Methods and systems for merging graphics for display on a computing device

• US 20040217960A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Estrop, Stephen J., Wilt, Nicholas P., McCartney, Colin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,315,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/103 Detection of image changes, e.g. determination of an index representative of the image change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/397 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of two or more bit-mapped memories to the screen simultaneously, e.g. for mixing or overlay G09G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/399 using two or more bit-mapped memories, the operations of which are switched in time, e.g. ping-pong buffers

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems that allow video applications to merge their outputs for display and to transform the outputs of other applications before display. A graphics arbiter tells applications the estimated time when the next frame will be displayed on a display screen. Applications tailor their output to the estimated display time. When output from a first application is incorporated into a scene produced by a second application, the graphics arbiter “offsets” the estimated display time it gives to the first application in order to compensate for the latency caused by the second application'"'"'s processing of the first application'"'"'s output. A set of overlay buffers parallels the traditional buffers used to prepare frames for the display screen. In composing a frame, the screen merges video information from a traditional buffer with that from an overlay buffer, conserving display resources at the final point in the display composition process.

Claims

1. A method for a graphics arbiter, distinct from a first display source and from a second display source, to notify the first display source of a first estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on a display device, the first display source providing display information to the second display source, the method comprising:

notifying the second display source of a second estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on the display device; and

notifying the first display source of a first estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on the display device, the first estimated frame time offset from the second estimated frame time, the offset based, at least in part, on an estimated amount of time to be spent by the second display source in processing the display information provided by the first display source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics arbiter notifies the second display source in association with receiving an indication of a refresh of the display device and wherein the offset is based, at least in part, on a refresh rate of the display device.

3. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for a graphics arbiter, distinct from a first display source and from a second display source, to notify the first display source of a first estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on a display device, the first display source providing display information to the second display source, the method comprising:

notifying the second display source of a second estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on the display device; and

notifying the first display source of a first estimated time when a future frame will be displayed on the display device, the first estimated frame time offset from the second estimated frame time, the offset based, at least in part, on an estimated amount of time to be spent by the second display source in processing the display information provided by the first display source.

4-18. -18. (Cancelled)