Display Synchronization Logic for 3D Graphics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display sharing technologies face difficulties in maintaining synchronized displays between a host and guest computers, particularly when using 3D graphics applications, as the operating system's graphics interface does not trigger synchronization for 2D and 3D graphics calls, leading to inefficiencies and unsynchronized displays.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of display synchronization logic that monitors graphics operations and uses a mirror driver to construct a list of changed regions, enabling the sender to synchronize guest displays by sending appropriate display data, even when the graphics interface does not natively support display sharing, by utilizing a 2D communication path to reflect 3D graphics operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If 3D graphics operations communicate directly to graphics hardware via OpenGL, then graphics rendering efficiency is improved, but display synchronization between host and guest computers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component called 'display synchronization logic' that monitors 3D graphics operations and translates them into 2D graphics operations. This intermediary bridges the gap between the efficient 3D rendering path (OpenGL to graphics hardware) and the synchronized display path (GDI to mirror driver to guest computers), allowing both efficiency and synchronization to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy mechanism where 3D graphics operations are converted into equivalent 2D graphics operations that can be processed by the GDI mirror driver. The display synchronization logic captures the essential display-changing information from 3D operations and reproduces it through the 2D graphics path, ensuring guest computers receive synchronization updates without requiring modifications to the 3D rendering pipeline.
2Device complexity
If the OS graphics interface does not trigger synchronization for 3D graphics calls, then system complexity is reduced, but display synchronization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display synchronization logic serves multiple functions: it monitors 3D graphics operations, determines which operations will change the display, converts them to 2D operations, and triggers synchronization. This single component handles both 2D and 3D graphics synchronization uniformly, making the system adaptable to different graphics operation types without requiring separate complex handling paths for each type.
3Reliability
If display data is synchronized for all graphics operations, then display synchronization completeness is improved, but network traffic and CPU utilization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the display synchronization logic selectively process only those graphics operations that will actually change the display content. Rather than synchronizing every single graphics call (which would waste resources), the system intelligently filters and processes only the necessary subset of operations, achieving complete synchronization where needed while minimizing unnecessary network traffic and CPU usage.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method comprises detecting a graphics call directed from an application executing on a host computer to an operating system's graphics interface, wherein the operating system's graphics interface does not trigger synchronization of a guest computer's display. The method further comprises, responsive to such detecting, triggering synchronization of a display of at least one guest computer that is communicatively coupled to the host computer to reflect the graphics call. According to one embodiment, a method comprises determining a three-dimensional (3D) graphics operation is communicated along a 3D graphics communication path of a host computer, and using a communication path for two-dimensional (2D) graphics operations on the host computer to trigger notification to a guest computer of a display change resulting from the 3D graphics operation.