System for and method of classifying and translating graphics commands in client-server computing systems
View Patent ↗A client-server computing system includes a server that has a virtual display driver that classifies and, if necessary, translates graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a cross-platform format. Classification involves determining whether the graphics command(s) are platform-specific and/or client-supported functions. After classification and translation, the graphics command(s) are marshaled and transmitted to a client via a network. The client includes a client display driver that executes the functions using a client 3D library and renders the resulting image data to a display.
1. A server computing system for classifying and translating graphics commands, the server computing system comprising:
a memory for storing a server application and for hosting a functionality for making the server application visible to and accessible by a remote client;
a communication interface that receives a graphics command request regarding the server application from the remote client over a communication network; and
a processor for executing instructions stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
determines whether the requested graphics command of the server application is a platform-specific command based on a comparison of stored data regarding attributes of a plurality of different graphics commands;
if the requested graphics command is determined to be a platform-specific command, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a cross-platform format graphics command by creating an abstraction of the description of the graphics command, such that the abstraction can be understood and implemented on a collection of computing platforms,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client;
if the requested graphics command is determined not to be a platform-specific command, then determining whether the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client based on a comparison to a client library of the remote client and by utilizing capability information transmitted from the client to the server;
if the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client, then:
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to remote client; and
if the requested graphics command is not in a format supported by the remote client, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a format supported by the remote client,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises a server library.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the client library and the server library are associated with different platforms.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the client library and the server library are associated with a same platform, and wherein the client library supports different commands from the server library.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the client receives one or more input commands from a user, and further comprising determining whether the one or more input commands are to be handled by the client or by the server.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the determination of where the one or more input commands are to be handled is based on the client handling supportable graphics commands.
7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the server further comprises a virtual display driver that supports one or more capabilities not found in the client.
8. A server computing method for classifying and translating graphics commands, the method comprising:
receiving a graphics command request regarding a server application from a remote client over the communications network; and
executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor determines whether the requested graphics command of the server application is a platform-specific command based on a comparison to stored data regarding attributes of a plurality of different graphics commands;
if the requested graphics command is determined to be a platform-specific command, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a cross-platform format graphics command by creating an abstraction of the description of the graphics command, such that the abstraction can be understood and implemented on a collection of computing platforms,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client;
if the requested graphics command is determined not to be a platform-specific command, then determining whether the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client based on a comparison to a client library of the remote client and by utilizing capability information transmitted from the client to the server;
if the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client, then:
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client; and
if the requested graphics command is not in a format supported by the remote client, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a format supported by the remote client,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the server comprises a server library.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the client library and the server library are associated with different platforms.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the client library and the server library are associated with a same platform, and wherein the client library supports different commands from the server library.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote client receives one or more input commands from a user, and further comprising determining whether the one or more input commands are to be handled by the remote client or by the server.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the determination of the one or more input commands are to be handled is based on the client handling supportable graphics commands.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the server further comprises a virtual display driver that supports one or more capabilities not found in the client.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a server computing method for classifying and translating graphics commands, the method comprising:
receiving a graphics command request regarding a server application from a remote client over a communications network;
determining whether the requested graphics command of the server application is a platform-specific command based on a comparison to stored data regarding attributes of a plurality of different graphics commands;
if the requested graphics command is determined to be a platform-specific command, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a cross-platform format graphics command by creating an abstraction of the description of the graphics command, such that the abstraction can be understood and implemented on a collection of computing platforms,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client;
if the requested graphics command is determined not to be a platform-specific command, then determining whether the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client based on a comparison to a client library of the remote client and by utilizing capability information transmitted from the client to the server;
if the requested graphics command is in a format supported by the remote client, then:
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client; and
if the requested graphics command is not in a format supported by the remote client, then:
translating the requested graphics command into a format supported by the remote client,
encoding the cross-platform format graphics command, and
transmitting the encoded command to the remote client.