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US5519833A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Distributed data processing system providing a distributed stream software environment to enable application on a first system to use driver on a second system

Assignee: Computervision Corp
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Filing: 1992-08-13
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Granted: 1996-05-21
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Expires: 2012-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract A distributed data processing system includes at least a first data processing system and a second data processing system. The first data processing system includes an application that is connected by a full duplex data transfer path to a transport provider service. Transport provider service couples the first data processing system with the second data processing system. The second data processing system has a similar transport service provider. This transport service provider is coupled to a full duplex data transfer path. A full duplex data transfer path to a remote driver may be opened by the application of the first data processing system. This application may also cause various modules to be pushed on to this data transfer path.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ian Agranat
  • 👤 Karl E. Zimmerman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 13:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/544

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 278 words
An apparatus for providing a distributed stream leading from an application on a first system to at least one target driver on a second system, wherein the first system and the second system each have an operating system that provides a stream facility for providing a stream comprising a data path between a user process and an interface within a kernel of the operating system, the apparatus comprising: means for opening a file node on the first system to open a first driver on the first system corresponding to the at least one target driver on the second system and create a first new stream on the first system; means for opening a first new stream on the second system; means for pushing a first instance of a distributed streams twist-tie module over the first new stream on the second system, that leads to a first driver on the second system, the first instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module including means for receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and for routing the messages to the first driver on the second system; means for opening the at least one target driver on the second system to create a second new stream on the second system; and means for pushing a second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module over the second new stream on the second system to the at least one target driver, the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module including means for receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and for routing the messages to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 278 words
An apparatus for providing a distributed stream leading from an application on a first system to at least one target driver on a second system, wherein the first system and the second system each have an operating system that provides a stream facility for providing a stream comprising a data path between a user process and an interface within a kernel of the operating system, the apparatus comprising: means for opening a file node on the first system to open a first driver on the first system corresponding to the at least one target driver on the second system and create a first new stream on the first system; means for opening a first new stream on the second system; means for pushing a first instance of a distributed streams twist-tie module over the first new stream on the second system, that leads to a first driver on the second system, the first instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module including means for receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and for routing the messages to the first driver on the second system; means for opening the at least one target driver on the second system to create a second new stream on the second system; and means for pushing a second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module over the second new stream on the second system to the at least one target driver, the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module including means for receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and for routing the messages to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means for instructing the first instance and the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages; and means for associating the first new stream on the second system with the file node on the first system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 105 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means for pushing a distributed streams shadow module onto the first new stream on the first system, the distributed streams shadow module being for enabling a module to be pushed onto a stream; means for determining that the distributed streams shadow module is being pushed over the first driver on the first system; means for sending a push request to the second system; means for determining the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module as a destination for the push request; and means for pushing a target module onto the second new stream on the second system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further including means for determining that the distributed streams shadow module is being pushed over another instance of the shadow module on the first system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further including means for popping the distributed streams twist-tie module from the second new stream on the second system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further including: means for pushing a third instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module onto the second stream of the second system; and means for instructing the first instance and the third instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 112 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including: means for generating a pop request message on the first system; means for receiving the pop request message on the second system; means for popping the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module; means for popping the at least one target module on the second system; means for pushing a fourth instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module onto the second new stream in the second system; means for instructing the first instance and the fourth instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages; and means for removing the shadow module from the first new stream of the first system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for closing the distributed stream leading from the application on a first system to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 263 words
A method for providing a distributed stream leading from an application on a first system to at least one target driver on a second system, wherein the first system and the second system each have an operating system that provides a stream facility for providing a stream comprising a data path between a user process and an interface within a kernel of the operating system, the method comprising the steps of: opening a file node on the first system, that opens a first driver on the first system corresponding to the at least one target driver on the second system and creates a first new stream on the first system; opening a first new stream on the second system; pushing a first instance of a distributed streams twist-tie module over the first new stream on the second system, that leads to a first driver on the second system, the first instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and routing the messages to the first driver on the second system; opening the at least one target driver on the second system, that creates a second new stream on the second system; and pushing a second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module over the second new stream on the second system to the at least one target driver, the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and routing the messages to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 263 words
A method for providing a distributed stream leading from an application on a first system to at least one target driver on a second system, wherein the first system and the second system each have an operating system that provides a stream facility for providing a stream comprising a data path between a user process and an interface within a kernel of the operating system, the method comprising the steps of: opening a file node on the first system, that opens a first driver on the first system corresponding to the at least one target driver on the second system and creates a first new stream on the first system; opening a first new stream on the second system; pushing a first instance of a distributed streams twist-tie module over the first new stream on the second system, that leads to a first driver on the second system, the first instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and routing the messages to the first driver on the second system; opening the at least one target driver on the second system, that creates a second new stream on the second system; and pushing a second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module over the second new stream on the second system to the at least one target driver, the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module receiving messages directed to a user process on the second system and routing the messages to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: instructing the first instance and the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages; and associating the first new stream on the second system with the file node on the first system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 84 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of opening a file node further includes the steps of: mapping major and minor device numbers to a corresponding target driver of the at least one target driver on the second system; generating an open request message on the first system; sending the open request message from the first system to the second system; receiving the open request message on the second system; and verifying that the first system is allowed to use the second system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 98 words
The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: pushing a distributed streams shadow module onto the first new stream on the first system, the distributed streams shadow module being for enabling a module to be pushed onto a stream; determining that the distributed streams shadow module is being pushed over the first driver on the first system; sending a push request to the second system; determining the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module as a destination for the push request; and pushing a target module onto the second new stream on the second system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 12, further including the step of determining that the distributed streams shadow module is being pushed over another instance of the shadow module on the first system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 12, further including a step, performed prior to the step of pushing a target module, of popping the distributed streams twist-tie module from the second new stream on the second system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 57 words
The method of claim 14, further including the steps, performed after the step of pushing a target module, of: pushing a third instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module onto the second stream of the second system; and instructing the first instance and the third instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 101 words
The method of claim 15, further including the steps of: generating a pop request message on the first system; receiving the pop request message on the second system; popping the second instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module; popping the at least one target module on the second system; pushing a fourth instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module onto the second new stream in the second system; instructing the first instance and the fourth instance of the distributed streams twist-tie module to cooperate in looping messages; and removing the shadow module from the first new stream of the first system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 9, further including the step of closing the distributed stream leading from the application on a first system to the at least one target driver on the second system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the step of closing includes the steps of: sending a close message from the first system to the second system; closing the second new stream on the second system; closing the first new stream on the second system; and closing the first stream on the first system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-05-21 1999-11-20 2000-05-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-05-21 2003-11-20 2004-05-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-05-21 2007-11-20 2008-05-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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