Patent ID: 6972770

Claim:
A method in a data processing system for performing a raster operation of graphics data, wherein the data processing system includes a system memory and a video memory, wherein the system memory and the video memory are connected by a bus and wherein the graphics data is organized into picture elements, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: selecting a first plurality of picture elements from the system memory; selecting a second plurality of picture elements from the video memory, wherein the first plurality of picture elements and the second plurality of picture elements are selected such that changes in a direction of data on the bus are minimized when performing raster operations on the first plurality of picture elements and the second plurality of picture elements; reading the first plurality of picture elements from the system memory; reading the second plurality of picture elements from the video memory; performing a raster operation on a picture element from the first plurality of picture elements and a picture element from the second plurality of picture elements to form a processed picture element; writing the processed picture element to the video memory; and repeating the performing and writing steps for each picture element in the first plurality of picture elements and the second plurality of picture elements until all picture elements have been processed, wherein changes in the direction of data on the bus are minimized between the reading and writing of picture elements.