Immediate mode computer graphics command caching

Abstract

For networked client-server computer graphics systems, performance is improved by caching immediate mode graphics commands in the server host. Two types of immediate mode command packets are employed—a full-size packet type and a truncated packet type. The full-size packet type includes a cache code field, a table index field and a data field corresponding to the command. The truncated packet type includes only the cache code field and the table index field. For certain outgoing immediate mode commands, if it is determined on the client side that the command's data field has not previously been stored within the server host, then the client host sends a full-size packet type to the server host to indicate the command. The server host executes the command and stores the command's data field in its own memory for possible later use. But if it is determined on the client side that the command's data field has previously been stored within the server host, then the client host sends only a truncated packet type to the server host to indicate the command. In the latter case, the server host executes the command by recalling a previously-stored data field responsive to the table index supplied in the truncated packet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.