Patent ID: 9170763
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information processing apparatus in which an operating system (OS) is executed that provides a first user interface (UI) environment and a second UI environment different from the first UI environment, the information processing apparatus comprising: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information of a peripheral device connected to a communication network, from the peripheral device; and a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a device control application for controlling the peripheral device, from a service that manages applications operable in the first UI environment, using the identification information of the peripheral device if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining unit when the first UI environment is provided by the OS and, wherein the obtained device control application is different from the OS and a device driver, wherein each application operating on the OS is created depending on any one of the first UI environment and the second UI environment, and switching between the first UI environment and the second UI environment can be performed according to control by the OS, wherein at least one processor functions as at least one of the units, wherein the second obtaining unit, when a device control application corresponding to the identification information is not obtained, obtains a device driver corresponding to the identification information by searching an area to be searched for a device driver, wherein the second obtaining unit, if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining unit when the second UI environment is provided by the OS, obtains a device driver corresponding to the identification information by searching an area to be searched for a device driver, wherein the first UI environment is more suitable for an operation on a touchscreen than the second UI environment, and wherein the second UI environment is provided to maintain compatibility with an OS having a version earlier than that of the OS.