Method and system for updating the device driver of a business office appliance

Abstract

A method, system and program product for implementing communication to download a driver to a target device or business office appliance using an electronic network message or e-mail. A newest driver for the device/appliance may be downloaded from, for example, a service center connected to the device/appliance through a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as the Internet. The device driver of a client computer using the device/appliance may be updated from the target device/appliance if it is determined that a user of the client computer desires to update the driver of the client computer.

1 - 30 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         31 . A method of updating a first version of a device driver installed on a computer of a user, wherein the device driver is configured to control an office device to which the computer is communicatively coupled, the method comprising: 
 receiving, from the office device, version information of a newest version of the device driver that is stored in a memory of the office device;    determining, based on the received version information, whether the first version of the device driver installed on the computer is different from the newest version of the device driver stored in said memory;    if the determining step determines that the first version is different from the newest version, inquiring whether the user wants to update the device driver on the computer with the newest version of the device driver; and    if the inquiring step determines that the user wants to update the device driver, obtaining the newest version of the device driver from the office device.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the inquiring step comprises: 
 displaying, on a display associated with the computer, a message regarding whether the user wants to update the device driver; and    receiving a response from the user, said response indicating whether the user wants to update the device driver with the newest version.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the obtaining step comprises: 
 establishing a connection to the office device;    receiving, from the office device, an installation file for the newest version of the device driver; and    storing said installation file in a temporary storage area associated with the computer.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 executing the stored installation file to install the newest version of the device driver on the computer.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 generating commands and associated data for controlling said office device, prior to said receiving step.    
     
     
         36 . A system for updating a first version of a device driver installed on a computer of a user, wherein the device driver is configured to control an office device to which the computer is communicatively coupled, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving, from the office device, version information of a newest version of the device driver stored in a memory of the office device;    means for determining, based on the received version information, whether the first version of the device driver installed on the computer is different from the newest version of the device driver stored in said memory;    if the means for determining determines that the first version is different from the newest version, means for inquiring whether the user wants to update the device driver on the computer with the newest version of the device driver; and    if the means for inquiring determines that the user wants to update the device driver, means for obtaining the newest version of the device driver from the office device.    
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the means for inquiring comprises: 
 means for displaying, on a display associated with the computer, a message regarding whether the user wants to update the device driver; and    means for receiving a response from the user, said response indicating whether the user wants to update the device driver with the newest version.    
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the means for obtaining comprises: 
 means for establishing a connection to the office device;    means for receiving, from the office device, an installation file for the newest version of the device driver; and    means for storing said installation file in a temporary storage area associated with the computer.    
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 means for executing the stored installation file to install the newest version of the device driver on the computer.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 means for generating commands and associated data for controlling said office device.    
     
     
         41 . A computer program product configured to store plural computer program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to update a first version of a device driver installed on the computer, wherein the device driver is configured to control an office device to which the computer is communicatively coupled, by performing the steps of: 
 receiving, from the office device, version information of a newest version of the device driver stored in a memory of the office device;    determining, based on the received version information, whether the first version of the device driver installed on the computer is different from the newest version of the device driver stored in said memory;    if the determining step determines that the first version is different from the newest version, inquiring whether a user wants to update the device driver on the computer with the newest version of the device driver; and    if the inquiring step determines that the user wants to update the device driver, obtaining the newest version of the device driver from the office device.    
     
     
         42 . The computer program product of  claim 41 , wherein the inquiring step comprises: 
 displaying, on a display associated with the computer, a message regarding whether the user wants to update the device driver; and    receiving a response from the user, said response indicating whether the user wants to update the device driver with the newest version.    
     
     
         43 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , wherein the obtaining step comprises: 
 establishing a connection to the office device;    receiving, from the office device, an installation file for the newest version of the device driver; and    storing said installation file in a temporary storage area associated with the computer.    
     
     
         44 . The computer program product of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 executing the stored installation file to install the newest version of the device driver on the computer.    
     
     
         45 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 generating commands and associated data for controlling said office device.    
     
     
         46 . A system, comprising: 
 an office device configured to store a newest version of a device driver stored in a memory, wherein the device driver is configured to control the office device;    a computer having a first version of the device driver installed thereon, the computer including a processor (1) configured to receive, from the office device, version information of the newest version of the device driver stored in a memory of the office device; (2) configured to determine, based on the received version information, whether the first version of the device driver installed on the computer is different from the newest version of the device driver stored in said memory; (3) if the first version is different from the newest version, configured to inquire whether a user wants to update the device driver on the computer with the newest version of the device driver; and (4) if the user wants to update the device driver, configured to obtain the newest version of the device driver from the office device.