Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for controlling pixel display and update in a computer graphics system for displaying multiple windows. The apparatus comprises a frame buffer for storing a pixel data to be displayed. The frame buffer comprises a write-enable plane configured to indicate whether a pixel is within a visible portion of an active window. The apparatus comprises memory for storing a window data structure that includes data regarding window priorities, window boundaries and window intersections for managing the write-enable plane efficiently. A graphics server determines whether a pixel is to be written to the frame buffer, wherein the determination is made based on the write-enable phase and window clip boundaries. Additional planes are optionally provided to allow selection of a front and back frame buffer and to select between video modes. Additionally, a write once plane can be provided to indicate whether a pixel is to be written only once per object.

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First Claim