Address based graphics protocol
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting, over a general purpose data network, graphical data to a display device having a memory, the apparatus comprising:
- a graphics component for generating graphical data in an appropriate format for direct transmission to corresponding addresses in the display device memory; and
a network interface for transmitting the graphical data over to the display device, wherein graphical data transmitted from the network interface specifies an address in the memory of that display device upon which an action is required.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus and method for transmitting, over a general purpose data network, graphical data to a display device having a memory. The apparatus has a graphics component for generating graphical data in an appropriate format for direct transmission to corresponding addresses in the display device memory. Graphical data transmitted from the network interface specifies an address in the memory of that display device upon which an action is required. The apparatus is thus more efficient than conventional remote graphics systems. Direct transmission of graphical data to a memory address uses less network capacity as a single address value can generally be packed more tightly than a pair of coordinates. The invention simplifies the requirements placed on display devices: since the data is not transmitted as geometric coordinates there is no need for the display device to perform complicated arithmetic operations to convert incoming geometries to memory addresses. The network is preferably a general purpose data network and may be wireless.
47 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting, over a general purpose data network, graphical data to a display device having a memory, the apparatus comprising:
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a graphics component for generating graphical data in an appropriate format for direct transmission to corresponding addresses in the display device memory; and
a network interface for transmitting the graphical data over to the display device, wherein graphical data transmitted from the network interface specifies an address in the memory of that display device upon which an action is required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A display device for receiving graphical data transmitted over a general purpose data network, the display device comprising:
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at least one display screen for presenting graphical data visually;
drive circuitry for driving the or each display screen;
a network interface for coupling the display device to the general purpose data network;
memory for storing the graphical data; and
decoder means for effecting actions directly on graphical data stored at a target address in the memory, wherein the decoder means is adapted to receive and process graphical data transmitted to the display device, in which the graphical data specifies the target address within the memory. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for transmitting graphical data comprising:
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at least one display device having a memory; and
a data processing device coupled to the or each display device over a general purpose data network;
wherein, in use, all graphical data transmitted by the data processing device to a given one of the display devices is transmitted to addresses in the memory of that display device that are specified by the data processing device - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for transmitting, over a general purpose data network, graphical data to a display device having a memory, the method comprising:
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generating graphical data in an appropriate format for direct transmission to corresponding addresses in the display device memory; and
transmitting the graphical data over to the display device, wherein graphical data transmitted from the network interface specifies an address in the memory of that display device upon which an action is required. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification