Method and apparatus for implementing an application programming interface for a communications bus

An application programming interface for controlling communications on a 1394 communications bus comprising:

• means for determining a number of adapters attached to the 1394 bus;
• means for establishing a link between an application program and one or more of said number of adapters;
• means for allocating buffers to receive or transmit data from or to the 1394 bus;
• means for mapping a memory buffer to a space in a storage means associated with the 1394 bus;
• and
• means for executing said application program by making API command calls to the application programming interface.

A method of controlling communications on a 1394 bus comprising the steps of:

• determining a number of adapters attached to the 1394 bus;
• establishing a link between an application program and one or more of said number of adapters;
• allocating buffers to receive or transmit data from or to the 1394 bus;
• mapping a memory buffer to a space in a storage means associated with the 1394 bus;
• and
• executing said application program.

A system for controlling communications on a communications bus comprising:

• an application program;
• a 1394 communications bus;
• an application programming interface for interfacing the application program to the 1394 bus, the application programming interface controlling communications on the 1394 bus in response to the application program;
• and
• wherein the application programming interface comprises:
• means for initializing and configuring the 1394 bus;
• means, responsive to the application program, for allocating space in a storage means associated with the application program to receive or transmit data from or to the 1394 bus;
• means for controlling transmission and reception of data on the 1394 bus;
• and
• means for resetting and reconfiguring the 1394 bus when a change in device attachment occurs, wherein said means for resetting and reconfiguring includes one or more API commands callable by the application program.

A system for controlling communications on a communications bus comprising:

• an application program;
• a 1394 communications bus;
• an application programming interface for interfacing the application program to the 1394 bus, the application programming interface controlling communications on the 1394 bus in response to the application program;
• and
• wherein the application programming interface comprises:
• means for determining a number of adapters attached to the 1394 bus;
• means for establishing a link between the application program and one or more of the number of adapters;
• means for allocating buffers for data storage and transmission;
• means for mapping a memory buffer to a space in a storage means associated with the 1394 bus;
• and
• means for executing said application program by making API command calls to the application programming interface.