US7076536B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system to access software pertinent to an electronic peripheral device at an address based on a peripheral device identifier
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2000-12-21
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Granted: 2006-07-11
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Expires: 2020-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for using a peripheral device identifier obtained from a peripheral device to determine a network address from a database, or generate the network address based on the identifier. Information related to the peripheral device is obtained from a remote device at the network address. The method includes automatically transferring at least one identifier from the peripheral device to a host device when the peripheral device is connected to the host device. The step of transferring is preferably done during or after enumeration of the peripheral device, such as occurs when a USB device is connected to a computer. The identifier is used as an index to automatically determine a network address from a database on the host device or a remote device, or to automatically generate a network address. Then, communication occurs between the host device and a remote device or other source of the information indicated by the network address. For example, the host device may download a device driver for the peripheral device from the remote device or from another peripheral device connected to the host device indicated by the network address.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Chiloyan
- 👤 Edward C. Giaimo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5038; H04L61/5092; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L61/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of accessing information related to an installation of a peripheral device connected to a host device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining from the peripheral device at least one identifier identifying the peripheral device; (b) determining a network address based on said at least one identifier; (c) in response to a request that is automatically generated initially to facilitate the installation, executing a browser function on the host device to access the remote device at the network address to obtain information required for the use of the peripheral device by the host device; and (d) enabling a user to suppress further automatically generated requests to execute a browser function on the host device, to access the network address to obtain information not essential for the use of the peripheral device by the host device, wherein said automatically generated requests are not initiated by the user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of accessing information related to an installation of a peripheral device connected to a host device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining from the peripheral device at least one identifier identifying the peripheral device; (b) determining a network address based on said at least one identifier; (c) in response to a request that is automatically generated initially to facilitate the installation, executing a browser function on the host device to access the remote device at the network address to obtain information required for the use of the peripheral device by the host device; and (d) enabling a user to suppress further automatically generated requests to execute a browser function on the host device, to access the network address to obtain information not essential for the use of the peripheral device by the host device, wherein said automatically generated requests are not initiated by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining occurs automatically when the host device detects a change in a number of peripheral devices connected to the host device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining occurs automatically when a user manually provides an indication to the host device that the peripheral device is connected to the host device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of employing said at least one identifier as at least a portion of the network address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining comprises the steps of: (a) issuing a request to the peripheral device for a device descriptor; (b) receiving the device descriptor from the peripheral device; and (c) parsing the device descriptor to determine said at least one identifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining comprises the steps of: (a) issuing a request to the peripheral device for a string descriptor comprising said at least one identifier; (b) receiving the string descriptor from the peripheral device; and (c) parsing the string descriptor to determine said at least one identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby the step of obtaining comprises the steps of: (a) issuing a Class request to the peripheral device for at least one identifier; and (b) receiving said at least one identifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , whereby the step of obtaining comprises the steps of: (a) issuing a Vendor Specific Device request to the peripheral device for said at least one identifier; and (b) receiving said at least one identifier from the peripheral device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a network address comprises accessing a database that includes a plurality of network addresses, using said at least one identifier to find the network address in the database.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the database is stored on the host device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the database is stored on a device that is accessible by the host device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a network address comprises the step of generating a network address based on said at least one identifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of executing a browser function comprises the step of automatically retrieving at least one of data, machine instructions, and a document pertaining to the peripheral device from the remote device using the network address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the browser function for automatically downloading a setup program that is stored on the remote device and pertains to the peripheral device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of automatically executing the setup program that was downloaded to the host device to install software on the host device pertaining to the peripheral device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of executing the browser function to obtain a device driver for the peripheral device that is automatically installed on the host device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the browser function to automatically download an application program that is stored on the remote device and pertains to use of the peripheral device by the host device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of using the browser function to automatically download and install firmware into the peripheral device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of creating a link to the network address that a user can subsequently select to later communicate with the remote device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of executing the browser function comprises the step of using the browser function on the host device to automatically access the remote device at the network address.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling a user to selectively execute a browser function on the host device to automatically access the remote device at the network address.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of periodically updating the database to add and change network addresses pertaining to peripheral devices, each network address being accessed based upon at least one identifier obtained from a peripheral device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-readable media, storing computer-readable machine instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement steps (a) through (c) of claim 1 .
Claim 25
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for automatically accessing information related to an installation of a peripheral device, comprising: (a) a peripheral device in which is stored at least one identifier; (b) a remote device adapted to communicate over a network; and (c) a host device comprising: (i) a memory in which are stored machine instructions; (ii) a network interface adapted to communicate with the remote device over the network; and (iii) a processor; said processor executing the machine instructions stored in the memory, to carry out a plurality of functions, including: (1) communicating with the peripheral device to obtain at least one identifier identifying the peripheral device; (2) determining a network address based on said at least one identifier; (3) in response to a request that is automatically generated initially to facilitate the installation, executing a browser function on the host device to access the remote device at the network address to obtain information required for the use of the peripheral device by the host device; and (4) enabling a user to suppress further automatically generated requests to execute a browser function on the host device, to access the network address to obtain information not essential for the use of the peripheral device by the host device wherein said automatically generated requests are not initiated by a user.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for automatically accessing information related to an installation of a peripheral device, comprising: (a) a peripheral device in which is stored at least one identifier; (b) a remote device adapted to communicate over a network; and (c) a host device comprising: (i) a memory in which are stored machine instructions; (ii) a network interface adapted to communicate with the remote device over the network; and (iii) a processor; said processor executing the machine instructions stored in the memory, to carry out a plurality of functions, including: (1) communicating with the peripheral device to obtain at least one identifier identifying the peripheral device; (2) determining a network address based on said at least one identifier; (3) in response to a request that is automatically generated initially to facilitate the installation, executing a browser function on the host device to access the remote device at the network address to obtain information required for the use of the peripheral device by the host device; and (4) enabling a user to suppress further automatically generated requests to execute a browser function on the host device, to access the network address to obtain information not essential for the use of the peripheral device by the host device wherein said automatically generated requests are not initiated by a user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to: (a) issue a request to the peripheral device for a device descriptor; (b) receive the device descriptor from the peripheral device; and (c) parse the device descriptor to determine said at least one identifier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to: (a) issue a request to the peripheral device for a string descriptor comprising said at least one identifier; (b) receive the string descriptor from the peripheral device; and (c) parse the string descriptor to determine said at least one identifier.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to: (a) issue a Class request to the peripheral device for at least one identifier; and (b) receive the string descriptor from the peripheral device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to: (a) issue a Vendor Specific Device request to the peripheral device for said at least one identifier; and (b) receive said at least one identifier from the peripheral device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to determine a network address by accessing a database that includes a plurality of network addresses, using said at least one identifier to find the network address in the database.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein said database is stored by the host device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein said database is stored by a device that is accessible by the host device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to generate a network address based on said at least one identifier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 24 wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically retrieve at least one of data, machine instructions, and a document pertaining to the peripheral device from the remote device using the network address.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically download a setup program that is stored on the remote device and pertains to the peripheral device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically execute the setup program that was downloaded to the host device, to install software on the host device pertaining to the peripheral device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically install a device driver for the peripheral device on the host device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically download an application program that is stored on the remote device and pertains to use of the peripheral device by the host device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically download and install firmware into the peripheral device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to create a link to the network address that a user can subsequently select to later communicate with the remote device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to automatically execute a browser function on the host device to automatically access the remote device at the network address with the browser function.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to enable a user to selectively execute a browser function on the host device to automatically access the remote device at the network address, to display a web page indicated by the network address.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said machine instructions further cause the processor to periodically update a database that includes a plurality of network addresses, to add and change network addresses pertaining to peripheral devices, each network address being indexed using at least one identifier obtained from a peripheral device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-07-10 | 2010-01-09 | 2010-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-01-09 | 2014-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-07-10 | 2018-01-09 | 2018-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |