Network technique for troubleshooting
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsYuji Teraoaka, Yoshihiko Akasaka, Kei Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In response to a user's selection of a troubleshooting instruction element on a troubleshooting page displayed on a client 200 by a browser, the client 200 transmits a transfer request of a troubleshooting program to servers 110 and 120. The servers 110 and 120 transfer the troubleshooting program according to the transfer request. The troubleshooting program is automatically activated on the client 200 on completion of its download to the client 200, in order to execute a troubleshooting procedure.
Claims34
An upgrading support system that supports upgrading of a device, which has computer functions and is connected to a network, said upgrading support system comprising:
- a program storage module that stores therein an upgrading support program used to support upgrading of the device;
- an upgrading instruction acceptance module that accepts an upgrading instruction of the device transmitted from the device via the network;
- and
- a program transfer module that, in response to acceptance of the upgrading instruction, transfers the upgrading support program stored in said program storage module to the device.
A server computer that is connected with a client computer via the Internet and is used to troubleshoot a peripheral device linked with the client computer, said server computer comprising:
- a storage device that stores therein a troubleshooting page as a Web page displayed by a browser of the client computer, which includes a troubleshooting instruction element for instructing execution of a troubleshooting procedure to troubleshoot the peripheral device, and a troubleshooting program, which is executed on the client computer for the troubleshooting procedure;
- and
- a troubleshooting support module that, when a user of the client computer selects the troubleshooting instruction element on the troubleshooting page, receives a transfer request of the troubleshooting program transmitted from the client computer in response to the user's selection and transfers the troubleshooting program to the client computer according to the input transfer request.
A server computer that is connected with a client computer via the Internet and is used to install a driver program applicable for a peripheral device linked with the client computer, said server computer comprising:
- a storage device that stores therein a driver auto installation page as a Web page displayed by a browser of the client computer, which includes an instruction element for instructing execution of auto installation of the driver program applicable for the peripheral device, and a driver setup program, which is executed on the client computer for auto installation of the driver program;
- and
- a troubleshooting support module that, when a user of the client computer selects the instruction element on the driver auto installation page, receives a transfer request of the driver setup program transmitted from the client computer in response to the user's selection and transfers the driver setup program to the client computer according to the input transfer request.
A method of troubleshooting a peripheral device of a client computer connected via the Internet, said troubleshooting method comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing a troubleshooting page as a Web page displayed by a browser of the client computer, which includes a troubleshooting instruction element for instructing execution of a troubleshooting procedure to troubleshoot the peripheral device;
- (b) storing a troubleshooting program, which is executed on the client computer for the troubleshooting procedure;
- and
- (c) receiving a transfer request of the troubleshooting program transmitted from the client computer in response to a user's selection and transferring the troubleshooting program to the client computer according to the input transfer request, when the user of the client computer selects the troubleshooting instruction element on the troubleshooting page.
A method of troubleshooting a peripheral device of a client computer connected via the Internet, said troubleshooting method comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing a driver auto installation page as a Web page displayed by a browser of the client computer, which includes an instruction element for instructing execution of auto installation of the driver program applicable for the peripheral device;
- (b) storing a driver setup program, which is executed on the client computer for auto installation of the driver program;
- and
- (c) receiving a transfer request of the driver setup program transmitted from the client computer in response to a user's selection and transferring the driver setup program to the client computer according to the input transfer request, when the user of the client computer selects the instruction element on the driver auto installation page.
A client program that is transferred from a server computer to a client computer via the Internet and is executed on the client computer to troubleshoot a peripheral device linked with the client computer, said client program comprising:
- a first program that is automatically activated and executed on completion of its transfer from the server computer to the client computer and causes the client computer to carry out a predetermined troubleshooting procedure to troubleshoot the peripheral device.
A client program that is transferred from a server computer to a client computer via the Internet and is executed on the client computer to install a driver program applicable for a peripheral device linked with the client computer, said client program comprising:
- a first program that is automatically activated and executed on completion of its transfer from the server computer to the client computer and causes the client computer to carry out an installation of the driver program applicable for the peripheral device.
A troubleshooting device that troubleshoots a peripheral device of a client computer connected via a network, said troubleshooting device comprising:
- a question answer providing module that provides the client computer with an interactive question answer window, which includes a question on a problem of the peripheral device and at least one answer to the question;
- a program storage module that stores therein a check program, which is automatically activated on completion of its download and causes the peripheral device to carry out a predetermined check operation;
- and
- a download module that, in response to selection, on the client computer, of a specified answer included in the interactive question answer window provided by said question answer providing module, downloads the check program stored in said program storage module to the client computer,
- wherein said question answer providing module provides, on completion of the predetermined check operation carried out by the check program downloaded to the client computer by said download module, the client computer with a question answer window as one of the interactive question answer window, which includes a question relating to a result of the predetermined check operation and at least one answer to the question.
A troubleshooting method that provides a client computer connected via a network with an interactive question answer window, which includes a question on a problem of a peripheral device of the client computer and at least one answer to the question, to troubleshoot the peripheral device, said method comprising the steps of:
- in response to selection, on the client computer, of a specified answer included in the provided interactive question answer window, downloading a check program, which is automatically activated on completion of its download and causes the peripheral device to carry out a predetermined check operation;
- and
- on completion of the predetermined check operation carried out by the check program downloaded to the client computer, providing the client computer with a question answer window as one of the interactive question answer window, which includes a question relating to a result of the predetermined check operation and at least one answer to the question.
A driver auto installation device that causes a driver program applicable for a peripheral device linked with a client computer to be automatically installed to the client computer via a network, said driver auto installation device comprising:
- an auto installation selection window output module that outputs an auto installation selection input window to the client computer via the network, which enables the client computer to selectively input an instruction for auto installation of the driver program;
- a driver storage module that stores the driver program applicable for the peripheral device;
- and
- a driver output module that outputs the driver program stored in said driver storage module to the client computer to allow installation of the driver program in the client computer, in response to the selective input of the instruction for auto installation on the auto installation selection input window by the client computer.
A driver installation program that is automatically activated on completion of its download to a client computer and causes a driver program applicable for a peripheral device linked with the client computer to be downloaded from a driver supply device connected via a network and to be installed in the client computer.
A driver auto installation method that causes a driver program applicable for a peripheral device linked with a client computer to be automatically installed to the client computer via a network, said driver auto installation method comprising the steps of:
- (a) accepting a selective input of an instruction for auto installation of the driver program from the client computer;
- (b) downloading the driver program to the client computer via the network, in response to the accepted selective input;
- and
- (c) installing the downloaded driver program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.