Methods for cross-mounting devices and apparatus utilizing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9952853-B2
Application number	US-201614997353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A technique, as well as select implementations thereof, pertaining to cross-mounting a device is described. The technique may involve an apparatus detecting a presence of a device not a part of the apparatus. The technique may also involve the apparatus performing an update in response to the detecting of the presence of the device. The technique may additionally involve the apparatus establishing a communication connection with the device. The technique may further involve the apparatus utilizing the device to perform one or more tasks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
detecting, by a first apparatus, a presence of a first device not a part of the first apparatus;
performing, by the first apparatus, an update in response to the detecting;
establishing, by the first apparatus, a communication connection with the first device; and
utilizing, by the first apparatus, the first device to perform one or more tasks;
wherein the utilizing of the first device to perform the one or more tasks comprises:
comparing one or more characteristics of the first device to one or more characteristics of a local device; and
selecting the first device to perform the one or more tasks as a result of the comparing,

wherein the establishing of the connection with the first device comprises modifying a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) of an operating system (OS) executed by the first apparatus in response to establishing the connection with the first device,
wherein the modifying of the HAL of the OS comprises storing, in a memory associated with the HAL, a first path pointing to a first device driver associated with a virtual device corresponding to the first device in addition to a second path pointing to a local device driver configured to drive the local device, and
wherein the utilizing of the first device to perform the one or more tasks further comprises disabling the local device driver at least for a period of time during which the first device is utilized to perform the one or more tasks.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the update comprises updating an existing firmware or installing a new firmware to operate the first device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the update comprises updating an existing device driver or installing a new device driver to operate the first device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the update comprises updating an existing operating system (OS) or installing a new OS to operate the first device.

5. A method, comprising:
detecting, by a first apparatus, a presence of a first device not a part of the first apparatus;
performing, by the first apparatus, firmware update in response to the detecting;
establishing, by the first apparatus, a communication connection with the first device;
comparing, by the first apparatus, one or more characteristics of the first device to one or more characteristics of a local device;
selecting, by the first apparatus, the first device to perform the one or more tasks as a result of the comparing; and
disabling, by the first apparatus, a local device driver at least for a period of time during which the first device is utilized to perform the one or more tasks,
wherein the establishing of the connection with the first device comprises modifying a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) of an operating system (OS) executed by the first apparatus in response to establishing the connection with the first device, and
wherein the modifying of the HAL of the OS comprises storing, in a memory associated with the HAL, a first path pointing to a first device driver associated with a virtual device corresponding to the first device in addition to a second path pointing to the local device driver configured to drive the local device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the performing of the firmware update comprises:
determining whether a newer version of a firmware corresponding to operations of the first device is available from the first device;
receiving the newer version of the firmware from the first device in response to a determination that the newer version of the firmware is available from the first device; and
updating an existing version of the firmware with the newer version of the firmware received from the first device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the performing of the firmware update further comprises:
receiving the newer version of the firmware from a remote source in response to a determination that the newer version of the firmware is not available from the first device; and
updating an existing version of the firmware with the newer version of the firmware received from the remote source.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the performing of the firmware update comprises:
determining whether a firmware corresponding to operations of the first device exists in the first apparatus; and
receiving a copy of the firmware in response to a determination that the firmware corresponding to the operations of the first device does not exist in the first apparatus.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving of the copy of the firmware comprises receiving the copy of the firmware from the first device or a remote source.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the performing of the firmware update comprises:
determining whether an existing version of a firmware is sufficient for operations of the first device; and
performing the firmware update in response to a determination that the existing version of the firmware is not sufficient for the operations of the first device.

11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining whether a hardware component of the first apparatus or the first device needs to be reconfigured; and
reconfiguring the hardware component in response to a determination that the hardware component needs to be reconfigured.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first device is associated with a second apparatus which is physically separate from the first apparatus.

13. An apparatus, comprising:
a connection circuit that detects a presence of a remote device and establishes a communication connection with the remote device;
a processing circuit coupled to the connection circuit, the processing circuit capable of utilizing the remote device to perform one or more tasks; and
a local device,
wherein the processing circuit further performs operations comprising:
comparing one or more characteristics of the remote device to one or more characteristics of the local device; and
selecting the remote device to perform the one or more tasks as a result of the comparing,

wherein the processing circuit modifies a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) of an operating system (OS) executed by the processing unit in response to establishing the connection with the remote device,
wherein, in modifying the HAL of the OS, the processing circuit stores, in a memory associated with the HAL, a first path pointing to a remote device driver associated with a virtual device corresponding to the remote device in addition to a second path pointing to the local device driver configured to drive the local device, and
wherein, in utilizing the remote device to perform the one or more tasks, the processing unit is configured to disable the local device driver at least for a period of time during which the remote device is utilized to perform the one or more tasks.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processing circuit further installs the remote device driver.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein, in modifying the HAL of the OS, the processing circuit replaces, in a memory associated with the HAL, a second path pointing to the local device driver configured to drive the local device with a first path pointing to a remote device driver associated with a virtual device corresponding to the remote device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processing circuit further installs the remote device driver.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processing circuit reconfigures either or both of the local device and the remote device.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Lo Jenchieh
• Wang Ching-Chieh
• Chang Shu-Hsin
• Hu Chun-Hsiung
• Chang Yu-Cheng

Classifications

• G06F9/4415

  Self describing peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F9/4411

  Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers · CPC title

• H04L67/34

  involving the movement of software or configuration parameters  (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416) · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F8/654

  using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories · CPC title