Information processing apparatus and control method for installing driver software

• US 8,332,843 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Reiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US12/443,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-171, 717174-177, 709203-204
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

When a peripheral device is connected to a host apparatus for the first time, an easy and secure installation of the driver of the peripheral device into the host apparatus is made possible. A printer 102, and a storage 103 storing a driver 104 for the printer 102 and an installer thereof, which function on a PC 200 are connected, as USB devices 111, 112, to a USB hub 110. An installation flag 105 records a value indicating an installation state of the driver 104. When the PC 200 is connected to the USB hub 110, if the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “non-installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access only to the storage 103. If the value of the installation flag 105 indicates “already installed”, the PC 200 is so controlled as to make access to the storage 103 and the printer 102.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information processing unit which executes a predetermined processing, according to a control by a host apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus;

a storage unit which stores a driver software to function on the host apparatus for utilizing the information processing unit by the host apparatus;

a determination unit which determines whether the driver software stored in the storage unit is not yet installed in the host apparatus, based on flag information indicating a non-installed state or an already installed state; and

a control unit which receives a notification for completion of installation of the driver software from the host apparatus, and, in response to the reception of the notification, sets a value indicating an already installed state in the flag information, and which controls an access by the host apparatus when the determination unit determines that the driver software is not yet installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit for an install of the driver software and an access by the host apparatus to the information processing unit is restricted, and which controls, when the determination unit determines that the driver software is already installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit for execution of the predetermined processing.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in response to an instruction by a user, a value indicating the non-installed state is set in the installation flag.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image recording unit as the information processing unit.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image reading unit as the information processing unit.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface unit which connects the information processing unit and the storage unit with the host apparatus;

wherein the control unit controls the access by the host apparatus with the information processing unit and the storage unit, by changing a connection of the interface unit with the host apparatus.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB hub so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit each as a USB device.

7. A control method for an information processing apparatus including:

an information processing unit which executes a predetermined processing, according to a control by a host apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus; and

a storage unit which stores a driver software to function on the host apparatus for utilizing the information processing unit by the host apparatus, the method comprising;

determining whether the driver software stored in the storage unit is not yet installed in the host apparatus, based on flag information indicating a non-installed state or an already installed state;

receiving a notification for completion of installation of the driver software from the host apparatus, and, in response to the reception of the notification, setting a value indicating an already installed state in the flag information; and

controlling an access by the host apparatus, when the driver software is determined as not yet installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit for an install of the driver software and an access by the host apparatus to the information processing unit is restricted, and controlling, when the driver software is determined as already installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit for execution of the predetermined processing.

8. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in response to an instruction by a user, a value indicating the non-installed state is set in the installation flag.

9. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises an interface unit which connects the information processing unit and the storage unit with the host apparatus, and

wherein the control step controls the access by the host apparatus with the information processing unit and the storage unit, by changing a connection of the interface unit with the host apparatus.

10. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the interface unit is constituted of a USB hub so connectable that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit and the storage unit each as a USB device.

11. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an image recording unit is included as the information processing unit.

12. A control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an image reading unit is included as the information processing unit.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises:

an information processing unit which executes a predetermined processing, according to a control by a host apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus; and

a storage unit which stores a driver software to function on a host apparatus for utilizing the information processing unit by the host apparatus,

wherein the information processing apparatus executes the program to perform the steps of;

determining whether the driver software stored in the storage unit is not yet installed in the host apparatus, based on flag information indicating a non-installed state or an already installed state;

receiving a notification for completion of installation of the driver software from the host apparatus, and, in response to the reception of the notification, setting a value indicating an already installed state in the flag information; and

controlling an access by the host apparatus, when the driver software is determined as not yet installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the storage unit for an install of the driver software and an access by the host apparatus to the information processing unit is restricted, and controlling, when the driver software is determined as already installed in the host apparatus, in such a manner that the host apparatus can access the information processing unit for execution of the predetermined processing.