JPH11232204A - Driver file installing device, its method and storage medium recording computer program for installing driver file - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for automatically installing a necessary driver file by discriminating the sort of external hardware newly connected to a computer and a storage medium recording a driver file installing program. SOLUTION: The device is provided with a storage means 101 for storing a plurality of driver files for allowing the computer 100 to be functioned as a means for driving external hardware, a discrimination means 103 for discriminating the sort of external hardware newly connected to the computer 100, a retrieving means 104 for retrieving a driver file corresponding to the sort of the newly connected external hardware from the means 101, and a means 105 for installing the retrieved driver file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for installing a driver file required when connecting external hardware,
A method and a recording medium recording a program therefor, in particular, an apparatus and a method for automatically determining the type of connected external hardware and installing a driver file corresponding thereto, and a recording medium recording a program therefor About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a user connects new external hardware to a computer, the external hardware is supplied from a recording medium (external recording medium) such as a floppy disk supplied with the external hardware. Driver files need to be installed on the computer. Here, the installation means recording the driver file in an auxiliary storage device (internal recording medium) in a format readable by a computer for execution, and changing necessary to execute the program in the driver file when the computer is operating. This means adding to the file in the auxiliary storage device.

The method of installing a driver file in an auxiliary storage device of a computer differs depending on the external hardware to be connected, and the operation is complicated.

A related conventional example is disclosed in
In the option driver device described in Japanese Patent No. 239659, an initialization mechanism selects a model-specific sub-driver and transfers the resident information to the system.

[0005] The information processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-103238 checks the hardware port by software to determine the model.

Further, the computer system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-191835 realizes automatic installation of a driver with plug-in operation of an optional device.

Further, the peripheral device control system setting method and the peripheral device control device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-295915 determine the type of computer from the peripheral device when the configuration of the peripheral device is changed. To select a driver program.

Further, the printing apparatus described in JP-A-07-311663 automatically determines the model of the printer,
When a corresponding printer driver does not exist, the printer driver is transferred from the printer and registered in the computer.

[0009]

However, as a first problem, a user needs to install a driver file from a new external recording medium every time new external hardware is connected to a computer.

This is because the necessary driver files are not stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device of the computer.

As a second problem, it is necessary to install a necessary driver by a different method each time new external hardware is connected to a computer.

This is because the installation program of the driver file corresponding to the external hardware differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a method, and a method for determining the type of external hardware newly connected to a computer and automatically installing a necessary driver file.
And a recording medium for recording a program therefor.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A driver file installation apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit storing a plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as a unit for driving external hardware; Determining means for determining the type of the external hardware newly connected to the storage device; searching means for searching the storage means for the driver file corresponding to the type of the external hardware newly connected; And a means for installing the driver file.

Further, the driver file installation device according to the present invention, in the driver file installation device, further comprising: when the search means cannot find the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware. And a means for requesting a driver file on an external recording medium.

In the driver file installation method according to the present invention, a plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as means for driving external hardware are stored in a storage means, and the external hardware newly connected to the computer is provided. A determining step of determining a model of the hardware, a searching step of searching the storage unit for the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware, and a step of installing the searched driver file; It is characterized by having.

Further, in the driver file installation method according to the present invention, when the driver file corresponding to the newly connected external hardware model is not found in the searching step, the driver file on the external recording medium is deleted. A method comprising the step of requesting.

A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention determines a plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as means for driving external hardware and a model of the external hardware newly connected to the computer. An installation program for executing a determination procedure for performing a search, a search procedure for searching the recording medium for the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware, and a procedure for installing the searched driver file. Is recorded.

In the above-mentioned computer-readable recording medium, which is a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention, the installation program may further correspond to a model of the newly connected external hardware in the search procedure. A step of requesting a driver file on an external recording medium when the driver file cannot be found.

[0020]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system including a driver file installation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a computer (central processing unit; processor; data processing unit) operated under program control.
100, an auxiliary storage device 101, a driver file file group 102 stored in the auxiliary storage device 101, a determination unit 103 for determining the type of connected external hardware,
A driver file search unit for searching for a required driver file from the driver file group 102, an installation unit 105 for installing the required driver file 102 based on the determined result, and an external medium request for requesting an external medium on which the driver file is recorded Means 10
6.

The driver file group 102 stores a large number of driver files corresponding to various types of external hardware in advance.

Next, the overall operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a user connects new external hardware to a computer (step A1). Thereby, the operation starts automatically. Next, the determining means 103 determines the model of the newly connected external hardware (step A2). Next, driver file search means 1
04 is the driver file group 10 in the auxiliary storage device 101
2 is searched (step A3), and it is determined whether or not a necessary driver file corresponding to the new external hardware exists in the auxiliary storage device 101 (step A4).

If there is no necessary driver file, an external recording medium containing the installer supplied with the external hardware is requested (step A5).
If the necessary driver file is present in the driver file group 102, the installation means 105 installs the driver file on the computer from there (step A6).

The operation of each means described above is realized by executing a program of the computer 100, and the program is recorded on a recording medium such as the auxiliary storage device 101.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a user connects new external hardware, an external recording medium containing a driver file attached to the external hardware is used. Without this, the computer can drive the connected external hardware. From the user's point of view, all that is required is to connect the external hardware to the computer and do nothing else. This is because the driver file is automatically installed from the auxiliary storage device in which the necessary driver file is stored in advance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer system including a driver file installation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the driver file installation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 computer (central processing unit; processor; data processing unit) 101 auxiliary storage device 102 driver file group 103 determination unit 104 driver file search unit 105 installation unit 106 external medium requesting unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit storing a plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as a unit for driving external hardware, and a determination unit for determining a model of the external hardware newly connected to the computer. A search unit for searching the storage unit for the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware; and a unit for installing the searched driver file. File installation device. 2. The apparatus further comprises means for requesting a driver file on an external recording medium when the search means cannot find the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware. 2. The driver file installation device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A step of storing a plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as means for driving external hardware in a storage unit, and determining a model of the external hardware newly connected to the computer. And a search step of searching the storage unit for the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware; and a step of installing the searched driver file. Driver file installation method. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting a driver file of an external recording medium when the driver file corresponding to the newly connected external hardware model is not found in the searching step. The method for installing a driver file according to claim 3. 5. A plurality of driver files for causing a computer to function as means for driving external hardware, a determination procedure for determining a type of the external hardware newly connected to the computer, and a new connection procedure A search procedure for searching the storage medium for the driver file corresponding to the selected external hardware model, and an installation program for executing the procedure for installing the searched driver file. Computer readable recording medium. 6. The installation program further comprises:
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of requesting a driver file of an external recording medium when the driver file corresponding to the model of the newly connected external hardware is not found in the search procedure. Computer readable recording medium.