Method and system for embedded network device installation

• US 6,714,992 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navic Systems, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanojia, Chaitanya, Kamenstky, Lee, Hall, Peter, Copeman, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HIEU C
• Application Number:
  US09/515,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-221, 709/250, 709/321, 709/223, 709/327, 725/151-153, 725/139-141, 725/133, 710/1, 710/8-10, 702/122-123, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The present disclosed system is directed toward a communication and management system that dynamically targets network devices for content deployment, such as application programs, device drivers, configuration files, and registry subhives. Moreover, the present system targets users of network devices for promotions, such as advertisements offered by Internet e-commerce sites. Promotions are generally icons or graphic images with links to host web servers overlaying a video display, but also includes audio and video clips or data streams. Network devices and their users are targeted through user profiles. User profiles are created when network devices register with the system server and are continually updated with information provided by user activity and event logs that are periodically uploaded from each device. The present system implements a scalable messaging system for data transmission between the system server and among the network devices such that it is neutral as to the specific hardware platforms on which it is implemented.

Claims

1. A system for driver installation on a network device over a data network, the system comprising:

a system agent that detects an identification message for a peripheral device when attached to the network device and transferring information regarding the identification message;

a system manager that receives the information regarding the peripheral device and compares the information to a database of driver information and notifies the network device regarding a matching driver for the peripheral device;

the system manager sends a message notifying the system agent of a location of the matching driver for the peripheral;

a bulk download agent for requesting download of a file at the location of the driver; and

a bulk download manager that answers the request by downloading the requested file to the network device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification message is a plug-and-play string that is generated by the peripheral device.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a message router for transferring the information from the system/agent to the system manager.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system agent transfers at least a part of a plug-and-play string as the information to the system manager and the system manager compares the string to a database of strings for supported peripherals.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network device dynamically loads the driver.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system agent notifies the system manager when the driver had been loaded, the system manager updating a database storing a status of the network device.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system agent notifies the system manager when the peripheral is disconnected.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system agent obtains uninstall instructions for the driver and uninstalls the driver when the peripheral is disconnected.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system agent notifies the system manager when the driver had been uninstalled, the system manager updating a database storing a status of the network device.

10. A method for driver installation on a network device over a data network, the method comprising:

the network device detecting an identification message for a peripheral device when attached to the network device;

the network device transferring information regarding the identification message to a server system;

a system manager of the server system comparing the information to a database of driver information to find a matching driver;

the system manager notifying the network device regarding the matching driver for the peripheral device;

the system manager sending a message notifying system agent of the network device of a location of the matching driver for the peripheral;

a bulk download agent requesting download of a file at the location of the driver; and

a bulk download manager answering the request by downloading the requested file to the network device.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the identification message is a plug-and-play string that is generated by the peripheral device.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising routing the information as a message from the network device to the system manager.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the system manager comparing a plug-and-play string generated by the peripheral device to a database of strings for supported peripherals.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the network device dynamically loading the driver.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

the network device notifying the system manager when the driver had been loaded;

the system manager updating a database storing a status of the network device.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the network device notifying the system manager when the peripheral is disconnected.

17. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the network device obtaining uninstall instructions for the driver and uninstalling the driver when the peripheral is disconnected.

18. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

the network device notifying the system manager when the driver had been uninstalled; and

the system manager updating a database storing a status of the network device.