Memory copy engine for graphics processing

A method comprising:

• retrieving, with a memory copy engine of a graphics processing unit (GPU), first data from system memory that is external to the GPU via a system bus;
• performing, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, one or more modification tasks on the first data;
• storing, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the modified first data into local memory of the GPU;
• retrieving, with a shader processor of the GPU, the modified first data from the local memory;
• processing, with the shader processor of the GPU, the modified first data to generate a second data;
• storing, with the shader processor of the GPU, the second data into the local memory;
• retrieving, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the second data from the local memory;
• performing, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, one or more of the modification tasks on the second data;
• storing, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the modified second data into the system memory via the system bus;
• and
• indicating, with the memory copy engine to the shader processor, that the memory copy engine completed at least one of storing the modified first data into the local memory or storing the modified second data into the system memory,
• wherein the modification tasks comprise at least one of gathering and compacting data, color conversion of data, compression of data, decompression of data, or conversion of data generated by one shader program into a data form usable by another shader program.

An apparatus comprising:

• a system memory that is accessible via a system bus;
• and
• a graphics processing unit (GPU) that is external to the system memory, the GPU comprising a local memory, a shader processor, and a memory copy engine,
• the memory copy engine comprising:
• means for retrieving first data from the system memory via the system bus;
• means for performing one or more modification tasks on the first data;
• means for storing the modified first data into the local memory;
• the shader processor comprising:
• mean for retrieving the modified first data from the local memory;
• means for processing the modified first data to generate a second data;
• means for storing the second data into the local memory;
• the memory copy engine further comprising:
• means for retrieving the second data from the local memory;
• means for performing one or more of the modification tasks on the second data;
• means for storing, the modified second data into the system memory via the system bus;
• and
• means for indicating, to the shader processor, that the memory copy engine completed at least one of storing the modified first data into the local memory or storing the modified second data into the system memory,
• wherein the modification tasks comprise at least one of gathering and compacting data, color conversion of data, compression of data, decompression of data, or conversion of data generated by one shader program into a data form usable by another shader program.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a graphics processing unit (GPU) to:

• retrieve, with a memory copy engine of the GPU, first data from system memory that is external to the GPU via a system bus;
• perform, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, one or more modification tasks on the first data;
• store, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the modified first data into local memory of the GPU;
• retrieve, with a shader processor of the GPU, the modified first data from the local memory;
• process, with the shader processor of the GPU, the modified first data to generate a second data;
• store, with the shader processor of the GPU, the second data into the local memory;
• retrieve, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the second data from the local memory;
• perform, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, one or more of the modification tasks on the second data;
• store, with the memory copy engine of the GPU, the modified second data into the system memory via the system bus;
• and
• indicate, with the memory copy engine to the shader processor, that the memory copy engine completed at least one of storing the modified first data into the local memory or storing the modified second data into the system memory,
• wherein the modification tasks comprise at least one of gathering and compacting data, color conversion of data, compression of data, decompression of data, or conversion of data generated by one shader program into a data form usable by another shader program.