Patent ID: 7237046
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a system including a host computer and a peripheral device operationally connected to the host computer, the peripheral device including a microcontroller, a memory having a plurality of sectors, and a first virtual device operative to pass to the microcontroller for execution a first set of commands if received from any user of the host computer and a second set of commands only if received from a privileged user of the host computer, a method for enabling any user of the host computer to have said commands of said second set executed by the microcontroller, comprising the steps of: (a) including, in the peripheral device, a second virtual device operative to pass to the microcontroller for execution the second set of commands if received from any user of the host computer, said second virtual device being implemented along with the first virtual device in a common physical device within the peripheral device; (b) operationally connecting the peripheral device to the host computer; (c) sending a command of said second set from the host computer to the peripheral device, by a user of the host computer; (d) if said user is a privileged user, sending said command of said second set to the microcontroller via the first virtual device; (e) otherwise, sending said command of said second set to the microcontroller via said second virtual device; and (f) configuring said common physical device to recognize commands, of said first set, wherein said commands of said second set are embedded; wherein said sending of said command of said second set to the peripheral device is effected by steps including: (i) embedding said command of said second set in a command of said first set; and (ii) sending said command of said first set to the peripheral device; and wherein said sending of said command of said second set to the microcontroller via said second virtual device is effected by steps including extracting said command of said second set from said command of said first set.