Patent US2924868A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5794032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5794032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for the identification and configuration of computer hardware peripherals
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 1996-04-15
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A system for the automatic identification and configuration of a computer peripheral uses an initialization program to send one or more query instructions to a peripheral device such as a CD-ROM drive. In response to the query instructions, the CD-ROM drive replies with data that can be used to uniquely identify the model number or type of CD-ROM drive. The system then selects the appropriate software driver for the identified CD-ROM drive and loads the selected driver. The system can further verify proper operation of other peripheral devices, such as a hard disk drive, by using commands within the disk operating system. A floppy disk, or other computer readable storage media, contains the initialization program and a software driver file for every type of CD-ROM drive supported by the system. The system automatically identifies and loads the appropriate software driver without requiring the user to respond to technical questions related to the hardware.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeff Leyda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the automatic identification and configuration of a peripheral device, the system comprising: a plurality of driver files for operation of a plurality of different peripheral device types; a computer memory; a configuration file loaded into said computer memory and containing computer commands to load said plurality of driver files; an initialization program to execute a query instruction, said query instruction including an identification request to the peripheral device; a response interpreter to interpret a response from the peripheral device, said response including identification data for the peripheral device to permit the selection of one of said plurality of driver files corresponding to the peripheral device type; a processor to alter said configuration file in said computer memory based on said identification data to thereby disable the loading of all of said plurality of driver files except said selected driver files; and a driver loader for loading said selected driver file.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the automatic identification and configuration of a peripheral device, the system comprising: a plurality of driver files for operation of a plurality of different peripheral device types; a computer memory; a configuration file loaded into said computer memory and containing computer commands to load said plurality of driver files; an initialization program to execute a query instruction, said query instruction including an identification request to the peripheral device; a response interpreter to interpret a response from the peripheral device, said response including identification data for the peripheral device to permit the selection of one of said plurality of driver files corresponding to the peripheral device type; a processor to alter said configuration file in said computer memory based on said identification data to thereby disable the loading of all of said plurality of driver files except said selected driver files; and a driver loader for loading said selected driver file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device is a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said CD-ROM drive is an integrated device electronics (IDE) device and said query instruction includes an attention application programming interface (ATAPI) identify device instruction to said CD-ROM drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said CD-ROM drive is a small computer system interface (SCSI) device and said query instruction includes one or more SCSI instructions to a SCSI interface coupled to said CD-ROM drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said selected driver file corresponds to said identified SCSI interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 for use with a hard disk drive, said initialization program executing an additional query instruction, said additional query instruction including an operation verification instruction to the hard disk drive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said additional query instruction is executed following loading of said selected driver file corresponding to said CD-ROM drive by said driver loader.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, further including a bootable floppy disk, said plurality of driver files being stored as files on said bootable floppy disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, further including a bootable floppy disk, said initialization program being stored as an executable file on said bootable floppy disk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of driver files are stored as files on said bootable floppy disk.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer readable media containing data that cause a computer to automatically identify and configure a peripheral device by performing the steps of: storing a plurality of driver files for operation of a plurality of different peripheral device types; loading a configuration file into a computer memory, said configuration file containing a series of computer instructions that cause the computer to load said plurality of driver files; executing one or more query instructions, said query instructions including an identification request to the peripheral device; retrieving, from the peripheral device, a response to said query instructions, said response including identification data for the peripheral device; interpreting said response from the peripheral device to permit the selection of one of said plurality of driver files corresponding to the identified peripheral device; in response to the selection of said selected driver file, altering said configuration file loaded into said memory to thereby disable the loading of all of said plurality of driver files except said selected driver file; and executing said altered configuration file computer instructions to load said selected driver file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer readable media containing data that cause a computer to automatically identify and configure a peripheral device by performing the steps of: storing a plurality of driver files for operation of a plurality of different peripheral device types; loading a configuration file into a computer memory, said configuration file containing a series of computer instructions that cause the computer to load said plurality of driver files; executing one or more query instructions, said query instructions including an identification request to the peripheral device; retrieving, from the peripheral device, a response to said query instructions, said response including identification data for the peripheral device; interpreting said response from the peripheral device to permit the selection of one of said plurality of driver files corresponding to the identified peripheral device; in response to the selection of said selected driver file, altering said configuration file loaded into said memory to thereby disable the loading of all of said plurality of driver files except said selected driver file; and executing said altered configuration file computer instructions to load said selected driver file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The media of claim 11 wherein the media is a bootable floppy disk.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The media of claim 11 wherein the peripheral device is a compact disk read-only memory drive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |