METHOD FOR INSTALLING A PRINTER DRIVER ON AN END USER'S COMPUTER

• US 20080244566A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: FUKAYA, Kazuyuki
• Application Number:
  US12/052,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244566A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for installing a driver of a target device on an end user'"'"'s computer, wherein a network couples the end user'"'"'s computer and target device.

The method comprises:

• • receiving an install command by the target device supplied by an end user;
  • generating an unique identification and an associated data package in response to said install command, wherein the data package comprises an identifier having a relation with the unique identification;
  • recording by means of the target device the unique identification on a data carrier;
  • storing the data package on a predefined location remote from the end user'"'"'s computer;
  • supplying the unique identification written on the data carrier to the end user'"'"'s computer; and,
  • installing a driver of the target device on the end user'"'"'s computer in dependence on the unique identification on the data carrier and the identifier.

Claims

1. Method for installing a driver of a target device on an end user'"'"'s computer, wherein a network couples the end user'"'"'s computer and target device, the method comprising:

receiving an install command by the target device supplied by an end user;

generating an unique identification and an associated data package in response to said install command, wherein the data package comprises an identifier having a relation with the unique identification;

recording by means of the target device the unique identification on a data carrier;

storing the data package on a predefined location remote from the end user'"'"'s computer;

supplying the unique identification written on the data carrier to the end user'"'"'s computer; and

,

installing a driver of the target device on the end user'"'"'s computer in dependence on the unique identification on the data carrier and the identifier.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the installing action comprises matching the unique identification and the identifier.

3. Method according to claim 1, further comprising deleting the data package from the predefined location after installation of the driver on the end user'"'"'s computer.

4. Method according to claim 1, further comprising generating an expiration code;

and,

inserting the expiration code in the data package,

wherein the action installing is performed in dependence on the expiration code.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier is a sheet of paper and the action of recording comprises printing the unique identification on the sheet of paper.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier is an electronic data carrier.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the target device is a printing device.

15. A computer program comprising instructions that when loaded on a computer arrangement support to perform any one of the methods according to claims 1-7.

16. A processor readable medium carrying a computer program, when loaded on a computer arrangement support to perform any one of the methods according to claims 1-7.

8. Peripheral device arranged for cooperation with an end user'"'"'s computer, wherein a network couples the end user'"'"'s computer and peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:

an input unit for entering an install command by the end user;

a processor readable storage medium; and

a processor in communication with said input device and said processor readable storage medium;

an interface unit to enable the connection with the network;

an output unit for recording data on a data carrier;

said processor readable storage medium storing program code to program said processor to initiate to perform in response to the install command a method comprising the following actions;

generating an unique identification and an associated data package;

storing the data package on a predefined location remote from the end user'"'"'s computer, and

instructing the output unit to record the unique identification on the data carrier.

9. Peripheral device according to claim 8, the method further comprising:

generating an expiration code; and

,

inserting the expiration code in the data package.

10. Peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein the data carrier is a sheet of paper and the action of writing comprises printing the unique identification on the sheet of paper.

11. Peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein the data carrier is an electronic data carrier.

12. Peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein the peripheral device is arranged to perform a printing function.

13. Peripheral device arranged for cooperation with an end user'"'"'s computer, wherein a network couples the end user'"'"'s computer and peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising:

an input unit for receiving an install command supplied by the end user;

a generator unit for generating in response to the install command a unique identification and an associated data package;

an output unit for recording the unique identification on a data carrier; and

,

an interface unit for storing the data package on a predefined location remote from the end user'"'"'s computer.

14. Peripheral device according to claim 13, the peripheral device further comprising:

a code generator for generating an expiration code; and

,

an inserting unit for inserting the expiration code in the data package.