Inventors:
Curtis Priem - Fremont CA
Chris Malachowsky - Santa Clara CA
Bruce McIntyre - Cupertino CA
Guy Moffat - Palo Alto CA
Assignee:
Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Mountain View CA
International Classification:
G06F 1206
Abstract:
An arrangement providing frame buffer memory for an output display by which single buffer and double buffered application programs may be run singly or simultaneously is described. An array of video random access memory sufficient to store data for at least two complete frames is configured in three different ways depending on the applications being run. When only programs designed to run on a single frame buffer are run, the memory is configured as a single frame buffer. When a single program designed to run on double frame buffers is run, the memory is configured as two visible frame buffers. When multiple programs designed to run on double frame buffers are run, the memory is configured into one visible and one invisible frame buffer. Additionally, apparatus for selecting data to be furnished to the display depending on whether the program operates as a single buffered program, a double buffered program, or a plurality of double buffered programs is provided.