Patent US5883640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5883640A
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Computing apparatus and operating method using string caching to improve graphics performance
Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
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Filing: 1996-08-15
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2016-08-15
Abstract
Abstract Various character strings are repeatedly displayed on a graphics display. For example, strings such as "file", "edit", "view" and "help" are commonly displayed on nearly every screen. This redundancy of displayed character strings is exploited using a string cache and string caching method. A string cache stores a database of strings along with the rendered forms of the strings. The string cache stores the strings in a rendered form which for particular character strings and attributes and characteristics of the strings. The string cache is stored and accessed local to a graphics accelerator so that a single string request across a system bus activates the display of the entire string, including a display of the selected attributes and characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Hsieh
- 👤 Roey Ben-Yoseph
- 👤 David D. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:49
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/393; G09G2360/00; G09G2360/12; G09G2360/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the computer system comprising: a string cache allocated in the storage; and an executable code stored in the storage and executable in response to an input string display request from the application program, the executable code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the computer system comprising: a string cache allocated in the storage; and an executable code stored in the storage and executable in response to an input string display request from the application program, the executable code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The computer system according to claim 1, the executable code further comprising: an input string and invariant parameter rendering code responsive to a negative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache to generate a representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter; and a string cache storing code for storing the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache at a location directed by the index.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer system according to claim 2 further includes a graphics accelerator coupled between the processor and the graphics display wherin the hashing code, the string cache hit detection code, the input string and invariant parameter rendering code, and the string cache storing code being executable on the processor; and the variant parameter rendering code and the display code being executable on the graphics accelerator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system according to claim 3 further comprising: a bus coupled between the processor and the graphics accelerator, the string cache being locally accessible to the graphics accelerator so that a single string request across a system bus activates the display of the entire string.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system according to claim 2 wherein invariant parameters are selected from a group of parameters including: a character sequence of a string, a length of the string, a font selection, a text transform, a character or chart width, and a designation of whether the string is italicized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer system according to claim 2 wherein variant parameters are selected from a group of parameters including: a color selection of a character, a color selection of a background, an X and Y coordinate position on the display, a clipping information designating portions of display elements that lie outside of a boundary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system according to claim 2 further comprising: a pointer table allocated in the storage and addressed by the index generated by the hashing code to generate a pointer into the string cache.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the executable code further comprises: a replacement code for determining a string cache entry for replacement, the string cache storing code storing a rendered input string at the position of the replaced entry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system according to claim 8 wherein the replacement code performs a "least recently added" (LRA) replacement technique.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system according to claim 2 wherein: the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter that is generated by the an input string and invariant parameter rendering code and stored in the string cache by the string cache storing code is a bitmap object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the method comprising the steps of: allocating a string cache in the storage; hashing an input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; in response to an affirmative determination, rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of operating a computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the method comprising the steps of: allocating a string cache in the storage; hashing an input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; in response to an affirmative determination, rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the steps of: in response to negative determination, rendering the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache to generate a representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter; and storing the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache at a location directed by the index.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of: determining a string cache entry for replacement, a rendered input string being stored at the position of the replaced entry by the storing step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the replacement code performs a "least recently added" (LRA) replacement technique.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a non-volatile memory; a plurality of instruction codes stored in the non-volatile memory, the instructional codes setting forth information relating to controlling a string cache queue that is used for rendering and displaying string information from a processor to a display screen in response to an input string display request from the application program, the instruction code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter on the display screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
169 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a non-volatile memory; a plurality of instruction codes stored in the non-volatile memory, the instructional codes setting forth information relating to controlling a string cache queue that is used for rendering and displaying string information from a processor to a display screen in response to an input string display request from the application program, the instruction code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter on the display screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
The article of manufacture according to claim 15, the instruction code further comprising: an input string and invariant parameter rendering code responsive to a negative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache to generate a representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter; and a string cache storing code for storing the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache at a location directed by the index.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of providing a computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the method comprising: providing a string cache allocated in the storage; and providing an executable code stored in the storage and executable in response to an input string display request from the application program, the executable code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determiring whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of providing a computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the method comprising: providing a string cache allocated in the storage; and providing an executable code stored in the storage and executable in response to an input string display request from the application program, the executable code including: a hashing code for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; a string cache hit detection code for determiring whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; a variant parameter rendering code responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and a display code for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method according to claim 17, the executable code fther comprising: an input string and invariant parameter rendering code responsive to a negative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache to generate a representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter; and a string cache storing code for storing the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache at a location directed by the index.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: providing a graphics accelerator coupled between the processor and the graphics display, the graphics accelerator; the hashing code, the string cache hit detection code, the input string and invariant parameter rendering code, and the string cache storing code being executable on the processor; and the variant parameter rendering code and the display code being executable on the graphics accelerator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 19 further comprising the steps of: providing a bus coupled between the processor and the graphics accelerator, the string cache being locally accessible to the graphics accelerator so that a single string request across a system bus activates the display of the entire string.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
121 words
The computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the computer system comprising: a string cache allocated in the storage; and means for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; means for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; means responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and means for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
121 words
The computer system including a processor, a storage, a graphics display and an application program for executing on the processor, the computer system comprising: a string cache allocated in the storage; and means for hashing the input string in combination with an invariant parameter to generate an index; means for determining whether the input string in combination with the invariant parameter is represented in the string cache; means responsive to an affirmative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering a variant parameter in combination with the representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache; and means for displaying the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter and the variant parameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
The computer system according to claim 21, further comprising: means responsive to a negative determination by the string cache detection code for rendering the input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache to generate a representation of the input string in combination with the invariant parameter; and means for storing the rendered input string in combination with the invariant parameter in the string cache at a location directed by the index.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system according to claim 22 further comprising: a bus coupled between the processor and the graphics accelerator, the string cache being locally accessible to the graphics accelerator so that a single string request across a system bus activates the display of the entire string.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |