Device driver updating method and program, information processing apparatus and server apparatus using the same, and storage for storing device driver updating program

• US 20030065773A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kato, Hisashi, Aiba, Tsukasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

In one aspect, the information processing apparatus disclosed in this application has a storage device that stores a device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request; a notification unit that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, in order to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and an updating control unit that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storage device. Server apparatus which send a device driver to information processing apparatus in accordance with request of the information apparatus is disclosed, too.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device that stores at least one device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request;

a notification unit that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, in order to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and

an update control unit that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storage device.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device driver incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request which are displayed upon starting the device driver.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit that, based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to display a driver update page notified by the notification unit.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer unit that transfers management information for the device driver and system environment information to the server apparatus.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the management information for the device driver is at least version information of the device driver.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the system environment information is at least capacity information including information of a version of an operating system.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one device that performs predetermined data processing includes any one of a printer, a display device, a scanner, a digital camera, a facsimile machine, a mouse, a loudspeaker, a sound source device, a telephone, a copier, and a compositer apparatus.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit automatically connects the access information through the predetermined communication medium to the server apparatus based on a direction made to the update instruction section displayed by the display unit.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays an expected time to obtain information required for automatically updating a device driver and a volume of information of the device driver based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining unit.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays information of changes made in a version that is automatically updated based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining unit.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit controls a process to display device-related information including new product information based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining unit.

12. A server apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores a device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the server apparatus comprising:

a page information transfer unit that transfers driver update page information to a request source that is the information processing apparatus according to a driver update page request from the information processing apparatus;

a driver management unit that stores and manages at least one device driver based on management information;

an obtaining unit that obtains from the information processing apparatus at least one of management information for the device driver and system environment information for the information processing apparatus;

a judging unit that compares the management information for the device driver obtained by the obtaining unit and management information managed by the driver management unit to judge if the device driver can be updated; and

a transfer control unit that controls a process to transfer an update device driver that is stored and managed by the driver management unit to the request source when the judging unit judges that the device driver can be updated.

13. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a display control unit, and the page information transfer unit transfers the driver update page information to the request source according to a driver update page request made at the display control unit of the information processing apparatus.

14. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the page information transfer unit transfers driver update information containing information of an expected time to obtain information required for automatically updating a device driver and a volume of information of the device driver to the request source.

15. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the page information transfer unit transfers to the request source driver update page information containing information relating to the device driver.

16. A server apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the information relating to the device driver includes information of changes made in a version that is automatically updated.

17. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the management information for the device driver is at least version information for the device driver.

18. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the system environment information for the information processing apparatus is at least capacity information including information of a version of an operating system.

19. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the device that performs predetermined data processing is one of a printer, a display device, a scanner, a digital camera, a facsimile machine, a mouse, a loudspeaker, a sound source device, a telephone, a copier, and a compositer apparatus.

20. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transfer control unit controls a process to transfer to the information processing apparatus a search program that searches devices that are usable in the information processing apparatus.

21. A server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the system environment information for the information processing apparatus includes information for devices that are usable in the information processing apparatus that are indicated based on a search result of the search program.

22. A server apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the server apparatus comprising:

a driver management unit that stores and manages the device driver based on management information;

an obtaining unit that obtains management information of the device driver that is used in the information processing apparatus;

a page information creating unit that creates, according to a request for driver update page from the information processing apparatus, driver update page information that includes management information of the device driver currently used that is obtained through the obtaining unit, management information of the device driver managed by the driver management unit, and detailed information including information regarding changes made in the device driver managed with respect to an old device driver; and

a transmission control unit that, in response to an instruction to the driver update page information created and transferred to a request source that is the information processing apparatus, controls a process to send an update device driver that is stored in and managed by the driver management unit to the request source.

23. An information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages a control program that controls devices that perform predetermined data processing, wherein the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit that stores access information for accessing the server apparatus and information that is usable for creating a display screen with instruction items for instructing an installation of a control program; and

an automatic execution control unit that, based on an instruction to an instruction item on the display screen displayed at a display section of the information processing apparatus, controls to refer to the access information, download a driver installation program from the server apparatus and automatically executes the driver installation program,

wherein the driver installation program comprises;

a search module that search peripheral devices that are connected to the information processing apparatus;

an input module that inputs instructions based on a search result of the search unit; and

an update control module that, based on an instruction given to the input module, controls to obtain device driver update information that is transmitted from the sever apparatus and update a device driver stored in the storage unit.

24. A control method that controls an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the control method comprising:

a storing step that stores at least one device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request;

a notifying step that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, in order to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and

an update controlling step that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storing step.

25. A control method according to claim 24, wherein the device driver incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request which are displayed upon starting the device driver.

26. A control method according to claim 24, further comprising a display control step that, based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to display a driver update page notified by the notifying step.

27. A control method according to claim 24, further comprising a transfer step that transfers management information for the device driver and system environment information to the server apparatus.

28. A control method according to claim 27, wherein the management information for the device driver is at least version information of the device driver.

29. A control method according to claim 27, wherein the system environment information is at least capacity information including information of a version of an operating system.

30. A control method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one device that performs predetermined data processing includes any one of a printer, a display device, a scanner, a digital camera, a facsimile machine, a mouse, a loudspeaker, a sound source device, a telephone, a copier, and a compositer apparatus.

31. A control method according to claim 24, wherein the notifying step automatically connects the access information through the predetermined communication medium to the server apparatus based on a direction made to the update instruction section displayed by the display step.

32. A control method according to claim 26, wherein the display control step displays an expected time to obtain information required for automatically updating a device driver and a volume of information of the device driver based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining step.

33. A control method according to claim 26, wherein the display control step displays information of changes made in a version that is automatically updated based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining step.

34. A control method according to claim 26, wherein the display control step controls a process to display device-related information including new product information based on the driver update page information obtained by the obtaining step.

35. A control method that controls a server apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores a device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the control method comprising:

a page information transfer step that transfers driver update page information to a request source that is the information processing apparatus according to a driver update page request from the information processing apparatus;

a driver management step that stores and manages at least one device driver based on management information;

an obtaining step that obtains from the information processing apparatus at least one of management information for the device driver and system environment information for the information processing apparatus;

a judging step that compares the management information for the device driver obtained by the obtaining step and management information managed by the driver management step to judge if the device driver can be updated; and

a transfer control step that controls a process to transfer an update device driver that is stored and managed by the driver management step to the request source when the judging step judges that the device driver can be updated.

36. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the page information transfer step transfers the driver update page information to the request source according to a driver update page request made at a display control unit of the information processing apparatus.

37. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the page information transfer step transfers driver update information containing information of an expected time to obtain information required for automatically updating a device driver and a volume of information of the device driver to the request source.

38. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the page information transfer step transfers to the request source driver update page information containing information relating to the device driver.

39. A control method according to claim 38, wherein the information relating to the device driver includes information of changes made in a version that is automatically updated.

40. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the management information for the device driver is at least version information for the device driver.

41. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the system environment information for the information processing apparatus is at least capacity information including information of a version of an operating system.

42. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the device that performs predetermined data processing is one of a printer, a display device, a scanner, a digital camera, a facsimile machine, a mouse, a loudspeaker, a sound source device, a telephone, a copier, and a compositer apparatus.

43. A control method according to claim 35, wherein the transfer control step controls a process to transfer to the information processing apparatus a search program that searches devices that are usable in the information processing apparatus.

44. A control method according to claim 36, wherein the system environment information for the information processing apparatus includes information for devices that are usable in the information processing apparatus that are indicated based on a search result of the search program.

45. A control method that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the control method comprising:

a driver management step that stores and manages the device driver based on management information;

an obtaining step that obtains management information of the device driver that is used in the information processing apparatus;

a page information creating step that creates, according to a request for driver update page from the information processing apparatus, driver update page information that includes management information of the device driver currently used that is obtained through the obtaining step, management information of the device driver managed by the driver management step, and detailed information including information regarding changes made in the device driver managed with respect to an old device driver; and

a transmission control step that, in response to an instruction to the driver update page information created and transferred to a request source that is the information processing apparatus, controls a process to send to the request source an update device driver that is stored in and managed by the driver management unit.

46. A control method that controls an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages a control program that controls devices that perform predetermined data processing, wherein the control method comprising:

a storing step that stores access information for accessing the server apparatus and information that is usable for creating a display screen with instruction items for instructing an installation of a control program; and

an automatic execution control step that, based on an instruction to an instruction item on the display screen displayed at a display section of the information processing apparatus, controls to refer to the access information, download a driver installation program from the server apparatus and automatically executes the driver installation program,

wherein the driver installation program comprises;

a search step that searches peripheral devices that are connected to the information processing apparatus;

an input step that inputs instructions based on a search result of the search step; and

an update control step that, based on an instruction given in the input step, controls to obtain device driver update information that is transmitted from the sever apparatus and update a device driver stored in the storage unit.

47. A storage medium that stores a control program that is used to control an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the control program comprising:

a storing step that stores at least one device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request;

a notifying step that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and

an update controlling step that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storing step.

48. A storage medium that stores a control program that controls a server apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores a device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the control program comprising:

a page information transfer step that transfers driver update page information to a request source that is the information processing apparatus according to a driver update page request from the information processing apparatus;

a driver management step that stores and manages at least one device driver based on management information;

an obtaining step that obtains from the information processing apparatus at least one of management information for the device driver and system environment information for the information processing apparatus;

a judging step that compares the management information for the device driver obtained by the obtaining step and management information managed by the driver management step to judge if the device driver can be updated; and

a transfer control step that controls a process to transfer an update device driver that is stored and managed by the driver management step to the request source when the judging step judges that the device driver can be updated.

49. A storage medium that stores a control program that controls an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages a control program that controls devices that perform predetermined data processing, wherein the control program comprising:

a storing step that stores access information for accessing the server apparatus and information that is usable for creating a display screen with instruction items for instructing an installation of a control program; and

an automatic execution control step that, based on an instruction to an instruction item on the display screen displayed at a display section of the information processing apparatus, controls to refer to the access information, download a driver installation program from the server apparatus and automatically executes the driver installation program,

wherein the driver installation program comprises;

a search step that searches peripheral devices that are connected to the information processing apparatus;

an input step that inputs instructions based on a search result of the search step; and

an update control step that, based on an instruction given in the input step, controls to obtain device driver update information that is transmitted from the sever apparatus and update a device driver stored in the storage unit.

50. An information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages at least one device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage means that stores at least one device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request;

a notification means that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, in order to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and

an update control means that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storage means.

51. A server apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with an information processing apparatus that stores a device driver that controls a device that performs predetermined data processing, the server apparatus comprising:

a page information transfer means that transfers driver update page information to a request source that is the information processing apparatus according to a driver update page request from the information processing apparatus;

a driver management means that stores and manages at least one device driver based on management information;

an obtaining means that obtains from the information processing apparatus at least one of management information for the device driver and system environment information for the information processing apparatus;

a judging means that compares the management information for the device driver obtained by the obtaining means and management information managed by the driver management means to judge if the device driver can be updated; and

a transfer control means that controls a process to transfer an update device driver that is stored and managed by the driver management means to the request source when the judging means judges that the device driver can be updated.

52. An information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium with a server apparatus that manages a control program that controls devices that perform predetermined data processing, wherein the information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage means that stores access information for accessing the server apparatus and information that is usable for creating a display screen with instruction items for instructing an installation of a control program; and

an automatic execution control means that, based on an instruction to an instruction item on the display screen displayed at a display section of the information processing apparatus, controls to refer to the access information, download a driver installation program from the server apparatus and automatically executes the driver installation program,

wherein the driver installation program comprises;

a search means that search peripheral devices that are connected to the information processing apparatus;

an input means that inputs instructions based on a search result of the search means; and

an update control means that, based on an instruction given to the input means, controls to obtain device driver update information that is transmitted from the sever apparatus and update a device driver stored in the storage means.