System and method for identifying installation modes for device drivers

• US 20050283778A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Barton, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/872,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method and system for establishing an installation mode for a device driver is disclosed. The method and system comprises a scanning each file of the device driver, and assigning points to each file according to patterns detected. The method and system includes delivering the installation mode based on the points. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention analyzes the device files for a driver and assigns points to various parameters of the files determining which installation mode is appropriate. In so doing, a customer can easily and correctly install a driver in a particular operating system.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an installation mode for a device driver comprising:

scanning each file of the device driver;

assigning points to each file according to patterns detected; and

providing the installation mode based on the points.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the installation mode comprises any of Textmode, Plug and Play or Executable.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the points are assigned based upon the sum of a DirectoryScore and a FileScore for each file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each file of the device driver is on a diskette.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each file of the device driver is on a C.D.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each file of the device driver is downloaded from a website.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein assigning points comprises:

calculating a DirectoryScore;

calculating a FileScore; and

adding the calculated DirectoryScore to the calculated FileScore to provide a total FileScore.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining step comprises determining the device installation mode based on the total FileScore.

9. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for identifying an installation mode for a device driver, the program instructions for:

scanning each file of the device driver;

assigning points to each file according to patterns detected; and

providing the installation mode based on the points.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the installation mode comprises any of Textmode, Plug and Play or Executable.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the points are assigned based upon the sum of a DirectoryScore and a FileScore.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein each file of the device driver is on a diskette.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein each file of the device driver is on a CD.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein each file of the device driver is on downloaded from a website.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein assigning points comprises:

calculating a DirectoryScore;

calculating a FileScore; and

adding the calculated DirectoryScore to the calculated FileScore to provide a total FileScore.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the determining step comprises determining the device installation mode based on the total FileScore.

17. A processor comprising:

an operating system; and

a computer program responsive to the operating system for identifying an installation mode for a device driver.

18. The processor of claim 17 wherein computer program scans each file of the device driver, assigns points to each file according to patterns detected and determines the installation mode based on the points.

19. The processor of claim 17 wherein the installation mode comprises any of Textmode, Plug and Play or Executable.

20. The processor of claim 17 wherein the points are assigned based upon the sum of a DirectoryScore and a FileScore.

21. The processor of claim 17 wherein each file of the device driver is on a diskette.

22. The processor of claim 17 wherein each file of the device driver is on a CD.

23. The processor of claim 17 wherein each file is downloaded from a website.

24. The processor of claim 17 wherein assigning points comprises:

calculating a DirectoryScore;

calculating a FileScore; and

adding the calculated DirectoryScore to the calculated FileScore to provide a total FileScore.

25. The processor of claim 24 wherein the determining step comprises determining the device installation mode based on the total FileScore.