Patent · US Expired

Computer system and method for supporting network-enabled devices

US7197580B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 2003
Grant dateMar 27, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/413
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system are provided for supporting hardware devices that are connected to the computer via a network. The existence of any hardware device connected on the network is detected in the method. Information descriptive of the connected device is then obtained, either from the device or from the user. Based upon the obtained information, a logical representation of the connected device is created. The driver for the detected device is then located and installed. From this point on, the network-connected hardware device appears to the computer in the same manner as a locally connected hardware device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.