Modification and use of configuration memory used during operation of a serial bus

In a computer comprising a node residing on a communication bus, wherein a configuration memory is associated with the node, a method for exposing a newly-altered functionality of an existing device residing on the communication bus, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a device driver and a new unit directory corresponding to the newly-altered functionality of the existing device;
• dynamically modifying the configuration memory to include a pointer to the new unit directory in a root directory forming a part of the configuration memory, wherein the configuration memory is exposed to other nodes residing on the communication bus;
• and
• initiating a bus reset procedure that causes the other nodes to enumerate the configuration memory to include the new unit directory.

In a system comprising a communication bus, a computer coupled to the communication bus and at least one device coupled to the communication bus, wherein the computer and the at least one device each comprise a configuration memory that is exposed on the communication bus, a method for exposing a newly-altered functionality of the computer, the method comprising steps of:

• providing, by the computer, a device driver and a new unit directory corresponding to the newly-altered functionality of the computer;
• dynamically modifying, by the computer, the computer's configuration memory to include a pointer to the new unit directory in a root directory forming a part of the computer's configuration memory;
• enumerating, by the at least one device, the computer's configuration memory including the new unit directory;
• and
• loading, by the at least one device and in response to the enumeration by the device of the computer's configuration memory, another device driver corresponding to the newly-altered functionality of the computer.