Method and system for simulated multi-tasking

A computer-implemented method for transparently switching between servicing first and second external interface units to simulate multi-tasking, the method comprising the steps of:

• servicing the first external interface unit to perform a first partial logic unit of work in a first task;
• suspending said servicing of the first external interface unit after said first partial logic unit of work in said first task has been performed;
• servicing the second interface unit to perform at least one partial logic unit of work in a second task;
• and
• resuming servicing of the first external interface unit to perform a second partial logic unit of work in said second task, whereby said second task are performed in a pseudo-parallel sequence simulating multi-tasking.

A processor for performing multiple tasks in a pseudo-parallel manner to simulate multi-tasking comprising:

• a first external unit servicing means for servicing a first external interface unit to perform a first task;
• a second external unit servicing means for servicing a second external interface unit to perform a second task;
• and
• a simulated multi-task controller for transparently switching processor control between said first and second external unit servicing means;
• wherein said simulated multi-tasking controller switches control from said first external interface unit servicing means to said second interface unit servicing means when a first partial logic unit of work in said first task has been performed and said second external interface unit needs servicing, and
• wherein said simulated multi-tasking controller switches control from said second external interface unit servicing means to said first interface unit servicing means to resume servicing a second partial logic unit of work in said first task.

A simulated multi-tasking apparatus for servicing communication between a processor and multiple external interfaces during continuous operation of an application program, the apparatus comprising:

• a user-interface comprising a plurality of peripheral units;
• a communication interface comprising at least one communication link;
• a user-link servicer comprising a plurality of first program modules for servicing respective peripheral units, at least one of said first program modules having a control switch call inserted after each partial logic unit of work;
• a communication link-servicer comprising second program modules for servicing at least one of in-bound and out-bound communication over said communication link between the processor and said communication interface;
• a simulated multi-task controller for transparently switching processor control between said user-link servicer and said communication link servicer, wherein said simulated multi-tasking controller switches control from said user-linker servicer to said communication link servicer when said user-interface servicer reads a control switch call after a first partial logic unit of work in a first task of a corresponding first program module being executed and switches control from said communication link-servicer back to said user-interface servicer to resume said first task after at least one partial logical unit of work in a second task of a corresponding second program module has been executed by said communication link servicer.

A computer-implemented method for switching control of a processor between multiple computer tasks to simulate multi-tasking, the method comprising the steps of:

• switching control of a processor to execute a first module for performing a first task;
• executing said first module in said processor;
• suspending said executing of said first computer module after a first partial logic unit of work in said first task has been performed;
• switching control of the processor from executing said first module to execute a second for performing a second task;
• executing said second module in said processor;
• and
• switching control of the processor from executing said second module to resume executing said first module when at least one partial logic unit of work has been performed toward said second task, whereby the first and second tasks are performed in a pseudo-parallel sequence to simulate multi-tasking.

A simulated multi-tasking processor comprising:

• a processor for executing first and second computer program modules implementing respective first and second tasks;
• and
• a simulated multi-tasking controller for switching control of said processor between executing said first and second computer program modules,
• wherein said simulated multi-task controller suspends execution of said first computer program module after a first partial logic unit of work in said first task has been performed, switches control of said processor from executing said first computer program module to execute said second computer program module, switches control of said the processor from executing said second computer program module to resume executing said first computer program module when at least one partial logic unit of work has been performed toward said second task, whereby the first and second tasks are performed in a pseudo-parallel sequence to simulate multi-tasking.