Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved user interaction and feedback on a computer system display. Interapplication dragging upon a user interface display is provided allowing a user to select a first item in a first window and move that first item to a second window which is under control of second process. Feedback is provided in the second window under control of the second process if the second application program can accept the data. In addition, other improved user interface actions are described, such as improved selection feedback, improved navigation, and improved completion feedback.

Abstract: A method and architecture for a graphics controller chip. The graphics controller has a display memory for storing video and graphics data. It also has a logic controller, connected to the memory, for performing logic operations on data stored in the memory. Video and graphics data is made available to the graphics controller at a single access port. The graphics controller also has an address range detector for checking the address of the data provided to the port and for disabling logical operations of the logic controller when the address indicates the presence of video data. The video data is thereafter transferred to the display memory on a priority basis.

Abstract: A computer architecture that incorporates display memory into system memory is disclosed, which comprises a memory, a memory controller and a display controller. Both of the memory controller and the display controller are employed to control access of the memory device having system data and display data stored therein. Built-in signals and an arbiter are provided between the controllers to arbitrate the priorities of the two controllers to access the memory device. Furthermore, request and grant signals are used to initiate the refresh of the main memory to maintain data therein. The control circuits of the two controllers to the memory device are connected to each other to prevent signals contention.

Abstract: In a device and system which perform processing, (displaying and outputting) of image data, the amount of data transferred between a memory holding the image data and a processor processing the image data is limited, thereby a great amount of data can be processed at high speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the simultaneous presentation of a performance script available in the original language or multiple translations, which can be selected by the user. In addition, other visual information such as scores and advertisements can be transmitted to each display.

Abstract: A method and architecture is provided for merging a variable image data bitmap into a template image and for transmitting the merged image to a print engine; where the template image is defined by rendering commands derived from a page description language, and the variable image data bitmap is taken from a list of the variable data bitmaps. The method comprises the steps of continuously rendering template image data bands, in accordance with the set of rendering commands, and transferring the template image data bands to a mass storage. Once the entire template image is stored in the mass storage, the variable image data bitmap is merged with the template image bitmap and sent to the print engine by continuously loading template image data bands from the mass storage, logically mapping the variable image data bitmap into the template image data bands to produce merged image data bands, and dispatching the merged image data bands to the print engine.

Abstract: A method and system for accelerating graphics images in a computer system comprises encoding a first value information into an address signal from a CPU within the computer system and then encoding a second value information into the data signal from the CPU within the computer system. By encoding the information in this manner the location of the graphics data is unimportant. Hence, an address space of the memory can be utilized as the accelerator. In one aspect of the present invention, a span of a particular scan-line can be encoded in the address signal and the row and color information of the scan-line can be encoded in the data signal. In another embodiment, the span of a particular scan-line can be encoded in the address signal and the row, color information and intensity value information can be encoded into the data signal. The method and system uses to advantage that the main memory of the computer system has a large area which can be configured as an addressable space when rendering graphic images.

Abstract: A controller in a line drawing circuit uses a Bresenham error term to detect a horizontal line segment in a straight line which is requested to be drawn. At this time, a signal NOPEL representing the number of pixels of the horizontal line segment and a data transfer request signal TRRQ are sent from the line drawing circuit to a data transfer control unit. The data transfer control unit uses a memory control circuit to perform block transfer of a plurality of data corresponding to the number of pixels constituting the horizontal line segment. Therefore, pixel data constituting the horizontal line can be transferred as a block, and the line drawing performance can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention identifies and separates the spatial grouping element from the management element in a geometry management scheme. The management element provides a constraint-resolution engine. A spatial grouping element can describe spatial groupings for graphic user interface (GUI) elements. A spatial group captures and encapsulates the set of constraints that describe the layout of a small portion of a user interface. A higher level spatial group can capture the constraints among the other spatial groups. The present invention provides independent, lightweight spatial-grouping elements that are incorporated into the constraint language of a geometry manager. Further, the present invention allows a GUI component to be grouped with multiple spatial-grouping elements. The present invention restricts the effect of a grouping element to a subset of the available set of dimensions. The present invention minimizes the number of geometry management elements.

Abstract: A system for processing a stream of data and automatically selecting a portion or all of the data stream for block writing to a memory. The memory is capable of storing data in response to a block write command and a normal write command. The system contains a first data register and a second data register having the same data width. The first data register accepts data from the data stream in accordance with the its data width. Data stored in the first data register is transferred to the second data register. The first data register is then loaded with a portion of the data stream which is contiguous to the data stored in the first data register prior to the transferring. The data in the first and the second data registers is then compared. If the data in the first and the second registers is the same, then the content of a data counter is increased by one. When the content of the data counter exceeds a predetermined value, the system executes a block write command.

Abstract: In a computer graphics system, a semiconductor chip used in performing texture mapping. Textures are input to the semiconductor chip. These textures are stored in a main memory. Cache memory is used to accelerate the reading and writing of texels. A memory controller controls the data transfers between the main memory and the cache memory. Also included within the same semiconductor chip is an interpolator. The interpolator produces an output texel by interpolating from textures stored in memory. The interpolated texel value is output by the semiconductor chip, thereby minimizing transmission bandwidth as well as redundant storage of texture maps in a multi-processor environment.

Abstract: In a method of write to a graphic memory where memory cells designated by a plurality of addresses selected simultaneously for one ROW address, the present method of write includes a first step of dividing the area corresponding to the column addresses designated by one row address of a memory cell array in to a plurality of segments each consisting of an arbitrary number of column addresses, a second step of designating a start address and an end address for each of the plurality of segments based on a first piece of information of column information, a third step of specifying the section designated by the start address and the end address as the candidate for the write object areas, and a fourth step of selecting segments having write object areas based on a second piece of information of the column address information, and writing specified data to the candidate for the write object areas of the segments having the write object areas.

Abstract: A programmable memory controller includes a plurality of multi-bit registers, with each multi-bit register coupled to a cycle generator. Each cycle generator is formed from a multi-bit shift register and control signals which drive each multi-bit shift register so that data in an associated multi-bit register is shifted through the shift register to form desired memory control pulses.

Abstract: A new behavior in a graphical user interface allows the user to open and close enclosures, while dragging an object. When the user pauses, gestures, or rolls over a hot spot on top of an icon or text representing a closed enclosure, a temporary window for the closed enclosure is "sprung open" to allow the user to browse inside the enclosure and possible open another enclosure contained within the temporary window. This process can be carried on throughout a hierarchy of windows as the user browses for a destination window for the drag operation. All of the temporary windows except the destination are closed when the mouse button is released, signaling the end of a drag. The user may close sprung open windows by simply moving the cursor out of the sprung open window, or by making some other gesture.

Abstract: A color printing display device designed to enable an operator to easily check a printing color manually selected is used for a printer which selectively uses any one of or a set of a plurality of color bands constituting an ink ribbon to print in a desired printing color. It is comprised of the same number of printing color selecting keys (24a through 24d) and of light emitting diodes (26a through 26d) as the number of the color bands, and a computer (11) which operates in response to key operation. When the first key (24a) is held depressed for a specific time, the first diode (26a) blinks to show that a selected printing color can be displayed. If the first key is depressed again, then one or two diodes, which correspond to the currently selected printing color, light. Each time the first key is depressed to change the printing color, one or two diodes, which correspond to a new printing color available for resetting, light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for rotating a source pixel matrix to provide a rotated destination matrix. The method operates on a computer system which includes a processor, a memory and a temporary storage portion. The temporary storage portion includes a plurality of rows where each row includes a plurality of storage locations. The method includes the steps of loading a first set of rows of the temporary storage portion with a lower portion of the source pixel matrix, loading a second set of rows of the temporary storage portion with an upper portion of the source pixel matrix, skewing the source pixel matrix loaded in first and second sets of rows to provide a skewed pixel matrix, alternately rotating selected portions of the skewed pixel matrix stored in selected rows of the first and second sets of rows horizontally and vertically to provide a rotated pixel matrix, and unscrambling the rotated pixel matrix to provide the rotated destination matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing fly-by transfer in a memory subsystem of a computer system. The present invention transfers data between a display memory and the system memory in the memory subsystem using common data and address buses. To complete a transfer between the two, the RAS is activated for both the display and system memory banks and then the CAS signal is cycled for both the display memory and the system memory, thereby causing a page mode transfer of the data between the two memories without having to use the system bus of the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system are described for a computer system for retrieving and presenting a set of commands in the form of a pop up context menu for a selected object. The context menu is displayed in the proximity of the selected object and is determined primarily by the class of the selected object and secondarily by the particular container in which the selected object resides at the time of selection. The context menu displays a number of useful features which enable the user to quickly and easily invoke commands upon the selected object.

Abstract: A processor having two separate and relatively independent memory controllers to achieve a dual interface architecture. A first memory controller is coupled to the host interface for retrieving data and instructions and a second memory controller is coupled to an independent local bus for interfacing with a frame buffer memory. A depth buffer may also be coupled to the local bus if desired. Address multiplexor logic is preferably included to allow either memory controller to address either external bus. Multiplexor and buffer logic is also preferably included to allow data transfer in either direction. Preferably, the processor is a graphics processor and both memory controllers are programmable for different addressing formats, such as linear and X/Y in the preferred embodiment. In this manner, data is transferred from host to local memories, and vice versa, in any desired format without delays due to memory controller reconfiguration.

Abstract: A method of and system for generating a user-display interface which displays and manages multiple child windows anywhere on a display screen. An application is executed to create a server and to create a context manager, the context manager for monitoring current context. The application also creates and initializes a frame window, the frame window including at least an application menu and being commanded by the server so that a header block of the frame window may be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on a display screen. The frame window is executed to create zero or more child nodes in response to requests to open child nodes from the application, each of the child nodes having a context type associated therewith and zero or more of the child nodes being context sensitive, the context type being monitored by the context manager, each of the child nodes being commanded by the frame to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on the display screen.