Download and installation of software from a network printer

• US 7,430,736 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Truc D., Wilson, Silvy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yigdall; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US09/970,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,554 Days
• Field of Search: 717/178, 717/174, 717/175, 717/176, 717/177
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

An architecture for providing device software from a network peripheral device to a client machine. An end-user of a client machine connected to the network accesses the network peripheral device having the device software stored therein. In response thereto, the network peripheral device notifies the end-user that device software is available for download. The end-user then manually selects and downloads one or more components of the device software from the network peripheral device for subsequent installation on the client machine.

Claims

1. A system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices comprising:

means adapted for selectively receiving into a memory means integrated with a document processing controller, a plurality of alternative software drivers for use with associated workstations in data communication with a document processing device means associated with the controller;

the memory means including means adapted for storing at least one executable software installation utility, the at least one executable software installation utility corresponding to at least one of the plurality of software drivers;

rendering request means adapted for receiving a document rendering request from at least one of the associated workstations, the document rendering request including commencement of a transfer of an associated electronic document from the at least one workstation to the document processing device;

means adapted for determining a presence of a plurality of software drivers disposed in the memory means of the controller that correspond to a received document rendering request, which plurality of software drivers are associated with different operating systems;

graphical user interface generation means including means adapted for generating, via the controller, a graphical user interface on the associated workstations in accordance with a determined presence of a plurality of software drivers, which graphical user interface includes a list of each of the plurality of available software drivers stored in the memory transmitted from the document processing controller;

means adapted for receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user input includes operating system data representative of an operating system type on the at least one associated workstation;

input means adapted for receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user input selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to a storage area on the associated workstation in accordance with received operating system data;

means adapted for identifying at least one stored executable software installation utility stored in the memory means which corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of software drivers corresponding to received user input;

means adapted for commencing, in accordance with user input, a transfer of software from the memory to the storage area via a data communication session initiated via the graphical user interface in accordance with a selection completed via the input means, the software including at least one of the plurality of software drivers and at least one identified executable software installation utility corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of software drivers; and

means adapted for commencing operation of the at least one identified executable software installation utility on the associated workstation after a transfer thereof to the storage area so as to install the at least one of the plurality of software drivers thereon.

2. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 1 wherein:

the graphical user interface generation means further includes means adapted for generating a graphical user interface on the associated workstations, which graphical user interface includes data representative of an alternative software driver to the at least one of the plurality of available software drivers, which alternative software driver is stored in the memory; and

the input means includes means adapted for receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user inputs selectively directs loading of the alternative software driver to a storage area on the associated workstation.

3. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 2 wherein the alternative software driver is one that was previously loaded on the software workstation so as to facilitate selective rollback to an earlier driver version.

4. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 1 further comprising means adapted for initiating generation of the user interface upon a loading of the at least one of the plurality of available software drivers into the memory associated with the document processing controller.

5. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 1, wherein the document processing device includes a printing device, and wherein the software driver is comprised of a printer driver.

6. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 5, wherein the storage area includes at least one of a hard disk and non-volatile memory in data communication with the printing device.

7. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 5 wherein the means adapted for commencing transfer of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the storage area includes means adapted for commencing transfer automatically once the user selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the associated storage area.

8. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 5, wherein the means adapted for commencing transfer of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the storage area includes means adapted for receiving user input to commence transfer once the user selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the associated storage area.

9. A method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices comprising the steps of:

selectively receiving into a memory integrated with a document processing controller, a plurality of alternative software drivers for use with associated workstations in data communication with a document processing device associated with the controller;

storing at least one executable software installation utility, the at least one executable software installation utility corresponding to at least one of the plurality of software drivers in the memory transmitted from the document processing controller;

receiving a document rendering request from at least one of the associated workstations, the document rendering request including commencement of a transfer of an associated electronic document from the at least one workstation to the document processing device;

determining a presence of a plurality of software drivers disposed in the memory, via the controller, that correspond to a received document rendering request, which plurality of software drivers are associated with different operating systems;

generating, via the controller, a graphical user interface on the associated workstations in accordance with a determined presence of a plurality of software drivers, which graphical user interface includes a list of each of the plurality of available software drivers corresponding to at least one document processing device;

receiving user in put, via the graphical user interface, which user input includes operating system data representative of an operating system type on the at least one associated workstation;

receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user input selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to a storage area associated with a document processing operation function of the at least one document processing device in accordance with received operating system data;

identifying at least one stored executable software installation utility stored in the memory which corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of software drivers corresponding to received user input;

commencing, in accordance with user input, a transfer of software from the memory to the storage area via a data communication session initiated via the graphical user interface in accordance with a selection completed via the user input, the software including at least one of the plurality of software drivers and at least one identified executable software installation utility corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of software drivers; and

commencing operation of the at least one identified executable software installation utility on the associated workstation after transfer thereof to the storage area so as to install the at least one of the plurality of software drivers thereon.

10. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a graphical user interface on the associated workstations, which graphical user interface includes data representative of an alternative software driver to the at least one of the plurality of available software drivers, which alternative software driver is stored in the memory; and

receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user inputs selectively directs loading of the alternative software driver to a storage area on the associated workstation.

11. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 10 wherein the alternative software driver is one that was previously loaded on the software workstation so as to facilitate selective rollback to an earlier driver version.

12. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 9 further comprising the step of initiating generation of the user interface upon a loading of the at least one of the plurality of available software drivers into the memory associated with the document processing controller.

13. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 9, wherein the document processing device includes a printer, and wherein the software driver is comprised of a printer driver.

14. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 13, wherein the storage area includes a hard disk in data communication with the printer.

15. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 9, wherein the step of commencing transfer of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the storage area is initiated automatically once the user selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the associated storage area.

16. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 9, wherein the step of commencing transfer of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the storage area is initiated upon receipt of user input to commence transfer once the user selectively directs loading of the at least one of the plurality of software drivers to the associated storage area.

17. A system for providing device software from a network, wherein the network comprises at least one client machine and at least one network peripheral device in data communication, comprising:

means adapted for transmitting communications between the at least one client machine and the at least one network peripheral device;

rendering request means adapted for receiving a document rendering request from at least one network peripheral, the document rendering request including commencement of a transfer of an associated electronic document from the at least one network peripheral to the client machine;

means adapted for determining a presence of a plurality of components of device software disposed in the memory means of the controller that correspond to a received document rendering request, which plurality of components of device software are associated with different operating systems;

graphical user interface generation means including means adapted for generating, via the controller, a graphical user interface in accordance with a determined presence of a plurality of components of device software, which graphical user interface includes a list of a plurality of components corresponding to available device software, wherein the plurality of components of device software includes at least one executable software installation utility, the at least one executable software installation utility corresponding to at least one of the plurality of device components;

means adapted for receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user input includes operating system data representative of an operating system type on the at least one associated workstation;

input means adapted for receiving user input from a user associated with the at least one client machine, via the graphical user interface, which user input selectively directs loading of at least one of the plurality of components of the device software in accordance with received operating system data and identifies at least one executable software installation utility which corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software to a storage area associated with the client machine in accordance with received operating system data;

means adapted for downloading, in accordance with user input, the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software and at least one identified executable software installation utility from the at least one network peripheral to the storage area associated with the client machine via a data communication initiated via the graphical user interface in accordance with a selection completed via the input means; and

means adapted for commencing operation of the at least one software installation utility on the client machine after transfer thereof to the storage area so as to install the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software thereon.

18. The system for providing device software from a network of claim 17 wherein:

the graphical user interface generation means further includes means adapted for generating a graphical user interface on the client machine, which graphical user interface includes data representative of alternative component of the device software to the at least one of the plurality of components corresponding to the available device software; and

the input means includes means adapted for receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user inputs selectively directs loading of the alternative component.

19. The system for providing device software from a network of claim 18 wherein the alternative component is one that was previously loaded so as to facilitate selective rollback to an earlier version.

20. The system for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 17 further comprising means adapted for initiating generation of the user interface upon a loading of the at least one of the plurality of components.

21. The system for providing device software from a network of claim 17, wherein the at least one network peripheral is a document processing device, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of components which is downloaded includes a driver for the document processing device.

22. The system for from a network of claim 17, wherein means adapted for downloading the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software includes means adapted for automatically commencing the downloading once the user selects the at least one of the plurality of components.

23. The system for from a network of claim 17, wherein the means adapted for receiving user input includes means adapted for receiving user input to commence downloading the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software.

24. A method for providing device software from a network, wherein the network comprises at least one client machine and at least one network peripheral device in data communication, comprising the steps of:

transmitting communications between at least one client machine and at least one network peripheral device;

receiving a document rendering request from at least one network peripheral, the document rendering request including commencement of a transfer of an associated electronic document from the at least one network peripheral to the client machine;

determining a presence of a plurality of components of device software disposed in the memory means that correspond to a received document rendering request, which plurality of components of device software are associated with different operating systems

generating, via the controller, a graphical user interface in accordance with a determined presence of a plurality of components of device software, which graphical user interface includes a list of each of a plurality of components corresponding to available device software, wherein the plurality of components of device software includes at least one executable software installation utility, the at least one executable software installation utility corresponding to at least one of the plurality of device components;

receiving user input, via the graphic user interface, which user input includes operating system data representative of an operating system type on the at least one associated workstation;

receiving user input from a user associated with the at least one client machine, via the graphical user interface, which user input selectively directs loading of at least one of the plurality of components of the device software in accordance with received operating system data and identifies at least one executable software installation utility which corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software to a storage area associated with the client machine;

downloading, in accordance with the user input, the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software from the at least one network peripheral to the storage area associated with the client machine, and at least one identified executable software installation utility via a data communication initiated via the graphical user interface in accordance with a selection completed via the input means in accordance with received operating system data; and

commencing operation of the at least one identified executable software installation utility on the client machine after transfer thereof to the storage area so as to install the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software thereon.

25. The method for providing device software from a network of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:

generating a graphical user interface on the client machine, which graphical user interface includes data representative of an alternative component of the device software to the at least one of the plurality of components of the available device software; and

receiving user input, via the graphical user interface, which user inputs directs loading of the alternative component.

26. The method for providing device software from a network of claim 25 wherein the alternative component is one that was previously loaded so as to facilitate selective rollback to an earlier version.

27. The method for network-based uploading of drivers for document processing devices of claim 24 further comprising the step of initiating generation of the user interface upon a loading of the at least one of the plurality of components.

28. The method for providing device software from a network of claim 24, wherein the at least one network peripheral is a document processing device, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of components which is downloaded includes a driver for the document processing device.

29. The method for from a network of claim 24, wherein the step of downloading the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software is automatically initiated once the user selects the at least one of the plurality of components.

30. The method for from a network of claim 24, wherein the step of downloading the at least one of the plurality of components of the device software is initiated upon receipt of user input to commence the downloading step.