Facilitating communications port sharing

• US 6,560,660 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Flanagin, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US09/496,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8-19, 710/36-39, 710/48-50, 710/61, 709/238, 744/43, 744/48, 717/109
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/522 Manager
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/526 Mutual exclusion algorithms

Abstract

An application program is configured to communicate with a particular type of peripheral through a computer serial port. During times when no device is connected, the application program monitors the serial port to detect when a new device is connected. The application program then determines whether the peripheral of the type with which the application program is designed to communicate. If it is not, the application program displays a prompt, offering to relinquish the serial port for use by another program.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a serial communications port;

an operating system that grants exclusive control of the serial communications port to requesting application programs;

an application program configured to request exclusive control of the communications port from the operating system, for communications with a particular type of peripheral device;

wherein the application program monitors the serial communications port to detect connection of peripheral devices;

wherein upon detecting connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type, the application program prompts the user with an offer to relinquish exclusive control of the serial communications port so that the serial communications port can be used by other application programs.

2. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program identifies itself upon detecting connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type.

3. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program detects connection of peripheral devices by receiving notifications from the operating system upon connection of peripheral devices.

4. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program identifies a peripheral device of the particular type by detecting reception of a predefined character string via the serial communications port.

5. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program offers to free the communications port by displaying a message to the user.

6. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program, upon initiation after relinquishing exclusive control of the serial communications port, prompts a user to determine whether to again request exclusive control of the serial communications port.

7. A computer system comprising:

a communications port;

an application program configured to obtain exclusive control of the communications port for communications with a particular type of peripheral device;

a port monitor that detects when a peripheral device not of the particular type is connected to the communications port, and in response offers to free the communications port from exclusive control by the application program.

8. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the port monitor is part of the application program.

9. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the communications port is a serial port having a CD signal, and the port monitor monitors the CD signal to detect connection of a peripheral device.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the port monitor identifies a peripheral device of the particular type by detecting reception of a predefined character string.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the port monitor offers to free the communications port by prompting a user.

12. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the port monitor offers to free the communications port by displaying a message to a user.

13. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the port monitor identifies the application program when offering to free the communications port.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the application program, upon initiation after freeing the communications port from exclusive control, prompts a user to determine whether to again obtain exclusive control of the serial communications port.

15. A computer-readable storage medium containing an application program comprising:

obtaining exclusive control of a communications port for communications with a particular type of peripheral device;

monitoring to detect connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type to the communications port;

in response to detecting connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type to the communications port, prompting a user with an offer to free the communications port from exclusive control by the application program.

16. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein said obtaining comprises requesting control of the communications port from an operating system.

17. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein the communications port is a serial port having a CD signal, and said monitoring comprises monitoring the CD signal to detect connection of a peripheral device.

18. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein said monitoring comprises identifying a peripheral device of the particular type by detecting reception of a predefined character string.

19. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

upon initiation of the application program after freeing the communications port from exclusive control by the application program, prompting a user to determine whether to again obtain exclusive control of the communications port.

20. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein said prompting comprises displaying a message to the user.

21. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 15, wherein said prompting comprises identifying the application program.

22. A method of using a serial port, comprising:

requesting exclusive control of the serial port from an operating system, for communications with a peripheral device of a particular type;

monitoring to detect connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type to the serial port;

in response to detecting connection of a peripheral device not of the particular type to the serial port, prompting a user with an offer to relinquish exclusive control of the serial port;

relinquishing exclusive control of the serial port in response to the user indicating acceptance of the offer.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the communications port is a serial port having a CD signal, and said monitoring comprises monitoring the CD signal to detect connection of a peripheral device.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said monitoring comprises identifying a peripheral device of the particular type by detecting reception of a predefined character string.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said prompting comprises displaying a message to the user.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said prompting comprises identifying the application program.