Patent ID: 7489318

Claim:
A method of generating graphical images comprising: detecting an update to image data representing a portion of a render target, the render target stored in a first memory location coupled to a graphics processing unit; in response to detecting said update, generating a snapshot of said render target by forming a pointer-based copy of said portion of said render target, designating said copy to be used as a texture; designating said copy as a recipient of a subsequent update when said portion of said render target is selected to receive said subsequent update; and storing said copy designated to be used as a texture in a second memory location coupled to the graphics processing unit, wherein image data is converted into textures and said graphics processing unit is operable to render image data to the render target in said first memory location without invoking a lock-out when a read access of texture in said second memory location is pending, the first memory location and the second memory location managed as separate writing and reading memory locations so the graphics processing unit writes render targets to the first memory location and reads textures from the second memory location.