Method and apparatus for a numerical control system for processing multiple job streams

A computer-implemented system to facilitate multiple job streams in a numerically controlled machine, comprising:

• a first module for performing a set of first operations corresponding to a first job stream;
• a second module for performing a set of second operations corresponding to said first job stream;
• a third module for performing a set of third operations corresponding to a second job stream;
• messenger module communicating with said first, second and third modules that implements a pointer architecture that includes a vertical data system to facilitate communication between operations in the same job stream and a horizontal data system to facilitate communication between operations in different job streams;
• a shared memory accessible to said first, second and third modules and said messenger module;
• said messenger module defining in said shared memory a vertical data structure associated with said vertical data system and a horizontal data structure associated with said horizontal data system;
• and
• said first, second and third modules communicating with said messenger module through said shared memory:
• (a) using said vertical data system to point from operations in a common job stream to a first common shared memory location in said vertical data structure;
• and
• (b) using said horizontal data system to point from operations in different job streams to a second common shared memory location in said horizontal data structure.

A computer-implemented method of facilitating multiple job streams in a numerically controlled machine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first module for performing a set of first operations corresponding to a first job stream;
• providing a second module for performing a set of second operations corresponding to said first job stream;
• providing a third module for performing a set of third operations corresponding to a second job stream;
• implementing a pointer architecture that includes a vertical data system to facilitate communication between operations in the same job stream and a horizontal data system to facilitate communication between operations in different job streams;
• communicating through a shared memory accessible to said first, second and third modules, said shared memory having a vertical data structure associated with said vertical data system and a horizontal data structure associated with said horizontal data system, whereby said first, second and third modules communicate by:
• (a) using said vertical data system to point operations in a common job stream to a first common shared memory location in said vertical data structure;
• and
• (b) using said horizontal data system to point operations in a different job streams to a second common shared memory location in said horizontal data structure.