What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing antialiasing of a graphical image on a display from data describing at least one object, the display including a plurality of pixels, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of fragments intersecting for the at least one object, a portion of the plurality of fragments intersecting a pixel of the plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of fragments including a depth value, a slope of the depth value, and an indication of a portion of a corresponding pixel that is intersected;
(b) calculating a plurality of subpixel depth values for a fragment of the plurality of fragments, the plurality of subpixel depth values calculated using the depth value and the slope of the depth value of the fragment;
(c) determining whether to store a portion of the fragment based on the plurality of subpixel depth values and the indication of the extent the corresponding pixel is intersected for the fragment;
(d) storing the portion of the fragment if it has been determined in step (c) that the portion of the fragment is to be stored;
(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for each remaining fragment in the portion of the plurality of fragments; and
(f) providing antialiased data for the pixel based on a second portion of the plurality of fragments that have been stored.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes the steps of:
(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) for each remaining pixel of the plurality of pixels.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pixels can be divided into a plurality of subpixels, wherein the indication of the extent the corresponding pixel is intersected includes a coverage mask, the coverage mask indicating a first portion of the plurality of subpixels which the fragment intersects and wherein the determining step (c) further includes the steps of:
(c1) determining a second portion of the plurality of subpixels in a portion of the plurality of subpixel depth values is less than a portion of a plurality of stored subpixel depth values, the second portion of the plurality of subpixels being within the first portion of the plurality of subpixels; and wherein the storing step (d) includes the step of
(d1) storing the portion of the fragment for the second portion of the plurality of subpixels.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the determining step (c1) further includes the step of:
(c1i) comparing the plurality of subpixel depth values to the plurality of stored subpixel depth values to determine a third portion of the plurality of subpixels in which a corresponding subpixel depth value of the plurality of subpixel depth values is less than a corresponding stored subpixel depth value of the plurality of stored subpixel depth values;
(c1ii) providing a second mask for the fragment, the second mask indicating the third portion of the plurality subpixels; and
(c1iii) using the coverage mask and the second mask for the fragment to determine the second portion of the plurality of subpixels.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the determining step (c1ii) further includes the step of:
(c1iia) performing an AND operation for the coverage mask and the second mask.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the antialiased data providing step (f) further includes the step of:
(f1) averaging information stored relating to the portion of the plurality of fragments that intersect the pixel.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the antialiased data providing step (f) further includes the steps of:
(f1) averaging currently stored information, other than the depth value, relating to the portion of the plurality of fragments that intersect the pixel; and
(f2) selecting a currently stored median subpixel depth value as the depth value for the pixel.
8. A system for providing antialiasing of a graphical image from data describing at least one object including a plurality of fragments, each fragment including a coverage mask, a depth value, and a slope of the depth value, the system comprising:
a display including a plurality of pixels;
means coupled to the display for providing a plurality of fragments for the at least one object, the plurality of fragments intersecting the plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of fragments including a depth value, a slope of the depth value, and an indication of a portion of a corresponding pixel that is intersected;
an antialiasing unit, coupled with the display, for providing antialiasing of each of the plurality of fragments based on the depth value, the slope of the depth value, and the indication of the extent a corresponding pixel is intersected.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of fragments are rendered in raster order.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein each pixel includes a plurality of subpixels, wherein the indication of an extent a corresponding pixel is intersected includes a coverage mask, the coverage mask indicating a first portion of the plurality of subpixels of the corresponding pixel which are intersected, and wherein the antialiasing unit further includes:
means for calculating a plurality of subpixel depth values for the plurality of fragments and for determining whether to store a portion of each of the plurality of fragments based on the plurality of subpixel depth values and the coverage mask for each of the plurality of fragments, the plurality of subpixel depth values calculated using the depth value and the slope of the depth value for each of the plurality of fragments;
a plurality of subpixel buffers, coupled with the calculating and determining means; and
means coupled with the plurality of subpixel buffers for providing an antialiased data for the plurality of fragments based on a second portion of the plurality of fragments that have been stored.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the coverage mask indicates a first portion of the plurality of subpixels that each of the plurality of fragments intersects and wherein the calculating and determining means further includes:
means for determining a second portion of the plurality of subpixels in which a portion of the plurality of subpixel depth values is less than a portion of a plurality of stored depth values, the second portion of the plurality of subpixels being within the first portion of the plurality of subpixels; and
wherein the plurality of subpixel buffers store the portion of the fragment corresponding to the second portion of the plurality of subpixels.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the calculating and determining means further includes:
means for providing a second mask for the fragment, the second mask indicating a third portion of the plurality subpixels in which the portion of the plurality of subpixel depth values are less than the portion of the plurality of stored subpixel depth values; and
means for using the coverage mask and the second mask for the fragment to determine the second portion of the plurality of subpixels.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the mask using means further includes:
means for performing an AND operation for the coverage mask and the second mask.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the antialiased pixel providing means further average information stored relating to the portion of the plurality of fragments that intersect the pixel.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the antialiased pixel providing means further average currently stored information, other than the depth value, relating to the portion of the plurality of fragments that intersect the pixel select a currently stored subpixel depth value as the depth value for the pixel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. At a given base station among a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system, a method of managing uplink transmission power at a plurality of mobile devices, said method compromising:
selecting a given time slot among a plurality of time slots in a scheduling time frame;
determining an interference metric threshold level for said given base station for said given time slot;
selecting a given mobile station among said plurality of mobile stations;
receiving, from said given mobile station, an indication of a received power level of a pilot signal from said given base station;
determining, from said interference metric threshold level and said indication of said received power level, an interference target threshold for said given mobile station; and
transmitting, to said given mobile station:
permission to transmit an uplink transmission to said given base station in said given time slot; and
an indication of said interference target threshold, whereby a power for said uplink transmission is limited by said interference target threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said interference metric threshold level relates to an interference metric and said interference metric is rise over thermal.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining propagation conditions; and
determining said interference metric threshold level based on said propagation conditions.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining said interference metric threshold level based on a size of a sector served by said given base station.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an indication of quality of service requirements for said each mobile station; and
wherein said selecting said given mobile station is further based, in part, on said quality of service requirements.
6. A given base station among a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system including a plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, said given base station comprising:
a scheduler adapted to:
select a given time slot among a plurality of time slots in a scheduling time frame;
determine an interference metric threshold level for said given base station for said given time slot;
select a given mobile station among said plurality of mobile stations;
receive, from said given mobile station, an indication of a received power level of a pilot signal from said given base station; and
determine, from said interference metric threshold level and said indication of said received power level, an interference target threshold for said given mobile station; and
a transmitter for transmitting, to said given mobile station:
permission to transmit an uplink transmission to said given base station in said given time slot; and
an indication of said interference target threshold, whereby a power for said uplink transmission is limited by said interference target threshold.
7. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in a scheduler at a given base station among a plurality of base stations in a wireless telecommunications system, cause said processor to:
select a given time slot among a plurality of time slots in a scheduling time frame;
determine an interference metric threshold level for said given base station for said given time slot;
select a given mobile station among said plurality of mobile stations;
receive, from said given mobile station, an indication of a received power level of a pilot signal from said given base station;
determine, from said interference metric threshold level and said indication of said received power level, an interference target threshold for said given mobile station; and
transmit, to said given mobile station:
permission to transmit an uplink transmission to said given base station in said given time slot; and
an indication of said interference target threshold, whereby a power for said uplink transmission is limited by said interference target threshold.
8. At a given base station among a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system, a method of scheduling uplink transmissions among a plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, said method comprising:
selecting a given time slot among a plurality of time slots in a scheduling time frame;
for each mobile wireless communication device in a first subset of said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, where said each mobile wireless communication device in said first subset is associated with said given base station, determining a first priority factor for said given time slot, where said determining includes:
determining a potential interference profile for said each mobile wireless communication device in said given time slot, where said potential interference profile includes an estimate of interference that transmissions from said each mobile may cause at each base station in a subset of said plurality of base stations; and
determining a correlation between said potential interference profile and a target interference pattern associated with said given time slot;
selecting a candidate mobile wireless communication device having an optimum priority index among said mobile wireless communication devices in said first subset of said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, where said priority index is based, at least in part, on said first priority factor; and
transmitting a schedule to said candidate mobile wireless communication device, where said schedule indicates that said candidate mobile wireless communication device is permitted to send uplink transmissions to said given base station in said given time slot.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first subset of said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices includes those mobile wireless communication devices that have indicated to said given base station a requirement to transmit data.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining, for said candidate mobile wireless communication device, an optimum power level for said uplink transmissions in said given time slot wherein said schedule further indicates said optimum power level.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said target interference pattern associated with said given time slot is derived from a first interference threshold level associated with said given base station and additional interference threshold levels associated with said each base station in said subset of said plurality of base stations.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein said determining said optimum power level comprises:
receiving, from said each mobile Wireless communication device, an indication of pilot signal measurements received, at said each mobile wireless communication device, from said given base station; and
determining, from said first interference threshold level and said indication of pilot signal measurements, said optimum power level for said candidate mobile wireless communication device.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein said determining said potential interference profile comprises:
receiving, from said candidate mobile wireless communication device, indications of pilot signal measurements received from said base stations in said subset of said plurality of base stations; and
basing said estimate of interference that transmissions from said candidate mobile wireless communication device may cause at base stations in said subset of said plurality of base stations for said given time slot on said indications of pilot signal measurements.
14. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining a second priority factor, where said second priority factor is representative of an urgency to achieve throughput requirements and where said priority index is based, at least in part, on said second priority factor.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said determining said second priority factor comprises:
receiving, from said candidate mobile wireless communication device, a measure of throughput; and
determining said second priority factor based on said measure of throughput.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said determining said second priority factor comprises:
receiving, from said candidate mobile wireless communication device, an indication of a measure of data in an input buffer of said candidate mobile wireless communication device; and
determining said second priority factor based on said measure of data in said input buffer.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said determining said second priority factor comprises basing said second priority factor on contractual requirements associated with said candidate mobile wireless communication device.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein said determining said second priority factor comprises determining said second priority factor based on throughput fairness requirements associated with said candidate mobile wireless communication device.
19. The method of claim 14 further comprising summing said first priority factor and said second priority factor to determine said priority index.
20. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining a proportion of said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices requiring use of a first time slot associated with a first target interference pattern in said scheduling time frame;
establishing a new scheduling time frame, wherein a duration of said first time slot associated with said first target interference pattern in said new scheduling time frame is set according to said proportion; and
distributing said new scheduling time frame to said plurality of base stations.
21. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining a traffic loading of a first time slot associated with a first target interference pattern; and
establishing a new scheduling time frame, where said new scheduling time frame includes a second time slot with said first target interference pattern; and
distributing said new scheduling time frame to said plurality of base stations.
22. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
determining propagation conditions; and
wherein said determining said optimum power level includes determining said optimum power level based on said propagation conditions and a maximum transmit power for said candidate mobile wireless communication device.
23. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting said target interference pattern associated with said given time slot to said candidate mobile wireless communication device.
24. At a given base station among a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system, a method of scheduling uplink transmissions among a plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, said method comprising:
selecting a given time slot among a plurality of time slots in a scheduling time frame;
for each mobile wireless communication device of said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices, determining a potential interference profile for said each mobile wireless communication device in said given time slot, where said potential interference profile includes an estimate of interference that transmissions from said each mobile may cause at base stations in a subset of said plurality of base stations;
categorizing said plurality of mobile wireless communication devices into a plurality of categories based on said potential interference profile;
associating a category interference profile with each category in said plurality of categories;
determining a category priority factor for said each category, where said determining said category priority factor includes determining a correlation between said category interference profile associated with said each category and a target interference pattern associated with said given time slot;
selecting a candidate mobile wireless communication device having an optimum device priority factor among mobile wireless communication devices in a given category of said plurality of categories, where said given category is associated with an optimum category priority factor and where said device priority factor is representative of an urgency to achieve throughput requirements at said candidate mobile wireless communication device; and
transmitting a schedule to said candidate mobile wireless communication device, where said schedule indicates that said candidate mobile wireless communication device is permitted to send uplink transmissions to said given base station in said given time slot.
25. A method of assigning base stations to base station groups, said method comprising:
receiving indications of received pilot power levels from a plurality of mobile stations;
assigning, based on said indications of received pilot power levels, individual mobile stations of said plurality of mobile stations to individual base stations among a plurality of base stations;
determining a first mutual interference for a first pair of base stations among said plurality of base stations, where said pair of base stations includes a first base station and a second base station;
determining a second mutual interference for a second pair of base stations among said plurality of base stations; and
where said first mutual interference exceeds said second mutual interference:
assigning said first base station to a first base station group; and
assigning said second base station to a second base station group.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said determining said first mutual interference comprises evaluating a total interference caused, by a subset of mobile stations in said plurality of mobile stations, to said first base station, where each mobile station in said subset of mobile stations is assigned to said second base station.
27. At a mobile station in a wireless communication system, a method of power management for uplink transmissions to a base station, said method comprising:
receiving a grant of permission to transmit in a given time slot in a scheduling time frame of a plurality of time slots;
recording measurements of power in pilot signals received from said base station in said given time slot;
receiving an indication of an interference metric threshold level associated, at said base station, with said given time slot;
determining, based on said measurements and said interference metric threshold level, an optimum power level for transmission to said base station; and
transmitting to said base station in said given time slot at said optimum power level.
28. At a mobile station in a wireless communication system, a method of power management for uplink transmissions to a given base station among a plurality of base stations, said method comprising:
receiving a grant of permission to transmit in a given time slot in a scheduling time frame of a plurality of time slots;
recording measurements of power in pilot signals received from said plurality of base stations in said given time slot;
receiving an indication of an interference metric threshold level associated, at each base station in said plurality of base stations, with said given time slot;
determining, based on said measurements and said interference metric threshold levels, an optimum power level for transmission to said given base station; and
transmitting to said given base station in said given time slot at said optimum power level.