Rendering context manager for display adapters supporting multiple domains

Claim 2

A peripheral device manager in a multitasking data processing system for executing a plurality of application programs and including at least one peripheral device having a first and a second data input port, comprising: means, in communication with said plurality of application programs and said at least one peripheral device, for providing access to the peripheral device exclusively to a single one of said application programs allowing only said single application program to control operation of the peripheral device by transferring data direct therebetween; means, in communication with said plurality of application programs and said at least one peripheral device, for providing access to said first data input port of the peripheral device to said single application program while providing independent and concurrent access to said second data input port of the peripheral device to a second one of said plurality of application programs such that said single application program and said second application program alternately control operations of the peripheral device by transferring application data directly therebetween; and means, in communication with said plurality of application programs and said at least one peripheral device, for alternately providing separate rendering context information, different from said application data and corresponding to the display attributes of one of said single application program and said second application program, to said peripheral device such that the application data can be directly transferred thereto by a respective one of said single or second application program.

Claim 3

The peripheral device manager according to claim 1 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of application programs, for storing a plurality of contexts where each context is an independent state of said peripheral device defined by one of said application programs.

Claim 4

The peripheral device manager according to claim 2 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of application programs, for storing a plurality of domains where each domain is an independent state of said peripheral device ports defined by one of said application programs.

Claim 5

The peripheral device manager according to claim 3 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of application programs, for storing a first plurality of data where said data is information, dependent on at least one of said plurality of application programs, related to the peripheral device.

Claim 6

The peripheral device manager according to claim 3 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication said plurality of application programs, for storing a second plurality of data where said data is independent of said plurality of application programs and dependent on said peripheral device.

Claim 7

The peripheral device manager according to claim 3 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of application programs, for storing a plurality of data where said data is information common to all of said programs and said at least one peripheral device.

Claim 8

The peripheral device manager according to claim 3 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of application programs, for notifying a program that has exclusive access to a port when another program is attempting to access that port.

Claim 9

The peripheral device manager according to claim 3 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of program applications, for notifying a program that has exclusive access to a device when another program is attempting to access that device.

Claim 12

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of storing a plurality of contexts where each context is an independent state of said peripheral device defined by one of said programs.

Claim 13

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of storing a plurality of domains where each domain is an independent state of one of the peripheral device ports defined by one of said programs.

Claim 14

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of storing a first plurality of data where said data is process dependent information related to a peripheral device.

Claim 15

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of storing a second plurality of data where said data is process independent/device dependent information.

Claim 16

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of storing a second plurality of data where said data is information common to all programs and all peripheral devices.

Claim 17

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of notifying a program that has exclusive access to a port when another program is attempting to access that port.

Claim 18

The method for interfacing with said peripheral device according to claim 9 further including the step of notifying a program that has exclusive access to a device when another program is attempting to access that device.

Claim 19

A multitasking data processing system including a plurality of programs running thereon and a peripheral device manager, said data processing system comprising: a central processing means within said multitasking system for storing and executing said plurality of programs and for operating said peripheral device manager; a peripheral device means, in communication with said central processing means, for performing a data processing function, said peripheral device including a first and a second data input port where each port is connected to receive information from and provide information to said central processing means; said peripheral device manager including means, in communication with said plurality of programs and said peripheral device means, for providing direct access to the peripheral device to a single one of said plurality of programs allowing only said single program to control the peripheral device by transferring information directly therebetween, and means, also in communication with said plurality of and said peripheral device means, for providing direct access to said first data input port of the peripheral device to said single program while providing independent and concurrent direct access to said second data input port of the peripheral device to a second one of said plurality of programs such that said single program and said second program alternately transfer program information directly between said respective first and second data input ports; and means, in communication with said plurality of programs and said at least one peripheral device, for alternately providing separate rendering context information, different from said program information corresponding to the display attributes of one of said single program and said second program to said peripheral device such that the program information can be directly transferred thereto by a respective one of said single or second programs.

Claim 20

A multitasking data processing system including a plurality of programs running thereon and a peripheral device manager, said data processing system comprising: a central processing means within said multitasking system for storing and executing said plurality of programs and for operating said peripheral device manager; a peripheral device means, in communication with said central processing means, for performing a data processing function, said peripheral device including a first and a second data input port where each port is connected to receive information from and provide information to said central processing means; said peripheral device manager including means, in communication with said plurality of programs and said peripheral device means, for providing direct access to the peripheral device to a single one of said plurality of programs allowing only said single program to control the peripheral device by transferring information directly therebetween, and means, also in communication with said plurality of and said peripheral device means, for providing direct access to said first data input port of the peripheral device to said single program while providing independent and concurrent direct access to said second data input port of the peripheral device to a second one of said plurality of programs such that said single program and said second program alternately transfer program information directly between said respective first and second data input ports; and means, in communication with said plurality of programs and said at least one peripheral device, for alternately providing separate rendering context information, different from said program information corresponding to the display attributes of one of said single program and said second program to said peripheral device such that the program information can be directly transferred thereto by a respective one of said single or second programs.

Claim 21

The data processing system according to claim 17 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for storing a plurality of contexts where each context is an independent state of said peripheral device defined by one of said programs.

Claim 22

The data processing system according to claim 18 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for storing a plurality of domains where each domain is an independent state of said peripheral device ports defined by one of said programs.

Claim 23

The data processing system according to claim 19 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for storing a first plurality of data where said data is information, dependent on at least one of said plurality of application programs, related to the peripheral device.

Claim 24

The data processing system according to claim 19 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for storing a second plurality of data where said data is independent of said plurality of application programs and dependent on said peripheral device.

Claim 25

The data processing system according to claim 19 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for storing a third plurality of data where said data is information common to all programs and all peripheral devices.

Claim 26

The data processing system according to claim 19 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for notifying a program that has exclusive access to a port when another program is attempting to access that port.

Claim 27

The data processing system according to claim 19 wherein said peripheral manager further comprises means, in communication with said plurality of programs, for notifying a program that has exclusive access to a device when another program is attempting to access that device.