Method for colorflash reduction by copying color values between active

Abstract

A method for reducing colorflashing by performing residual color allocation and default colormap sharing in a computer system that employs a default colormap to display color. The residual color allocation technique copies color values from a private colormap into corresponding non-allocated (free) cells within the computer system default colormap. While copying into the free cells in the default colormap the free cells are temporarily set to have an allocated status. After copying, the copied cells are reset to a free status. In this way, other clients may allocate the default map's free cells to perform residual colormap allocation. Since the default colormap's copied cells are the same as corresponding cells in the private map they do not flash when switching color focus between the default colormap and the private colormap. The default colormap sharing technique is employed in the case in which a private colormap does not require a specific set of colors, and can adapt to a given set of colors. Default colormap sharing is performed by copying allocated cell color values from the default colormap to corresponding cell locations within the private colormap. The residual color allocation and default colormap sharing techniques may be implemented when a given client (which uses a private colormap) creates/defines the color values in its corresponding private map. This generally occurs when the client's corresponding application window is opened. The technique of the present invention may be subsequently implemented when clients redefine colors within their corresponding private colormaps.