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Methods managing data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system are provided. A physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and the plurality of applications executing on the host computer system is opened and controlled by a software module. A firs

Methods managing data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system are provided. A physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and the plurality of applications executing on the host computer system is opened and controlled by a software module. A first virtual interface and a second virtual interface of the software module are exposed to an operating system of the host computer system, and the operating system exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the first application and the second application. The first virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface, and the second virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of managing data communication, comprising: opening and controlling, with a processor, a physical interface of a host computer system, wherein (i) the physical interface is configured for communicating data between a peripheral encoded information reading device and applications executin

1. A method of managing data communication, comprising: opening and controlling, with a processor, a physical interface of a host computer system, wherein (i) the physical interface is configured for communicating data between a peripheral encoded information reading device and applications executing on the host computer system and (ii) the applications comprise a first application and a second application;exposing, with the processor, a first virtual interface and a second virtual interface in the host computer system to an operating system of the host computer system, wherein (i) the operating system exposes the first virtual interface to the first application and the second virtual interface to the second application, (ii) the first virtual interface provides communication of data between the peripheral encoded information reading device and the first application through the physical interface, and (iii) the second virtual interface provides communication of data between the peripheral encoded information reading device and the second application through the physical interface; andmanaging, with the processor, data communication (i) between the peripheral encoded information reading device and the first application and (ii) between the peripheral encoded information reading device and the second application;wherein the first application accesses data from the peripheral encoded information reading device; andwherein the second application manages the peripheral encoded information reading device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the peripheral encoded information reading device is configured to output a decoded message;the first application comprises a line of business application for receiving the decoded message from the peripheral encoded information reading device; andthe second application comprises a management application for managing the peripheral encoded information reading device. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein managing, with the processor, data communication comprises: receiving data from the peripheral encoded information reading device through the physical interface;identifying one or more applications to which the received data should be provided;identifying one or more virtual interfaces through which the received data should be provided; andproviding the received data through the identified one or more virtual interfaces to the identified one or more applications. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying one or more applications to which the received data should be provided comprises identifying one or more applications based on one or more filter logic rules. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein: the first application comprises a line of business application;the second application comprises a management application;a filter logic rule of the one or more filter logic rules defines how a peripheral encoded information reading device reboot event is to be handled to shield the line of business application from the reboot event in order to facilitate preservation of a connection handle of the line of business application to the peripheral encoded information reading device; andanother filter logic rule of the one or more filter logic rules identifies how to freeze data communication to or from the line of business application during performance of peripheral encoded information reading device management by the management application. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein; the received data comprises simultaneous requests for the first application and for the second application; andat least one filter logic rule of the one or more filter logic rules identifies how the host computer system is to handle the simultaneous requests. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein managing, with the processor, data communication comprises: receiving data from the peripheral encoded information reading device through the physical interface;identifying, with a filter driver on the operating system, one or more applications to which the received data should be provided;identifying, with the filter driver, one or more virtual interfaces through which the received data should be provided; andproviding, with the filter driver, the received data through the identified one or more virtual interfaces to the identified one or more applications;wherein one or more filter logic rules applied by the filter drive are stored external to the filter drive. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: a driver of the operating system opens and owns the physical interface and exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the operating system;the first application is configured to utilize the first virtual interface for data communication with the peripheral encoded information reading device; andthe second application is configured to utilize the second virtual interface for data communication with the peripheral encoded information reading device. 9. A method of managing data communication, comprising: opening and controlling, with a processor, a physical interface of a host computer system, wherein (i) the physical interface is configured for communicating data between a peripheral device and applications executing on the host computer system and (ii) the applications comprise a first application and a second application;exposing, with the processor, a first virtual interface and a second virtual interface in the host computer system to an operating system of the host computer system, wherein (i) the operating system exposes the first virtual interface to the first application and the second virtual interface to the second application, (ii) the first virtual interface provides communication of data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface, and (iii) the second virtual interface provides communication of data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface; andmanaging, with the processor, data communication between the peripheral device and the applications executing on the host computer system according to filter logic rules, wherein the filter logic rules filter data from the peripheral device to the applications. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the filter logic rules are hard-coded into a filter program code executed by the processor. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the filter logic rules are stored external to a filter program code executed by the processor. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the filter logic rules comprise one or more scripts stored external to a filter program code executed by the processor. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the filter logic rules describe one or more of the following: a format of data from the peripheral device; instructions for handling custom events and/or procedures; and instructions for handling simultaneous virtual interface requests. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein: the peripheral device comprises an encoded information reading device configured to output a decoded message;the first application comprises a line of business application for receiving the decoded message from the encoded information reading device; andthe second application comprises a management application for managing the encoded information reading device. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein managing, with the processor, data communication comprises: receiving data from the peripheral device through the physical interface;identifying one or more applications to which the received data should be provided;identifying one or more virtual interfaces through which the received data should be provided; andproviding the received data through the identified one or more virtual interfaces to the identified one or more applications. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein; the peripheral device comprises an encoded information reading device configured to output a decoded message;data communicated between the peripheral device and the host computer system comprises the decoded message; andthe decoded message is communicated to a line of business application of the applications executing on the host computer system. 17. A system, comprising: an encoded information reading device for receiving and transmitting data;a host computer system in communication with the encoded information reading device, the host computer system comprising: an operating system;applications comprising a first application and a second application;a physical interface configured for communicating data between the encoded information reading device and the applications;a first virtual interface for providing communication of data between the encoded information reading device and the first application through the physical interface; anda second virtual interface for providing communication of data between the encoded information reading device and the second application through the physical interface; anda processor in communication with the host computer system, the processor being configured for: opening and controlling the physical interface;exposing the first virtual interface to the operating system and the first application;exposing the second virtual interface to the operating system and the second application;managing data communication between the peripheral device and the applications executing on the host computer system according to filter logic rules, wherein the filter logic rules filter data from the peripheral device to the applications. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the filter logic rules are hard-coded into a filter program code executed by the processor. 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the filter logic rules are stored external to a filter program code executed by the processor. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the filter logic rules comprise one or more scripts stored external to a filter program code executed by the processor. 21. The system of claim 17, wherein the filter logic rules describe one or more of the following: a format of data from the peripheral device; instructions for handling custom events and/or procedures; and instructions for handling simultaneous virtual interface requests. 22. The system of claim 17, wherein: the encoded information reading device is configured to output a decoded message;the first application comprises a line of business application for receiving the decoded message from the encoded information reading device; andthe second application comprises a management application for managing the encoded information reading device. 23. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured for: receiving data from the encoded information reading device through the physical interface;identifying one or more applications to which the received data should be provided;identifying one or more virtual interfaces through which the received data should be provided; andproviding the received data through the identified one or more virtual interfaces to the identified one or more applications.