System and method for generating and displaying complex graphic images at a constant frame rate
First Claim
1. A video graphics system for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable complexity, comprising:
- determining means for determining a first image resolution for a first graphic image;
drawing means for drawing said first graphic image to said first image resolution thereby producing a drawn image; and
magnifying means for magnifying said drawn image to a target resolution thereby generating a display image;
wherein said drawing means and said determining means execute within a time period of a single frame, and said magnifying means executes within said time period of said single frame, andwherein said determining means compares a computational time for drawing a second graphic image with said time period of said single frame, wherein said second graphic image precedes said first graphic image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable image complexity to generate display images at a constant frame rate for output to a display device. In one frame, an image resolution is determined and a graphic image is drawn to the determined image resolution. In the subsequent frame, the graphic image is magnified to a target resolution prior to being output to a display device. The synchronization of the drawing of the graphic image and its display is managed by a swap buffer signal. The present invention further provides for the double buffering of graphic images and their corresponding image resolutions. The present invention further provides for the independent dynamic resizing of multiple channels, such that, a plurality of display devices can independently resize graphic images of variable complexity at a constant frame rate.
34 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A video graphics system for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable complexity, comprising:
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determining means for determining a first image resolution for a first graphic image; drawing means for drawing said first graphic image to said first image resolution thereby producing a drawn image; and magnifying means for magnifying said drawn image to a target resolution thereby generating a display image; wherein said drawing means and said determining means execute within a time period of a single frame, and said magnifying means executes within said time period of said single frame, and wherein said determining means compares a computational time for drawing a second graphic image with said time period of said single frame, wherein said second graphic image precedes said first graphic image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A video graphic system for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable complexity, comprising:
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determining means for determining a first image resolution for a first graphic image; drawing means for drawing said first graphic image at said first image resolution, thereby producing a drawn image; and magnifying means for magnifying said drawn image to a target resolution thereby generating a display image, wherein said drawing means and said determining means execute within a time period of a single frame, and said magnifying means executes within said time period of said single frame, said determining means further determines a computational time for drawing a second graphic image that precedes said first graphic image exceeds a high-water mark, and if said computational time exceeds said high-water mark, said first image resolution is determined to be less than a second image resolution at which said second graphic image was drawn; and said determining means further determines if said computational time falls below a low-water mark, and if said computational time falls below said low-water mark and said second image resolution does not equal said target resolution, said first image resolution is determined to be greater than said second image resolution, otherwise said first image resolution is determined to be said target resolution. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a computer-based system having a computer graphics system, a method for dynamically resizing a graphic image of variable complexity to generate a display image of a target resolution at a constant frame rate, said steps comprising:
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(a) drawing, within a time period of a single frame, the graphic image of variable complexity to a first image resolution, thereby producing a drawn image; (b) determining, within said time period of said single frame, a second image resolution for a second graphic image of variable complexity by comparing a computational time for drawing the graphic image of variable complexity with said time period of said single frame, wherein the graphic image of variable complexity precedes said second graphic image; and (c) if said first image resolution is less than the target resolution, magnifying said drawn image to the target resolution, thereby producing the display image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A video graphics system, comprising:
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a pair of frame buffers, denoted by a first frame buffer and a second frame buffer, each of which receives a graphic image drawn to an image resolution, thereby storing a drawn image, wherein said first frame buffer receives said graphic image during a first frame and said second frame buffer receives a second graphic image during a second frame; a switch for pointing to said pair of frame buffers wherein said switch indicates whether said first frame buffer is receiving said graphic image or whether said second frame buffer is receiving said graphic image; a buffered resolution coefficients register for storing resolution coefficients associated with said graphic image currently being drawn to either said first frame buffer or said second frame buffer during said second frame; a resolution coefficients register for storing resolution coefficients associated with said drawn image currently stored in either said first frame buffer or said second frame buffer during said first frame; a swap buffer signal connected to said switch and said buffered resolution coefficients register wherein said swap buffer signal causes said switch to swap said first frame buffer and said second frame buffer and said buffered resolution coefficients register to output its stored resolution coefficients into said resolution coefficients register; and a video output controller for reading the contents of said first frame buffer, if said first frame buffer contains said drawn image, or said second frame buffer, if said second frame buffer contains said drawn image, and outputting said drawn image to a display device, wherein said drawn image is magnified by said resolution coefficients stored in said resolution coefficients register prior to said outputting of said drawn image.
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22. A video graphics system connected to a plurality of display devices, wherein each said display device has a unique channel, each channel comprising:
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a pair of frame buffers, denoted by a first frame buffer and a second frame buffer, each of which receives a graphic image drawn to an image resolution, thereby storing a drawn image, wherein said first frame buffer receives said graphic image during a first frame and said second frame buffer receives a second graphic image during a second frame; a switch for pointing to said pair of frame buffers wherein said switch indicates whether said first frame buffer is receiving said graphic image or whether said second frame buffer is receiving said graphic image; a buffered resolution coefficients register for storing resolution coefficients associated with said graphic image currently being drawn to either said first frame buffer or said second frame buffer during said second frame; a resolution coefficients register for storing resolution coefficients associated with said drawn image currently stored in either said first frame buffer or said second frame buffer during said first frame; a swap buffer signal connected to said switch and said buffered resolution coefficients register wherein said swap buffer signal causes said switch to swap said first frame buffer and said second frame buffer and said buffered resolution coefficients register to output its stored resolution coefficients into said resolution coefficients register; and a video output controller for reading the contents of said first frame buffer, if said first frame buffer contains said drawn image, or said second frame buffer, if said second frame buffer contains said drawn image, and outputting said drawn image to a display device, wherein said drawn image is magnified by said resolution coefficients stored in said resolution coefficients register prior to said outputting of said drawn image.
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23. A video graphic system for dynamically resizing graphic images of variable complexity, comprising:
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a plurality of drawing means for drawing graphic images to an image resolution thereby producing drawn images; determining means for determining an image resolution for at least one of said graphic images; and a plurality of magnifying means for magnifying said drawn images to a target resolution, thereby generating display images; wherein one of said plurality of drawing means and said determining means execute within a time period of a single frame, and each of said plurality of magnifying means executes within a time period of said single frame, and wherein one said drawing means and one said magnifying means correspond to a channel of a display device, thereby providing independent dynamic resizing of graphic images of variable complexity across multiple channels. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In a computer-based system having a computer graphics system, a method for dynamically resizing a graphic image of variable complexity to generate a display image of a target resolution at a constant frame rate, comprising the steps of:
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(a) drawing, within a time period of a single frame, the graphic image of variable complexity to a first image resolution, thereby producing a drawn image; (b) determining, within said time period of said single frame, a second image resolution for a second graphic image of variable complexity, wherein the graphic image of variable complexity precedes said second graphic image, and wherein said determining step comprises the steps of; comparing a computational time for drawing the graphic image of variable complexity to a high-water mark, wherein if said computational time exceeds said high-water mark, said second image resolution is determined to be less than said first image resolution; and comparing said computational time to a low-water mark, wherein if said computational time is less than said low-water mark and said first image resolution does not equal the target resolution, said second image resolution is determined to be greater than said first image resolution, otherwise said second image resolution is determined to be said target resolution; and (c) if said first image resolution is less than the target resolution, magnifying said drawn image to the target resolution, thereby producing the display image. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. In a computer-based system having a computer graphics system, a method for dynamically resizing a graphic image of variable complexity to generate a display image of a target resolution at a constant frame rate, said steps comprising:
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(a) drawing the graphic image of variable complexity to a first image resolution, thereby producing a drawn image; (b) determining a second image resolution for a subsequent graphic image of variable complexity of said drawn image; (c) magnifying said drawn image to the target resolution, thereby producing the display image; (d) double buffering said drawn image, wherein a first frame buffer receives the graphic image being drawn in step (a) during a first frame, and a second frame buffer stores a previously drawn image produced during a second frame, wherein said second frame is a time period immediately preceding said first frame; (e) double buffering said image resolution, wherein a buffered resolution coefficients register stores said image resolution coefficients corresponding to the graphic image being drawn in said first frame buffer, and a resolution coefficients register stores said image resolution coefficients corresponding to said drawn image stored in said second frame buffer; and (f) synchronizing said double buffering of said drawn image with said double buffering of said image resolution, wherein said first frame buffer and said second frame buffer are swapped concurrent with the transfer of said image resolution coefficients from said buffered resolution coefficients register to said resolution coefficients register. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification