US5537597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for supporting real mode card services clients with a protected mode card services implementation
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1993-09-27
•
Granted: 1996-07-16
•
Expires: 2013-09-27
Abstract
Abstract PCMCIA defines a standard interface for small portable computer peripherals. Part of the PCMCIA specification defines a Card Services software layer. The current PCMCIA specification defines a Card Services layer that provides Card Services to clients that wish to use PCMCIA cards. A Card Services Compatibility Driver is defined that ensures compatibility with real mode clients. The Card Services Compatibility Driver is a device driver or TSR that loads near the beginning of the computer system boot procedure. The Card Services Compatibility Driver simulates a full implementation of Card Services by supporting only the functions that are legal when no cards are installed in the system even though cards may be installed in the system. Later, a full protected mode implementation of Card Services is loaded into the system. The Card Services Compatibility Driver transfers all the state information it collects during the computer system boot procedure to the full protected mode implementation of Card Services. After receiving this information, the full protected mode implementation of Card Services takes control and services all later Card Services requests. The full protected mode implementation of Card Services also informs the registered Card Services clients of any cards inserted in the system by making card insertion callbacks.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Sandage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In a computer system, operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, and comprising a PCMCIA adapter, a method of providing Card Services functions to at least one Card Service client, said method comprising the steps of: placing said computer system in said real mode; loading a Card Services compatibility driver into said computer system; simulating a real mode Card Services environment, using said Card Services compatibility driver, wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only the Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information; placing said computer system in said protected mode; loading a protected mode Card Services implementation into said computer system; transferring said state information from said Card Services compatibility driver to said protected mode Card Services implementation; and transferring control of Card Services function requests to said protected mode Card Services implementation such that said protected mode Card Services implementation services Card Services function requests.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a computer system, operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, and comprising a PCMCIA adapter, a method of providing Card Services functions to at least one Card Service client, said method comprising the steps of: placing said computer system in said real mode; loading a Card Services compatibility driver into said computer system; simulating a real mode Card Services environment, using said Card Services compatibility driver, wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only the Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information; placing said computer system in said protected mode; loading a protected mode Card Services implementation into said computer system; transferring said state information from said Card Services compatibility driver to said protected mode Card Services implementation; and transferring control of Card Services function requests to said protected mode Card Services implementation such that said protected mode Card Services implementation services Card Services function requests.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of informing said Card Services client of any PCMCIA cards installed in said computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of informing said Card Services client of any PCMCIA cards installed in said computer system comprises calling a card insertion callback routine in said Card Services client informing said Card Services client about a PCMCIA card insertion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protected mode Card Services implementation operates in a Windows operating environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 4 wherein said protected mode Card Services implementation comprises a Windows Virtual Device Driver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of simulating a real mode Card Services environment comprises registering one or more Card Services clients.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 6 wherein said state information comprises a list of said Card Services clients.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 7 wherein said state information further comprises a Socket Services data structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 8 wherein said state information further comprises a list of registered erase queues.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of providing Card Services functions as claimed in claim 9 wherein said state information further comprises a list of registered timers and an amount of time remaining on each of said registered timers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer system operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, said computer system comprising the elements of: a PCMCIA adapter; a Card Services compatibility driver, said Card Services compatibility driver loaded into said computer system during a real mode boot stage, said Card Services compatibility driver simulating a real mode Card Services environment wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information; and a protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation loaded into said computer system when said computer system is placed in said protected mode and after said Card Services compatibility driver is loaded, said Card Services compatibility driver transferring said state information to said protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation servicing Card Services function requests after said state information is transferred.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer system operable in a real mode and in a protected mode, said computer system comprising the elements of: a PCMCIA adapter; a Card Services compatibility driver, said Card Services compatibility driver loaded into said computer system during a real mode boot stage, said Card Services compatibility driver simulating a real mode Card Services environment wherein no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter by supporting only Card Services functions that are legal when no PCMCIA cards are installed in said PCMCIA adapter, said Card Services compatibility driver collecting state information; and a protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation loaded into said computer system when said computer system is placed in said protected mode and after said Card Services compatibility driver is loaded, said Card Services compatibility driver transferring said state information to said protected mode Card Services implementation, said protected mode Card Services implementation servicing Card Services function requests after said state information is transferred.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said Card Services compatibility driver registers a Card Services client.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said protected mode Card Services implementation informs said Card Services client of any PCMCIA cards installed in said PCMCIA adapter by calling a card insertion callback routine in said Card Services client.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said protected mode Card Services implementation operates in a Windows operating environment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said protected mode Card Services implementation comprises a Windows Virtual Device Driver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said state information comprises a list of Card Services clients.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said state information further comprises a Socket Services data structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said state information further comprises a list of registered erase queues.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said state information further comprises a list of registered timers and an amount of time remaining on each of said registered timers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |