Abstract: A graphics processing pipeline includes three architectural features that allow a fragment shader to efficiently calculate per-sample attribute values using barycentric coordinates and per-vertex attributes. The first feature is barycentric coordinate injection to provide barycentric coordinates to the fragment shader. The second feature is an attribute qualifier that allows an attribute of a graphics primitive to be processed without conventional fixed-function interpolation. The third feature is a direct access path from the fragment shader to triangle data storage hardware resources where vertex attribute data and/or plane equation coefficients are stored. Allowing the fragment shader to calculate per-sample attribute values in this way advantageously increases system flexibility while reducing workload associated with triangle plane equation setup.

Abstract: A graphics processing pipeline includes three architectural features that allow a fragment shader to efficiently calculate per-sample attribute values using barycentric coordinates and per-vertex attributes. The first feature is barycentric coordinate injection to provide barycentric coordinates to the fragment shader. The second feature is an attribute qualifier that allows an attribute of a graphics primitive to be processed without conventional fixed-function interpolation. The third feature is a direct access path from the fragment shader to triangle data storage hardware resources where vertex attribute data and/or plane equation coefficients are stored. Allowing the fragment shader to calculate per-sample attribute values in this way advantageously increases system flexibility while reducing workload associated with triangle plane equation setup.

Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for sub-frame scan-out are disclosed. The method includes the steps of dividing a frame into a plurality of slices. For each slice in the plurality of slices, the steps further include sampling a sensor associated with a head mounted display to generate sample data corresponding to the slice; adjusting one or more parameters associated with rendering operations for the slice based on the sample data; and rendering primitive data associated with a model according to the rendering operations to generate image data for the slice. Each slice is a portion of the frame and corresponds to different sample data from the sensor. Thus, adjusting of the parameters is different for each slice of the frame.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for executing processes involving at least one primitive in a graphics processor, utilizing a data structure. In operation, a data structure is associated with at least one primitive. Additionally, a plurality of processes involving the at least one primitive are executed in a graphics processor, utilizing the data structure. Moreover, the plurality of processes include at least one of selecting at least one surface or portion thereof to which to render, or selecting at least one of a plurality of viewports.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for generating multi-view image data. The method includes the steps of processing primitive data of a model to generate processed primitive data that includes multiple position vectors for each vertex in the primitive data, the number of position vectors associated with each vertex being equal to the number of views in at least two views being generated. The method further includes storing the processed primitive data in a buffer. Finally, the processed primitive data may be read from the buffer for each view in the at least two views and transmitted to a raster pipeline to generate image data corresponding to a particular view.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for processing primitive-specific attributes. A portion of a graphics processor is determined to operate in a fast geometry shader mode and a vertex associated with a set of per-vertex attributes is determined to be a shared vertex. The shared vertex is determined to be a non-provoking vertex corresponding to a first primitive that is associated with a first set of per-primitive attributes and the shared vertex is determined to be a provoking vertex corresponding to a second primitive that is associated with a second set of per-primitive attributes. Only one set of the per-vertex attributes associated with the shared vertex is stored and only one of the second set of per-primitive attributes associated with the second primitive is stored.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for generating multi-view image data. The method includes the steps of processing primitive data of a model to generate processed primitive data that includes multiple position vectors for each vertex in the primitive data, the number of position vectors associated with each vertex being equal to the number of views in at least two views being generated. The method further includes storing the processed primitive data in a buffer. Finally, the processed primitive data may be read from the buffer for each view in the at least two views and transmitted to a raster pipeline to generate image data corresponding to a particular view.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for adjusting vertex positions. One or more viewport dimensions are received and a snap spacing is determined based on the one or more viewport dimensions. The vertex positions are adjusted to a grid according to the snap spacing. The precision of the vertex adjustment may increase as at least one dimension of the viewport decreases. The precision of the vertex adjustment may decrease as at least one dimension of the viewport increases.

Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for sub-frame scan-out are disclosed. The method includes the steps of dividing a frame into a plurality of slices. For each slice in the plurality of slices, the steps further include sampling a sensor associated with a head mounted display to generate sample data corresponding to the slice; adjusting one or more parameters associated with rendering operations for the slice based on the sample data; and rendering primitive data associated with a model according to the rendering operations to generate image data for the slice. Each slice is a portion of the frame and corresponds to different sample data from the sensor. Thus, adjusting of the parameters is different for each slice of the frame.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for passing attribute structures between shader stages of a processing pipeline. The method includes the steps of receiving data represented at a first level by a processing pipeline including an upstream shader unit, a downstream shader unit, and a processing unit. The upstream shader unit processes the data to generate a first set of attributes corresponding to the data represented at a second level. The upstream shader unit also stores the first set of the attributes in a first portion of a memory system that can be read by the downstream shader unit and any shader units that are downstream in the processing pipeline relative to the upstream shader unit. In one embodiment, the processing unit is coupled between the upstream shader unit and the downstream shader unit.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for adjusting vertex positions. One or more viewport dimensions are received and a snap spacing is determined based on the one or more viewport dimensions. The vertex positions are adjusted to a grid according to the snap spacing. The precision of the vertex adjustment may increase as at least one dimension of the viewport decreases. The precision of the vertex adjustment may decrease as at least one dimension of the viewport increases.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for adjusting vertex positions. One or more viewport dimensions are received and a snap spacing is determined based on the one or more viewport dimensions. The vertex positions are adjusted to a grid according to the snap spacing. The precision of the vertex adjustment may increase as at least one dimension of the viewport decreases. The precision of the vertex adjustment may decrease as at least one dimension of the viewport increases.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating primitive-specific attributes. In operation, it is determined whether a portion of a graphics processor is operating in a predetermined mode. If it is determined that the portion of the graphics processor is operating in the predetermined mode, only one or more primitive-specific attributes are generated in association with a primitive.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a size of an attribute storage buffer. Input attributes read by a shader program to generate output attributes are identified. A portion of the output attributes to be consumed by a destination shader program is identified. The size of the attribute storage buffer that is allocated for execution of the shader program is computed based on the input attributes and the portion of the output attributes.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for processing primitive-specific attributes. A portion of a graphics processor is determined to operate in a fast geometry shader mode and a vertex associated with a set of per-vertex attributes is determined to be a shared vertex. The shared vertex is determined to be a non-provoking vertex corresponding to a first primitive that is associated with a first set of per-primitive attributes and the shared vertex is determined to be a provoking vertex corresponding to a second primitive that is associated with a second set of per-primitive attributes. Only one set of the per-vertex attributes associated with the shared vertex is stored and only one of the second set of per-primitive attributes associated with the second primitive is stored.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for passing attribute structures between shader stages of a processing pipeline. The method includes the steps of receiving data represented at a first level by a processing pipeline including an upstream shader unit, a downstream shader unit, and a processing unit. The upstream shader unit processes the data to generate a first set of attributes corresponding to the data represented at a second level. The upstream shader unit also stores the first set of the attributes in a first portion of a memory system that can be read by the downstream shader unit and any shader units that are downstream in the processing pipeline relative to the upstream shader unit. In one embodiment, the processing unit is coupled between the upstream shader unit and the downstream shader unit.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating primitive-specific attributes. In operation, it is determined whether a portion of a graphics processor is operating in a predetermined mode. If it is determined that the portion of the graphics processor is operating in the predetermined mode, only one or more primitive-specific attributes are generated in association with a primitive.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for adjusting vertex positions. One or more viewport dimensions are received and a snap spacing is determined based on the one or more viewport dimensions. The vertex positions are adjusted to a grid according to the snap spacing. The precision of the vertex adjustment may increase as at least one dimension of the viewport decreases. The precision of the vertex adjustment may decrease as at least one dimension of the viewport increases.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for executing processes involving at least one primitive in a graphics processor, utilizing a data structure. In operation, a data structure is associated with at least one primitive. Additionally, a plurality of processes involving the at least one primitive are executed in a graphics processor, utilizing the data structure. Moreover, the plurality of processes include at least one of selecting at least one surface or portion thereof to which to render, or selecting at least one of a plurality of viewports.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a size of an attribute storage buffer. Input attributes read by a shader program to generate output attributes are identified. A portion of the output attributes to be consumed by a destination shader program is identified. The size of the attribute storage buffer that is allocated for execution of the shader program is computed based on the input attributes and the portion of the output attributes.