Patents by Inventor Kevin Rushforth

Kevin Rushforth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7184038
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs using a render bin is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures. One of the structures may be a render bin that may be used to implement parallel rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Patent number: 7170511
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a parallel structure including a plurality of data structures and corresponding threads that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The data structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Patent number: 7061486
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20050182844
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating 3D branch graph data and updates to branch graph data between clients and a display server in a 3D window system. A client locally creates a branch graph. When the client ready to make the branch graph live remote, it sends the branch graph to the display server using at least one batch protocol request. The display server builds a copy of the branch graph and attaches it to a centralized scene graph that it manages. The client may subsequently induce detachment of the branch graph from the scene graph. The client may buffer up changes to the local branch graph when its remote counterpart (in the display server) is not attached to the scene graph. The buffered changes may be sent to the display server using at least one batch protocol request when the client is again ready to make the branch graph live remote.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Johnson, Hideya Kawahara, Paul Byrne, Kevin Rushforth, Douglas Twilleager
  • Patent number: 6765571
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and threads that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures. A master control thread may be utilized to manage the allocation of resources and the timing of thread execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Patent number: 6734852
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize render molecules to more efficiently render objects. A render molecule is an object that defines the rest of the attribute settings for the geometries it contains. The attribute settings can include settings such as materials settings, the composite transform from the root of the scene graph to the objects contained in the render molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Patent number: 6570564
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Michael F. Deering, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20020089508
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and threads that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures. A master control thread may be utilized to manage the allocation of resources and the timing of thread execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20020063704
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs using a render bin is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures. One of the structures may be a render bin that may be used to implement parallel rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20020063713
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a parallel structure including a plurality of data structures and corresponding threads that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The data structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20020060678
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize render molecules to more efficiently render objects. A render molecule is an object that defines the rest of the attribute settings for the geometries it contains. The attribute settings can include settings such as materials settings, the composite transform from the root of the scene graph to the objects contained in the render molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Publication number: 20010030647
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Sowizral, Kevin Rushforth, Doug Twilleager
  • Patent number: 5982375
    Abstract: A computer system which exhibits increased performance for stereo viewing. The computer system includes a display screen, a bus for transferring data, a memory coupled to the bus for storing geometric primitives and left and right view transformation matrices. Furthermore, the computer system includes a processor coupled to the bus, wherein the processor is configured to enable stereo mode and to execute an application for rendering objects on the display screen in the stereo mode. The computer system also includes a graphics accelerator coupled to the bus. The graphics accelerator includes a buffer for storing a received geometric primitive to be rendered in stereo mode, as well as memory for storing the left and right view transformation matrices. The graphics accelerator also includes a transformation unit which is configured to generate a first transformed geometric primitive in response to the received geometric primitive and the left view transformation matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Nelson, Wayne Morse, Kevin Rushforth
  • Patent number: 5914724
    Abstract: A lighting unit which exhibits improved handling of incoming color values corresponding to a polygon. The lighting unit includes an input buffer for storing a plurality of color values, a mode register including a color mode field specifying whether the plurality of color values corresponds to the front or back side of the polygon. Furthermore, the lighting unit includes a register file for storing color information. The register file includes a first and second plurality of registers for storing front and back side color information, respectively. Still further, the lighting unit includes input/output logic configured to perform a transfer color instruction, which first comprises accessing the mode register to obtain a value of the color mode field, and then transferring the plurality of color values from the input buffer to one or more registers within the register file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Deering, Wayne Morse, Scott R. Nelson, Kevin Rushforth