Peripheral device driver installing device, peripheral device, system and method for transferring a device driver to the peripheral before disconnecting from an information processor

A peripheral device, connected to an information processor through a network, for providing a service to the information processor, comprising:

• a storage unit for storing a file of a peripheral device driver for providing the service to the information processor;
• a connecting unit for connecting the peripheral device to the information processor;
• a transferring unit for transferring to the information processor the file of the peripheral device driver stored in the storage unit when the peripheral device is connected to the information processor through the connecting unit;
• a peripheral device driver deleting unit for deleting the file of the peripheral device driver from the storage unit when a notification of completion of installation of the peripheral device driver is received from the information processor;
• and
• a writing unit for writing on the storage unit the file of the peripheral device driver transferred from the information processor when the peripheral device is to be disconnected from the information processor.

A peripheral device driver installing system for installing a peripheral device driver for a peripheral device stored in the peripheral device on an information processor which is connected to the peripheral device, wherein:

• the information processor comprises:
• a connection detecting unit for detecting a connection between the peripheral device and the information processor;
• a peripheral device inquiring unit for inquiring the peripheral device for information concerning the peripheral device when the connection detecting unit detected the connection to the peripheral device;
• an installation determining unit for determining whether or not the peripheral device driver has been installed on the information processor on the basis of the information concerning the peripheral device sent from the peripheral device in response to the inquiring by the peripheral device inquiring unit;
• a reading unit for reading a file of the peripheral device driver stored in the peripheral device if it is determined by the installation determining unit that the peripheral device driver has not been installed on the information processor;
• a peripheral device driver installing unit for installing the peripheral device driver on the information processor on the basis of the file of the peripheral device driver read by the reading unit;
• an installation completion notifying unit for notifying completion of installation to the peripheral device when the installation of the peripheral device driver by the peripheral device driver installing unit has been completed;
• and
• a file transferring unit for transferring the file of the peripheral device driver read by the reading unit to the peripheral device when the peripheral device and the information processor are to be disconnected, and
• a storage unit for storing the file of the peripheral device driver for providing a service to the information processor;
• a sending unit for sending to the information processor information concerning the peripheral device in response to the inquiring from the information processor by the peripheral device inquiring unit;
• a deleting unit for deleting the file of the peripheral device driver from the storage unit on the basis of the notification of completion of installation from the information processor by the installation completion notifying unit;
• and
• a writing unit for writing on the storage unit the file of the peripheral device driver transferred from the information processor by the transferring unit.

A peripheral device driver installing method for installing a peripheral device driver for a peripheral device stored in the peripheral device on an information processor which is connected to the peripheral device through a network, the method comprising:

• inquiring, by the information processor, the peripheral device information concerning the peripheral device when the peripheral device and the information processor are connected;
• sending, by the peripheral device, the information concerning the peripheral device in response to the inquiring by the information processor;
• determining, by the information processor, whether or not the peripheral device driver for the peripheral device has been installed on the basis of the in formation concerning the peripheral device sent from the peripheral device;
• reading, by the information processor, a file of the peripheral device driver stored in a storage unit of the peripheral device if it is determined that the peripheral device driver has not been installed;
• installing, by the information processor, the peripheral device driver on the basis of the file of the peripheral device driver thus read;
• notifying, by the information processor, the completion of the installation to the peripheral device when the installation of the peripheral device driver has been completed;
• deleting, by the peripheral device, the file of the peripheral device driver from the storage unit upon the peripheral device receiving the notification of the completion of the installation;
• transferring, by the information processor, the file of the peripheral device driver to the peripheral device when the peripheral device and the information processor are to be disconnected;
• and
• storing, by the peripheral device, the file of the peripheral device driver transferred from the information processor in the storage unit.