Dynamic programmable mode switching device driver architecture

A device driver for use in conjunction with an operating system of a computer system for providing an operating interface to a programmable controller, said device driver comprising:

• a) a first interface module, coupleable to an operating system, providing entry point support for a predetermined API call to initiate a mode set operation;
• b) a second interface module, coupleable to said operating system, providing entry point support for a predetermined operating system call to read system configuration data;
• c) a third interface module, coupleable to said programmable controller, providing entry point support for a predetermined hardware interface register programming routine;
• and
• d) a library module coupleable to said first, second and third interface modules, said library module being responsive to a call issued from said first interface module upon the receipt of said predetermined API call by said first interface module, said library module providing a call to said second interface module to initiate said predetermined operating system call to read predetermined system configuration data corresponding to said operating mode set data, said library module including a parser for generating register programming data by execution of predetermined instructions provided in said predetermined system configuration data, said register programming data being provided to said predetermined hardware interface register programming routine of said third interface module.

A process of performing a mode set of the operating state of a programmable controller coupled to a computer system, wherein an operating state is defined by a set of configurable operational features of said programmable controller, said programmable controller presenting a register interface to said computer system, wherein a device driver is executable by said computer system with respect to a mode switch call, and wherein an operating system executed by said computer system provides said mode switch call including predetermined data defining predetermined characteristics of an operating mode of said programmable controller, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) determining, in execution of said device driver in response to said mode switch call, to perform a mode set of said programmable controller;
• b) determining, in execution of said device driver based on said predetermined data, a target mode for said mode set;
• c) obtaining, through the execution of said device driver by which system calls are issued to said operating system, predetermined configuration data corresponding to said target mode;
• d) parsing, through the execution of said device driver, said predetermined configuration data to identify and execute a plurality of instructions included within said predetermined configuration data, the execution of said plurality of instructions providing register programming data appropriate to perform said mode set of said programmable controller to said target mode;
• and
• e) providing said register programming data to said register interface.

A device driver coupleable to an operating system and executable by a host computer, said operating system providing system calls to the device driver to modify the operating state of a programmable peripheral controller which is coupleable to said host computer, said operating system providing for the controlled execution of programs within respective operating system contexts, said device driver comprising:

• a) a first module provided to manage first and second sets of data respectively supporting first and second operating modes of said programmable peripheral controller, said first module selectively creating first and second device driver contexts within a predetermined operating system context, wherein said first module provides for the establishment of said first and second sets of data respectively within said first and second device driver contexts in connection with the selective creation of said first and second device driver contexts, and wherein said first module relies on a currently selected one of said first and second device driver contexts to manage said programmable peripheral controller within a corresponding one of said first and second operating modes;
• and
• b) a second module providing an interface to said operating system to receive said system calls, said second module being coupled to said first module to direct the selection of either of said first and second operating modes, wherein said second module determines the selection of said currently selected one of said first and second operating modes in response to the receipt of a predetermined system call by said interface.