Object-oriented software architecture supporting input/output device independence
DCFirst Claim
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1. A virtual input interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising:
- means for accepting input from at least one physical device and for converting said physical device input into virtual input, said means comprising a virtual input manager process responsive to said at least one physical input device for generating a picture, said picture comprising one or more picture elements, each picture element comprising a plurality of device-independent data structures in a predetermined, standard data format, at least one of said data structures comprising a plurality of different data fields each containing information describing said picture element; and
means responsive to said virtual input for performing processing operations upon said virtual input, said means comprising a console manager process for performing processing operations on said one or more picture elements.
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Abstract
An object-oriented software architecture interacts with "real" input/output devices exclusively through "virtual" input/output devices. Since all human interface with the operating system is performed through such virtual devices, the system can accept any form of real input or output devices. The lowest level of the operating system converts input from any physical device to virtual form and converts virtual output into suitable physical output. Any number of physical devices can be connected to, removed from, or replaced in the system without disrupting the system.
82 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A virtual input interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising:
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means for accepting input from at least one physical device and for converting said physical device input into virtual input, said means comprising a virtual input manager process responsive to said at least one physical input device for generating a picture, said picture comprising one or more picture elements, each picture element comprising a plurality of device-independent data structures in a predetermined, standard data format, at least one of said data structures comprising a plurality of different data fields each containing information describing said picture element; and means responsive to said virtual input for performing processing operations upon said virtual input, said means comprising a console manager process for performing processing operations on said one or more picture elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A virtual output interface in a data processing system, said interface comprising:
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a source of virtual input, said virtual input comprising one or more picture elements, each picture element comprising a plurality of device-independent data structures in a predetermined, standard data format, at least one of said data structures comprising a plurality of different data fields each containing information describing said picture element; means for performing processing operations on said virtual input and for generating virtual output; means for accepting said virtual output; and means for converting said virtual output into at least one physical output suitable for use by at least one physical output device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a data processing system, an interface between processes and data in said system and physical input and output devices coupled to said system, said interface comprising:
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means responsive to one of said physical input devices for generating a picture, said picture comprising one or more picture elements, each picture element comprising a plurality of device-independent data structures in a predetermined, standard data format, at least one of said data structures comprising a plurality of different data fields each containing information describing said picture element; means for performing processing operations on said one or more picture elements; and means responsive to said one or more processed picture elements for coupling said one or more processed picture elements to one of said physical output devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification