INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20100031250A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Reiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,843 B2
• 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

When a peripheral device is connected to a host apparatus for the first time, an easy and secure installation of the driver of the peripheral device into the host apparatus is made possible. A printer 102, and a storage 103 storing a driver 104 for the printer 102 and an installer thereof, which function on a PC 200 are connected, as USB devices 111, 112, to a USB hub 110. An installation flag 105 records a value indicating an installation state of the driver 104. When the PC 200 is connected to the USB hub 110, if the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “non-installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access only to the storage 103. If the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “already installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access to the storage 103 and the printer 102.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information processing unit which is connected to a host apparatus and executes a prescribed information processing as a peripheral device;

a storage unit which stores a driver software to function on the host apparatus for utilizing the information processing unit by the host apparatus, and an installer for the driver software;

an interface unit which is capable of connecting the information processing unit and the storage unit with the host apparatus;

a determination unit which determines whether the driver software is not yet installed in the host apparatus; and

a control unit which controls the interface unit, when the host apparatus is connected to the interface unit and when the determination unit determines that the driver software is not yet installed, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit only in order to read and execute the installer, but controls the interface unit, when the determination unit determines that the driver software is already installed, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit and the information processing unit.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit executes determination based on flag information indicating a non-installed state or an already installed state.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB hub so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit each as a USB device.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB device so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit as a composite USB device.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit receives a notification for completion of installation of the driver software from the host apparatus through the interface unit, and, in response to the reception of the notification, sets a value indicating an already installed state in the installation flag.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in response to an installation flag canceling operation executed by a user, a value indicating the non-installed state is set in the installation flag.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image recording unit as the information processing unit.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image reading unit as the information processing unit.

9. A control method for an information processing apparatus including:

an information processing unit which is connected to a host apparatus and executes a prescribed information processing as a peripheral device;

a storage unit which stores a driver software to function on the host apparatus for utilizing the information processing unit by the host apparatus, and an installer for the driver software; and

an interface unit which is capable of connecting the information processing unit and the storage unit with the host apparatus, the method comprising;

determining whether the driver software is not yet installed in the host apparatus; and

controlling the interface unit, when the host apparatus is connected to the interface unit and when the driver software is determined as not yet installed, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit only in order to read and execute the installer, but controlling the interface, when the driver software is determined as already installed, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit and the information processing unit.

10. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the determination is made, based on flag information indicating a non-installed state or an already installed state.

11. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB hub so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit each as a USB device.

12. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB device so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit as a composite USB device.

13. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit receives a notification for completion of installation of the driver software from the host apparatus through the interface unit, and, in response to the reception of the notification, sets a value indicating an already installed state in the installation flag.

14. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in response to an installation flag canceling operation executed by a user, a value indicating the non-installed state is set in the installation flag.

15. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an image recording unit is included as the information processing unit.

16. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an image reading unit is included as the information processing unit.