METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC GRAPHICS CONTEXT SWITCHING

摘要

A method and apparatus in a data processing system for context management for a plurality of graphic processes. A request is received to send graphics data to a graphics adapter from a first graphics process within the plurality of graphics processes. A determination is made as to whether a complete change in a current context is required for the graphics adapter to process the graphics data from the first graphics process. If only a portion of the current context needs to be changed, the portions to be changed are saved. Then, the context information for the graphics process are retrieved and placed in with the current context information required using a set of contexts stored in a memory.