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 . Apparatus for generating a compressed video data signal, the apparatus comprising a graphics processor unit and a central processor unit, the apparatus comprising:
 a) an instruction interceptor capable of intercepting a first set of instructions for said graphics processor unit, said first set of instructions relating to how to render image frames, and generating an output comprising a second set of instructions for said graphics processor module;   b) a processing function capable of processing said first set of instructions or said second set of instructions or a combination thereof in said graphics processor unit, said processing function having an output capable of generating first graphics data, said first graphics data comprising image frames;   c) a processing function capable of processing said second set of instructions in said central processor unit, said processing function being further capable of producing an output comprising compression assistance data;   d) a processing function capable of processing said first graphics data using said compression assistance data, to generate a compressed video data signal;   wherein the apparatus is further capable of generation of said second set of instructions by analyzing said first set of instructions to determine which instructions of said first set of instructions are useful for the generation of compression assistance data.