Methods and apparatus for self describing devices

• US 7,237,101 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schneider, Bengt-Olaf, Dono, Nicholas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Eric
• Application Number:
  US09/503,067
• Time in Patent Office: 2,691 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for facilitating the integration of devices, such as hardware components, with a computer operating system or the like. Contemplated herein are self-describing devices that serve to eliminate one or more intermediate steps commonly encountered heretofore.

Claims

1. A self-describing peripheral device for being integrated with a computer operating system, said device comprising:

at least one hardware component resident in said device;

at least one description subsystem resident in said device and associated with said at least one hardware component;

said at least one description subsystem being adapted to facilitate integration of said device with a computer operating system;

said at least one description subsystem comprising interface logic for interpreting commands received over an interface between said device and a computer operating system, wherein said interface logic is adapted to determine if said device is know to said operating system, and if said device is not known to said operating system, provide a reference to a network location where a recent version of a device driver is obtainable;

said interface logic is further adapted to assist said computer operating system in obtaining a copy of the device driver for installation in said device; and

wherein the currency of said installed device driver is periodically checked based upon the volatility of said driver and if a more recent device driver is available, said more recent device driver is installed in said device.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

non-volatile memory;

said interface logic being adapted to control said non-volatile memory.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said interface logic is adapted to facilitate identification of said device.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a device driver;

said interface logic being adapted to facilitate the provision of information to a computer operating system relating to the version of said device driver.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said interface logic is adapted to facilitate the updating of a network location at which a recent version of a device driver is obtainable.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said interface logic is adapted to facilitate the updating of device driver information stored on said device.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a locally stored device driver, stored on said device;

said interface logic being adapted to compare said locally stored device driver with a remotely stored device driver so as to determine which of said device drivers is of a newer version and to prompt usage of the newer version.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a locally stored device driver, stored on said device;

said interface logic being adapted to prompt usage of said locally stored device driver if a remotely stored device driver is not accessible.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a locally stored device driver, stored on said device;

said interface logic being adapted to compare said locally stored device driver with a remotely stored device driver at predetermined time intervals so as to determine which of said device drivers is of a newer version.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a printer.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a modem.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a graphics card.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a sound card.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a IDE disk controller.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a SCSI disk controller.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a network controller.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

said interface logic is further adapted to query a computer user whether to initiate a low-bandwidth transfer of the device driver upon recognition of a low-bandwidth connection.

18. A method of integrating a self-describing peripheral device with a computer operating system, said device comprising:

providing at least one hardware component to be resident in said device;

providing at least one description subsystem to be resident in said device and associated with said at least one hardware component;

adapting said at least one description subsystem to facilitate integration of said device with a computer operating system, said at least one description subsystem comprising interface logic for interpreting commands received over an interface between said device and a computer operating system;

facilitating integration of said device with a computer operating system via said at least one description subsystem, wherein said facilitating of integration comprises determining if said device is know to said operating system, and if said device is not known to said operating system, providing a reference to a network location where a recent version of a device driver is obtainable and assisting said computer operating system in obtaining a copy of the device driver for installation in said device; and

wherein the currency of said installed device driver is periodically checked based upon the volatility of said driver and if a more recent device driver is available, said more recent device driver is installed in said device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said facilitating of integration comprises facilitating identification of said device.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing a device driver associated with said device;

said facilitating of integration comprising facilitating the provision of information to a computer operating system relating to the version of said device driver.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said facilitating of integration comprises the updating of a network location at which a recent version of a device driver is obtainable.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said facilitating of integration comprises facilitating the updating of device driver information stored on said device.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

storing a device driver locally on said device;

said facilitating of integration comprising comparing said locally stored device driver with a remotely stored device driver so as to determine which of said device drivers is of a newer version and to prompt usage of the newer version.

24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

storing a device driver locally on said device;

said facilitating of integration comprising prompting usage of said locally stored device driver if a remotely stored device driver is not accessible.

25. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

storing a device driver locally on said device;

said facilitating of integration comprising comparing said locally stored device driver with a remotely stored device driver at predetermined time intervals so as to determine which of said device drivers is of a newer version.

26. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

storing a device driver locally on said device;

said facilitating of integration comprising comparing said locally stored device driver with a remotely stored device driver so as to determine which of said device drivers is of a newer version and querying a user to choose between versions.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein said interface logic is further adapted to query a computer user whether to initiate a low-bandwidth transfer of the device driver upon recognition of a low-bandwidth connection.

28. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for:

providing at least one hardware component to be resident in said device;

providing at least one description subsystem to be resident in said device and associated with said at least one hardware component;

adapting said at least one description subsystem to facilitate integration of said device with a computer operating system, said at least one description subsystem comprising interface logic for interpreting commands received over an interface between said device and a computer operating system;

facilitating integration of said device with a computer operating system via said at least one description subsystem, wherein said facilitating of integration comprises determining if said device is know to said operating system, and if said device is not known to said operating system, providing a reference to a network location where a recent version of a device driver is obtainable and wherein said interface logic is farther adapted to assist said computer operating system in obtaining a copy of the device driver for installation in said device; and

wherein the currency of said installed device driver is periodically checked based upon the volatility of said driver and if a more recent device driver is available, said more recent device driver is installed in said device.

29. The program storage device according to claim 28, wherein said interface logic is further adapted to query a computer user whether to initiate a low-bandwidth transfer of the device driver upon recognition of a low-bandwidth connection.