Storing dynamically loaded device drivers on a mass storage device to support access to removable computer cards
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a processor, a system memory, a mass storage memory device and an interface for receiving a removable system resource, a process for dynamically configuring device drivers of removable computer system resources, said process comprising the steps of:
- configuring the system memory in a bootstrap initialization; and
after said bootstrap initialization while an application program is running and prior to any subsequent bootstrap initialization, performing the following steps,(a) receiving a removable system resource at the interface;
(b) retrieving a device driver identifier from the removable system resource;
(c) copying a device driver corresponding to said device driver identifier from the mass storage memory device to the system memory; and
(d) executing said device driver from the system memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Device drivers for removable system resources are stored on a mass storage device to provide dynamic device driver configuration for a computer system. By storing device drivers on a mass storage device, the device drivers need not be stored on their associated feature card and they can be easily updated as changes are required. The computer system comprises a processor, a system memory, a mass storage memory and an interface for receiving removable system resources (generally denoted feature cards or cards). Each feature card has a card information structure (CIS) area. The CIS includes one or more card identification fields that each hold a card identifier. The card identifier is the same for every feature card of a particular type, but it is unique for each different type of feature card. The mass storage device of the computer system has a lookup table which uses the card unique identifiers to map each type of feature card that will be used by the system to an associated device driver for controlling the feature card. Each device driver is stored on the mass storage device. The device driver for a particular feature card is copied into computer system memory upon insertion of the feature card into the computer system. The device driver may then be activated by the processor.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a processor, a system memory, a mass storage memory device and an interface for receiving a removable system resource, a process for dynamically configuring device drivers of removable computer system resources, said process comprising the steps of:
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configuring the system memory in a bootstrap initialization; and after said bootstrap initialization while an application program is running and prior to any subsequent bootstrap initialization, performing the following steps, (a) receiving a removable system resource at the interface; (b) retrieving a device driver identifier from the removable system resource; (c) copying a device driver corresponding to said device driver identifier from the mass storage memory device to the system memory; and (d) executing said device driver from the system memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system having a processor, a system memory, a mass storage memory device and an interface for receiving a removable system resource, an apparatus for dynamically configuring device drivers of removable computer system resources, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for configuring the system memory in a bootstrap initialization; (b) means for receiving a removable system resource at the interface; (c) means for retrieving a device driver identifier from the removable system resource; (d) means for copying a device driver corresponding to said device driver identifier from the mass storage memory device to the system memory; and (e) means for executing said device driver from the system memory, said elements (b) through (e) being operable after said bootstrap initialization while an application program is running and prior to any subsequent bootstrap initialization. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification