An Application of Number Theory to the Organization of Raster-Graphics Memory.
Abstract
A high-resolution raster-graphics display is usually combined with processing power and a memory organization that facilitates basic graphics operations. For many applications, including interactive text processing, the ability to quickly move or copy small rectangles of pixels is essential. This paper proposes a novel organization of raster-graphics memory that permits all small rectangles to be moved efficiently. The memory organization is based on a doubly periodic assignment of pixels to M memory chips according to a Fibonacci lattice. The memory organization guarantees that if a rectilinearly oriented rectangle contains fewer than M/square root of 5 pixels, then all pixels will reside in different memory chips, and thus can be accessed simultaneously. The authors also define a continuous analogue of the problem which can be posed as, 'What is the maximum density of a set of points in the plane such that no two points are contained in the interior of a rectilinearly oriented rectangle of unit area.' They show the existence of such a set with density 1/square root of 5, and prove this is optimal by giving a matching upper bound.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA140638
Entities
People
- B. Chor
- C. Leiserson
- J. Shearer
- R. Rivest
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology