Abstract: A data processing system 2 utilises non-volatile storage 18 to store constant values. An instruction decoder 24 decodes program instructions to generate control signals to control processing circuitry 20, 22 to perform processing operations which may include processing operations corresponding to constant-using program instructions. Such constant-using program instructions may include one or more operation specifying fields and one or more argument specifying fields 28 which control the processing circuitry 20, 22 to generate an output value equal to that given by reading one or more constant values from the non-volatile storage 18, optionally modifying such a value, and then performing the processing operation upon the value, or the modified value, to generate an output value.

Abstract: When rendering a pair of images representing the same scene from different viewpoints, a displacement that is a measure of the difference between the position of content of the scene to be processed (for the purpose of rendering the pair of images) in the first image and in the second image of the pair of images is determined for each of plural regions that the images are divided into for processing purposes. The determined displacements are then used to control the order in which the respective regions of the images are rendered.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit comprises a programmable execution unit executing graphics processing programs for execution threads to perform graphics processing operations, a local register memory comprising one or more registers, where registers of the register memory are assignable to store data associated with an individual execution thread that is being executed by the execution unit, and where the register(s) assigned to an individual execution thread are accessible only to that associated individual execution thread, and a further local memory that is operable to store data for use in common by plural execution threads, where the data stored in the further local memory is accessible to plural execution threads as they execute. The programmable execution unit is operable to selectively store output data for an execution thread in a register(s) of the local register memory assigned to the execution thread, and the further local memory.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit comprises a programmable execution unit executing graphics processing programs for execution threads to perform graphics processing operations, a local register memory comprising one or more registers, where registers of the register memory are assignable to store data associated with an individual execution thread that is being executed by the execution unit, and where the register(s) assigned to an individual execution thread are accessible only to that associated individual execution thread, and a further local memory that is operable to store data for use in common by plural execution threads, where the data stored in the further local memory is accessible to plural execution threads as they execute. The programmable execution unit is operable to selectively store output data for an execution thread in a register(s) of the local register memory assigned to the execution thread, and the further local memory.

Abstract: When rendering a pair of images representing the same scene from different viewpoints, a displacement that is a measure of the difference between the position of content of the scene to be processed (for the purpose of rendering the pair of images) in the first image and in the second image of the pair of images is determined for each of plural regions that the images are divided into for processing purposes. The determined displacements are then used to control the order in which the respective regions of the images are rendered.