Network printer driver pre-configuration for downloading and installation

• US 20040057072A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Koss, Scott C., Mathieson, Rono J., Borchers, Gregory E.
• Application Number:
  US10/254,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A web-based network system and methodology involving the full pre-configuring and making available for downloading and installation of appropriate printer-drivers for plural network-available printing devices extant in a web-based network system. Drivers are either pre-configured and readied for delivery at a point in time well in advance of a user'"'"'s call for the downloading and installation of a printer-device driver, or such drivers are pre-configured effectively as a consequence of a user call for downloading and installation, and at a moment in time which is just immediately prior to downloading-delivery and installation.

Claims

1. A web-based network system for selectively pre-configuring, before network downloading and installing to a user'"'"'s work station, a printer driver for a selected, network-available printing device comprising

a driver-management, web-based server site from which a pre-configured, device-specific printer driver for the selected printing device may be made available for downloading to, and installation in, the work station of a prospective network user of that device, and

pre-configuration activity structure operatively associated with said site, operable to pre-configure an appropriate printer driver for the selected device for subsequent delivery of that driver through said site to implement a user'"'"'s downloading and installing of the driver to the user'"'"'s associated work station.

2. The system of claim 1 which is constructed in such a fashion that a stored, fully pre-configured printer driver for the selected network printing device is readied and available for delivery from a storage location through said site to a user'"'"'s work station at a point in time which precedes a user'"'"'s call for the downloading and installation of the driver.

3. The system of claim 1 which includes response structure which performs in such a fashion that a fully pre-configured printer driver for the selected network printing device is prepared for delivery through said site to a user'"'"'s work station as a consequence of, and following, a user'"'"'s call for the downloading and installation of the driver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a selectively breachable firewall exists between said site and the user'"'"'s work station.

5. A web-based network system for pre-installation management of the configuration of printer drivers for specific network-available printing devices comprising

a network-connected site associated with a web-based server for storing and making available for downloading and installation selectively pre-configured printer drivers which are specific to respective, different network-available printing devices,

a network-connected population of such different printing devices, and

a network-connected, web-based user interface enabling user downloading and installing from said site to the user'"'"'s work station of respective ones of such pre-configured printer drivers relative to respective associated ones of said printing devices.

6. A web-based network method for selectively pre-configuring, before network downloading and installing to a user'"'"'s work station, a printer driver for a selected network-available printing device, said method comprising

furnishing a driver-management, web-based server site from which a pre-configured device-specific printer driver for the selected printing device may be made available for downloading to, and installation in, the work station of a prospective network user of that device, and

additionally, furnishing pre-configuration activity structure which is operatively associated with the mentioned site, and operating that structure to pre-configure an appropriate printer driver for the selected device for subsequent delivery of that driver through the site in order to implement a user'"'"'s call for the downloading and installing of the driver to the user'"'"'s associated work station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein operation of said pre-configuration activity structure to pre-configure a driver takes place at a point in time which precedes a user'"'"'s call for the downloading and installation of the driver.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein operation of said pre-configuration activity structure to pre-configure a driver takes place subsequent to, and as a consequence of, a user'"'"'s call for downloading and installation of the driver.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said furnishings take place on the common opposite side of a firewall relative to the location of the user'"'"'s work station.