others of the plurality of graphics processors, each link being configured to transfer pixel data in at least one direction, and
- wherein the graphics subsystem is configured to iteratively detect a connection topology among the plurality of graphics processors, wherein for each graphics processor the graphics subsystem is further configured to:
- select a first graphics processor from the plurality of graphics processors;
- configure a first I/O port of the first graphics processor as an output port;
- configure a second I/O port of the first graphics processor as an input port;
- configure the at least two I/O ports of the graphics processors of the plurality of graphics processors other than the first graphics processor as input ports;
- configure the first I/O port of the first graphic processor to assert test pixel data;
- configure the plurality of graphics processors other than the first graphics processor to detect the test pixel data received via the input ports;
- and
- identify graphics processors that detect the test pixel data as being connected to the first graphics processor.
13 more elements
A method for configuring a graphics subsystem having a plurality of graphics processors, the method comprising:
- detecting a ring connection among the plurality of graphics processors wherein each of the plurality of graphics processors is connected by respective links to two others of the plurality of graphics processors, each link being configured to transfer pixel data in at least one direction, wherein detecting the ring connection further comprises iteratively detecting a connection topology among the plurality of graphics processors, and wherein detecting the ring connection further comprises:
- selecting a first graphics processor from the plurality of graphics processors;
- configuring a first I/O port of the first graphics processor as an output port;
- configuring a second I/O port of the first graphics processor as an input port;
- configuring the at least two I/O ports of the graphics processors of the plurality of graphics processors other than the first graphics processor as input ports;
- configuring the first I/O port of the first graphic processor to assert test pixel data;
- configuring the plurality of graphics processors other than the first graphics processor to detect the test pixel data received via the input ports;
- identifying graphics processors that detect the test pixel data as being connected to the first graphics processor;
- detecting a first monitor connected to the first graphics processor;
- identifying a second graphics processor capable of generating pixel data for the first monitor;
- and
- configuring one or more of the links of the ring connection such that pixel data is transferred from the second graphics processor to the first graphics processor.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.