US6728787B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for locating and installing device drivers for peripheral devices
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 2000-03-31
•
Granted: 2004-04-27
•
Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A destination computer reads a device identification and a network address from a peripheral device connected to the destination computer. A device driver, corresponding to the device identification, is then retrieved from the source computer at the network address. A device driver installation program can also be retrieved from the source computer. The device driver installation program is executed in the destination computer to determine the configuration of the destination computer. The destination computer requests the device driver for the peripheral device corresponding to the configuration of the destination computer from the source computer. The device driver is installed in the destination computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Darren L. Leigh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for installing a device driver for a peripheral device in a destination computer connected to a source computer via a communications network, comprising the steps of: reading, by the destination computer, the peripheral device to obtain a network address and a device identification; retrieving, by the destination computer, a device driver installation program at the network address from the source computer; executing the device driver installation program in the destination computer to determine a configuration of the destination computer; requesting the device driver according to the configuration of the destination computer, as determined by the installation program and the device identification, from the source computer; and installing the device driver in the destination computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for installing a device driver for a peripheral device in a destination computer connected to a source computer via a communications network, comprising the steps of: reading, by the destination computer, the peripheral device to obtain a network address and a device identification; retrieving, by the destination computer, a device driver installation program at the network address from the source computer; executing the device driver installation program in the destination computer to determine a configuration of the destination computer; requesting the device driver according to the configuration of the destination computer, as determined by the installation program and the device identification, from the source computer; and installing the device driver in the destination computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reading of the network address is performed by an operating system of the destination computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device stores the device identification and the network address in a memory device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 where the network address is a Universal Resource Locator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the source computer stores the device driver installation program and the device driver in a database.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration of the destination computer is determined according to a memory, a bus, and an operating system of the destination computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the database contains a plurality of device drivers for use with a plurality of makes, models, and types of peripheral devices and are compatible with a plurality of operating systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 where the device driver installation program is a Java™ applet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 where the device driver installation program is an ActiveX™ applet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device identification is determined according to a make, model and type of device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device driver is installed in the memory of the destination computer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
77 words
A system for installing a device driver for a peripheral device, comprising: a destination computer, having a predetermined configuration, and including a peripheral device storing a network address and a device identification; a source computer, connected to the destination computer by a network, including an installation program, located at the network address, the installation program executable in the destination computer; and a device driver compatible with the predetermined configuration of the destination computer and the device identification.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
77 words
A system for installing a device driver for a peripheral device, comprising: a destination computer, having a predetermined configuration, and including a peripheral device storing a network address and a device identification; a source computer, connected to the destination computer by a network, including an installation program, located at the network address, the installation program executable in the destination computer; and a device driver compatible with the predetermined configuration of the destination computer and the device identification.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the peripheral device includes a memory device to store the device identification and the network address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the network address is a Universal Resource Locator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the destination computer further includes an operating system for reading the network address.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the installation program and the device driver are located at the network address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the source computer includes a database to store the device driver installation program and the device drivers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the database includes device drivers for use with a plurality of makes, models, and types of peripheral devices and are compatible with a plurality of operating systems.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the device driver installation program is a Java applet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the configuration of the destination computer is determined according to a memory, a bus, and an operating system of the destination computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the destination computer includes a memory device for storing the device driver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6081850A
Cited
US5581766A
Cited
US6026366A
Cited
US6023585A
Cited
US6493770B1
Cited
US6424424B1
Cited
US6473854B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-10-27 | 2008-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-27 | 2011-10-27 | 2012-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-27 | 2015-10-27 | 2016-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |