Asynchronous or synchronous operation of event signaller by event management services in a computer system
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- means for receiving and storing definitions of different types of events, each of said definitions specifying a mode of operating a signaller of the event while the event is being handled, the operating modes including a synchronous mode in which the event signaller suspends processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode in which the event signaller continues processing while the event is handled; and
event manager means, coupled to the event signallers and storing means, for receiving event signals for the events, and advising the event signaller of each event whether to proceed synchronously or asynchronously according to the corresponding event definition.
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Abstract
A computer operating system manages events defined by an application program or another part of the operating system. Each event definition includes one or more attributes of the event which controls some operating system responses to an occurrence of the event. After an occurrence of a defined event, an application program or another part of the operating system signals an event manager. The event manager reads the corresponding event definition to determine a mode of operating the signaller of the event or a process associated with the event signaller. The operating modes include a synchronous mode whereby the event signaller or the associated process should suspend processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode whereby the event signaller or associated processor can continue processing while the event is being handled. After reading the event definition, the event manager advises the event signaller whether to proceed synchronously or asynchonously. After the event is handled, a suspended event signaller is restarted. The event definition can be updated dynamically.
109 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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means for receiving and storing definitions of different types of events, each of said definitions specifying a mode of operating a signaller of the event while the event is being handled, the operating modes including a synchronous mode in which the event signaller suspends processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode in which the event signaller continues processing while the event is handled; and event manager means, coupled to the event signallers and storing means, for receiving event signals for the events, and advising the event signaller of each event whether to proceed synchronously or asynchronously according to the corresponding event definition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for managing an event in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving and storing a definition of an event, said definition specifying a mode of operating a signaller of the event while the event is being handled, the operating modes including a synchronous mode in which the event signaller suspends processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode in which the event signaller continues processing while the event is handled; receiving a signal of the event; and
advising the event signaller of the event whether to proceed synchronously or asynchronously according to the respective event definition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer system comprising:
means for receiving and storing definitions of different types of events, each of said definitions specifying a mode of operating a signaller of the event while the event is being handled, the operating modes including a synchronous mode in which the event signaller suspends processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode in which the event signaller continues processing while the event is handled; and
event manager means, coupled to the event signallers and storing means, for receiving event signals for the events, and advising the event signaller of each event whether to proceed synchronously or asynchronously according to the corresponding event definition; andwherein the receiving means includes means for receiving, from a program, changes to the specified mode of operating the signaller in the event definition after one or more of said events have occurred and the event manager means has advised the corresponding event signaller in accordance with the original definition, and dynamically updating the event definition according to the changed definition such that for subsequent occurrences of the event, the event manager means advises said event signaller in accordance with the changed definition.
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19. A method for managing an event in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving and storing a definition of an event, said definition specifying mode of operating a signaller of the event while the event is being handled, the operating modes including a synchronous mode in which the event signaller suspends processing until the event is handled, and an asynchronous mode in which the event signaller continues processing while the event is handled; receiving a signal of the event; advising the event signaller of the event whether to proceed synchronously or asynchronously according to the respective event definition; and after the steps of receiving the event signal and advising the event signaller, changing the specification in the event definition for the mode of operating the signaller of the event while the event is being handled. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification