Device management using virtual interfaces

A computer system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor, in communications with the memory, wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method comprising:
• opening and controlling, by an executing component, a physical interface of the computer system, the physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and a plurality of applications executing on the computer system, the plurality of applications comprising a first application and a second application;
• exposing, in the computer system, by the component, a first virtual interface and a second virtual interface, separate from the first virtual interface, to an operating system of the computer system, wherein the operating system exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the first application and the second application, the first virtual interface for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface via the component, and the second virtual interface for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface via the component;
• and
• managing data communication, by the component, between the peripheral device and the first application, and between the peripheral device and the second application, wherein the peripheral device comprises an encoded information reading terminal comprising an encoded information reading device configured to output a decoded message, wherein the first application comprises a line of business application for receiving the decoded message from the encoded information reading terminal, and wherein the second application comprises a management application for managing the encoded information reading terminal.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
• opening and controlling, by an executing component, a physical interface of a host computer system, the physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and a plurality of applications executing on the host computer system, the plurality of applications comprising a first application and a second application;
• exposing, in the host computer system, by the component, a first virtual interface and a second virtual interface, separate from the first virtual interface, to an operating system of the host computer system, wherein the operating system exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the first application and the second application, the first virtual interface for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface via the component, and the second virtual interface for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface via the component;
• and
• managing data communication, by the component, between the peripheral device and the first application, and between the peripheral device and the second application, wherein the peripheral device comprises an encoded information reading terminal comprising an encoded information reading device configured to output a decoded message, wherein the first application comprises a line of business application for receiving the decoded message from the encoded information reading terminal, and wherein the second application comprises a management application for managing the encoded information reading terminal.