Synchronizing use of a device by multiple software components in accordance with information stored at the device
US7263685B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4411
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
According to some embodiments, a method is directed to determining via a plurality of flags stored at a PCI device that the PCI device is to perform a first function. The PCI device is shared with a first software component associated with the first function and a second software component associated with a second function, and the plurality of flags comprise a first component flag to indicate free or busy, a second component flag to indicate free or busy, and a turn flag to indicate the first component or the second component. The method further discloses setting the first component flag to busy, setting the turn flag to first component, and performing the first function when the second software component is not using the PCI device. The first function may access the PCI device if either the second component flag is set to free or if the turn flag is set to first component.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.