Patent ID: 7583268
Filing Date: 2009-09-01
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for an interruptible graphics processing unit (“GPU”) to interrupt processing of a first context and to initiate processing of a second context, comprising the steps of: communicating an interrupt signal on a communication path from a command processor to a plurality of pipeline processing blocks in a graphics pipeline; establishing a primitive identifier, a tile identifier, and an instance identifier in a context save buffer corresponding to a processing status of the first context at the moment of receipt of the interrupt signal, the primitive identifier defining an interrupted primitive, the tile identifier defining an interrupted tile, and the instance identifier defining a point of interrupt in an interrupted draw command; forwarding a token corresponding to an end of an interrupted context from a command processor to a first pipeline processing block; discarding contents of a memory upon receipt of the interrupt signal on the communication path until the token is received; and forwarding the token to one or more additional pipeline processing blocks and memory units so that the token is communicated throughout the graphics pipeline to flush data associated with the first context, wherein data associated with the second context following the token through graphics pipeline may be processed.