Seamless network installation of device drivers
US8095925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4411
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method seamlessly installs, upgrades, and deletes printer and other device drivers over a network. Instead of a computer periodically searching or scanning the network, searching occurs when a user logs into a computer. If a new device is found, driver installation is carried out using seamless pop-up GUI integrated into the OS, rather than by a wizard. The method includes providing a domain controller and a user computer connected to the network; searching the network for newly added devices when detecting a user login; and installing device drivers for the found newly added devices. The method also includes optionally-silent and seamless pop-up GUI; use of scripts and WSH (Windows Scripting Host); deletion grace periods; TCP/IP and/or SNMP; automatically upgrading existing drivers if necessary; maintaining tables of currently installed, to-be-installed, and to-be-deleted devices; applying pre-defined device settings; and obtaining information of a device and applying the information to the driver.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.