Methods and systems for overriding graphics commands

摘要

Disclosed are “graphics overrides.” An override accepts a stream of graphics commands as produced by an application and then modifies the stream before it is rendered by the GPU. Different overrides perform different modifications. One override can modify a stream of graphics commands in response to another stream. Overrides can enforce conformity with a visual paradigm and, by being modified, can support a change to that paradigm without requiring the applications to change. Overrides can monitor the entire computing environment and improve the response to that environment of a particular application: For example, an override monitors frames as they are produced by an application. If the application cannot keep up with a fixed frame rate, then the override produces “synthetic” frames to take the place of missing frames. Overrides are not restricted to fixing existing problems. Rather, applications can be developed that depend upon the presence of overrides.

主权项

1. A method on a server for gathering user-response data, the method comprising:
sending, by the server to a first set of end-user devices:
an application configured to produce a stream of graphics commands;a first override, the first override comprising first instructions for at least one; modification to the stream of graphics commands; and
first instructions for gathering user-response data; receiving, by the server from at least some of the first set of end-user devices, first user-response data; sending, by the server to a second set of end-user devices, the second set of end-user devices comprising at least one end-user device not in the first set of end-user devices:
the application configured to produce the stream of graphics commands;a second override, the second override comprising second instructions for at least one modification to the stream of graphics commands, the second instructions different from the first instructions; andsecond instructions for gathering user-response data; and receiving, by the server from at least some of the second set of end-user devices, second user-response data.