Abstract An application program interface for handling full-screen input/output (I/O) operations of a display device in an information handling system, such as a computer system running one or more application programs in conjunction with an operating system. The application program interface first determines characteristics of the display device in response to a request from an application program prior to performing a full-screen I/O operation, and provides these characteristics to the application program so that the application program can provide a buffer, and if an output is to be performed, construct a valid data stream for the display device. Then the application program interface builds a parameter list in response to a request from an application program to actually perform the full-screen I/O operation. Next, in response to the parameter list, the application program interface generates instructions to process the full-screen I/O operation and coordinate this request with other requests made by other application programs. The application program interface then passes the generated instructions to a control program of the information handling system to perform the desired full-screen I/O operation, and handles any status information resulting from the I/O operation. In this manner, the application program interface provides a means for allowing an application programmer to write an application program without being concerned with low level detail of a full-screen I/O operation, as well as providing a means for coordinating full-screen I/O use of a display device by several application programs in an information handling system, and a means for allowing an application program to be architecture independent with respect to full-screen I/O operation.
A method of providing full-screen input/output operations in an information handling system having a central processing unit controlled by an operating system and having one or more application programs that perform input/output operations to a display device, said method being performed by a console facility communicating between said operating system and said one or more application programs, comprising the steps of: determining characteristics of the display device in response to an inquiry for said characteristics from an application program and providing these characteristics to the application program for use in providing a buffer and, if an output operation is to be performed, construction a data stream for the device; in response to a request from an application program to perform a full screen input/output operation using the buffer and any data stream provided by the application program, building a parameter list; generating instructions to process the request ; passing the generated instructions to the operating system to perform the desired full screen input/output operation; and passing status information resulting from the input/output operation to the application program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of providing full-screen input/output operations in an information handling system having a central processing unit controlled by an operating system and having one or more application programs that perform input/output operations to a display device, said method being performed by a console facility communicating between said operating system and said one or more application programs, comprising the steps of: determining characteristics of the display device in response to an inquiry for said characteristics from an application program and providing these characteristics to the application program for use in providing a buffer and, if an output operation is to be performed, construction a data stream for the device; in response to a request from an application program to perform a full screen input/output operation using the buffer and any data stream provided by the application program, building a parameter list; generating instructions to process the request ; passing the generated instructions to the operating system to perform the desired full screen input/output operation; and passing status information resulting from the input/output operation to the application program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of providing full screen input/output operations as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: determining characteristics of the central processing unit for use in generating instructions to perform full screen input/output operations which are suitable for the central processing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of providing full screen input/output operations as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of determining characteristics of the central processing unit is performed by issuing a request for said characteristics to the operating system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of providing full screen input/output operations as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: determining characteristics of the operating system for use in generating instructions to perform full screen input/output operations which are suitable for the operating system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of providing full screen input/output operations as recited in claim 4 wherein the step of determining characteristics of the operating system is performed by issuing a request for certain characteristics of the central processing unit to the operating system and inferring characteristics of the operating system from said characteristics of the central processing unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of providing full screen input/output operations as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: coordinating the request with other requests made by other application programs by retaining information as to which of said one or more application programs last performed an input/output operation to the display device and generating instructions to erase and reformat the display device as needed.