US 5,432,900 A · Integrated graphics and video computer display system

Abstract

Graphical, video, and audio dam is integrated into a single processing environment. The present invention employs an integrated graphics/video controller (IVC) which interfaces with application software through a graphics API and a video API. The IVC receives graphics commands through the graphics API and video commands through the video API. A mask driver produces information from the graphics commands including clipping information, graphics information and mask information. A blender uses the mask information, the graphics information, and the clipping information for combining or compositing graphics images with video images. The video commands of the video command stream provide functions for configuring the operation of the IVC. These functions include commands for loading software video decoders in a decoder block within the IVC. Video data transferred to the IVC via the video API may be encoded in a variety of different formats. The present invention provides a means for dynamically loading a plurality of different video decoders through a video command interface to a video decode block both within the IVC. Each of the independent decoders within the decode block contain processing logic for decoding a particular type of video data to produce a uniform type of decoded video data which is provided to the blender. The blender receives the decoded video data and combines the video data with graphics data as defined by the mask information, the clipping information, and the graphics information.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In a computer display system that can display graphics information and video information simultaneously, a process for generating a graphics mask, said graphics mask being used to blend graphics information with video information for display by said computer display system, said process comprising the steps of:

receiving a graphics command from an application program, said graphics command referencing a graphics image stored in a display bitmap;
sending said graphics command in an unmodified form to a display driver for command interpretation and processing by said display driver;
receiving command status from said display driver, said command status indicating whether said display driver completed interpretation and processing of said unmodified graphics command;
modifying said graphics command to reference a graphics mask stored in a mask bitmap;
sending said graphics command in modified form to said display driver for command interpretation and processing by said display driver, said display driver processing said graphics mask in a manner equivalent to processing of said unmodified graphics command.

2 more elements

In a computer display system having a display, a process for integrating the processing of graphics and video information, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving a graphics command from an application program, said graphics command referencing a graphics image stored in a display bitmap;
generating clipping information using said graphics command, said clipping information specifying a clipping region within a visible window of said display;
generating a graphics mask, said graphics mask specifying whether video information may overwrite graphics information within said clipping region;
receiving graphics information from said application program;
receiving compressed video information from said application program;
decoding said compressed video information to produce decoded video information;
and
blending said decoded video information and said graphics information within said clipping region using said graphics mask to produce composite image data, wherein blending is enabled within said clipping region and disabled outside of said clipping region.

5 more elements

In a computer display system having a display, a system for integrating the processing of graphics and video information, the system comprising:

means for receiving a graphics command from an application program, said graphics command referencing a graphics image stored in a display bitmap;
means for generating clipping information using said graphics command, said clipping information specifying a clipping region within a visible window of said display;
means for generating a graphics mask, said graphics mask specifying whether video information may overwrite graphics information within said clipping region;
means for receiving graphics information from said application program;
means for receiving compressed video information from said application program;
means for decoding said compressed video information to produce decoded video information;
and
means for blending said decoded video information and said graphics information within said clipping region using said graphics mask to produce composite image data, wherein blending is enabled within said clipping region and disabled outside of said dipping region.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated graphics and video computer display system

Life of this patent

Integrated graphics and video computer display system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26