Apple Inc.

Journyx, Inc.

William V Miller

Curtis L Finch, Ii

William Leake

Chris V Anderson

Terence M Potter

Steven C Sullivan

Benjiman L Goodman

Anjana Rajendran

Mark I Luffel

Abhijeet R Tanpure

Yoong Chert Foo

Andrew M Havlir

Edward Martin McCombs, Jr

Ben D Jarrett

Dimitri Tan

Sreevathsa Ramachandra

Jason A Frerich

Chetan C Kamdar

Christopher B Anderson

Chameera R Fernando

Techniques are disclosed relating to private memory management using a mapping thread, which may be persistent. In some embodiments, a graphics processor is configured to generate a pool of private memory pages for a set of graphics work that includes multiple threads. The processor may maintain a translation table configured to map private memory addresses to virtual addresses based on identifiers of the threads. The processor may execute a mapping thread to receive a request to allocate a private memory page for a requesting thread, select a private memory page from the pool in response to the request, and map the selected page in the translation table for the requesting. The processor may then execute one or more instructions of the requesting thread to access a private memory space, wherein the execution includes translation of a private memory address to a virtual address based on the mapped page in the translation table. The mapping thread may be a persistent thread for which resources are allocated for an entirety of a time interval over which the set of graphics work is executed.

Private memory management using utility thread

Techniques are disclosed relating to storage techniques for fragment data. In some embodiments, one or more storage circuits are configured to store sample color data for processing by shader processors including a data structure that includes first and second elements configured to store color data for first and second colors, respectively. In some embodiments, control circuitry is configured to generate color state metadata to map samples in a region of pixels to colors in elements of the data structure, including to map multiple samples to the first element of the data structure. In some embodiments, control circuitry is configured to access the color state metadata to determine a mapped element of the data structure for a given sample and read the color data from the mapped element of the data structure. Disclosed techniques may improve, reduce or avoid duplication and thereby improve cache efficiency for accesses to color data.

Color state techniques for graphics processors

In disclosed embodiment, a graphics processor is configured to operate on data in multiple memory spaces. Data cache circuitry may cache data for the graphics processor circuitry, including data from multiple memory spaces. The data cache circuitry may include tag circuitry configured to compare the following information from access requests to the data cache circuitry with tags of entries in the data cache circuitry: memory space information and a tag portion of a requested address. The tag portion of a requested address may be different (e.g., a different set of bit indices within the address) for at least two of the multiple memory spaces. Disclosed techniques may advantageously facilitate caching for disparate clients with different cache line sizes, address spaces, etc., e.g., in unified memory architectures.

Graphics processor cache for data from multiple memory spaces

Techniques are disclosed relating to arbitration of requests to access a register file. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a write queue and a register file that includes multiple entries. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to select a request from a plurality of requests based on a plurality of request characteristics, and write data from the accepted request into a write queue. In one embodiment, the request characteristics include: whether a request is a last request from an agent for a given register file entry and whether the request finishes a previous request. In one embodiment, a final arbiter is configured to select among requests from the write queue, a read queue, and multiple execution pipelines to access banks of the register file in a given cycle.

Queuing system for register file access

A processor includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) including a data array and a compare unit. The data array includes a number of entries each configured to store a respective translated physical address. In response to a read access to a given entry of the TLB, the data array is configured to output within a particular clock cycle, the respective translated physical address stored in the given entry. In addition the compare unit may be configured to compare the respective translated physical address output by the data array with a number of additional addresses. The compare unit may also be configured to provide a hit indication for each of the additional addresses within the particular clock cycle.

Translation lookaside buffer structure including an output comparator

Techniques are disclosed relating to request arbitration between a plurality of master circuits and a plurality of target circuits. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an arbitration unit coupled to a plurality of request queues for a target circuit. Each request queue is configured to store requests generated by a respective one of a plurality of master circuits. The arbitration unit is configured to arbitrate between requests in the plurality of request queues based on information indicative of an ordering in which requests were submitted to the plurality of request queues by master circuits. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of master circuits are configured to submit, with each request to the target circuit, an indication specifying that a request has been submitted, and the arbitration unit is configured to determine the ordering in which requested were submitted based on the submitted indications.

Queue arbitration using non-stalling request indication

Controllable arrays in a memory may be activated and deactivated independently. In one embodiment, a processor may include a memory. The memory may be a de-interleaved memory with independently selectable arrays. Based on an address bit of an address used to access data from the memory, a wordline and downstream components may be activated while another wordline and downstream components may be deactivated.

Physical organization of memory to reduce power consumption

Sense amplifiers in a memory may be activated and deactivated. In one embodiment, a processor may include a memory. The memory may include a number of sense amplifiers. Based on a late arriving address bit of an address used to access data from the memory, a sense amplifier may be activated while another sense amplifier may be deactivated.

Late-select, address-dependent sense amplifier

A dual port memory includes a mechanism for preventing collisions. The memory includes dual port bit cells arranged in rows and columns and each bit cell stores a data bit. The memory also includes a wordline unit that may provide a respective write wordline signal and a respective read wordline signal to each row of bit cells. The wordline unit may also selectively inhibit the read wordline signal for a given row based upon address information that is indicative of whether a write operation will be performed to the given row.

Collision prevention in a dual port memory

The invention further includes a method and system for encouraging employees and employee managers to use the time keeping and expense entry server for entering and approving time entries. Thus, the employee is coupled to produce final time entries to the TKET server wherein the TKET server is coupled to produce the final time entries to an employee manager for approval. After receiving approval, the TKET server generates approved time entries to an accounting department terminal, and if appropriate, to a contract employer terminal so as to trigger invoicing and payment for the employee's labor. The TKET server also generates an award, if appropriate, to the employee of his manager for following specified time entry procedures.

Method and apparatus for providing frequent flyer miles and incentives for timely interaction with a time records system

A system and method for building GUI screens for a time keeping and expense tracking system includes a time keeping and expense tracking (TKET) server that includes computer instructions that define logic for building GUI screens according to user definitions, communication channel throughput capacity, and terminal capacity. Initially, the TKET server examines a user's ID to determine his group affiliations and ability levels for modifying the parameters, objects, and layout of a GUI screen. Thereafter, the TKET server allows the user to make changes according to his defined abilities. For subsequent sessions, the TKET server builds a GUI screen according to the previously defined parameters. One embodiment of the present invention, the TKET server is operable to receive communication signals transmitted by way of a wireless communication channel and to generate corresponding display screens that are responsive to the user terminal type. If the user terminal is a mini laptop having wireless communication capability, for example the TKET server transmits GUI screen display signals in a WAP protocol for display thereon the user terminal. On the other hand, if the user terminal is merely a cellular phone, then the TKET server is operable to transmit a very limited set of display signals primarily comprising text and control characters. The TKET server is operable to act as a remote time clock. Accordingly, the TKET server is formed to receive and interpret signals that define the user ID, an account code, and whether a start or stop timekeeping event has been selected. The TKET server also is operable to monitor the performance of the contract employees and employers, and, more specifically, to monitor average unit cost and several responsiveness parameters.

Method and apparatus for monitoring contractor performance

A system and method for building GUI screens for a time keeping and expense tracking system includes a time keeping and expense tracking (TKET) server that includes computer instructions that define logic for building GUI screens according to user definitions, communication channel throughput capacity, and terminal capacity. Initially, the TKET server examines a user's ID to determine his group affiliations and ability levels for modifying the parameters, objects and layout of a GUI screen. Thereafter, the TKET server allows the user to make changes according to his defined abilities. In one embodiment of the invention, the TKET server is operable to act as a remote time clock. Accordingly, the TKET server is formed to receive and interpret signals that define the user ID, an account code, and whether a start or stop timekeeping event has been selected. Thus, by way of example, a user may dial a specified number and may respond to, either questions generated by an IVR or to text generated by the TKET server to enter his ID, his account code, and whether he is selecting for the timekeeping function to start or stop. The TKET server then tracks time and stores the user time entries according to user ID, and according to account code. The TKET server further is operable to generate reports totaling the same. The TKET server also generates GUI display screens in a format representing tabbed index cards wherein the displayed tabs represent organizational information for which the user has atomic abilities to access the information.

Time keeping and expense tracking server that interfaces with a user based upon a user's atomic abilities

A system and method for building GUI screens for a time keeping and expense tracking system includes a time keeping and expense tracking (TKET) server that includes computer instructions that define logic for building GUI screens according to user definitions, communication channel throughput capacity, and terminal capacity. Initially, the TKET server examines a user's ID to determine his group affiliations and ability levels for modifying the parameters, objects and layout of a GUI screen. Thereafter, the TKET server allows the user to make changes according to his defined abilities. For subsequent sessions, the TKET server builds a GUI screen according to the previously defined parameters. One embodiment of the present invention, the TKET server is operable to receive communication signals transmitted by way of a wireless communication channel and to generate corresponding display screens that are responsive to the user terminal type. By way of example, if the user terminal is a mini laptop having wireless communication capability, the TKET server transmits GUI display signals in a lap protocol for display thereon the user terminal. On the other hand, if the user terminal is merely a cellular phone, then the TKET server is operable to transmit a very limited set of display signals primarily comprising text and control characters. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the TKET server is operable to act as a remote time clock. Accordingly, the TKET server is formed to receive and interpret signals that define the user ID, an account code, and whether a start or stop time-keeping event has been selected. Thus, by way of example, a user may dial a specified number and may respond to, either questions generated by an IVR or to text generated by the TKET server to enter his ID, his account code, and whether he is selecting for the time-keeping function to start or stop. The TKET server then tracks time and stores the user time entries according to user ID, and according to account code. The TKET server further is operable to generate reports totaling the same.

A method for performing enhanced marketing operations upon the Internet enables a company web server to employ a client web server in its marketing efforts. An application program installs upon a client web server coupled to the Internet. An application program add-on also installs upon the client web server and becomes primarily responsible for the ongoing marketing efforts provided. During the installation process (and thereafter), client information is collected by the application program and/or the application program add-on at the client web server. The application software/application software add-on then relays this client information to the company web server across the Internet for further use. Marketing content is then downloaded from the company web server to the client web server across the Internet. After its receipt, the marketing content is supported upon the client web server to support the marketing efforts of the company. In one embodiment of the present invention, the marketing content is one or more advertisements that are displayed upon the client web server. In another embodiment of the present invention, the marketing content is search engine content. Search engine content is used by the application program add-on to create a search engine content that include content relating to search terms or phrases. Once these search engine content pages are created, they will be spidered by at least one search engine. The content and location of these search engine content pages will cause the search engines to return a desired link for particular a selected search term or phrase.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

William V Miller