DYNAMIC EXTENSION OF STATIC DEVICE DRIVERS

摘要

A method of changing the functionality of a statically bound device driver, by dynamically extending the static device driver using a registered driver extensi on. The static device driver has a plurality of handlers or functions (such as input/out put functions) used to control a device that is connected to or part of the computer system, an d the driver extension modifies at least one of these functions, although it can be used to c hange several, or even all, of the functions. In the embodiment wherein the computer s ystem is a UNIX-type workstation having a kernel residing in the memory, the static devic e driver is loaded in the kernel and is dynamically extended by providing at least one en try point for the driver extension.