Patent US5767833A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5767833A
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US
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Method and system for providing external bitmap support for devices that support multiple image formats
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-28
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Granted: 1998-06-16
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Expires: 2015-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for providing external bit map support to device drivers coupled to a data processing system are disclosed. The data processing system includes a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device. The method and system also provide outputting of an image under a graphical user interface on the display device. In implementing the improved external bit map support, the system and method generate an image through the graphical user interface in device independent bits format and then determine whether the image is to be supported in an external bit map format. If the image is to be supported in an external bit map form, the system determines the level of required resolution for supporting that image and then converts that image to the external bit map format at that desired level of resolution. The desired level of resolution is selectable from either 24 bits per PEL (bpp), 8 bpp or 4 bpp. Further, if the image is not to be supported in the external bit map format, the system then converts the image to a standard bit map support format. Additionally, the system then determines whether the image is targeted for multiple hardware formats or a single hardware format and then provides a conversion from device independent bits to device dependent bits formats in the case of the multiple hardware format targeting, or performing image conversion appropriate for the single device in the case of the single device targeting. Finally, the system forwards the converted image to either the multiple hardware devices or the single hardware device according to the prior determination.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark W. Vanderwiele
- 👤 Michael R. Cooper
- 👤 R. Ravisankar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/393; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
In a data processing system having a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device, a method for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to said data processing system, for outputting an image under a graphical user interface comprising the steps of: generating a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; determining whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; if said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format, determining a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and converting said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired resolution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a data processing system having a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device, a method for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to said data processing system, for outputting an image under a graphical user interface comprising the steps of: generating a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; determining whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; if said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format, determining a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and converting said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired resolution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said level of resolution is 24 bits per PEL.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said level of resolution is 8 bits per PEL.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said level of resolution is 4 bits per PEL.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein if said bitmap image is not to be supported in an external bitmap format converting said bitmap image using internal bitmap support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining whether said bitmap image is targeted for multiple hardware formats or a single hardware format; if said bitmap image is targeted for multiple hardware formats, performing image conversion from device independent bits format to device dependent bits format; forwarding said converted bitmap image to either multiple hardware devices or a single hardware device; and if said bitmap image is targeted to a single hardware format, performing image conversion appropriate for said single hardware format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A data processing system having a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device, and including a system for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to said data processing system, for outputting an image under a graphical user interface comprising: means for generating a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; means for determining whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; means for determining a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and means for converting said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired level of resolution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A data processing system having a central processing unit, memory, user output device, and a user input device, and including a system for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to said data processing system, for outputting an image under a graphical user interface comprising: means for generating a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; means for determining whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; means for determining a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and means for converting said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired level of resolution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 7 wherein said level of resolution is 24 bits per PEL.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 7 wherein said level of resolution is 8 bits per PEL.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 7 wherein said level of resolution is 4 bits per PEL.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system according to claim 7 further comprising: means for determining whether said bitmap image is targeted for multiple hardware formats or a single hardware format; means for performing image conversion from device independent bits format to device dependent bits format; means for performing image conversion appropriate for said single hardware format; and means for forwarding said converted bitmap image to either multiple hardware devices or a single hardware device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to a data processing system for outputting an image under a graphical user interface displayable on said graphics display device further comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to generate a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to determine whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to, if said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format, determine a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to convert said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired level of resolution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means for providing external bitmap support to a device driver coupled to a data processing system for outputting an image under a graphical user interface displayable on said graphics display device further comprising: computer readable program code means for causing a computer to generate a bitmap image through said graphical user interface in device independent bits format; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to determine whether said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format; computer readable program code means for causing a computer to, if said bitmap image is to be supported in an external bitmap format, determine a level of resolution for supporting said bitmap image; and computer readable program code means for causing a computer to convert said bitmap image to said external bitmap format at said desired level of resolution.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product according to claim 12 wherein said level of resolution is 24 bits per PEL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product according to claim 12 wherein said level of resolution is 8 bits per PEL.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product according to claim 12 wherein said level of resolution is 4 bits per PEL.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product according to claim 12 further comprising computer readable code means for converting said bitmap image using internal bitmap support.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
The computer program product according to claim 12 further comprising: computer readable program code means for determining whether said bitmap image is targeted for multiple hardware formats or a single hardware format; computer readable program code means for performing image conversion from device independent bits format to device dependent bits format; computer readable program code means for performing image conversion appropriate for said single hardware format; and computer readable program code means for forwarding said converted bitmap image to either multiple hardware devices or a single hardware device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |