Approach for a configurable phase-based priority scheduler

A subsystem, comprising:

• a streaming multiprocessor configured to schedule priority among a plurality of threads by performing the steps of:
• receiving a first thread group comprising one or more threads;
• retrieving a first priority descriptor associated with the first thread group;
• determining whether the first thread group and a second thread group are both operating in a first phase;
• and
• if the first thread group and the second thread are both operating in a first phase, then:
• determining whether the first priority descriptor represents a higher priority than a second priority descriptor associated with the second thread group;
• and
• if the first priority descriptor represents a higher priority than the second priority descriptor, then
• skewing the first thread group relative to the second thread group such that the first thread group operates in a second phase;
• or
• if the first priority descriptor does not represent a higher priority than the second priority descriptor, then
• changing the first priority descriptor from a first value to a second value, wherein the second value represents a higher priority than the first value, or
• if the first thread group and the second thread are not both operating in a first phase, then
• changing the first priority descriptor from a first value to a second value, wherein the second value represents a higher priority than the first value.

A computing device configured to schedule priority among a plurality of threads, comprising:

• a streaming multiprocessor;
• a memory coupled to the streaming multiprocessor, wherein the memory includes an application program that includes instructions that, when executed by the streaming multiprocessor, cause the streaming multiprocessor to schedule priority among a plurality of threads by performing the steps of:
• receiving a first thread group comprising one or more threads;
• retrieving a first priority descriptor associated with the first thread group;
• determining whether the first thread group and a second thread group are both operating in a first phase;
• and
• if the first thread group and the second thread are both operating in a first phase, then:
• determining whether the first priority descriptor represents a higher priority than a second priority descriptor associated with the second thread group;
• and
• if the first priority descriptor represents a higher priority than the second priority descriptor, then
• skewing the first thread group relative to the second thread group such that the first thread group operates in a second phase;
• or
• if the first priority descriptor does not represent a higher priority than the second priority descriptor, then
• changing the first priority descriptor from a first value to a second value, wherein the second value represents a higher priority than the first value, or
• if the first thread group and the second thread are not both operating in a first phase, then
• changing the first priority descriptor from a first value to a second value, wherein the second value represents a higher priority than the first value.