US5504928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing multi-command support in a rendering adapter
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-03
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2015-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for supporting multiple command sets in a single rendering adapter. A device driver operating in tandem with a rendering adapter and its associated microcode interprets disparate command sets without separate control/interpretation sections being maintained in the rendering adapter. Rendering adapter microcode in the adapter for supporting a first command set is extending to support commands in a second command set not capable of being mapped in the first command set. The device driver receives the disparate data stream command sets generated by application programs and destined for the rendering adapter. If a first command set command is received by the device driver, it is passed on to the rendering adapter substantially unmodified. If a second command set command is received by the device driver, an attempt is made to map the command into a first command set command, and then transfer this mapped command to the rendering adapter. If no mapping is possible, the received command is reformatted to conform to the syntax of the first command set, and then sent to the rendering adapter. As the rendering adapter microcode has been extending beyond interpreting and executing the first command set, this reformatted second command set command can be processed by the same parser resident in the rendering adapter microcode.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Cook
- 👤 Linas L. Vepstas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for providing multi-command support in a rendering adapter, comprising: receiving first commands of a first command set by an intermediate driver and providing said first commands to a rendering adapter; receiving second commands of a second command set by said intermediate driver, converting on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands, and providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands to said rendering adapter; and receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing, by a second processor on said rendering adapter, said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for providing multi-command support in a rendering adapter, comprising: receiving first commands of a first command set by an intermediate driver and providing said first commands to a rendering adapter; receiving second commands of a second command set by said intermediate driver, converting on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands, and providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands to said rendering adapter; and receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing, by a second processor on said rendering adapter, said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said intermediate driver is achieved by using a device driver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said first and second commands include a state area switch command.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving second commands includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of receiving and executing includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for providing multi-command support in a rendering adapter, comprising: generating any of first command set commands and second command set commands by an application program executing on a data processing system; initiating a transfer, by said application program, of any of first command set commands and second command set commands to a rendering adapter; receiving first commands of a first command set by an intermediate driver; providing said first commands to a rendering adapter; receiving second commands of a second command set by said intermediate driver, wherein said intermediate driver converts on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands to said rendering adapter; and receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing, by a second processor on said rendering adapter, said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for providing multi-command support in a rendering adapter, comprising: generating any of first command set commands and second command set commands by an application program executing on a data processing system; initiating a transfer, by said application program, of any of first command set commands and second command set commands to a rendering adapter; receiving first commands of a first command set by an intermediate driver; providing said first commands to a rendering adapter; receiving second commands of a second command set by said intermediate driver, wherein said intermediate driver converts on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands to said rendering adapter; and receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing, by a second processor on said rendering adapter, said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 6 wherein said transferring is achieved by using memory-mapped I/O.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 6 wherein said transferring is achieved by using I/O port addressing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of receiving second commands includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of receiving and executing includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for providing multi-command support, comprising: means for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set by an intermediate driver, wherein said intermediate driver converts on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; means for providing from said intermediate driver said first commands, said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a second adapter said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for providing multi-command support, comprising: means for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set by an intermediate driver, wherein said intermediate driver converts on a first processor some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; means for providing from said intermediate driver said first commands, said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a second adapter said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system of claim 11 wherein said rendering adapter is any of a graphics adapter and a printer adapter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said means for receiving first and second commands includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the rendering adapter includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for providing multi-command support, comprising: means for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set by an intermediate driver; means for providing said first commands, by said intermediate driver; means for converting, by said intermediate driver on a first processor, some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; means for providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands, by said intermediate driver; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a second processor said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for providing multi-command support, comprising: means for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set by an intermediate driver; means for providing said first commands, by said intermediate driver; means for converting, by said intermediate driver on a first processor, some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; means for providing said resulting first command set commands and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands, by said intermediate driver; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a second processor said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system of claim 15 wherein said rendering adapter is any of a graphics adapter, a printer adapter and a multimedia adapter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for converting includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the rendering adapter includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for controlling a rendering component of a data processing system, comprising: means for receiving rendering commands by an intermediate driver, said rendering commands comprising first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set; means for maintaining in a rendering component a first state area for said first commands and a second state area for said second commands; means for interpreting said rendering commands including converting on a first processor some of said second commands to resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said means for interpreting, and executing on a second processor said first commands and said resulting first command set commands while utilizing a first state area, and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands while utilizing a second state area.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for controlling a rendering component of a data processing system, comprising: means for receiving rendering commands by an intermediate driver, said rendering commands comprising first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set; means for maintaining in a rendering component a first state area for said first commands and a second state area for said second commands; means for interpreting said rendering commands including converting on a first processor some of said second commands to resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands; and a rendering adapter for receiving, from said means for interpreting, and executing on a second processor said first commands and said resulting first command set commands while utilizing a first state area, and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands while utilizing a second state area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus of claim 19 wherein said rendering component is any of a graphics adapter and a printer adapter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for interpreting includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the rendering adapter includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
108 words
A data processing system comprising: a keyboard; a central processing unit; memory means for storing data; nonvolatile storage; an intermediate driver for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set, wherein said intermediate driver converts on said central processing unit some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands and; a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a adapter processor said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
108 words
A data processing system comprising: a keyboard; a central processing unit; memory means for storing data; nonvolatile storage; an intermediate driver for receiving first commands of a first command set and second commands of a second command set, wherein said intermediate driver converts on said central processing unit some of said second commands into resulting first command set commands while other second commands are not convertible into first command set commands and; a rendering adapter for receiving, from said intermediate driver, and executing on a adapter processor said first commands, said resulting first command set commands, and said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The data processing system of claim 23 wherein said intermediate driver includes reformatting said second commands not convertible into resulting first commands to conform to a syntax of the first command set.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data processing system of claim 24 wherein the rendering adapter includes executing said first commands and said resulting first command set commands utilizing a first portion of microcode stored in memory and executing said second commands not convertible into resulting first command set commands utilizing a second portion of microcode stored in memory.
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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) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |