Early kill removal graphics processing system and method

A graphics processing pipeline comprising:

• a raster stage generating a pixel packet;
• a gatekeeper stage for controlling pixel packet flow to said single unified data fetch stage;
• a single unified data fetch stage for fetching pixel surface attribute information associated with said pixel packet of a pixel, wherein said single unified data fetch stage analyzes if said pixel contributes to an image display presentation and handles pixel packet dispatch for further processing in accordance with whether said pixel packet contributes to an image display presentation;
• an arithmetic logic stage for performing processing on said pixel surface attribute information in accordance with a status indicator regarding whether said pixel packet contributes to said image display;
• and
• a data write stage for writing pixel data value in accordance with said status indicator;
• wherein said single unified data fetch stage sends a scoreboard clear signal for said pixel packet to said gatekeeper stage if said pixel packet is determined to not contribute to said image display, and said gatekeeper stage updates a scoreboard data in response to said clear signal.

A graphics pipeline comprising:

• an upstream module coupled to receive pixel information and for regulating the number of pixels allowed to be concurrently processed within a downstream portion of said graphics pipeline in order to maintain slack therein;
• and
• wherein said downstream portion comprises:
• a first module for removing pixel information for any pixel determined not to be required for rendering, said first module for periodically communicating to said upstream module indications of pixels said first module removed;
• and
• a second module for removing pixel information for any pixel determined not to be required for rendering, said second module for periodically communicating to said upstream module indications of pixels said second module removed;
• and
• said upstream module includes said indications of pixels said first module removed and indications of pixels said second module removed in said regulating said number of pixels allowed to be concurrently processed within said downstream portion, wherein said upstream module includes a gatekeeper stage that is notified if said pixel information is removed from further processing, and said gatekeeper stage updates a scoreboard data in response to said indication.

A method of processing pixel information in a graphics pipeline comprising:

• a) regulating pixel entry to a downstream portion of said graphics pipeline based on an amount of slack within said downstream portion, said regulating performed by an upstream module of said graphics pipeline;
• and
• b) removing pixel information within said downstream portion by performing the following:
• b1) identifying pixels that are not to be rendered;
• b2) removing from said downstream portion pixel information associated with pixels identified as not to be rendered;
• and
• b3) periodically communicating an indication of removed pixels to said upstream module, and
• wherein said b) is independently performed by a plurality of pipeline modules of said downstream portion associated with a graphical presentation;
• and
• c) notifying a gatekeeper stage if said pixel information is removed from further processing.