Patent ID: 8072632
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus which allows network communication means to be mounted therein, detects a network compliant output device compatible with network Plug and Play through the network communication means, and is equipped with an operating system which controls to install a corresponding device driver, comprising: first determination means for, when receiving a network leaving message from a network compliant output device through the network communication means, determining whether or not a device driver corresponding to the network compliant output device had already been installed and whether the network leaving message contains alternative device information specifying an alternative network compliant output device; association means for, when said first determination means determines that the device driver corresponding to the network compliant output device had been installed and the received network leaving message contains alternative device information, storing the alternative device information in storage means in association with the device driver for the network compliant output device which leaves from the network; second determination means for, when a selection event of the device driver occurs, determining whether the alternative device information is stored in the storage means in association with a selected device driver; control means (1) for, when said second determination means determines that no alternative device information exists, permitting an operating system to perform processing in accordance with the selection event, and (2) for, when said second determination means determines that alternative device information exists, permitting the operating system to perform setup processing of a device driver indicated by the alternative device information so as to permit installation of the device driver indicated by the alternative device information; third determination means for determining, when a network entry message from a network compliant output device is received via the network communication means, whether or not a device driver corresponding to the network compliant device had already been installed and whether or not alternative device information in association with the device driver for the network compliant output device had been stored in the storage means; and deletion means for, when said third determination means determines that the device driver corresponding to the network compliant device which had transmitted the network entry message had already been installed and that the alternative device information in association with the device driver for the network compliant output device had been stored in the storage means, deleting the alternative device information from the storage means, wherein, when said first determination means determines that a device driver corresponding to the network compliant output device which transmitted the network leaving message had already been installed and that network leaving message did not contain alternative device information specifying an alternative network compliant output device, said control means disables the use of the device driver by a user.