Patent US4837586B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6530018B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for automatically retrieving and installing device drivers across a network
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 2002-06-28
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Granted: 2003-03-04
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Expires: 2022-06-28
Abstract
Abstract One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that retrieves and installs device driver software across a network. The system includes a detection mechanism that detects the presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system. The system also includes a reading mechanism that reads a locator specifying the location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device. The system additionally includes a driver retrieving mechanism that uses the locator to communicate with a remote host across the network in order to retrieve the current driver for the device from the remote host. The system also includes an installation mechanism that installs the current driver on the computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Hoyt A. Fleming, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; G06F9/4413; G06F9/4415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: a detection mechanism that is configured to detect a presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system; a reading mechanism that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device; a driver retrieving mechanism that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retrieve the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: a detection mechanism that is configured to detect a presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system; a reading mechanism that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device; a driver retrieving mechanism that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retrieve the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locator includes a universal resource locator (URL).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locator includes a telephone number and the network includes a telephone network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the installation mechanism is configured to reboot the computer system after installing the current driver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured to detect the presence of the device during a boot cycle following a power up of the computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the installation mechanism is configured to install the current driver following a boot cycle of the computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a default driver for the device that is configured to operate the device in a restricted performance mode until the current driver is installed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the driver retrieving mechanism is configured to send an identifier for the computer system to the remote host so that the remote host can return a version of the current driver that is tailored to the computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured to detect the presence of an out-of-date driver for the device in the computer system; and wherein the installation mechanism is configured to install an updated driver for the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the installation mechanism is configured to create the updated driver by applying an update to the out-of-date driver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A computer system that facilitates retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: a processor; a memory; a detection mechanism that is configured to detect a presence of a device in the computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system; a reading mechanism that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device a driver retrieving mechanism that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retreive the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
A computer system that facilitates retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: a processor; a memory; a detection mechanism that is configured to detect a presence of a device in the computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system; a reading mechanism that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device a driver retrieving mechanism that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retreive the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus that facilitates retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: an operating system that is configured to control the operation of a computer system; a reading mechanism within the operating system that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for a device within the computer system from a non-volatile memory on the device; a driver retrieving mechanism within the operating system that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retreive the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism within the operating system that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus that facilitates retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising: an operating system that is configured to control the operation of a computer system; a reading mechanism within the operating system that is configured to read a locator specifying a location of a current driver for a device within the computer system from a non-volatile memory on the device; a driver retrieving mechanism within the operating system that, is configured to communicate with a remote host across the network, and is further configured to retreive the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network; and an installation mechanism within the operating system that is configured to install the current driver for the device on the computer system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the locator includes a universal resource locator (URL).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the network includes the Internet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a detection mechanism that is configured to detect a presence of the device in the computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the detection mechanism is further configured to detect the presence of an out-of-date driver for the device in the computer system; and wherein the installation mechanism is further configured to install an updated driver for the device.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
58 words
A device that facilitates retrieval and installation of a driver for the device across a network, comprising: an interface that is configured to couple the device to a computer system; a non-volatile memory; and a locator encoded in the non-volatile memory that is configured to specify a location on the network for a current driver for the device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
58 words
A device that facilitates retrieval and installation of a driver for the device across a network, comprising: an interface that is configured to couple the device to a computer system; a non-volatile memory; and a locator encoded in the non-volatile memory that is configured to specify a location on the network for a current driver for the device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 18 , wherein the locator is encoded in the non-volatile memory in a form that allows the computer system to read the locator from the non-volatile memory, which enables the computer system to use the locator to retrieve the current driver for the device thereby allowing the current driver to be installed in the computer system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 18 , wherein the locator includes a universal resource locator (URL).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18 , wherein the network includes the Internet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-03 | 2006-09-02 | 2007-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-03 | 2010-09-02 | 2011-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-03 | 2014-09-02 | 2015-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |