Patent ID: 6246422
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
A method for storing texture maps in a multi-bank memory with more than two memory banks, the method comprising:(a) reading a series of mip maps from a main system memory, wherein successive mip maps in said series have successively smaller sizes;(b) classifying each mip map in said series as large or small based on the mip map's size with respect to a size limit;(c) dividing each mip map of said series into a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion of each mip map comprise triangular sections separated by a line u=v, wherein u is a horizontal axis for the mip map and v is a vertical axis for the mip map;(d) storing the first portions of any two consecutive large mip maps of said series into distinct memory banks within the multi-bank memory;(e) storing the second portions of any two consecutive large mip maps of said series into distinct memory banks, wherein the first portion and the second portion of large mip maps are stored in distinct memory banks of said multi-bank memory; and(f) storing the first and second portions of small mip maps, after a largest small mip map in said series, in a first memory bank of said multi-bank memory.