Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Richard A Zatorski

John Johnson

Gregory Charles Onufer

Srinivasan Sabramanian

A computer system including a storage device, a first and second device driver, and a nexus driver. The storage device has multiple bit positions, and is coupled to a set of electrical terminals. A first portion of the electrical terminals is adapted for coupling to a first device, and a second portion of the electrical terminals is adapted for coupling to a second device. Each device driver controls a respective device by generating an access to the storage device, and writing a value to a respective portion of the bit positions. The nexus device driver is coupled between the first and second device drivers and the storage device, and arbitrates between the first and second device drivers for access to the storage device.

System and method for controlling multiple devices via general purpose input/output (GPIO) hardware

A method and system to allow user applications can access hardware platform-specific configuration information in a generic way. A platform independent framework lies on a layer that interfaces with the operating system layer. Accordingly, when a platform is changed, the operating system layer is notified of the change to facilitate informing the user of the change. This framework also has a plug-in publishing interface that is used to develop platform-specific modules to publish or export hardware configurations to other users. In another embodiment, this framework has a user interface that allows the user to make the necessary changes to the system management and hardware diagnostic tools whenever the platform is changed to ensure that the tools function correctly.

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Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Richard A Zatorski