Method for managing the assignment of device drivers in a computer system

• US 5,819,107 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• 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:
  US08/480,761
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 395/821, 395/828, 395/837, 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 assignment of device drivers to devices of a computer system. The computer system can maintain device-related information for a primary device and for devices that are "compatible" with the primary device. This device information supplies an indication of whether a device driver intended for primary use with a device is maintained by the computer system. Moreover, the device information provides an indication of whether one or more device drivers compatible with the primary device are maintained by the computer system. During assignment of device drivers to devices of the computer system, the device information is examined to determine whether the intended device driver for the primary device is available to support the operations of that device. If not, the device information is examined to determine whether a device driver for a device that is compatible with the primary device is available for supporting computer operations of the primary device. In this event, if the device information lists more than one device that is compatible with the primary device, then the compatible device having the highest priority or ranking can be selected and the device driver for the selected device is used to support the operations of the primary device.

Claims

1. A method for identifying one of a plurality of device drivers maintained by a computer system, said computer system including a database,

said database containing a plurality of records, each of said records containing a device identification field and a compatible device identification field,

said device identification field operative for recording a primary identification code for identifying a primary device operable with said computer system, and

said compatible device identification field operative for recording said primary identification code, and for recording a plurality of compatible identification codes identifying compatible devices, each of said compatible devices being functionally compatible with said primary device,

said compatible device identification field further operative for recording priority data for said compatible devices, said priority data identifying a relative ranking for each of said compatible devices, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) searching said computer database to locate a selected one of said records containing a certain one of said primary identification code within said primary device identification field;

(b) reviewing said selected record to determine if said compatible device identification field contains said certain primary identification code;

(c) if said compatible device identification field contains said certain primary identification code, retrieving from said computer system a certain one of said device drivers corresponding to said certain primary identification code;

(d) if said compatible device identification field does not contain said certain primary identification code, reviewing said selected record to determine if said compatible device identification field contains at least one of said compatible identification codes;

(e) if said compatible device identification field contains at least one of said compatible identification codes, selecting one of said compatible identification codes for said compatible device that has the highest one of said rankings; and

(f) retrieving from said computer system another one of said device drivers corresponding to said selected compatible identification code.

2. The of claim 1 further comprising the step of supplying an indication that a corresponding device driver for said primary device is not available on said computer system if said compatible device identification field does not contain at least one of said compatible identification codes.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of installing a substitute device driver on the computer system in response to the indication that the corresponding device driver is not available on said computer system, the substitute device driver operative with both the primary device and at least a selected one of the compatible devices.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of updating the selected record by adding the compatible identification code for the selected compatible device within the compatible device identification field of the selected record in response to installing the substitute device driver on the computer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of loading the certain device driver corresponding to the certain primary identification code in response to retrieving the certain device driver, and loading the device driver corresponding to the selected compatible identification code in response to retrieving the compatible device driver.

6. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for identifying one of a plurality of device drivers maintained for use by a device of a computer, the computer including a database maintained in a memory storage device, the database containing a plurality of records, each of the records containing a device identification field and a compatible device identification field, the device identification field operative for recording a primary identification code for identifying a primary device operable with the computer, and the compatible device identification field operative for recording the primary identification code, and for recording a plurality of compatible identification codes identifying compatible devices, each of the compatible devices being functionally compatible with the primary device, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the programmed computer, performs the steps of:

(a) searching the computer database to locate a selected one of the records containing a certain one of the primary identification code within the primary device identification field, the certain primary identification code assigned to identify a selected primary device;

(b) reviewing the selected record to determine if the compatible device identification field contains the certain primary identification code;

(c) if the compatible device identification field contains the certain primary identification code, retrieving from the computer a certain one of the device drivers corresponding to the certain primary identification code, the certain device driver operative with the selected primary device;

(d) if the compatible device identification field does not contain the certain primary identification code, reviewing the selected record to determine if the compatible device identification field contains at least one of the compatible identification codes;

(e) if the compatible device identification field contains at least one of the compatible identification codes, selecting one of the compatible identification codes; and

(f) retrieving from the computer a selected one of the device drivers corresponding to the selected compatible identification code, the selected device driver operative with the selected primary device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the program module comprises further instructions which, when executed by the programmed computer, performs the step of loading the certain device driver corresponding to the certain primary identification code in response to retrieving the certain device driver, and loading the selected device driver corresponding to the selected compatible identification code in response to retrieving the selected compatible device driver.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the compatible device identification field can record priority data for the compatible devices, the priority data identifying a relative ranking for each of the compatible devices, and the step of selecting one of the compatible identification codes comprises selecting the compatible identification code for the compatible device having the highest one of the rankings.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the compatible identification codes for each record are ranked ordered within the compatible device identification field based on the priority assigned to each of the corresponding compatible devices.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the program module comprises further instructions which, when executed by the programmed computer, performs the steps:

Generating a message in the event that the compatible device identification field does not contain the certain primary identification code and at least one compatible identification code, the message providing an indication of a need for installing on the computer a substitute device driver for use with the selected primary device corresponding to the certain primary identification code, the substitute device driver further operative with at least a selected one of the compatible devices; and

placing the compatible identification code for the selected compatible device within the compatible device identification field of the selected record in response to installation of the substitute device driver on the computer.

11. A computer operative to execute a program module for identifying one of a plurality of device drivers maintained by the computer, comprising:

a processing device;

a memory, coupled to the processing device, for storing the program module;

a database containing a plurality of records, each of the records containing a device identification field and a compatible device identification field, the device identification field operative for recording a primary identification code for identifying a primary device operable with the computer, and the compatible device identification field operative for recording the primary identification code, and for recording a plurality of compatible identification codes identifying compatible devices, each of the compatible devices being functionally compatible with the primary device, and

the processing device, responsive to instructions of the program module, operative to;

(a) search the computer database to locate a selected one of the records containing a certain one of the primary identification code within the primary device identification field;

(b) review the selected record to determine if the compatible device identification field contains the certain primary identification code;

(c) if the compatible device identification field contains the certain primary identification code, load one of the device drivers corresponding to the certain primary identification code;

(d) if the compatible device identification field does not contain the certain primary identification code, reviewing the selected record to determine if the compatible device identification field contains at least one of the compatible identification codes;

(e) if the compatible device identification field contains at least one of the compatible identification codes, selecting one of the compatible identification codes for the compatible devices; and

(f) load one of the device drivers corresponding to the selected compatible identification code.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein the compatible device identification field can record priority data for the compatible devices, the priority data identifying a relative ranking for each of the compatible devices.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein the processor selects one of the compatible identification codes by selecting the compatible identification code for the compatible device having the highest one of the rankings.

14. The computer of claim 12, wherein the compatible identification codes are ranked-ordered within the compatible device identification field based on the priority data assigned to each of the corresponding compatible devices.

15. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processor generates a message in the event that the compatible device identification field does not contain the certain primary identification code and at least one compatible identification code, the message presented on an output device connected to the processor and providing an indication of a need for installing a substitute device driver for use with the primary device corresponding to the certain primary identification code.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein one of the compatible device identification codes for the compatible device corresponding to the substitute device driver is placed with the compatible device identification field in response to installation of the substitute device driver on the computer.

17. A method for identifying one of a plurality of device drivers maintained by a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) searching a database comprising records, the database maintained in a memory storage device of the computer, each of the records identifying a primary device operable with the computer and compatible devices functionally compatible with the primary device,

(b) locating a selected one of the records for the primary device;

(c) reviewing the selected record to determine if one of the device drivers is assigned for use with the primary device and is available for operation with the primary device;

(d) if so, retrieving the device driver designated for operation with the primary device;

(e) otherwise, reviewing the selected record to determine if a device driver is assigned for use with at least one compatible device compatible with the primary device and is available for operation with the primary device;

(f) if so, then selecting the device driver assigned to the compatible device compatible with the primary device and available for operation with the primary device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each compatible device associated with a selected primary device is rank-ordered based on degree of compatibility with the selected primary device, and the step of selecting the device driver for the compatible device comprises selecting the compatible device having the highest ranking.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a message is generated in the event that neither the device driver assigned to the primary device nor at least one device driver for another device operable with the certain primary device driver is available for use with the primary device, the message providing an indication of a need for installing a substitute device driver compatible with the primary device.

20. A method for assigning a device driver to a peripheral device that is functionally connected to a computer system, comprising the steps of:

searching for a primary device driver for the peripheral device;

if the primary device driver for the peripheral device is located, assigning the primary device driver to the peripheral device regardless of whether the primary device driver is already assigned to another peripheral device;

if the primary device driver for the peripheral device is not located, searching for a first compatible device driver for the peripheral device;

if the first compatible device driver for the peripheral device is located, assigning the first compatible device driver to the peripheral device regardless of whether the first compatible device driver is already assigned to another peripheral device;

if the first compatible device driver for the peripheral device is not located, searching for a second compatible device driver for the peripheral device, the second compatible device driver having a lower assigned priority than the first compatible device driver; and

if the second compatible device driver for the peripheral device is located, assigning the second compatible device driver to the peripheral device regardless of whether the second compatible device driver is already assigned to another peripheral device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the step of searching for a primary device driver comprises the steps of,

searching a database comprising a plurality of records, each record containing a device identification field and a compatible device identification field,

locating a primary device code associated with the peripheral device in the device identification field of a certain record of the database, and

searching for a primary device driver associated with the primary device code; and

the step of searching for a compatible device driver comprises the steps of,

locating a compatible device code associated with the peripheral device in the compatible device identification field of the certain record of the database, and

searching for a compatible device driver associated with the compatible device code.