Device driver auto-load
US7299169B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4415
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically loading drivers on computers for devices coupled to a communication medium such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus. Operating systems running on the computers detect when a device is connected to the communication medium. The operating systems then determine whether one of the drivers stored in memory on the device will enable the computers to utilize the device. The operating systems will then load the appropriate drivers for their respective computers and allow access to the device. If none of the drivers on the memory are suitable for a particular computer, then its operating system will prompt a user to manually insert a computer-readable medium containing the appropriate drivers. Thus, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for automatically loading device drivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.