# US 2008/0189651 A1 · Plug-in architecture for window management and desktop compositing effects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189651 A1 - Document ID: US20080189651A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/702,646 - Filed: 2007-02-06 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-06 - Assignees: Novell, Inc. - Inventors: David Reveman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189651A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system and method that relates to a plug-in architecture that enables accelerated rendering and compositing of one or more graphical effects instantiated by one or more separate visual effect plug-ins. The plug-in architecture enables setting up visual effects, accepting graphical output requests, customizing visual effects, and/or allowing enhanced graphics rendering for desktop usage, among other things. The invention provides a modular approach to customizing and rendering visual effects. The plug-in architecture enables plug-ins to be exchanged, modified, removed, and added, among other things. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer based system including a plug-in architecture storing one or more visual effect plug-ins providing visual effects information for rendering images, the system comprising: loading means for loading the one or more visual effect plug-ins from the plug-in architecture; an event handler for instantiating the one or more visual effect plug-ins based at least in part on received event information; compositing manager module for compositing the visual effects associated with the one or more instantiated visual effect plug-ins; and transmitting means for transmitting instructions to a graphics card for rendering the composited visual effects on an output display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual effect plug-ins comprise decoration, fade, wobble, minimize, cube, rotate, zoom, scale, move, resize, place, or switcher. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a configuration interface for enabling the user to associated occurrence of event information to one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the configuration interface further includes means for to configuring properties associated with the one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the configuration interface further includes means to enabling the user to add, delete, or edit one or more visual effect plugs-ins. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the plug-in architecture further includes means for storing information regarding the properties associated with the one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the associations between the occurrences of event information to one or more plug-ins is specified using key bindings, mouse bindings, or application event bindings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one or more visual effect plug-ins are provided by a 3rd party. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the rendered visual effects are produced on an application window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the graphics card comprises a 3D accelerator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted instructions are hardware instructions. ### Claim 12 A computer based method including a plug-in architecture storing one or more visual effect plug-ins providing visual effects information for rendering images, the comprising the steps of: loading the one or more visual effect plug-ins from the plug-in architecture; instantiating the one or more visual effect plug-ins based at least in part on received event information; compositing the visual effects associated with the one or more instantiated visual effect plug-ins; and transmitting instructions to a graphics card for rendering the composited visual effects on an output display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more visual effect plug-ins comprise decoration, fade, wobble, minimize, cube, rotate, zoom, scale, move, resize, place, or switcher. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further including a configuration interface enabling the user to associated occurrence of event information to one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the configuration interface further includes a step of configuring properties associated with the one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the configuration interface further includes means to enabling the user to add, delete, or edit one or more visual effect plugs-ins. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the plug-in architecture further includes a step of storing information regarding the properties associated with the one or more visual effect plug-ins. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the associations between the occurrences of event information to one or more plug-ins is specified using key bindings, mouse bindings, or application event bindings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein one or more visual effect plug-ins are provided by a 3rd party. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the rendered visual effects are produced on an application window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the graphics card comprises a 3D accelerator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitted instructions are hardware instructions.