Method for asynchronous application communication

• US 5,327,558 A
• Filed: 04/30/1992
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chaffee, Janice M., Nir, Erez, Burke, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/876,889
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 395/650, 395/275, 395/725
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

In a general-purpose subscriber unit a data communication method provides management and control functions to allow communication between one of a plurality of software applications and a selected communication device, such as a radio frequency modem. Messages received by the modem may be routed and stored for designated ones of said applications, even if they are not currently active. Likewise, an application operating in background mode may generate messages which are stored, routed, and transmitted through the modem.

Claims

1. In a data processing system comprising a processor, a modem, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications, at least one of which is not currently executing, and for storing a session manager for enabling a plurality of communications channels through said modem, a method for routing and delivering data messages to any of said applications, independent of user involvement, said method comprising:

a) receiving a data message from said modem by said session manager, said data message being addressed to said at least one application;

b) storing said message in said memory; and

c) routing said message to said at least one application upon request,

whereby messages may be received and routed asynchronously to inactive applications.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein in step c) said message is automatically routed to said application.

3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said modem is a radio frequency modem.

4. In a data processing system comprising a processor, a radio frequency modem, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications, at least one of which is not currently executing, and for storing a computer program, said computer program comprising:

a predetermined library of commands common to all of said applications, said commands being used to control communication between said applications and said modem;

a session manager for executing said commands and for controlling said modem; and

a plurality of queues for storing data messages, at least one queue being allocated to each of said applications;

a method for storing and routing data messages to any of said applications, independent of user involvement, comprising the steps of;

a) receiving a data message from said modem by said session manager, said data message being addressed to said at least one application;

b) storing said message in one of said queues; and

c) routing said message to said at least one application upon execution of a command to do so,

whereby messages may be received and routed asynchronously to inactive applications.

5. The method recited in claim 4 wherein in step c) said message is automatically routed to said application in response to a command to do so by said application.

7. The method recited in claim 4 wherein said modem is a radio frequency modem.

6. In a data processing system comprising a processor, a modem, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications, at least one of which is not currently executing, and for storing a session manager for enabling a plurality of communications channels through said modem, a method for transmitting data messages from any of said applications, independent of user involvement, said method comprising:

a) generating a data message by said at least one application;

b) receiving said data message from said at least one application by said session manager;

c) storing said message in said memory; and

d) routing said message to said modem;

whereby messages may be generated, routed, and transmitted asynchronously from inactive applications.

8. In a data processing system comprising a processor, a radio frequency modem, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications, at least one of which is not currently executing, and for storing a computer program, said computer program comprising:

a predetermined library of commands common to all of said applications, said commands being used to control communication between said applications and said modem;

a session manager for executing said commands and for controlling said modem; and

a plurality of queues for storing data messages, at least one queue being allocated to each of said applications;

a method for storing and routing data messages from any of said applications to said modem, independent of user involvement, comprising the steps of;

a) generating a data message by said at least one application to said session manager, said data message being addressed to said modem;

b) storing said message in one of said queues; and

c) routing said message to said modem upon execution of a command to do so,

whereby messages may be generated, routed, and transmitted asynchronously from inactive applications.

9. The method recited in claim 8 wherein in step c) said message is automatically routed from said queue in response to a command to do so by said application.