Method, apparatus and system for rendering a graphical representation within limited memory

A method of controlling memory usage in a graphics rendering system processing graphical objects in independent spatial portions, the method comprising:

• converting a plurality of layers of graphical objects to an intermediate format representation, the layers being formed by grouping the graphical objects for each of a plurality of spatial portions into layers based on a first complexity threshold chosen to facilitate throughput of the graphics rendering system;
• in response to detecting a memory shortage condition in execution of the graphics rendering system processing graphical objects of a first of the plurality of spatial portions, determining a second layer complexity threshold to address the memory shortage condition, the second layer complexity threshold being lower than the first complexity threshold;
• identifying a layer of the graphical objects associated with a second of the plurality of spatial portions using the plurality of layers based on the second layer complexity threshold, the second spatial portion being different to the first spatial portion which triggered the memory shortage condition;
• and
• converting the identified layer of graphical objects to the intermediate format representation to release memory occupied by graphical objects of the identified layer.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program stored thereon for controlling memory usage in a graphics rendering system, the program comprising:

• code for converting a plurality of layers of graphical objects to an intermediate format representation, the layers being formed by grouping the graphical objects into a plurality of layers based on a first complexity threshold;
• code for, in response to detecting a memory shortage condition in execution of the graphics rendering system, determining a second complexity threshold based on the detected memory shortage condition, the second complexity threshold being lower than the first complexity threshold;
• code for identifying a layer of the plurality of layers based on the second complexity threshold, the identified layer being different to a layer which triggered the memory shortage condition;
• and
• code for converting the identified layer of graphical objects to the intermediate format representation to release memory occupied by graphical objects of the identified layer.

Apparatus for controlling memory usage in a graphics rendering system, the apparatus configured to:

• convert a plurality of layers of graphical objects to an intermediate format representation, the layers being formed by grouping the graphical objects into a plurality of layers based on a first complexity threshold;
• in response to detecting a memory shortage condition in execution of the graphics rendering system, determine a second complexity threshold based on the detected memory shortage condition, the second complexity threshold being lower than the first complexity threshold;
• identify a layer of the plurality of layers based on the second complexity threshold, the identified layer being different to a layer which triggered the memory shortage condition;
• and
• convert the identified layer of graphical objects to the intermediate format representation to release memory occupied by graphical objects of the identified layer.

A graphic rendering system comprising:

• a memory for storing data and a computer readable medium;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory for executing a computer program, the program having instructions for:
• converting a plurality of layers of graphical objects to an intermediate format representation, the layers being formed by grouping the graphical objects into a plurality of layers based on a first complexity threshold;
• in response to detecting a memory shortage condition in execution of the graphics rendering system, determining a second complexity threshold based on the detected memory shortage condition, the second complexity threshold being lower than the first complexity threshold;
• identifying a layer of the plurality of layers based on the second complexity threshold, the identified layer being different to a layer which triggered the memory shortage condition;
• and
• converting the identified layer of graphical objects to the intermediate format representation to release memory occupied by graphical objects of the identified layer.