Dynamic Device Driver Generation and Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of device driver generation is cumbersome due to the need for manual information gathering and ambiguity in device feature descriptions, leading to inefficiencies in creating drivers for various hardware and software combinations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically querying hardware devices and runtime environments to generate and validate device drivers, using device programming specifications and runtime specifications to synthesize and automatically test drivers, with auto-correction and quality evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If device drivers are manually written using English descriptions of device features, then developers can create custom drivers, but the process becomes cumbersome and ambiguous requiring multiple iterations between hardware and software developers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses templates that contain pre-defined driver code structures and patterns. Instead of manually writing drivers from scratch, developers copy and adapt existing template structures, significantly reducing development time and eliminating ambiguity in driver creation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating driver code before manual review or deployment. The template-based approach pre-establishes correct code structures, variable declarations, and communication protocols, so that developers only need to fill in device-specific parameters rather than writing entire driver frameworks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device drivers are written for each specific hardware and operating system combination manually, then compatibility is achieved, but the complexity of managing multiple driver versions and configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal templates that can generate drivers for multiple operating systems and hardware configurations using a single template framework. The templates are designed to be platform-agnostic, adapting to different OS environments through configuration parameters rather than requiring separate manual driver implementations for each platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complexity by changing parameters within a unified template structure rather than creating entirely different drivers. By modifying configuration parameters, target platform specifications, and device-specific identifiers, the same template can generate compatible drivers across multiple environments, reducing the burden of managing numerous driver versions.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive device feature descriptions are provided in English, then developers have detailed information, but ambiguity in the descriptions leads to errors and rework
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ambiguous English descriptions with precise template-based code structures. Instead of interpreting natural language device specifications, developers copy verified code patterns from templates that already embody correct implementation logic, eliminating interpretation errors while maintaining complete device information support.
Solution Approach 2:
The template system acts as an intermediary between device specifications and driver implementation. Rather than developers directly interpreting English descriptions, the templates translate specifications into precise code structures, serving as a mediator that eliminates ambiguity while preserving all necessary device information.
4Productivity
If automated template-based generation is used, then driver creation time is reduced, but the need for accurate template selection and configuration increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system reduces configuration complexity by enabling developers to copy and adapt existing proven templates rather than creating new ones from scratch. By copying established template structures that already work for similar devices, developers minimize the need for complex configuration while maintaining high generation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The template system incorporates feedback mechanisms that guide template selection and configuration. By providing feedback on template compatibility, configuration validation, and error prevention, the system reduces the perceived complexity of automated generation while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating and validating a device driver for a hardware device is provided. The method include (i) dynamically querying the hardware device for a device programming specification, (ii) dynamically querying a run time environment for a run time specification, (iii) obtaining the device programming specification that is specific to the hardware device, (iv) obtaining the run time specification that is specific to the hardware device and the run time environment, (v) dynamically synthesizing a device driver, by a device driver generation tool to obtain a synthesized device driver, (vi) automatically testing, by the device driver generation tool, the synthesized device driver based on a device class of the hardware device, and (vii) automatically evaluating, by the device driver generation tool, a performance of the synthesized driver with respect to standard performance parameters for the device class of the hardware device for validating the synthesized device driver.