INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, NETWORK DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20070067413A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: NISHIO, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

This invention makes it possible to automatically install the device driver of only an intended network device on a network. Pieces of identification information for temporarily recognizing partners are input in both a client terminal and a network compliant device corresponding to a driver to be installed. When the identification information is input, the network compliant device multicasts a Hello message which describes the identification information and is necessary to enter the network. The client terminal receives the Hello message, and when information which matches the input identification information is described in the Hello message, shifts to a process based on UPnP. When the client terminal receives a Hello message not containing any description which matches the identification information, it does not notify the OS of the message.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, comprising:

input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for, when a network entry message issued from a network device on a network is received via the network communication means, determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is not described in the network entry message, controlling to block notification of the network entry message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message, controlling to notify the OS of the network entry message.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising erase means for erasing the identification information input by said input means when a network entry message containing a description which matches input identification information is not received within a predetermined time after input of the identification information by said input means, and when a network entry message containing matched identification information is received.

3. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, comprising:

an input step of inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

a determination step of, when a network entry message issued from a network device on a network is received via the network communication means, determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is described in the network entry message; and

a control step of, when the identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is determined in the determination step not to be described in the network entry message, controlling to block notification of the network entry message to the OS, and when the identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is determined in the determination step to be described in the network entry message, controlling to notify the OS of the network entry message.

4. A computer program, stored on a computer-readable medium, which is loaded and executed by a computer to function as an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, functioning as:

input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for, when a network entry message issued from a network device on a network is received via the network communication means, determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is not described in the network entry message, controlling to block notification of the network entry message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message, controlling to notify the OS of the network entry message.

5. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 4.

6. A network device which can connect to a network and executes a predetermined process in response to a request from the network, comprising:

input means for inputting identification information for causing an information processing apparatus in which a device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

first transmission means for transmitting, onto the network, a network entry message which describes the identification information input by said input means; and

second transmission means for, when information on the network device is requested from the network, transmitting the requested information as a message to a requesting apparatus.

7. A method of controlling a network device which can connect to a network and executes a predetermined process in response to a request from the network, comprising:

an input step of inputting identification information for causing an information processing apparatus in which a device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

a first transmission step of transmitting, onto the network, a network entry message which describes the identification information input in the input step; and

a second transmission step of, when information on the network device is requested from the network, transmitting the requested information as a message to a requesting apparatus.

8. An information processing system formed from at least one network device which is connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting the network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprising:

first input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for, when a network entry message issued from a network device on the network is received via the network communication means, determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said first input means is described in the network entry message; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said first input means is not described in the network entry message, controlling to block notification of the network entry message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said first input means is described in the network entry message, controlling to notify the OS of the network entry message, and

wherein the network device comprising;

second input means for inputting identification information for causing the information processing apparatus in which the device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

first transmission means for transmitting, onto the network, a network entry message which describes the identification information input by said second input means; and

second transmission means for, when information on the network device is requested from the network, transmitting the requested information as a message to a requesting apparatus.

9. An information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, comprising:

input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in a response message received after a network device search message which describes information representing a type of network device whose device driver is to be installed is transmitted via the network communication means; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is not described in the response message, controlling to block notification of the response message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the response message, controlling to notify the OS of the response message.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising erase means for erasing the identification information input by said input means when the response message containing a description which matches input identification information is not received within a predetermined time after input of the identification information by said input means, and when a response message containing matched identification information is received.

11. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, comprising:

an input step of inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

a determination step of determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is described in a response message received after a network device search message which describes information representing a type of network device whose device driver is to be installed is transmitted via the network communication means; and

a control step of, when the identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is determined in the determination step not to be described in the response message, controlling to block notification of the response message to the OS, and when the identification information which matches the identification information input in the input step is determined in the determination step to be described in the response message, controlling to notify the OS of the response message.

12. A computer program, stored on a computer-readable medium, which is loaded and executed by a computer to function as an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed, functioning as:

input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in a response message received after a network device search message which describes information representing a type of network device whose device driver is to be installed is transmitted via the network communication means; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is not described in the response message, controlling to block notification of the response message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the response message, controlling to notify the OS of the response message.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 12.

14. A network device which can connect to a network and executes a predetermined service process in response to a request from the network, comprising:

input means for inputting identification information for causing an information processing apparatus in which a device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

first transmission means for transmitting, to a source, a response message which describes the identification information input by said input means when a search message for a network device which performs the same service as the service process executed by the network device is received from the network; and

second transmission means for, when a request message addressed to the network device for information on the network device is received from the network, transmitting, to a requesting apparatus of the request message, a response message which describes the information requested by the request message.

15. A method of controlling a network device which can connect to a network and executes a predetermined service process in response to a request from the network, comprising:

an input step of inputting identification information for causing an information processing apparatus in which a device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

a first transmission step of transmitting, to a source, a response message which describes the identification information input in the input step when a search message for a network device which performs the same service as the service process executed by the network device is received from the network; and

a second transmission step of, when a request message addressed to the network device for information on the network device is received from the network, transmitting, to a requesting apparatus of the request message, a response message which describes the information requested by the request message.

16. An information processing system formed from at least one network device which is connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting the network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding device driver is installed,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprising:

first input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device whose device driver is to be installed;

determination means for determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said first input means is described in a response message received after a network device search message which describes information representing a type of network device whose device driver is to be installed is transmitted via the network communication means; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said first input means is not described in the response message, controlling to block notification of the response message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the response message, controlling to notify the OS of the response message, and

wherein the network device comprising;

second input means for inputting identification information for causing the information processing apparatus in which the device driver is to be installed, to temporarily recognize the network device;

first transmission means for transmitting, to a source, a response message which describes the identification information input by said second input means when a search message for a network device which performs the same service as the service process executed by the network device is received from the network; and

second transmission means for, when a request message addressed to the network device for information on the network device is received from the network, transmitting, to a requesting apparatus of the request message, a response message which describes the information requested by the request message.

17. An information processing apparatus which can have network communication means and in which an OS for detecting a network device via the network communication means and automatically installing a corresponding software is installed, comprising:

input means for inputting identification information for temporarily recognizing a network device which is corresponding to software to be installed;

determination means for, when a network entry message issued from a network device on a network is received via the network communication means, determining whether identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message; and

control means for, when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is not described in the network entry message, controlling to block notification of the network entry message to the OS, and when said determination means determines that the identification information which matches the identification information input by said input means is described in the network entry message, controlling to notify the OS of the network entry message.