Method and apparatus for graphics pipeline context switching in a multi-tasking windows system
US5224210A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G2360/121
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Graphics window systems which utilize graphics pipelines and graphics pipeline bypass buses. Hardware solutions for window relative rendering of graphics primitives, block moving of graphics primitives, transfer of large data blocks, and elimination of pipeline flushing are disclosed. The hardware implementations provided in accordance with the invention are interfaced along the pipeline bypass bus, thereby eliminating gross overhead processor time for the graphics pipeline and reducing pipeline latency. Methods and apparatus provided in accordance with the invention exhibit significant pipeline efficiency and reductions in time to render graphics primitives to the screen system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.