Controlling animation frame rate of applications

US8593463B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Jarrett · Snohomish, US
• Sankhyayan Debnath · Seattle, US
• Paul J. Kwiatkowski · Redmond, US
• Martyn S. Lovell · Seattle, US
• Billie Sue Chafins · Seattle, US
• Paul Stephen Gildea · Seattle, US
• Jay Turney · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 27, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02D10/00
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Many computer applications incorporate and support animation (e.g., interactive user interfaces). Unfortunately, it may be challenging for computer applications and rendering systems to render animation frames at a smooth and consistent rate while conserving system resources. Accordingly, a technique for controlling animation rendering frame rate of an application is disclosed herein. An animation rendering update interval of an animation timer may be adjusted based upon a rendering system state (e.g., a rate of compositing visual layouts from animation frames) of a rendering system and/or an application state (e.g., a rate at which an application renders frames) of an application. Adjusting the animation rendering update interval allows the animation timer to adjust the frequency of performing rendering callback notifications (work requests to an application to render animation frames) to an application based upon rendering system performance and application performance.