JP2008027006A - Program for managing peripheral devices, information processing apparatus, and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reveal the labor and error of device selection when installing a network device and prevent waste of resources due to installation of unnecessary devices.
A function priority determination utility obtains performance information of a network device discovered by a PnP controller. Then, the device having the best performance is compared with the performance information of the same type of device already installed. If the discovered device performs better, install it. If an existing device has higher performance, it will not be installed, but if a device discovered in some functions is better, it is left to the user to decide whether to install it.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral device corresponding to a network, a program for managing peripheral devices, an information processing apparatus for controlling the peripheral devices, and a control method therefor.

  Conventionally, a service providing apparatus and a service providing system that provide a service in response to a service request from a client apparatus on a network are known. For example, with the rapid spread of communication over the Internet, various types of devices other than conventional personal computers have been developed as network compatible devices. For example, network correspondence is rapidly advanced to user interactive devices such as PDAs and mobile phones, image processing devices such as scanners, printers, copiers, and digital cameras, and home appliances such as televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators. ing. Note that PDA is an abbreviation for Personal Digital Assistance.

  Along with this, various protocols and architectures have been proposed that provide search and search means for network devices that provide services in order to improve convenience and simplicity in using network-compatible devices (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 and 2). These protocols and architectures also provide automatic setup of application software, utility software, operating systems, etc. for controlling network-enabled devices.

  In addition, specifications are being worked on by multiple companies and standardization organizations in order to extend the plug-and-play function applied to local input / output devices to network devices.

  For example, UPnP (registered trademark: see Non-Patent Document 1) and WSD: Web Services for Devices (WS-Discovery / WS-MetadataExchange) are being developed mainly by Microsoft Corporation. This is to realize so-called plug-and-play in which the device can be used simply by connecting the device to the network.

  In addition, there are BMLinks (registered trademark) promoted by the Association of Business Machines and Information Systems Industries (JBMIA), and Rendzvous supported by OS X developed by Apple.

As a method for installing a network printer, there is a method as described in Patent Document 3. In this method, the server collects information about printers installed on the client and lists the printers that can be installed from the database. The administrator selects a printer from the list and installs it. As a result, it is possible to reduce the labor that the user spends on the installation work.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-038956 JP 2004-362594 A JP 2005-044000 "UPnP (TM) Device Architecture" version 1.0, June 8, 2000 (Internet URL: http://www.upnp.org/download/UPnPDA10_20000613.htm) "Web Service Dynamic Discovery (WS-Discovery)", April 2005 (Internet URL: http://specs.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/04/discovery/ws-discovery.pdf) "WS-MetadataExchange", September 2000, Microsoft Corporation (Internet URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnglobspec/html/ws-metadataexchange.pdf)

  However, with the spread of network plug and play, convenience is improved, but there is a possibility that a driver or application of a network device that is not intended or unnecessary by the user is installed.

  For example, each time a network device is newly connected to the network, the plug and play function of the personal computer finds the device and automatically installs the driver and application for the device. This installation is done regardless of whether the user intends to use the device. This unnecessarily consumes personal computer hardware resources, particularly memory resources. Not only that, but unreliable software can be installed without the user's awareness, which can lead to serious damage such as destruction or leakage of information.

  In addition, the user wants to use a new printer that has a higher performance than the printer currently in use, but is notified of the new device especially for printers that have a lower performance than the printer being used. There is a request that there is no need. In such a case, every time a printer is discovered by plug and play, the user is bothered by the work of determining whether the printer has high performance. This places an excessive burden on the user and leaves the possibility of a determination error.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object thereof is to solve the above-described problems. That is, based on the performance of a peripheral device discovered from the network, a program, an information processing apparatus, and its control method for determining whether to install the device and managing the peripheral device with reduced user intervention opportunities are provided. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the Japanese invention has the following configuration. That is, a program for making a peripheral device usable by a computer having a recognition function for recognizing a connected peripheral device,
Acquisition means for acquiring performance information of connected peripheral devices;
Comparison means for comparing the performance information of the first peripheral device acquired by the acquisition means with the performance information of the second peripheral device currently available;
If the comparison result by the comparison means shows that the first peripheral device has higher performance, the computer is caused to function as an installation control means for installing the device driver of the peripheral device and making the peripheral device available. .

  According to the present invention, since the opportunity for the user to intervene when installing a device driver for a newly discovered peripheral device can be reduced, the burden on the user can be reduced and a determination error can be prevented.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the protocol, numerical values, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration when attention is paid to one connected client and one network peripheral device (printer in FIG. 1) in the network printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the host computer 1000 includes a CPU 1 that executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets) and the like are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 3. . The CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4.

  The ROM 3 program ROM stores a control program for the CPU 1 or a printer selector and network printer driver program relating to the present invention. The font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data used for the document processing. The data ROM of the ROM 3 stores various data used when performing the document processing and the like.

  The RAM 2 functions as a storage device for the main memory and work area of the CPU 1, the printer management table according to the present invention, and a printer layout map registration list (not shown) copied from an external storage. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10.

  An external memory controller (DKC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), or a flash EEPROM. The external memory 11 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, registered network connection information, and the like. The Ethernet (registered trademark) controller (NETC) 8 is connected to the printer 2000 via the network 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 2000. The CPU 1 executes, for example, an outline font rasterization process on the display information RAM set on the RAM 2 to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT 10. The CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing.

  In the printer 2000, the CPU 12 comprehensively accesses various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14. Control. The CPU 12 outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via the printing unit interface 16.

  The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data used for generating the output information. In the case of a printer having no external storage device such as the hard disk font 3 or the like, various characteristic information used on the host computer is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 13. The CPU 12 can communicate with the host computer via the input / output unit 18 and is configured to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer.

  The RAM 19 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 12. The RAM 19 is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.

  Access to the hard disk (HD) 23 is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 22, and access to the external memory 14 such as an IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation unit (operation panel) that is provided with a switch for operation and an LED display.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network plug and play system as an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of FIG. 2 shows a software configuration realized by executing a program by each CPU.

  The host computer 1000 is a personal computer in this embodiment and is also called a client device. The host computer 1000 supports Ethernet (registered trademark) as a communication function. Communication is controlled by an Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 110. An upper layer of these controllers includes a TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 109, and an HTTP 107 on the protocol stack, which analyzes an HTTP request and performs a response process.

  The TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 109 and the upper layer of the HTTP 107 include a simple object access protocol (SOAP) processor 104. The function priority determination utility 102, the WSD module 103, and the application 101 each realize bidirectional communication of data described in extensible Markup Language (XML) via the SOAP processor 104. Note that SOAP is a protocol for performing communication between objects via a network. In SOAP, a data structure described in XML is defined, and HTTP or SMTP is used as a transfer protocol. The SOAP processor 104 analyzes (parses) an object described in accordance with SOAP and executes processing.

  The function priority determination utility 102 controls the UI of FIG. 5 and accepts an operation in which the user sets the priority of function comparison. The set priority information is recorded on the memory 108 via the memory controller 105.

  In addition, the function priority determination utility 102 has a function of acquiring performance information of the currently installed printer and recording it on the memory 108. The function priority determination utility 102 compares the performance information of the printer discovered by the WSD module 103 with the performance information of the currently installed printer, and determines which is superior. The plug-and-play controller is instructed to install according to the determination result. However, these functions may be executed by the PnP controller 106.

  The WSD module 103 performs a response process to the Hello message notified from the network device based on the WS-Discovery specification via the SOAP processor 104. In addition, the WSD module 103 executes a probe message issuance process for searching for a network device. Further, the WSD module 103 obtains the network device attribute information by issuing a GetMetadata message based on the WS-MetadataExchange specification. The attribute information includes performance information indicating the performance of the device.

  When a network device is found by these message processes, the WSD module 103 notifies the plug-and-play controller 106 of attribute information of the found network device. The plug-and-play controller 106 has a function of reading the corresponding driver and utility software from the memory via the memory controller 105 based on the attribute information and executing installation on the host computer 1000.

  The application 101 has a function of printing an edited document on a network device / printer using, for example, word processor software. At that time, the application 101 transmits job data and print data to the network compatible device 2000 via the driver and utility installed by the plug and play controller 106.

  On the other hand, the network compatible device 2000, in this embodiment, the network compatible printer, supports Ethernet (registered trademark) as a communication function, and is controlled by the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 206, respectively. The upper layer of the controller 206 is provided with a TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 205, and an HTTP 204 is provided on the protocol stack for performing HTTP request analysis and response processing.

  The upper layer of the TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 205 and HTTP 204 includes a SOAP processor 203. The WSD module 202 and the printer controller 201 each realize bidirectional communication of data described in XML via the SOAP processor 203.

  Here, the WSD module 201 transmits a Hello message when connected to the network via the SOAP processor 203 based on the WS-Discovery specification. In addition, response processing to the Probe message issued from the host computer 1000 is executed.

  Further, based on the WS-MetadataExchange specification, in response to the GetMetadata message issued from the host computer 1000, the network compatible device, in this embodiment, the attribute information held by the network compatible printer is returned. The attribute information includes performance information.

<Plug and play processing>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 5 shows a setting screen, in which the user determines the priority order of the functions. In the screen example, the user can select the highest priority function, the second function, and the third function displayed in the pane 500 from the options. The priority of the selected function is stored in the memory. The priority is used for weighting when comprehensively evaluating the performance information after comparing the performance information for each function. In FIG. 5, the device functions are compared with each other in the order of color functions first, then speed, and finally options. For example, in the case of color, it is determined that color is higher in performance than color and monochrome. Regarding the speed, it is determined that the higher the printing speed, the higher the performance. With respect to options, it is determined that the performance of the option is higher. The comparison is performed in order from the highest order function. A device having higher performance for all functions is determined to be a device having higher performance. When it is not possible to determine which performance is high, the function of the next priority is compared. In FIG. 5, there are three types of functions to be compared, but more or at least better.

  The control flow of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flow in FIG. 3 is executed by the CPU 1 in a state where the information to be compared and the priority order set on the screen in FIG. 5 are stored in the memory. In software, the subject is the function priority determination utility 102. The function priority determination utility 102 is also simply referred to as a utility 102.

  The utility 102 secures and uses the number N, the performance array Detected Printers [1... N], the first performance information FirstPrinter, and the second performance information Installed Printer as a work area. The number N holds the number of network devices detected by the PnP controller 106. The performance array DetectedPrinters [1... N] holds performance information (spec information) of the detected N printers. The first performance information FirstPrinter holds the performance information of the first priority printer among the detected printers. The second performance information Installed Printer holds performance information of the installed printer.

  In step S301, a Probe message is transmitted from the host 1000. The printer responds with a ProbeMatch message in response to the Probe message. In step S302, it is determined whether or not the host 1000 has received a ProbeMatch message. If received, the process proceeds to step S303. If not received, the process proceeds to step S301. Steps S301 and S302 correspond to search means. The host 1000 has a recognition function for recognizing a printer connected to the network by receiving a ProbeMatch message from the printer.

  In step S303, the number of messages that have received the ProbeMatch message is stored as N in the work area, and the variable I is initialized to 1.

  In step S304, the host computer 1000 transmits a GetMetaData message and requests performance information from the detected printer. In step S305, a response message to GetMetaData is received and stored in the performance array DetectedPrinters in association with an index for each device. Step S305 corresponds to an acquisition unit and an acquisition process.

  In step S306, the element DetectedPrinters [1] of the performance array is duplicated as the initial value of the first performance information FirstPrinter. In step S307, the variable I is incremented by one.

  In step S308, it is determined whether the number N is equal to the variable I. If they are equal, since all the detected printers have been compared, the process proceeds to step S312. If not equal, the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, the first performance information FirstPrinter is compared with the performance information of the element DetectedPrinter [I] of the performance array. The comparison processing flow follows the flowchart of FIG. Details will be described later. However, in the procedure of FIG. 4, when comparing two pieces of performance information as parameters A and B, the overall evaluation may change depending on which is A and which is B. In step S309, the first performance information FirstPrinter is set as the parameter A, and the performance information of the element DetectedPrinter [I] of the performance array is set as the parameter B. There are five judgment results, AA, A, B, and BB. The details will be described with reference to FIG. 4. “Parameter A printer has high performance with all functions”, “Parameter A printer has high performance”, “Same performance”, “Parameter B printer has high performance”, “Parameter B printer It means “high performance with all functions”.

  In step S310, it is determined whether or not the element DetectedPrinter [I] of the performance array is superior. That is, it is determined whether the printer detected on the network has higher performance. If the element DetectedPrinter [I] of the performance array is more dominant, the process proceeds to step S311. If not, the process proceeds to step S307. If this is expressed as a determination result, the process proceeds to step S311 if the determination result is BB or B, and the process proceeds to step S307 otherwise.

  In S311, the first performance information FirstPrinter is changed to an element DetectedPrinter [I] of the performance array determined to have higher performance.

  In step S312, the first performance information FirstPrinter is compared with the performance information of the second performance information InstalledPrinter. The comparison processing flow follows the flowchart of FIG. However, in step S312, the first performance information FirstPrinter is set as the parameter A, and the second performance information InstalledPrinter is set as the parameter B, and the comparison of FIG. Step S312 corresponds to a comparison unit and a comparison process.

  In step S313, it is determined whether the printer related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is dominant in all functions (AA). If superior, the process proceeds to step S321. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S314.

  In step S314, it is determined whether the printer related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is dominant (A). If it is partly superior, the process proceeds to step S324, the first performance information FirstPrinter is installed, and the process ends. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S315.

  In step S315, it is determined whether or not the printer according to the second performance information Installed Printer is superior (BB) in all functions. If superior, the process proceeds to step S325, and the process ends without performing installation. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S316.

  In step S316, it is determined whether or not the first performance information FirstPrinter and the second performance information InstalledPrinter are the same. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step S317, and if not, the process proceeds to step S326.

  In step S317, it is determined whether or not the printer corresponding to the second performance information Installed Printer, that is, the installed printer can be used (is currently available). If it is online, it is determined to be usable, and if it is offline, it is determined to be unusable. If it is usable, the process proceeds to step S318, and if it is not usable, the process proceeds to step S329.

  In step S318, it is determined whether the printers related to the first performance information FirstPrinter and the second performance information InstalledPrinter are the same individual. Whether or not they are the same printer is determined by comparing the unique IDs of the printers included in the attribute information. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step S328, and if not, the process proceeds to step S319.

  In step S319, the position information included in the attribute information is compared to determine whether or not the first performance information FirstPrinter is closer to the host. This determination is prepared if the distance information from the host computer 1000 is included as the position information. If it is determined that the distance is close, the process proceeds to step S329; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S320. In step S320, the printer driver related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is not installed, and the process ends.

  In step S321, a printer driver installation process related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is performed. The printer driver related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is a printer driver of a printer corresponding to the first performance information FirstPrinter. The printer driver program is downloaded from a server (not shown), for example.

  In step S322, for example, a UI as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and the user is inquired whether to uninstall the printer driver related to the first performance information FirstPrinter. If it is selected to uninstall, the process proceeds to step S323 to perform an uninstall process. If not uninstalled, the process is terminated.

  In step S326, for example, a UI as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the detected printer (the printer related to the first performance information FirstPrinter) is notified to the user, and an inquiry is made as to whether or not to install the driver. In step S327, if it is selected to install, the process proceeds to step S329, where the installation is performed and the process is terminated. If not installed is selected, the process proceeds to step S325.

  In step S328, the port connected to the printer related to the second performance information InstalledPrinter, that is, the currently installed printer is changed to a port used by the printer related to the first performance information FirstPrinter. Then, the process ends. In this case, the printer driver related to the first performance information FirstPrinter is not installed.

  Steps S313 to S329 correspond to installation control means and an installation control process.

<Comparison procedure>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a comparison process of the performance information of the printer A and the printer B. Specifically, the performance information of the printers A and B is, in S309 of FIG. 3, the parameter A is the element DetectedPrinter [i] of the performance array, and the parameter B is the first performance information FirstPrinter. In S312, the parameter A is the first performance information FirstPrinter, and the parameter B is the second performance information InstalledPrinter. Further, a Result having a comparison result as a work area is held in the memory. The comparison result Result has a comparison result of each of the three functions and an overall result obtained by combining them, and the superior printer is recorded. For example, when the first function is the printer A advantage, the second is the printer B advantage, and the third is the same, “A, B, same” is recorded for each function. In this case, overall, printer A is recorded as superior. Overall, the evaluation is performed according to the table of FIG. The principle of comprehensive evaluation according to FIG. 8 is that a printer superior in an evaluation item (evaluation target function) with a high priority is determined to be comprehensive. A variable K is a work variable that counts the ranks of the functions to be compared.

  First, in step S401, a variable K is initialized to 1. In step S402, it is determined whether the variable K is larger than the number of functions to be compared, for example, three. If larger, since all the functions have been compared, the process proceeds to step S406. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S403. In step S403, the Kth function is compared. In step S404, the result is stored in the comparison result Result. In step S405, the variable K is incremented. In step S406, comprehensive determination is performed from the comparison results of the respective functions. A determination example is as shown in FIG. 8, and if the comparison result of each function is AAA, the printer A is determined to be superior in all functions, and AA is recorded as the determination result. If the printer A is dominant in the function that is prioritized in other cases, A is recorded as the determination result. If the printer B is dominant in all functions or is the same as the printer A, BB is recorded as a determination result. If the printers A and B are the same for the function, “same” is recorded as the determination result. In other cases, B is recorded as the determination result.

  Note that the table in FIG. 8 may be symmetric with respect to the parameter A and the parameter B. In that case, for example, the determination results of numbers 3, 7, 9, 19, 21, 25 are not A but AA. Alternatively, the determination results of the numbers 15, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 26 are B instead of BB.

  Through the above procedure, the host computer 1000 according to the present embodiment selects a peripheral device with the best performance among peripheral devices detected from the network as a candidate for a device to be newly installed. The performance of the selected peripheral device is compared with the performance of the peripheral device already available in the host computer 1000, and if it is superior, the device driver of the newly detected device is installed.

  Even when it is determined that some functions are not excellent, a new device can be installed to use a specific function by giving the user room for installing the device.

  For this reason, it is possible to reduce the labor of the user finding a suitable device from among many devices and installing it. Further, it is possible to prevent a user error that may occur during the work. Further, it is possible to prevent unnecessary installation of a large number of devices and to prevent waste of computer resources.

  In this embodiment, a printer is targeted as a device, but the device is not limited to a printer as long as it is a device connected to a network. For example, the present invention can be applied to a scanner driver or the like if it is a scanner. That is, it can be applied to installation of device drivers corresponding to various devices connected to the network.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the number of functions to be compared is set to three, and the user is supposed to select a priority among them. However, the number of functions to be compared is not necessarily limited to three. It is also possible to acquire from the printer what functions are to be compared and allow the user to select them.

  For this purpose, a GetMetaData message is transmitted to the installed printer. Then, for example, a priority input screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the function priority determination utility with the MetaData included in the response message as an item. The user selects the comparatively symmetric function from No. 1 on this screen, and when no further comparison is necessary, selects not to set. After the priority order is determined, processing is performed as in the first embodiment.

  By doing so, it is possible to assign a priority to each function in accordance with the user's request from the functions provided in the device.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply. Another object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording a program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the system or apparatus computer reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Is also achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Further, according to the present invention, the operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. This is also included. Furthermore, the present invention is also applied to the case where the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In that case, based on the instruction of the written program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. .

It is a hardware block diagram which showed the connection of the client and network printer in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of comparing the function information of two printers. It is a figure of the example of a screen of UI which sets the priority of a function comparison. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for inquiring of a user whether to install a detected printer. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen that inquires whether to uninstall an existing printer after installing a detected printer. It is a figure of the example of determination of the result of having compared the function of two printers. It is a figure of the example of a screen of UI which sets the priority of the function comparison of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus 5 KBC (keyboard controller)
6 CRTC (CRT controller)
7 DKC (disk controller)
8 NETC (network controller)
9 KB (keyboard)
10 CRT
11 External memory 12 CPU
13 ROM
14 External memory 15 System bus 16 Printing section I / F
17 Printing unit 18 Input / output unit 19 RAM
20 MC (memory controller)
21 Bidirectional I / F
22 DKC (disk controller)
23 Hard disk

Claims (10)

A program for making a peripheral device usable by a computer having a recognition function for recognizing a connected peripheral device,
Acquisition means for acquiring performance information of connected peripheral devices;
Comparison means for comparing the performance information of the first peripheral device acquired by the acquisition means with the performance information of the second peripheral device currently available;
If the comparison result by the comparison means shows that the first peripheral device has higher performance, the computer is caused to function as an installation control means for installing the device driver of the peripheral device and making the peripheral device available. A program characterized by that. Further comprising a search means for searching for peripheral devices from the network,
When there are a plurality of peripheral devices searched by the search means, the acquisition means acquires the performance information of each of the peripheral devices,
The comparing means compares the performance information of each of the plurality of peripheral devices acquired by the acquiring means, and uses the peripheral device having higher performance as the first peripheral device as the second peripheral device. The program according to claim 1, wherein the program is compared with device performance information. The performance information includes information indicating the performance of each of a plurality of types of functions.
The comparison means compares the order of priorities of the respective functions in order to determine a peripheral device having a higher performance for a function having a higher priority as a peripheral device having a higher performance. Or the program of 2.   4. The program according to claim 3, wherein the priority order of each function by the comparing means can be set in advance by a user. If the first peripheral device is superior to the second peripheral device in at least one function even if the first peripheral device does not have higher performance, the installation control means may A means for inquiring whether to install a device driver for the peripheral device;
The program according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a device driver for the first peripheral device is installed in accordance with an instruction from a user.   The installation control means further includes means for switching connection ports of peripheral devices when the comparing means determines that the first peripheral device and the second peripheral device are the same model. The program according to claim 1, characterized in that: The performance information includes position information indicating the position of the peripheral device,
The installation control means determines that the position of the first peripheral device is the second position when the comparing means determines that the first peripheral device and the second peripheral device have the same function. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein a device driver of the first peripheral device is installed if it is closer than a position of the peripheral device.   The program according to claim 1, wherein the installation control means further comprises means for uninstalling the device driver of the second peripheral device after installing the device driver of the first peripheral device. An information processing apparatus having a recognition function for recognizing a connected peripheral device,
Acquisition means for acquiring performance information of connected peripheral devices;
Comparison means for comparing the performance information of the first peripheral device acquired by the acquisition means with the performance information of the second peripheral device currently available;
An installation control unit that installs a device driver of the peripheral device and makes the peripheral device available when the first peripheral device has higher performance as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit; A characteristic information processing apparatus. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus having a recognition function for recognizing a connected peripheral device,
An acquisition step in which the acquisition means acquires performance information of the connected peripheral device; and
A comparison step in which the comparison means compares the performance information of the first peripheral device acquired by the acquisition step with the performance information of the second peripheral device currently available;
As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, when the first peripheral device has higher performance, the installation control unit installs a device driver of the peripheral device and makes the peripheral device available. And a method of controlling the information processing apparatus.

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