Graphics processor

A graphics processor for processing graphics data housed in a memory storage structure and originating in a host device into rendered graphics data employable in a display device remote from the host device, the graphics processor comprising:

• (a) a video processor capable of producing rendered graphics data from the graphics data in the memory storage structure, the video processor comprising:
• (i) a reduced instruction-set computer;
• and
• (ii) configuration registers coupled to the reduced instruction-set computer;
• (b) an operational storage medium coupled directly to the video processor;
• and
• (c) a parallel-channel data buffering system coupled between the video processor and the memory storage structure, the data buffering system affording read-only access by the video processor to the graphics data in the memory storage structure and substantially write-only access to the memory storage structure for the rendered graphics data from the video processor.

An enhancer for a host device capable of processing graphics data originating in the host device into rendered graphics data employable in a display device remote from the host device, the enhancer comprising:

• (a) a memory storage structure for housing the graphics data generated in the host device;
• (b) a processor coupled to the memory storage structure and to the host device, the processor comprising:
• (i) a reduced instruction-set computer coupled to the data buffering system;
• and
• (ii) configuration registers coupled between the reduced instruction-set computer and the processor;
• (c) a video processor coupled directly to the processor, the video processor being capable of producing from the graphics data in the memory storage structure rendered graphics data employable in a display device;
• (d) an operational memory storage medium coupled directly to the video processor;
• (e) a parallel-channel data buffering system coupled between the video processor and the memory storage structure, the data buffering system affording read-only access by the video processor to the graphics data in the memory storage structure and substantially write-only access to the memory storage structure for the rendered graphics data from the video processor.

A system for processing graphics data into rendered graphics data, the system comprising:

• (a) a host device containing executable code for generating the graphics data;
• (b) an enhancer for the host device coupled thereto, the enhancer comprising:
• (i) a memory storage structure for housing the graphics data generated in the host device;
• (ii) a processor coupled to the memory storage structure and to the host device;
• (iii) a video processor coupled directly to the processor, the video processor being capable of producing from the graphics data in the memory storage structure rendered graphics data employable in a display device;
• (iv) an operational storage medium coupled directly to the video processor;
• (v) a first line buffer coupled between the video processor and the memory storage structure, the first line buffer being a read-only buffer;
• and
• (iv) a second line buffer coupled between the video processor and the memory storage structure, the second line buffer being a substantially write-only buffer.

A method for processing graphics data from a host device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving the graphics data from the host device into a memory storage structure;
• (b) transferring the graphics data from the memory storage structure to a video processor;
• (c) processing the graphics data in the video processor into rendered graphics data exhibitable by a display device remotely located from the host device;
• and
• (d) writing the rendered graphics data into the memory storage structure.