Method and apparatus for the continuous and asynchronous traversal and processing of graphics data structures

US4928247A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Digital Equipment Corporation · US

Inventors

• Peter L. Doyle · Cameron Park, US
• John P. Ellenberger · Groton, US
• Ellis Oliver Jones · Newburyport, US
• David C. Carver · Lexington, US
• Steven D. DiPirro · Holliston, US
• Branko J. Gerovac · Lexington, US
• William P. Armstrong · Salt Lake City, US
• Ellen S. Gibson · Salt Lake City, US
• Raymond E. Shapiro · Marlborough, US
• Kevin Rushforth · San Jose, US
• William C. Roach · Salt Lake City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 20, 1988
• Grant date: May 22, 1990
• Expiry date: Apr 20, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T17/00
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A host system executes one or more application programs which results in graphic data structures. These graphic data structures are then continuously and asynchronously traversed. Traversal requests by competing application programs are scheduled and performed so that each application views the graphics processing as its own. The traversal and ordering of traversal requests provide efficient use of resources for multiple application programs.