System and method for locating and installing device drivers for peripheral devices
First Claim
1. A method for installing a device driver for a peripheral device in a destination computer connected to a source computer via a communications network, comprising the steps of:
- reading, by the destination computer, the peripheral device to obtain a network address and a device identification;
retrieving, by the destination computer, a device driver installation program at the network address from the source computer;
executing the device driver installation program in the destination computer to determine a configuration of the destination computer;
requesting the device driver according to the configuration of the destination computer, as determined by the installation program and the device identification, from the source computer; and
installing the device driver in the destination computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A destination computer reads a device identification and a network address from a peripheral device connected to the destination computer. A device driver, corresponding to the device identification, is then retrieved from the source computer at the network address. A device driver installation program can also be retrieved from the source computer. The device driver installation program is executed in the destination computer to determine the configuration of the destination computer. The destination computer requests the device driver for the peripheral device corresponding to the configuration of the destination computer from the source computer. The device driver is installed in the destination computer.
146 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for installing a device driver for a peripheral device in a destination computer connected to a source computer via a communications network, comprising the steps of:
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reading, by the destination computer, the peripheral device to obtain a network address and a device identification;
retrieving, by the destination computer, a device driver installation program at the network address from the source computer;
executing the device driver installation program in the destination computer to determine a configuration of the destination computer;
requesting the device driver according to the configuration of the destination computer, as determined by the installation program and the device identification, from the source computer; and
installing the device driver in the destination computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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6. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration of the destination computer is determined according to a memory, a bus, and an operating system of the destination computer.
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12. A system for installing a device driver for a peripheral device, comprising:
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a destination computer, having a predetermined configuration, and including a peripheral device storing a network address and a device identification;
a source computer, connected to the destination computer by a network, including an installation program, located at the network address, the installation program executable in the destination computer; and
a device driver compatible with the predetermined configuration of the destination computer and the device identification. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification