Methods and system for merging graphics for display on a computing device
First Claim
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 the future frame will be displayed on the display device, wherein the second estimated time is based on a vertical synchronization event (VSYNC) of the display device;
notifying the first display source of a first estimated time when the 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; and
displaying the future frame on the display device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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notifying the second display source of a second estimated time when the future frame will be displayed on the display device, wherein the second estimated time is based on a vertical synchronization event (VSYNC) of the display device; notifying the first display source of a first estimated time when the 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; and displaying the future frame on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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:
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notifying the second display source of a second estimated time when the future frame will be displayed on the display device, wherein the second estimated time is based a vertical synchronization event (VSYNC) of the display device; notifying the first display source of a first estimated time when the future frame will be displayed on the display device, the first estimated 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, wherein the second estimated time is based on a vertical synchronization event (VSYNC) of the display device; and displaying the future frame on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for enabling 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 system comprising:
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a memory storage; and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to; notify the second display source of a second estimated time when the future frame will be displayed on the display device, wherein the second estimated time is based on a vertical synchronization event (VSYNC) of the display device; notify the first display source of a first estimated frame time offset, the first estimated frame time offset based 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; and display the future frame on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification