Abstract: Two different operating systems, such as one using Windows real-time extensions and another using Windows NT or other non-real-time operating system, may be implemented on a same system or hardware, such as being co-located on a same processor, without changing client software. Two or more software processes are run on a same processor or system. The software or operating systems communicate using a socket application programming interface. The use of socket communications allows the processes to communicate as if the processes were on different systems. Socket communications between the two operating systems are intercepted by the layered service provider before being provided to the hardware for external transport. The socket communications are re-routed to the socket stack of the destination operating system. The socket communication using sockets is transparent to the application or middleware layer software.