The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2004
Ajitabh Prakash Saxena, Norcross, GA (US);
Neela Syam Kolli, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
Jose Manoj, Duluth, GA (US);
Ajitabh Prakash Saxena, Norcross, GA (US);
Neela Syam Kolli, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
Jose Manoj, Duluth, GA (US);
LSI Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and system whereby new devices may be introduced for use with a particular device driver without necessitating a change to the device driver binary is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an option ROM is provided within the hardware device. Program code contained in the option ROM executes during the system boot process and reads the vendor ID, device ID, subsystem vendor ID, and subsystem device ID from the device. This option ROM code then determines, based on the vendor ID, device ID, subsystem vendor ID, and subsystem device ID, whether to write a signature to a scratch pad register of the device. When the operating system is booted, the driver reads the signature written by the option ROM code. If the signature matches the signature programmed into the driver, the driver claims the device as its own and continues to load.