Abstract: A modified display list contains a series of n nested bounding volumes. The first bounding volume in the series contains the remaining n-1 bounding volumes the series. The second bounding volume contains the remaining n-2 bounding volumes in the series, and so on. Upon invocation, the graphics display system processes the modified list sequentially and tests the bounding volumes as they are encountered. As soon as a bounding volume is encountered whose coordinates define a region that should not be rendered, further sequential processing of rendering commands in the list may be halted. If any state commands remain in the list, those commands or an equivalent set of state commands may be executed, and then processing of the list is complete. Alternatively, if push/pop state commands exist on either side of the list, then processing of the list may be halted without more.

Abstract: A graphical display system utilizes a plurality of display devices and a plurality of graphical acceleration units for rendering graphical data to the display devices. More specifically, each of the plurality of graphical acceleration units respectively interfaces a portion of graphical data defining an image to one of the display devices. Each of the display devices displays a portion of the image based on the graphical data rendered to it. To make the system more efficient and/or to improve image quality, at least one of the graphical acceleration units includes a plurality of graphical pipelines for rendering the graphical data to be displayed by the display device that is interfaced with the one graphical acceleration unit.

Abstract: A hybrid method or apparatus for processing OpenGL display list commands. A deamon intercepts display list commands issued by a client to an OpenGL stack. Responsive to a newList [list commands] endList sequence: the daemon stores a representation of a first subset of the list commands; and creates, in the stack, a display list corresponding to a second subset of the list commands. Responsive to a callList command: the daemon issues to the stack at least one immediate mode command corresponding to the first subset of the list commands and at least one callList command invoking the display list corresponding to the second subset of the list commands. The daemon may also store a representation of an expression or function. Responsive to the callList command, the daemon may evaluate the expression or function and conditionally change the step of invoking the display list based on the outcome.

Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A graphical display system utilizes a plurality of graphics pipelines to render data to a display device. More specifically, the graphical display system utilizes a first graphics pipeline, a second graphics pipeline, a compositor, and a display device. The first graphics pipeline renders a first portion of a graphical command, and the second graphics pipeline renders a second portion of a graphical command. The compositor receives the first and second portions of graphical data and interfaces the first and second portions with the display device. The display device then displays an image based on the first and second portions of graphical data respectively rendered by the first and second graphics pipelines. By enabling a plurality of graphics pipelines to render different portions of graphical data to the same display device, the speed and/or image quality associated with the image displayed by the display device can be improved.

Abstract: A graphical display system utilizes a plurality of display devices and a plurality of graphical acceleration units for rendering graphical data to the display devices. More specifically, each of the plurality of graphical acceleration units respectively interfaces a portion of graphical data defining an image to one of the display devices. Each of the display devices displays a portion of the image based on the graphical data rendered to it. To make the system more efficient and/or to improve image quality, at least one of the graphical acceleration units includes a plurality of graphical pipelines for rendering the graphical data to be displayed by the display device that is interfaced with the one graphical acceleration unit.

Abstract: A modified display list contains a series of n nested bounding volumes. The first bounding volume in the series contains the remaining n-1 bounding volumes the series. The second bounding volume contains the remaining n-2 bounding volumes in the series, and so on. Upon invocation, the graphics display system processes the modified list sequentially and tests the bounding volumes as they are encountered. As soon as a bounding volume is encountered whose coordinates define a region that should not be rendered, further sequential processing of rendering commands in the list may be halted. If any state commands remain in the list, those commands or an equivalent set of state commands may be executed, and then processing of the list is complete. Alternatively, if push/pop state commands exist on either side of the list, then processing of the list may be halted without more.

Abstract: An enhanced performance OpenGL display list may be created automatically by parsing from back to front a specified list that contains n rendering commands. When the nth rendering command is encountered, an nth bounding volume is computed to include the geometry specified by the nth rendering command. When the n-1th rendering command is encountered, an n-1th bounding volume is computed to include both the nth bounding volume and the geometry specified by the n-1th rendering command, and so on. Should any intervening matrix commands appear between the n-1th and the nth rendering commands, then computation of the n-1th bounding volume may be based on a transformed version of the nth bounding volume rather than on the nth bounding volume itself. The transformed version of the nth bounding volume maybe computed by applying the inverse of the intervening matrix commands to the nth bounding volume.

Abstract: A graphical display system utilizes a plurality of graphics pipelines to efficiently display a jitter enhanced image. More specifically, the graphical display system utilizes a plurality of graphical pipelines, a compositor, and a display device. Each of the graphical pipelines receives and renders graphical data. In rendering the graphical data, each of the graphical pipelines mathematically combines a different offset to coordinate values included within the graphical data. The compositor receives the graphical data rendered by the plurality of pipelines and blends color values associated with corresponding coordinate values within the graphical data. The compositor also interfaces the blended color values with the display device, which displays an image based on at least the blended color values. As a result, graphical data defining a jitter enhanced image is efficiently rendered to the display device.

Abstract: A system rendering graphical data from a graphics application utilizes a plurality of frame buffers, a plurality of graphics pipelines, and logic. Each of the graphics pipelines is configured to render graphical data to a different one of the frame buffers. The logic is configured to determine a mode of operation of the graphics application and to prevent, based on the mode of operation of the graphics application, at least one of the graphics pipelines from rendering the graphical data from the graphics application.

Abstract: A graphical display system of the present invention efficiently performs occlusion culling based on frame-to-frame temporal coherency. The graphical display system utilizes a frame buffer and rendering logic. The rendering logic is configured to receive graphical objects that define an image frame. In response to receiving one of the objects, the rendering logic is configured to make a determination as to whether the one object is visible in a previous image frame that was previously rendered to the frame buffer. The rendering logic is further configured to render the one object to the frame buffer based on the determination.

Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A system rendering graphical data from a graphics application utilizes a plurality of frame buffers, a plurality of graphics pipelines, and logic. Each of the graphics pipelines is configured to render graphical data to a different one of the frame buffers. The logic is configured to determine a mode of operation of the graphics application and to prevent, based on the mode of operation of the graphics application, at least one of the graphics pipelines from rendering the graphical data from the graphics application.

Abstract: Single Logical Screen and Direct Hardware Access in a 3D environment are combined by passing a single stream of protocol to the X Server, which in turn passes the information to multiple 3D rendering processes for display on individual screens (monitors). Multiple instances of a single daemon implement the rendering processes. The X Server communicates with an instance of the daemon functioning as a master daemon, which in turn controls the remaining instances functioning as slave daemons. All daemons communicate through common shared memory segments. This achieves both efficiency and performance, since duplicated distribution of commands and data is avoided. Each of the daemons is driven by the contents of the shared memory segments. To facilitate this, an X Client, the X Server and the daemons are all interconnected with separate control and data paths.

Abstract: A graphical display system of the present invention efficiently performs occlusion culling based on frame-to-frame temporal coherency. The graphical display system utilizes a frame buffer and rendering logic. The rendering logic is configured to receive graphical objects that define an image frame. In response to receiving one of the objects, the rendering logic is configured to make a determination as to whether the one object is visible in a previous image frame that was previously rendered to the frame buffer. The rendering logic is further configured to render the one object to the frame buffer based on the determination.

Abstract: Single Logical Screen and Direct Hardware Access in a 3D environment are combined by passing a single stream of protocol to the X Server, which in turn passes the information to multiple 3D rendering processes for display on individual screens (monitors). Multiple instances of a single daemon implement the rendering processes. The X Server communicates with an instance of the daemon functioning as a master daemon, which in turn controls the remaining instances functioning as slave daemons. All daemons communicate through common shared memory segments. This achieves both efficiency and performance, since duplicated distribution of commands and data is avoided. Each of the daemons is driven by the contents of the shared memory segments. To facilitate this, an X Client, the X Server and the daemons are all interconnected with separate control and data paths.

Abstract: A single logical screen computer display uses multiple remote computer systems operable to perform hardware accelerated 3D graphics operations. The display system includes a client process, a first slave host computer coupled to first display hardware, a second slave host computer coupled to second display hardware, and a network broadcast path between the client process and the first and second slave host computers. The client process is operable to broadcast OGL command buffers to the first and second slave host computers using the network broadcast path. The first and second slave host computers are operable to execute OGL commands in the OGL command buffers and to render the results on the first and second display hardware, respectively. First and second X server processes run on the first and second slave hosts, and first and second OGL daemon processes also run on the first and second slave hosts.