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

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Object Technology Licensing Corporation (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ross, Patrick Delaney
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US08/608,326
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 395/651-653, 395/284
• US Class Current: 710/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A hardware configuration system for enabling automatic configuration of hardware in a computer system. First, at system ipl, the particular computer system is identified based on its identification number. Then, a specific software component object is instantiated based on the computer system. All of the details of the standard computer system are predefined in the software component object based on supported hardware and peripherals for the specific hardware. Then a test is performed to determine if additional hierarchies are present. Each hierarchy has an associated identification number. If so, then for each hierarchy, the hierarchy is processed as discussed above. The result is a set of instantiated objects completely specifying the hardware environment.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(j) object-oriented processing means for instantiating a software object for each hardware module object instantiated by the second and the third instantiating means.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the second instantiating means further comprises means for identifying one of the plurality of first lower level components based on an identification number stored in the one first lower level component.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of hardware components comprises means for storing an identification number in logic gates located on the each hardware component.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the second instantiating means creates:

a first one of the hardware module objects to represent a monitor;

a second one of the hardware module objects to represent a printer;

a third one of the hardware module objects to represent a keyboard;

a fourth one of the hardware module objects to represent a pointing device;

a fifth one of the hardware module objects to represent a modem;

a sixth one of the hardware module objects to represent a card;

a seventh one of the hardware module objects to represent a disk drive;

an eighth one of the hardware module objects to represent a scanner; and

a ninth one of the hardware module objects to represent a facsimile.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hardware hierarchy has a plurality of root components corresponding to processors and the apparatus further comprises means for configuring each of the root components.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the hardware hierarchy has a plurality of root components corresponding to computer network nodes end the apparatus further comprises means for configuring each of the root components.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second lower level component has further hardware components connected thereto and the apparatus further comprises means for processing the further hardware components.

9. A method 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 method comprising the steps of:

(a) 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) instantiating for the root component, a machine-specific object from a first one of the plurality of machine classes based on an identification number stored in the computer system;

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

(d) instantiating a hardware module object from one of the machine classes for each of the plurality of first lower level components using the first lower level component identities;

(e) 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) instantiating a hardware module object from one of the machine classes for the second lower level component using the hardware signature;

(g) 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) 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) passing a hardware interrupt down the hierarchical tree structure to a software object corresponding to the hardware component.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(j) instantiating a software object for each hardware module object instantiated in steps (d) and (f).

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises the step of:

(c1) identifying one of the plurality of first lower level components based on an identification number stored in the one first lower level component.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of:

(k) storing the identification number in logic gates located on the each hardware component.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the hardware hierarchy has a plurality of root component corresponding to multiple processors and the method further comprises the step of configuring each of the root components.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the hierarchy has a plurality of root components corresponding to computer network nodes and the method further comprises the step of configuring each of the root components.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having a computer program thereon for automatically configuring a computer system having 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 computer program including;

(a) class information defining a plurality of machine classes, each of the plurality of machine classes corresponding to one of the plurality of hardware components and having code defining a first function for configuring the one hardware component and a second function for identifying hardware components connected to the one hardware component;

(b) first means for instantiating for the root component a machine-specific object from a first one of the plurality of machine classes from an identification number stored on the computer system;

(c) means for calling the first function in the machine-specific object to configure the root component and for calling the second function in the machine-specific object 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 for calling the first function in each of the hardware module objects to configure the corresponding first lower level component and for calling the second function in each of the hardware module objects 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 and 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.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the class information includes a machine class corresponding to the root component and having data defining a particular baseline computer system having a type of input bus included in the baseline computer system;

data defining a type of output bus included in the baseline computer system; and

data defining hardware devices included in the baseline computer system.