Abstract: A scalable shader architecture is disclosed. In accord with that architecture, a shader includes multiple shader pipelines, each of which can perform processing operations on rasterized pixel data. Shader pipelines can be functionally removed as required, thus preventing a defective shader pipeline from causing a chip rejection. The shader includes a shader distributor that processes rasterized pixel data and then selectively distributes the processed rasterized pixel data to the various shader pipelines, beneficially in a manner that balances workloads. A shader collector formats the outputs of the various shader pipelines into proper order to form shaded pixel data. A shader instruction processor (scheduler) programs the individual shader pipelines to perform their intended tasks.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting image data. Embodiments of the present invention provide calibration and image correction to overcome various lens effects including lens shading and lens imperfections. In one embodiment, the correction of image data is performed via utilization of a spline surface (e.g., Bezier surface). The use of spline surfaces facilitates efficient hardware implementation. The image correction may be performed on a per channel and illumination type basis. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for determine a spline surface to be used for calibrating an image signal processor to be used in correcting image data.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting image data. Embodiments of the present invention provide image correction to overcome various lens effects, optical crosstalk, and electrical crosstalk. In one embodiment, the method includes accessing, within an electronic system, a plurality of control points for a patch of a spline surface and calculating a plurality of intermediate control points corresponding to a row of pixels of the patch. The method further includes receiving a pixel of an image and correcting the pixel based on the plurality of intermediate control points in streaming scanline column-wise or row-wise order.

Abstract: Providing dynamic learning for software agents in a simulation is described. The software agents with learners are capable of learning from examples. When a non-player character queries the learner, it can provide a next action similar to a player character. A game designer provides program code, from which compile-time steps determine a set of raw features. The code may identify a function (like computing distances). At compile-time steps, determining these raw features in response to a scripting language, so the designer can specify which code should be referenced. A set of derived features, responsive to the raw features, may be relatively simple, more complex, or determined in response to a learner. The set of such raw and derived features form a context for a learner. Learners might be responsive to (more basic) learners, to results of state machines, to calculated derived features, or to raw features. The learner includes a machine learning technique.

Abstract: Techniques for per-channel image intensity correction includes linear interpolation of each channel of spectral data to generate corrected spectral data.

Abstract: A system including at least specialized elements that are restricted to a particular domain of data analysis or processing and configurable data that permits the specialized elements to be tailored to a particular application. The configurable data expands applicability of the specialized elements to plural applications within the particular domain. The specialized elements can be provided by a supplier to a developer without the supplier having detailed knowledge of structures and internal operations used by the particular application. The particular application can be generated by the developer without the developer having detailed knowledge of internal operations used by the specialized elements.

Abstract: Early Z scoreboard tracking systems and methods in accordance with the present invention are described. Multiple pixels are received and a pixel depth raster operation is performed on the pixels. The pixel depth raster operation comprises discarding a pixel that is occluded. In one exemplary implementation, the depth raster operation is done at a faster rate than a color raster operation. Pixels that pass the depth raster operation are checked for screen coincidence. Pixels with screen coincidence are stalled and pixels without screen coincidence are forwarded to lower stages of the pipeline. The lower stages of the pipeline are programmable and pixel flight time can vary (e.g., can include multiple passes through the lower stages). Execution through the lower stages is directed by a program sequencer which also directs notification to the pixel flight tracking when a pixel is done processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying pixels that are inside a two-dimensional path may be used to fill the path. The path is segmented and a point in space is identified that is used to generate a triangle fan, where each triangle in the fan is formed by one of the segments of the path and the point. Locations in a winding buffer are updated for each pixel that is within a triangle of the triangle fan. The resulting winding buffer indicates the pixels that are inside the two-dimensional path. The winding buffer may be used to fill the path.

Abstract: A scalable shader architecture is disclosed. In accord with that architecture, a shader includes multiple shader pipelines, each of which can perform processing operations on rasterized pixel data. Shader pipelines can be functionally removed as required, thus preventing a defective shader pipeline from causing a chip rejection. The shader includes a shader distributor that processes rasterized pixel data and then selectively distributes the processed rasterized pixel data to the various shader pipelines, beneficially in a manner that balances workloads. A shader collector formats the outputs of the various shader pipelines into proper order to form shaded pixel data. A shader instruction processor (scheduler) programs the individual shader pipelines to perform their intended tasks.

Abstract: Providing dynamic learning for software agents in a simulation. Software agents with learners are capable of learning from examples. When a non-player character queries the learner, it can provide a next action similar to the player character. The game designer provides program code, from which compile-time steps determine a set of raw features. The code might identify a function (like computing distances). At compile-time steps, determining these raw features in response to a scripting language, so the designer can specify which code should be referenced. A set of derived features, responsive to the raw features, might be relatively simple, more complex, or determined in response to a learner. The set of such raw and derived features form a context for a learner. Learners might be responsive to (more basic) learners, to results of state machines, to calculated derived features, or to raw features. The learner includes a machine learning technique.

Abstract: A scalable shader architecture is disclosed. In accord with that architecture, a shader includes multiple shader pipelines, each of which can perform processing operations on rasterized pixel data. Shader pipelines can be functionally removed as required, thus preventing a defective shader pipeline from causing a chip rejection. The shader includes a shader distributor that processes rasterized pixel data and then selectively distributes the processed rasterized pixel data to the various shader pipelines, beneficially in a manner that balances workloads. A shader collector formats the outputs of the various shader pipelines into proper order to form shaded pixel data. A shader instruction processor (scheduler) programs the individual shader pipelines to perform their intended tasks.

Abstract: A system including at least (1) specialized elements that are restricted to a particular domain of data analysis or processing and (2) configurable data that permits the specialized elements to be tailored to a particular application. The configurable data expands applicability of the specialized elements to plural applications within the particular domain. The specialized elements can be provided by a supplier to a developer without the supplier having detailed knowledge of structures and internal operations used by the particular application. The particular application can be generated by the developer without the developer having detailed knowledge of internal operations used by the specialized elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for translating fixed function state into a shader program. Fixed function state is received and stored and when a new shader program is detected the fixed function state is translated into shader program instructions. Registers specified by the program instructions are allocated for processing in the shader program. The registers may be remapped for more efficient use of the register storage space.

Abstract: Providing dynamic learning for software agents in a simulation. Software agents with learners are capable of learning from examples. When a non-player character queries the learner, it can provide a next action similar to the player character. The game designer provides program code, from which compile-time steps determine a set of raw features. The code might identify a function (like computing distances). At compile-time steps, determining these raw features in response to a scripting language, so the designer can specify which code should be referenced. A set of derived features, responsive to the raw features, might be relatively simple, more complex, or determined in response to a learner. The set of such raw and derived features form a context for a learner. Learners might be responsive to (more basic) learners, to results of state machines, to calculated derived features, or to raw features. The learner includes a machine learning technique.

Abstract: Providing dynamic learning for software agents in a simulation. Software agents with learners are capable of learning from examples. When a non-player character queries the learner, it can provide a next action similar to the player character. The game designer provides program code, from which compile-time steps determine a set of raw features. The code might identify a function (like computing distances). At compile-time steps, determining these raw features in response to a scripting language, so the designer can specify which code should be referenced. A set of derived features, responsive to the raw features, might be relatively simple, more complex, or determined in response to a learner. The set of such raw and derived features form a context for a learner. Learners might be responsive to (more basic) learners, to results of state machines, to calculated derived features, or to raw features. The learner includes a machine learning technique.

Abstract: A system including at least (1) specialized elements that are restricted to a particular domain of data analysis or processing and (2) configurable data that permits the specialized elements to be tailored to a particular application. The configurable data expands applicability of the specialized elements to plural applications within the particular domain. The specialized elements can be provided by a supplier to a developer without the supplier having detailed knowledge of structures and internal operations used by the particular application. The particular application can be generated by the developer without the developer having detailed knowledge of internal operations used by the specialized elements.

Abstract: A system including at least (1) specialized elements that are restricted to a particular domain of data analysis or processing and (2) configurable data that permits the specialized elements to be tailored to a particular application. The configurable data expands applicability of the specialized elements to plural applications within the particular domain. The specialized elements can be provided by a supplier to a developer without the supplier having detailed knowledge of structures and internal operations used by the particular application. The particular application can be generated by the developer without the developer having detailed knowledge of internal operations used by the specialized elements.

Abstract: A scalable shader architecture is disclosed. In accord with that architecture, a shader includes multiple shader pipelines, each of which can perform processing operations on rasterized pixel data. Shader pipelines can be functionally removed as required, thus preventing a defective shader pipeline from causing a chip rejection. The shader includes a shader distributor that processes rasterized pixel data and then selectively distributes the processed rasterized pixel data to the various shader pipelines, beneficially in a manner that balances workloads. A shader collector formats the outputs of the various shader pipelines into proper order to form shaded pixel data. A shader instruction processor (scheduler) programs the individual shader pipelines to perform their intended tasks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for reflection space image based rendering of an object at an interactive frame rate. A set of source radiance environment maps associated with a set of source viewing vectors are warped to create a destination radiance environment map associated with a destination viewing vector in a current frame. Blending and weighting operations can also be applied in creating the final destination radiance environment map. An object is then rendered with texture environment mapped from the destination radiance environment map.

Abstract: A method for creating and maintaining a dual scene graph for the display of a computer generated object. The user creates a user scene graph which has a number of node in a hierarchical organization which represents an object. This user scene graph is organized according to the dictates of the user for ease of human comprehension. The computer system automatically converts this user scene graph into a separate scene graph. The organization of this second scene graph is optimized so that the object can be rendered faster and more efficiently. Thereby, the first scene graph is displayed to the user so that the user can add, delete, or otherwise modify the object. Any changes made to the user scene graph are automatically made to the second scene graph, transparent to the user. The object is rendered for display according to the second scene graph.