System and method for obtaining driver software and documentation for a detected hardware and software configuration
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for obtaining and installing driver software on a first computer for communicating with a device, wherein the device is coupled to or comprised in the first computer, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting the device coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
the first computer automatically providing identification information of the device to a computer server over a network;
the computer server determining the driver software enabling communication with the device, using the identification information;
providing the determined driver software to the first computer;
the first computer receiving the driver software for the detected device;
the first computer installing the driver software;
wherein the driver software enables communication with the device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are described for automatically detecting devices or instruments connected to a host computer system and obtaining and installing driver software for the devices or instruments, including driver software for traditional instruments, e.g. an oscilloscope, connected to the host computer system via an external bus. The method may also include automatically detecting particular software applications installed on the host computer system and obtaining and installing driver software intended for use with the installed software applications. Also, a system and method for automatically detecting devices connected to a host computer system and/or detecting software applications installed on the host computer system and automatically obtaining documentation related to the connected devices and installed software applications. A first computer may provide information regarding detected hardware and/or software to a server computer. The server computer may then determine appropriate driver software and/or documentation to provide based on the received information.
84 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for obtaining and installing driver software on a first computer for communicating with a device, wherein the device is coupled to or comprised in the first computer, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting the device coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
the first computer automatically providing identification information of the device to a computer server over a network;
the computer server determining the driver software enabling communication with the device, using the identification information;
providing the determined driver software to the first computer;
the first computer receiving the driver software for the detected device;
the first computer installing the driver software;
wherein the driver software enables communication with the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented method for obtaining and installing driver software on a first computer for communicating with an instrument, wherein the instrument is coupled to or comprised in the first computer, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting the instrument coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
the first computer automatically providing identification information of the instrument to a computer server over a network;
the computer server determining the driver software enabling communication with the instrument, using the identification information;
the computer server providing the determined driver software to the first computer;
the first computer receiving the driver software for the detected instrument;
the first computer installing the driver software;
executing software, including the driver software, in the first computer to perform a measurement function using the instrument, wherein the driver software enables communication with the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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17. A system for obtaining and installing driver software, the system comprising:
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a first computer comprising a processor and memory;
a device coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
wherein the first computer requires driver software for communicating with the device;
a server computer, wherein the first computer is operable to couple to the server computer over a network;
wherein the first computer is operable to;
automatically detect the device coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
automatically provide identification information of the device to the computer server over the network;
wherein the server computer is operable to;
determine the driver software enabling communication with the device, using the identification information;
provide the determined driver software to the first computer;
wherein the first computer is operable to receive and install the driver software for the detected device, wherein the driver software enables communication with the device.
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25. A system for obtaining and installing driver software, the system comprising:
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a first computer comprising a processor and memory;
an instrument coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
wherein the first computer requires driver software for communicating with the instrument;
a server computer, wherein the first computer is operable to couple to the server computer over a network;
wherein the first computer is operable to;
automatically detect the instrument coupled to or comprised in the first computer;
automatically provide identification information of the instrument to the computer server over the network;
wherein the server computer is operable to;
determine the driver software enabling communication with the instrument, using the identification information;
provide the determined driver software to the first computer;
wherein the first computer is operable to;
receive and install the driver software for the detected instrument;
execute software, including the driver software, to perform a measurement function using the instrument, wherein the driver software enables communication with the instrument.
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26. A method for installing driver software for an instrument, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting an instrument connected to a computer via an external bus;
automatically obtaining driver software for the detected instrument;
automatically installing the driver software;
wherein the driver software enables communication with the instrument.
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35. A method for installing driver software for a GPIB instrument, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting a GPIB instrument connected to a computer via a GPIB bus;
automatically obtaining driver software for the detected GPIB instrument;
automatically installing the driver software;
wherein the driver software enables communication with the GPIB instrument.
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36. A method for automatically obtaining documentation related to a computer system configuration, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting one or more hardware devices connected to the computer system;
automatically sending information specifying the one or more hardware devices to a computer server;
receiving documentation related to the one or more hardware devices, in response to sending the information specifying the one or more hardware devices to the computer server.
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Specification