Random accessible lossless parameter data compression for tile based 3D computer graphics systems

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for compressing vertex parameter data in a 3D computer graphic system, where the vertex parameter data is a data block relating to a plurality of vertices used for rendering an image. The data relating to each vertex includes multiple byte data relating to at least one parameter. The parameters include X, Y and Z coordinates and further coordinates for texturing and shading. The multiple byte data is divided into individual bytes and bytes with corresponding byte positions relating to each vertex are grouped together to form a plurality of byte blocks.

主权项

1. A method of compressing vertex parameter data in a 3D graphics system, the vertex parameter data comprising data relating to a plurality of vertices, data for each vertex including multiple bytes relating to at least one parameter, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of byte blocks from the data, comprising grouping together, in the 3-D graphics system, bytes with corresponding byte positions and pertaining to respective values of a parameter for different vertices; and compressing, in the 3-D graphics system, at least one of the byte blocks using a first compression algorithm, the first compression algorithm comprising storing at least one byte in the at least one byte block as a byte origin, and storing each of the remaining bytes in the byte block encoded as a value derived from a difference between the byte origin and that remaining byte.