Transparent communication with multiple devices over a single serial or parallel port of a computer
First Claim
1. A method for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer through one or more physical I/O ports, said method comprising the steps of:
- reading the configuration of the one or more physical I/O ports of the computer running the one or more applications;
defining logical I/O ports to the computer based upon the number of the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said number determined by said reading of the configuration of the one or more physical I/O ports; and
communicating the data between the one or more applications and the one or more peripheral devices through said logical I/O ports and the one or more physical I/O ports using an envelope attached to the data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices coupled to a computer and one or more applications running on the computer in an interleaved fashion. The configuration of a physical port of the computer is read to determine what peripheral devices are attached to the computer. The communication between the applications and the physical port is controlled using an envelope attached to the data being transmitted between the applications and the peripheral devices.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer through one or more physical I/O ports, said method comprising the steps of:
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reading the configuration of the one or more physical I/O ports of the computer running the one or more applications; defining logical I/O ports to the computer based upon the number of the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said number determined by said reading of the configuration of the one or more physical I/O ports; and communicating the data between the one or more applications and the one or more peripheral devices through said logical I/O ports and the one or more physical I/O ports using an envelope attached to the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said apparatus comprising:
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an internal messaging component for controlling said communication between said one or more applications and said one or more peripheral devices using an envelope attached to said data being communicated; a memory manager for supporting and mediating sharing of memory by said one or more applications communicating with said one or more peripheral devices when said internal messaging component is controlling said communication; and an operating system coupled to said memory manager and said internal messaging component, said operating system running on said computer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said apparatus comprising:
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means for controlling communication between said one or more applications and said one or more peripheral devices using an envelope attached to said data; and means for supporting and mediating sharing of memory by said one or more applications communicating with said one or more peripheral devices while said means for controlling communication is active. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer system for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said system comprising:
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an internal messaging component for controlling said communication between said one or more applications and said one or more peripheral devices using an envelope attached to said data being communicated; a memory manager for supporting and mediating sharing of memory by said one or more applications communicating with said one or more peripheral devices when said internal messaging component is controlling said communication; an operating system coupled to said memory manager and said internal messaging component, said operating system running on the computer; and a processor for running said operating system. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer system for allowing communication of data between one or more peripheral devices and one or more applications running on a computer, the one or more peripheral devices being coupled to the computer, said system comprising:
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means for controlling communication between said one or more applications and said one or more peripheral devices using an envelope attached to said data; and means for supporting and mediating sharing of memory by said one or more applications communicating with said one or more peripheral devices while said means for controlling communication is active. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification