<
operating system> A collection of
system calls,
kernel
resources, and kernel utility routines that can create, use,
and dismantle a
stream. A "
stream head" provides the
interface between the
stream and the user processes. Its
principal function is to process STREAMS-related user system
calls. A "
stream module" processes data that travel bewteen
the
stream head and driver. The "
stream end" provides the
services of an external input/output device or an internal
software driver. The internal software driver is commonly
called a
pseudo-device driver.
The STREAMS concept has been formalised in
Unix System V.
For example,
SVR4 implements
sockets and
pipes using
STREAMS, resulting in pipe(2) openning bidirectional pipes.
[
IBM AIX 3.2 Communication Programming Concepts, SC23-2206-03].
(1999-06-29)