Abstract: A method for transmitting data by means of a data processing system, the system being capable of supporting an operating system-and at least one application and having access to a memory and a network interface device capable of supporting a communication link over a network with another network interface device, the method comprising the steps of: forming by means of the application data to be transmitted; requesting by means of the application a non-operating-system functionality of the data processing system to send the data to be transmitted; responsive to that request: writing the data to be transmitted to an area of the memory; and initiating by means of direct communication between the non- operating-system functionality and the network interface device a transmission operation of at least some of the data over the network; and subsequently accessing the memory by means of the operating system and performing at least part of a transmission operation of at least some of the data over the network by mean

Abstract: Method of managing interaction between a host subsystem and a peripheral device. Roughly described, the peripheral device writes an event into an individual event queue, and in conjunction therewith, also writes a wakeup event into an intermediary event queue. The wakeup event identifies the individual event queue. The host subsystem, in response to retrieval of the wakeup event from the intermediary event queue, activates an individual event handler to consume events from the individual event queue.

Abstract: Method for managing a queue in host memory for use with a peripheral device. Roughly described, the host makes a determination of the availability of space in the queue for writing new entries, in dependence upon historical knowledge of the number of queue entries that the host has authorized the device to write, and the number of entries that the host has consumed. In dependence on that determination, the host authorizes the device to write a limited number of new entries into the queue. The device writes entries into the queue dependence upon the number authorized. The host maintains a read pointer into the queue but does not need to maintain a write pointer, and the peripheral device maintains a write pointer into the queue but does not need to maintain a read pointer.

Abstract: A communication interface for providing an interface between a data link and a data processor, the data processor being capable of supporting an operating system and a user application, the communication interface being arranged to: support a first queue of data received over the link and addressed to a logical data port associated with a user application; support a second queue of data received over the link and identified as being directed to the operating system; and analyse data received over the link and identified as being directed to the operating system or the data port to determine whether that data meets one or more predefined criteria, and if it does meet the criteria transmit an interrupt to the operating system.