Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphic processing system – Integrated circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-23
2001-04-24
Tung, Kee M. (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphic processing system
Integrated circuit
C345S182000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222562
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention is directed to the field of screen image processing, and more particularly, to the field of screen image processing optimized for fast execution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is currently no suitable system available for providing fast image processing to allow the immediate display of a predetermined image while a computer user is waiting for the completion of execution of-a computer operation. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, a saved-to-non-volatile-memory command will require a significant amount of time to complete its required function, while the user waits in front of the screen. This execution period for the computer presents an opportunity to display predetermined images such as, for example, advertising, or other desired images to the user. However, typical images, such as screen saver images, which are displayed on the computer, are not optimized for fast execution and are not programmed to be displayed during the period when the computer is executing a program routine. Thus, current systems are not designed to take advantage of this opportunity for displaying predetermined images to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a display process for displaying predetermined image data in a computer that includes a processor and a video system having a video memory, with the video system having at least one video mode, with each video mode designating a portion of the video memory as a visible portion and another portion as a non-visible portion, comprising the steps of: after a save-in-non-volatile-memory command, selecting a video mode with at least a predetermined amount of video memory in the non-visible portion; writing contents from a block of a fast memory to the non-visible portion of the video memory, the fast memory having an access time that is less than an access time for the video memory; writing the predetermined image data into the block in the fast memory; processing the predetermined image data from the fast memory; and writing the processed predetermined image data to the video memory.
In a further aspect of the present inventive process, the fast memory comprises a main memory for the computer.
In a yet further aspect of the present inventive process, the selecting step comprises the step of selecting a video mode with substantially the same resolution as a display screen for the computer.
In a yet further aspect of this process, the selecting step further comprises the step of selecting a video mode with at least a 15 bit color depth.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the selecting step further comprises the step of choosing a video mode that is compatible with the predetermined image data.
In a yet further aspect of the present invention, the block of fast memory is divided into at least a first buffer memory and a second buffer memory; wherein the writing in the fast memory step comprises the step of writing data from the predetermined image data alternately into the buffer memories; and wherein the processing step comprises the step of processing in parallel with the buffer writing step the predetermined image data from one of the buffer memories that is not being written to.
In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a display process is disclosed for displaying predetermined image data in a computer that includes a processor, a fast memory, and a video system having a video memory, comprising the steps of: during a computer execution period, writing contents from a block of the fast memory to a first memory, the fast memory having an access time which is less than an access time for the video memory; writing the predetermined image data into the block in the fast memory; processing the predetermined image data from the fast memory; and writing the processed predetermined image data to the video memory.
In a further aspect of this process, a step is provided of selecting a video mode for the video system which has predetermined characteristics. This step of selecting a video mode may comprise, in one embodiment, the step of selecting a video mode with at least a predetermined amount of the video memory having a non-visible portion; and wherein the step of writing contents from the block of fast memory comprises the step of writing to the non-visible portion of the video memory.
In a yet further aspect of the present invention, an article of manufacture is provided comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer with a video system to display predetermined image data during a computer execution period, the computer readable code means in the article of manufacture comprising: first computer readable program code means for causing a computer, during a computer execution period, to write contents from a block of a fast memory to a first memory, wherein the fast memory has an access time that is less than an access time for a video memory in the video system in the computer; second computer readable program code means for causing a computer to write the predetermined image data into the block of the fast memory; third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to process the predetermined image data from the fast memory; and fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to write the processed predetermined image data to the video memory.
In a further aspect of this article of manufacture, the video memory is divided into a visible portion and a non-visible portion, and wherein the first computer readable program code means includes code for writing the contents from the block of the fast memory to the non-visible portion of the video memory.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4816815 (1989-03-01), Yoshiba
patent: 5446840 (1995-08-01), Kiuchi et al.
patent: 5640574 (1997-06-01), Kawashima
patent: 5751979 (1998-05-01), McCrory
patent: 5777624 (1998-07-01), Munson
patent: 0 684 058 A1 (1995-11-01), None
Irell & Manella LLP
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Tung Kee M.
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