Multifunction Device Support and Device Container Groupings

Guidelines for IHVs, OEMs, and Hardware Developers

Updated: July 15, 2009

File name: ContainerIDs.docx
1.5 MB
Microsoft Word file
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About This Download

The world of hardware and devices is rapidly changing. Today's devices are integrating a richer and ever increasing set of functionality into the hardware. This white paper provides information about the multifunction device support and device container groupings for Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. It provides guidelines that IHVs and OEMs should follow when designing and developing new hardware for the Windows 7 platform.

The improved support for multifunction devices and device container grouping is discussed in detail, including:

• An overview of the architecture.

• Algorithms and heuristics employed by the operating system for multifunction device detection.

• Recommendations to hardware and driver developers to ensure their devices work well with Windows 7.

This information applies to the Windows 7 operating system.

What's New:

• Additional details on using ACPI _RMV, _EJx and _PLD objects to affect the generation of ContainerID.

• Corrected terminology and links that did not affect content or meaning.

• Changes to Universal Serial Bus Devices section to add information on using ACPI to affect the generation of ContainerID.

Included in this white paper:

• Devices in Windows Vista versus Windows 7

• Grouping Functionality from One Device: the Container ID

• Overriding the Removable Capability in Legacy Devices

• Verifying Correct Implantation of the ContainerID Property