Architecture For Rendering Graphics On Output Devices Over Diverse Connections

Abstract

A system for displaying graphical information. The system includes an asset server for storing information and a rendering server in communication with the asset server. The rendering server receives a graphics command and renders graphic display data in response to the graphics command and to the information. The rendering server is independently addressable from the asset server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for displaying graphical information, the system comprising:
 an asset server for storing information; and   a rendering server in communication with the asset server for receiving a graphics command and for rendering graphic display data in response to the graphics command and to the information, wherein the rendering server is independently addressable from the asset server.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the asset server and the rendering server are in communication via a network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the asset server is located in a different geographic location than the rendering server. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information includes one or more of rendering resources, geometry data, images and shader programs. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rendering server further transmits the graphic display data to a display device that is independently addressable from the asset server and the rendering server. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the graphic display data is transmitted to the display device via a network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the display device is located in a different geographic location than one or more of the rendering server and the asset server. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the display device includes one or more of a two-dimensional (2-D) display and a three-dimensional (3-D) display. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the display device includes one or more of a 2-D printer and a 3-D printer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphics command is generated by a client application. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the client application transmits the graphics command to the rendering server via a network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the client application is located in a different geographic location than the rendering server. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphics command is generated by a plurality of client applications. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rendering server further transmits the graphic display data to a plurality of independently addressable display devices. 
     
     
         15 . A method for displaying graphical information, the method comprising:
 receiving a graphics command at a rendering server;   accessing information responsive to the graphics command, wherein the information is located in an asset server that is separately addressable from the rendering sever; and   rendering graphic display data in response to the graphics command and to the information.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the asset server is located in a different geographic location than the rendering server and the asset server and the rendering server communicate via a network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising transmitting the graphic display data to a display device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the display device is located in a different geographic location from one or more of the asset server and the rendering server. 
     
     
         19 . An architecture for displaying graphical information, the architecture comprising:
 an asset resource layer for storing information; and   a rendering layer for receiving a graphics command and rendering graphic display data in response to the graphics command and to the information, wherein the communication server is independently addressable from the asset server.   
     
     
         20 . The architecture of  claim 19  further comprising a display layer for receiving the graphic display data and displaying the graphic display data on a display device, wherein the display layer in independently addressable from the asset layer and the rendering layer. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product for displaying graphical information, the computer program product comprising:
 a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:   receiving a graphics command at a rendering server;   accessing information responsive to the graphics command, wherein the information is located in an asset server that is separately addressable from the rendering sever; and   rendering graphic display data in response to the graphics command and to the information.