Hybrid resource manager
First Claim
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1. A method for facilitating management of hardware resources used by a computing system, comprising:
- accepting a resource acquisition request from a resource consumer through a multifunction API, to access any individual function performed by a multifunction hardware device, wherein the multifunction API is configured to facilitate (i) device enumeration of functions performed by the multifunction hardware device and (ii) device acquisition for authentication and verification purposes and (iii) locking of the multifunction hardware device after acquisition thereof;
communicating with a device driver associated with the multifunction hardware device and dedicated to the requested individual function; and
responsive to communication with the device driver, acquiring the multifunction hardware device to allow access to the multifunction hardware device in accordance with the resource acquisition request.
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Abstract
A hybrid resource manager is provided for use in a computing environment. The hybrid resource manager serves as the single resource manager that cooperates with an operating system to manage each of the individual device drivers associated with the various functions of a multifunction hardware device. In one example the hybrid resource manager implements a consistent management and policy framework to prevent conflicts from arising when multiple functions are simultaneously requested by various applications.
20 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating management of hardware resources used by a computing system, comprising:
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accepting a resource acquisition request from a resource consumer through a multifunction API, to access any individual function performed by a multifunction hardware device, wherein the multifunction API is configured to facilitate (i) device enumeration of functions performed by the multifunction hardware device and (ii) device acquisition for authentication and verification purposes and (iii) locking of the multifunction hardware device after acquisition thereof; communicating with a device driver associated with the multifunction hardware device and dedicated to the requested individual function; and responsive to communication with the device driver, acquiring the multifunction hardware device to allow access to the multifunction hardware device in accordance with the resource acquisition request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for managing hardware resources used by a computing device, comprising:
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a multifunction hardware device; a public interface accepting consumer function calls from resource consumers for each function performed by the multifunction hardware device; a hybrid resource manager for allocating different functional resources of the multifunction hardware device in response to the consumer function calls by managing different device drivers dedicated to each of the functions performed by the multifunction hardware device; a plurality of device handlers for implementing communication protocols between the hybrid resource manager and the device drivers, wherein each of the device handlers is dedicated to a different functional resource of the multifunction hardware device; and a policy module for establishing at least one predetermined policy to be implemented by the hybrid resource manager to allow acquisition of the multifunction hardware device to allow access to the multifunction hardware device in accordance with the consumer function calls. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when performed by one or more processors disposed in an electronic device, implement an operating system having a resource manager performing a method comprising:
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accepting a resource acquisition request for access to any individual function performed by a multifunction hardware device; using one of a plurality of device handlers to implement communication protocols between a hybrid resource manager and device drivers, wherein each of the device handlers is dedicated to a different functional resource of the multifunction hardware resource, and the device handler used is the one that corresponds to a device driver dedicated to the individual function performed by the requested multifunction hardware device; communicating with the device driver associated with the multifunction hardware device and dedicated to the requested individual function; and responsive to communication with the device driver, acquiring the multifunction hardware device to allow access to the multifunction hardware device in accordance with the resource acquisition request. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification