公开(公告)号：US20160328818A1

公开(公告)日：2016-11-10

申请号：US15150060

申请日：2016-05-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： David J. Redman ,  Changki Min ,  Phillip J. Churchill ,  Adrian T. Sheppard ,  David A. Leech ,  Unmesh Sahasrabuddhe ,  Ian Hendry ,  Eve Brasfield

IPC: G06T1/20

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to enable switching of graphics processing unit (GPU) resources based on different factors. Embodiments include a virtual graphics driver as an interface between GPU drivers and the applications or graphics framework executing on an electronic device. The virtual graphics driver may switch GPU resources from a first GPU to a second GPU by routing function calls to the first GPU or the second GPU. The switching of GPU resources may be based on power management, system events such as hot-plug events, load management, user requests, any other factor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a virtual frame buffer driver is provided that interfaces with the frame buffer of the GPU and provides a virtual view of the frame buffer to manage additional system application programming interfaces (APIs) during the switch.

Abstract translation: 公开了系统和方法，以便能够基于不同因素来切换图形处理单元（GPU）资源。 实施例包括作为GPU驱动器与在电子设备上执行的应用或图形框架之间的接口的虚拟图形驱动器。 虚拟图形驱动器可以通过将功能调用路由到第一GPU或第二GPU来将GPU资源从第一GPU切换到第二GPU。 GPU资源的切换可以基于电源管理，诸如热插拔事件的系统事件，负载管理，用户请求，任何其他因素或其任何组合。 在一些实施例中，提供了与GPU的帧缓冲器接口并提供帧缓冲器的虚拟视图以在切换期间管理附加的系统应用程序编程接口（API）的虚拟帧缓冲器驱动器。