NDLI: A shader-based parallel rendering framework

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Allard, J. Raffin, B.
Copyright Year	2005
Description	Author affiliation: ID-IMAG, CNRS, France (Allard, J.; Raffin, B.)
Abstract	Existing parallel or remote rendering solutions rely on communicating pixels, OpenGL commands, scene-graph changes or application-specific data. We propose an intermediate solution based on a set of independent graphics primitives that use hardware shaders to specify their visual appearance. Compared to an OpenGL based approach, it reduces the complexity of the model by eliminating most fixed function parameters while giving access to the latest functionalities of graphics cards. It also suppresses the OpenGL state machine that creates data dependencies making primitive re-scheduling difficult. Using a retained-mode communication protocol transmitting changes between each frame, combined with the possibility to use shaders to implement interactive data processing operations instead of sending final colors and geometry, we are able to optimize the network load. High level information such as bounding volumes is used to setup advanced schemes where primitives are issued in parallel, routed according to their visibility, merged and re-ordered when received for rendering. Different optimization algorithms can be efficiently implemented, saving network bandwidth or reducing texture switches for instance. We present performance results based on two VTK applications, a parallel iso-surface extraction and a parallel volume renderer. We compare our approach with Chromium. Results show that our approach leads to significantly better performance and scalability, while offering easy access to hardware accelerated rendering algorithms.
Starting Page	127
Ending Page	134
File Size	5379443
Page Count	8
File Format	PDF
ISBN	0780394623
DOI	10.1109/VISUAL.2005.1532787
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2005-10-23
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Rendering (computer graphics) Graphics Hardware Access protocols Data processing Color Geometry Bandwidth Switches Chromium
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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