Apparatus for automatically retrieving and installing device drivers across a network

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for retrieving and installing device driver software across a network, comprising:

• detecting the presence of a device in a computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system;
• reading a locator specifying the location of a current driver for the device from a non-volatile memory on the device;
• using the locator to communicate with a remote host across the network;
• retrieving the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network;
• and
• installing the current driver for the device on the computer system.

A computer system that retrieves and installs device driver software across a network, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• a detection mechanism that detects the presence of a device in the computer system for which no current driver is installed in the computer system;
• 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;
• a driver retrieving mechanism that,
• uses the locator to communicate with a remote host across the network, and
• retrieves the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network;
• and
• an installation mechanism that installs the current driver for the device on the computer system.

An apparatus that retrieves and installs device driver software across a network, comprising:

• an operating system that controls operation of a computer system;
• a reading mechanism within the operating system that reads a locator specifying the 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,
• uses the locator to communicate with a remote host across the network, and
• retrieves the current driver for the device from the remote host across the network;
• and
• an installation mechanism within the operating system that installs the current driver for the device on the computer system.

A device that facilitates retrieval and installation of a driver for the device across a network, comprising:

• an interface for coupling the device to a computer system;
• a non-volatile memory;
• and
• a locator encoded in the non-volatile memory, the locator specifying a location on the network for a current driver for the device.