Method and apparatus for configuring a computer system to operate with perhiperal devices
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a computer system to operate with a device, comprising:
- receiving an access request for the device;
if a driver for the device has not been previously loaded, loading the driver for the device;
creating an instance of the driver for the device;
attaching the instance so that the computer system is able to access the device; and
accessing the device to satisfy the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses a file system operation to drive the process of configuring a computer system to operate with a device. During operation, the system receives an access request for the device. If a driver for the device has not been previously loaded, the system loads the driver for the device. Next, the system creates an instance of the driver for the device and attaches the instance so that the computer system is able to access the device. Finally, the system accesses the device to satisfy the request. In a variation of this embodiment, the access request specifies a path for the device, wherein the path includes one or more path components. Before loading the driver, the system first parses the path to identify the driver for the device as well as an address for the device from a path component. The system uses this address to identify the device prior to creating the instance of the driver for the device.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a computer system to operate with a device, comprising:
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receiving an access request for the device;
if a driver for the device has not been previously loaded, loading the driver for the device;
creating an instance of the driver for the device;
attaching the instance so that the computer system is able to access the device; and
accessing the device to satisfy the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method to facilitate device configuration on-the-fly, the method comprising:
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receiving an access request for the device;
if a driver for the device has not been previously loaded, loading the driver for the device;
creating an instance of the driver for the device;
attaching the instance so that the computer system is able to access the device; and
accessing the device to satisfy the request. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus to facilitate device configuration on-the-fly, comprising:
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a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive an access request for a device;
a loading mechanism that is configured to load a driver for the device;
a creating mechanism that is configured to create an instance of the driver for the device;
an attaching mechanism that is configured to attach the instance. receiving an access request for the device so that the computer system is able to access the device; and
an accessing mechanism that is configured to access the device to satisfy the request. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification