Patents by Inventor Colin Christopher Sharp

Colin Christopher Sharp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10282813
    Abstract: A device comprising a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: receive a GPU command packet that indicates the GPU may select between a direct rendering mode or a binning rendering mode for a portion of a frame to be rendered by the GPU, determine whether to use the direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode for the portion of the frame to be rendered by the GPU based on at least one of: information in the received command packet or a state of the GPU, and render the portion of the frame using the determined direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Murat Balci, Avinash Seetharamaiah, Christopher Paul Frascati, Jonnala Gadda Nagendra Kumar, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia
  • Patent number: 10102391
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes techniques for graphics processing. In one example, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to access a memory according to one of an unsecure mode and a secure mode. The GPU may include a memory access controller configured to direct memory transactions from at least one hardware unit of the GPU to an unsecure memory unit or a secure memory unit based on the unsecure mode or secure mode and a resource descriptor associated with a memory resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, Ramesh Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10002021
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to deferred preemption techniques for scheduling graphics processing unit (GPU) command streams for execution on a GPU. A host CPU is described that is configured to control a GPU to perform deferred-preemption scheduling. For example, a host CPU may select one or more locations in a GPU command stream as being one or more locations at which preemption is allowed to occur in response to receiving a preemption notification, and may place one or more tokens in the GPU command stream based on the selected one or more locations. The tokens may indicate to the GPU that preemption is allowed to occur at the selected one or more locations. This disclosure further describes a GPU configured to preempt execution of a GPU command stream based on one or more tokens placed in a GPU command stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Eduardus A Metz, Nigel Terence Poole, Colin Christopher Sharp, Andrew Gruber
  • Publication number: 20180165788
    Abstract: A device comprising a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: receive a GPU command packet that indicates the GPU may select between a direct rendering mode or a binning rendering mode for a portion of a frame to be rendered by the GPU, determine whether to use the direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode for the portion of the frame to be rendered by the GPU based on at least one of: information in the received command packet or a state of the GPU, and render the portion of the frame using the determined direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Murat Balci, Avinash Seetharamaiah, Christopher Paul Frascati, Jonnala Gadda Nagendra Kumar, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia
  • Patent number: 9928565
    Abstract: A device comprising a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: receive a GPU command packet that indicates the GPU may select between a direct rendering mode or a binning rendering mode for a portion of a frame to be rendered by the GPU, determine whether to use the direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode for the portion of the frame to be rendered by the GPU based on at least one of: information in the received command packet or a state of the GPU, and render the portion of the frame using the determined direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Murat Balci, Avinash Seetharamaiah, Christopher Paul Frascati, Jonnala gadda Nagendra Kumar, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia
  • Publication number: 20180040095
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for compressing a graphical state object. In one example, a central processing unit may be configured to receive, for output to the GPU, a set of instructions to render a scene. Responsive to receiving the set of instructions to render the scene, the central processing unit may be further configured to determine whether the set of instructions includes a state object that is registered as corresponding to an identifier. Responsive to determining that the set of instructions includes the state object that is registered as corresponding to the identifier, the central processing unit may be further configured to output, to the GPU, the identifier that is registered as corresponding to the state object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Avinash Seetharamaiah, Christopher Paul Frascati, Jonnala Gadda Nagendra Kumar, Andrew Evan Gruber, Colin Christopher Sharp, Eric Demers
  • Patent number: 9779471
    Abstract: A transparent format converter (TFC) may determine that a request by at least one processor for graphics data stored in graphics memory is indicative of a request for graphics data in a first data format. The TFC may retrieve the graphics data in a second data format from the graphics memory based at least in part on the request for the graphics data in the graphics memory. The TFC may convert the retrieved graphics data from the second data format to the first data format. The TFC may store the converted graphics data in the first data format into a memory that is accessible by the at least one processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudeep Ravi Kottilingal, Moinul Khan, Colin Christopher Sharp
  • Patent number: 9767320
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes techniques for graphics processing. In one example, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to access a memory according to one of an unsecure mode and a secure mode. The GPU may include a memory access controller configured to direct memory transactions from at least one hardware unit of the GPU to a secure context bank in a memory controller when the GPU is operating in a secure mode, and configured to direct memory transactions from the at least one hardware unit of the GPU to an unsecure context bank in the memory controller when the GPU is operating in the unsecure mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, Ramesh Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9645866
    Abstract: This disclosure describes communication techniques that may be used within a multiple-processor computing platform. The techniques may, in some examples, provide software interfaces that may be used to support message passing within a multiple-processor computing platform that initiates tasks using command queues. The techniques may, in additional examples, provide software interfaces that may be used for shared memory inter-processor communication within a multiple-processor computing platform. In further examples, the techniques may provide a graphics processing unit (GPU) that includes hardware for supporting message passing and/or shared memory communication between the GPU and a host CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexei V. Bourd, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia, Chihong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9626234
    Abstract: This disclosure describes communication techniques that may be used within a multiple-processor computing platform. The techniques may, in some examples, provide software interfaces that may be used to support message passing within a multiple-processor computing platform that initiates tasks using command queues. The techniques may, in additional examples, provide software interfaces that may be used for shared memory inter-processor communication within a multiple-processor computing platform. In further examples, the techniques may provide a graphics processing unit (GPU) that includes hardware for supporting message passing and/or shared memory communication between the GPU and a host CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexei Vladimirovich Bourd, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia, Chihong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170039381
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes techniques for graphics processing. In one example, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to access a memory according to one of an unsecure mode and a secure mode. The GPU may include a memory access controller configured to direct memory transactions from at least one hardware unit of the GPU to an unsecure memory unit or a secure memory unit based on the unsecure mode or secure mode and a resource descriptor associated with a memory resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, Ramesh Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20170039396
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes techniques for graphics processing. In one example, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to access a memory according to one of an unsecure mode and a secure mode. The GPU may include a memory access controller configured to direct memory transactions from at least one hardware unit of the GPU to a secure context bank in a memory controller when the GPU is operating in a secure mode, and configured to direct memory transactions from the at least one hardware unit of the GPU to an unsecure context bank in the memory controller when the GPU is operating in the unsecure mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, Ramesh Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9489313
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for systems and methods to process a non-resident page that may include attempting to access the non-resident page, an address for the non-resident page pointing to a memory page containing default values, determining that the non-resident page should not cause a page fault based on an indicator indicating that a particular non-resident page should not generate a page fault, returning an indication that a memory read did not translate and returning the default value when the access of the non-resident page is a read and the non-resident page should not cause a page fault. Another example may discontinue a write when the access of the non-resident page is a write and the non-resident page should not cause a page fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: David A. Gotwalt, Thomas Edwin Frisinger, Andrew Evan Gruber, Eric Demers, Colin Christopher Sharp
  • Patent number: 9436616
    Abstract: A device includes a memory that stores a first page table that includes a first page table entry, wherein the first page table entry further includes a physical address, an alternative location associated with the page table entry, and a physical page of memory associated with the physical address. A first processing unit is configured to: read the first page table entry, and determine the physical address from the first page table entry. The second processing unit is configured to: read the physical address from the first page table entry, determine second page attribute data from the alternative location, wherein the second page attribute data define one or more accessibility attributes of the physical page of memory for the second processing unit, and access the physical page of memory associated with the physical address according to the one or more accessibility attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, Thomas Andrew Sartorius
  • Publication number: 20160098813
    Abstract: A transparent format converter (TFC) may determine that a request by at least one processor for graphics data stored in graphics memory is indicative of a request for graphics data in a first data format. The TFC may retrieve the graphics data in a second data format from the graphics memory based at least in part on the request for the graphics data in the graphics memory. The TFC may convert the retrieved graphics data from the second data format to the first data format. The TFC may store the converted graphics data in the first data format into a memory that is accessible by the at least one processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Sudeep Ravi Kottilingal, Moinul Khan, Colin Christopher Sharp
  • Patent number: 9275429
    Abstract: The techniques described in the disclosure are generally related to gradual, iterative hang recovery for a graphics processing unit (GPU). The techniques described in the disclosure attempt to re-execute instructions of an application in response to a GPU hang, rather than stopping the execution of the application. If the re-execution causes the GPU to hang again, the techniques described in the disclosure cause the GPU to iteratively execute next set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Srihari Babu Alla, Tarun Reddy Karra, Jonathan Gerald Thomason, Colin Christopher Sharp
  • Patent number: 9218289
    Abstract: A method includes storing, with a first programmable processor, shared variable data to cache lines of a first cache of the first processor. The method further includes executing, with the first programmable processor, a store-with-release operation, executing, with a second programmable processor, a load-with-acquire operation, and loading, with the second programmable processor, the value of the shared variable data from a cache of the second programmable processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bohuslav Rychlik, Tzung Ren Tzeng, Andrew Evan Gruber, Alexei V. Bourd, Colin Christopher Sharp, Eric Demers
  • Publication number: 20150302546
    Abstract: A device comprising a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: receive a GPU command packet that indicates the GPU may select between a direct rendering mode or a binning rendering mode for a portion of a frame to be rendered by the GPU, determine whether to use the direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode for the portion of the frame to be rendered by the GPU based on at least one of: information in the received command packet or a state of the GPU, and render the portion of the frame using the determined direct rendering mode or the binning rendering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Murat Balci, Avinash Seetharamaiah, Christopher Paul Frascati, Jonnala gadda Nagendra Kumar, Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia
  • Patent number: 9134954
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes techniques for demand paging for an IO device (e.g., a GPU) that utilize pre-fetch and pre-back notification event signaling to reduce latency associated with demand paging. Page faults are limited by performing the demand paging operations prior to the IO device actually requesting unbacked memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Colin Christopher Sharp, David Rigel Garcia Garcia, Eduardus A. Metz
  • Publication number: 20150235338
    Abstract: The techniques described in the disclosure are generally related to gradual, iterative hang recovery for a graphics processing unit (GPU). The techniques described in the disclosure attempt to re-execute instructions of an application in response to a GPU hang, rather than stopping the execution of the application. If the re-execution causes the GPU to hang again, the techniques described in the disclosure cause the GPU to iteratively execute next set of instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Srihari Babu Alla, Tarun Karra, Jonathan Gerald Thomason, Colin Christopher Sharp