Abstract: A cache for AGP based computer systems is provided. The graphics cache is included as part of a memory bridge between a processor, a system memory and a graphics processor. A cache controller within the memory bridge detects requests by the processor to store graphics data in the system memory. The cache controller stores the data for these requests in the graphics cache and in the system memory. The cache controller searches the graphics cache each time it receives a request from the graphics controller. If the a cache hit occurs, the cache controller returns the data stored in the graphics cache. Otherwise the request is performed using the system memory. In this way the graphics cache reduces the traffic between the system memory and the memory bridge, overcoming an important performance bottleneck for many graphics systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently translating virtual to physical addresses is provided. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a TLB descriptor table that includes a series of TLB descriptors. Each TLB descriptor includes an offset that selects a TLB segment within a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). To perform a virtual to physical address translation, a processor sends a virtual address and a descriptor ID to the memory request unit. The descriptor ID is used to select the TLB segment that will be used to perform the virtual to physical address translation. Each TLB segment may have different physical and logical characteristics. In particular, each TLB segment may be associated with a different type of memory page. In this way the present invention, enables the simultaneous use of a range of page types and sizes in a single computer system.

Abstract: A system and computer-based method for performing real-time mirror reflection of objects in a scene using a computer graphics system having a stencil buffer. The scene includes a background and a plurality of mirrors, and the stencil buffer comprises bits with initial values. A first level reflection mask is generated in the stencil buffer for the plurality of mirrors in the scene. Using the first level reflection mask, second level mirror reflections are determined, followed by first level mirror reflections, for each mirror in the scene. The first and second level mirror reflections are then drawn. Finally, the un-mirrored portions of the scene are drawn.

Abstract: A system and method for deforming objects uses delta free-form deformations (DFFD). The DFFD computes a delta vector based on a conventional free-form deformation (FFD) and an original vertex. Multiple delta vectors can be computed and combined for each vertex. Because delta vectors are independent from each other, various operations such as rotations and translations in addition to multiple overlapping deformations are applied to the vertex with superior results over the conventional FFD.

Abstract: A system and method for merging all subsystems within a graphics system into a single control entity, referred to herein as a dependency graph. The term "dependency graph" refers to a set of dependency nodes and the information flowing between the dependency nodes. Seamless interaction is accomplished by defining a strongly typed, rigidly enforced interface to the set of dependency nodes. Any dependency node that wants to interact with another dependency node must do so through a connection. The only parts of a dependency node that another node can control must be specified by attributes. In order for connections between attributes to be valid they must use the same type of information. Lastly, dependency nodes may communicate with each other by sending or receiving messages.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring files from a sending user to a recipient, utilizes a drag-and-drop graphical user interface. To send a file to a recipient, the user drags and drops onto the recipient's icon an icon, or set of selected icons, representing the file(s) to be transmitted. Information pertaining to the file and the recipient is captured from the icons and used to establish a session between the sender and the recipient. The file is transferred to the recipient via the established session.

Abstract: A system and method that maps temporal control functions into a six degree of freedom pointing device. The six degree of freedom pointing device controls both transport and view modes within a time-based media editing system and allows a user to toggle between modes without losing visual contact with graphical objects appearing on a video screen.

Abstract: A system and computer-based method providing a dynamic information clipping service. An end-user creates a template of topics of interest via a graphical user interface and the template is transmitted to a central site for processing. At the central site, information relating to a particular base of knowledge is collected, parsed and indexed. The parsed and indexed information is stored in an information repository. The template is processed by parsing and collecting command-strings relating to the topics of interest found within the parsed template. The information repository is searched using the collected command-strings to generate query results, which are then sorted. A Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) page is created using the sorted query results. The page is then made available to the end-user for viewing, wherein the page represents a custom network-based newspaper.