Systems for and methods of context switching in a graphics processing system

A graphics processing system configured to switch from a processing of a primitive associated with a first context to a processing of a command list associated with a second context, the primitive comprising a plurality of regions, the system comprising:

• a plurality of processing modules, wherein at least one module of the plurality of processing modules is configured to receive a request to switch to the second context, the plurality of processing modules including:
• a first module that is configured to, following a receipt of the request by the at least one module, to complete a processing of at least one region selected from among the plurality of regions before interrupting the processing of the primitive prior to completion and processing at least a part of the command list associated with the second context;
• and
• a second module that is configured to provide data concerning the primitive to the first module following a processing of the primitive by the second module;
• and
• a memory configured to save a state of the second module, wherein the state corresponds to the state of the second module when processing the primitive associated with the first context.

A graphics processing system configured to switch from a processing of a primitive associated with a first context to a processing of a command list associated with a second context, the primitive comprising a plurality of regions, the system comprising:

• a plurality of processing modules including:
• a rasterizer that is configured to receive a request to switch to the second context from a context switch unit, and following a receipt of the request, to complete a processing of at least one region selected from among the plurality of regions before interrupting the processing of the primitive prior to completion and processing at least a part of the command list associated with the second context;
• and
• a second module that is configured to provide data concerning the primitive to the rasterizer following a processing of the primitive by the second module;
• and
• a memory configured to save a state of the second module, wherein the state corresponds to the state of the second module when processing the primitive associated with the first context.

A graphics processing system configured to switch from a processing of a primitive associated with a first context to a processing of a command list associated with a second context, the primitive comprising a plurality of regions, the graphics processing system comprising:

• a plurality of processing modules configured in a graphics pipeline, wherein at least one module of the plurality of processing modules is configured to receive a request to switch to the second context, the plurality of processing modules including:
• a first module that is configured to, following a receipt of the request by the at least one module, to complete a processing of at least one region selected from among the plurality of regions before interrupting the processing of the primitive prior to completion and processing at least a part of the command list associated with the second context;
• and
• a second module located upstream of the first module in the graphics pipeline, the second module configured to provide data concerning the primitive to the first module following a processing of the primitive by the second module;
• and
• a memory configured to save a state of the second module, wherein the state corresponds to the state of the second module when processing the primitive associated with the first context.

A graphics processing system configured to switch context, the system comprising:

• a rasterizer configured to process a primitive associated with a first context, wherein the primitive comprises a plurality of regions;
• and
• a context switch unit coupled to the rasterizer and configured to save a state of the rasterizer when processing the primitive,
• wherein the rasterizer is further configured to, following a receipt of a request to switch to a second context, complete a processing of at least one region selected from among the plurality of regions before interrupting a processing of the primitive and beginning a processing of a command list associated with the second context.