Attorney Docket No.: 23465-0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Applicant
`Serial No.
`Filed
`Title
`
`2454
`Art Unit
`Steven Leslie Pope, et al.
`Jeong S. Park
`Examiner
`11/916,973
`1989
`Conf. No.
`November 14, 2008
`RECEPTION ACCORDING TO A DATA TRANSFER PROTOCOL OF
`DATA DIRECTED TO ANY OF A PLURALITY OF DESTINATION
`ENTITIES
`
`Mail Stop Amendment
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-14 50
`
`AMENDMENT IN REPLY TO ACTION OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
`
`Please amend the above-identified application as follows:
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`001
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`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`Amendments to the Specification:
`
`Please replace the title with the following new title:
`
`--RECEPTION ACCORDING TO A DATA TRANSFER PROTOCOL OF
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`DATA DIRECTED TO ANY OF A PLURALITY OF DESTINATION ENTITIES FOR
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`DATA EXTRACTION--
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`002
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`Amendments to the Claims:
`
`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in the
`application:
`
`Listing of Claims:
`
`1.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processmg system arranged for receiVmg over a network,
`
`according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination
`
`identities, the data processing system comprising:
`
`data storage for storing data received over the network;
`
`a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the
`
`data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data
`
`available to respective destination identities; and
`
`a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response
`
`indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and
`
`forming such a response;
`
`wherein the message former is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said
`
`message:
`
`identify received data that is directed to any destination identity that is both a
`
`member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities,
`
`and on which processing has not yet been performed;
`
`trigger processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the
`
`protocol on only the identified data; and subsequently
`
`form a response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
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`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of
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`data for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data to be
`
`made available to the respective destination identity.
`
`003
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`Serial No. :
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`2.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processmg system according to claim 1 wherein the first
`
`processing arrangement is at user level.
`
`3.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 1 or claim 2 further
`
`comprising a second data processing arrangement for performing processing in
`
`accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage other than
`
`the said identified data.
`
`4.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 3 wherein the second
`
`processing arrangement is a part of an operating system of the data processing system.
`
`5.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 3 or claim 4 further
`
`comprising a data structure, associated with the processing of the received data other than
`
`the identified data, for storing an indication of: destination identities other than the subset
`
`of destination identities; and corresponding state data.
`
`6. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 wherein the state data
`
`comprises indications of availability of received data to respective destination identities.
`
`7. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein the indications of
`
`availability in the state data are formed based on the result of processing according to the
`
`protocol of received data other than data directed to any of the subset of destination
`
`identities.
`
`8. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the
`
`second processing arrangement is dedicated to the processing of the received data other
`
`than data directed to any of the subset of destination identities.
`
`004
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`9.
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`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 8 wherein the first and
`
`second processing arrangements are implemented by means of respective threads
`
`10. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the
`
`dedicated processing is performed as a background processing operation such that other
`
`processing operations within the data processing system are not interrupted by the second
`
`processing arrangement.
`
`11. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the
`
`said subset contains destination identities which relate to active network connections.
`
`12. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 11
`
`as dependent on claim 5 wherein the said response is based additionally on the state data
`
`in the data structure.
`
`13.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 12 wherein the said
`
`response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a
`
`destination identity of the group other than a member of the subset if the state data
`
`indicates availability of received data to the destination identity.
`
`14. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the
`
`response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a
`
`destination identity of the group if any processing other than the triggered processing
`
`causes data to be made available to the destination identity.
`
`15. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 14
`
`as dependent on claim 5 wherein the data structure is stored in a cache.
`
`005
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`16. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 15
`
`as dependent on claim 5 wherein the data structure is stored in the operating system.
`
`17. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim, further
`
`arranged to transmit a communication to a process running on the data processing system
`
`in the event that the said response comprises a positive indication of availability for a
`
`destination identity associated with the process.
`
`18. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein
`
`each destination identity is associated with a socket.
`
`19. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the
`
`said making the received data available to respective destination identities comprises
`
`passing the data from the data storage to one or more buffers associated with the
`
`respective destination identities.
`
`20. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the
`
`said message is transmitted by means of a user process running on the data processing
`
`system.
`
`21.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system arranged for transmitting over a network,
`
`according to a data transfer protocol, data from any of a plurality of destination identities,
`
`the data processing system comprising:
`
`data storage for storing data to be transmitted over the network;
`
`a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the
`
`data transfer protocol on data in the data storage, for making the data available for
`
`transmission over the network; and
`
`006
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`a response former arranged for: receiVmg a message requesting a response
`
`indicating the availability of data from each of a group of destination identities for
`
`transmission over the network; and forming such a response;
`
`wherein the message former is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said
`
`message:
`
`identify data in the data storage that is from any destination identity that is both a
`
`member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities,
`
`and on which processing has not yet been performed;
`
`trigger processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the
`
`protocol on only the identified data; and subsequently
`
`form a response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
`
`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of
`
`data for transmission for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing
`
`caused data from the respective destination identity to be made available for transmission
`
`over the network.
`
`22. (Withdrawn) A method for processing data received over a network wherein the data
`
`is transmitted over the network according to a data transfer protocol and is directed to any
`
`of a plurality of destination identities, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`storing data received over the network;
`
`receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received
`
`data to each of a group of destination identities; and, in dependence on receiving the said
`
`message:
`
`identifying received data that is directed to any destination identity that is both a
`
`member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities,
`
`and on which processing has not yet been performed;
`
`007
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`triggering processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the
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`data transfer protocol on only the identified data, the processing being for making the
`
`identified data available to respective destination identities; and subsequently
`
`forming the response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
`
`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of
`
`data for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data to be
`
`made available to the respective destination identity.
`
`23. (Withdrawn) A method for processing data to be transmitted over a network wherein
`
`the network is such that data is transmitted according to a data transfer protocol from any
`
`of a plurality of destination identities, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`storing data to be transmitted over the network;
`
`receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of data from
`
`each of a group of destination identities for transmission over the network; and, in
`
`dependence on receiving the said message:
`
`identifying data in the data storage that is from any destination identity that is
`
`both a member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination
`
`identities, and on which processing has not yet been performed;
`
`triggering processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the
`
`data transfer protocol on only the identified data, the processing being for making the
`
`identified data available for transmission over the network; and subsequently
`
`forming the response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
`
`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of
`
`data for transmission for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing
`
`caused data from the respective destination identity to be made available for transmission
`
`over the network.
`
`008
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`24.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network,
`
`according to a data transfer protocol, groups of data each directed to any of a plurality of
`
`destination identities, the data processing system comprising:
`
`a plurality of buffers for storing groups of data received over the network;
`
`a processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on received data in the buffers, for making the received data available to
`
`respective destination identities; and
`
`a controller arranged to, in dependence on the destination identity to which the
`
`group is directed, select for each received group of data, one of the plurality of buffers in
`
`which to store the group of data, and to store the group in the selected buffer prior to
`
`processing of the group by the processing arrangement in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol.
`
`25. (Withdrawn) An operating system for use in a data processing system comprising an
`
`application and a library for supporting one or more functions; wherein the operating
`
`system is arranged for:
`
`receiving from the application an instruction to perform an operation;
`
`determining whether both of conditions (a) and (b) are true, where:
`
`(a) is that the operation relates to any of the said functions; and
`
`(b) is that the route by which the instruction reached the operating system does not
`
`include the library; and
`
`if both of the conditions are determined to be true, passing an indication of the
`
`instruction to the library.
`
`26. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 25 arranged not to perform the
`
`said operation in response to receiving the instruction if both of the conditions are
`
`determined to be true.
`
`009
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`27. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 arranged to
`
`perform the operation in response to receiving a trigger from the library if both of the
`
`conditions are determined to be true.
`
`28. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 27 wherein the
`
`said determining comprises identifying a file descriptor included in the instruction.
`
`29.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the said
`
`determining further comprises determining whether the identified file descriptor relates to
`
`any of the said functions.
`
`30.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 29 further
`
`arranged for storing a first data structure comprising indications of file descriptors and
`
`state data for each indicated file descriptor.
`
`31.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the state data
`
`comprises for each indicated file descriptor an indication of whether the file descriptor is
`
`in use by the library.
`
`32. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the
`
`said determining further comprises accessing the first data structure.
`
`33.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 32 further
`
`arranged for storing a second data structure comprising indications of types of operation
`
`and, for each type, an indication of whether the type relates to any of the said functions.
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`34. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33 wherein the
`
`said determining comprises identifying the type of the operation.
`
`010
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`35. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 34 as dependent on claim 33
`
`wherein the said determining further comprises accessing the second data structure.
`
`36. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 35 wherein the
`
`said functions relate to the transfer of data over a network.
`
`37. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 36 wherein the
`
`said determining comprises determining whether one of conditions (a) and (b) is true and,
`
`only if that condition is true, determining whether the other of the conditions is true.
`
`38. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising an operating system as claimed in
`
`any of claims 25 to 37.
`
`39.
`
`(Withdrawn) A method for forwarding instructions in a data processing system
`
`comprising an operating system, an application and a library for supporting one or more
`
`functions, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`receiving at the operating system an instruction from the application to perform an
`
`operation;
`
`determining whether both of conditions (a) and (b) are true, where:
`
`(a) is that the operation relates to any of the said functions; and
`
`(b) is that the route by which the instruction reached the operating system does not
`
`include the library; and
`
`if both of the conditions are determined to be true, passing an indication of the
`
`instruction to the library.
`
`40. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data;
`
`011
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`an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a remote receiver;
`
`and
`
`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory,
`
`each such area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory and the
`
`configuration store storing an order for each area;
`
`the interface being responsive to receiving an instruction of a predetermined form
`
`from the data processor specifying a starting memory location and a length to, if the
`
`specified starting memory location is in one of the areas defined in the configuration store
`
`and the specified length exceeds the length of the area starting from the specified location
`
`to automatically transmit data from the next area in order as defined in the configuration
`
`store.
`
`41. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 40, wherein the configuration store is
`
`local to the interface.
`
`42. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 41, wherein the configuration store
`
`stores, for each area and identification of an entity as being associated with that area and
`
`the controller is responsive to the instruction of the predetermined form to verify that an
`
`entity that has sent the instruction of the second type is associated with the indicated
`
`location, and is arranged to transmit data from the area responsive to the instruction only
`
`if that verification is successful.
`
`43. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 42, wherein the interface
`
`is responsive to the said instruction to transmit data from the area in which the starting
`
`location is located starting from the specified location.
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`44. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 43, wherein the interface
`
`is arranged to read data for transmission from the memory by direct memory access.
`
`012
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`45.
`
`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 44, wherein the
`
`configuration store indicates the physical addresses of the areas in the memory.
`
`46. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 45, having access to
`
`mapping data defining a mapping between a physical address space of the memory and a
`
`virtual address space and wherein the configuration store indicates the addresses of the
`
`areas in the virtual address space.
`
`47. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 46, wherein the interface
`
`is a network interface and is arranged to transmit the data to the receiver by means of a
`
`network protocol.
`
`48. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 47, wherein the network protocol is
`
`TCP/IP.
`
`49.
`
`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 47 or 48, wherein the interface is
`
`arranged to transmit the data over Ethernet.
`
`50. (Withdrawn) A method for transmitting data by means of a data processing system
`
`comprising: a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data; an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a
`
`remote receiver; and a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the
`
`memory, each such area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory
`
`and the configuration store storing an order for each area; the method comprising:
`
`receiving an instruction of a predetermined form from the data processor
`
`specifying a starting memory location and a length;
`
`013
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`in response to receiving the instruction, if the specified starting memory location
`
`is in one of the areas defined in the configuration store and the specified length exceeds
`
`the length of the area starting from the specified location automatically transmitting data
`
`from the next area in order as defined in the configuration store.
`
`51. (Withdrawn) A method as claimed in claim 50, comprising, in order, the steps prior
`
`to the said receiving step of:
`
`identifying a block of data in the memory for transmission;
`
`storing in the configuration store a definition of an area that encompasses the said
`
`block of data; and
`
`transmitting to the interface an instruction of the predetermined form specifying a
`
`starting memory location in that area.
`
`52. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data;
`
`an interface whereby the data processor can receive data from a remote
`
`transmitter; and
`
`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory,
`
`each such area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory and the
`
`configuration store storing an order for each area;
`
`the interface being responsive to receiving a block of data from a remote
`
`transmitter for writing to a starting location in one of the areas to, if the length of the
`
`received data exceeds the length of the area starting from the specified location to
`
`automatically write some of the received data to the next area in order as defined in the
`
`configuration store.
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`014
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`53. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 52, wherein the configuration store is
`
`local to the interface.
`
`54. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 53, wherein the configuration store
`
`stores, for each area and identification of an entity as being associated with that area and
`
`the controller is responsive to receiving a block of data together with an indication of an
`
`entity to verify that that entity is associated with the indicated location, and is arranged to
`
`write data to from the area responsive to the instruction only if that verification is
`
`successful.
`
`55. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 54, wherein the interface
`
`is arranged to write data for transmission to the memory by direct memory access.
`
`56.
`
`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 55, wherein the
`
`configuration store indicates the physical addresses of the areas in the memory.
`
`57. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 56, having access to
`
`mapping data defining a mapping between a physical address space of the memory and a
`
`virtual address space and wherein the configuration store indicates the addresses of the
`
`areas in the virtual address space.
`
`58. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 57, wherein the interface
`
`is a network interface and is arranged to receive the by means of a network protocol.
`
`59. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 58, wherein the network protocol is
`
`TCP/IP.
`
`015
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`

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`Applicant : Steven Leslie Pope, et al.
`Serial No. :
`11/916,973
`November 14, 2008
`Filed
`Page
`16 of38
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`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`60.
`
`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 58 or 59, wherein the interface is
`
`arranged to receive the data over Ethernet.
`
`61. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support two or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data;
`
`an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a remote receiver;
`
`and
`
`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, and
`
`for each one an identification of a process associated therewith;
`
`the interface being responsive to receiving an instruction of a predetermined form
`
`from a process supported by the data processor specifying data in one of the areas to read
`
`the specified data from the area and transmit that data to a remote receiver together with
`
`the identification of a process stored for that area in the configuration store.
`
`62.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processmg system as claimed m claim 61, wherein the
`
`configuration store is local to the interface.
`
`63. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in claim 61 or 62, wherein the
`
`data processor implements a plurality of queues for communication between the
`
`processes and the interface, each queue being associated with a respective process, and
`
`the interface is arranged to identify which process an instruction is from by the queue on
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`which it has received the instruction.
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`64. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 61 to 63, wherein
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`the interface is arranged to read the data from the area by direct memory access.
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`016
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`11/916,973
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`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`65. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 61 to 64, wherein the interface
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`is a network interface and is arranged to transmit the data to the receiver by means of a
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`network protocol.
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`66. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 65, wherein the network protocol is
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`TCP/IP.
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`67.
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`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 65 or 66, wherein the interface is
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`arranged to transmit the data over Ethernet.
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`68. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
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`a data processor for executing instructions to support two or more processes;
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`memory for storing data;
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`an interface whereby the data processor can receive data from a remote receiver;
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`and
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`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, and
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`for each one an identification of a process on a remote receiver associated therewith;
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`the interface being responsive to receiving from the remote receiver data directed to one
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`of the areas together with an identification of a process to check whether that identified
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`process matches the identification of a process stored for that one of the areas in the
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`configuration store and only if it does match to write that data to that configuration store.
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`69.
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`(Withdrawn) A data processmg system as claimed m claim 68, wherein the
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`configuration store is local to the interface.
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`70. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 61 to 69, wherein
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`the interface is arranged to write the data from the area by direct memory access.
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`017
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`11/916,973
`November 14, 2008
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`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`71. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 61 to 70, wherein the interface
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`is a network interface and is arranged to receive the data by means of a network protocol.
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`72. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 71, wherein the network protocol is
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`TCP/IP.
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`73.
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`(Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 71 or 72, wherein the interface is
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`arranged to receive the data over Ethernet.
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`74. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement for a data processing system that has an
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`application, a first routine, and an operating system capable of being configured to
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`automatically send signals to routines external to the operating system for initiating
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`execution of the said routines, wherein the first routine is such that execution thereof
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`requires access to a resource, the signal handling arrangement being arranged to:
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`determine whether the resource is available; and
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`if such determination is negative, delay signals from the operating system for
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`initiating execution of the first routine.
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`75.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 74 wherein the
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`signals from the operating system for initiating execution of the first routine are
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`asynchronous.
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`76.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 74 or claim 75
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`wherein the said determining comprises determining whether the resource is in use by an
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`application.
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`77. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 76
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`wherein the operating system is capable of being configured by means of instructions to
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`018
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`send signals for initiating execution of the first routine in response to conditions specified
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`in the instructions.
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`78. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 77 further arranged
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`to intercept such instructions sent from an application, modify the instructions, and pass
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`the modified instructions to the operating system so as to configure the operating system
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`to send to the signal handling arrangement signals for initiating execution of the first
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`routine in response to the conditions specified in the instructions.
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`79. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 78
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`further arranged to, if the determination is negative, signal the first routine to cause
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`execution thereof when the resource becomes available.
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`80. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 79
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`further arranged to maintain a memory location for indicating the availability of the
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`resource, and wherein the said determining comprises accessing the memory location.
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`81. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 80 further arranged
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`to, when a second routine begins, the second routine being such that execution thereof
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`requires access to the resource, store in the memory location an indicator of a position in
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`a stack indicating the address to which processing control is to return when the second
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`routine is completed.
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`82. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 81 further arranged
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`to, when the second routine begins, store at the said position in the stack an indicator of
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`an address of a routine for signalling the first routine to initiate execution thereof,
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`whereby the first routine may be automatically signalled to initiate execution thereof in
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`response to completion of the second routine.
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`019
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`83. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 82 further arranged
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`to, in response to completion of the second routine, store in the memory location an
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`indication that the resource is available.
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`84. (Withdrawn) A signal h