Method and apparatus for remotely providing driver information

• US 7,634,769 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Digital Imaging Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hwang, Jong-youl, Song, Kwang-ho, Yun, Young-chan, Han, Jae-wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHIH CHING
• Application Number:
  US10/898,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 717/173, 717/169, 717/171, 717/172, 717/175, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 717/168, 709/202
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for remotely providing driver information regarding a product communicatively linked to a computer. The remote control apparatus generates information regarding drivers necessary for running the product based on received information regarding the product and system information of the computer. The remote control apparatus fetches information regarding drivers installed in the computer in response to a control signal, compares the generated driver information with the retrieved driver information, and transmits to the computer at least one of information regarding drivers not installed in the computer and necessary for running the product and a command for deleting information regarding drivers installed in the computer and unnecessary for running the product, based on the result of the comparison. This allows the computer to obtain information regarding optimal drivers for running the product.

Claims

1. A method for remotely providing driver information, the method comprising:

a. receiving information regarding a product that is communicatively linked to a customer'"'"'s computer and system information regarding the customer'"'"'s computer;

b. determining, based on the received product information and system information, which driver or drivers are required for the product;

c. determining which driver or drivers are already installed in the customer'"'"'s computer;

d. comparing the required drivers with the installed drivers; and

e. based on the comparing step, transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer, information regarding which of the already-installed drivers are required for the product and which of the already-installed drivers are to be deleted;

wherein steps a to e are performed on a remote server;

the method further comprising;

providing joint access to the remote server by;

a) an agent, via the agent computer, that assists a customer using the customer computer, and b) the customer;

installing a remote control module on the customer computer;

connecting the customer computer to a computer of the agent;

communicating with the agent in real time using a chat window via the remote control module;

wherein the agent performs at least one of system optimization, remote control, file manager, image transmission, and text transmission via the remote control module;

the method further comprising;

providing a customer with a selection of a plurality of service types comprising a real-time service type, a designated service type, and a reservation service type;

receiving a selection of service type from the customer;

if a selection of real-time service type is received, performing steps a to e in real time via a communication network;

if a selection of designated service type is received, performing steps a to e while the customer is in communication with an agent; and

if a selection of reservation service type haste is received, performing steps a to e at a time indicated by the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of the product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of a digital camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system information comprises information regarding an operating system of the customer'"'"'s computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step is performed in response to an authorization signal input through the customer'"'"'s computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an image of the product to the customer'"'"'s computer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the result of each step to the customer'"'"'s computer in real time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer information regarding one or more drivers that are not installed in the customer'"'"'s computer but that are necessary for running the product.

9. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon computer-readable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving information regarding a product that is communicatively linked to a customer'"'"'s computer and system information regarding the customer'"'"'s computer;

determining, based on the received product information and system information, which driver or drivers are required for the product;

determining which driver or drivers are already installed in the customer'"'"'s computer;

comparing the required drivers with the installed drivers; and

based on the comparing step, transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer, information regarding which of the already-installed drivers are required for the product and which of the already-installed drivers are to be deleted;

wherein the receiving, determining, comparing, and transmitting steps are performed on a remote server;

providing joint access to the remote server by;

a) an agent, via the agent computer, that assists a customer using the customer computer, and b) the customer;

installing a remote control module on the customer computer;

connecting the customer computer to a computer of the agent;

communicating with the agent in real time using a chat window via the remote control module;

wherein the agent performs at least one of system optimization, remote control, file manager, image transmission, and text transmission via the remote control module;

providing a customer with a selection of a plurality of service types comprising a real-time service type, a designated service type, and a reservation service type;

receiving a selection of service type from the customer;

if a selection of real-time service type is received, performing steps a to e in real time via a communication network;

if a selection of designated service type is received, performing steps a to e while the customer is in communication with an agent; and

if a selection of reservation service type haste is received, performing steps a to e at a time indicated by the customer.

10. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of the product.

11. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of a digital camera.

12. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the system information comprises information regarding an operating system of the customer'"'"'s computer.

13. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the transmitting step is performed in response to an authorization signal input through the customer'"'"'s computer.

14. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, further comprising transmitting an image of the product to the customer'"'"'s computer.

15. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the result of each step to the customer'"'"'s computer in real time.

16. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, further comprising transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer information regarding one or more drivers that are not installed in the customer'"'"'s computer but that are necessary for running the product.

17. A remote control apparatus comprising a remote server having a processor, wherein the processor comprises:

a driver information generating module that performs steps comprising;

a) receiving information regarding a product that is communicatively linked to a customer'"'"'s computer and system information regarding the customer'"'"'s computer, and

b) determining, based on the received product information and system information, which driver or drivers are required for the product;

a driver information comparison module that performs steps comprising;

c) comparing the required drivers with the installed drivers;

a remote control module that performs steps comprising

d) determining which driver or drivers are already installed in the customer'"'"'s computer; and

e) based on the comparing step performed by the driver information module, transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer information regarding which of the already-installed drivers are required for the product and which of the already-installed drivers are to be deleted;

a joint access element for providing joint access to the remote server by;

a) an agent, via the agent computer, that assists a customer using the customer computer, and b) the customer;

an installation element for installing a remote control module on the customer computer;

a connection for connecting the customer computer to a computer of the agent;

a communication element for communicating with the agent in real time using a chat window via the remote control module;

wherein the agent performs at least one of system optimization, remote control, file manager, image transmission, and text transmission via the remote control module;

a selection element for providing a customer with a selection of a plurality of service types comprising a real-time service type, a designated service type, and a reservation service type;

a receiving element for receiving a selection of service type from the customer;

wherein the algorithm further comprises;

an algorithm for, if a selection of real-time service type is received, performing steps a to e in real time via a communication network;

an algorithm for, if a selection of designated service type is received, performing steps a to e while the customer is in communication with an agent; and

an algorithm for, if a selection of reservation service type is received, performing steps a to e at a time indicated by the customer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of the product.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the information regarding the product comprises a model name of a digital camera.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the system information comprises information regarding an operating system of the customer'"'"'s computer.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the remote control module performs the transmitting step in response to an authorization signal input through the customer'"'"'s computer.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the remote control module performs a further step comprising transmitting an image of the product to the customer'"'"'s computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the remote control module performs a further step comprising transmitting the result of each step to the customer'"'"'s computer in real time.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the remote control module performs a further step comprising transmitting to the customer'"'"'s computer information regarding one or more drivers that are not installed in the customer'"'"'s computer but that are necessary for running the product.