Display adapter supporting priority based functions

• Main Authors: WOOD; BRUCE RICHARD, COOK; JOHN ANDREW, FLURRY; GREGORY ALAN, HENSON; LARRY WILLIAM
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.07.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ADVERTISING; ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICESUSING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; EDUCATION; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS; SEALS

In a multitasking data processing apparatus including means for executing processes and including a display adapter for executing functions supporting a display, the display adapter including a first port means for receiving, from the means for executing processes, requests to execute selected functions having a first execution priority, a second port means for concurrently receiving, from the means for executing processes, requests to execute selected functions having a second execution priority lower than the first execution priority, and means, coupled to the first and second port means, for executing selected functions according to the execution priority. In addition, in a multitasking data processing apparatus including means for executing processes and including a display adapter for executing functions supporting a display, a method of executing processes including the steps of receiving from the means for executing processes in a first port means requests to execute selected functions, the requests having a first execution priority, concurrently receiving from the means for executing processes in a second port means requests to execute selected functions having a second execution priority lower than said first execution priority, and executing the selected functions according to the execution priority.