Master/slave graphics adapter arrangement
First Claim
1. A method of operating a graphics processor forming part of a first graphics adapter to draw first and second images on first and second displays, respectively, said first display interconnected with a first display interface of said first graphics adapter, said second display interconnected with a second display interface of a second graphics adapter, said method comprising:
- rendering said first and second images within memory of said first graphics adapter;
transferring said second images from said memory of said first adapter to a frame buffer of said second graphics adapter; and
displaying said second images from said frame buffer of said second graphics adapter on said second display, using said second display interface of said second graphics adapter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computing device includes first and second graphics adapters. A graphics processor of the first graphics adapter acts as a master graphics processor, while a second graphics adapter acts as a slave. The master graphics processor renders graphics to be displayed on multiple separate displays within memory of the first graphics adapter. Images to be displayed on one of the displays are transferred to memory used by the second graphics adapter. The display interface of the second graphics adapter presents images within the memory of the second graphics adapter on at least one of the multiple displays. In this way, device electronics forming the display interface, as well as ports of the second adapter, acting as a slave, may be utilized. In one embodiment, an application creates a single larger image, rendered within the memory of the first graphics adapter. The larger image is then presented as the first and second smaller images on the multiple displays. In this way, an end user sees the multiple images as a single large image across the multiple displays.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of operating a graphics processor forming part of a first graphics adapter to draw first and second images on first and second displays, respectively, said first display interconnected with a first display interface of said first graphics adapter, said second display interconnected with a second display interface of a second graphics adapter, said method comprising:
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rendering said first and second images within memory of said first graphics adapter;
transferring said second images from said memory of said first adapter to a frame buffer of said second graphics adapter; and
displaying said second images from said frame buffer of said second graphics adapter on said second display, using said second display interface of said second graphics adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20)
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14. A computing device comprising:
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a processor;
computer readable memory in communication with said processor;
a first graphics adapter;
first adapter memory in communication with said first graphics adapter;
a first display interface for presenting images on a first display;
a second graphics adapter;
a second display interface for presenting images on a second display;
a high speed bus interconnecting said first and second graphics adapters;
program code stored within said computer readable memory, executable by said processor, said program code when executed, causing said first graphics adapter to render first and second images within said first adapter memory;
causing transfer of said second images from said first adapter memory to a frame buffer of said second graphics adapter; and
causing said second display interface of said second graphics adapter to be programmed to display said second images from said frame buffer of said second graphics adapter on said second display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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21. A method of operating a first graphics processor to draw first and second images on first and second displays, respectively, said second display interconnected with a display interface of a second graphics adapter, said method comprising:
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rendering said first and second images within memory in communication with said first graphics processor;
transferring said second images to a frame buffer of said second graphics adapter; and
programming said display interface of said second graphics adapter to display said second images from said frame buffer of said second graphics adapter on said second display.
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Specification