Priority storage system for fast memory devices
US6121974A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T1/60
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A process and implementing computer system for graphics applications in which information files such as texture maps (TMs) are prioritized and stored in a relatively fast local memory. The method of prioritization includes initially sorting the information files by order of the frequency with which corresponding graphics primitive elements are called by the application. The priority is adjusted such that the smaller TMs get an increase in their priority so that more TMs may be placed in faster graphics memory. Thereafter among similarly prioritized groups of information files, the larger of the files are first stored in the fast local memory and the remaining files are marked for storage in the system memory after the fast local memory has been fully utilized. A searching routine enables an identification of available or free storage space in the local memory and the method further compares individual texture map files with available free memory space to optimize storage of the texture maps on a priority basis to the fast local memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.