Method and system for supporting multiple adapters in a personal computer data processing system

A data processing system for providing communication between a plurality of application software and a plurality of devices disposed in a plurality of relative locations through an interface capable of accessing only a single device at a prespecified relative location, wherein said plurality of application software is concurrently executing within said data processing system, said data processing system comprising:

• an interface capable of accessing only a single device at a prespecified relative location;
• means for establishing a device table for each of said plurality application software, wherein each device table includes device parameter information and device address information for each of said plurality of devices at a plurality of relative locations, including said prespecified relative location;
• means for specifying a particular device for use with a selected application software;
• means for overwriting device parameter information and device address information for said single device at said prespecified relative location within said device table established for said selected application software with device parameter information and device address information for said particular device, wherein said device parameter information and said device address information overwritten at said prespecified relative location may be utilized by said interface to provide communication between said selected application software and said particular device;
• and
• means for directing data from said selected application software to said particular device utilizing said device parameter information and device address information stored within said device table for said selected application software.

A data processing system comprising:

• a plurality of devices;
• a plurality of application software concurrently executing within said data processing system, wherein said plurality of application software communicate with a plurality of devices in a plurality of relative locations;
• a interface capable of accessing only a single device at a prespecified relative location;
• means for establishing a device table including device parameter information and device address information for each of said plurality of devices at a number of relative locations, including the prespecified relative location used by said interface;
• means for specifying a particular device for use with a selected application software;
• means for overwriting device parameter information and device address information for said single device at said prespecified relative location with device parameter information and device address information for said particular device in said device table for said selected application software;
• and
• means for directing data from said selected application software to said particular device utilizing said device parameter information and device address information overwritten at said prespecified relative location in said device table for said selected application software, wherein said plurality of application software may communicate with a plurality of devices in a plurality of relative locations utilizing said interface.