Patent ID: 6209041
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for interconnecting software drivers to allow efficient kernel mode processing of data and only transferring data between the drivers when necessary comprising the steps of:opening one or more kernel mode drivers;forming one or more connection pin instances for connecting the drivers, each connection pin instance hierarchically related to one of said one or more drivers and used for data transmission between said one or more drivers;creating one or more buffer allocators for providing data storage buffers as needed, each buffer allocator hierarchically related to one of said one or more connection pins and used for allocating buffers and controlling data transfer;interconnecting said one or more connection pins so as to provide a continuous data flow path through the one or more drivers, the data being transferred from an existing buffer to another buffer only when indicated by a buffer allocator that is associated with an input connection pin of a successive one of said one or more drivers and, if the buffer allocator is not present, the successive driver processing the data in its existing buffer.