Lucid Information Technology, Ltd.

Gigy Bar-Or

Reuven Bakalash

Offir Remez

Efi Fogel

Amir Shaham

A method of dynamic load-balancing in a PC-based computing system employing a multiple GPU-based graphics pipeline architecture supporting multiple modes of GPU parallelization. During the execution of the graphics application, the stream of geometrical data and said graphics commands is analyzed, and the mode of parallelization of the GPUs during each frame, is determined using results of the analysis of the stream of geometrical data and graphics commands, and one or more policies for determining the mode of parallelization. The stream of geometrical data and graphic commands is distributed to the GPUs according to the determined mode of parallelization. During the generation of each frame, one or more of GPUs are used to process the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands, or a portion thereof, while operating in the parallelization mode, so as to generate pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of an image of 3D object. The pixel data output is transferred from one or more of the GPUs and composing a frame of pixel data, representative of the image of the 3D object. The frame of pixel data is displayed on a display surface of the PC-based computing system.

Method of and system for time-division based parallelization of graphics processing units (GPUs) employing a hardware hub with router interfaced between the CPU and the GPUs for the transfer of geometric data and graphics commands and rendered pixel data within the system

A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes a system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The system also includes an CPU interface module, a PC bus, a graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem. The graphics processing subsystem includes a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that the GPUs support multiple graphics pipelines and process data in a parallel manner. A hardware hub, interfaces with the CPU interface module and the GPUs, by way of the PC bus, and has a hub router for (i) distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and (ii) transferring pixel data output from one or more of GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. The CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub.

PC-based computing system employing parallelized graphics processing units (GPUS) interfaced with the central processing unit (CPU) using a PC bus and a hardware graphics hub having a router

A graphics hub subsystem for interfacing parallelized graphics processing units (GPUs) with the CPU of a PC-based computing system having a CPU interface module and a PC bus. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The graphics hub subsystem includes a hardware hub having a hub router for interfacing with the CPU interface module and the GPUs by way of the PC bus, distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and transferring pixel data output from one or more of the GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. The subsystem also includes one or more software hub drivers, stored in the system memory. The CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub. During system operation, the software hub drivers: (i) control the operation of the hardware hub, (ii) interact with the OS and graphic libraries, and (iii) forward the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands, or a portion thereof, to each GPU over the PC bus.

Graphics hub subsystem for interfacing parallalized graphics processing units (GPUs) with the central processing unit (CPU) of a PC-based computing system having an CPU interface module and a PC bus

A method of providing a PC-based computing system with parallel graphics processing capabilities, wherein the PC-based computing system includes (i) system memory (ii) an operating system (OS, (iii) one or more graphics applications, stored in said system memory, (iv) one or more graphic libraries, (v) a central processing unit (CPU) for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers and graphics libraries, (vi) an CPU interface module for interfacing with the CPU, (vii) a PC bus, and (viii) a display surface for displaying images of 3D objects. The method involves interfacing a hardware hub having a hub router, with the CPU interface module using the PC bus. The hardware hub is interfaced with a plurality of graphic processing units (GPUs), using the PC bus, so that the GPUs are arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that the GPUs support multiple graphics pipelines and process data in a parallel manner. GPU drivers are stored in the system memory, for allowing the GPUs to interact with the graphic libraries. Software hub drivers are installed within the system memory for performing the following functions: (i) controlling the hardware hub, (ii) interacting with the OS and graphic libraries, and (iii) forwarding graphic commands and geometrical data stream or a portion thereof to one or more GPUs during the generation of frames of pixel data.

Method of providing a PC-based computing system with parallel graphics processing capabilities

A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes system memory for storing software graphics applications, software drivers and graphics libraries, and an operating system (OS), stored in the system memory, and a central processing unit (CPU), for executing the OS, graphics applications, drivers. and graphics libraries. The system also includes an CPU interface module and a PC bus, a graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem. The graphics processing subsystem includes a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that each GPU supports a graphics pipeline and is allowed to process data in a parallel manner. A hardware hub, interfaces with the CPU interface module and the GPUs, by way of the PC bus, and has a hub router for (i) distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and (ii) transferring pixel data output from one or more of GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. The CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub.

PC-based computing system employing a multi-GPU graphics pipeline architecture supporting multiple modes of GPU parallelization dymamically controlled while running a graphics application

A multi-GPU graphics processing subsystem for installation in a PC-based computing system having a CPU and a CPU interface module including a PC bus. The graphics processing subsystem interfaced with the CPU interface module by way of the PC bus, and a display surface for displaying said images by graphically displaying frames of pixel data produced by the graphics processing subsystem. The graphics processing subsystem includes a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to a parallelization mode of operation so that each GPU supports a graphics pipeline and is allowed to process data in a parallel manner. A hardware hub, interfaces with the CPU interface module and the GPUs, by way of the PC bus, and has a hub router for (i) distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and (ii) transferring pixel data output from one or more of GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. The CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub.

Multi-GPU graphics processing subsystem for installation in a PC-based computing system having a central processing unit (CPU) and a PC bus

A PC-based computing system capable of displaying images of 3-D objects during an interactive process between said computing system and a user thereof. The PC-based computing system includes a graphics processing subsystem having a plurality of GPUs arranged in a parallel architecture and operating according to an object division mode of parallel operation so that each GPU supports a graphics pipeline for processing data in a parallel manner according to the object division mode. A hardware hub, interfaces with a CPU interface module and the GPUs, and has a hub router for (i) distributing the stream of geometrical data and graphic commands among the GPUs, and (ii) transferring pixel data output from one or more of GPUs during the composition of frames of pixel data corresponding to final images for display on the display surface. A CPU interface module provides an interface between one or more software hub drivers and the hardware hub.

PC-based computing system employing multiple graphics processing units (GPUS) interfaced with the central processing unit (CPU) using a PC bus and a hardware hub, and parallelized according to the object division mode of parallel operation

Growing community of inventors

Kochav Yair, Israel

Gigy Bar-Or