request_firmware() hotplug interface:
 ------------------------------------

 Why:
 ---

 Today, the most extended way to use firmware in the Linux kernel is linking
 it statically in a header file. Which has political and technical issues:

  1) Some firmware is not legal to redistribute.
  2) The firmware occupies memory permanently, even though it often is just
     used once.
  3) Some people, like the Debian crowd, don't consider some firmware free
     enough and remove entire drivers (e.g.: keyspan).

 Notes:
 -----

 - Why OPTIONALLY caching the firmware in-kernel may be a good idea sometimes:
 
	- If the device that needs the firmware is needed to access the
	  filesystem. When upon some error the device has to be reset and the
	  firmware reloaded, it won't be possible to get it from userspace.
	  e.g.:
		- A diskless client with a network card that needs firmware.
		- The filesystem is stored in a disk behind an scsi device
		  that needs firmware.
	- On embedded systems (like install floppies) where there is no
	  userspace hotplug support, 'cp firmware_file /firmware/' can be
	  handy.
	  
   And the same device can be needed to access the filesystem or not depending
   on the setup, so I think that the choice on what firmware to cache should
   be left to userspace.

 - Why register_firmware()+__init can be useful:
 	- For boot devices needing firmware.
	- To make the transition easier:
		The firmware can be declared __init and register_firmware()
		called on module_init. Then the firmware is warranted to be
		there even if "firmware hotplug userspace" is not there jet or
		it doesn't jet provide the needed firmware.
		Once the firmware is widely available in userspace, it can be
		removed from the kernel. Or made optional (CONFIG_.*_FIRMWARE).

	In either case, if firmware hotplug support is there, it can move the
	firmware out of kernel memory into the real filesystem for later
	usage (like the provided hotplug scripts do).