US5430841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Context management in a graphics system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1992-10-29
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2012-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the management of the data associated with multiple graphics contexts in a computer graphics rendering system. Graphics contexts are built by graphics engines and selectively saved into a context save RAM. Context switches are managed either by modifying a context base pointer to address a new section of the context save RAM, or by writing out a portion of the context save RAM to external storage and reading in a replacement context from external storage. The writing and reading process are managed by a control processor allowing the graphics engines to switch context at the same time. New contexts read from external storage automatically cause regeneration of downstream rasterization parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Tannenbaum
- 👤 Paul M. Schanely
- 👤 Leland D. Richardson
- 👤 Bruce C. Hempel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for managing graphics system rendering context data in a graphics system having a geometry processor and a control processor, said geometry processor creating said graphics system rendering context data by processing a plurality of graphics orders, said graphics system rendering context data used by a rasterizer to generate displayable pixel data, said system comprising: first data storage means for storing said graphics system rendering context data; control means for detecting a graphics system rendering context data swap requirement; memory input/output means for copying said graphics system rendering context data in said first data storage means to a second storage means and for copying new graphics system rendering context data from said second storage means to said first data storage means without processing graphics orders; and selection means for selecting a subset of said graphics system rendering context data for storage by said first data storage means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for managing graphics system rendering context data in a graphics system having a geometry processor and a control processor, said geometry processor creating said graphics system rendering context data by processing a plurality of graphics orders, said graphics system rendering context data used by a rasterizer to generate displayable pixel data, said system comprising: first data storage means for storing said graphics system rendering context data; control means for detecting a graphics system rendering context data swap requirement; memory input/output means for copying said graphics system rendering context data in said first data storage means to a second storage means and for copying new graphics system rendering context data from said second storage means to said first data storage means without processing graphics orders; and selection means for selecting a subset of said graphics system rendering context data for storage by said first data storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first data storage means comprises: addressing means for determining a rendering context item address in said first data storage means; random access storage means for storing said graphics system rendering context data, said random access storage means being responsive to said addressing means; and storage map means for generating graphics context operation code data, said storage map means being responsive to said addressing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising operation code storage means and wherein said means for selecting includes: means for testing said operation code storage means to determine whether a graphics order is required to be stored; and means for generating an address for said first data storage means based on a location of said graphics order in said operation code storage means, said means for generating providing said address to said addressing means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for managing a graphics rendering context in a graphics system having a plurality of processors performing geometry processing and control functions, wherein said graphics rendering context is created by geometry processing a plurality of graphics orders, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a next requested operation from one of said plurality of processors; testing said operation to determine whether or not a context switch is required; and if a context switch is required, copying said graphics rendering context to an external storage means; and copying a new graphics rendering context from said external storage.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for managing a graphics rendering context in a graphics system having a plurality of processors performing geometry processing and control functions, wherein said graphics rendering context is created by geometry processing a plurality of graphics orders, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a next requested operation from one of said plurality of processors; testing said operation to determine whether or not a context switch is required; and if a context switch is required, copying said graphics rendering context to an external storage means; and copying a new graphics rendering context from said external storage.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of managing rendering contexts in a graphics system having a plurality of geometry front end processors for processing a plurality of graphics orders including generation of a rendering context, external and internal storage means, and a control processor for processing non-graphic order commands, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a next piece of work; testing whether said next piece of work requests a context switch from a current rendering context to a new rendering context; if a context switch is requested, determining whether said new rendering context is within said internal storage means and, if so, changing a context reference address to reference said new rendering context; if a context switch is requested, but said new rendering context is not within said internal storage means, writing said current rendering context to said external storage means and reading said new rendering context from said external storage means into said internal storage means; if said next piece of work is a graphics command, testing whether said graphics command is to be saved in said internal storage means; building an index address at which to store said graphics command in said internal storage means; and storing said graphics command at said index address.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of managing rendering contexts in a graphics system having a plurality of geometry front end processors for processing a plurality of graphics orders including generation of a rendering context, external and internal storage means, and a control processor for processing non-graphic order commands, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a next piece of work; testing whether said next piece of work requests a context switch from a current rendering context to a new rendering context; if a context switch is requested, determining whether said new rendering context is within said internal storage means and, if so, changing a context reference address to reference said new rendering context; if a context switch is requested, but said new rendering context is not within said internal storage means, writing said current rendering context to said external storage means and reading said new rendering context from said external storage means into said internal storage means; if said next piece of work is a graphics command, testing whether said graphics command is to be saved in said internal storage means; building an index address at which to store said graphics command in said internal storage means; and storing said graphics command at said index address.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3575555A
Cited
US3588353A
Cited
FR2269765A2
Cited
US4566117A
Cited
US4658351A
Cited
US5097411A
Cited
US5155822A
Cited
US5224210A
Cited
US5291608A
Cited
US5276798A
Cited
US5329615A
Cited
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 |