US5706478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display list processor for operating in processor and coprocessor modes
Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc
•
Filing: 1994-11-14
•
Granted: 1998-01-06
•
Expires: 2014-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A processor for executing display list command packets in processor or coprocessor mode of execution. The processor dynamically switches between the two modes based on the commands or interrupts received. Each display list packet includes a plurality of commands associated with a particular function, where each command includes a field for identifying the number of parameters associated with the command, if any. The parameters immediately follow the instruction in the instruction stream in a sequential format, eliminating address dependency. Each command preferably conforms to the same format regardless of location and mode of execution, so that the software and driver is simplified by not having to generate different code for different locations and modes. Thus, a host CPU executing an application program decides whether certain commands and command packets reside in system memory or within a local memory associated with the processor. The host CPU feeds commands to the processor in a coprocessor mode or sends an instruction commanding the processor to switch to processor mode and begin locating and executing commands. An idle instruction within the instruction stream places the processor back into coprocessor mode. In a graphics subsystem implemented according to the present invention, for example, a graphics processor executes display list packets associated with real-time graphics functions loaded into a private memory. Other, less time dependent commands may be fed by the host CPU or a DMA device to the graphics processor operating in coprocessor mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Anthony Dye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/30; G06F9/38; G06F9/3824; G06F9/383; G06F9/3867; G06F9/3877; G06F9/3879; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/20; G06T15/00; G06T15/50; G06T15/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; system memory coupled to said system bus; a local bus; a set of transceivers coupled to said system and local buses for allowing data transfer; a first processor coupled to said system bus for generating display list commands and for storing said display list commands into said system memory; and a display list processor coupled to said local bus for executing said display list commands directly from said system memory in a processor mode or indirectly executing said commands in a coprocessor mode wherein said first processor controls said local bus and feeds said display list commands to said display list processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer system, comprising: a system bus; system memory coupled to said system bus; a local bus; a set of transceivers coupled to said system and local buses for allowing data transfer; a first processor coupled to said system bus for generating display list commands and for storing said display list commands into said system memory; and a display list processor coupled to said local bus for executing said display list commands directly from said system memory in a processor mode or indirectly executing said commands in a coprocessor mode wherein said first processor controls said local bus and feeds said display list commands to said display list processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a local memory coupled to said local bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 2, further comprising means coupled to said system bus for transferring selected ones of said display list commands to said local memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer system of claim 3, wherein said first processor generates and stores display list commands into said system memory while said transferring means transfers selected ones of said display list commands from said system memory to said local memory and while said second processor loads and executes display list commands from said local memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 3, wherein said transferring means comprises a direct memory access device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 2, wherein said first processor directs that certain ones of said display list commands are transferred to said local memory for execution by said display list processor in processor mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said display list commands are grouped into display list packets, wherein each display list packet comprises a plurality of display list commands associated with a particular function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system of claim 7, wherein said display list commands include branching instructions for linking associated ones of said display list packets together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said display list processor includes: a register file including an instruction register; and control logic coupled to said register file for reading an instruction within said instruction register and for dynamically switching between said processor and coprocessor modes based on said display list commands read by said control logic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein said display list commands include a parameter field specifying a number of parameters associated with said command stored in consecutive memory locations in said system memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a computer system including a graphics processor and memory, a method of processing graphics commands comprising the steps of: storing display list packet commands in the memory, each command including an opcode field identifying command type and a parameter field identifying a number of associated parameters; loading selected ones of the display list packet commands into the graphics processor operating in coprocessor mode, the graphics processor immediately executing each loaded command in coprocessor mode; and one of said loaded commands providing an address and instructing the graphics processor to branch to the address and begin executing display list packet commands, wherein the graphics processor dynamically switches to a processor mode and begins executing the commands beginning at the specified address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a computer system including a graphics processor and memory, a method of processing graphics commands comprising the steps of: storing display list packet commands in the memory, each command including an opcode field identifying command type and a parameter field identifying a number of associated parameters; loading selected ones of the display list packet commands into the graphics processor operating in coprocessor mode, the graphics processor immediately executing each loaded command in coprocessor mode; and one of said loaded commands providing an address and instructing the graphics processor to branch to the address and begin executing display list packet commands, wherein the graphics processor dynamically switches to a processor mode and begins executing the commands beginning at the specified address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the computer system includes a local memory and wherein the display list commands are initially stored in system memory, before said step of instructing, further comprising the step of: transferring selected ones of the display list packet commands to an address in the local memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: storing additional display list packet commands in the system memory and transferring commands into the local memory while the graphics processor executes the selected display list packet commands.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said step of executing the display list commands comprises the steps of retrieving the number of associated parameters from consecutive locations in the addressing scheme according to the parameter field.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer system, comprising: a bus; a memory coupled to said bus that stores a plurality of display list commands; a display list processor coupled to said bus that executes said display list commands in a processor mode by directly accessing said memory and loading said commands or that receives said commands and executes said commands in a coprocessor mode; and means for controlling said bus and accessing said commands and providing said commands to said display list processor while operating in said coprocessor mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer system, comprising: a bus; a memory coupled to said bus that stores a plurality of display list commands; a display list processor coupled to said bus that executes said display list commands in a processor mode by directly accessing said memory and loading said commands or that receives said commands and executes said commands in a coprocessor mode; and means for controlling said bus and accessing said commands and providing said commands to said display list processor while operating in said coprocessor mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 15, further comprising means coupled to said bus for generating said display list commands and for loading said commands into said memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said display list processor includes: a register file including an instruction register; and control logic coupled to said register file for reading an instruction within said instruction register and for dynamically switching between said processor and coprocessor modes based on said instructions read by said control logic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said controlling means comprises a host processor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said controlling means comprises a direct memory access device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said display list commands are grouped into display list packets, wherein each display list packet comprises a plurality of display list commands associated with a particular function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein each one of said display list commands includes a parameter field specifying a number of parameters associated with that command, wherein said parameters are stored in consecutive locations in said memory following said command.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein each one of said display list commands includes an opcode field for specifying one of a plurality of command types.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said display list processor is a graphics processor and said display list commands are graphics commands.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said display list commands are the same format for said processor and coprocessor modes of execution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5388841A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-05 | 2001-07-07 | 2002-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-05 | 2005-07-07 | 2006-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-05 | 2009-07-07 | 2010-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |