OPERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF RUNNING THEREOF

1 . A method of running an operating system comprising:

loading a driver when the operating system is booted;

transmitting a call from an operating system component to a kernel component for a function table;

intercepting the call from the operating system component to the kernel component;

replacing a specific callout in the function table with a replacement callout to the driver;

supplying the amended function table to the operating system component;

invoking the replacement callout to the driver;

invoking the original callout to the kernel component for a second function table;

replacing a specific function call in the second function table with a replacement function call to the driver;

supplying the amended second function table to the operating system component;

invoking the replacement function call to the driver;

invoking the original function call to the kernel component for a result;

changing the received result to TRUE; and

supplying the replacement result to the operating system component.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the function call comprises a query as to whether a GDIPath should be used.

3 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

following supplying the replacement result to the operating system component, creating a shadow surface; and

supplying display data to the shadow surface.

4 . The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

accessing the display data on the shadow surface and supplying at least a portion of the accessed display data to an external display device.

5 . In a computer system having a processor and memory, an operating system comprising a driver, an operating system component and a kernel component, the operating system further comprising:

driver program logic arranged to load when the operating system is booted;

operating system component program logic arranged to transmit a call to the kernel component for a function table;

the driver program logic further arranged to:

(i) intercept the call from the operating system component program logic to the kernel component,

(ii) replace a specific callout in the function table with a replacement callout to the driver, and

(iii) supply the amended function table to the operating system component;

the operating system component program logic further arranged to invoke the replacement callout to the driver;

the driver program logic further arranged to:

(i) invoke the original callout to the kernel component for a second function table,

(ii) replace a specific function call in the second function table with a replacement function call to the driver, and

(iii) supply the amended second function table to the operating system component;

the operating system component program logic further arranged to invoke the replacement function call to the driver; and

the driver program logic further arranged to:

(i) invoke the original function call to the kernel component for a result,

(ii) change the received result to TRUE, and

(iii) supply the replacement result to the operating system component.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the function call comprises a query as to whether a GDIPath should be used.

7 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the operating system is further arranged, following the driver supplying the replacement result to the operating system component, to create a shadow surface and supply display data to the shadow surface.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the driver is further arranged, to access the display data on the shadow surface and supply at least a portion of the accessed display data to an external display device.

9 . A computer program product for use with a computer system executing operating system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied thereon, the program code comprising:

(A) program code for loading a driver when the operating system is booted;

(B) program code for transmitting a call from an operating system component to a kernel component for a function table;

(C) program code for intercepting the call from the operating system component to the kernel component;

(D) program code for replacing a specific callout in the function table with a replacement callout to the driver;

(E) program code for supplying the amended function table to the operating system component;

(F) program code for invoking the replacement callout to the driver;

(G) program code for invoking the original callout to the kernel component for a second function table;

(H) program code for replacing a specific function call in the second function table with a replacement function call to the driver;

(I) program code for supplying the amended second function table to the operating system component;

(J) program code for invoking the replacement function call to the driver;

(K) program code for invoking the original function call to the kernel component for a result;

(L) program code for changing the received result to TRUE; and

(M) program code for supplying the replacement result to the operating system component.

10 . The computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the function call comprises a query as to whether a GDIPath should be used.

11 . The computer program product according to claim 10 further comprising:

(N) program code for, following supplying the replacement result to the operating system component, creating a shadow surface; and

(O) program code for supplying display data to the shadow surface.