Patent ID: 7830372
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: G06F,G06T,G09G

Abstract:
1. A method of providing an image to a video display in a computer system, the computer system including a multilayer video card having a video card operating system that directs draw streams to respective video hardware layers, the method comprising: executing a video card driver for communicating with the video card operating system to direct draw streams from the video card driver through the video card operating system to the video hardware layers; generating a three-dimensional event space, where the three-dimensional event space includes at least two driver regions associated with respective video hardware layers of the multilayer video card, where the at least two driver regions are disposed at different positions along a length of the three-dimensional event space; generating an application region within the three-dimensional event space, where the application region is respectively associated with a first software application, where the application region is generated within the three-dimensional event space exterior to the at least two driver regions, and where the first software application directs its draw stream to the application region; responding to one or more events associated with the first software application by changing attributes of the application region in the three-dimensional event space; responding to a changed attribute of the application region by directing the draw stream provided to the application region to at least one of the at least two driver regions for provision to the video card driver, where the video card driver provides the draw stream received from the application region to the video operating system for provision to the video hardware layer respectively associated with the at least one of the at least two driver regions; generating a draw stream using a second software application, where the draw stream of the second software application is not directed to the three-dimensional event space; receiving the draw stream of the second software application at the video card driver from the second software application and bypassing provision of the draw stream of the second software application to the three-dimensional event space; and communicating the draw stream of the second software application from the video card driver to the video operating system for provision to a corresponding video hardware layer.