Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data routing – Least weight routing
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-12
2001-02-27
Banankhah, Majid (Department: 2755)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data routing
Least weight routing
C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195710
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains in general to data processing systems and more particularly to operating systems and yet more particularly to operating systems having a plurality of operating system personalities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A data processing system is typically controlled by an operating system (“OS”). An OS is software that controls the execution of programs and provides services such as resource allocation, scheduling, input/output control and data management. There are many different types of OSs, including AIX, DOS, and OS/2.
Each type of OS has its own components for directing and managing resources in the data processing system. For example, AIX, DOS, and OS/2 each support character mode applications. Although each OS supports the same character mode features and screen attributes, each OS has a different internal representation of the screen content.
Likewise, each OS has an event queue for accepting input to the data processing system from sources such as a keyboard or mouse. Each OS provides some form of keyboard translation support and varying support for generic input event processing. However, each OS implements its queue and other input invent processing in a different manner.
In prior art data processing systems, the differences between various OSs were not a problem. Each data processing system only used a single OS, and there was no need to reconcile the differences among them.
However, modern data processing systems can simultaneously support multiple OSs. For example, a data processing system using a microkernel based OS can support various OS “personalities.” Each personality is a separate full-fledged version of an OS such as AIX, DOS, or OS/2. Thus, multiple OSs can coexist on a single data processing system and the microkemel OS manages their coexistence.
Due to the differences among the OS personalities, a program in one personality has difficulty accessing resources in another. Specifically, a program attempting to read the contents of a character mode window in a different personality must know how to interpret that personality's internal character window structure. For example, IBM's SCREEN READER program assists visually-impaired persons by speaking the contents of a character mode window. SCREEN READER must have separate program components to read the contents of OS/2, DOS, and AIX character windows. Each component must be programmed separately and increases the size and complexity of SCREEN READER.
A similar problem exists with respect to program input. Each input source, such as a mouse, must have a device driver capable of translating its input into each personality's queue. Implementing this capability adds size and complexity to the device driver.
Thus, there is a need in the art for personality neutral resources that can be accessed by each personality in the data processing system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide personality neutral resources accessible to all personalities operating in a data processing system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide personality neutral logical video buffers that are accessible by all personalities operating in a data processing system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide personality neutral input queues that are accessible by all personalities in a data processing system.
These and other objects are met by a data processing system having shared, distributed personality neutral resources managed by a microkernel based operating system. The microkernel supports multiple personalities and manages common resources accessible to all personalities. The microkemel has a logical video buffer service that manages the creation, deletion, and maintenance of logical video buffers. Each personality uses the logical video buffers to store its character mode screen displays. The service maintains a handle to each logical video buffer that is accessible by all personalities.
The microkernel also has an event window server that creates input queues and provides them to the personalities. The event window server receives all system input and places it into the appropriate personality's queue. The event window server provides APIs allowing personalities to read input queues, remove events from the queues, inject input events into the event window server, and register hot keys.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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Borgendale Kenneth Wayne
Holland Ian Michael
Lawrence Kelvin Roderick
Banankhah Majid
Caldwell P. G.
Dawkins Marilyn S.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Kordzik Kelly K.
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