Activision Publishing, Inc.

Vicarious Visions, Inc.

Reuel W Nash

Mark A Young

Charles Labarre

A memory management system provides microcode instructions that are divided into multiple tuned phases and stored as separate modules inside a phase code depository. A microcode manager, containing a mode detector, sequence identifier, code loader, drawing data processor and phase executor, interacts with a microcode processor and the phase code depository. The mode detector evaluates a user request for a desired mode. In response to a command from the mode detector, the sequence identifier selects a correct phase sequence that is needed to implement the desired mode. The code loader transfers the phase sequence from the phase code depository to the microcode processor where it is stored in a microcode instruction memory. The memory address for each module within the phase sequence is written to a microcode data memory. The drawing data for the graphics mode is sent from the drawing data processor to the microcode processor, and the phase executor instructs the microcode processor to execute the phase sequence to render the desired mode by processing the drawing data. The resulting data is forwarded to another processor for additional microcode processing, vector processing, rasterization, or the like. The ability to select interchangeable phase modules to implement a desired mode reduces microcode memory requirements and allows easy integration and reuse of previously developed features among different games and other graphics software developers without having to rely on the type of platform.

Method, system and computer program product for efficiently utilizing limited resources in a graphics device

A graphics application generates graphics data, including draw commands and instructions to load textures. The application loads draw commands into a list and associated logic for later transfer to graphics hardware. Draw commands may be associated with one or more predicate functions that prevent the commands from being transferred before the graphics hardware is ready to receive them. The application further loads textures into a texture memory or stores instructions for loading textures in a texture load list. A development environment allows such applications to be developed without requiring developers to specifically code these functionalities.

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Newark, CA, United States of America

Reuel W Nash