Media integration layer

US7511718B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Sriram Subramanian · Kanchinakote, IN
• Leonardo E. Blanco · Redmond, US
• Donald B. Curtis · Bellevue, US
• Joseph S. Beda, III · Seattle, US
• Gerhard Schneider · Kirkland, US
• Greg Schechter · Seattle, US
• Adam Smith · San Francisco, US
• Eric Vandenberg · Seattle, US
• Matthew W. Calkins · Seattle, US
• Kevin T. Gallo · Woodinville, US
• Michael Stokes · Eagle, US
• Rajat Goel · Saratoga, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 31, 2009
• Expiry date: Nov 27, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09G2340/0464
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A media integration layer including an application programming interface (API) and an object model allows program code developers to interface in a consistent manner with a scene graph data structure in order to output graphics. Via the interfaces, program code adds child visuals to other visuals to build up a hierarchical scene graph, writes Instruction Lists such as geometry data, image data, animation data and other data for output, and may specify transform, clipping and opacity properties on visuals. The media integration layer and API enable programmers to accomplish composition effects within their applications in a straightforward manner, while leveraging the graphics processing unit in a manner that does not adversely impact normal application performance. A multiple-level system includes the ability to combine different media types (such as 2D, 3D, Video, Audio, text and imaging) and animate them smoothly and seamlessly.