System for multiple co-existing operating system personalities on a microkernel

A system for concurrently executing multiple cooperating operating systems in a computer system executing a plurality of processes, the system comprising:

• means for performing basic kernel services for a plurality of operating system personalities and including at least interprocess communication;
• dominant personality means for controlling system operation and providing operating system services according to a first operating system protocol;
• application interface means for receiving a request for operating system services from an application program;
• secondary personality means for providing operating systems services according an operating system protocol different from said first operating system protocol, said secondary personality means cooperating with said dominant personality means to obtain one or more physical system services, said secondary personality means operating in response to said request for operating system services;
• and
• interface means for linking for interprocess communication said dominant personality means, said application interface means, and said secondary personality means to said means for performing basic kernel services, and to each other through said means for performing basic kernel services.

A computer program product for use with a computer system, said computer program product comprising:

• computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing concurrent execution of multiple operating systems, said computer program product having:
• computer readable program code means for causing said computer system to perform basic kernel services for a plurality of operating system personalities and including at least interprocess communication;
• computer readable program code dominant personality means for causing said computer system to provide operating system services according to a first operating system protocol;
• computer readable program code application interface means for causing said computer system to receive requests for operating system services from one or more application programs;
• computer readable program code secondary personality means for causing said computer system to provide operating systems services according one or more operating system protocols different from said first operating system protocol said secondary personality means cooperating with said dominant personality means to obtain one or more physical system operation services, said secondary personality means being responsive to said requests for operating system services;
• and
• computer readable program code interface means for causing said computer system to link for interprocess communication said operating system services according to a first operating system protocol, said application programs, said operating system services according to said one or more operating system protocols different from said first operating system protocol to said basic kernel services, and to each other through said basic kernel services.