Abstract: A queue manager apparatus converts inbound commands of a first width into scalar format commands to be queued in a command queue. Furthermore, the queue manager converts the scalar format commands residing in the command queue into outbound commands of a second width for transmission. Converting inbound commands to scalar format commands and then converting the scalar format commands to a target width for transmission allows the queue manager to advantageously provide efficient and programmable command transmission between arbitrary processing units, regardless of potentially mismatched native command widths.

Abstract: A queue manager apparatus converts inbound commands of a first width into scalar format commands to be queued in a command queue. Furthermore, the queue manager converts the scalar format commands residing in the command queue into outbound commands of a second width for transmission. Converting inbound commands to scalar format commands and then converting the scalar format commands to a target width for transmission allows the queue manager to advantageously provide efficient and programmable command transmission between arbitrary processing units, regardless of potentially mismatched native command widths.

Abstract: A queue manager apparatus converts inbound commands of a first width into scalar format commands to be queued in a command queue. Furthermore, the queue manager converts the scalar format commands residing in the command queue into outbound commands of a second width for transmission. Converting inbound commands to scalar format commands and then converting the scalar format commands to a target width for transmission allows the queue manager to advantageously provide efficient and programmable command transmission between arbitrary processing units, regardless of potentially mismatched native command widths.

Abstract: A streaming multiprocessor (SM) in a parallel processing subsystem schedules priority among a plurality of threads. The SM retrieves a priority descriptor associated with a thread group, and determines whether the thread group and a second thread group are both operating in the same phase. If so, then the method determines whether the priority descriptor of the thread group indicates a higher priority than the priority descriptor of the second thread group. If so, the SM skews the thread group relative to the second thread group such that the thread groups operate in different phases, otherwise the SM increases the priority of the thread group. f the thread groups are not operating in the same phase, then the SM increases the priority of the thread group. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that thread groups execute with increased efficiency, resulting in improved processor performance.

Abstract: A queue manager apparatus converts inbound commands of a first width into scalar format commands to be queued in a command queue. Furthermore, the queue manager converts the scalar format commands residing in the command queue into outbound commands of a second width for transmission. Converting inbound commands to scalar format commands and then converting the scalar format commands to a target width for transmission allows the queue manager to advantageously provide efficient and programmable command transmission between arbitrary processing units, regardless of potentially mismatched native command widths.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method are disclosed for performing an intersection query between a query beam and a target bounding volume. The target bounding volume may comprise an axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) associated with a bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) tree. An intersection query comprising beam information associated with the query beam and slab boundary information for a first dimension of a target bounding volume is received. Intersection parameter values are calculated for the first dimension based on the beam information and the slab boundary information and a slab intersection case is determined for the first dimension based on the beam information. A parametric variable range for the first dimension is assigned based on the slab intersection case and the intersection parameter values and it is determined whether the query beam intersects the target bounding volume based on at least the parametric variable range for the first dimension.

Abstract: A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method are disclosed for performing an intersection query between a query beam and a target bounding volume. The target bounding volume may comprise an axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) associated with a bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) tree. An intersection query comprising beam information associated with the query beam and slab boundary information for a first dimension of a target bounding volume is received. Intersection parameter values are calculated for the first dimension based on the beam information and the slab boundary information and a slab intersection case is determined for the first dimension based on the beam information. A parametric variable range for the first dimension is assigned based on the slab intersection case and the intersection parameter values and it is determined whether the query beam intersects the target bounding volume based on at least the parametric variable range for the first dimension.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a streaming multiprocessor (SM) uses a tree of nodes to manage threads. Each node specifies a set of active threads and a program counter. Upon encountering a conditional instruction that causes an execution path to diverge, the SM creates child nodes corresponding to each of the divergent execution paths. Based on the conditional instruction, the SM assigns each active thread included in the parent node to at most one child node, and the SM temporarily discontinues executing instructions specified by the parent node. Instead, the SM concurrently executes instructions specified by the child nodes. After all the divergent paths reconverge to the parent path, the SM resumes executing instructions specified by the parent node. Advantageously, the disclosed techniques enable the SM to execute divergent paths in parallel, thereby reducing undesirable program behavior associated with conventional techniques that serialize divergent paths across thread groups.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a streaming multiprocessor (SM) uses a tree of nodes to manage threads. Each node specifies a set of active threads and a program counter. Upon encountering a conditional instruction that causes an execution path to diverge, the SM creates child nodes corresponding to each of the divergent execution paths. Based on the conditional instruction, the SM assigns each active thread included in the parent node to at most one child node, and the SM temporarily discontinues executing instructions specified by the parent node. Instead, the SM concurrently executes instructions specified by the child nodes. After all the divergent paths reconverge to the parent path, the SM resumes executing instructions specified by the parent node. Advantageously, the disclosed techniques enable the SM to execute divergent paths in parallel, thereby reducing undesirable program behavior associated with conventional techniques that serialize divergent paths across thread groups.

Abstract: A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer.

Abstract: A streaming multiprocessor (SM) in a parallel processing subsystem schedules priority among a plurality of threads. The SM retrieves a priority descriptor associated with a thread group, and determines whether the thread group and a second thread group are both operating in the same phase. If so, then the method determines whether the priority descriptor of the thread group indicates a higher priority than the priority descriptor of the second thread group. If so, the SM skews the thread group relative to the second thread group such that the thread groups operate in different phases, otherwise the SM increases the priority of the thread group. f the thread groups are not operating in the same phase, then the SM increases the priority of the thread group. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that thread groups execute with increased efficiency, resulting in improved processor performance.

Abstract: A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer.

Abstract: An indirect branch instruction takes an address register as an argument in order to provide indirect function call capability for single-instruction multiple-thread (SIMT) processor architectures. The indirect branch instruction is used to implement indirect function calls, virtual function calls, and switch statements to improve processing performance compared with using sequential chains of tests and branches.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method are disclosed for performing an intersection query between a query beam and a target bounding volume. The target bounding volume may comprise an axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) associated with a bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) tree. An intersection query comprising beam information associated with the query beam and slab boundary information for a first dimension of a target bounding volume is received. Intersection parameter values are calculated for the first dimension based on the beam information and the slab boundary information and a slab intersection case is determined for the first dimension based on the beam information. A parametric variable range for the first dimension is assigned based on the slab intersection case and the intersection parameter values and it is determined whether the query beam intersects the target bounding volume based on at least the parametric variable range for the first dimension.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for a program to access multi-dimensional formatted graphics surface memory. Multi-dimensional memory objects called “surfaces” stored in a user-specified data or pixel format and arranged in a graphics optimized layout are accessed by programs using surface instructions. A set of memory access instructions e.g., load, store, reduce, and atomic, referred to as surface instructions, may be used to access the surfaces. Coordinate bounds checking is performed with configurable clamping. Caching behavior may also be specified by the surface instructions. Data format conversion and packing to a specified storage format is supported for store, reduction, and atomic surface instructions. Data format conversion and unpacking from a specified storage format is supported for loads and atomic surface instructions.

Abstract: A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for hardware scheduling of barrier instructions. Execution of a plurality of threads to process instructions of a program that includes a barrier instruction is initiated, and when each thread reaches the barrier instruction during execution of program, it is determined whether the thread participates in the barrier instruction. The threads that participate in the barrier instruction are then serially executed to process one or more instructions of the program that follow the barrier instruction. A method and system are also provided for impatient scheduling of barrier instructions. When a portion of the threads that is greater than a minimum number of threads and less than all of the threads in the plurality of threads reaches the barrier instruction each of the threads in the portion is serially executed to process one or more instructions of the program that follow the barrier instruction.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for hardware scheduling of indexed barrier instructions. Execution of a plurality of threads to process instructions of a program that includes a barrier instruction is initiated and when each thread reaches the barrier instruction, the thread pauses execution of the instructions. A first sub-group of threads in the plurality of threads is associated with a first sub-barrier index and a second sub-group of threads in the plurality of threads is associated with a second sub-barrier index. When the barrier instruction can be scheduled for execution, threads in the first sub-group are executed serially and threads in the second sub-group are executed serially and at least one thread in the first sub-group is executed in parallel with at least one thread in the second sub-group.

Abstract: A streaming multiprocessor (SM) in a parallel processing subsystem schedules priority among a plurality of threads. The SM retrieves a priority descriptor associated with a thread group, and determines whether the thread group and a second thread group are both operating in the same phase. If so, then the method determines whether the priority descriptor of the thread group indicates a higher priority than the priority descriptor of the second thread group. If so, the SM skews the thread group relative to the second thread group such that the thread groups operate in different phases, otherwise the SM increases the priority of the thread group. f the thread groups are not operating in the same phase, then the SM increases the priority of the thread group. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that thread groups execute with increased efficiency, resulting in improved processor performance.