Patent US5430465A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5430465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for managing the assignment of display attribute identification values and multiple hardware color look-up tables
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1994-03-29
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2014-03-29
Abstract
Abstract In a bit mapped display environment which has n hardware color look-up tables (CLUTs) where n=1 or more, which also has a limited number of Display Attribute Identification Values, and which may operate under various window systems, such as the X Window System protocol, an apparatus and a method for installing and uninstalling hardware colormaps under the constraint of a finite number of Display Attribute Identification Values, whereby the most recently installed (MRI) policy of the X Window System is followed. The invention provides a scheme which gracefully degenerates to some "color flashing" when Display Attribute Identification Values are exhausted; which allows Display Attribute Identification Values to be uncoupled from colormap management and used for more graphics intensive functions when needed; and which dynamically regenerates when display attributes again become available. The invention also minimizes the rendering of the Display Attribute Planes when a new colormap is installed in a system containing multiple hardware color look-up tables.
Inventors
- 👤 Paolo Sabella
- 👤 Jerald R. Evans
- 👤 Deron Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/02; G09G5/06; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G09G5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In a bit mapped color display system which accommodates the display of multiple windows, an apparatus for controlling the assignment of display attribute identification values and hardware color look-up tables, comprising; a) a plurality of hardware color look-up tables: b) a mechanism for creating colormap objects, coupled to said plurality of hardware color look-up tables, said colormap objects containing a data structure comprising a colormap and a plurality of display attribute data, and said colormap objects also containing one or more program operators; c) a first control facility, coupled to the mechanism for creating colormap objects, said first control facility having devices to establish and assign a finite number of display attribute identification values, said display attribute identification values being distinct from window identification numbers, and having devices for linking windows to the colormap objects and for assigning said finite number of display attribute identification values to the colormap objects, rearranging a previous assignment of said finite number of display attribute identification values if necessary;and d) a second control facility coupled to said first control facility for assigning one of said plurality of hardware color look-up tables to a designated colormap object, said designated colormap object sharing an existing one of said finite number of display attribute identification values with other colormap objects if necessary, whereby said finite number of display attribute identification value can be assigned to multiple colormap objects which are linked to multiple windows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a bit mapped color display system which accommodates the display of multiple windows, an apparatus for controlling the assignment of display attribute identification values and hardware color look-up tables, comprising; a) a plurality of hardware color look-up tables: b) a mechanism for creating colormap objects, coupled to said plurality of hardware color look-up tables, said colormap objects containing a data structure comprising a colormap and a plurality of display attribute data, and said colormap objects also containing one or more program operators; c) a first control facility, coupled to the mechanism for creating colormap objects, said first control facility having devices to establish and assign a finite number of display attribute identification values, said display attribute identification values being distinct from window identification numbers, and having devices for linking windows to the colormap objects and for assigning said finite number of display attribute identification values to the colormap objects, rearranging a previous assignment of said finite number of display attribute identification values if necessary;and d) a second control facility coupled to said first control facility for assigning one of said plurality of hardware color look-up tables to a designated colormap object, said designated colormap object sharing an existing one of said finite number of display attribute identification values with other colormap objects if necessary, whereby said finite number of display attribute identification value can be assigned to multiple colormap objects which are linked to multiple windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a storage device coupled to the mechanism for creating colormap objects for storing said colormap objects in chronological order of colormap installations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the first control facility assigns a separate display attribute identification value to a window flavor group, said window flavor group comprising said windows having a common window flavor, with each said window flavor group being linked to the colormap object associated with said windows belonging to said window flavor group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 further comprising a third control facility coupled to said storage device for updating said storage device when any of said colormap objects or said hardware color look-up tables are no longer required.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said apparatus functions in an X WINDOWS SYSTEM protocol environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said storage device comprises a programmable device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said storage device comprises a random access memory device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the first control facility causes an existing window to share a display attribute identification value with another window having a same window flavor when all of the finite number of display attribute identification values are in use, thereby making a display attribute identification value available for assignment to a new window which requires a display attribute identification value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a bit mapped color display system which accommodates the display of multiple windows, and which provides a plurality of hardware color look-up tables a method for controlling the assignment of display attribute identification values and said hardware color look-up tables, comprising the steps of; a) establishing a display attribute identification value assignment mechanism having devices to establish and as assign a finite number of display attribute identification values, said display attribute identification values being distinct from window identification numbers: b) establishing one or more colormap objects, said colormap objects containing a data structure comprising a colormap and a plurality of display attribute data, and said colormap objects also containing one or more program operators; b) linking new windows to a designated colormap object and assigning one of said finite number of display attribute identification values to said new windows, rearranging a previous assignment of said finite number of display attribute identification values if necessary; and c) assigning a hardware color look-up table to said designated colormap object, whereby the colormap contained in the designated colormap object may share an existing one of said finite number of display attribute identification values with more than one window,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a bit mapped color display system which accommodates the display of multiple windows, and which provides a plurality of hardware color look-up tables a method for controlling the assignment of display attribute identification values and said hardware color look-up tables, comprising the steps of; a) establishing a display attribute identification value assignment mechanism having devices to establish and as assign a finite number of display attribute identification values, said display attribute identification values being distinct from window identification numbers: b) establishing one or more colormap objects, said colormap objects containing a data structure comprising a colormap and a plurality of display attribute data, and said colormap objects also containing one or more program operators; b) linking new windows to a designated colormap object and assigning one of said finite number of display attribute identification values to said new windows, rearranging a previous assignment of said finite number of display attribute identification values if necessary; and c) assigning a hardware color look-up table to said designated colormap object, whereby the colormap contained in the designated colormap object may share an existing one of said finite number of display attribute identification values with more than one window,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising the additional step of maintaining a plurality of lists of said most recently installed colormap objects and related windows, and data indicating the display attribute identification value assigned to each of said windows and an identification of the hardware color look-up table assigned to each of said colormap objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 10 further comprising an additional step for updating said plurality of lists when any of said colormap objects or said hardware color look-up tables are no longer required.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said method functions in an X WINDOWS SYSTEM protocol environment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |