Multifunction Device Support and Device Container Groupings in Windows 7
Updated: November 5, 2008
Guidelines for IHVs, OEMs, and Hardware Developers
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 for the following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows 7
Included in this white paper:
| • | Devices in Windows Vista versus Windows 7 |
| • | Grouping functionality into a device: the Container ID |
| • | Overriding the removable capability in legacy devices |
| • | Verifying correct implantation of ContainerID |
