Media Action Script Acceleration Method

Abstract

Exemplary apparatus, method, and system embodiments provide for accelerated hardware processing of an action script for a graphical image for visual display. An exemplary method comprises: converting a plurality of descriptive elements into a plurality of operational codes which at least partially control at least one processor circuit; and using at least one processor circuit, performing one or more operations corresponding to an operational code to generate pixel data for the graphical image. Another exemplary method for processing a data file which has not been fully compiled to a machine code and comprising interpretable descriptions of the graphical image in a non-pixel-bitmap form, comprises: separating the data file from other data; parsing and converting the data file to a plurality of hardware-level operational codes and corresponding data; and performing a plurality of operations in response to at least some hardware-level operational codes to generate pixel data for the graphical image. Exemplary embodiments also may be performed automatically by a system comprising one or more computing devices.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of processing an action script for visual display of a graphical image implemented using a plurality of processor cores, the method comprising:
 parsing the action script into a plurality of descriptive elements and corresponding data;   extracting data from the action script and storing the extracted data in at least one memory circuit as a plurality of control words having the extracted data in predetermined fields, wherein the plurality of descriptive elements are a plurality of tags or bytecodes;   converting the plurality of descriptive elements of the action script into a plurality of operational codes;   decoding each operational code of the plurality of operational codes to generate a plurality of communication signals; and   executing a selected operation in response to a selected communication signal of the plurality of communication signals using the extracted data stored in the at least one memory circuit to generate pixel data for the graphical image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication signals are selected from the group consisting of: control signals, instructions, hardware-level instructions, hardware-level microcode, messages, control words, status words, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decoding a descriptive element to determine a corresponding parsing operational code of the plurality of operational codes to control the parsing of the action script.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a type of descriptive element;   determining or selecting a number of bits to parse parameter; and   controlling shifting of a number of bits designated by the number of bits to parse parameter.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the converting step further comprises:
 performing a deterministic operation on each descriptive element of the plurality of descriptive elements to generate a corresponding result; and   using the corresponding result to determine a corresponding operational code of the plurality of operational codes.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of descriptive elements are selected from the group consisting of: a tag, a bytecode, a control tag, a definition tag, a dictionary tag, a dictionary repository, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing step further comprises:
 decoding a selected operational code of the plurality of operational codes to generate a corresponding plurality of control signals to at least partially control at least one processor core of the plurality of processor cores to execute one or more native instructions corresponding to the selected operational code of the plurality of operational codes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 matching a plurality of line or curve segments of a boundary of the graphical image and to determine a sequential ordering of the plurality of line or curve segments to form boundary coordinates of the graphical image, and applying a fill style to generate pixel data for an area of the graphical image.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 separating the action script from other data;   performing hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”) for reception of a data file and generating pixel data for hypertext markup language (“HTML”) or extensible markup language (“XML”) data of the data file;   transferring the pixel data for the graphical image to a frame buffer; and   transferring the pixel data for the HTML or XML data to the frame buffer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of processor cores are selected from the group consisting of: central processing (CPU) cores, graphics processing (GPU) cores, and combinations thereof; and wherein the plurality of processor cores are embodied in a single integrated circuit or a plurality of integrated circuits. 
     
     
         11 . A method of processing an action script for visual display of a graphical image implemented using a plurality of processor cores, the method comprising:
 using at least one first processor core of the plurality of processor cores, separating the action script from other data; and   using at least one second processor core of the plurality of processor cores:
 parsing the action script into a plurality of descriptive elements and corresponding data; 
 extracting data from the action script and storing the extracted data in at least one memory circuit as a plurality of control words having the extracted data in predetermined fields, wherein the plurality of descriptive elements are a plurality of tags or bytecodes; 
 converting the plurality of descriptive elements of the action script into a plurality of operational codes; 
 decoding each operational code of the plurality of operational codes to generate a plurality of control signals or instructions; and 
 executing a selected operation in response to a selected control signal or instruction of the plurality of control signals or instructions using the extracted data stored in the at least one memory circuit to generate pixel data for the graphical image. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the converting step further comprises:
 performing a deterministic operation on each descriptive element of the plurality of descriptive elements to generate a corresponding result; and   using the corresponding result to determine a corresponding operational code of the plurality of operational codes.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 performing hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”) for reception of a data file and generating pixel data for hypertext markup language (“HTML”) or extensible markup language (“XML”) data of the data file;   transferring the pixel data for the graphical image to a frame buffer; and   transferring the pixel data for the HTML or XML data to the frame buffer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the executing step further comprises:
 decoding a selected operational code of the plurality of operational codes to generate a corresponding plurality of control signals to at least partially control at least one processor core of the plurality of processor cores to execute one or more native instructions corresponding to the selected operational code of the plurality of operational codes.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of descriptive elements are selected from the group consisting of: a tag, a bytecode, a control tag, a definition tag, a dictionary tag, a dictionary repository, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 decoding a descriptive element to determine a corresponding parsing operational code of the plurality of operational codes to control the parsing of the action script.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 matching a plurality of line or curve segments of a boundary of the graphical image; and   determining a sequential ordering of the plurality of line or curve segments to form boundary coordinates of the graphical image.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 applying a fill style to generate pixel data for an area of the graphical image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 applying a line style by forming a second graphical image from a boundary of the graphical image; and   applying a fill style to the second graphical image to generate pixel data for the line style.   
     
     
         20 . A method of processing an action script for visual display of a graphical image implemented using a plurality of processor cores, the method comprising:
 receiving a data file;   using at least one first processor core of the plurality of processor cores:
 separating the action script from other data; 
 generating first pixel data for hypertext markup language (“HTML”) or extensible markup language (“XML”) data of the data file; and 
 transferring the first pixel data to a frame buffer; and 
   using at least one second processor core of the plurality of processor cores:
 parsing the action script into a plurality of descriptive elements and corresponding data; 
 extracting data from the action script and storing the extracted data in at least one memory circuit as a plurality of control words having the extracted data in predetermined fields, wherein the plurality of descriptive elements are a plurality of tags or bytecodes; 
 converting the plurality of descriptive elements of the action script into a plurality of operational codes; 
 decoding each operational code of the plurality of operational codes to generate a plurality of control signals or instructions; and 
 executing a selected operation in response to a selected control signal or instruction of the plurality of control signals or instructions using the extracted data stored in the at least one memory circuit to generate second pixel data for the graphical image; and 
 transferring the second pixel data to a frame buffer.