Patent ID: 6370591
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of operating a computer having a non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), at least one input/output (i/o) device, and an operating system in which at least two communications modules are provided for interfacing applications running on the computer to said i/o device, the method comprising:registering a first supplementary driver to a first of the communication modules, whereupon the first supplementary driver causes a single main driver, which defines the communications protocol for said i/o device, to be loaded from the non-volatile memory to the RAM and also transfers a function interface for the main driver to said first communications module; and subsequently registering a second supplementary driver to a second of the communication modules, whereupon the second supplementary driver transfers a function interface for the same single main driver to said second communications module.