Autoconfigurable method and system having automated downloading

A method of initializing a device into a system comprising steps of:

• installing said device into said system, including connecting computer hardware and including providing system-accessible information identifying a remote site that relates to a supplier of said device;
• in an absence of user intervention, initiating communication between said system and said remote site in response to said system accessing said system-accessible information, including utilizing telecommunication lines to establish said communications;
• and
• exchanging data between said system and said remote site, including exchanging data relating to operating said device within said system.

A system that is capable of autoconfiguration to accommodate support of a plurality of devices comprising:

• means for identifying a first device as a device for which driver software is desired, said first device being one of said plurality of devices;
• site-detection means, responsive to said means of identifying, for detecting location information as an automatic response to said identifying said first device, said site-detection means having an output signal that is indicative of said location information that designates a remote site unsupported by said system;
• means, responsive to said output signal of said site-detection means, for automatically accessing said remote site via transmission lines;
• and
• storage means for receiving said driver software downloaded from said remote site via said transmission lines.

A method of automatically refreshing driver software of a device supported by a system, said method comprising steps of:

• in response to a determination that said device is operating improperly, requesting that driver software specific to said device be acquired;
• as an automated response to said request, identifying a remote network site at which said driver software can be downloaded;
• as an automated response to said identification of said remote network site, accessing said site via telecommunications lines and downloading said driver software;
• and
• installing said downloaded driver software.