METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING RELIABLE GRAPHIC MEMORY OPERATIONS IN A SET-TOP BOX ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A video memory handling system and method for providing a graphic computer-implemented process with a predetermined amount of video memory to be used by the graphic process to perform a predetermined graphic-related operation within a set-top box environment. A first video memory portion is provided which has an allocation status with respect to the graphic process. A video memory handling data structure indicates the allocation status of the first video memory portion. A video memory manager which is connected to the video memory handling data structure reallocates the first video memory portion based upon the video memory handling data structure. The reallocated first video memory portion is utilized by the graphic process to perform the predetermined graphic-related operation.