Automatic detection and installation of client peripheral devices by a server

A method for automatically configuring a server for use with peripheral devices connected at a client computer that provides service on a network hosted by the server, the method comprising:

• automatically identifying one or more peripheral devices connected at the client computer;
• notifying the server of the identified peripheral devices;
• and
• installing peripheral drivers corresponding to the identified peripheral devices at the server for use with the identified peripheral devices.

A method for automatically configuring a server for use with peripheral devices connected at a client computer, comprising:

• transmitting a first peripheral request to the client computer requesting a first enumeration of peripheral identifiers corresponding to peripheral devices connected at the client computer;
• receiving the first enumeration;
• transmitting a second peripheral request to the client computer requesting a second enumeration of peripheral identifiers corresponding to peripheral devices connected to the client computer;
• receiving the second enumeration;
• comparing the second enumeration with the first enumeration to identify a peripheral identifier that has been added since the first enumeration;
• at the server, installing a peripheral driver for use with a client computer peripheral device corresponding to the added peripheral identifier;
• and
• wherein the client computer is a computer that provides service on a network hosted by the server.

A client/server computer system, comprising:

• a server configured to provide services utilizing one or more peripheral devices connected to at least one client computer having an input/output port, and to automatically detect a newly connected peripheral device by performing the steps of:
• periodically sending requests to a client computer for enumerations of peripheral devices connected at the client computer;
• receiving a first peripheral list from the client computer in response to an initial request, the first peripheral list comprising peripheral identifiers of peripheral devices connected to the client computer at the time of the initial request, one peripheral identifier corresponding to each of the peripheral devices;
• receiving a second peripheral list from the client computer in response to a subsequent request, the second peripheral list comprising peripheral identifiers of peripheral devices connected to the client computer at the time of the subsequent request;
• and
• comparing the second peripheral list with the first peripheral list to determine the peripheral identifier of a peripheral device that has been added since the initial request;
• and
• wherein the peripheral identifier is utilized to install the peripheral driver.

One or more computer-readable media having a computer program for automatically configuring a server for use with peripheral devices connected at a client computer, the program comprising the following steps:

• detecting one or more peripheral devices connected at the client computer;
• recognizing a peripheral identifier associated with each of the identified one or more peripheral devices;
• automatically initiating transmission from the client computer to the server of a peripheral identifier identifying a newly connected peripheral device at the client computer;
• utilizing the one or more peripheral identifiers at the server to locate and install peripheral drivers for use with the peripheral device.

One or more computer-readable media having a computer program for automatically configuring a server for use with peripheral devices connected at a client computer, the program comprising the following steps:

• periodically requesting an enumeration of the peripheral devices from the client computer;
• receiving a first peripheral list from the client computer in response to an initial request, the first peripheral list comprising peripheral identifiers of all peripheral devices connected to the client computer at the time of the initial request, there being one unique peripheral identifier associated with each peripheral device;
• receiving a second peripheral list from the client computer in response to a subsequent request, the second peripheral list comprising peripheral identifiers of all peripheral device connected to the client computer at the time of the subsequent request;
• comparing the second peripheral list with the first peripheral list to determine the peripheral identifier of a peripheral device that has been added or deleted since the initial request;
• utilizing the one or more peripheral identifiers at the server to locate and install peripheral drivers for use with the peripheral device;
• and
• installing a peripheral driver on the server to control operations related to the peripheral device.