Efficient execution of color space processing functions in a graphics processing unit

A pixel shader module for performing color space processing on individual pixels of a video image, each pixel being associated with a set of color coefficients in a first multi-dimensional color space, the pixel shader module comprising:

• a processor-readable code memory for storing processor instructions;
• a plurality of first memory elements containing pre-loaded parameters representative of a color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control;
• a plurality of second memory elements;
• and
• a processor connected to the first and second memory elements and to the code memory, the processor being adapted to read the code memory and execute the processor instructions stored therein;
• the processor instructions including:
• instructions for causing the pixel shader module to load the set of color coefficients of each pixel into the second memory elements;
• instructions for causing the pixel shader module to generate a processed set of color coefficients for each pixel by manipulating the first and second memory elements, wherein said processed set of color coefficients is in a second multi-dimensional color space that is different from the first multi-dimensional color space, wherein both the first multi-dimensional color space and said second multi-dimensional color space are of the same dimension,
• the pixel shader module being part of a rendering stage of a 3D graphics drawing pipeline, the rendering stage being where three-dimensional graphics primitives are converted into pixels, the pixel shader module operable to receive primitive information for each one of the three-dimensional graphics primitives and to compute a color for each one of the pixels using the received primitive information and texture information received from a texture processing module which is part of the rendering stage of the 3D graphics drawing pipeline.

A method for using a pixel shader module for performing color space processing on sets of color coefficients respectively associated with pixels of a video image, the sets of color coefficients being in a first multi-dimensional color space, the method comprising:

• Instructing the pixel shader module to load the set of color coefficients associated with a first pixel into first memory elements, the pixel shader module being part of a rendering stage of a 3D graphics drawing pipeline, the rendering stage being where three-dimensional graphics primitives are converted into pixels, the pixel shader module operable to receive primitive information for each one of the three-dimensional graphics primitives and to compute a color for each one of the pixels using the received primitive information and texture information received from a texture processing module which is part of the rendering stage of the 3D graphics drawing pipeline;
• Instructing the pixel shader module to read the first memory elements and a plurality of second memory elements containing pre-loaded parameters representative of a color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control;
• Instructing the pixel shader module to manipulate the first and second memory elements in accordance with the color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control to generate a new set of color coefficients associated with the first pixel, wherein said new set of color coefficients is in a second multi-dimensional color space that is different from the first multi-dimensional color space, wherein both the first multi-dimensional color space and said second multi-dimensional color space are of the same dimension.

A method of creating a modified pixel shader program defined by a series of instructions for causing a pixel shader module to execute a pixel shading function on sets of color coefficients respectively associated with pixels of a video image, the sets of color coefficients being in a first multi-dimensional color space, the method comprising:

• retaining instructions for causing the pixel shader module to load the set of color coefficients associated with each pixel into a set of first memory elements, the pixel shader module being part of a rendering stage of a 3D graphics drawing pipeline, the rendering stage being where three-dimensional graphics primitives are converted into pixels, the pixel shader module operable to receive primitive information for each one of the three-dimensional graphics primitives and to compute a color for each one of the pixels using the received primitive information and texture information received from a texture processing module which is part of the rendering stage of the 3D graphics drawing pipeline;
• providing additional instructions for causing the pixel shader module to generate a processed set of color coefficients associated with each pixel by manipulating the set of first memory elements and a set of second memory elements wherein the second memory elements contain pre-loaded parameters representative of a color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control, wherein said processed set of color coefficients is in a second multi-dimensional color space that is different from the first multi-dimensional color space, wherein both the first multi-dimensional color space and said second multi-dimensional color space are of the same dimension.

A method of using a pixel shader module for performing color space processing on an original set of color coefficients in a first multi-dimensional color space, comprising:

• providing a pixel shader program running on the pixel shader module with the original set of coefficients and a set of parameters representative of a color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control, the pixel shader module being part of a rendering stage of a 3D graphics drawing pipeline, the rendering stage being where three-dimensional graphics primitives are converted into pixels, the pixel shader module operable to receive primitive information for each one of the three-dimensional graphics primitives and to compute a color for each one of the pixels using the received primitive information and texture information received from a texture processing module which is part of the rendering stage of the 3D graphics drawing pipeline;
• waiting for the pixel shader program to execute, in the pixel shader module, the desired color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control on the original set of color coefficients;
• and
• obtaining from the pixel shader module upon completion of the execution of the pixel shader program a processed set of color coefficients representative of the desired color space processing function that is at least one of color space conversion and video processing amplifier control having been performed on the original set of color coefficients said processed set of color coefficients is in a second multi-dimensional color space that is different from the first multi-dimensional color space, wherein both the first multi-dimensional color space and said second multi-dimensional color space are of the same dimension.