Computer image production system utilizing first and second networks for separately transferring control information and digital image data
First Claim
1. A method for use with a computer image production system for efficiently processing digital image data including pixel characteristic information, said computer image production system comprising a logistics system for storing said digital image data and control information relating to said digital image data, one or more information processing devices for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize, and enhance said digital image data, a first network for coupling each of said one or more information processing devices to said logistics system for communicating said control information to and from said logistics system to and from said one or more information processing devices, one or more first arbitration means for arbitrating access of said digital image data among said one or more information processing devices, one or more of said one or more information processing devices coupled to one of said first arbitration means, one or more temporary memory means, each of said temporary memory means coupled to one of said one or more first arbitration means, each of said temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be accessed by said coupled one or more information processing devices, and a second network having one or more high-speed data buses, each of said high-speed data buses for coupling said logistics system to said first arbitration means and for communicating said digital image data to and from said first arbitration means to and from said logistics system, said digital image data for image display on at least one of said information processing devices, said method comprising the steps of:
- sending a first request from one of said information processing devices to said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device for a segment of said digital image data for further processing;
if said requested segment of digital image data is located at said temporary memory means coupled to said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device, transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means to said requesting information processing device;
if not, sending a second request from said requesting information processing device over said first network to said logistics system, determining by said logistics system wherein said computer image production system said segment of digital image data is located, transferring over said second network said requested segment of digital image data through said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device to said temporary means coupled to said first arbitration means from said logistic system or from one of said temporary means which is coupled to one of said first arbitration means that is not coupled to said requesting information processing device; and
transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means coupled to said temporary means to said requesting information processing device and processing said requested element of digital image data by said requesting information processing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer image production system (2) for processing digital image data is disclosed. The computer animation production system (2) contains at least one information processing device (44-76) for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance digital image data. The information processing device (44-76) is associated with a first (4) and a second (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) global area network (4). The first global area network (4) is for communicating digital control information to at least one information processing device. The digital control information includes image database information. The second global area network (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) is for communicating the digital image data to the at least one information processing device (44-76). The digital image data includes pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on the information processing device. The second global area network (6, 8, 12 and 14) also includes a means for arbitrating (36, 38, 40, 42 or 43) access of the digital image data to the information processing device (44-76). Associated with the means for arbitrating is a temporary memory means (28, 30, 32, 34 or 35) for storing the digital image data likely to be accessed by the information processing device (44-76). A relational database management system (23) maintains the digital control information for production scheduling and tracking purposes.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for use with a computer image production system for efficiently processing digital image data including pixel characteristic information, said computer image production system comprising a logistics system for storing said digital image data and control information relating to said digital image data, one or more information processing devices for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize, and enhance said digital image data, a first network for coupling each of said one or more information processing devices to said logistics system for communicating said control information to and from said logistics system to and from said one or more information processing devices, one or more first arbitration means for arbitrating access of said digital image data among said one or more information processing devices, one or more of said one or more information processing devices coupled to one of said first arbitration means, one or more temporary memory means, each of said temporary memory means coupled to one of said one or more first arbitration means, each of said temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be accessed by said coupled one or more information processing devices, and a second network having one or more high-speed data buses, each of said high-speed data buses for coupling said logistics system to said first arbitration means and for communicating said digital image data to and from said first arbitration means to and from said logistics system, said digital image data for image display on at least one of said information processing devices, said method comprising the steps of:
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sending a first request from one of said information processing devices to said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device for a segment of said digital image data for further processing; if said requested segment of digital image data is located at said temporary memory means coupled to said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device, transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means to said requesting information processing device; if not, sending a second request from said requesting information processing device over said first network to said logistics system, determining by said logistics system wherein said computer image production system said segment of digital image data is located, transferring over said second network said requested segment of digital image data through said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device to said temporary means coupled to said first arbitration means from said logistic system or from one of said temporary means which is coupled to one of said first arbitration means that is not coupled to said requesting information processing device; and transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means coupled to said temporary means to said requesting information processing device and processing said requested element of digital image data by said requesting information processing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for use with a computer image production system for efficiently processing digital image data including pixel characteristic information, said computer image production system comprising a logistics system for storing said digital image data and control information relating to said digital image data, one or more of information processing devices for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize, and enhance said digital image data, a first network for coupling each of said one or more information processing devices to said logistics system for communicating said control information to and from said logistics system to and from said one or more information processing devices, one or more first arbitration means for arbitrating access of said digital image data among said one or more information processing devices, one or more of said one or more information processing devices coupled to one of said one or more first arbitration means, one or more temporary memory means, each of said temporary memory means coupled to one of said one or more first arbitration means, each of said temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be accessed by said one or more information processing devices, and a second network having one or more high-speed data buses, each of high speed data buses for coupling said logistics system said first arbitration means and for communicating said digital image data to and from each of said first arbitration means to and from said logistics system, said digital image data for image display on at least one of said first arbitration means to and from said logistics system, said digital image data for image display on at least one of said plurality of information processing devices, said apparatus comprising:
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means for sending a first request from one of said information processing devices to said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device for a segment of said digital image data for further processing; means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means to said requesting information processing device; means for sending a second request from said requesting information processing device over the first network to said logistics system, means for determining by said logistics system wherein said computer image production system said segment of digital image data is located, means for transferring over said second network said requested segment of digital image data through said first arbitration means coupled to said requesting information processing device to said temporary means coupled to said first arbitration means from either said logistic system or from one of said temporary means which is coupled to one of said first arbitration means that is not coupled to said requesting information processing device; and means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means through said first arbitration means coupled to said temporary memory means to said requesting information processing device and for processing said requested segment of digital image data by said requesting information processing device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer image production system for efficiently processing digital image data including pixel characteristic information for enabling users of said computer image production system to develop, utilize, and enhance said digital image data, said computer image production system comprising:
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a logistics system for storing said digital image data and for maintaining control information relating to said digital image data, one or more information processing devices for enabling said users of said computer image production system to review, request and enhance said digital image data and control information, a first network for coupling each of said one or more information processing devices to said logistics system for communicating said control information to and from said logistics system to and from said one or more information processing devices, one or more first arbitration means for arbitrating access of said digital image data among one or more of said information processing devices, and one or more of said one or more information processing devices coupled to one of said first arbitration means, a temporary memory means coupled to each of first arbitration means, said temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be requested by said one or more information processing devices coupled to said first arbitration means, and a second network having one or more independent high-speed data buses, each of said high-speed data buses coupling said logistics system to one of said first arbitration means and for communicating said digital image data to and from each of said first arbitration means to and from said logistics system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification