Patent ID: 7358975

Claim:
A method for reducing a number of bits used to store symbols in a texture used for text rendering in a video game application that displays three-dimensional graphics, including text symbols, in a two-dimensional space, the method comprising: receiving a first 8-bit-per-pixel texture bitmap including multiple symbols, wherein the multiple symbols include one or more monochrome text characters; and based on the first 8-bit-per-pixel texture bitmap, generating a second 8-bit-per-pixel texture bitmap that includes each of the multiple symbols of the first 8-bit-per-pixel texture bitmap, wherein the generating of the second 8-bit-per-pixel texture bitmap includes: grouping up to eight 1-bit values into a single 8-bit pixel, wherein each of the up to eight 1-bit values of the 8-bit pixel is associated with a distinct text symbol, and wherein each of the up to eight 1-bit values provides information associated with whether the pixel is colored or transparent; and creating a mapping of the single 8-bit pixel to a 32-bit value in a 256-color palette, wherein the mapping is used during unpacking of the single 8-bit pixel, and wherein the creating of the mapping includes: associating a first pair of the up to eight 1-bit values to a first 8-bit mapping value, associating a second pair of the up to eight 1-bit values to a second 8-bit mapping value, associating a third pair of the up to eight 1-bit values to a third 8-bit mapping value, associating a fourth pair of the up to eight 1-bit values to a fourth 8-bit mapping value, combining the first, second, third, and fourth 8-bit mapping values into a combined 32-bit value, and matching the combined 32-bit value to a mapping value in the 256-color palette; and storing an indication of the mapping, and storing the second 8-bit per-pixel texture bitmap on a computer-readable storage medium.