Seamless network installation of device drivers

• US 20060059482A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Technology Development
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Technology Development
• Inventors: Chamberlin, David, Wang, Zhencai, Lee, Sang Yoon
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method for seamlessly installing, upgrading, and deleting printer and other device drivers over a network. Instead of a computer periodically searching or scanning the network, searching occurs when a user logs into a computer. If a new device is found, driver installation is carried out using seamless pop-up GUI integrated into the OS, rather than by a Wizard. Methods include providing Domain Controller and User Computer connected to the network; searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and installing device drivers for the found newly added devices. Methods also include optionally-silent, seamless, pop-up GUI; use of scripts and WSH (Windows Scripting Host); deletion grace periods; TCP/IP and/or SNMP; automatically upgrading existing drivers if necessary; maintaining tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices; applying pre-defined device settings; and obtaining information of a device and applying the information to the driver.

Claims

1. A method for installing a device driver across a network, comprising:

providing at least one Domain Controller and at least one User Computer connected to the network;

searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and

installing device drivers for the found newly added devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the installing of the device drivers comprises providing optionally-silent, seamless, pop-up GUI.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the user login and/or the installing of the device drivers comprises running of script files.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching the network for unavailable devices when detecting a user login; and

deleting device drivers for the found unavailable devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the deleting of the device drivers is performed only when a deletion grace period is exceeded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the searching of the network devices comprises using TCP/IP and/or SNMP.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically upgrading the existing drivers if necessary.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying pre-defined device settings.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining information of a device and applying the information to the driver.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device driver is a printer driver.

12. A computer program product for installing a device driver across a network, comprising machine-readable code for causing a machine to perform the method steps of:

providing at least one Domain Controller and at least one User Computer connected to the network;

searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and

installing device drivers for the found newly added devices.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the installing of the device drivers comprises providing optionally-silent, seamless, pop-up GUI, and wherein the detecting of the user login and/or the installing of the device drivers comprises running of script files.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising machine-readable code for causing a machine to search the network for unavailable devices when detecting a user login;

and deleting device drivers for the found unavailable devices, wherein the deleting of the device drivers is performed only when a deletion grace period is exceeded.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the searching of the network devices comprises using TCP/IP and/or SNMP, and further comprising machine-readable code for causing a machine to automatically upgrade the existing drivers if necessary and to maintain tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising machine-readable code for causing a machine to apply pre-defined device settings and to obtain information of a printer device and applying the information to the driver.

17. A computing system, comprising a program programmed to install a device driver across a network, comprising:

providing at least one Domain Controller and at least one User Computer connected to the network;

searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and

installing device drivers for the found newly added devices.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the installing of the device drivers comprises providing optionally-silent, seamless, pop-up GUI, and wherein the detecting of the user login and/or the installing of the device drivers comprises running of script files.

19. The computing system of claim 17, further comprising code for causing a machine to search the network for unavailable devices when detecting a user login;

and deleting device drivers for the found unavailable devices, wherein the deleting of the device drivers is performed only when a deletion grace period is exceeded.

20. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the searching of the network devices comprises using TCP/IP and/or SNMP, and further comprising machine-readable code for causing a machine to automatically upgrade the existing drivers if necessary and to maintain tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices.

21. The computing system of claim 17, further comprising a print engine and code for applying pre-defined device settings and to obtain information of a printer device and applying the information to the driver.