Patent ID: 6023274
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
A method of generating a private colourmap for a window in a windowing display system of the type having storage locations (25) for storing a colourmap which determines the colours displayed in the system corresponding to particular pixel values, and means for generating a shared colourmap (26) by assigning screen colours to pixel values dynamically as the screen colours are required by tasks using the system, and which system allows at least some of the windows to have a private colourmap (27) which can be copied into the storage locations (25) when the corresponding window is activated, the method being characterised by the steps of:overwriting (140) a first selected portion of the private colourmap for the window with a user-determined colourmap to leave a remainder of said private colourmap unallocated;ascertaining (150) a number of user-defined user interface colours required by said window; andoverwriting (160) a second selected portion of the private colourmap with a portion of said shared colourmap to form a modified colourmap, said portion of said shared colourmap not being greater than said remainder less said number of user-defined user interface colours.