US5216413A — Apparatus and method for specifying windows with …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

A clocked computer video graphics system for displaying on a monitor pixels belonging to overlapping windows, comprising: a. a frame buffer for sequentially and continuously providing pixel values to the system from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer to be interpreted for display; b. means for assigning a priority to each window to be displayed; c. window definition registers for specifying the pixels within each window; d. a set of counters coupled to the window definition registers for tracking the x and y values of the pixel being displayed at any time; e. a comparator for determining if the pixel specified by said counters is within each window for each clock pulse of the system; and f. an arbitrator for selecting the highest priority window of those which the pixel is within.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

A clocked computer video graphics system for displaying on a monitor pixels belonging to overlapping windows, comprising: a. a frame buffer for sequentially and continuously providing pixel values to the system from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer to be interpreted for display; b. means for assigning a priority to each window to be displayed; c. window definition registers for specifying the pixels within each window; d. a set of counters coupled to the window definition registers for tracking the x and y values of the pixel being displayed at any time; e. a comparator for determining if the pixel specified by said counters is within each window for each clock pulse of the system; and f. an arbitrator for selecting the highest priority window of those which the pixel is within.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The graphics system according to claim 1 and including a monitor and means for displaying the pixels on the monitor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The graphics system according to claim 1 wherein said highest priority window is used to clip drawing operations to the frame buffer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The graphics system of claim 2 further comprising a means for assigning a default window number to each pixel value for which no bit was produced by the comparator.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The video graphics system of claim 1, wherein the arbitrator comprises a priority tree for determining which of the windows containing each pixel has highest priority.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The video graphics system of claim 1, wherein the frame buffer stores pixel values as overlapping windows.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 172 words

In a computer video graphics system having a pixel processing unit and a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority, a method of determining a window number for each said pixel comprising the steps of: a. sequentially and continuously obtaining pixel values from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer; (b) providing respective window numbers for each said pixel value; (c) specifying the pixels within each window; (d) comparing for each window each pixel position to determine if the pixel is or is not within each window; (e) performing a priority operation that determines, of the windows that contain the pixel, the window number having the highest priority; and (f) providing said determined window number to the pixel processing unit for controlling operations performed on the pixel value.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 172 words

In a computer video graphics system having a pixel processing unit and a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority, a method of determining a window number for each said pixel comprising the steps of: a. sequentially and continuously obtaining pixel values from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer; (b) providing respective window numbers for each said pixel value; (c) specifying the pixels within each window; (d) comparing for each window each pixel position to determine if the pixel is or is not within each window; (e) performing a priority operation that determines, of the windows that contain the pixel, the window number having the highest priority; and (f) providing said determined window number to the pixel processing unit for controlling operations performed on the pixel value.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 7 wherein a pixel that is not contained in any window is assigned a specified default window number.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 153 words

A computer video graphics system for displaying on a monitor pixels belonging to overlapping windows, comprising: a. a pixel value memory containing pixel values to be displayed on the monitor; b. means for sequentially and continuously reading the pixel value memory in the order in which pixel values are contained within the pixel value memory; c. means for assigning a priority to each window to be displayed; d. a set of registers for storing the locations of the edges of each window; e. a set of counters for tracking the pixel being displayed at any time; f. comparators for comparing the contents of the counters with the contents of the registers and producing a bit for each pixel that is within a window; and g. an arbitrator for selecting the highest priority window of those for which a bit was produced by the comparator, whereby said pixel belongs to the highest priority window.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 153 words

A computer video graphics system for displaying on a monitor pixels belonging to overlapping windows, comprising: a. a pixel value memory containing pixel values to be displayed on the monitor; b. means for sequentially and continuously reading the pixel value memory in the order in which pixel values are contained within the pixel value memory; c. means for assigning a priority to each window to be displayed; d. a set of registers for storing the locations of the edges of each window; e. a set of counters for tracking the pixel being displayed at any time; f. comparators for comparing the contents of the counters with the contents of the registers and producing a bit for each pixel that is within a window; and g. an arbitrator for selecting the highest priority window of those for which a bit was produced by the comparator, whereby said pixel belongs to the highest priority window.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 176 words

In a computer video graphics system having a pixel processing unit and a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority, a method of determining a window number for each pixel comprising the steps of: a. sequentially and continuously obtaining pixel values from the first memory location in a frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer; (b) providing respective window numbers for each said pixel value; (c) providing in registers the minimum and maximum extents of each window; (d) performing a comparison operation in parallel for each window to determine if a pixel is or is not in that window; (e) performing a priority operation that determines, of the windows that contain the pixel, the window number having the highest priority; and (f) outputting that number to the pixel processing unit for controlling operations performed on the pixel value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 176 words

In a computer video graphics system having a pixel processing unit and a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority, a method of determining a window number for each pixel comprising the steps of: a. sequentially and continuously obtaining pixel values from the first memory location in a frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer; (b) providing respective window numbers for each said pixel value; (c) providing in registers the minimum and maximum extents of each window; (d) performing a comparison operation in parallel for each window to determine if a pixel is or is not in that window; (e) performing a priority operation that determines, of the windows that contain the pixel, the window number having the highest priority; and (f) outputting that number to the pixel processing unit for controlling operations performed on the pixel value.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for specifying windows in priority order in a video graphics system, the windows comprising pixels and the video graphics system having a refresh process, the apparatus comprising: a. a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority; b. an X counter and a Y counter for calculating the X,Y position of refresh logic in the video graphics system; c. a set of window definition registers coupled to the X and Y counters for storing the locations of the edges of the windows defined in the system; d. a set of window detectors for receiving a window definition for each X,Y position from the X and Y counters contained within a window; e. a priority tree for determining which of the windows containing each pixel has highest priority, the priority tree outputting a window number for each X,Y position within a window in the refresh process and for each X,Y position that is not within a window, outputting a default window number; f. a mapping memory for receiving each window number from the priority tree; and g. means for receiving pixel values from the frame buffer in the order in which the pixel values are stored in the frame buffer, each pixel value received having a corresponding window number received by the mapping memory.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for specifying windows in priority order in a video graphics system, the windows comprising pixels and the video graphics system having a refresh process, the apparatus comprising: a. a frame buffer with memory locations and which is capable of displaying pixels sequentially and continuously from the first memory location in the frame buffer to the last memory location in the frame buffer in a plurality of windows of selectable priority; b. an X counter and a Y counter for calculating the X,Y position of refresh logic in the video graphics system; c. a set of window definition registers coupled to the X and Y counters for storing the locations of the edges of the windows defined in the system; d. a set of window detectors for receiving a window definition for each X,Y position from the X and Y counters contained within a window; e. a priority tree for determining which of the windows containing each pixel has highest priority, the priority tree outputting a window number for each X,Y position within a window in the refresh process and for each X,Y position that is not within a window, outputting a default window number; f. a mapping memory for receiving each window number from the priority tree; and g. means for receiving pixel values from the frame buffer in the order in which the pixel values are stored in the frame buffer, each pixel value received having a corresponding window number received by the mapping memory.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 229 words

A method of specifying windows in priority order in a video graphics system having a frame buffer for storing pixel values, the windows comprising pixels and the video graphics system having a refresh process, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the X,Y position of refresh logic in the video graphics system in a set of X and Y counters; b. storing the locations of the edges of the windows defined in the system in a set of window definition registers coupled to the X and Y counters; c. receiving a window definition in a set of window detectors for each X,Y position in the X and Y counters contained within a window; d. determining in a priority tree which of the windows containing each pixel has highest priority, the priority tree outputting a window number for each X,Y position within a window in the refresh process and for each X,Y position that is not within a window, outputting a default window number; e. receiving in a mapping memory each window number from the priority tree; and f. receiving pixel values sequentially and continuously from the first pixel value in the frame buffer to the last pixel value in the frame buffer in the order in which the pixel values are stored in the frame buffer, each pixel value received having a corresponding window number received by the mapping memory.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 229 words

A method of specifying windows in priority order in a video graphics system having a frame buffer for storing pixel values, the windows comprising pixels and the video graphics system having a refresh process, comprising the steps of: a. calculating the X,Y position of refresh logic in the video graphics system in a set of X and Y counters; b. storing the locations of the edges of the windows defined in the system in a set of window definition registers coupled to the X and Y counters; c. receiving a window definition in a set of window detectors for each X,Y position in the X and Y counters contained within a window; d. determining in a priority tree which of the windows containing each pixel has highest priority, the priority tree outputting a window number for each X,Y position within a window in the refresh process and for each X,Y position that is not within a window, outputting a default window number; e. receiving in a mapping memory each window number from the priority tree; and f. receiving pixel values sequentially and continuously from the first pixel value in the frame buffer to the last pixel value in the frame buffer in the order in which the pixel values are stored in the frame buffer, each pixel value received having a corresponding window number received by the mapping memory.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-05-31	1996-11-30	1997-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-05-31	2000-11-30	2001-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-05-31	2004-11-30	2005-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for specifying windows with priority ordered rectangles in a computer video graphics system

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