Automatic detection and installation of client peripheral devices by a server

• US 7,600,227 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brockway, Tad Dennis, Appiah, Madan Mohan R., Bahl, Ritu, Overton, Adam J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Tuan Anh
• Application Number:
  US10/847,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 719/321, 719/327, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 709/205, 726/17, 710/8, 710/264
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A server-client system is configured to automatically detect and install peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, etc. that are attached to a client. The server is configured to detect the peripheral device and install a driver that is compatible with the peripheral device. The I/O queue created for the peripheral device is redirected to the port to which the peripheral device is connected.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring a server for use with a peripheral device connected to an input/output port of a client computer, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the server by the client computer;

detecting the connection from the client computer by the server and establishing a session for the client computer;

initializing data structures to provide the session for the client computer and sending a signal to the client computer to commence communications with the server;

detecting a presence of the peripheral device by receiving a peripheral identifier uniquely identifying the peripheral device physically inserted into the input/output port of the client computer, the peripheral identifier being received by the client computer, wherein detecting the presence of the peripheral device is in response to one or more requests for enumerations of client peripheral devices by the server to the client computer;

transmitting the identifier to the server; and

installing a peripheral driver, on the server, for use with the peripheral device identified by the received peripheral identifier.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

physically removing the peripheral device from the input/output port of the client computer; and

removing the peripheral driver used with the peripheral device identified by the received peripheral identifier.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

physically removing the peripheral device from the input/output port of the client computer; and

uninstalling the peripheral driver used with the peripheral device identified by the received peripheral identifier.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the identified peripheral device is a Plug And Play compatible peripheral device.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the identified peripheral device is a printer.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein receiving the peripheral identifier further comprises receiving a Plug and Play identifier corresponding to the peripheral device.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein receiving the peripheral identifier further comprises comparing a first enumeration of peripheral devices received from the client computer by the server with a second enumeration of peripheral devices received from the client computer by the server.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising identifying the peripheral device by the client computer.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the server not detecting the peripheral device or identifying the peripheral device.

10. A client/server computer system, comprising:

at least one client having a printer physically inserted into an input/output port thereof, the client being configured to detect a presence of the printer by receiving a peripheral identifier uniquely identifying the printer newly connected to the input/output port of the client computer;

a server comprising;

a printing subsystem configured to receive the peripheral identifier from the client in response to at least one request by the printer subsystem to the client for an enumeration of peripheral identifiers corresponding to printers connected at the client;

a printer driver associated with the peripheral identifier configured to install the printer, including setting up a print queue on the server for the printer; and

a peripheral mapping unit to redirect printer data to the input/output port of the client;

wherein the client establishes a connection with the server and transmit the peripheral identifier to the server; and

wherein the server detects the connection from the client computer, establishes a session for the client computer, initializes data structures to provide the session for the client computer and sends a signal to the client computer to commence communications therewith.

11. The client/server system as recited in claim 10, wherein the printer is a Plug And Play compatible printer.

12. The client/server system as recited in claim 10, wherein the printing subsystem received the peripheral identifier without requiring interaction by a user.

13. The client/server system as recited in claim 10, wherein the peripheral device driver is installed without requiring interaction by a user.

14. The client/server computer system recited in claim 10, further comprising the client being configured to identify the peripheral device.

15. The client/server computer system recited in claim 14, further comprising the server being configured to not detect the peripheral device or identifying the peripheral device.

16. A method for automatically configuring a server for use with a peripheral device connected to an input/output port of a client computer, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the server by the client computer;

detecting the connection from the client computer by the server and establishing a session for the client computer;

initializing data structures to provide the session for the client computer and sending a signal to the client computer to commence communications with the server;

detecting a presence of the peripheral device by receiving a peripheral identifier uniquely identifying the peripheral device physically inserted into the input/output port of the client computer, the peripheral identifier being received by the client computer, wherein receiving the peripheral identifier further comprises comparing a first enumeration of peripheral devices received from the client computer by the server with a second enumeration of peripheral devices received from the client computer by the server;

transmitting the identifier to the server; and

installing a peripheral driver, on the server, for use with the peripheral device identified by the received peripheral identifier.