Method and apparatus for dynamically changing the color depth of objects displayed in a computer system
US6377272B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G5/393
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In response to a change in the color depth of a computer system's display device, the invention dynamically changes the color depth of existing objects in system memory to match the changed color depth of the device. As a result open applications need not be shut down and then reopened to change the color depth of objects already in system memory. The dynamic changing is accomplished through a number of functions calls between an application, the operating system and a display driver. In one embodiment of the invention, copies with the changed color depth are made at one time of all objects in system memory and the original objects discarded. The copies are then transferred to screen memory (if the display device is a video display terminal) for display as they are requested. In another embodiment of the invention, copies with the changed color depth are made selectively as the objects are transferred to the screen memory. The copies are then discarded from system memory after transfer and the original objects retained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.