Dynamically updating a printer driver

• US 20030184784A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ferlitsch, Andrew Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically installing or updating a printer driver on a computer device without requiring a user to initiate the installation or update. In a system that includes a computer device, a printer device and a printer driver source, a print job is initiated and a connection with a printer driver source is established. A request is made for information relating to the performance of an automatic update of a dynamic printer driver. A determination is made as to whether or not an update is available. If the update is available, a determination is optionally obtained relating to whether or not the system may proceed in performing the automatic and dynamic update. The update includes obtaining dynamically linkable object components and linking the object components with a main entry object to form a dynamic printer drive that may be used to execute the print job.

Claims

1. A system configured to dynamically updating a printer driver on a computer device without requiring a user to initiate the installation or update, the system comprising:

a printer driver source that includes one or more dynamically linkable objects configured for use in selective association with a main entry object to form a dynamic printer driver;

a computer device that includes the main entry object and a mechanism upon which the dynamic update is based; and

a connection between the printer driver source and the computer device that enables a transfer of data between the printer driver source and the computer device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection comprises at least one of:

(i) a network connection;

(ii) a hard-wired connection;

(iii) a wireless connection; and

(iv) an integrated connection.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the network connection includes a LAN.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the network connection includes a WAN.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanism is one of:

(i) a printer driver;

(ii) a spooler;

(iii) a print processor; and

(iv) a print assist.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the printer driver source is a printer device.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the printer device is an MFP.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the mechanism is configured to communicate with a resource management device of the printer device through the utilization of an interface.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the resource management device is a web server and the interface is a web browser.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the resource management device is a file server and the interface is a network file system.

11. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the mechanism is configured to communicate directly with a resource management device of the printer device, wherein the resource management device is a remote spooler.

12. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the printer driver source comprises a server.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the mechanism is configured to communicate with the server through the utilization of an interface.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the server is a web server and the interface is a web browser.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the server is a file server and the interface is a network file system.

16. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the server comprises a remote spooler, and wherein the mechanism is configured to communicate directly with the remote spooler.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the dynamic printer driver further comprises a dynamically linkable object script.

18. In a system that includes a computer device and a printer driver source, a method for dynamically updating a printer driver on the computer device without requiring a user to initiate the update, the method comprising the steps for:

establishing a connection with a printer driver source having a plurality of dynamically linkable objects that are configured to be selectively linkable with a main entry object at the computer device;

requesting information relating to an automatic driver update;

selectively obtaining one or more of the objects;

dynamically linking the one or more obtained objects to the main entry object to form a dynamic printer driver; and

using the printer driver to execute a print job.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein a step for initiating a print job is performed prior to the step for establishing a connection.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step for requesting includes at least one of the steps for:

(i) determining whether the update is available; and

(ii) determining whether permission exists to perform the update.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step for selectively obtaining includes a step for determining whether to notify a user of the obtaining of the one or more of the objects, and wherein if the user is to be notified, performing the step for notifying the user.

22. A computer program product for implementing within a computer system a method for dynamically updating a printer driver on a computer device without requiring a user to initiate the update, the computer program product comprising

a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for:

establishing a connection with a printer driver source having a plurality of dynamically linkable objects that are configured to be selectively linkable with a main entry object at the computer device;

requesting information relating to an automatic driver update;

selectively obtaining one or more of the objects;

dynamically linking the one or more obtained objects to the main entry object to form a dynamic printer driver; and

using the printer driver to execute a print job.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer program code means performs a step for initiating a print job prior to the step for establishing a connection.

24. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the step for requesting includes at least one of the steps for:

(i) determining whether the update is available; and

(ii) determining whether permission exists to perform the update.

25. A computer program as recited in claim 22, wherein the step for selectively obtaining includes a step for determining whether to notify a user of the obtaining of the one or more of the objects, and wherein if the user is to be notified, performing the step for notifying the user.