DOS Protected Mode Interface

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

DOS Protected Mode Interface
DPMI

   (DPMI) The method which {Microsoft} prescribes for a {DOS}
   program to access {extended memory} under a {multitasking}
   environment, e.g. {Microsoft Windows}.  This service is
   provided by the HIMEM.SYS driver on {IBM PCs}.

   The DPMI specification was finalized in 1990.  The
   specification itself is available from {Intel Literature
   Sales}.

   VCPI (Virtual Control Program Interface), which was an
   alternative, and incompatible method for doing the same thing.

   ["Windows 3.1 Secrets", Brian Livingston, 1992, ISBN
   1-878058-43-6, pages 280-281 and 302].

   (1995-01-12)