JP2002202944A - Information processor, device installation method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the attribute information on an object usable for installation to surely recognize whether it is an intended object or not with a small number of operation instructions and to complete the installation processing of the object of an intended device. SOLUTION: A specified object is detected from the directory information read from an external memory 11 by a CPU 1, and the detected specified object is listed on a CRT 10 according to tree form. When an instruction for making any device desired to be displayed usable is given, the attribute information on a specified device to be installed is displayed on the CRT 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a work station in which drivers for controlling various peripheral devices can be installed, a device installation method in the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a workstation, when a device shared on a network or a device locally connected (hereinafter, various devices are called objects) is installed in a system (OS). Then, a specific folder such as a printer folder is opened, and an additional icon for executing a device installation function provided by the OS is double-clicked. When the object to be installed is not on the local machine (not locally connected), the user specifies the object by searching for devices connected to the network while viewing the reference dialog, and gives an installation instruction.

[0003] Usually, the list of the reference dialog is displayed in a state of being sorted by name. If the printer device is set to be shared among the printer devices locally connected to a PC other than the own device, the object of the shared device is hidden under the PC icon.
After descending on the tree display below the icon, the object was specified and installation was instructed.

In some cases, the installation process is actually performed after setting the output port and specifying the storage location of the file that is the basis of the device driver to be installed.

[0005]

The following problems (1) and (2) have been pointed out in the above-mentioned user interface processing.

(1) Install a device so that it can be used (for example, install a device driver on its own device)
And its objects (installed devices)
Until the property is opened, it is unknown whether the object has the attributes desired by the user.

(2) Since an object having a desired attribute cannot be recognized until the object is installed, it is necessary to repeat the installation many times until the object having the desired attribute is reached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having a storage device for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information. In the device,
A specific object is detected from the directory information read from the storage device, the detected specific object is displayed in a list, and an instruction to install any of the displayed devices is made available. At this time, by displaying the attribute information of the specific device to be installed on the display means, it is possible to confirm the attribute information before completion of the installation and to surely recognize whether or not the object is the intended object. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a device installation method, and a storage medium that can freely construct a convenient driver installation environment that can complete a device installation process by a single installation operation instruction.

[0009] A second object is that, after a list of attribute information of a specific object is displayed on the display means, when an instruction for deciding whether or not to install the specific object is confirmed, the specific object is displayed. If it is confirmed that the device is not installed, the re-search setting information for additionally specifying the item for the attribute search is displayed on the display means, and the specific re-search setting information for the specific device search is displayed from the displayed re-search setting information. After specifying additional items, by re-detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device, if it is determined that the object is not the intended object in the first installation instruction, the target device is narrowed down. You can perform object search in the default state, and identify the intended device with the first installation instruction. Even if the installation process does not work, before starting the installation process, it is possible to search for an object that matches the specified item again, and to freely construct a convenient driver installation environment that can complete the device installation process with few installation operation instructions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a device installation method, and a storage medium that can perform the above.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having a storage device (corresponding to the external memory 11 shown in FIG. 2) for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information. A device,
Detecting means for detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device (the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2 accesses and detects the external memory 11).
Display means for displaying a list of specific objects detected by the detection means (corresponding to the CRT 10 shown in FIG. 2); and instructions for installing any of the devices displayed on the display means in a usable manner. An installation instructing unit to be performed, and a first control unit (CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2) for displaying attribute information of a specific device to be installed on the display unit when installation is instructed by the installation instructing unit. CRT
10 (corresponding to a configuration for controlling the display of attributes).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first control means performs a process of displaying a list of attribute information of the specified specific object on the display means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, after a list of attribute information of a specific object is displayed on the display unit by the first control unit, it is determined whether the specific object can be installed. Confirmation means for confirming an instruction (corresponding to a configuration in which CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2 confirms from an instruction for a list of attribute information on CRT 10);
A second control unit (FIG. 2) for displaying re-search setting information for additionally specifying an attribute search item on the display unit when it is determined by the checking unit that the specific object is not installed. The CPU 1 shown in FIG.
And a designating means for additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information (designation using the keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown) shown in FIG. 2). ).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a specified object is re-detected from the directory information read from the storage device by adding an item specified in the re-search setting information by the specifying means. (Corresponding to a configuration in which the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2 performs a re-detection process from the directory information managed by the external memory 11).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the instructable items for determining whether the specific object can be installed include an item for approving installation, an item for denying installation, and an item for instructing re-search. It is a thing.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the specific object is an object for a printer device.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the specific object is an object for a composite device having a printer function.

In an eighth aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined device includes a network device connected so as to be shared via a network.

In a ninth aspect according to the present invention, the network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing device connected to the network.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the installation instruction means detects an object drop operation instruction for any of the devices displayed on the display means and installs the device in a specific folder. Is what you do.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the installation instruction means issues an instruction to install a predetermined device, a third device is controlled to install a device driver for using the predetermined device.
(Corresponding to a configuration in which the CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2 controls to install a device driver for using a predetermined device).

[0021] A twelfth invention according to the present invention is a device installation method in an information processing apparatus having a storage device for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information, wherein the directory read from the storage device is provided. A detection step (not shown) for detecting a specific object from the information, a display step of displaying a list of the specific object detected by the detection step on a display means (step S54 shown in FIG. 6), and the display means Instruction (step S5 shown in FIG. 6) for giving an instruction to install any of the devices displayed on
1) and a first control step (step S55 shown in FIG. 6) of displaying attribute information of a specific device to be installed on the display means when installation is instructed by the installation instruction step. It has.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first control step, a list of attribute information of the specified specific object is displayed on the display means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, after a list of attribute information of a specific object is displayed on the display means in the first control step, it is determined whether the specific object can be installed. A confirmation step (step S61 shown in FIG. 6) for confirming the instruction;
A second control step of displaying re-search setting information for additionally designating an attribute search item on the display means when it is determined that the specific object is not installed in the checking step (FIG. 7); Step S8
2) and a designation step (step S95 shown in FIG. 7) of additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a specific object is re-detected from the directory information read from the storage device by adding an item specified in the re-search setting information in the specifying step. (Step S100 in FIG. 7).

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the instructable items for determining whether or not to install the specific object include an item for approving the installation, an item for denying the installation, and an item for instructing a re-search. It is a thing.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the specific object is an object for a printer device.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the specific object is an object for a composite device having a printer function.

[0028] In a nineteenth aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined device includes a network device connected to be shared via a network.

In a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing device connected to the network.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the installation instruction step, an instruction to install any device displayed on the display means in a specific folder by detecting an object drop operation instruction Is what you do.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, when an installation instruction of a predetermined device is issued in the installation instruction step, a third device is controlled to install a device driver for using the predetermined device. (Step S73 shown in FIG. 6).

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus provided with a storage device for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information includes a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device. A detection step of detecting an object (not shown); a display step of displaying a list of specific objects detected by the detection step on a display means (step S54 shown in FIG. 6); An installation instruction step (step S51 shown in FIG. 6) for giving an instruction to install the device so that the device can be used, and when installation is instructed by the installation instruction step, the display means is specified as an installation target. Of device attribute information In which the control step is a computer in a recording medium storing a program for executing the (step S55 shown in FIG. 6) was recorded readably in.

In a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first control step, a list of attribute information of the specified specific object is displayed on the display means.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, after a list of attribute information of a specific object is displayed on the display means in the first control step, it is determined whether the specific object can be installed. A confirmation step (step S61 shown in FIG. 6) for confirming the instruction;
A second control step of displaying re-search setting information for additionally designating an attribute search item on the display means when it is determined that the specific object is not installed in the checking step (FIG. 7); Step S8
2) and a designation step (step S95 shown in FIG. 7) of additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, a specified object is re-detected from the directory information read from the storage device by adding an item specified in the re-search setting information in the specifying step. (Step S100 in FIG. 7).

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the instructable items for determining whether or not to install the specific object include an item for approving installation, an item for denying installation, and an item for instructing re-search. It is a thing.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the specific object is an object for a printer device.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the specific object is an object for a composite device having a printer function.

[0039] In a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined device includes a network device connected to be shared via a network.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing device connected to the network.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the installation instruction step, an instruction for installing any device displayed on the display means in a specific folder by detecting an object drop operation instruction is provided. Is what you do.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, when an installation instruction of a predetermined device is issued in the installation instruction step, control is performed to install a device driver for using the predetermined device. (Step S73 shown in FIG. 6).

[0043]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, for example, an information processing apparatus 3000 such as a personal computer is an information device suitable for performing the run length determination at high speed. Information processing device 3
000 includes a keyboard 9 for receiving input from the user and a CRT display 10 for displaying information to the user.

A magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) or hard disk (HD)) for storing data and programs, a magneto-optical disk (MO),
Optical discs (CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW) and digital video discs (DVD-ROM and DV
It has an external memory 11 for driving a removable storage medium such as a D-RAM).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 1, which is a microprocessor, includes a program ROM area 302 of a ROM 3,
Based on programs and data stored in a hard disk (HD) and / or a storage medium set in the external memory 11, the RAM 2 is used as a work memory to store figures, images, characters, and tables (table calculations, etc.). ), And processes documents with mixed
The device, which will be described later, is generally controlled via the system bus 4.

The storage medium set in the program ROM area 302 of the ROM 3 or the external memory drive 11 stores C
A program executed by PU1 is stored.

The font ROM area 30 of the ROM 3
Reference numeral 1 stores font data for generating a character pattern for displaying characters and symbols included in the document data created and edited in the document processing on the CR10.

Further, the data ROM area 30 of the ROM 3
3 stores various data used when performing the above-described document processing and display processing, for example, directory information of the ROM 3, an application table, and the like.

5 is a keyboard controller (KBC)
Controls input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). 6 is CR
CRT display 1 with T controller (CRTC)
The display of 0 is controlled.

7 is a disk controller (DKC),
It controls access to the HD and the external memory 11 and reads and writes various programs and various data such as font data, user files, and edit files on the storage media. A printer controller (PRTC) 8 is connected to the printer 22 via a predetermined bidirectional interface 21 and controls communication with the printer 22.

The CPU 1 executes a process of developing (rasterizing) an outline font in a display information area allocated on the RAM 2 or a dedicated video memory (VRAM), for example, to enable WYSIWG on the CRT display 10. I do. Also, the CPU 1
Based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like on the display 10, various registered windows are opened to execute various data processing.

Next, the installation process using the information processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described in detail.
A general installation process will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a system of a printer object in this type of information processing apparatus (own information processing apparatus).
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of installation of the printer.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a printer object for displaying a locally connected printer device or a network-connected (sharable) printer device. Generally, this search processing function is provided by the OS. In the Windows OS, a PC on the network and a printer connected to the network are searched by clicking a network icon. When the printer is searched, such a search is performed. Displayed as a printer object. When the printer object 30 is installed so as to be usable in its own PC system, a specific folder (a printer folder for installing a printer device in this embodiment) 31 provided by the OS is opened, and a printer add icon is opened. Double-click 31a.

Here, a printer folder for installing a printer device so that it can be used is provided by the OS. However, when a scanner or a digital camera is connected to a network, such a specific folder is prepared by the OS. It is necessary to add a function as a utility. Printer object 31a
If is not in the local machine, the user specifies the object by searching for a device connected to the network while looking at the printer reference dialog 34, and issues an installation instruction. Here, the printer reference dialog 34
Is displayed sorted by host name.

When a printer device locally connected to a specific host PC is set to be shared, the printer object is hidden below the host PC object and is not directly displayed as an icon.
+> Instruct and depress (click) the control with the pointing device, and the list is expanded and displayed (see 34 in FIG. 3).

Therefore, the user needs to perform an operation of expanding the list in order to select a printer object to be installed. When a printer object is selected, double-clicking on the selected printer object or dragging and dropping the selected printer object into the printer folder 31 causes the selected printer object to be installed. 35 is started. The processing performed here is performed by a printer driver (a print data generation program and an interpretable drawing function) that is a device control program so that a printer device corresponding to the selected printer object can be used on the own PC. (Including a dynamic link library for notifying the OS to the OS).
When the printer object installation process 35 (in other words, the printer driver installation process) is completed, the printer object 39a is added and displayed in the printer folder 31 of the own PC system (see 39 in FIG. 3).

However, before the installation is completed,
If the output port setting process 36 is required, or if a device driver (same for a dynamic link library) required for connecting an object is not found, it is necessary to specify a storage location 38 of the driver. On the contrary,
In the present embodiment, the driver installation process is executed according to the flow as shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams illustrating the flow of the driver installation process in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 corresponds to the driver installation process, and FIG. Corresponding.

The features different from the driver installation processing state shown in FIG. 3 are different from the general list display method, that is, the display processing of the printer attribute list at the start of the installation and the attribute is not the desired attribute and In this case, a condition can be added and a search can be made.

That is, in the installation processing method shown in FIG. 3, the attributes of the printer are not displayed in the printer reference dialog 34.

Whether the printer has a desired attribute is
It may not be possible to confirm until the printer properties are opened after the printer driver is installed, and the installation may be repeated.

On the other hand, according to the installation process of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attributes of the printer are displayed in the dialog 66 when the installation instruction is issued. This allows the user to recognize the device name and the attribute before starting the device installation process. Further, a printer having a desired attribute can be searched for in the re-search dialog 77 as shown in FIG. And
The re-search result is reflected in the tree list 74. For this reason, the printer attributes can be confirmed in advance, a printer having a desired attribute can be searched, and the installation process is likely to be performed only once.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, an outline of the attribute display processing in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described.

According to the present invention, by providing the printer search icon 61a in the printer folder, a function is provided for searching for a printer device desired by the user when the user desires to install a printer object. In FIG. 4, when a printer object 60 is installed in the system, a specific folder (printer folder in this embodiment) 61 is opened, and a printer search icon 61a provided by the present invention is provided.
After operating the pointing device to indicate the cursor, double-clicking, for example, the left button of the pointing device (not shown).

As a result, a printer device search process (search process) is performed. At this time, the attribute of the searched printer device can be obtained at the same time. When the search process is completed, a dialog for displaying a list of search results is generated, and the search results are displayed as a printer search dialog 64 on the CRT 10 as display means. The list of the search result dialog 64 is basically displayed as a printer icon, and the display is performed in an order close to the machine by performing an operation (in the order of early reply such as ping). In the printer search dialog 64, what is hidden by the "+" control is the path to the printer object.
In order to find a printer, it is not necessary to give an operation instruction to a pointing device or the like.

Assuming that the search result dialog 64 is in a modeless relationship with the printer folder, an operation 65 for dropping the displayed printer icon on the folder 68 by a pointing device operation, that is, dropping the displayed printer icon on the folder 68, is performed. The installation can be started if it is regarded as the same operation as double-clicking the icon.

Before the actual installation process is started, a printer attribute dialog 66 is displayed. In the printer attribute dialog 66, the attributes of the printer, such as the type and speed of the engine, the color, the presence or absence of the duplex function, the supported paper size, and the like are displayed.

In this example, the attributes are expressed by text, but they can be displayed by icons, images, or the like.

Also, by displaying the attribute value 66a,
The user does not need to memorize the contents of associating the printer name with the function, which has been performed conventionally. If the attribute is desired by the user, “Yes” in the attribute value 66
If the button B1 is instructed to be pressed by the pointing device, the installation process is continued, and the "No" button B
If the user presses 2 using a pointing device, the installation process is canceled.

When the installation process is completed,
Printer object 69a in printer folder 69
Is added.

In the process of FIG. 4, since there is directory structure information, if the user has the authority to access the printer, the associated port setting process can be performed automatically.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 70 denotes a printer object. When the printer object 70 is to be installed in the system, a printer folder 71 is opened,
When the user double-clicks the search icon 71a of the printer by operating the pointing device, the search result is displayed on the CRT 10 as a printer search dialog 74.

When the displayed printer icon is dropped on the folder 78 by operating the pointing device 75, the installation can be started if it is regarded as the same operation as the double-click of the printer addition icon.

Before the actual installation process is started, a printer attribute dialog 76 is displayed on the CRT 10. The printer attribute dialog 76 displays the attributes of the printer, such as the type and speed of the engine, the color, the presence or absence of the duplex function, the supported paper size, and the like.

If the attribute is desired by the user, the installation process is continued by pressing the "Yes" button B1 in the printer attribute dialog 76, and the installation process is canceled if the "No" button B2 is pressed. It is. Further, when the user wants to search for a printer having a desired attribute, the user presses a “research” button B3 in the printer attribute dialog 76.

As a result, a re-search dialog box 77 is opened and displayed on the CRT 10, and controls for setting re-search conditions are arranged on the re-search dialog box 77.

For example, if the printer dropped by the user through the drop operation 75 is a color printer, the attribute is displayed in the printer attribute dialog box 76. However, when a monochrome printer is actually used, the re-search dialog box 77 is displayed.
If the search condition of the color attribute item is set to NOT and re-search is performed (the button B11 is instructed by a pointing device (not shown)), the printer displayed on the list in the printer search dialog 74 is only a monochrome printer. . When the button B12 is pressed by a pointing device (not shown),
The process ends.

Here, in the conventional method, after installing the printer object, open the properties and check what kind of printer it is, and if it is a device with an undesired attribute, delete it and retry. The re-search process can be executed with a significantly smaller number of operations compared to the operation in which the installation has been repeated.

By using the re-search function of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of installations and uninstallations. In the present embodiment, the re-search dialog of the re-search dialog box 77 is opened from the printer attribute dialog 76. However, even if a re-search button is added to the printer search dialog 74 or the like and the re-search dialog box 77 is opened. Even if it is configured to be able to process, the effect is equivalent. When the installation process of the printer driver is completed, the printer object 79a is added as shown in the printer folder 79.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the attribute display processing shown in FIG. In addition, S50-S55, S60-S65, S70-
S74 shows each step.

First, there is a user action from the standby state ST2 (S50), and the icon is dropped (Drop).
When the object is dropped (S51), the dropped object is specified and the result is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 2 (S51).
52). Then, an attribute of the object is inquired to the system (S53). Then, an attribute list initialization process is started (S54), each attribute value is inserted into the list and displayed (S55), and thereafter, a standby state after squirrel display ST3 is entered (S60).

Then, the standby state ST3 of step S60
, Or from the standby state ST2, there is a user action (S61), the action type is determined, and when it is determined that the “Yes” button 66a is pressed (S6).
2), the process proceeds to step S63, and the installation process is executed.

Then, steps S70 to S7
Then, the process enters a search loop for the directory node No. 2 and determines whether or not the object specified in step S52 has been found by searching (S7).
1) If not found, a node search is performed (S7)
2) Returning to step S70, if it is determined that the object is found, the found object is installed (S70).
73) When the installation process is completed, the standby state S
The process returns to T1 (S74).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S61 that the user action is that the "No" button B2 has been pressed (S64), the installation process is canceled and the process returns to the standby state ST1 (S74).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S61 that the user action is to press the "re-search" button B3 (S65), the process proceeds to the standby state ST4.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the detailed procedure of the re-search processing shown in FIG.
In addition, S80-S82, S90-S98, S100-S
103 indicates each step. First, when a user action is executed from the standby state ST4 (S80), if it is determined that the user action is a re-search request (S81), a printer re-search dialog 74 is displayed in step S82.
Move to the process of adding the condition setting control.

Then, steps S90 to S9
Then, the process enters a loop for each display attribute of FIG. 8 and proceeds to the type specifying process of the condition setting control from S91. If all the display attributes are to be selected in step S90, the possible range of the attribute of each item is checked (S92). The CPU 1 determines whether the number is equal to or less than "1" (S93). If NO, the search condition setting control is not added because the attribute is a fixed attribute (S94), and the process proceeds to step S95.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S93 that the number is greater than "1", a NOT control is added (S95). Further, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the range in which the attribute value can take is "3" or more (S96). If the CPU 1 determines that the range in which the attribute value can take is "3" or more, a list control is added. Then (S
97), it is determined whether or not the display attribute is specified (S
98), if NO, return to step S90; if YES, proceed to step S100.

When the user operates the condition control and the search is executed again after setting the condition (S10
0), and adds the set conditions to the conditions of the previous search (S
101), the tree list is refreshed together with the directory information obtained from the system (S102) (S102).
103), and enters a standby state ST1.

In the above embodiment, changing the position where directory information is obtained, changing the method of merging data when a tree list is generated from directory information, omitting user action / changing position, Changing the order of the units is also a configuration applicable to the embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the installation process is described for the printer device so that it can be used by its own device. However, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and a device object is specified for a device such as a facsimile, a scanner, or a digital camera. The attribute may be displayed in a dialog when the installation process is similarly performed using the folder. Further, the present embodiment can be applied to a case where a plurality of objects having different functions (attributes) such as a printer and a facsimile are simultaneously processed instead of a single object such as a printer in the description.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a program supply mode in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 8, programs stored in a floppy disk FD as a storage medium (FIG. 6, FIG.
When the program code of the steps corresponding to FIG. 7) is loaded into the host computer which is the information processing device 3000, the information processing device 3000 is read from the floppy disk FD.
And installed in the external memory 11.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, is stored. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, a program for installing various programs on a computer, and a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed, may be stored in some cases.

The functions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention can be applied to a case in which a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, DVD-ROM, DVD
-A RAM or the like can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program codes, and the OS (Operating System) running on the computer is executed based on the instructions of the program codes. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Referring to FIG. 9, reference numeral 999 denotes an area for storing directory information and the like.
8 are stored. Further, a storage area 997 for, for example, the control program shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and a storage area 996 for configuration information for processing are shown corresponding to each operating environment.

The operator of the host computer 3000 designates an application name to be installed from the contents stored in the floppy disk FD, for example, by designating the application name with KB9, and the application is loaded into the host computer with reference to the above-mentioned table 998.
For example, when the operation environment “XXX” is specified, the corresponding application and configuration information stored in the areas 997 and 996 are loaded into the host computer.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the installation process, the attributes can be confirmed before the installation.

Further, the installation process of a device having a desired attribute can be completed by one installation operation instruction.

The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine). Etc.).

[0112]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirtieth aspect, in an information processing apparatus including a storage device that manages a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information, a specific object is detected from the directory information read from the storage device, A list of the detected specific objects is displayed, and when an instruction to install any of the displayed devices is issued, attribute information of the specific device to be installed is displayed on the display unit. Is displayed. Before the installation is completed, the attribute information is confirmed to ascertain whether or not the object is the intended object, and the installation process of the device can be completed with a single installation operation instruction. An installation environment can be freely constructed.

After the list of the attribute information of the specific object is displayed on the display means, when the instruction to determine whether or not the specific object can be installed is confirmed, it is confirmed that the specific object is not installed. In this case, after the re-search setting information for additionally specifying the attribute search item is displayed on the display unit, and after the specific device search item is additionally specified from the displayed re-search setting information, Since the specific object is re-detected from the directory information read from the storage device, if it is determined by the first installation instruction that the object is not the intended object, the object search is performed in a state where the target devices are narrowed down. If the initial installation instructions do not identify the intended device, Before the installation process, it is possible to search for an object that matches the specified item again, and it is possible to freely construct a convenient driver installation environment that can complete the device installation process with few installation operation instructions. Has the effect of

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of installing a printer object in a system in this type of information processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of a driver installation processing state in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of a driver installation processing state in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a program supply mode in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 9 Keyboard 10 CRT 11 External memory

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus including a storage device that manages a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information, and a detection unit that detects a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device. Display means for displaying a list of specific objects detected by the detection means; installation instruction means for instructing to install any of the devices displayed on the display means in a usable manner; and the installation instruction An information processing apparatus, comprising: first control means for displaying attribute information of a specific device to be installed on the display means when installation is instructed by the means. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit performs a process of displaying a list of attribute information of the specified specific object on the display unit. 3. A confirmation means for confirming an instruction for deciding whether or not to install the specific object, after a list of attribute information of the specific object is displayed on the display means by the first control means, A second control unit configured to display, on the display unit, re-search setting information for additionally specifying an attribute search item when the specific unit does not install the specific object; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: designating means for additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information. 4. A re-detection unit for re-detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device by adding an item designated in the re-search setting information by the designation unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The item that can be instructed to determine whether or not to install a specific object may include an item that approves installation, an item that denies installation, and an item that instructs re-search. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific object is an object for a printer device. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific object is an object for a composite device having a printer function. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined device includes a network device connected so as to be shared via a network. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing apparatus connected to the network. 10. The installation instruction unit detects an object drop operation instruction for any of the devices displayed on the display unit and issues an instruction to install the device in a specific folder. Item 10. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. 11. When the installation instruction means instructs to install a predetermined device, the apparatus further comprises a third control means for controlling to install a device driver for using the predetermined device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein 12. A device installation method in an information processing apparatus including a storage device for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information, wherein a specific object is selected from the directory information read from the storage device. A detection step of detecting; a display step of displaying a list of specific objects detected by the detection step on a display unit; and an installation instruction for installing any of the devices displayed on the display unit to be usable. An instruction step; and a first control step of displaying attribute information of a specific device to be installed on the display means when installation is instructed by the installation instruction step. Device Stall way. 13. The device installation method according to claim 12, wherein the first control step performs a process of displaying a list of attribute information of the specified specific object on the display unit. 14. A confirmation step of, after a list of attribute information of a specific object is displayed on the display means by the first control step, confirming an instruction to determine whether or not to install the specific object, A second control step of displaying re-search setting information for additionally specifying an attribute search item on the display means when the specific object is confirmed not to be installed by the confirmation step; 13. The device installation method according to claim 12, further comprising a designation step of additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information. 15. A re-detection step of adding an item designated in the re-search setting information by the designation step and re-detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device. The device installation method according to claim 11, wherein: 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the instructable items for determining whether the specific object can be installed include an item for approving the installation, an item for denying the installation, and an item for instructing the re-search.
Device installation method described. 17. The device installation method according to claim 12, wherein the specific object is an object for a printer device. 18. The device installation method according to claim 12, wherein the specific object is an object for a composite device including a printer function. 19. The device installation method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined device includes a network device connected so as to be shared via a network. 20. The device installation method according to claim 19, wherein the network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing device connected to the network. 21. The installation instruction step detects an object drop operation instruction for any of the devices displayed on the display means and issues an instruction to install the device in a specific folder. Item 13. The device installation method according to Item 12. 22. The method further comprising a third control step of controlling to install a device driver for using the predetermined device when the installation instruction of the predetermined device is issued in the installation instruction step. 22. The device installation method according to claim 12, wherein: 23. An information processing apparatus having a storage device for managing a predetermined object for a predetermined device based on directory information, a detecting step of detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device, A display step of displaying a list of specific objects detected by the detection step on a display unit; an installation instruction step of giving an instruction to install any of the devices displayed on the display unit in a usable manner; A computer readable recording medium for executing a first control step of displaying attribute information of a specific device to be installed on the display means when installation is instructed by the instruction step; Storage media 24. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the first control step performs a process of displaying a list of attribute information of the specified specific object on the display unit. 25. After the list of attribute information of the specific object is displayed on the display means by the first control step, a confirmation step of confirming an instruction to determine whether or not to install the specific object, A second control step of displaying re-search setting information for additionally specifying an attribute search item on the display means when the specific object is confirmed not to be installed by the confirmation step; 24. The storage medium according to claim 23, further comprising: a designation step of additionally designating a specific device search item from the re-search setting information. 26. A re-detection step of re-detecting a specific object from the directory information read from the storage device by adding an item designated in the re-search setting information by the designation step. The storage medium according to claim 23, characterized in that: 27. The item that can be instructed to determine whether the specific object can be installed includes an item that approves the installation, an item that denies the installation, and an item that instructs a re-search.
The storage medium according to the above. 28. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the specific object is an object for a printer device. 29. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the specific object is an object for a composite device having a printer function. 30. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said predetermined device includes a network device connected so as to be shared via a network. 31. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein said network device includes a device locally connected to a data processing device connected to said network. 32. The installation instruction step detects an object drop operation instruction for any of the devices displayed on the display means and issues an instruction to install the device in a specific folder. Item 24. The storage medium according to Item 23. 33. The method further comprising a third control step of controlling to install a device driver for using a predetermined device when an instruction to install a predetermined device is issued in the installation instruction step. The device installation method according to any one of claims 23 to 32.