JPH1031750A - Graphics command distributing method and graphics system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a graphics system capable of effectively utilizing texture memories in respective plotting mechanisms, assuring the processing order and executing anti-aliasing by properly distributing an object command. SOLUTION: The graphics system comprising a plurality of plotting mechanisms 1800 and a plurality of image compositors 1900 for synthesizing outputs from the mechanisms 1800 is provided with a command distribution processor 1500. A plurality of textures are distributed and stored in respective plotting mechanisms 1800, the storing address information of respective textures is recorded in a command distribution reference table 1400, an object command is transferred to a specific plotting mechanism 1800 in accordance with the storing address information and the texture arrangement of each plotting mechanism is changed in each frame, based on the number of object commands processed by each plotting mechanism, processing performance and the using frequency and the number of storing addresses of respective textures.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for processing graphics in a workstation or a personal computer, and more particularly to a graphics command distribution method when a plurality of drawing mechanisms are used, and graphics using the method. About the system.

[0002] In this specification, a graphics command and graphics data mean the same thing, and a graphics command is classified into a plurality of types of object commands.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a system including an information processing apparatus such as a workstation, in order to speed up graphics processing, a plurality of rendering mechanisms independently perform pixel development and synthesize the output of the rendering mechanism in units of one pixel. Thus, there is a method of generating an image to be displayed. For example, 1992
In the “High-speed and high-performance three-dimensional CG system“ Subaru ”” published in the IEICE Autumn Meeting pp6-201-207, pixels are generated in parallel by a plurality of drawing mechanisms, and each drawing mechanism is generated by a Z-merger. The pixels generated in step (1) are Z-compared and synthesized to generate an image to be displayed.

[0004]

The above prior art is disclosed in Fole
y, van Dam, Feiner, Hughes, "Computer GraphicsP
RINCIPLE and PRACTICE ”(published by ADDISON WESLEY) p9
As described in 06-907, there is an advantage that the image generation time can be reduced in proportion to the number of drawing mechanisms. However, the above-mentioned known example does not mention how to specifically distribute graphics data to each drawing mechanism.

A main object of the present invention is to operate a plurality of drawing mechanisms more efficiently in a graphics system having a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image superimposing means for synthesizing pixels generated by the respective drawing mechanisms. It is an object of the present invention to provide a graphics command distribution method and a graphics system capable of improving image quality or processing capacity.

[0006] More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to provide:
An object of the present invention is to provide a graphics system which pays attention to a method of distributing graphics commands and can effectively utilize a texture memory held by each drawing mechanism without deteriorating the advantages of the conventional technology.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a graphics system which can efficiently distribute the processing load of each drawing mechanism in the above-mentioned distribution method which makes effective use of the texture memory.

A third object of the present invention is to determine the load distribution among the respective drawing mechanisms in the above-mentioned distribution method for effectively utilizing the texture memory, while further considering the processing performance of each drawing mechanism. It is to provide a graphics system.

A fourth object of the present invention is to pay attention to a method of distributing graphics commands, and to guarantee that graphics are synthesized in the order in which graphics commands are issued without deteriorating the advantages of the prior art. To provide a service system.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a graphics system which can efficiently distribute the processing load of each drawing mechanism in the distribution method which guarantees the processing order.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a distribution method which guarantees a processing order, wherein a graphic distribution capable of determining a load distribution among the respective drawing mechanisms in consideration of the processing performance of the respective drawing mechanisms. To provide a service system.

A seventh object of the present invention is to pay attention to a method of distributing graphics commands, and without deteriorating the advantages of the above-mentioned prior art, according to the processing performance of each drawing mechanism and the number of object command processes. The object of the present invention is to provide a graphics system for transferring object commands so that a load distribution among the objects can be determined.

An eighth object of the present invention is to pay attention to a method of distributing graphics commands, and to realize graphics which realizes anti-aliasing without providing a special means for performing anti-aliasing in each drawing mechanism. Is to provide a system. Here, the monitor pixels are quantized. In the present specification, a display technique for eliminating jaggies caused by the quantization error is defined as anti-aliasing.

A ninth object of the present invention is that when there are a plurality of distribution methods of graphics commands, the distribution method can be arbitrarily switched without the user resetting the information necessary for each distribution method. It is to provide a graphics system that can do it.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to superimpose a plurality of drawing mechanisms for generating images in response to input graphics commands, and to superimpose the images generated by the drawing mechanisms. A graphics system comprising:
A reference information storage unit for storing information relating to graphics processing performed by each of the plurality of drawing mechanisms; a graphics command to be processed; a type of the received graphics command and stored in the reference information storage unit; And a command distribution unit that determines a transfer destination of the graphics command in accordance with the information and transfers the graphics command to the determined transfer destination.

More specifically, the first object is to store a plurality of textures in a distributed manner in each drawing mechanism, and store the texture storage location information in reference information storage means (hereinafter referred to as a command distribution reference table). This is achieved by providing a command distribution means (hereinafter, referred to as a command distribution processor) for transferring an object command among graphics commands to a unique drawing mechanism, based on the information.

For example, the texture is distributed and stored in each drawing mechanism so that the variation in the frequency of use of the texture is reduced among the drawing mechanisms. Object commands are
Among the rendering mechanisms that store the texture to be used, the number of object command processes is transferred to the rendering mechanism with the smallest number. With this distribution method, the texture memory of each drawing mechanism can be used effectively.

The second object is to store the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in a command distribution reference table,
Achieved by providing a command distribution processor that records the frequency of use of each texture and the number of storage locations for each texture, and changes the arrangement of textures based on this information so that the number of object commands processed is as uniform as possible among the drawing mechanisms. Is done.

For example, in the object command distribution method based on textures, a texture frequently used among the textures held by the drawing mechanism having the largest number of object command processing is drawn for each predetermined number of frames, and the number of object command processing is small. Copies are made to the mechanisms so as to suppress variations in the number of object command processes between the respective drawing mechanisms. Furthermore, when the object command distribution method based on textures is used, or when frequently used textures cannot be copied to other drawing mechanisms, textures are created based on the frequency of use of textures and the number of objects processed by each drawing mechanism. Rearrange. As a result, in the object command distribution method based on texture, load distribution between drawing mechanisms is improved.

The third object is to store the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in a command distribution reference table,
The usage frequency of each texture, the number of storage locations for each texture, and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism are recorded, and the arrangement of textures is changed based on this information so that the processing time of object commands is made as equal as possible between each drawing mechanism. This is achieved by providing a command distribution processor that performs

For example, in the object command distribution method based on textures, a texture which is frequently used among textures held by the drawing mechanism having the maximum number of object command processes / processing performance is assigned to the object every predetermined number of frames. The number of command processes / processing performance is copied to a rendering mechanism with a small value, so that the variation in the object command processing time between the rendering mechanisms is suppressed. Furthermore, when the object command distribution method based on textures is used, or when frequently used textures cannot be copied to other drawing mechanisms, the frequency of texture use, the number of object processes for each drawing mechanism, Relocate textures based on processing performance. This allows
In the object command distribution method based on texture, load distribution between drawing mechanisms is improved.

A fourth object of the present invention is to transfer a command to each drawing mechanism in order of P commands in units of P commands, and to transfer to the last drawing mechanism, even if the number of P commands exceeds P, until one frame is completed. This is achieved by providing a distribution processor.

P object commands are transferred to each drawing mechanism in the order of pixel synthesis. Even if the number of transferred object commands exceeds P, the last drawing mechanism transfers the object commands until the end of the frame. By this distribution method, images can be combined in the order in which the object commands are issued.

The fifth object is to record, in a command distribution reference table, the total number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in a previously processed predetermined frame period, and for each predetermined number of frames from the information. This is achieved by providing a command distribution processor that determines the number P of object commands to be transferred to one drawing mechanism.

More specifically, in the distribution method that guarantees the processing order, the number M of object commands processed by all drawing units in the previous frame is divided by the total number N of drawing units for each frame. Is the number of object commands P to be transferred to one drawing mechanism. However, when P <Q, Q object commands are transferred to each unit.
Q is the minimum number of object commands to be transferred to one drawing mechanism. When transferring less object commands than Q, the time required to transfer the object commands is longer than the time required to process the object commands in each drawing mechanism, resulting in lower efficiency. Thereby, in the distribution method that guarantees the processing order, the load distribution between the drawing mechanisms is improved.

The sixth object is to record the total number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in the previous frame and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism in the command distribution reference table, and transfer the information for each drawing mechanism from the information. This is achieved by providing a command distribution processor that determines the number P of object commands.

For example, in the above-mentioned distribution method for guaranteeing the processing order, the object commands to be transferred to each drawing mechanism according to the number of object commands processed by all the drawing mechanisms in the previous frame and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism for each drawing mechanism. Determine the number P. However, when P <Q, Q object commands are transferred to each unit. Thereby, in the distribution method that guarantees the processing order, the load distribution between the drawing mechanisms is improved.

The seventh object is to record the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism in the current frame in the command distribution reference table, and to transfer the object commands based on the information. This is achieved by providing a command distribution processor.

For example, the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism in the current frame are recorded in the command distribution reference table, and the value of the current number of processed objects / processing performance is the minimum. By distributing the object commands to the drawing mechanisms, load distribution between the drawing mechanisms is improved.

The eighth object is to set an individual sampling point for each drawing mechanism, and to set an image synthesizing method so as to add a value obtained by dividing a luminance value of each pixel by the number of all drawing mechanisms. This is achieved by providing a command distribution processor that transfers object commands to all drawing mechanisms. Here, a sample point is a representative point in a pixel area for representing a luminance value of a pixel.

That is, each individual sampling point is set for each drawing mechanism so that an anti-aliasing effect is obtained. Next, the image composition method is set so that the luminance value of the pixel output from each drawing mechanism is added by a value obtained by dividing the luminance value by the total number N of drawing mechanisms. The object command is transferred to all drawing mechanisms. Since the sampling points are different in each drawing mechanism, the luminance values of the pixels at the same position are slightly different. By synthesizing the images of these drawing mechanisms, anti-aliasing can be realized.

The ninth object is achieved by providing a command distribution processor for recording information required in each distribution mode in a command distribution reference table, irrespective of an object command distribution method.

More specifically, information necessary for each distribution method is always updated and recorded in the command distribution reference table as needed, even if the distribution method is switched. Each distribution method refers to this information,
Distribute object commands. Thereby, the distribution method can be switched without the user resetting the information necessary for each distribution method.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a graphics system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The graphics system according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 1000, a main memory 1100, a local memory 1300, a command distribution processor 1500, and various buses 1200 and 160.
0, 2100, and 2200, and a plurality of sets of drawing mechanisms 1800
And image compositor 1900 and display device 200
0.

In this embodiment, the image compositor 1900 functions as an image synthesizing unit. However, in the present invention, an image may be superimposed and synthesized using a unit other than the image compositor.

The CPU 1000 has a main memory 1100
Through the memory bus 2100 to execute the graphics application. The CPU 1000
During execution of the graphics application, graphics commands are transferred to the command distribution processor 1500 via the system bus 1200.

In this embodiment, graphics commands are classified into three types: object commands, graphics attribute commands, and control commands. The object command is a graphics command that constitutes an object such as a point, a line segment, and a triangle. As an example, there is a graphics command for designating the vertices of a triangle, which is composed of an operation code indicating the triangle and the coordinates of the vertex of the triangle. The graphics attribute command is a graphics command for setting attributes of an object such as a viewpoint position, a light source position and characteristics.

The control commands consist of four types of graphics commands: a distribution mode switching command, a frame switching command, a texture designation & cancellation command, and a texture storage & deletion command. The distribution mode switching command is a graphics command for switching the distribution method of the object command. The frame switching command is
This is a graphics command indicating the end of a frame, and executes all graphics commands such as commands already issued and stored in a transmission buffer between processors, for example. Further, the frame switching command signals the start of processing of the image compositor 1900. The texture designation & cancellation command is a graphics command for designating a texture to be used at present from one or a plurality of textures or canceling use of a texture. The texture save & delete command is a graphics command for saving or deleting a texture.

Upon receiving the graphics command as described above, the command distribution processor 1500 transfers the received graphics command to one or more of the plurality of drawing mechanisms 1800 via the system bus 1600. When transferring a graphic command, the command distribution processor 1500 refers to the command distribution reference table 1400 according to a user-designated or default distribution mode to determine which drawing mechanism to transfer. Decide.

The local memory 1300 is connected to the memory bus 2
It is connected to the command distribution processor 1500 via 200. The command distribution reference table 1400 is located on the local memory 1300 and is referred to and updated by the command distribution processor 1500 as needed.

The drawing mechanism 1800 has a graphics processor 1810, a texture memory 1820, and a frame memory 1830. When the drawing mechanism 1800 receives the transferred graphics command,
The graphics processor 1810 generates the image in the frame memory 1830 by referring to the texture memory 1820 as needed while developing the received graphics command into pixels.

When the graphics processor 1800 executes the frame switching command, the final image of the frame generated by the drawing mechanism 1800 is transferred to the image compositor 1900. Image compositor 1900
Starts the processing in order from the image compositor 1900 installed farthest from the display device 2000. The image compositor 1900 includes a pixel transferred from the drawing mechanism 1800 and an image compositor 1 adjacent to itself.
900 (an image compositor 1900 on the side farther from the display device 2000 than the own device) and 1
Combine for each pixel.

However, the display device 20 that performs processing first
The image compositor 1900 furthest from 00 is assumed to perform composition without pixel input from the adjacent image compositor 1900. The image compositing method in the image compositor 1900 is set by the command distribution processor 1500 via the image compositor control line 1700.

The image compositor 1 which is the last image compositor and is installed closest to the display device 2000
The final image synthesized by 900 is transferred to the display device 2000 and displayed.

In this embodiment, the command distribution processing is performed by the dedicated command distribution processor 1500 and the local memory 1300. The functions of the command distribution processor 1500 are performed by the CPU 1000 and the local memory 1300.
Of course, the function of 300 may be executed by the main memory 1100.

Next, the configuration of the command distribution reference table 1400 that the command distribution processor 1500 refers to to determine which drawing mechanism 1800 to transfer to will be described with reference to FIG.

The command distribution reference table 1400 includes a texture management table 1410, a drawing mechanism management table 1420, and a state table 1430. The texture management table 1410 stores the texture ID
1411, usage frequency 1412, storage location number 1413, storage location 1414, capacity 1415
The ID, the texture usage frequency for each texture ID, the number of texture storage locations, the texture storage locations, and the data indicating the texture capacity are stored.

The drawing mechanism management table 1420 for setting each information when the texture ID is declared includes the drawing mechanism ID.
1421, texture memory free space 1422, stored texture ID 1423, and number of object processes 1424. Each drawing mechanism ID has a free space in the texture memory of each drawing mechanism, a texture ID held by each drawing mechanism, and an object of each drawing mechanism. Stores data indicating the number of command processes.

The state table 1430 includes a current designated texture ID 1431 indicating a texture currently used, a distribution mode flag 1432 indicating a distribution method of the current object command, and a rendering mechanism counter (a rendering mechanism number indicating the number of the rendering mechanism which is currently transferring the object command). g) 143
3. It includes a previous frame object total processing number 1434 indicating the total number of object commands processed by all the drawing mechanisms in the previous one frame, and an object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 indicating the transfer destination of the object command.

In the present system, as one processing of the initialization processing, the texture management table 141 is provided only once at first.
0, drawing mechanism management table 1420, state table 14
30 is initialized. For example, the value of the drawing mechanism counter g is 0.

Next, the command distribution processor 15 shown in FIG.
00 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the command distribution processor 1500.

The command distribution processor 1500 determines whether the graphics command is a command (step 300).
0), and determines whether the command is an object command, a graphics attribute command, or a control command. According to the determination result in step 3000, the object command processing (step 3100) is executed in the case of the object command, and the graphics attribute command processing (step 32) in the case of the graphics attribute command.
00) is executed, and in the case of a control command, control command processing (step 3300) is executed.

First, the object command processing (step 3100 in FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIGS. Next, the graphics attribute command processing (step 3200 in FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIG. Finally, the control command processing (step 3300 in FIG. 3) is described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

1. Object Command Processing (Step 3100) FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of the object command processing. Main parameters referred to in this processing are shown in the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG.

First, it is checked whether the object command is the first command constituting the object of interest here (step 3109). In the case of the first command constituting the object, an object command transfer destination selection process (step 3110) is executed, and a drawing mechanism to which the object command is transferred is selected.
The ID of the selected drawing mechanism is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 of the state table 1430.

Next, the object command is transferred to the drawing mechanism indicated by the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 of the state table 1430 (step 3120). Finally, the command distribution reference table 1400 is updated (step 3130). Command distribution reference table 14
When the update of the texture 30 is performed, first, the used texture is set to the current designated texture ID 143 of the state table 1430.
1 and increments the usage frequency 1412 in the texture management table 1410 for the used texture. However, the current specified texture ID 1431
If the texture ID is not stored in the file, do nothing. Next, the drawing mechanism that has transferred the object command is set to the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 143 in the state table 1430.
5, the object processing number 1424 of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the transferred drawing mechanism is incremented.

1.1 Object Command Transfer Destination Selection (Step 3110) The object command transfer destination selection processing for determining the transfer destination of the object command will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows an overall processing flow of object command transfer destination selection.

First, the distribution mode determination processing (step 31)
In 11), the current distribution mode is determined with reference to the distribution mode flag 1432 of the status table 1430.
Next, according to the current distribution mode, the texture ID distribution mode (step 3112), the order management distribution mode (step 3113), and the special effect distribution mode (step 311)
4), one of the processes in the simple distribution mode (step 3115) is performed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the distribution mode is set by the user or determined by default.

Texture ID distribution mode (step 311)
In 2), the transfer destination of the object command is determined based on the ID of the texture to be used. In the order management distribution mode (step 3113), the command distribution processor 1
The transfer destination of the object command is determined so that the image compositor 1900 executes the image synthesis in the order in which the object commands 500 have received the object command. In the special effect distribution mode (step 3114), the transfer destination of the object command is set to all drawing mechanisms, and each drawing mechanism individually generates one frame image. However, since the sampling points of the drawing mechanisms are different, the brightness values of the one-frame images generated by the respective drawing mechanisms are slightly different between the pixels at the same position. Here, the sample point is a representative point representing the luminance value of the pixel. In the simple distribution mode (step 3115), the transfer destination of the object command is determined so that the object command is sequentially transferred to each drawing mechanism in a round robin manner.

1.1.1 Texture ID Distribution Mode (Step 3112) The processing flow in the texture ID distribution mode is shown in FIG. First, the current designated texture ID in the state table 1430
It is checked whether a texture ID is stored in 1431 (step 610), and it is determined whether or not texture mapping is necessary. Next, the following processing is performed according to whether the texture ID is stored in the current designated texture ID 1431 of the state table 1430, and the transfer destination of the object command is determined.

(1) Current Designated Texture ID 1431
Is determined to have stored the texture ID (step 611): The texture management table 1410 checks the drawing mechanism that stores the texture indicated by the current designated texture ID 1431. Next, a drawing mechanism with the smallest number of object processes 1424 among the drawing mechanisms storing the texture indicated by the current designated texture ID 1431 is checked from the drawing mechanism management table 1420. Lastly, the state table 143 identifies the ID of the drawing mechanism having the smallest object processing number 1424 among the drawing mechanisms storing the texture indicated by the current designated texture ID 1431.
0 is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435.

(2) Current Designated Texture ID 1431
Is determined that the texture ID is not stored in the drawing mechanism (step 612): the drawing mechanism having the smallest object processing number 1424 among the drawing mechanisms is set to the drawing mechanism management table 1
Check from 420. Finally, the ID of the drawing mechanism having the smallest object processing number 1424 among the drawing mechanisms is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 of the state table 1430.

1.1.2 Sequence Management Distribution Mode (Step 3113) FIG. 7 shows a processing flow in the sequence management distribution mode. In the order management distribution mode, the transfer destination is determined such that P object commands are distributed to one drawing mechanism, and the determined drawing mechanism ID is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 of the state table 1430.

Specifically, in step 710, it is determined whether or not the number of object processes Cg of the g-th drawing mechanism is equal to or larger than the value of the number of objects P to be transferred to one drawing mechanism. If Yes in step 710, step 71
It is determined in step 1 whether the value of the drawing mechanism counter g is equal to or more than (N-1). If g <(N-1), step 7
In step 12, the value of the drawing mechanism counter g is incremented, and the flow advances to step 713. Also in the case of No in step 710 and the case of Yes in step 711, the process proceeds to step 713, and the ID of the g-th drawing mechanism is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435. Here, the range of the drawing mechanism counter g is 0 ≦ g ≦, where N is the total number of drawing mechanisms.
(N-1), and g = 0 and g = (N-1) mean the first and last drawing mechanisms, respectively.

However, object commands are transferred to the last drawing mechanism even if the number exceeds P. By transferring the object command to each drawing mechanism as described above, the command distribution processor 1500
The image compositor 1900 can execute the image composition so that the images are generated in the order in which the object commands are received. This is because commands that occur later in time are not distributed to the higher-level drawing mechanism.

1.1.3 Special Effect Distribution Mode (Step 3114) FIG. 8 shows a processing flow of the special effect distribution mode. In the special effect distribution mode, the IDs of all drawing mechanisms are assigned to the state table 14 so that object commands are distributed to all drawing mechanisms.
30 of the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435. By transferring the object command to all the drawing mechanisms in this way, each drawing mechanism individually generates an image of one frame. However, since the sampling points of the drawing mechanisms are different, the brightness values of the one-frame images generated by the respective drawing mechanisms are slightly different between the pixels at the same position.

1.1.4 Simple distribution mode (step 31)
15) The processing flow in the simple distribution mode is shown in FIG. In the simple distribution mode, the transfer destination is determined so that the object command is transferred to each drawing mechanism in a round robin manner, and the determined drawing mechanism ID is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 of the state table 1430.

More specifically, it is determined in step 910 whether or not the drawing mechanism counter g is equal to or greater than the total number N of drawing mechanisms, and g <
In the case of N, the process proceeds to step 912, where the ID of the gth drawing mechanism is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435, and the value of g is incremented in step 913. If Yes in step 910, g is reset to the initial value 0, and the process proceeds to step 912.

2. Graphics attribute command processing (step 3200) The processing flow of the graphics attribute command processing unit is shown in FIG.
0 is shown. The graphics attribute command is a graphics command required for each drawing mechanism. Therefore, the graphics attribute command processing unit transfers the graphics attribute command to all the drawing mechanisms.

3. Control command processing (step 330)
0) The control command processing will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 11 shows an overall processing flow of the control command processing.
First, in the control command determination processing (step 3310), it is determined whether the received control command is a distribution mode switching command, a frame switching command, a texture designation & cancel command, or a texture save & delete command. Next, according to the type of the determined control command, mode switching command processing (step 3320), frame switching command processing (step 3330), texture designation & cancellation command processing (step 3340), texture save & delete command processing (step 3340) 3350)
Is performed. The parameters referred to in each command processing are the command distribution reference table 14 in FIG.
00 is shown.

3.1 Distribution Mode Switching Command Processing (Step 3320) FIG. 12 shows a processing flow in the distribution mode switching command processing. In the distribution mode setting process (step 4000),
The distribution mode designated by the distribution mode switching command is stored in the distribution mode flag 1432 of the status table 1430.

Next, the total of the number of processed objects 1424 in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is calculated and stored in the total number of processed previous frame objects 1434 of the state table 1430 (step 4010).

Next, in the image compositor setting process (step 4100), the image compositing method of the image compositor is set according to the distribution mode. In the drawing mechanism setting process (step 4200), a sampling point designating a representative luminance value in one pixel is set for each drawing mechanism according to the distribution mode, or the Z buffer of each drawing machine mechanism is set to a valid Z value. Clear with a value (β value) set outside the range. In the texture rearrangement process (step 4300), the texture is rearranged to each drawing mechanism according to the distribution mode. In the load distribution control processing (step 4400), the number P of object commands to be distributed to one drawing mechanism is determined at the time of the processing in the order management mode described above.

Finally, in the command distribution reference table initialization processing (step 4500), the texture management table 1410, the drawing mechanism management table 1420, and the state table 1430 are initialized.

3.1.1 Image Compositor Setting Process (Step 4100) FIG. 13 shows a flow of the image compositor setting process. In the special effect distribution mode, in the image compositor setting process, the image synthesizing method is set so as to be added by a value obtained by dividing the luminance value of each pixel by the total number N of drawing mechanisms (step 41).
10).

When changing from the special effect distribution mode to another distribution mode, the image compositor setting processing 4100 is performed.
Then, the image combining method is set so that the Z value is compared and the pixel having the smaller Z value (the pixel located in front) is overwritten (step 4120). However, it is set so that pixels having a Z value outside the range are not overwritten. The reason for this is that the pixels where nothing was drawn and the Z
This is to prevent a pixel in which nothing is drawn from being overwritten on a pixel in which the object is drawn when the values are the same. The Z value of the pixel on which nothing is drawn is cleared by the drawing mechanism setting process 4200 with a value β outside the effective range of the Z value every time the distribution mode is switched or every frame.

In the present embodiment, whether a pixel is a drawn pixel is determined using a Z buffer, such as a drawn pixel if the Z value is within the valid range, and a non-drawn pixel if the Z value is outside the valid range. ing. However, a clear bit is provided for each pixel, and when the clear bit is off, the pixel is drawn, and when the clear bit is on, the pixel is not drawn. Is also good.

3.1.2 Drawing Mechanism Setting Processing (Step 4)
200) FIG. 14 shows a drawing mechanism setting processing flow. When the distribution mode is the texture ID distribution mode, the order management distribution mode, or the simple distribution mode, the drawing mechanism setting process 4200 clears the Z buffer of each drawing mechanism with a β value outside the effective range of the Z value (step 4210). When the distribution mode is the special effect distribution mode, in the drawing mechanism setting process 4200, sample points are set in each drawing mechanism so that an anti-aliasing effect is obtained (step 4220).

3.1.3 Texture Relocation Processing (Step 4300) The texture relocation processing flow is shown in FIGS.

(1) In the case of texture ID distribution mode In the texture rearrangement process, as shown in FIG. 15, first, it is determined whether or not the number of object processes is all zero (step 4301). The processing is terminated. If not, it is determined whether there is a texture stored in another drawing mechanism among the textures stored in the drawing mechanism with the largest number of object command processes (step 4302). In the case of No in step 4302, the number of object processes of the drawing mechanism having the largest number of object processes is reset to 0 (step 4303), and the process returns to step 4301. If Yes in step 4302, the texture with the highest usage frequency among the selected textures is deleted (step 4304).

In this processing, as shown in FIG.
In step 4310, the change of the object processing number Ci of the drawing mechanism with the deleted texture and the change of the object processing number Cj of the drawing mechanism with the deleted texture stored are performed according to the following equations 1 and 2, respectively. .

[0083]

## EQU1 ## Ci = Ci- (Ak / Bk) (Equation 1)

[0084]

Cj = Cj + (Ak / (Bk (Bk−1))) (Equation 2) where Ak: frequency of use of the deleted texture Bk: number of storage locations of the deleted texture

Next, in step 4320, the number of storage locations 1413 and data of the storage locations 1414 of the texture management table 1410 relating to the deleted texture are updated. Finally, in step 4330, the texture memory free space 1422 and the stored texture ID in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the drawing mechanism from which the texture has been deleted are stored.
1423 is updated, and the above-described processing is repeated.

As described above, according to the present processing, it is possible to repeatedly delete textures that are frequently used and stored by a plurality of drawing mechanisms from the drawing mechanism that processes a large number of object commands. In general, the same type of texture is stored by one drawing mechanism. That is, the same type of texture is not stored by a plurality of drawing mechanisms.

According to the present processing method, since the texture is deleted so as to suppress the variation in the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism, the same type of texture can be drawn in one unit by randomly deleting the texture. The load distribution of each drawing mechanism is improved as compared with the case where the image is stored by the mechanism.

Further, in this processing, the parameters of the texture management table 1410 and the drawing mechanism management table 1420 are changed in accordance with steps 4310, 4320, and 4330 of FIG. 16 every time the texture is rearranged. In this processing, the texture that cannot be stored in each drawing mechanism is represented by C in FIG.
It is stored in a storage medium such as the main memory 1100 of the PU 1000 or a hard disk (not shown).

(2) When Changing from Texture ID Distribution Mode to Another Distribution Mode In this processing, as shown in FIG. 17, first, the texture management table 1410 is referred to, and all types of textures are stored in all drawing mechanisms. It is stored (step 4340). Next, the number of storage locations 1413 and data of the storage locations 1414 of the texture management table 1410 are updated in accordance with the processing of step 4340 (step 4341).
422, the data of the stored texture ID is updated (step 4342).

According to this processing, the textures distributed and stored in each drawing mechanism can be rearranged so that each drawing mechanism individually stores all types of textures.

3.1.4 Load Balancing Control Processing (Step 4
400) FIG. 18 shows a load distribution control processing flow. The load distribution control process is executed when switching to the order management distribution mode or when switching frames during the order management distribution mode. In the load distribution control process, the value of the number P of object commands to be transferred to one drawing mechanism is determined (step 4410).

More specifically, M is the total number of object commands processed in the previous frame, N is the total number of drawing mechanisms, and Q is the minimum number of object commands to be transferred to one drawing mechanism.
And The value of P is the value of M / N. If M / N is smaller than Q, the overhead for switching the drawing mechanism is large, and the transfer time to each drawing mechanism is longer than the time for processing the object command. Since the size of the object command becomes much larger, the object commands are transferred to the drawing mechanism in Q units.

3.1.5 Command Distribution Reference Table Initial Setting Processing (Step 4500) The command distribution reference table initial setting processing flow is shown in FIG.
Shown in The command distribution reference table initial setting process is executed at the time of distribution mode switching or frame switching.
In the command distribution reference table initial setting process, all the usage frequencies 1412 in the texture management table 1410 are set to 0, the number of object processes 1424 in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is set to 0, and the drawing mechanism counter 1433 in the state table 1430 is set to 0 (step). 4510).

3.2 Frame Switching Command Processing (FIG. 1)
1; step 3330) FIG. 20 shows a frame switching command processing flow. Note that in this figure, the same processes as those in the steps in the flow of FIG. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the frame switching command processing, the total of the number of processed objects 1424 of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is obtained, and stored in the total number of processed previous frame objects 1434 of the state table 1430 (step 401).
0). Next, the above-described drawing mechanism setting processing (step 42)
00). Next, in the texture ID distribution mode, the texture correction arrangement processing (step 4210) is executed. In this texture correction arrangement processing, in order to improve the load distribution of each drawing mechanism, a frequently used texture is stored for each frame by a plurality of drawing mechanisms. Next, in the order management distribution mode, the above-described load distribution control processing (step 4400) is performed. Next, the above-described command distribution reference table initial setting process (step 4500)
I do. Finally, the frame switching command is transferred to all the drawing mechanisms (step 4510).

3.2.1 Texture Correction Arrangement Processing (Step 4210) FIG. 21 shows the flow of texture correction arrangement processing. In the texture correction arrangement processing, the drawing mechanism management table 1420
The maximum value and the minimum value of the object processing number 1424 are obtained (step 4601), and it is checked whether or not the difference is smaller than the allowable value D (step 4602). Then, the present process ends.

If No in step 4602, by executing steps 4603, 4604, and 4606,
Among the textures stored by the drawing mechanism with the largest number of object processes 1424, the texture management table 1410
Of the frequency of use 1412 divided by the number of storage locations 1413, the texture with the largest value is the rendering mechanism that does not store the texture and has the smallest number of object processes 1424 among the rendering mechanisms with a memory area that can be stored. Copy and save to the drawing mechanism of. If there is no drawing mechanism that can be stored (No in step 4604), step 4605
Then, the above-described texture rearrangement processing (the same processing as step 4300 in FIG. 12) is executed, and this processing ends.

Further, every time the texture arrangement is modified,
The parameters of the texture management table 1410 and the drawing mechanism management table 1420 are changed according to the steps 4610, 4620, and 4630 of the second step. More specifically, in steps 4610 and 4620, the change in the number of processed objects Ci ′ of the drawing mechanism that has stored the copied texture and the change in the number of processed objects Cj ′ of the drawing mechanism that has copied the texture are described below. This is performed according to Equations 3 and 4.

[0099]

## EQU00003 ## Ci '= Ci'-(Ak '/ (Bk' (Bk '+ 1))) (Equation 3)

[0100]

Cj ′ = Cj ′ + (Ak ′ / (Bk ′ (Bk′−1))) (Equation 4) where Ak ′: frequency of use of copied texture Bk ′: copied texture Is the number of storage locations.

Finally, in step 4630, the texture management table 1410 for the stored texture ID
Is incremented, the ID of the drawing mechanism that has copied the texture is registered in the storage location 1414, and the storage texture ID 142 of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the drawing mechanism that has copied the texture is incremented.
3 is added to the texture ID stored.

The above processing is based on the number of object processes 142
The process is repeated until the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of 4 becomes smaller than the allowable value D or there is no drawing mechanism capable of copying the texture.

3.3 Texture Designation & Cancel Command Processing (Step 3340 in FIG. 11) FIG. 23 shows the texture design & cancel command processing flow.

3.3.1 Texture Specifying Command In the texture specifying command processing, as shown in FIG. 23A, the texture ID specified by the texture specifying command is stored in the current specified texture ID 1431 of the state table 1430 ( Step 3341). Next, the texture designation command is transferred to the drawing mechanism in which the texture designated by the texture designation command is stored (step 3342).

3.3.2 Texture Cancel Command In the texture cancel command processing, as shown in FIG. 23B, the current designated texture ID 1431 is cleared (step 3343). Next, the texture cancel command is transferred to all the drawing mechanisms (step 3344).

3.4 Texture Save & Delete Command Process (Step 3350 in FIG. 11) FIGS. 24 and 25 show the texture save & delete command process flow.

3.4.1 Texture Save Command In the texture save & delete command processing, as shown in FIG. 24, it is first determined whether or not the mode is the texture ID distribution mode (step 3351). In the case of the texture ID distribution mode, referring to the drawing mechanism management table 1420, the texture storage command is transferred to the drawing mechanism with the smallest number of object processes 1424 among the drawing mechanisms capable of storing the texture specified by the texture storage command. (Step 3352). Next, the texture memory free space 1422 and the stored texture ID 1423 of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the drawing mechanism storing the texture data are stored.
Are updated (step 3354), and the ID of the stored texture is added to the texture ID 1411 of the texture management table 1410, and the usage frequency 1412, the number of storage locations 1413, the storage locations 1414, and the capacity 1415 are specified.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3351 that the current mode is a distribution mode other than the texture ID distribution mode, a texture storage command is transferred to all drawing mechanisms (step 3353). Next, step 335 described above
4 and 3355 to execute the texture management table 14
10 and the parameters of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 are updated.

3.4.2 Texture Delete Command In the texture save & delete command process, as shown in FIG. 25, the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is referenced to save the texture specified by the texture delete command.
The texture deletion command is transferred to all drawing mechanisms (step 4710). Next, the texture memory free space 1422 and the stored texture ID 142 of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the drawing mechanism from which the texture has been deleted.
3 is updated (step 4720), and the parameters of the texture management table 1410 and the drawing mechanism management table 1420 are updated by deleting the ID of the deleted texture from the texture ID of the texture management table 1410 (step 4730).

Next, a second embodiment of the graphics system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. The system of this embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that the texture rearrangement process (step 4300) in the case of the texture ID distribution mode in FIG. 12 is changed. It has the same configuration. FIG. 26 shows the texture according to the present embodiment.
It is a processing flow in the texture rearrangement processing in the case of the ID distribution mode.

In the texture rearrangement process in this embodiment, first, a variable i for specifying a drawing mechanism used in the present process is set to 0 (step 5001), and it is determined whether all the texture data has been distributed. (Step 500
2). If the distribution has not been completed, the texture data is distributed to the i-th drawing mechanism in ascending use frequency (step 5003), and the variable i is incremented (step 5004). Next, it is determined whether the value of i is equal to or greater than the number N of drawing mechanisms (step 5005).
If ≦ i ≦ (N−1)), the flow returns to step 5002, and if N or more, the flow proceeds to step 5006. In addition,
i = 0 corresponds to the first drawing mechanism, and i = N−1 corresponds to the last drawing mechanism.

In steps 5006 to 5010, similarly to the above-described steps, first, the variable i is reset to 0 (step 5006), and it is determined whether all the texture data has been distributed (step 5007). If the distribution has not been completed, the texture data is set to i
(Step 5008), and the variable i
Is incremented (step 5009). Then i
Is greater than or equal to the number N of drawing mechanisms (step 501).
0), if less than N, return to step 5007,
If N or more, the process returns to step 5001.

If it is determined in steps 5002 and 5007 that all the texture data has been distributed, the texture memory free space 14 in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is used.
22, the data of the storage texture ID 1423 is updated (step 5011), and the data of the number of storage locations 1413 and the storage location 1414 of the texture management table 1410 are updated.

According to the above processing, while referring to the texture management table 1410, the texture is stored in each drawing mechanism from the one with the lowest frequency of use, and the previous texture is stored from the one with the highest frequency of use. It can be stored in each drawing mechanism in the order in which it was performed. For this reason, the frequency of use of the texture stored in each drawing mechanism can be averaged, and the variation in the number of processing of the object command between each drawing mechanism can be suppressed to some extent.

Next, a third embodiment of the graphics system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 27, the graphics system of this embodiment employs a client machine 6000.
And a plurality of server machines 6100, 6200, ..., 63
00 and Ethernet 640 connecting these machines
0. In this embodiment, each server machine functions as the above-described drawing mechanism.

A client machine 6000 is connected to a server machine (drawing mechanism) 610 via an Ethernet 6400.
, 6300, and data are transmitted and received.
The client machine 6000 includes an information processing device that performs data processing related to image generation and a display device that displays the generated image. Client machine 6
000 executes the graphics application and sends the graphics command to one of the server machines (drawing mechanisms) 6100, 6200,..., 6300 according to, for example, each distribution method described in the above-described embodiment.
Transfer to one or more units.

Furthermore, the client machine 6000
After issuing the frame switching command, the images generated by the server machines (drawing mechanisms) 6100, 6200,...
.., 6300, and an image synthesizing function for synthesizing pixels one pixel at a time. The final image obtained by pixel-combining the image of the server machine (drawing mechanism) 6300 is sent to the client machine 6000 and displayed on the display device.

In this embodiment, the images are obtained in the order of the server machines (drawing mechanism) 6100, 6200,..., 6300, and the pixels are synthesized pixel by pixel.
The composition order may be dynamically changed.

In the present embodiment, the client machine 6000 and each server machine (drawing mechanism) 6100, 6100
.., 6300 transmit and receive data via the Ethernet 6400, but may transmit and receive data using a dedicated high-speed line or wirelessly.

Each server machine (drawing mechanism) 6100, 6
When the graphics command is received, the 200,..., 6300 refers to the texture as appropriate while developing the graphics command into pixels, and the server machine (drawing mechanism) 6
, 6300, are stored in respective frame memories (not shown). In the present embodiment, server machines (drawing mechanisms) 6100, 6200,.
00 are different from each other, but may of course be the same. In the present embodiment, each server machine (drawing mechanism) 6100
Although 6200,..., And 6300 are used as the number of polygons processed per second, another index indicating processing performance unified among the respective drawing mechanisms may be used.

The processing content of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the command distribution reference table of FIG. 2, the texture ID distribution mode of FIG. 6, the order management distribution mode of FIG. 9, the simple distribution mode, FIG.
The texture relocation processing in the 16 texture ID distribution mode, the load distribution control processing in FIG. 18, and the texture correction arrangement processing in FIG. 21 are different. Hereinafter, these different parts will be described, and the description of the other same parts will be omitted.

First, a command distribution reference table according to the present embodiment, which corresponds to the command distribution reference table of FIG. 2, will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a processing performance 1425 is added to the drawing mechanism management table 1420 in order to store the processing performance of each drawing mechanism.
This processing performance 1425 depends on the texture ID distribution mode 31.
12, order management distribution mode 3113, simple distribution mode 3
Reference is made during the processing of 115, texture relocation processing 4300, and texture correction arrangement processing 4600.

The processing in the texture ID distribution mode will be described with reference to FIG. The parameters referred to in this processing are shown in the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG.

The difference between the processing of this embodiment and the processing of the above-described first embodiment is that when the transfer destination of the object command is determined, the object processing number 1424 of each drawing mechanism is determined in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, (the number of processed objects 1424 / the processing performance 1)
425).

That is, in the processing in the texture distribution mode according to the present embodiment, first, it is determined whether a texture ID is set in the current designated texture ID 1431 (step 5010). When texture mapping is performed (Yes in step 5010), the value of (object processing number 1424 / processing performance 1425) is set in the drawing mechanism (server machine) that stores the texture indicated by the current designated texture ID 1431. The minimum drawing mechanism ID is set to the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435.
(Step 5011). If texture mapping is not performed (No in step 5010),
The ID of the drawing mechanism having the smallest value of (number of processed objects 1424 / processing performance 1425) among all the drawing mechanisms is stored in the object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435.

According to this processing, even if the processing performance of each drawing mechanism is different, the object command can be distributed to each drawing mechanism with good load distribution.

Next, the processing in the order management distribution mode will be described with reference to FIG. The parameters referred to in this processing are the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG.
It is shown in In the order management distribution mode, the number P of object commands to be transferred is determined by a load distribution control process (see FIG. 31) for each drawing mechanism that transfers object commands.
Reference).

More specifically, in the processing in the order management distribution mode, first, the object processing number Cg of the g-th drawing mechanism
Determines that the number of object processes to be transferred to one drawing mechanism is equal to or greater than P (step 5020), and when it is determined that Cg <P, the ID of the g-th drawing mechanism is set in the state table 14.
It is stored in the 30 object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 1435 (step 5024). In step 5020, Cg ≧
If the determination is P, the process proceeds to step 5021, where it is determined whether the drawing mechanism counter g is equal to or more than (N-1). Here, g = N-1 corresponds to the last drawing mechanism. g <N-
In the case of 1, g is incremented in step 5022, the load distribution control process is performed in step 5023, and the process proceeds to step 5024.

In this processing, the object command is transferred to each drawing mechanism according to the image synthesis order of each drawing mechanism in units of P determined in the load distribution control processing (step 5023) described later. Will continue to transfer object commands until the end of the frame, even if it exceeds P. Therefore, it is desirable that the last drawing mechanism has high processing performance. In the present embodiment, P is determined at the timing when the drawing counter 1433 is incremented. However, P is determined for all drawing mechanisms at another timing such as distribution mode switching or frame switching.
A new table may be provided to store P for all drawing mechanisms.

The load distribution control processing shown in FIG.
23) will be described with reference to FIG.

In the load distribution control processing of the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in Step 6400 of FIG. 1, P is determined according to the processing performance of the rendering mechanism to which the object command is to be transferred with respect to the processing performance of all the rendering mechanisms (see Equation 5). Also, the determined P is 1
When the minimum number of objects to be transferred to the drawing mechanism, that is, smaller than the minimum number of object commands,
Minimum number of objects Q to transfer P to one drawing mechanism
And Specifically, the number P of objects to be transferred can be determined according to the processing performance of each drawing mechanism according to the following Expression 5.

[0133]

[Number 5] In the case of R <Q P = Q In the case of R ≧ Q P = R R = M · (Dg / (D 0 + D 1 + ... D N)) ·· ( number 5) where, P: 1 number of objects transferred to the platform of the drawing mechanism Q: the minimum number of objects to be transferred to a single drawing mechanism M: number of objects Dg processed during the previous frame: performance D ₀ of the drawing mechanism for transferring the current object command ~ D _N : Processing performance of each drawing mechanism.

The processing in the simple distribution mode in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The parameters referred to in this processing are shown in the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG. In the simple distribution mode of the first embodiment described above, the object command is sequentially sent to each drawing mechanism. However, in the process 5030 of the present embodiment,
The object command is transferred to the drawing mechanism having the smallest value of (number of processed objects 1424 / processing performance 1425) of each drawing mechanism. Thereby, object commands can be distributed according to the processing performance of each drawing mechanism.

The texture rearrangement process in the texture ID distribution mode according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The parameters referred to in this processing are shown in the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG.

In the texture relocation processing, first, the texture memory free space 1 in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is used.
422, the stored texture ID 1423, and the number of processed objects 1424 are cleared (step 7010), and it is determined whether all the textures have been distributed (step 7011). If the distribution has not been completed (N in step 7011)
In o), textures are extracted in the order of frequency of use (step 7012), and the extracted textures can be saved, and the value of (number of object processes 1424 / processing performance 1425) is the largest among the rendering mechanisms with the smallest value. The data is stored in a drawing mechanism having processing performance (step 7013). Further, the number of objects processed by the drawing mechanism storing the texture is changed according to the following equation 6 (step 701):
4).

[0137]

Ck = Ck + Ai (Equation 6) where Ai: frequency of use of the stored texture Ck: number of object processes of the drawing mechanism that stores the texture.

Further, in this processing, the data of the drawing mechanism management table 1420 relating to the drawing mechanism storing the texture is updated in accordance with the above-described processing (step 701).
5), the number of storage locations in the texture management table 1410 is 1
413, the data in the storage location 1414 is updated (step 7016). The above processing is repeated until all the textures to be stored are stored.

According to this processing, the texture can be distributed and stored in each drawing mechanism according to the processing performance. In this processing, although not shown, textures that cannot be stored in each drawing mechanism are stored in the main memory of the client machine 6000 in FIG. 27 or a storage medium such as a hard disk. Further, it may be stored in a storage medium other than the texture memory of each drawing mechanism.

The texture correction arrangement processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The parameters referred to in this processing are shown in the command distribution reference table 1400 in FIG. This processing is basically the same as the texture correction arrangement processing (FIGS. 21 and 22) in the first embodiment. However, in the first embodiment, the number of object processes is considered. In this processing, (the number of processed objects / processing performance) is considered.

That is, in the texture correction arrangement processing,
As shown in FIG. 34, when the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the number of object processes 1424 / the processing performance 1425 in the drawing mechanism management table 1420 is larger than the allowable value D, the following correction arrangement processing is executed ( Steps 7601 and 76
02).

In this correction arrangement processing, among the textures stored by the drawing mechanism having the maximum value of (number of object processes 1424 / processing performance 1425), (the use frequency 1412 / the number of storage locations 1413) of the texture management table 1410
Of the texture having the largest value is stored in the rendering mechanism that does not store the texture and has a memory area that can store the texture.
425) is stored in the drawing mechanism with the smallest value (step 7).
603, 7604, 7607).

Further, each time the texture arrangement is modified,
5, steps 7610, 7620, 763
0, the parameters of the texture management table 1410 and the drawing mechanism management table 1420 are changed. In addition,
The processing contents of these steps 7610-7630 are shown in FIG.
This is the same as Steps 4610 to 4630 of Step 2.

The above processing is performed by using the
4 / Repeat until the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the processing performance 1425) becomes smaller than the allowable value D or there is no drawing mechanism capable of storing the texture.

If the difference between the value of (the number of processed objects 1424 / the processing performance 1425) is smaller than the allowable value D (Yes in step 7602), the process ends.
If there is no drawing mechanism capable of storing the texture (No in step 7604), the texture rearrangement process (step 7605) shown in FIG. 33 is performed, and then this process ends.

As described above using the first to third embodiments, according to the graphics system of the present invention, for example, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By distributing an object command to each drawing mechanism based on a texture, the texture memory of each drawing mechanism can be effectively used.

(2) In the texture-based distribution method of the above (1), the texture is rearranged in consideration of, for example, the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism and the frequency of use of the texture for each frame. The load distribution of each drawing mechanism can be improved.

(3) In the texture-based distribution method described in (1), for example, for each frame, the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism, the frequency of use of textures, and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism are taken into consideration. By performing the rearrangement, the load distribution of each drawing mechanism can be improved.

(4) Object commands are sequentially transferred to each drawing mechanism in P units, and P is transmitted to the last drawing mechanism.
By transferring until one frame is completed even if the number exceeds the number, image compositing can be performed in the order in which the object commands are issued.

(5) In the distribution method which guarantees the processing order of the above (4), the total number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in the previous frame is recorded in the command distribution reference table, and, for example, for each frame, By determining the number P of object commands to be transferred to one drawing mechanism in advance, the load distribution of each drawing mechanism can be improved.

(6) In the distribution method for guaranteeing the processing order of the above (4), the total number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism in the previous frame and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism are recorded in the command distribution reference table. By determining the number P of object commands to be transferred for each drawing mechanism from the information, the load distribution of each drawing mechanism can be improved.

(7) In the command distribution reference table, the number of object commands processed by each drawing mechanism and the processing performance of each drawing mechanism during the current frame are recorded, and the number of object processes / processing performance is the smallest. By transferring the object command to the drawing mechanism, the load distribution of each drawing mechanism can be improved.

(8) A sampling point is set for each drawing mechanism, and a method of synthesizing the image compositor is set so as to add a value obtained by dividing the luminance value of each pixel by the number of all drawing mechanisms, and to set all the drawing mechanisms. By transferring the object command, anti-aliasing or the like can be easily realized without providing special means for performing anti-aliasing in each drawing mechanism.

(9) When there are a plurality of object command distribution methods, regardless of the object command distribution method,
By recording information necessary for each distribution mode in the command distribution reference table, the distribution method can be switched without the user resetting the information necessary for each distribution method.

[0156]

According to the present invention, in a graphics system including a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image compositor for synthesizing pixels generated by each of the drawing mechanisms, the plurality of drawing mechanisms are operated more efficiently. It is possible to provide a graphics command distribution method and a graphics system capable of improving image quality or processing capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a graphics system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a command distribution reference table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a command distribution processor according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating object command processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating object command transfer destination selection processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a texture ID distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing in an order management distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a special effect distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a simple distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating graphics attribute command processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control command processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating distribution mode switching command processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13A is a flowchart illustrating an image compositor setting process according to the first embodiment (in the case of changing to a special effect distribution mode). FIG. 13B is a flowchart showing an image compositor setting process in the first embodiment (in the case of changing from the special effect distribution mode to another distribution mode).

FIG. 14A is a flowchart illustrating a drawing mechanism setting process according to the first embodiment (in the case of a texture ID distribution mode, an order management distribution mode, and a simple distribution mode). FIG. 14B is a flowchart illustrating a drawing mechanism setting process according to the first embodiment (in the case of the special effect distribution mode).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a texture rearrangement process in the texture ID distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a texture rearrangement process in the texture ID distribution mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a texture rearrangement process in the case of changing from the texture ID distribution mode to another distribution mode in the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a load distribution control process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a command distribution reference table initial setting process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating frame switching command processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a texture correction arrangement process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a texture correction arrangement process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 23A is a flowchart illustrating a texture designation & cancellation command process according to the first embodiment (in the case of a texture designation command). FIG. 23B is a flowchart illustrating a texture designation & cancellation command process according to the first embodiment (in the case of a texture cancellation command).

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a texture save & delete command process according to the first embodiment (in the case of a texture save command).

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a texture save & delete command process according to the first embodiment (for a texture delete command).

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a texture rearrangement process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a graphics system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a command distribution reference table according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a texture ID distribution mode according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating processing in an order management distribution mode according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a load distribution control process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a simple distribution mode according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating texture relocation processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a texture correction arrangement process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a texture correction arrangement process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 CPU 1100 Main memory 1200 System bus 1300 Local memory 1400 Command distribution lookup table 1500 Command distribution processor 1600 System bus 1700 Image compositor control line 1800 Drawing mechanism 1810 Graphics processor 1820 Texture memory 1830 Frame memory 1900 Image compositor 2000 Display device 2100 Memory bus 2200 Memory bus 1410 Texture management table 1411 Texture ID 1412 Usage frequency 1413 Number of storage locations 1414 Storage locations 1415 Capacity 1420 Drawing mechanism Management table 1421 drawing mechanism ID 1422 texture memory free space 1423 stored texture ID 1424 object Physics 1425 Processing performance 1430 State table 1431 Current designated texture ID 1432 Distribution mode flag 1433 Drawing mechanism counter 1434 Previous frame object total processing number 1435 Object transfer destination drawing mechanism ID 3100 Object command processing 3200 Graphics Attribute command processing 3300 Control command processing 3110 Object command transfer destination selection processing 3112 Texture ID distribution mode 3113 Order management distribution mode 3114 Special effect distribution mode 3115 Simple distribution mode 3320 Distribution mode switching command processing 3330 Frame switching Command processing 3340: Texture designation & cancellation command processing 3350: Texture save & deletion command processing 4100: Image compositor setting processing 4200: Drawing mechanism setting processing 4300: Texture rearrangement processing 4400: Load distribution control processing 4500: Command distribution reference table initial setting processing 4600: Texture correction arrangement processing 6000: Client machine 6100: Server machine (drawing mechanism) 6200: Server machine ( Drawing mechanism).

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A graphics system comprising: a plurality of drawing mechanisms for respectively generating images in accordance with input graphics commands; and image combining means for superimposing and combining images generated by the drawing mechanisms. A reference information storage unit for storing information relating to graphics processing performed by each of the plurality of drawing mechanisms; a graphics command to be processed; a type of the received graphics command and stored in the reference information storage unit; And a command distribution unit that determines a transfer destination of the graphics command according to the information, and transfers the graphics command to the determined transfer destination. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of drawing mechanisms has a texture memory for storing a texture used when generating an image, and the reference information storage means stores the texture by the plurality of drawing mechanisms. When the graphics command to be transferred is an object command, the command distribution unit stores the information related to the texture stored in the reference information storage unit. A graphics system for determining a transfer destination of an object command. 3. The reference information storage unit according to claim 2, wherein the number of object commands processed by each of the drawing mechanisms, the frequency of use of each of the textures, and the number of storage locations of each of the textures are stored in the reference information storage means. The command distribution means, from the information stored in the reference information storage means, so that the number of processing of the object command is equal within a predetermined allowable range between the respective drawing mechanisms, A graphics system for changing the arrangement of textures stored in a drawing mechanism. 4. The reference information storage unit according to claim 3, wherein the reference information storage unit further stores information relating to the processing performance of each of the drawing mechanisms, and the command distribution unit stores the information in the reference information storage unit. The arrangement of the textures stored in the plurality of drawing mechanisms is changed so that the processing time of the object command is equalized within a predetermined allowable range among the respective drawing mechanisms from the information that has been set. Graphics system. 5. A graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs from the drawing mechanisms, wherein a predetermined number (hereinafter referred to as P) of input object commands is provided. A graphics system comprising command distribution means for sequentially transferring the command to each drawing mechanism in units. 6. The command distribution means according to claim 5, wherein said command distribution means sequentially transfers said object commands in P units to other drawing mechanisms except said last drawing mechanism among said plurality of drawing mechanisms. A graphics system wherein the transfer to the drawing mechanism is continued until the end of the one frame even if the number exceeds P. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising reference information storage means for storing at least information on the total number of object commands processed by each of said drawing mechanisms during a predetermined frame period. A graphics system, wherein the number of object commands P to be transferred to each drawing mechanism is determined for each predetermined number of frames according to information in an information storage unit. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a reference information storage unit configured to store at least information on a processing performance of each of the drawing mechanisms, wherein the command distribution unit uses the information of the reference information storage unit to store the information. A graphics system wherein the number P of object commands to be transferred is determined for each drawing mechanism. 9. The reference information storage means according to claim 1, wherein the number of object commands processed by each of said drawing mechanisms in a frame currently being processed and the processing performance of each of said drawing mechanisms are stored. The graphics system, wherein the command distribution unit determines a transfer destination of the object command according to information stored in the reference information storage unit. 10. A graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein a sampling point is set for each of the drawing mechanisms, and a luminance value of each pixel is set. Image synthesizing method setting means for setting a synthesizing method of the image synthesizing means so as to add a value divided by the number of all drawing mechanisms; and command distribution means for transferring a common object command to all of the plurality of drawing mechanisms. A graphics system comprising: 11. A graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein an object command is generated by using one of a plurality of kinds of preset executable executable distribution methods. Command distribution means for transferring the information to each drawing mechanism; reference information storage means for storing information necessary for executing each of the distribution methods; and a distribution method for selecting one of the distribution methods according to an input user operation. A graphics system, comprising: a selection unit; and wherein the reference information storage unit records information necessary for each of the plurality of types of distribution methods, regardless of a distribution method currently being executed. 12. A graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing the outputs of the drawing mechanisms on a pixel-by-pixel basis, wherein each of the drawing mechanisms performs a drawing in a frame currently being processed. A frame memory having a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the pixel is a pixel which has been rendered, wherein the image synthesizing means refers to the discrimination result of the discriminating means at the time of pixel synthesizing, and compares only the pixels drawn in the one frame with a Z value. A graphics system characterized by performing pixel synthesis. 13. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein a graphics command is provided for each of the plurality of drawing mechanisms. A graphics command distribution method, wherein information relating to processing is recorded, and a distribution destination of the graphics command is determined in accordance with the recorded information and the type of the input graphics command. 14. A texture memory according to claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of drawing mechanisms is provided with a texture memory for storing a texture, and said information on graphics processing is information on textures stored by said plurality of drawing mechanisms. A graphics command distribution method, wherein at least one of the graphics commands is recorded, and a distribution destination of an object command among the graphics commands is determined according to the recorded information. 15. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein an object command among the graphics commands is A graphics command distribution method, wherein the graphics commands are sequentially transferred to each of the drawing mechanisms in a predetermined number unit. 16. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and image composition means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein each of the drawing mechanisms is processed in a frame currently being processed. Recording information on the number of object commands being processed and the processing performance of each of the drawing mechanisms, and determining a distribution destination of the object commands according to the recorded information. Method. 17. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein a sampling point is set for each drawing mechanism. A graphics command distribution, wherein a combination method in the image combining means is set so as to add a value obtained by dividing a luminance value of a pixel by the number of all drawing mechanisms, and a common object command is transferred to all drawing mechanisms. Method. 18. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing the outputs of the drawing mechanisms, wherein a plurality of types of preset executable executable distributions are provided. Out of the way
An object command is transferred to each drawing mechanism in accordance with a distribution method designated by a user, and information necessary for executing each of the plurality of types of distribution methods is recorded regardless of a distribution method currently being executed. A graphics command distribution method, characterized in that: 19. A graphics command distribution method in a graphics system comprising a plurality of drawing mechanisms and an image synthesizing means for superimposing and synthesizing the output of each of the drawing mechanisms on a pixel-by-pixel basis. A graphic which determines whether or not a pixel is drawn in a frame being processed, refers to the determination result at the time of pixel synthesis, and compares only pixels drawn in the frame with a Z value to perform pixel synthesis. Command distribution method.