System and method for installing printer driver software

A method for a network-connected multifunctional peripheral (MFP) to supply process driver software to a network-connected computer workstation, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from a network-connected computer workstation, addressed to a to MFP with an IP address;
• supplying a web page from a web server embedded in the MFP with hypertext links cross-referenced to process driver software selected from the group including printing, copying, scanning, and faxing;
• supplying updated process driver software to the computer workstation in response to receiving a selected hypertext link;
• receiving documents from the computer workstation in accordance with the supplied process driver software;
• and,
• processing the received documents.

In a network-connected multifunctional peripheral (MFP), a system for installing process driver software in a network-connected computer workstation, the MFP comprising:

• a network connection with an IP address;
• an embedded web server connected to the network connection to receive updated process driver software, to supply updated process driver software notifications with hypertext links cross-referenced to process drivers selected from the group including printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, to receive hypertext link selections, and to cause updated process driver software to be supplied to requesting computer workstations;
• a MFP memory, connected to the network connection and to the embedded web server, for receiving and storing updated process driver software;
• and,
• a paper processor connected to the network connection to receive documents from computer workstations in accordance with the supplied process driver software, the paper processor having an output to supply processed documents.

In a network including a network-connected multifunctional peripheral (MFP) and computer workstation, a system for installing process driver software in the computer workstation, the system comprising:

• a MFP including:
• a network connection with an IP address;
• an embedded web server connected to the network connection to receive updated process driver software selected from the group including printing, copying, scanning, and faxing, to send hypertext links cross-referenced to process drivers, and in response to receiving a hypertext link selection, to supply updated process driver software;
• a MFP memory connected to the network connection and the web server for storing the updated process driver software;
• and,
• a paper processor connected to the network connection to receive documents from computer workstations in accordance with the supplied process driver software, the processor having an output to supply processed documents;
• and,
• a computer workstation including:
• a network connection enabled with a web browser;
• a memory connected to the network connection for storing process driver software;
• and,
• a memory connected to the network connection for queuing documents to be processed by the MFP.