Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a display from a computer system. During operation, the system detects an idle state in a first graphics-processing unit (GPU) used to drive the display. During the idle state, the system switches from using the first GPU to using a second GPU to drive the display and places the first GPU into a low-power state, wherein the low-power state reduces a power consumption of the computer system.

Abstract: Lossless image compression using differential transfers may involve an image compression unit receiving image data for an image in a sequence of images and transmitting the image data such that image data for at least some image tiles is transmitted using lossy compression due to resource limitations. The image compression unit may then receive image data for a subsequent image in the sequence and determine that the image data for at least some tiles does not change relative to the image data for corresponding tiles of the previous image. The image compression unit may then transmit image data in a manner sufficient to create lossless versions of tiles for which lossily compressed image data was sent previously.

Abstract: A computing system that supports the use of multiple displays in display mirroring mode and extended display mode may automatically determine a display mode in which to configure the system (with little or no user input) based on various characteristics of the displays in the system. For example, the system may determine that a television, projector, or other presentation type display is connected in the system, and in response, may determine that the system should be configured in a display mirroring mode, rather than in an extended display mode. The system may also determine that the presentation type display is the preferred display, and may render image content in a best (or preferred) mode for that display using its native resolution, aspect ratio or color profile. The system may then scale the rendered image content for display on other (non-preferred) displays, such as an internal display, without re-rendering it.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a first display and a second display mirrored to the first display from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains a framebuffer update for a first framebuffer associated with the first display. Next, the system performs a color-correction operation on the framebuffer update to obtain a color-corrected framebuffer update that enables color output from the second display to substantially match color output from the first display. Finally, the system uses the framebuffer update to drive the first display, and uses the color-corrected framebuffer update to drive the second display.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a display from a computer system. During operation, the system detects an idle state in a first graphics-processing unit (GPU) used to drive the display. During the idle state, the system switches from using the first GPU to using a second GPU to drive the display and places the first GPU into a low-power state, wherein the low-power state reduces a power consumption of the computer system.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for managing multiple sink devices in a computer system. During operation, the system performs a discovery operation to identify one or more sink devices which are coupled to the computer system, wherein the discovery operation determines an interconnection topology between the computer system and the one or more sink devices, and wherein multiple sink devices can be coupled to the computer system through the same connector. Next, the system associates the one or more sink devices with one or more frame buffers which are used to assemble content streams for the one or more sink devices. Finally, the system drives the one or more sink devices through the one or more frame buffers.

Abstract: A computing system that supports the use of multiple displays in display mirroring mode and extended display mode may automatically determine a display mode in which to configure the system (with little or no user input) based on various characteristics of the displays in the system. For example, the system may determine that a television, projector, or other presentation type display is connected in the system, and in response, may determine that the system should be configured in a display mirroring mode, rather than in an extended display mode. The system may also determine that the presentation type display is the preferred display, and may render image content in a best (or preferred) mode for that display using its native resolution, aspect ratio or color profile. The system may then scale the rendered image content for display on other (non-preferred) displays, such as an internal display, without re-rendering it.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a display from a computer system. During operation, the system writes graphical output to protected memory and drives the display from the protected memory. If the graphical output lacks protection, the system discontinues the driving of the display from the protected memory. In particular, upon detecting a lack of protection in the graphical output, the system continues to drive the display from the protected memory during a grace period associated with the lack of protection in the graphical output. The system then discontinues driving of the display from the protected memory if protection of the graphical output does not resume during the grace period.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a display from a computer system. During operation, the system detects an idle state in a first graphics-processing unit (GPU) used to drive the display. During the idle state, the system switches from using the first GPU to using a second GPU to drive the display and places the first GPU into a low-power state, wherein the low-power state reduces a power consumption of the computer system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for efficient cache coherence between memory-sharing devices are provided. In particular, snoop traffic may be suppressed based at least partly on a table of block tracking entries (BTEs). Each BTE may indicate whether groups of one or more cache lines of a block of memory could potentially be in use by another memory-sharing device. By way of example, a memory-sharing device may employ a table of BTEs that each has several cache status entries. When a cache status entry indicates that none of a group of one or more cache lines could possibly be in use by another memory-sharing device, a snoop request for any cache lines of that group may be suppressed without jeopardizing cache coherence.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that drives a first display and a second display mirrored to the first display from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains a framebuffer update for a first framebuffer associated with the first display. Next, the system performs a color-correction operation on the framebuffer update to obtain a color-corrected framebuffer update that enables color output from the second display to substantially match color output from the first display. Finally, the system uses the framebuffer update to drive the first display, and uses the color-corrected framebuffer update to drive the second display.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for managing multiple sink devices in a computer system. During operation, the system performs a discovery operation to identify one or more sink devices which are coupled to the computer system, wherein the discovery operation determines an interconnection topology between the computer system and the one or more sink devices, and wherein multiple sink devices can be coupled to the computer system through the same connector. Next, the system associates the one or more sink devices with one or more frame buffers which are used to assemble content streams for the one or more sink devices. Finally, the system drives the one or more sink devices through the one or more frame buffers.

Abstract: A computer system includes a processor, a memory, first and second graphical processors that have different operating characteristics, a switching mechanism coupled to the graphical processors, and a display coupled to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display. Furthermore, a program module, which is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, is configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display. Note that the changing of the configuration and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running and are based on the operating condition of the computer system.

Abstract: A computer system includes a processor, a memory, first and second graphical processors that have different operating characteristics, a switching mechanism coupled to the graphical processors, and a display coupled to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display. Furthermore, a program module, which is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, is configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display. Note that the changing of the configuration and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running and are based on the operating condition of the computer system.