Method, apparatus, and computer program product for installing device drivers for peripheral devices

• US 7,584,469 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Mitekura, Yoshihiro, Miyagawa, Miho, Tsuji, Shigekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria; Satish
• Application Number:
  US11/060,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 717170-178, 719/321, 719/327, 358/1.15, 713/1, 713/2
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for controlling the installation of device driver software which is executed on computer. The method includes the step of displaying an installation procedure for the device driver software and installing the driver software onto the computer.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

displaying first text in a form of a first dialogue box by an operating system, the first dialogue box displaying the first text and being for installation of a driver for a new hardware, the first dialogue box for receiving a selection from a user regarding the installation of the driver;

simultaneously displaying second text in a second dialogue box outside of the first dialogue box, the second text being displayed in the second dialog box by an installer software of the new hardware which is a source independent from the operating system, the second text for assisting the user on how to proceed with the installation and providing information regarding the installation of the driver supplemental to what is provided by the first dialogue box;

receiving the selection from the user; and

installing the driver which corresponds to the selection.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying third text using a third dialogue box, the third text including at least one of;

a prompt to the user to decide whether or not to install a software;

a prompt to the user to decide whether or not to test the software;

a prompt to the user to take a picture;

a prompt to the user to establish a connection between a peripheral device and the computer; and

a prompt to the user to determine if the computer recognizes the peripheral device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking a registry of drivers on a computer; and

deleting an unknown driver from the computer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the installer software detects a version of the operating system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the installer software is configured to browse a web page that provides the user additional information about the installation of the driver.

6. A computer readable storage medium comprising:

displaying first text in a form of a first dialogue box by an operating system, the first dialogue box displaying the first text and being for installation of a driver for a new hardware, the first dialogue box for receiving a selection from a user regarding the installation of the driver;

simultaneously displaying the second text in a second dialogue box outside of the first dialogue box, the second text being displayed in the second dialog box by an installer software of the new hardware which is a source independent from the operating system, the second text for assisting the user on how to proceed with the installation and providing information regarding the installation of the driver supplement to what is provided by the first dialogue box;

receiving the selection from the user; and

installing the driver which corresponds to the selection.