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Method and apparatus for automatically configuring computer system hardware and software

  • US 5,675,748 A
  • Filed: 03/08/1996
  • Issued: 10/07/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for configuring a computer system in response to a configuration request, the computer system having a memory means and a plurality of hardware components connected in a hardware hierarchy having a root component, a plurality of first lower level components and at least one second lower level component, the apparatus comprising:

  • (a) means for storing in the memory means class information defining a plurality of machine classes, each of the plurality of machine classes corresponding to one of the plurality of hardware components;

    (b) first means responsive to the configuration request and to an identification number stored in the computer system for instantiating for the root component a machine-specific object from a first one of the plurality of machine classes;

    (c) means using the machine-specific object to configure the mot component and to generate an identity for each of the plurality of first lower level components;

    (d) second means responsive to the identity for instantiating a hardware module object from one of the machine classes for each of the plurality of first lower level components;

    (e) means using each of the hardware module objects to configure the corresponding first lower level component and to generate a hardware signature for the second lower level component; and

    (f) third means responsive to the hardware signature for instantiating a hardware module object from one of the machine classes for the second lower level component;

    (g) means for storing in the memory class information defining a plurality of software classes, each of the plurality of software classes corresponding to one of the plurality of hardware components;

    (h) means responsive to the configuration request cooperating with the first second and third instantiating means for instantiating a software object for each of the machine-specific object and hardware module objects, the software objects being arranged in a software hierarchical tree structure extending from a root software object; and

    (i) means in the root software object responsive to a hardware interrupt generated by one of the hardware components for passing the hardware interrupt down the hierarchical tree structure to a software object corresponding to the hardware component.

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