Definition

GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE CLASS SUBJECT MATTER

This class provides for an electrical computer or digital data processing system or corresponding data processing method including apparatus or steps for exchanging data or messages between two executing programs or processes, independent of the hardware used in the communication.

(1) Note. Classification herein requires more than nominal recitation of the data or message exchange between two executing programs or processes. (2) Note. If the programs or processes are drawn to specific processing environments such as database/file processing, business processing, or networking, these programs or processes are classified elsewhere.

SCOPE OF THE CLASS

This class is limited to digital data processing systems and functions for communication between programs or processes.

Hardware mechanisms such as bus transaction processing and data transfer between computers and digital data processing systems are classified elsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES

A. Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems, Related Systems and Functions in General

This class is for communication between programs or processes. Communication between computers or digital data processing systems and peripherals is classified elsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.

B. Communication Classes

The basic distinctions between this class and the communications classes are:

(A) The subclasses here include a digital data processing system or computer, rather than other data communications devices, and

(B) The communication herein is between programs or processes in a digital data processing system or computer. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.

Overall combinations directed to a system for performing communications functions only is classified in the appropriate communication class. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below for examples.

Preprocessing or postprocessing of signals in a data transfer to effect a particular communications method (e.g., modulating, demodulating, encoding, decoding, or phase locking) is classified in the appropriate communications class. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below for examples.

C. Other Classes

Subject matter relating to transmission or interconnection systems not classifiable herein and not appropriate for the communication classes should be classified in the residual class for all transmission or interconnection systems. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.