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: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for implementing occlusion testing prior to processing a primitive command. The method includes the steps of determining that an occlusion test should be performed on an enclosed primitive, saving the primitive command on a deferred list, and disabling a rendering functionality in hardware. The method also includes the step of performing an occlusion query on the enclosed primitive where a pixel count is generated that indicates how many pixels within a bounding volume defined around the enclosed primitive are visible. One advantage of this method is that it provides occlusion testing functionality for graphics applications that do not use the occlusion testing functionality provided by graphics APIs. Implementing occlusion testing functionality in this fashion reduces rendering time, thereby increasing rendering performance.

Abstract: A method of assembling a composite image comprising generating three-dimensional data defining a non-stereo image, assigning a first screen portion to a first rendering node, assigning a second screen portion to a second rendering node, rendering, by the first rendering node, a left image portion from the three-dimensional data, rendering, by the second rendering node, a right image portion from the three-dimensional data, and sequentially assembling the left image portion and the right image portion into the composite image is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a plurality of graphics pipelines in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface to enable a user to graphically specify at least one parameter for a plurality of pipe rectangles of the computer graphical display system, each of the plurality of pipe rectangles being associated with at least one of the plurality of graphics pipelines, receiving the at least one parameter, and updating a compositor of the computer graphical display system in real-time based at least in part on the at least one parameter.

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 system for providing a graphics tool access to a computer graphics system to evaluate and control a graphics application executing on the computer graphics system. The system includes application program interface (API) event generators for performing predetermined operations relating to a graphics library function call and for generating a hook event containing results of the predetermined operations; dispatch table manger for selecting an active dispatch table from a normal operations dispatch table having function pointer to the graphics library functions and a hooks dispatch table having pointer to the API event generators; and hook event manager for enabling and configuring selected ones of the API event generators in response to a graphics tool event request. The system further includes internal event generators, integrated along various locations of a graphics pipeline managed by the graphics library, for performing predetermined diagnostic operations in the graphics system.

Abstract: A method of assembling a composite image comprising generating three-dimensional data defining a non-stereo image, assigning a first screen portion to a first rendering node, assigning a second screen portion to a second rendering node, rendering, by the first rendering node, a left image portion from the three-dimensional data, rendering, by the second rendering node, a right image portion from the three-dimensional data, and sequentially assembling the left image portion and the right image portion into the composite image is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a plurality of graphics pipelines in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface to enable a user to graphically specify at least one parameter for a plurality of pipe rectangles of the computer graphical display system, each of the plurality of pipe rectangles being associated with at least one of the plurality of graphics pipelines, receiving the at least one parameter, and updating a compositor of the computer graphical display system in real-time based at least in part on the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A centralized resource system comprises a plurality of compute resource units, a plurality of visualization resource units, and a switching fabric coupling the plurality of visualization resource units to the plurality of compute resource units. The switching fabric is operable to couple select one or more visualization resource units to select one or more compute resource units for generating at least one graphical image. A plurality of display devices is coupled to the one or more select visualization resource units operable to display the at least one graphical image.

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 node of a network for generating image frames comprising a graphics device operable to generate a viewable data set and a non-viewable data set representative of a three-dimensional image frame, and a first output interface operable to transmit the non-viewable data set is provided. A network for generating image frames comprising a plurality of rendering nodes operable to respectively generate a viewable data set and a non-viewable data set, and further operable to transmit the viewable and non-viewable data sets, and a compositor interconnected with the plurality of rendering nodes and operable to respectively receive the viewable and non-viewable data sets from the plurality of rendering nodes and operable to assemble a composite image from the viewable and non-viewable data sets is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring graphics pipelines by tracking a region of interest in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving updated definitional information on a selected region of interest of a display device of the computer graphical display system in response to a change in definition of the selected region of interest and automatically configuring the plurality of graphics pipelines relative to the selected region of interest based at least in part on the updated definitional information.

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 system for rendering graphical data utilizes a plurality of frame buffers, a plurality of graphics pipelines, a compositor, and logic. The plurality of graphics pipelines are configured to receive graphics commands and to render graphical data to each of the plurality of frame buffers based on the received graphics commands. The compositor is configured to receive a control signal and to interface the graphical data with a display device based on the control signal. The logic is configured to analyze the graphics commands and to make a determination, based on the graphics commands, as to which pixels defined by the graphical data are associated with three-dimensional (3D) regions. The logic is further configured to transmit the control signal to the compositor, wherein the control signal is based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring graphics pipelines by tracking a region of interest in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving updated definitional information on a selected region of interest of a display device of the computer graphical display system in response to a change in definition of the selected region of interest and automatically configuring the plurality of graphics pipelines relative to the selected region of interest based at least in part on the updated definitional information.

Abstract: A system for rendering graphical data utilizes a plurality of frame buffers, a plurality of graphics pipelines, a compositor, and logic. The plurality of graphics pipelines are configured to receive graphics commands and to render graphical data to each of the plurality of frame buffers based on the received graphics commands. The compositor is configured to receive a control signal and to interface the graphical data with a display device based on the control signal. The logic is configured to analyze the graphics commands and to make a determination, based on the graphics commands, as to which pixels defined by the graphical data are associated with three-dimensional (3D) regions. The logic is further configured to transmit the control signal to the compositor, wherein the control signal is based on the determination.

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 method of assembling a composite image comprising generating three-dimensional data defining a non-stereo image, assigning a first screen portion to a first rendering node, assigning a second screen portion to a second rendering node, rendering, by the first rendering node, a left image portion from the three-dimensional data, rendering, by the second rendering node, a right image portion from the three-dimensional data, and sequentially assembling the left image portion and the right image portion into the composite image is provided.

Abstract: A centralized resource system comprises a plurality of compute resource units, a plurality of visualization resource units, and a switching fabric coupling the plurality of visualization resource units to the plurality of compute resource units. The switching fabric is operable to couple select one or more visualization resource units to select one or more compute resource units for generating at least one graphical image. A plurality of display devices is coupled to the one or more select visualization resource units operable to display the at least one graphical image.