Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-29
2001-04-10
Shin, Christopher B. (Department: 2782)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
C710S120000, C710S240000, C710S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216176
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control unit used in a data processing device. The control unit controls an input/output port that the data processing unit uses to communicate with an external device. The present invention also relates to a method for switching input/output ports and to a storage medium storing a program for switching the input/output port.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been developed a variety of softwares for use in a data processing device. The data processing device includes a memory for storing the variety of softwares and an input/output ports for enabling the softwares to communicate with external devices, such as a printer and a scanner. Examples of the software include application softwares for executing processes using a screen and software drivers for driving the external devices via the input/output ports. Usually, the software drivers are individually installed on an operation system of the data processing device. Some of the softwares are designed to exclusively use only a certain designated input/output port. For example, only a printer driver for driving a printer is allowed to use a designated input/output port LPT
1
, for example. In this case, no other software can use the input/output port LPT
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is conceivable that the operation system be designed to command the printer driver to allow other softwares to use the input/output port LPT
1
.
However, improved external devices have been developed in recent years. When these different kinds of newly developed external devices are connected to a conventional data processing device, the operation system of the data processing device may not have information on the new external device. For example, a printer having both a printer function and a scanner function has been developed. When this kind of printer is connected to the input/output port LPT
1
of the data processing device, then in terms of function, both a printer and a scanner are concurrently connected to the input/output port LPT
1
. In this case, in order to utilize both the scanner and printer functions of the printer, both a scanner driver and a printer driver need to use the input/output port LPT
1
to communicate with the printer. However, as described above, the printer driver has the exclusive right to use the input/output port LPT
1
, and also the operation system does not anticipate to command the printer driver to pass the right to the scanner driver. Without the scanner driver being allowed to use the input/output port LPT
1
, the scanner function of the printer can never be used. The same problems arise for any other external devices or softwares not recognized by the operation system.
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems, and to provide a system that allows an input/output port to be used by softwares of the type not anticipated by an operation system.
In order to achieve the above and other objectives, there is provided a data transmission device including a first memory, a first input/output port, detecting means, and pending means. The first memory stores a plurality of softwares. The first input/output port is connectable to an external device. At least one of the plurality of softwares is designated to use the first input/output port to communicate with the external device via the first input/output port. The detecting means is provided for detecting the at least one of the plurality of softwares which is designated to use the first input/output port. The pending means sets the at least one of the plurality of softwares detected by the detecting means into a pending condition.
There is also provided a data transmission device including a first memory, a second memory, an input/output port, and detecting means. The first memory stores a first software and a second software. The second memory stores data. The input/output port is connectable with an external device. The first software and the second software are communicable with the external device via the input/output port. The detecting means detects whether or not the first software is presently using the input/output port to communicate with the external device. The second software transmits data to the external device via the input/output port when the first software is not presently using the input/output port. On the other hand, the second software transmits data to the second memory to store the data into the second memory when the first software is presently using the input/output port.
Further, there is provided a method of controlling a use of an input/output port by a plurality of softwares. The method includes the steps of a) detecting at least one of a plurality of softwares stored in a first memory, the at least one of the plurality of softwares being designated to use a first input/output port to communicate with the external device via first the input/output port, and b) setting the at least one of the plurality of softwares detected in step a) into a pending condition.
There is also provided a method of controlling a use of an input/output port by a plurality of softwares. The method includes the steps of a) detecting whether or not a first software is presently using an input/output port to communicate with an external device, b) controlling a second software to communicate with the external device via the input/output port when it is detected in the step a) that the first software is not presently using the input/output, and c) controlling the second software to transmit data to a memory so that the data is stored in the memory when it is detected in the step a) that the first software is presently using the input/output port.
Further, there is provided a storage medium storing a program of controlling a use of an input/output port by a plurality of softwares, the program including a program of detecting at least one of a plurality of softwares stored in a first memory, the at least one of the plurality of softwares being designated to use a first input/output port to communicate with the external device via the first input/output port, and a program of setting the at least one of the plurality of softwares into a pending condition.
There is also provided a storage medium storing a program of controlling a use of an input/output port by a plurality of softwares. The program including a program of detecting whether or not a first software is presently using an input/output port to communicate with an external device, a program of controlling a second software to communicate with the external device via the input/output port when it is detected that the first software is not presently communicating with the external device via the input/output port, and a program of controlling the second software to transmit data to a memory so that the data is stored in the memory when it is detected that the first software is presently using the input/output port to communicate with the external device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5418891 (1995-05-01), Yang
patent: 5532825 (1996-07-01), Lim et al.
patent: 5532844 (1996-07-01), Kagami et al.
patent: 5819112 (1998-10-01), Kusters
patent: 5982614 (1999-11-01), Reid
patent: 6002508 (1999-12-01), Mai
patent: 6134608 (2000-10-01), Jacober et al.
patent: 0641114A1 (1995-01-01), None
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Shin Christopher B.
LandOfFree
Method of passing right to use input/output port between... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of passing right to use input/output port between..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of passing right to use input/output port between... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467920