Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a graphics processor when performing a processing pass that includes an initial “pilot” processing job that executes a respective initial “pilot” shader program that is to be executed in advance of a corresponding “main” shader program that will be executed for a separate “main” processing job within the same processing pass. A “main” processing job is permitted to be issued for processing concurrently with an initial “pilot” processing job on which it depends. To enforce dependencies between “main” and “pilot” shader execution in this case it is tracked whether any initial “pilot” processing jobs are currently being processed by the set of one or more processing cores and processing of tasks for “main” processing jobs is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: When performing a sequence of rendering jobs, rendering tasks for separate rendering jobs are permitted to overlap within the graphics processor's processing (shader) cores. A record is maintained of which rendering tasks are currently being processed by the graphics processor's processing (shader) cores which record can then be used to enforce any data (processing) dependencies between different rendering jobs.

Abstract: When generating a sequence of render outputs using a graphics processor, the completion status of rendering tasks from different render outputs is tracked so that processing tasks for later render outputs in the sequence of outputs can be processed concurrently with processing tasks for earlier render outputs in the sequence of outputs whilst ensuring that any dependencies between the rendering tasks for the different render outputs are enforced. In particular, there is disclosed a mechanism for suspending the sequence of rendering jobs (so that it may subsequently be resumed).

Abstract: When generating a sequence of render outputs using a graphics processor, the completion status of rendering tasks from different render outputs is tracked so that processing tasks for later render outputs in the sequence of outputs can be processed concurrently with processing tasks for earlier render outputs in the sequence of outputs whilst ensuring that any dependencies between the rendering tasks for the different render outputs are enforced.

Abstract: When performing tile-based rendering a first, pre-pass operation in which primitives in a sequence of primitives for a tile are processed to determine visibility information for the sequence of primitives, the visibility information being usable to determine whether or not fragments for a primitive in the sequence of primitives should subsequently be processed further for the render output, is performed. Thereafter a second, main pass operation is performed in which the further processing of fragments for primitives that were processed during the first, pre-pass operation is controlled based on the determined visibility information for the sequence of primitives, such that for fragments for which the visibility information indicates that the fragments should not be processed further for the render output some or all of the processing during the second, main pass is omitted. The visibility information indicates which primitives should be rendered for which sampling positions of the render output.

Abstract: When performing tile-based rendering a first, pre-pass operation in which primitives in a sequence of primitives for a tile are processed to determine visibility information for the sequence of primitives, the visibility information being usable to determine whether or not fragments for a primitive in the sequence of primitives should subsequently be processed further for the render output, is performed. Thereafter a second, main pass operation is performed in which the further processing of fragments for primitives that were processed during the first, pre-pass operation is controlled based on the determined visibility information for the sequence of primitives, such that for fragments for which the visibility information indicates that the fragments should not be processed further for the render output some or all of the processing during the second, main pass is omitted. The visibility information indicates which primitives should be rendered for which sampling positions of the render output.

Abstract: Disclosed subject matter relates generally to graphics processing, and relates more particularly to processing graphics vertex content.

Abstract: Disclosed subject matter relates generally to graphics processing, and relates more particularly to processing graphics vertex content.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing graphics in a tile-based graphics processing system, wherein when preparing primitive lists it is determined, based on a measure of the size of a primitive, whether or not to perform processing of one or more attributes of one or more vertices of the primitive.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing graphics in a tile-based graphics processing system, wherein when preparing primitive lists it is determined, based on a measure of the size of a primitive, whether or not to perform processing of one or more attributes of one or more vertices of the primitive.