Method and apparatus for exchanging data between transactional and non-transactional input/output systems in a multi-processing, shared memory environment

A method for exchanging data elements between a transactional input/output (IO) system and a non-transactional IO system, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a queue that includes a plurality of memory slots;
• implementing a write pointer function to successively designate memory slots of said queue to permit a process of either one of the transactional system and the non-transactional system to access the memory slots for enqueuing data elements thereto;
• implementing a read pointer function to successively designate memory slots of said queue to permit a process of either one of the transactional system and the non-transactional system to access the memory slots for dequeuing and processing data elements contained therein;
• and
• implementing a control functional block to control:
• a) ownership of each one of said read and write pointers by a process of either one of the transactional system and the non-transactional system;
• b) ownership of a memory slot of said queue by a process of either one of the transactional system and the non-transactional system;
• permitting a controllable exchange of data elements between the transactional system and the non-transactional system.