Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited

Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

Tobias Berghoff

Mark Evan Cerny

Florian A Strauss

David Simpson

Barry M Genova

A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each screen regions. The method including generating information at the GPUs regarding the pieces of geometry and their relations to the screen regions based on the overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each of the screen regions. The method including assigning the screen regions to the GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the pieces of geometry during a subsequent phase of rendering.

Performing geometry analysis before multi-GPU rendering of geometry

A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including using the plurality of GPUs in collaboration to render an image frame including a plurality of pieces of geometry. The method including during a pre-pass phase of rendering, generating information at the GPUs regarding the plurality of pieces of geometry and their relation to a plurality of screen regions. The method including assigning the plurality of screen regions to the plurality of GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry in a subsequent phase of rendering.

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by performing geometry analysis while rendering

A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. A plurality of pieces of geometry of an image frame is assigned to the GPUs for geometry testing. A first GPU state configuring one or more shaders to perform the geometry testing is set. Geometry testing is performed at GPUs on the plurality of pieces of geometry to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. A second GPU state configuring the one or more shaders to perform rendering is set. The information generated for each of the plurality of pieces of geometry is used when rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry at the GPUs.

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by pretesting against screen regions using configurable shaders

A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including generating information regarding a piece of geometry with respect to a first screen region for which a first GPU has a first division of responsibility, while rendering the piece of geometry at a second GPU for an image. The method including rendering the piece of geometry at the first GPU using the information.

Region testing of geometry while rendering for efficient multi-GPU rendering

A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. First pieces of geometry are rendered at the GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame. Statistics are generated for the rendering of the previous image frame. Second pieces of geometry of a current image frame are assigned based on the statistics to the GPUs for geometry testing. Geometry testing at a current image frame on the second pieces of geometry is performed to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each screen region, the geometry testing performed at each of the GPUs based on the assigning. The information generated for the second pieces of geometry is used when rendering the geometry at the GPUs.

Assigning geometry for pretesting against screen regions for an image frame using prior frame information

A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for the rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions that are interleaved, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs. The method including assigning a GPU a piece of geometry of an image frame generated by an application for geometry pretesting. The method including performing geometry pretesting at the GPU to generate information regarding the piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. The method including using the information at each of the plurality of GPUs when rendering the image frame.

Efficient multi-GPU rendering by testing geometry against screen regions before rendering using a pretest GPU

A method for graphics processing including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for rendering geometry of the graphics between the GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the GPUs. The method including determining a Z-value for a piece of geometry during a pre-pass phase of rendering at a first GPU for an image, wherein the piece of geometry overlaps a first screen region for which the first GPU has a division of responsibility. The method including comparing the Z-value against a Z-buffer value for the piece of geometry. The method including generating information including a result of the comparing the Z-value against the Z-buffer value for use by the GPU when rendering the piece of geometry during a full render phase of rendering.

System and method for performing a Z pre-pass phase on geometry at a GPU for use by the GPU when rendering the geometry

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by pretesting against screen regions using prior frame information

Generating hints of object overlap by region testing while rendering for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by generating information in one rendering phase for use in another rendering phase

A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing a plurality of pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each the plurality of pieces of geometry with each of a plurality of screen regions. The method including generating information at the plurality of GPUs regarding the plurality of pieces of geometry and their relations to the plurality of screen regions based on the overlap of each the plurality of pieces of geometry with each of the plurality of screen regions. The method including assigning the plurality of screen regions to the plurality of GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry during a subsequent phase of rendering.

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by performing geometry analysis before rendering

System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by region testing while rendering

A graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to receive metadata specifying an active sample configuration for a particular region of a display device among a plurality of regions of the display device and receive pixel data for one or more pixels in the particular region. The pixel data specifies the same number of color samples for each pixel. For each pixel in the particular region, the GPU invokes a pixel shader only for color samples specified to be active samples by the configuration.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Tobias Berghoff