Computing system having multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem (MMPGRS) employing real-time automatic scene profiling and mode control

A computing system comprising:

• CPU memory for storing one or more graphics-based applications and a graphics library for generating graphics commands and data during the execution of said one or more graphics-based applications;
• a CPU for executing said at least one of graphics-based applications during run-time;
• a display device for displaying images of a 3D scene containing graphics during the execution of said graphics-based application;
• and
• a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem (MMPGRS) supporting multiple modes of parallel operation and including:
• (i) three parallelization stages including a decompose module, a distribute module and a recompose module, and
• (ii) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs) for supporting a graphics rendering process that employs two or more of modes of parallel graphics rendering operation during a single session of said graphics-based application in order to execute graphic commands and process graphics data and generate images of said 3D scene for display on said display device;
• wherein said GPPLs include a primary GPPL and one or more secondary GPPLs, and wherein each GPPL includes a frame buffer;
• and
• a profiling and control mechanism (PCM) having a profiling and control cycle for automatically and dynamically profiling, on a frame by frame basis, said graphics-based application being executed by said CPU, and controlling the modes of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS during the run-time of said graphics based application;
• wherein for each said mode of parallel graphics rendering operation supported by said MMPGRS, said MMPGRS has one state of corresponding operation;
• wherein said PCM performs profiling and control functions using multiple data stores, including
• (i) a historical repository for continuously storing up acquired data having historical depth, for constructing behavioral profile of currently running graphics-based application, and
• (ii) a behavioral profile database (DB) for storing an application profile library of prior-known graphics-based applications, and enriched by newly created profiles for each said prior-known graphics-based application using data accessed from said historical depository;
• wherein said decompose module divides up the stream of graphic commands and data according to the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation determined by said PCM;
• wherein said distribute module physically distributes the streams of graphics commands and data to said plurality of GPPLs;
• wherein said GPPLs execute said graphics commands using said graphics data and generate partial pixel data sets associated with frames of pixel images to be composited in said MMPGRS;
• wherein said recompose module merges together the partial pixel data sets produced from said GPPLs, according to said mode of parallel operation, and producing a final pixel data set within the frame buffer of the primary GPPL, for display on said display device;
• wherein said decompose module, said distribute module and said recompose module each have multiple sub-states of operation, and cooperate to early out all functions required by the different modes of parallel graphics rendering operation supported on said MMPGRS;
• wherein said PCM controls the sub-states of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules, and interstate transitions thereof;
• and
• wherein each of said decompose, distribute and recompose modules is induced into a sub-state by setting parameters, and
• wherein the state and thus the mode of parallel graphics rendering operation of said MMPGRS is established by the combination of sub-states.