Apparatus and method for communicating between a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit

摘要

A shared memory is provided accessible by a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit. A bus is provided via which the central processing unit, graphics processing unit and shared memory communicate. A first mechanism controls the graphics processing unit and the central processing unit routes control signals via the bus. An interface is provided between the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit, and an additional mechanism controls the graphics processing unit and the central processing unit provides control signals over the interface. This enables the GPU to continue to be used to handle large batches of graphics processing operations loosely coupled with the operations performed by the CPU, and it is also possible to employ the GPU to perform processing operations on behalf of the CPU in situations where those operations are tightly coupled with the operations performed by the CPU.