PEX: a network-transparent 3D graphics system

Author

Rost, Randi J. ; Friedberg, Jeffrey D. ; Nishimoto, Peter L.

Author_Institution

Digital Equipment Corp., Marlboro, MA, USA

Volume

9

Issue

4

fYear

1989

fDate

7/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

14

Lastpage

26

Abstract

A description is given of PEX, an extension to the X Window System that is designed to efficiently support PHIGS and much of the functionality in the proposed PHIGS+extension to PHIGS PEX (PHIGS, PHIGS+, and Extensions to X) allows each window on the display to act as a complete, independent, virtual 3D graphics workstation. The overall architecture of PEX is examined, with emphasis on how it fits into the network environment of X. The history of the PEX effort and the problems that motivated it are discussed. The major features of PEX are presented, and the tradeoffs that were evaluated during the design process are examined. The remaining open issues and their current status are described.<>

Keywords

computer graphics; computer networks; multiprogramming; software packages; user interfaces; PEX; PHIGS; PHIGS+extension; X Window System; design process; history; network environment; network-transparent 3D graphics system; overall architecture; virtual 3D graphics workstation; Computer industry; Computer networks; Graphics; History; Image generation; Libraries; Petroleum; Process design; Testing; Workstations;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer Graphics and Applications, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1716

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/38.31460

Filename

31460