System and Method for Implementing and/or Operating Network Interface Devices to Achieve Network-Based Communications
First Claim
1. A method of operating at least one network interface device, the method comprising:
- providing a bus driver that is capable of communicating with a first driver program that is installed on a first network interface device of the at least one network interface device;
receiving at the bus driver a first signal relating to an operation of at least one of the first network interface device and a first hardware device coupled to the first network interface device by way of a first network;
sending a second signal from the bus driver to the first driver program in response to the first signal, wherein the second signal sent from the bus driver causes the operation to be performed.
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Abstract
A computer system, and related components including network interface devices, as well as methods for implementing and/or operating network interface devices to achieve network-based communications, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the computer system includes a network interface device, and a bus driver in communication with the network interface device. The bus driver has access to a plurality of driver programs, and the bus driver is capable of causing an installation of one such driver program on the network interface device. Also, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver facilitates communications between multiple network interface devices and an operating system of the computer system, and/or between the network interface devices and user mode applications implementing graphical user interfaces. Further, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver governs operation of the network interface devices, for example, in relation to power management and/or interrupt handling.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of operating at least one network interface device, the method comprising:
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providing a bus driver that is capable of communicating with a first driver program that is installed on a first network interface device of the at least one network interface device; receiving at the bus driver a first signal relating to an operation of at least one of the first network interface device and a first hardware device coupled to the first network interface device by way of a first network; sending a second signal from the bus driver to the first driver program in response to the first signal, wherein the second signal sent from the bus driver causes the operation to be performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating at least one network interface device, the method comprising:
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providing a computer system including the at least one network interface device and a bus driver in communication with at least one driver program installed in relation to the at least one network interface device; determining at the bus driver whether a request has been received that a first of the at least one network interface device perform a first power transition operation; upon determining a receipt of the request, sending a first command from the bus driver to a driver program implemented on the first network interface device, whereby as a result the first network interface device performs the first power transition operation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a network interface device, the method comprising:
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providing a computer system including the network interface device and a bus driver in communication with a driver program installed in relation to the network interface device; receiving at the network interface device an incoming signal arriving from a hardware device via a network by which the network interface device is coupled to the hardware device; sending an interrupt signal from the network interface device to the bus driver; and calling a first interrupt service routine (ISR) at the bus driver, whereby the bus driver in turn causes the network interface device to appropriately respond to the incoming signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A network interface device comprising:
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at least one channel, wherein each respective channel includes a respective processing device and a respective memory device; and at least one port coupled to the at least one channel, the at least one port allowing the at least one channel to be coupled to at least one network, wherein each respective processing device operates at least partly in accordance with a respective driver program implemented thereon, and wherein each respective driver program is configured for operation in relation to a bus driver program that is supported by another processing device other than the respective processing device included within each respective channel.
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28. A computer system comprising the network interface device of claim 28 and further comprising:
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the other processing device on which is supported the bus driver program; at least one additional network interface device, wherein each of the network interface devices are configured for communication with the bus driver program; and means for storing a plurality of driver programs including each respective driver program implemented the at least one channel, wherein the bus driver program is capable of causing implementation of the driver programs onto the network interface devices. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification