Method and apparatus for texture transmission and storage

A method for exchanging graphics data between a first computer system and a second computer system, comprising the steps of:

• receiving object data from a remote system;
• receiving a standard texture identifier from a remote system, but not receiving corresponding texture data;
• locally obtaining a stored texture data which corresponds to said standard texture identifier from a local storage;
• rendering a graphic image according to said object data and said stored texture data;
• wherein the number of bits in said standard texture identifier is less than the number of bits in said stored texture data.

A method for exchanging graphics data, comprising the steps of:

• loading graphics object data, and a standard texture identifier which generally indicates a texture map, but not loading a corresponding texture map, in a computer system;
• referencing a texture library on said computer system to determine a stored texture data which corresponds to said standard texture identifier;
• and
• displaying a texture mapped image using said object data and said stored texture data.

A method for exchanging graphics data, comprising the steps of:

• decomposing said graphics data on a first computer system into object data and original texture data;
• referencing a first texture library on said first system to determine a standard texture identifier which corresponds to said original texture data;
• transmitting said object data and said standard texture identifier, but not said original texture data, to a second computer system;
• receiving said object data and said standard texture identifier by said second computer system;
• generating a reconstructed texture data which generally corresponds to said original texture data, using said standard texture identifier as a seed value;
• reconstructing said graphics data using said object data and said reconstructed texture data.

A computer system comprising:

• display hardware;
• video generation hardware connected to generate graphics data for displaying on said display hardware;
• a processor connected to said video generation hardware;
• a memory connected to said processor;
• a texture library stored in said memory, said library containing a set of texture maps, each of said texture maps having an associated standard texture identifier;
• wherein said video generation hardware is connected to:
• receive, from an application, object data and a first standard texture identifier which generally indicates a texture map, but not receiving said first standard texture identifier's corresponding texture map,
• retrieve, from said texture library but not from said application, one of said texture maps which is associated with said first standard texture identifier, and
• generate said graphics data by mapping said one of said texture maps which is associated with said first standard texture identifier on to one or more graphics objects.