| 摘要 |
The present invention provides an improved technique for communicating between a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit of a data processing apparatus. Shared memory is provided which is accessible by the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit, and via which data structures are shareable between the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit. A bus is also provided via which the central processing unit, graphics processing unit and shared memory communicate. In accordance with a first mechanism of controlling the graphics processing unit, the central processing unit routes control signals via the bus. However, in addition, an interface is provided between the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit, and in accordance with an additional mechanism for controlling the graphics processing unit, 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, whilst through use of the additional mechanism 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. |
