초록 ▼

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 d

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.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [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 identifica

[ We claim:] [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, andsaid 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.