System and method for communicating graphics image data over a communication network

A method for transmitting graphics image data over a communication network, comprising:

• logically dividing a frame buffer of a graphics adapter into a plurality of segments, each of said plurality of segments storing graphics image data corresponding to a destination device of a plurality of destination devices;
• selecting a segment of said plurality of segments corresponding to a destination device of said plurality of destination devices;
• and
• formatting at least a portion of said graphics image data stored in said selected segment into a plurality of packets for transmission by a network interface of said graphics adapter to said destination device over said communication network.

A method for transmitting graphics image data over a communication network, comprising:

• comparing graphics image data of a new image for a destination device with graphics image data of a previous image for said destination device stored in a frame buffer of a graphics adapter remote from said destination device;
• selecting blocks of graphics image data of said new image that are different from corresponding blocks of graphics image data of said previous image;
• and
• formatting, by said graphics adapter, said selected blocks of graphics image data of said new image into a plurality of packets for transmission by a network interface of said graphics adapter over said communication network.

A graphics adapter, comprising:

• a frame buffer operable to store graphics image data;
• and
• a network attachable graphics chip coupled to said frame buffer, said network attachable graphics chip comprising:
• a graphics unit operable to render a graphics image, said graphics unit further operable to provide graphics image data relating to said rendered image to said frame buffer;
• a compression unit operable to compress graphics image data of said frame buffer into compressed graphics image data;
• and
• a network interface operable to format said compressed graphics image data into a plurality of packets for transmission over a communication network.