Patent ID: 6823525
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G06F,G09G

Abstract:
In a computer system including an application program having a first direct driver application user interface (API), a graphics user interface (GUI) operating system having a second direct driver API, and a graphics driver application, the first and second direct driver APIs and the GUI operating system being capable of driving only a single monitor without display errors, a method of driving multiple monitors without display errors, comprising:providing at least first and second monitors; installing in the computer system a graphics card including at least first and second frame buffers for operating at least the respective first and second monitors; operationally interposing between the GUI operating system and the application program a desktop manager application for generating an enhanced display area that is coextensive with at least the first and second monitors; bypassing the graphics driver application; and providing a direct access driver for receiving drawing instructions from the first and second direct driver APIs, at least one of the first and second direct driver APIs issuing a â€œGetFrameBufferAddressâ€  call and returning a single frame buffer address related to at least the first and second frame buffers in response to the â€œGetFrameBufferAddressâ€  call; and transferring the drawing instructions to at least the first and second frame buffers, thereby enabling and accelerating multiple monitor drawing operations.