Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral configuration
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-05-29
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral configuration
C710S008000, C710S015000, C710S062000, C710S104000, C712S043000, C712S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to graphics display in data processing systems and in particular to graphics display in multiple graphics modes in a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to supporting multiple graphics modes within a data processing system without reinstalling graphics device drivers for each mode or utilizing specialized device drivers supporting multiple modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Support for standard Video Graphics Array (VGA) modes is provided at the register level in most contemporary graphics adapters for data processing systems. Although the definition of Super VGA (SVGA) modes—defined in terms of resolution, color-depth, and video timings—has been somewhat standardized, there is no standard register-level compatibility for SVGA video modes.
Nearly all currently-available personal computer graphics adapters provide standard VGA graphics modes, in addition to other SVGA graphics modes which are specific to the adapter. A graphics device driver for a specific graphics adapter invariably supports only the device-dependent SVGA modes provided by the adapter. A separate VGA driver needs to be installed to support the standard VGA graphics modes. Thus, while an SVGA graphics device driver usually allows the user to switch between different SVGA modes without installing difference devices drivers, the user cannot select a VGA graphics mode without explicitly installing a different device driver. The most common technique for switching between standard (e.g., VGA) and specialized (e.g., SVGA) graphics modes in a data processing system is to replace (i.e. reinstall) the graphics device driver. Another alternative is to include support for both standard and specialized modes in the same device driver.
As new graphics device standards develop on the personal computer and other workstation platforms, similar situations may be expected to arise. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide support for multiple standard and specialized graphics modes in a data processing system without replacing device drivers or employing specialized device drivers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for graphics display in data processing systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for graphics display in multiple graphics modes in a data processing system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for supporting multiple graphics modes within a data processing system without reinstalling graphics device drivers for each mode or utilizing specialized device drivers supporting multiple modes.
The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A module is interposed between the operating system and/or applications of a data processing system and the device driver for a graphics adapter within the data processing system. The interposed module may selectively intercept all graphics device driver function requests or simply pass such requests to a device driver supporting specialized (e.g., non-VGA) graphics modes. Standard (e.g., VGA) graphics mode(s) device driver support is accessible to the interposed module. When a specialized graphics mode is selected, the interposed is inactive and passes graphics function requests to the specialized device driver. When a standard graphics mode is selected, the interposed module is active and intercepts all graphics function requests, processing such request with available standard graphics mode support. Change of the graphics mode from standard to specialized or vice versa results in the interposed module changing from active to inactive or vice versa. Requests to set the graphics mode are similarly passed to the specialized device driver or processed by the interposed module depending on whether a standard or specialized graphics mode is requests. Initialization and termination function requests are both passed to the specialized device driver and processed by the interposed module. The interposed module is preferably implemented in accordance with the GRADD architecture model, with the interposed module implemented as a variant of a GRADD filter.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. dr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented;
FIG. 2
a block diagram of a graphics display subsystem supporting multiple standard and specialized graphics modes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3
depicts a high level flowchart for a process of supporting multiple standard and specialized graphics modes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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N.S. Bowen, J. Antognini, R.D. Regan and N.C. Matsakis, Availability in Parallel Systems: Automatic Process Restart, IBM Systems Journal, vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 284-300.
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
International Business Machines - Corporation
LaBaw Jeffrey S.
Lee Thomas
Nguyen Tanh
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