Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for a vertex attribute buffer in a graphics processor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A method for managing vertex data in a vertex buffer during graphics processing comprising: (a) receiving vertex data; (b) storing the vertex data in a vertex data buffer; (c) outputting the vertex data from the vertex data buffer to an input buffer of a graphics processing module; (d) passing a plurality of command bits from a command bit source for determining a manner in which the vertex data is inputted to the input buffer of the graphics processing module; and (e) passing a plurality of mode bits from a mode bit source for determining a manner in which the vertex data is processed in the graphics processing module, wherein the mode bits are indicative of a status of a plurality of modes of process operations.
2.
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertex data includes attributes that are defaulted to a predetermined value.
3.
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the buffer includes a slot for storing data intended for bypassing the processing module.
4.
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertex data outputted is only that which includes a change with respect to corresponding vertex data in an input buffer of the graphics processing module.
5.
A code segment embodied on a computer readable medium for managing vertex data in a vertex buffer during graphics processing comprising: (a) a code segment for receiving vertex data; (b) a code segment for storing the vertex data in a vertex data buffer; (c) a code segment for outputting the vertex data from the vertex data buffer to an input buffer of a graphics processing module; (d) a code segment for passing a plurality of command bits from a command bit source for determining a manner in which the vertex data is inputted to the input buffer of the graphics processing module; and (e) a code segment for passing a plurality of mode bits from a mode bit source for determining a manner in which the vertex data is processed in the graphics processing module, wherein the mode bits are indicative of a status of a plurality of modes of process operations