Real time supply PF plug-and-play installation resources

• US 6,178,468 B1
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rudd, Michael L, Culp, Jerlyn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHUSTER, KATHARINA W
• Application Number:
  US09/100,806
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 395/828, 710/8, 710/102, 710/10, 710/104, 710/17, 710/16, 709/300, 709/221, 713/2, 711/115, 707/100
• US Class Current: 717/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

A real time “plug and play” installation mechanism which, instead of signaling the operating system to activate a pre-existing installation file previously shipped with the operating system file structure, energizes the operating system to retrieve the installation from a remote source. Examples of locations from which the installation resources may be retrieved include (1) an internet universal resource location (URL), (2) a dial-up bulletin board service (BBS), (3) a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) in which any required access protocols are supplied with the new device being installed, or (4) non-volatile storage (e.g. firmware) physically located on the new device being installed. The device manufacturer gives the operating system manufacturer a special installation file at the time that the operating system manufacturer distributes a new release. The special file appears to the operating system to be a conventional installation file. Then, when a new device is installed, the device identifies itself to the operating system, whereupon the operating system'"'"'s “plug and play” functionality causes the operating system to execute the corresponding special installation file. Instead of receiving installation instructions in the special file, however, the operating system receives instructions to retrieve the installation resources from a selected remote location.

Claims

1. A method for providing installation resources for a device to be installed on a computer, the computer having an operating system providing plug-and-play functionality, the method comprising:

creating an installation file for the device, the installation file executable by said plug-and-play finctionality in the operating system, the installation file, when executed instructs the operating system to retrieve installation resources for the device from a preselected location, the preselected location being remote from the computer;

placing the installation file in residence on the operating system; and

disposing the device to emit handshaking signals upon installation on the computer, the handshaking signals in turn prompting said plug-and-play functionality to execute the installation file.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the preselected location is selected from the group consisting of:

an internet universal resource location (URL);

a bulletin board service (BBS);

a local area network (LAN);

a wide area network (WAN); and

non-volatile storage in the device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the installation file specifically corresponds to the device, and in which the device is recognized by the operating system as specifically corresponding to the installation file.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the installation file is a default installation file executed by said plug-and-play functionality when the device is not recognized by the operating system.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the handshaking signals identify the preselected location to the operating system.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the installation file identifies the preselected location to the operating system.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the operating system is a Microsoft operating system, and in which the installation file is an “

.inf”

file type.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

following initial installation of the device on the computer, subsequently retrieving revised installation resources for the device from the preselected location by reinstalling the device.

9. A method for providing installation resources for a device to be installed on a computer, the computer having an operating system providing plug-and-play functionality, the method comprising:

creating an installation file for the device, the installation file executable by said plug-and-play functionality in the operating system, the installation file, when executed instructs the operating system to retrieve installation resources for the device from a preselected location, the preselected location being remote from the computer, the preselected location selected from the group consisting of;

an internet universal resource location (URL);

a bulletin board service (BBS);

a local area network (LAN);

a wide area network (WAN); and

non-volatile storage in the device;

placing the installation file in residence on the operating system; and

disposing the device to emit handshaking signals upon installation on the computer, the handshaking signals in turn prompting said plug-and-play functionality to execute the installation file, said execution of the installation file causing the preselected location to be identified to the operating system by either the handshaking signals or the installation file.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the installation file specifically corresponds to the device, and in which the device is recognized by the operating system as specifically corresponding to the installation file.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the installation file is a default installation file executed by said plug-and-play functionality when the device is not recognized by the operating system.

12. The method of claim 9, in which the operating system is a Microsoft operating system and in which the installation file is an “

.inf”

file type.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

following initial installation of the device on the computer, subsequently retrieving revised installation resources for the device from the preselected location by reinstalling the device.

14. A method for providing installation resources for a device to be installed on a computer, the computer having an operating system providing plug-and-play functionality, the method comprising:

creating an installation file for the device, the installation file executable by said plug-and-play functionality in the operating system, the installation file when executed instructing the operating system to retrieve installation resources for the device from a preselected location, the preselected location being remote from the computer;

placing the installation file in residence on the operating system;

disposing the device to emit handshaking signals upon installation on the computer, the handshaking signals in turn prompting said plug-and-play functionality to execute the installation file, said execution of the installation file causing the preselected cation to be identified to the operating system by either the handshaking signals or the installation file; and

following initial installation of the device on the computer, subsequently retrieving revised installation resources for the device from the preselected location by reinstalling the device.

15. The method of claim 14, in which the preselected location is selected from the group consisting of:

an internet universal resource location (URL);

a bulletin board service (BBS);

a local area network (LAN);

a wide area network (WAN); and

non-volatile storage in the device.

16. The method of claim 14, in which the installation file specifically corresponds to the device, and in which the device is recognized by the operating system as specifically corresponding to the installation file.

17. The method of claim 14, in which the installation file is a default installation file executed by said plug-and-play functionality when the device is not recognized by the operating system.

18. The method of claim 14, in which the operating system is a Microsoft operating system and in which the installation file is an “

.inf”

file type.