Software driver code usage

• US 20050022212A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bowen, James Samuel
• Application Number:
  US10/483,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

A method of providing a device with software driver code for operating the device with an accessory when operably coupled thereto. The method includes storing said software driver code on said accessory (404). On operably coupling said accessory to said device (406), either: said software driver code is exchanged from the accessory via a communication means to the device (416) or said software drivercode stored in said accessory is operated in situ on said accessory (408). An accessory, a communication device and a communication system are also provided. In this manner, a device is no longer required to maintain enough available memory in which to store the software drivers for a number of potential accessories.

Claims

1. A method of providing a device with software driver code for operating the device with an accessory when operably coupled thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

storing said software driver code on said accessory;

exchanging said software driver code from the accessory via a communication means to the device, on operably coupling said accessory to said device, for operating the accessory from the device; and

storing temporarily said software driver code on said device for a period of time.

2. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, wherein the step of exchanging includes the step of:

downloading said software driver code from said accessory;

or

uploading said software driver code to said device.

3. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, wherein the step of exchanging includes the step of:

operably coupling said device to said accessory using a wired interface, for example a USB interface or an RS232 serial interface.

4. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, wherein the step of exchanging includes the step of:

operably coupling said device to said accessory using a radio frequency interface or an infrared interface.

5. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, when the software driver code is to be exchanged to a memory element of the device, the method further comprising the step of:

checking a status of said memory element on operably coupling said device to said accessory in order to determine whether a software driver code exchange is required.

6. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 5, the method further comprising the step of:

exchanging software driver code to said device prior to operating said accessory.

7. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, the method further comprising, in relation to the step of exchanging, the step of:

performing an error detection and/or error checking operation of the exchanged software driver code.

8. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

identifying said accessory by an identification code; and

confirming that said software driver code needs to be exchanged in response to said identified identification code.

9. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

retaining the latest exchanged software driver code in said device for a period of time after disconnection of said accessory;

or

erasing said software driver code in said device after disconnection of said accessory.

10. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 9, wherein the step of erasing includes the step of:

erasing said software driver code a period of time after disconnection of the accessory from the device.

11. The method of providing a device with software driver code according to claim 10, wherein the period of time is user definable or pre-determined and/or dependent upon at least one of the following:

type of device, type of accessory, or amount of software driver code to be exchanged.

12. A communication device, adapted to operate the steps of method claim 1.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the device is one of:

a cellular phone, a portable or mobile radio, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a wirelessly networked PC.

14. A storage medium storing processor-implementable instructions for controlling one or more processors to carry out the method of claim 1.

15. A communication device for operable coupling to an accessory by communication means wherein said accessory includes a memory element storing software driver code for operating said accessory when operably coupled to said communication device, the communication device characterised by a memory element storing software driver code for a temporary period of time following exchange of said software driver code from the accessory via said communication means to the communication device.

16. The communication device according to claim 15, wherein said communication means is a wired interface, for example a USB interface or an RS232 serial interface, adapted to exchange said software driver code between said accessory and said communication device.

17. The communication device according to claim 15, wherein said communication means is an infrared link or a radio frequency link for exchanging said software driver code from said memory element of said accessory to said communication device.

18. The communication device according to claims 15, the communication device further comprising:

software driver code error detection and/or error correction means for detecting and/or correcting any errors in the exchange of software driver code between said communication device and said accessory.

19. The communication device according to claim 15, the communication device further comprising:

self-checking means for confirming said software driver code of said accessory is required by said communication device to operate with said accessory, prior to exchanging said software driver code.