Patent ID: 6822655
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
A method in a data processing system for processing a request to display a graphical pattern, the method comprising:creating a plurality of partitions in a memory in a graphics adapter in the data processing system, wherein each partition within the plurality of partitions has a size equal to each of the other partitions within the plurality partitions; responsive to a request to display the graphical pattern; determining whether the graphical pattern is present within the plurality of partitions; displaying the graphical pattern using the plurality of partitions if the graphical pattern is present within the plurality of partitions; retrieving the graphical pattern from another location across a bus to the graphics adapter if the graphical pattern is absent from the plurality of partitions; responsive to retrieving the graphical pattern from another location, storing the graphical pattern in a partition within the plurality of partitions to form a stored graphical pattern if the graphical pattern is within the size; responsive to storing the graphical pattern in the partition, placing a copy of the stored graphical pattern within the partition with the stored graphical pattern if the copy fits within the partition along with any other copies of the stored graphical pattern; and repeating the placing step for additional copies of the stored graphical pattern as long as each additional copy fits within the partition, wherein all of the graphical patterns in the partition may be transferred in a single operation.