Patent ID: 8424022

Claim:
A device driver system implemented in a computer and configured for providing communications between an operating system and at least one installed device driver provided with the operating system and coupled to a first hardware device, the device driver system comprising: the operating system; the at least one installed device driver; the first hardware device; and a supplemental device driver interposed between the operating system and the at least one installed device driver, the supplemental device driver configured to: receive a first communications for an operation directly from the operating system at a first input interface between the operating system and the supplemental device driver; and forward a second communication for the operation over a first output interface to a first of the at least one installed device driver, wherein the second communication causes the driver to generate functionality envisaged by the operating system provider when the coupled first hardware device supports the predetermined functionality and to generate functionality not envisaged by the operating system provider when the coupled first hardware device has functionality beyond the predetermined functionality; wherein the at least one installed device driver comprises a second driver coupled to a second hardware device and the supplemental device driver is further configured to forward the second communication to the second driver; and wherein the first hardware device has predetermined functionality envisaged by the operating system provider and the second hardware device has functionality beyond the predetermined functionality.