Centralised interactive graphical application server

Abstract

A system for processing a plurality of graphical programs on a centralized computer system whereby the images produced by the programs are compressed and transmitted to a plurality of remote processing devices where they are decompressed. Compression assistance data (CAD) is produced by intercepting instructions outputted by the programs and the CAD is then used in the compression step.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of generating an image data transmission comprising the steps of:
 a) outputting graphics instructions by a graphics generating program;   b) analyzing at least one of the outputted instructions to generate compression assistance data (CAD);   c) processing at least one of the outputted instructions to render an associated plurality of pixels into a region of an image frame;   d) using the CAD to transmit at least part of the pixels in the region to a remote device;   wherein the CAD comprises information relating to the coordinates of the region in relation to the image frame.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein step (b) occurs before step (c). 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a step of compressing the pixels to be transmitted before the step of transmitting and wherein the CAD further comprises a compression constraint and whereby the step of compressing is responsive to the constraint. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the constraint is a bandwidth constraint, a quality constraint, a latency constraint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the analyzed instructions are 3D graphics instructions. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the processed instructions comprise the analyzed instructions. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the analyzed instructions are intercepted before being analyzed. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the graphics instructions is modified whereby the modifying assists the generation of the CAD and whereby the step of modifying comprises at least one action selected from a list consisting of adding at least one graphics instruction, removing at least one of the graphics instructions, replacing at least one of the graphics instructions, translating at least one of the graphics instructions and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising a step of compressing the pixels to be transmitted before the step of transmitting and wherein the CAD further comprises a compression constraint and whereby the step of compressing is responsive to the constraint. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the constraint is a bandwidth constraint, a quality constraint, a latency constraint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the processed instructions comprise the analyzed instructions. 
     
     
         12 . A system for producing an image data transmission comprising:
 i) an instruction interception module;   ii) a processing unit accessible by the instruction interception module;   iii) memory accessible by the instruction interception module and the processing unit;   such that operation of the system causes the system to perform at least the following steps:   a) intercepting graphics instructions by the instruction interception module;   b) analyzing at least one of the intercepted instructions to generate compression assistance data (CAD);   c) processing at least one of the intercepted instructions to render an associated plurality of pixels into a region of an image frame;   d) using the CAD to transmit at least part of the pixels in the region to a remote device;   wherein the CAD comprises information relating to the coordinates of the region in relation to the image frame.   
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein step (b) occurs before step (c). 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the analyzed instructions are 3D graphics instructions. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the processed instructions comprise the analyzed instructions. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising a step of compressing the pixels to be transmitted before the step of transmitting and wherein the CAD further comprises a compression constraint and whereby the step of compressing is responsive to the constraint. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the constraint is a bandwidth constraint, a quality constraint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the analyzed instructions are 3D graphics instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the processed instructions comprise the analyzed instructions. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein at least one of the graphics instructions is modified whereby the modifying assists the generation of the CAD and whereby the step of modifying comprises at least one action selected from a list consisting of adding at least one graphics instruction, removing at least one of the graphics instructions, replacing at least one of the graphics instructions, translating at least one of the graphics instructions and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising a step of compressing the pixels to be transmitted before the step of transmitting and wherein the CAD further comprises a compression constraint and whereby the step of compressing is responsive to the constraint. 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the constraint is a bandwidth constraint, a quality constraint, a latency constraint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the processed instructions comprise the analyzed instructions.