System for managing the configuration of a computer system

• US 5,809,329 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Short, Robert T., Santerre, Pierre-Yves, Lipe, Ralph A., Voth, David W., Enstrom, Mark R., Lichtman, Moshe, Lennon, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US08/480,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/700, 395/828, 395/835, 395/681
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A system for managing the configuration of devices of a computer system. Device information is obtained to uniquely identify each device and to describe the device characteristics associated with device operation. To obtain device information, a particular device is detected on a selected system bus and thereafter assigned an identification code that uniquely identifies the detected device. A system bus code, which uniquely identifies the selected system bus, is appended to the identification code, thereby forming a device identification code associated with the particular device. Logical configuration data, which supplies configuration requirements for device operation, is also obtained for the detected device. This data collection process is repeated until device information is obtained for each of the devices connected to the selected system bus. Resources are allocated to each device based on the device identification code and the logical configuration data. This resource allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of the resources by the devices. A device driver, which enables communications between the corresponding device and the computer system, is identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the device information. If the computer system contains more than one system bus, then the tasks of collecting device information, allocating resources, and identifying and loading device drivers are completed for each of the remaining system buses.

Claims

1. In a computer system characterized by resources, a method for configuring said resources for use by devices of said computer system, each of said devices connected to at least one of a plurality of system busses, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a particular one of said devices connected to a selected one of said system busses;

(b) assigning a device identification code to said particular device, wherein said device identification code uniquely identifies said particular device connected to said certain system bus;

(c) obtaining logical configuration data for said particular device, wherein said logical configuration data supplies configuration requirements for operating said particular device with said computer system;

(d) repeating said steps (a)-(c) for each of the remaining ones of said devices connected to said selected bus system;

(e) identifying a device driver for each of said devices in response to a corresponding device identification code, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system;

(f) allocating said resources for each of said devices in response to said device identification code and said logical configuration data associated with said devices to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by said devices;

(g) loading said device driver for each of said devices in response to allocating said resources; and

(h) repeating said steps (a)-(g) for each of the remaining ones of said system busses of said computer system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises:

identifying said selected system bus; and

isolating said particular device from said remaining devices.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of assigning a device identification code further comprises storing said device identification code within a selected one of a plurality of nodes of a hierarchical database, said selected node associated with said particular device, said hierarchical database maintained in system memory of said computer system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of obtaining said logical configuration data comprises storing said logical configuration data in said selected node of said hierarchical database.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of identifying said device driver comprises:

searching a computer database comprising a plurality of records to access a certain record corresponding to a primary one of said devices, said certain record defining a primary device driver in the event that said primary device driver is maintained by said computer system, said primary device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system; and

selecting said primary device driver.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises:

accessing said certain record of said computer database, said certain record further defining at least one compatible device driver in the event that one of said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said compatible device driver operative to support both said primary device and another one of said devices with said computer system; and

selecting one of said compatible device driver in the event that said primary device driver is not maintained by said computer system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises requesting a user of said computer system to supply a substitute device driver in the event that neither said primary device driver nor said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said substitute device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of requesting said user to supply said substitute device driver comprises supplying a user-readable statement via a display connected to said computer system.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating step comprises:

analyzing said device identification code and said logical configuration data to determine whether said devices require a potential conflicting use of said computer resources for operation of said devices with said computer system;

if at least two of said devices require use of identical ones of said computer resources for operation with said computer system, resolving said potential conflicting use of said computer resources in an iterative manner based upon said device identification code and said logical configuration data; and

assigning said computer resources for use by said devices.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step is initiated in response to events causing an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step is initiated in response to powering said computer system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said detecting step is further initiated in response to connecting another one of said devices to said selected system bus.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said detecting step is further initiated in response to removing one of said devices from said selected system bus.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said device identification code comprises a character string including ASCII characters to uniquely define said particular device and a system bus code that uniquely identifies said selected system bus.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein said logical configuration data comprises:

resource requirement information and resource dependency information,

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said particular device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said particular device with said computer system.

2. A system for automatically configuring a computer system, said computer system characterized by a system bus and a plurality of resources, said system comprising:

at least one device connected to said system bus, each device further connected to a memory storage device that stores device information for a corresponding device, said device information uniquely identifying said corresponding device and defining usage requirements of said resources for said corresponding device;

an enumerator, assigned to the system bus, operative to collect said device information from each memory storage device in response to certain events effecting an asynchronous change in the operating state of the computer system;

a plurality of arbitrators, each assigned to one of the resources, for assigning elements of said resources for each device in response to said collected device information to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by each device, for analyzing said collected device information for said selected device to determine whether said selected device requires a potential conflicting use of elements of said resources for operation with said computer system, and for resolving any potential conflicting use of said resource elements as required to allocate said resource elements to said selected device; and

a configuration manager, responsive to the collected device information and to the assigned resource elements, for controlling the configuration of the computer system.

52. The system of claim 2, wherein the configuration manager is further operative to identify a device driver for each device in response to the collected device information, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system.

54. The system of claim 2, wherein said enumerator collects device information from a selected one of the devices by detecting the selected device on said system bus and collecting said device information in response to detecting said selected device.

55. The system of claim 2, wherein said configuration manager stores said device information for said corresponding device in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of said computer system, said system memory comprising a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes, said device information for said corresponding device being stored within a selected one of said nodes.

56. The system of claim 2, wherein said device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein said identification code includes characters which uniquely define said corresponding device and said system bus code uniquely identifies said system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system.

3. In a computer system characterized by resources, a method for configuring said resources for use by devices of said computer system, each of said devices connected to at least one of a plurality of system busses, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting device information for each of said devices connected to a selected one of said system busses, said device information uniquely identifying a corresponding one of said devices, said device information further describing characteristics of said corresponding device;

(b) identifying a device driver for each of said devices in response to said device information, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system;

(c) allocating said resources for each of said devices in response to said device information to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by said devices;

(d) loading said device driver for each of said devices in response to allocating said resources; and

(e) repeating said steps (a)-(d) for each of the remaining ones of said system busses of said computer system.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said collecting step comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting a particular one of said devices connected to said selected system bus;

(b) assigning a device identification code to said particular device, wherein said device identification code uniquely identifies said particular device;

(c) obtaining logical configuration data for said particular device, wherein said logical configuration data supplies configuration requirements for operating said particular device with said computer system; and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for each of the remaining ones of said devices connected to said selected system bus.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said detecting step comprises:

identifying said selected system bus; and

isolating said particular device from said remaining devices.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said collecting step further comprises storing said device information in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of said computer system.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of identifying said device driver comprises:

searching a computer database comprising a plurality of records to access a certain record corresponding to a primary one of said devices, said certain record defining a primary device driver in the event that said primary device driver is maintained by said computer system, said primary device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system; and

selecting said primary device driver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises:

accessing said certain record of said computer database, said certain record further defining at least one compatible device driver in the event that one of said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said compatible device driver operative to support both said primary device and another one of said devices with said computer system; and

selecting one of said compatible device driver in the event that said primary device driver is not maintained by said computer system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises requesting a user of said computer system to supply a substitute device driver in the event that neither said primary device driver nor said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said substitute device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of requesting said user to supply said substitute device driver comprises supplying a user-readable statement via a display connected to said computer system.

16. The method of claim 3, wherein said allocating step comprises:

analyzing said device information to determine whether said devices require a potential conflicting use of said computer resources for operation of said devices with said computer system;

if at least two of said devices require use of identical ones of said computer resources for operation with said computer system, resolving said potential conflicting use of said computer resources in an iterative manner based upon said device information; and

assigning said computer resources for use by said devices.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein said collecting step is initiated in response to events causing an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said events include at least one of the following:

powering said computer system, connecting another one of said devices to one of said system busses, and removing one of said devices from one of said system busses.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein said device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein said identification code includes characters which uniquely define said corresponding device and said system bus code uniquely identifies said selected system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system.

4. In a computer system characterized by resources, a method for configuring said resources for use by devices of said computer system, each of said devices connected to at least one of a plurality of system busses, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a particular one of said devices connected to a selected one of said system busses;

(b) assigning a device identification code to said particular device, wherein said device identification code uniquely identifies said particular device connected to said certain system bus;

(c) obtaining logical configuration data for said particular device, wherein said logical configuration data supplies configuration requirements for operating said particular device with said computer system;

(d) repeated said steps (a)-(c) for each of the remaining ones of said devices connected to said selected bus system;

(e) identifying a device driver for each of said devices in response to corresponding device identification code, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system;

(f) allocating said resources for each of said devices in response to said device identification code and said logical configuration data associated with said devices to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by said devices;

(g) loading said device driver for each of said devices in response to allocating said resources;

(h) determining whether said particular device is another selected one of said system busses; and

(i) if said particular device is the other selected one of said system busses, then repeating said steps (a)-(g) for said devices connected to the other selected system bus.

57. The method of claim 4, wherein said detecting step comprises:

identifying said selected system bus; and

isolating said particular device from said remaining devices.

58. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of assigning a device identification code further comprises storing said device identification code within a selected one of a plurality of nodes of a hierarchical database, said selected node associated with said particular device, said hierarchical database maintained in system memory of said computer system.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said step of obtaining said logical configuration data comprises storing said logical configuration data in said selected node of said hierarchical database.

60. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of identifying said device driver comprises:

searching a computer database comprising a plurality of records to access a certain record corresponding to a primary one of said devices, said certain record defining a primary device driver in the event that said primary device driver is maintained by said computer system, said primary device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system; and

selecting said primary device driver.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises:

accessing said certain record of said computer database, said certain record further defining at least one compatible device driver in the event that one of said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said compatible device driver operative to support both said primary device and another one of said devices with said computer system; and

selecting one of said compatible device driver in the event that said primary device driver is not maintained by said computer system.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said step of identifying said device driver further comprises requesting a user of said computer system to supply a substitute device driver in the event that neither said primary device driver nor said compatible device driver is maintained by said computer system, said substitute device driver operative to support said primary device with said computer system.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said step of requesting said user to supply said substitute device driver comprises supplying a user-readable statement via a display connected to said computer system.

64. The method of claim 4, wherein said allocating step comprises:

analyzing said device identification code and said logical configuration data to determine whether said devices require a potential conflicting use of said computer resources for operation of said devices with said computer system;

if at least two of said devices require use of identical ones of said computer resources for operation with said computer system, resolving said potential conflicting use of said computer resources in an iterative manner based upon said device identification code and said logical configuration data; and

assigning said computer resources for use by said devices.

65. The method of claim 4, wherein said detecting step is initiated in response to events causing an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system.

66. The method of claim 4, wherein said detecting step is initiated in response to powering said computer system.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said detecting step is further initiated in response to connecting another one of said devices to said selected system bus.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said detecting step is further initiated in response to removing one of said devices from said selected system bus.

69. The method of claim 4, wherein said device identification code comprises a character string including ASCII characters to uniquely define said particular device and a system bus code that uniquely identifies said selected system bus.

70. The method of claim 4, wherein said logical configuration data comprises:

resource requirement information and resource dependency information,

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said particular device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said particular device with said computer system.

5. A system for automatically configuring a computer system, said computer system characterized by a plurality of system busses and a plurality of resources, said system comprising:

at least one device connected to a selected one of said system busses, each device further connected to a memory storage device that stores device information for a corresponding device, said device information uniquely identifying said corresponding device and defining usage requirements of said resources for said corresponding device;

another selected system bus connected to said selected system bus; and

means for configuring each device connected to each system bus in response to certain events effecting an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system, said configuration means operative to collect said device information from each memory storage device and to allocate said resources for each device connected to each system bus in response to said device information to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by each device.

34. The system of claim 5 further comprising means for identifying a device driver for each device in response to collecting said device information, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system.

36. The system of claim 5, wherein said configuration means comprises:

detection means for detecting a selected device on said selected system bus;

collection means for collecting said device information in response to detecting said selected device; and

arbitration means for analyzing said device information for said selected device to determine whether said selected device requires a potential conflicting use of said resources for operation with said computer system and for resolving said potential conflicting use of said resources as required to allocate said resources to said selected device.

37. The system of claim 5, wherein said configuration means stores said device information for said corresponding device in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of said computer system.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said system memory comprises a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes, said device information for said corresponding device being stored within a selected one of said nodes.

39. The system of claim 5, wherein said device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein said identification code includes characters which uniquely define said corresponding device and said system bus code uniquely identifies said selected system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system.

6. A system for automatically configuring a computer system, said computer system having a plurality of system busses and a plurality of resources, said system comprising:

at least one device connected to a select one of said system busses, each device further connected to a memory storage device that stores device information for a corresponding device, said device information uniquely identifying said corresponding device and defining usage requirements of said resources for said corresponding device; and

a plurality of enumerators, each assigned to one of the system busses, for collecting said device information from each memory storage device in response to certain events effecting an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system;

a plurality of arbitrators, each assigned to one of the resources, for assigning elements of said resources for each device in response to said collected device information to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by each device; and

a configuration manager, responsive to the collected device information and to the assigned resource elements, for controlling the configuration of the computer system.

71. The system of claim 6, wherein the configuration manager is further operative to identify a device driver for each device in response to the collected device information, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system.

73. The system of claim 6, wherein a selected one of said enumerators assigned to said selected system bus collects device information from a selected one of the devices by detecting the selected device on said selected system bus and collecting said device information in response to detecting said selected device;

and

each arbitrator analyzes said collected device information for said selected device to determine whether said selected device requires a potential conflicting use of elements of said resources for operation with said computer system and resolves any potential conflicting use of said resource elements as required to allocate said resource elements to said selected device.

74. The system of claim 6, wherein said configuration manager stores said device information for said corresponding device in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of said computer system, said system memory comprising a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes, said device information for said corresponding device being stored within a selected one of said nodes.

75. The system of claim 6, wherein said device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein said identification code includes characters which uniquely define said corresponding device and said system bus code uniquely identifies said selected system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system.

7. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for configuring resources for use by devices of a computer system, each of the devices connected to at least one of a plurality of system busses, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the programmed computer system, performs the steps of:

(a) collecting device information for each of the devices connected to a selected one of the system busses, the device information uniquely identifying a corresponding one of the devices, the device information further describing characteristics of the corresponding device;

(b) identifying a device driver for each of the devices in response to the device information, the device driver operative to enable communications between the corresponding device and the computer system;

(c) allocating the resources for each of the devices in response to the device information to prevent a conflicting use of the resources by the devices; and

(d) loading the device driver for each of the devices in response to allocating the resources;

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) for each of the remaining ones of the system busses.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the collecting step comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting a particular one of the devices connected to the selected system bus;

(b) assigning a device identification code to the particular device, wherein the device identification code uniquely identifies the particular device;

(c) obtaining logical configuration data for the particular device, wherein the logical configuration data supplies configuration requirements for operating the particular device with the computer system; and

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for each of the remaining ones of the devices connected to the selected system bus.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the detecting step comprises:

identifying the selected system bus, and

isolating the particular device from the remaining devices; and

the collecting step comprises;

storing the device information in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of the computer system.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the step of identifying the device driver comprises:

searching a computer database comprising a plurality of records to access a certain record corresponding to a primary one of the devices, the certain record defining a primary device driver in the event that the primary device driver is maintained by the computer system and at least one compatible device driver in the event that one of the compatible device driver is maintained by the computer system, the primary device driver operative to support the primary device with the computer system and the compatible device driver operative to support both the primary device and another one of the devices with the computer system;

selecting the primary device driver in the event that the primary device driver is maintained by the computer system,

otherwise, selecting one of the compatible device drivers.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the step of identifying the device driver further comprises requesting a user of the computer system to supply a substitute device driver in the event that neither the primary device driver nor the compatible device driver is maintained by the computer system, the substitute device driver operative to support the primary device with the computer system.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the allocating step comprises:

analyzing the device information to determine whether the devices require a potential conflicting use of the computer resources for operation of the devices with the computer system;

if at least two of the devices require use of identical ones of the computer resources for operation with the computer system, resolving the potential conflicting use of the computer resources in an iterative manner based upon the device information; and

assigning the computer resources for use by the devices.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the collecting step is initiated in response to events causing an asynchronous change in the operating state of the computer system.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein the identification code includes characters which uniquely define the corresponding device and the system bus code uniquely identifies the system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

the resource requirement information defines certain resources of the computer system which are necessary for operation of the corresponding device with the computer system, at least one of the resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

the resource dependency information defines a particular combination of the resource elements which are necessary for operation of the corresponding device with the computer system.

8. A system for automatically configuring a computer system, said computer system characterized by a system bus and a plurality of resources, said system comprising:

at least one device connected to said system bus, each device further connected to a memory storage device that stores device information for a corresponding device, said device information uniquely identifying said corresponding device and defining usage requirements of said resources for said corresponding device; and

an enumerator, assigned to the system bus, operative to collect said device information from each memory storage device in response to certain events effecting an asynchronous change in the operating state of said computer system;

a plurality of arbitrators, each assigned to one of the resources, for assigning elements of said resources for each device in response to said collected device information to prevent a conflicting use of said resources by each device; and

a configuration manager, responsive to the collected device information and to the assigned resource elements, for controlling the configuration of the computer system.

47. The system of claim 8, wherein the configuration manager is further operative to identify a device driver for each device in response to the collected device information, said device driver operative to enable communications between said corresponding device and said computer system.

49. The system of claim 8, wherein said enumerator collects device information from a selected one of the devices by detecting the selected device on said system bus and collecting said device information in response to detecting said selected device;

and

each arbitrator analyzes said collected device information for said selected device to determine whether said selected device requires a potential conflicting use of elements of said resources for operation with said computer system and resolves any potential conflicting use of said resource elements as required to allocate said resource elements to said selected device.

50. The system of claim 8, wherein said configuration manager stores said device information for said corresponding device in a hierarchical arrangement within a system memory of said computer system, said system memory comprising a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes, said device information for said corresponding device being stored within a selected one of said nodes.

51. The system of claim 8, wherein said device information comprises:

an identification code and a system bus code, wherein said identification code includes characters which uniquely define said corresponding device and said system bus code uniquely identifies said system bus; and

resource requirement information and resource dependency information, wherein

said resource requirement information defines certain resources of said computer system which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system, at least one of said resources comprising a plurality of resource elements, and

said resource dependency information defines a particular combination of said resource elements which are necessary for operation of said corresponding device with said computer system.

35. The system of 34 further comprising means for loading said device driver for each device in response to allocating said resources.

48. The system of 47 further comprising a device driver loader for loading said device driver for each device in response to allocating said resources.

53. The system of 52 further comprising a device driver loader for loading said device driver for each device in response to allocating said resources.

72. The system of 71 further comprising a device driver loader for loading said device driver for each device in response to allocating said resources.