Method and apparatus for supporting real mode card services clients with a protected mode card services implementation
First Claim
1. In a computer system, operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, and comprising a PCMCIA adapter, a method of providing Card Services functions to at least one Card Service client, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing said computer system in said real mode;
loading a Card Services compatibility driver into said computer system;
simulating a real mode Card Services environment, using said Card Services compatibility driver, wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only the Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information;
placing said computer system in said protected mode;
loading a protected mode Card Services implementation into said computer system;
transferring said state information from said Card Services compatibility driver to said protected mode Card Services implementation; and
transferring control of Card Services function requests to said protected mode Card Services implementation such that said protected mode Card Services implementation services Card Services function requests.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
PCMCIA defines a standard interface for small portable computer peripherals. Part of the PCMCIA specification defines a Card Services software layer. The current PCMCIA specification defines a Card Services layer that provides Card Services to clients that wish to use PCMCIA cards. A Card Services Compatibility Driver is defined that ensures compatibility with real mode clients. The Card Services Compatibility Driver is a device driver or TSR that loads near the beginning of the computer system boot procedure. The Card Services Compatibility Driver simulates a full implementation of Card Services by supporting only the functions that are legal when no cards are installed in the system even though cards may be installed in the system. Later, a full protected mode implementation of Card Services is loaded into the system. The Card Services Compatibility Driver transfers all the state information it collects during the computer system boot procedure to the full protected mode implementation of Card Services. After receiving this information, the full protected mode implementation of Card Services takes control and services all later Card Services requests. The full protected mode implementation of Card Services also informs the registered Card Services clients of any cards inserted in the system by making card insertion callbacks.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a computer system, operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, and comprising a PCMCIA adapter, a method of providing Card Services functions to at least one Card Service client, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing said computer system in said real mode; loading a Card Services compatibility driver into said computer system;
simulating a real mode Card Services environment, using said Card Services compatibility driver, wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only the Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information;placing said computer system in said protected mode; loading a protected mode Card Services implementation into said computer system; transferring said state information from said Card Services compatibility driver to said protected mode Card Services implementation; and transferring control of Card Services function requests to said protected mode Card Services implementation such that said protected mode Card Services implementation services Card Services function requests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, said computer system comprising the elements of:
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a PCMCIA adapter; a Card Services compatibility driver, said Card Services compatibility driver loaded into said computer system during a real mode boot stage, said Card Services compatibility driver simulating a real mode Card Services environment wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information; and a protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation loaded into said computer system when said computer system is placed in said protected mode and after said Card Services compatibility driver is loaded, said Card Services compatibility driver transferring said state information to said protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation servicing Card Services function requests after said state information is transferred. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification