Method and apparatus for multiple slaves to receive data from multiple masters in a data processing system

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing requests for data by processes in a data processing system. Requests for data from the processes in slave mode are tracked. Data received by a device driver is stored, wherein the data may originate from multiple masters. The data is sent to the processes, wherein the device driver is not required to handle requests for the processes in slave mode.

1 .- 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A data processing system for managing requests for data by processes, the data processing system comprising: 
 a single physical device that is operating in slave mode for receiving requests for data from a plurality of processes;    the single physical device having a single slave address listening for data on a physical bus that is addressed to the single slave address a plurality of master devices communicating with the single physical device using only the single slave address;    a device driver that is included in the single physical device receiving data from the physical bus that is addressed to the single slave address;    storing means for storing data received by the device driver from ones of the plurality of master devices as stored data;    sending means for sending the stored data to the plurality of processes, wherein the device driver is not required to handle requests for the plurality of processes while the single physical device is operating in the slave mode;    an abstraction layer within the single physical device;    the abstraction layer receiving the requests for data from the plurality of processes;    a queue that is included in the abstraction layer for storing each one of the requests including an identification of one of the plurality of processes that made the request;    in response to the stored data being present in a buffer the abstraction layer identifying all of the requests that are in the queue;    the queue for identifying all of the plurality of processes that made the requests in the queue;    the abstraction layer awakening all of the identified plurality of processes; and    the abstraction layer broadcasting all of the stored data to all of the identified plurality of processes.    
   
   
       14 .- 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The data processing system of  claim 13 , further comprising 
 in response to a receipt of data by the device driver, a daemon for storing the received data in a buffer to form the stored data; and    in response to storing the received data in the buffer, the daemon resetting the device driver so that the device driver is ready to start receiving new data, wherein, after receipt of data, the device driver does not process the data and remains continually ready to receive new data.    
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The data processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the requests are slave read requests.  
   
   
       20 . The data processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of processes are virtual slaves.  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)