Patent ID: 8527667

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a socket capable of interfacing with different types of storage medium; a computer-readable medium operable for storing a computer-executable universal driver associated with a first operation mode and compatible with each of said types of storage medium, and for storing a computer-executable dedicated driver associated with a second operation mode and compatible with only a subset of said types of storage medium: and a controller coupled to said computer-readable medium and coupled to said socket, and operable for selecting a selected driver from said universal driver and said dedicated driver if a storage medium is inserted into said socket and for operating in a corresponding operation mode to exchange data information with said storage medium according to said selected driver, wherein said selected driver comprises said dedicated driver if said storage medium is a member of said subset and wherein otherwise said selected driver comprises said universal driver, wherein said controller comprises: a register that stores need-driver-control data having either a first value indicating that said universal driver is selected or a second value indicating that said dedicated driver is selected, wherein said controller selects said universal driver to transfer said data information in said first operation mode and sets said need-driver-control data to said first value if said dedicated driver is unavailable, and wherein said controller continues to select said universal driver instead of said dedicated driver according to said need-drive-control data when said dedicated driver becomes available.