Inter-program communication and scheduling method for personal computers
AssigneeNetwork Systems Corporation
InventorAnthony R. Beltran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control program for IBM compatible microprocessors utilizing the MSDOS operating system provides the ability for a plurality of application programs to pass information amongst themselves and to a KERNEL program whereby the KERNEL may spawn applications according to the contents of its message buffers, thereby enhancing the MSDOS environment without the usually encountered conflicts associated with inter-programmed communication schemes.
Claims7
In a microcomputer of the IBM compatible type incorporating a random access memory for storing an MSDOS type disk operating system, a plurality of serial communication ports and a real-time clock for generating real-time interrupts, apparatus for extending and enhancing the operating environment of subordinate application programs, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a public buffer of fixed capacity resident in said random access memory for storing inter-program messages and data indicative of a conditionally specified execution sequence for asynchronous communication with a kernel program;
- (b) a private buffer of fixed capacity resident in said random access memory for storing data (execution thread) indicative of a conditionally specified application program execution sequence for asynchronous communication between application programs;
- (c) a first controlling means (Holder program) for controlling the transfer of data to and from said public buffer according to a first predetermined command protocol, said first controlling means further controlling the transfer of data to and from said private buffer according to a second predetermined command protocol;
- and
- (d) a second controlling means (Kernel program) for controlling the execution of a plurality of distinct and subordinate application programs in a serial sequence according to the data stored in said private buffer, said subordinate application programs communicating asynchronously via said inter-program messages stored in said public buffer.
A method of providing asynchronous inter-program communication for a microcomputer of the IBM compatible type incorporating a random access memory for storing a MSDOS type disk operating system comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing in said microcomputer a control program defining a public and a private buffer, each of a fixed capacity and resident in said random access memory, the public and private buffers storing inter-program messages and data indicative of a conditionally specified execution sequence, respectively;
- (b) controlling the transfer of data to and from said public buffer according to a first predetermined protocol defined by a first subprogram of the control program, said first subprogram further asynchronously controlling the transfer of data to and from said private buffer according to a second predetermined command protocol;
- and
- (c) controlling the sequence of execution of a plurality of distinct and subordinate application programs in a serial order, the distinct and subordinate application programs comprising a second subprogram, the sequence of execution being in accordance with the contents of said private buffer, said distinct and subordinate application programs asynchronously communicating in accordance with the interprogram messages contained in said public buffer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.