Double render processing for handheld video game device

Abstract

Methods and systems for alternating rendering of information of a common display for a video game are provided by identifying certain data relating to a scene as belonging to a first layer and identifying other certain data relating to a scene as belonging to a second layer. Rendered information of each layer are captured in memory, and rendered information for each layer are used for two successive video frames.

1 . A method of providing images for a video game, comprising:
 associating objects with either a first layer or a second layer;   rendering objects associated with the first layer;   rendering objects associated with the second layer;   displaying the rendered objects associated with the first layer on a display; and   displaying the rendered objects associated with the second layer on the display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing information of the rendered objects associated with the first layer in a first memory. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing information of the rendered objects associated with the second layer in a second memory. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein rending objects associated with the first layer occurs during a first time period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering objects associated with the second layer occurs during a second time period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second time period follows the first time period. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein rendering objects associated with the first layer and rendering objects associated with the second layer occurs repetitively during play of the video game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising additionally rendering objects associated with the first layer, additionally storing information of the additionally rendered objects associated with the first layer in the first memory, displaying the additionally rendered objects associated with the first layer on the display and displaying the rendered objects associated with the second layer on the display using the information of the rendered objects associated with the second layer stored in the second memory. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein objects associated with the first layer include an object representative of a first musician in a music based video game and objects associated with the second layer include a venue in the music based video game. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing images for a music based video game, comprising:
 associating a first object with a first display layer, the first object representative of a musician in the music based video game;   associating a plurality of background objects with a second display layer, the plurality of background objects representative of a venue in the music based video game;   iteratively rendering the first object, storing rendered information of the first object in a first memory, and displaying rendered information of the first object on the display;   iteratively rendering the plurality of background objects, storing rendered information of the plurality of background objects in a second memory, and displaying rendered information of the plurality of background objects on the display;   with displaying rendered information of the first object on the display utilizing the information stored in the first memory in first alternating time periods and displaying rendered information of the plurality of background objects utilizing the information stored in the second memory in second alternating time periods, the first alternating time periods and the second alternating time periods occurring at different times.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein displaying rendered information of the first object on the display and displaying rendered information of the plurality of background objects on the display occurs during both the first alternating time periods and the second alternating time periods. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein displaying rendered information of the first object on the display does not utilize the information stored in the first memory in the second alternating time periods. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein displaying rendered information of the plurality of background objects on the display does not utilize the information stored in the second memory in the first alternating time periods. 
     
     
         14 . A handheld game system, comprising:
 memory storing scene data, the scene data including first scene data and second scene data;   a processor configured to render the first scene data and the second scene data;   first video memory, coupled to the processor, configured to store rendered first scene data;   second video memory, coupled to the processor, configured to store rendered second scene data; and   a display coupled to the first video memory and the second video memory;   the processor being further configured to alternately:
 a) render the first scene data, command display on the display of the rendered first scene data, command display on the display of the rendered second scene data in the second video memory, and command storage of the rendered first scene data in the first video memory, and 
 b) render the second scene data, command display on the display of the rendered second scene data, command display on the display of the rendered first scene data in the first video memory, and command storage of the rendered second scene data in the second video memory. 
   
     
     
         15 . The handheld game system of  claim 14 , wherein the memory additionally stores layer information, the layer information identifying which of the scene data is first scene data and which of the scene data is second scene data. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld game system of  claim 14 , wherein the first scene data includes information of a representation of an individual and a musical instrument. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld game system of  claim 16 , wherein the second scene data includes information of a representation of a musical venue. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing images for a video game, comprising:
 associating different objects with different layers;   rendering objects associated with a first layer of the different layers;   storing information of rendered objects associated with the first layer in a first memory;   rendering objects associated with a second layer of the different layers;   combining the information of rendered objects associated with the first layer in the first memory with information of rendered objects associated with the second layer; and   displaying the combined information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising storing at least some of the information of rendered objects associated with the second layer in a second memory. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein combining the information of rendered objects associated with the first layer in the first memory with information of rendered objects associated with the second layer comprises storing at least some of the information of the rendered objects associated with the first layer in the second memory. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein displaying the combined information comprises displaying the combined information stored in the second memory. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising storing the combined information in a second memory.