JP2005352598A - External peripheral equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide external peripheral equipment that automatically installs a driver without any user's operation when a device whose driver is not installed in an OS is connected. <P>SOLUTION: An Ethernet (R) controller 2 includes a virtual USB keyboard, a virtual USB mass storage, a network adapter, and a control section controlling them. The virtual USB keyboard generates the driver of the USB mass storage at a specified location of the OS and then the USB mass storage begins to operate to copy the driver of a network adapter to the OS. Then the network adapter beings to operate, so that the network adapter is automatically recognized by the PnP function of the OS. External media such as a CD-ROM become unnecessary and the peripheral device drivers are automatically installed without user's driver installing operation to make the devices usable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an external peripheral device connected to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and particularly relates to facilitating driver installation.

  A standard device driver is incorporated in an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) installed in a recent personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC), and when a standard peripheral device is connected. Can recognize a connected peripheral device by automatically assigning a standard device driver.

  On the other hand, when the connected peripheral device is unknown to the OS, installation of a device driver for operating the peripheral device is prompted, and a display for guiding the procedure is displayed. The procedure is as follows.

  When the user connects a peripheral device to the PC, the OS requests the designation of the location of a setup information file (hereinafter referred to as an INF file) in which setup information about the device is registered. Here, the user inserts a medium such as a CD-ROM containing the device driver into the PC, and designates the directory of the INF file stored in the medium. The OS analyzes the INF file and requests a device driver suitable for the OS. The user specifies a folder in which the device driver is stored.

  The device driver installation operation described above is complicated for the user, and is difficult for a user who is not used to handling the PC. Further, it is necessary for peripheral device manufacturers to provide detailed guidance on device driver installation work, which is a heavy burden.

In view of this, there has been proposed a device apparatus that can copy a device driver to an OS without having to insert a medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk by providing a data holding area in which the driver is stored in the device (for example, Patent Document 1). In this device apparatus, a driver is copied from an internal data holding area to the OS during the initial operation of the device, and then the main device can be operated by a mode switch.
JP 2000-284918 A

  However, although the device device described in Patent Literature 1 does not require a driver installation medium, the trouble of switching the switch by inserting and removing the device from the PC still remains. Another problem is that the user has to manually copy the driver to the OS.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an external peripheral device that automatically installs a driver without being operated by a user when connected to an OS.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and operates virtually as a main device and an input device having a function as a peripheral device. A virtual input device, a virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device storing a driver of the main device, and a control unit that controls the device. The control unit includes the external peripheral device in the information processing apparatus. When connected, the virtual input device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus, and when the virtual input device is recognized as a general-purpose input device, the virtual input device is operated to operate the virtual storage device driver. To create a virtual storage device by operating the virtual input device The procedure for installing the driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus, the procedure for electrically connecting the virtual storage device to the information processing apparatus after installing the driver of the virtual storage device in the system program of the information processing apparatus, and the main from the virtual storage device An installation process comprising: a procedure for installing a device driver in the information processing apparatus system program; and a procedure for electrically connecting the main device to the information processing apparatus after installing the main device driver in the information processing apparatus system program. It is characterized by performing.

  In this invention, a device that virtually functions as a keyboard creates a driver for a device that virtually functions as a storage device on the OS, and after the driver is installed, the virtual storage device is electrically connected to the PC, A driver for the main device is installed in the OS from the virtual storage device, and an operation for electrically connecting the main device to the PC later is performed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual input device and the virtual storage device before electrically connecting the main device. And

  In the present invention, before the main device is electrically connected to the PC, the virtual input device and the virtual storage device are disconnected so that only the main device is connected to the OS.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the installation process, the control unit operates a virtual input device to create a virtual input device driver on the system program of the information processing apparatus, and operates the virtual input device. And further executing a procedure for installing the virtual input device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus, and when the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the virtual input device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus. In the case where it is detected that the driver of the virtual input device is installed, the main device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus without electrically connecting the virtual storage device, instead of the installation process. A steady process consisting of a procedure for connecting to is executed.

  In the present invention, when a driver for a virtual input device is created and installed on the OS, and an external connection device is connected thereafter, the device installation process is omitted and the virtual storage device is not electrically connected. Immediately, the main device is electrically connected to the PC.

  The invention according to claim 4 is an external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and is a main device having a function as a peripheral device, and text information is input. A virtual input device that virtually operates as an input device that executes an operation of the system program of the apparatus, a virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device that stores a driver of the main device, and a control unit that controls the device When the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the control unit electrically connects the virtual input device, the virtual storage device, and the main device to the information processing apparatus in parallel. If it is recognized as an input device, operate the virtual input device to For creating a virtual driver on the information processing apparatus system program, operating the virtual input device to install the virtual storage device driver in the information processing apparatus system program, and installing the virtual storage device on the information processing apparatus system program An installation process comprising: a step of recognizing the main device from a virtual storage device; a step of installing a driver of the main device into the system program of the information processing apparatus; and a step of causing the system program of the information processing apparatus to recognize the main device. To do.

  In the present invention, when the external peripheral device is connected to the PC, the virtual input device, the virtual storage device, and the main device are connected in parallel. Thereafter, the virtual input device creates and installs a driver for the virtual storage device. After the installation, the virtual storage device is recognized, and the main device driver is installed from the virtual storage device. After the main device driver is installed, the main device is recognized.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit executes a procedure for electrically disconnecting the virtual input device and the virtual storage device after the installation process. .

  In the present invention, after the main device is recognized by the OS, the virtual input device and the virtual storage device are electrically disconnected from the PC so that only the main device is connected to the OS.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the installation process, the control unit operates the virtual input device to create a virtual input device driver on the system program of the information processing apparatus, and operates the virtual input device. The virtual input device, the virtual storage device, and the main device when the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing device. Are simultaneously connected to the information processing apparatus in parallel, and when it is detected that the driver of the virtual input device and the driver of the virtual storage device are installed, the installation process is not executed. .

  In the present invention, a driver for a virtual input device is created and installed on the OS, and when an externally connected device is connected thereafter, an operation for omitting the device installation process is performed.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the information processing apparatus according to the above-described invention, wherein the control unit operates a virtual input device to automatically install a driver of a main device from a virtual storage device into a system program of the information processing apparatus. It is created and executed on a system program.

  The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the virtual storage device stores a program for automatically installing a driver of a main device from a virtual storage device into a system program of an information processing apparatus.

  The program for installing the driver of the main device may be created and executed by the virtual input device on the OS, or may be stored in the virtual storage device and executed by the automatic execution function of the OS. Good.

  The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the interface connected to the information processing apparatus is a USB standard.

  The invention according to claim 10 is an external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and stores a main device having a function as a peripheral device and a driver of the main device A virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device and a control unit that controls the device. The control unit electrically connects the virtual storage device to the information processing apparatus when the device is connected to the information processing apparatus. And when the virtual storage device is recognized as a general-purpose storage device, the main device driver is installed in the information processing apparatus system program from the virtual storage device, and the main device driver is installed in the information processing apparatus system program. After installing on the main device information processing Procedure for electrically connecting to the location, and executes the installation process consisting.

  In the present invention, the virtual storage device built in the external peripheral device installs the main device driver in the OS, and after the installation, the main device is electrically connected to the PC.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device before electrically connecting the main device.

  In the present invention, before the main device is electrically connected to the PC, the virtual storage device is disconnected so that only the main device is connected to the OS.

  In the invention according to claim 12, the control unit further executes a procedure for installing a driver of the virtual storage device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus in the installation process, and the external peripheral device. Is connected to the information processing apparatus, when the virtual storage device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus and it is detected that the driver of the virtual storage device is installed, instead of the installation process, A steady process including a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device from the information processing apparatus and a procedure of electrically connecting the main device to the information processing apparatus is performed.

  In this invention, by creating and installing a driver for the virtual storage device on the OS, when an external connection device is connected thereafter, the device installation process is omitted, and the virtual storage device is electrically disconnected, Immediately connect the main device to the PC.

  The invention according to claim 13 is an external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and stores a main device having a function as a peripheral device and a driver for the main device A virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device, and a control unit that controls the device, and the control unit, when the device is connected to the information processing apparatus, causes the virtual storage device and the main device to be simultaneously executed in parallel. A procedure for installing the main device driver from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus when this virtual storage device is recognized as a general-purpose storage device when electrically connected to the information processing apparatus. A procedure that is recognized by the system program of the device. And executes a toll processing.

  In the present invention, when the external peripheral device is connected to the PC, the virtual storage device and the main device are connected in parallel. Thereafter, the driver of the main device is installed from the virtual storage device, and the main device is recognized after the installation.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device after the installation process.

  In the present invention, after the main device is recognized by the OS, the virtual storage device is electrically disconnected, and only the main device is connected to the PC.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the control unit further executes a procedure for installing a driver of the virtual storage device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus in the installation process. Is connected to the information processing apparatus, the virtual storage device and the main device are electrically connected to the information processing apparatus in parallel at the same time, and when it is detected that the driver for the virtual storage device is installed, The installation process is not executed.

  In the present invention, a driver for a virtual storage device is created and installed on the OS, and when an externally connected device is connected thereafter, an operation for omitting the device installation process is performed.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the virtual storage device stores a program for automatically installing a driver of a main device from a virtual storage device into a system program of an information processing apparatus.

  In the present invention, a program for automatically installing a driver for the main device is stored in the virtual storage device, and is executed by the automatic execution function of the OS when the virtual storage device is electrically connected to the PC.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the interface connected to the information processing apparatus is a USB, PC card, or IEEE 1394 standard.

  In the present invention, the external peripheral device is connected to the PC via a PC card interface or an IEEE 1394 interface. A USB interface may be used if the OS of the PC incorporates a standard USB storage device driver.

  According to the present invention, even if a device unknown to the OS is connected, the device itself can automatically install the driver, so a CD-ROM or the like with a built-in driver is not required. In addition, it is not necessary for the user to perform a driver installation operation, and even a novice user who is not used to handling the PC can easily use the device. Furthermore, it is not necessary for device manufacturers to provide detailed guidance on the method of driver installation work, which can reduce the support burden.

  Windows (registered trademark) 98SE, Windows (registered trademark) ME, Windows (registered trademark) 2000, and Windows (registered trademark) XP are commonly used as OSs for controlling personal computers.

  In this embodiment, a case where a USB interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller or a PC card interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller is connected to a PC on which Windows (registered trademark) 98SE is mounted will be described with reference to the drawings. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PC and an Ethernet (registered trademark) controller in this embodiment. The PC 1 and the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 are connected by a USB interface. The PC 1 stores a large number of drivers for operating peripheral devices on an OS that manages the whole. The Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 is a virtual USB keyboard device that virtually operates as a USB keyboard, a virtual mass storage device that virtually operates as a mass storage and stores a device driver and utility program of a network adapter, It has a main device having a function as a network adapter and a control unit for controlling them.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 when connected to the PC 1. When the user connects the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 to the PC 1, that is, when the cable of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 is inserted into the USB connector of the PC 1, a trigger for starting this operation is used.

  When the user executes connection, an inquiry about a plug and play (hereinafter referred to as PnP) key such as VendorID indicating manufacturer information or ProductID indicating product information is transmitted from the OS, and is received (s1). At this time, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 first emulates the USB keyboard by returning the VenderID and ProductID of the virtual USB keyboard device (s2). Note that the emulation here means that the device virtually operates as a device having the functions of other devices.

  The OS searches for an INF file having this PnP key. By assigning a driver corresponding to this INF file, the OS can recognize the device, but when the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 is first connected, the INF file having the PnP key of this virtual USB keyboard device is Does not exist on the OS. Therefore, the OS refers to a ClassID indicating the type of device, and assigns a USB keyboard driver corresponding to this ClassID. In Windows (registered trademark) 98, a USB keyboard driver is built-in as a standard, so driver installation is not necessary.

  Thereafter, an INF file and a driver for virtual USB mass storage in the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 are created by USB keyboard emulation, and installed in the system folder of the OS (s3).

  Further, a script for starting a program for automatically installing the driver and utility program of the original network adapter device in the OS is created (s4). Thereafter, the USB mass storage is emulated (s5). When emulation of USB mass storage is started, the OS inquires about a PnP key such as VendorID and ProductID, and refers to an INF file having the PnP key. Here, the USB mass storage driver is automatically assigned with reference to the previously created USB mass storage INF file. When the USB mass storage emulation function is enabled, the previous script is executed (s6). When the script is executed, the network adapter driver and utility program are copied from the virtual USB mass storage and installed in the OS (s7). Here, USB keyboard emulation automatically performs installation. When the installation is completed, the USB keyboard emulation and the USB mass storage emulation are ended (s8). If the operation is stopped, an extra resource of the OS is not consumed, and the mass storage icon appears on the screen and the user is not confused. In order to end the emulation, it is only necessary that the control unit electrically sees each device and looks on the OS as if each device was physically disconnected. Thereafter, the operation as the original network adaptation function as the main device is started (s9). The OS makes an inquiry about the PnP key, refers to the INF file, and automatically assigns the driver installed earlier, so that the network adapter is recognized and the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 can be used.

  In this example, USB keyboard emulation has shown the operation of creating a script to start a program for installing network adapter drivers and utility programs, and then executing the script. However, the automatic execution program is stored in USB mass storage. In addition, automatic installation may be performed by using an automatic execution (Autorun) function of the OS.

  Since the USB mass storage driver has a small amount of data, it can be created with a USB keyboard, but the network adapter driver and utility program that is the main device have a large data capacity and are difficult to create with a USB keyboard. . Therefore, it is copied from the USB mass storage and installed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 when connected to the PC 1. Also in this example, when the user connects the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 to the PC 1, that is, when the cable of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 is inserted into the USB connector of the PC 1, the trigger for starting this operation is used. ing.

  When the user executes the connection, an inquiry about a PnP key such as VendorID indicating manufacturer information and ProductID indicating product information is transmitted from the OS, and is received (s10). At this time, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 sends back three ProductIDs of the USB keyboard, USB mass storage, and network adapter in this order (s11). That is, it is recognized as three devices connected to the USB hub, and port 0 is connected as a USB keyboard, port 1 is connected as a USB mass storage, and port 2 is connected as a network adapter. The USB keyboard is automatically assigned with a general-purpose driver of the OS, and the USB keyboard emulation operation can be started. Since there is no driver in the OS for the USB mass storage and network adapter, the hardware wizard is activated. Since the hardware wizard is activated in the order of port numbers, the USB mass storage hardware wizard is activated first. Here, an INF file and driver for USB mass storage are created by USB keyboard emulation, and installed in the system folder of the OS (s12). Furthermore, the USB mass storage hardware wizard is advanced by USB keyboard emulation to make the OS recognize it (s13).

  Here, the hardware wizard may be temporarily terminated by USB keyboard emulation, and the USB mass storage emulation may be restarted. In this case, since the USB mass storage driver is already installed in the OS, the OS refers to the INF file, assigns the USB mass storage driver, and automatically enables the USB mass storage emulation function.

  When the USB mass storage emulation function is enabled, the network adapter driver and utility program are installed in the OS (s14). Here, the program for executing the driver installation may be executed by creating a script by USB keyboard emulation, or by executing the automatic execution program stored in the USB mass storage by the automatic execution function of the OS. Good. Thereafter, the hardware wizard of the network adapter is advanced by USB keyboard emulation to make the OS recognize it (s15). Here, the hardware wizard may be advanced by an automatic execution program recorded in the USB mass storage.

  In this case, the network adapter hardware wizard may be once terminated and the network adapter may be restarted. In this case, since the network adapter driver has already been installed, the OS refers to the INF file, assigns the network adapter driver, and automatically enables the network adapter function.

  When the network adapter is recognized by the OS and the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 2 can be used, the USB keyboard emulation and USB mass storage emulation are terminated (s16). If the operation is stopped, an extra resource of the OS is not consumed, and the mass storage icon appears on the screen and the user is not confused. In order to end the emulation, it is only necessary that the control unit electrically sees each device and looks on the OS as if each device was physically disconnected.

  In the above-described installation operation, a procedure for creating and installing an INF file and a driver dedicated to the virtual USB keyboard may be added. When the user connects again after installing the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller once, the OS refers to the INF file dedicated to the USB keyboard and assigns a driver dedicated to the USB keyboard. Here, the USB keyboard driver may be set so that the virtual USB keyboard device is recognized as a device that does not operate, and the operation is immediately switched to the main device.

  Although an embodiment has been described here in which USB mass storage is emulated, any device that can copy data to the OS may be recognized.

  As described above, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller according to the present embodiment has a USB keyboard emulation function and a USB mass storage emulation function, so that a driver is automatically installed even if the device is unknown to the OS. be able to. Therefore, a CD-ROM or the like with a built-in device driver is not necessary, and there is no need for the user to perform a driver installation operation. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the manufacturer to provide detailed guidance on the installation method, and the support burden can be reduced.

  In addition, here, a case where the OS is connected to a PC having Windows (registered trademark) 98SE is shown, but in the case of a PC that is an OS having a built-in general-purpose USB mass storage driver as standard, USB keyboard emulation is used. Is not necessary. In this case, a program for automatically installing the network adapter driver may be stored in the USB mass storage emulation, the program may be executed by the automatic execution function of the OS, and the driver may be installed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 and the PC 1 connected by the PC card interface.

  The PC 1 stores a large number of drivers for operating peripheral devices on an OS that manages the whole. The Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 includes a virtual flash ATA device that virtually operates as a flash ATA, a main device having a function as an original network adapter, and a control unit that controls them.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 when connected to the PC 1. When the user connects the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 to the PC 1, that is, when the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 is inserted into the PC card slot of the PC 1, a trigger for starting this operation is used.

  When the user executes the connection, an inquiry about a PnP key such as VendorID indicating manufacturer information and ProductID indicating product information is transmitted from the OS, and is received (s17). At this time, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 first returns the VendorID and ProductID of the virtual flash ATA to emulate the flash ATA (s18).

  The OS searches for an INF file having this PnP key. The device can be recognized by assigning the driver of the INF file, but when the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 is first connected, the INF file having the PnP key of the virtual flash ATA device does not exist on the OS. . Therefore, the OS refers to a ClassID indicating the type of device, and assigns a general-purpose flash ATA driver corresponding to this ClassID. In Windows (registered trademark) 98, the flash ATA driver is built in as a standard, so that driver installation is not necessary.

  The flash ATA emulation stores a program for automatically installing a network adapter driver and utility program in the OS, and this program is executed by the automatic execution function of the OS to install the network adapter driver (s19). Thereafter, the program switches the operation from the flash ATA emulation to the network adapter (s20). The operation may be switched as long as the control unit electrically disconnects the flash ATA and physically removes it from the PC card slot. When the operation of the network adapter is started, the OS refers to the INF file and the driver for the network adapter installed earlier is automatically assigned, so the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 when connected to the PC 1. Even in this case, when the user connects the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 to the PC 1, that is, when the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 is inserted into the PC card slot of the PC 1, a trigger for starting this operation. It has become.

  When the user executes the connection, an inquiry about a PnP key such as VendorID indicating manufacturer information or ProductID indicating product information is transmitted from the OS, and is received (s21). At this time, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 operates as a multi-function card and returns the ID of the flash ATA and the ID of the network adapter (s22). A multi-function card is a PC card having a plurality of device functions. Here, the flash ATA device is set to be recognized as function 1, and the network adapter is set to be recognized as function 2.

  The OS automatically assigns a general-purpose flash ATA driver for the flash ATA device, but for the network adapter, the hardware wizard is activated because there is no driver in the OS. The flash ATA emulation stores a program for automatically installing a network adapter driver and utility program in the OS, and this program is executed by the OS automatic execution function to install the network adapter driver (s23). Thereafter, the network adapter hardware wizard is advanced by this program to make the OS recognize the network adapter. Here, the program may terminate the wizard once and perform a search for new hardware. In this case, since the network adapter driver is already installed in the OS, the driver is automatically assigned to enable the network adapter function. When the network adapter is recognized and the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3 becomes usable, the flash ATA emulation is finished. To stop the operation, the control unit may electrically disconnect the flash ATA and physically remove it from the PC card slot. If the operation is stopped, an icon appears on the screen without consuming the extra resources of the OS and the user is not confused.

  When installing the network adapter driver, a procedure for installing the INF file dedicated to the flash ATA device and the driver may be added. When the user connects again after the installation operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller once, the OS refers to the INF file dedicated to the flash ATA and assigns a driver dedicated to the flash ATA. Here, the flash ATA dedicated driver may be set so that the flash ATA device is recognized as a device that does not operate, and the operation is immediately switched to the main device.

  As described above, an Ethernet (registered trademark) controller having a PC card interface also has a flash ATA emulation function, so that a driver can be automatically installed even if the device is unknown to the OS. Therefore, a CD-ROM or the like with a built-in driver is not required, and the user need not perform driver installation work at all. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the manufacturer to provide detailed guidance on the installation method, and the support burden can be reduced.

  Although the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller connected to the PC 1 by the PC card interface is shown here, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller connected to the PC 1 by the IEEE 1394 interface can perform the same operation.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller has been described.

Block diagram showing PC and Ethernet (registered trademark) controller connected via USB interface Flow chart showing the operation of the USB interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller A flowchart showing another operation of the Ethernet (registered trademark) controller of the USB interface Block diagram showing PC and Ethernet (registered trademark) controller connected by PC card interface Flowchart showing operation of Ethernet (registered trademark) controller of PC card interface Flowchart showing another operation of PC card interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller

Explanation of symbols

1-Personal computer 2-USB interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 3-PC card or IEEE 1394 interface Ethernet (registered trademark) controller

Claims (17)

An external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing device such as a personal computer,
From a main device having a function as a peripheral device, a virtual input device that virtually operates as an input device, a virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device storing a driver of the main device, and a control unit that controls the device Become
When the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the control unit electrically connects the virtual input device to the information processing apparatus, and when the virtual input device is recognized as a general-purpose input device,
A procedure for operating a virtual input device to create a virtual storage device driver on the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for operating the virtual input device to install the virtual storage device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for electrically connecting the virtual storage device to the information processing apparatus after installing the virtual storage device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for installing the driver of the main device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for electrically connecting the main device to the information processing device after installing the main device driver in the system program of the information processing device;
An external peripheral device that executes an installation process comprising:   The external peripheral device, wherein the controller executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual input device and the virtual storage device before electrically connecting the main device. In the installation process, the control unit
A procedure for operating a virtual input device to create a driver for the virtual input device on the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for operating the virtual input device and installing the virtual input device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus,
Run further,
When the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the virtual input device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus, and when it is detected that the driver for the virtual input device is installed, the installation is performed. Instead of processing,
A procedure for electrically connecting the main device to the information processing apparatus without electrically connecting the virtual storage device;
An external peripheral device characterized by executing a steady process consisting of: An external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing device such as a personal computer,
A main device having a function as a peripheral device, a virtual input device that virtually operates as an input device that inputs a text and executes a system program operation of the information processing apparatus, and a virtual device as a storage device that stores a driver of the main device A virtual storage device that operates on the device and a control unit that controls the device,
When the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the control unit electrically connects the virtual input device, the virtual storage device, and the main device to the information processing apparatus in parallel. If it is recognized as a device,
A procedure for operating a virtual input device to create a virtual storage device driver on the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for operating the virtual input device to install the virtual storage device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for causing the system program of the information processing apparatus to recognize the virtual storage device;
A procedure for installing the driver of the main device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for recognizing the system program of the information processing apparatus to the main device,
An external peripheral device that executes an installation process comprising:   The external peripheral device, wherein the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual input device and the virtual storage device after the installation process. In the installation process, the control unit
A procedure for operating a virtual input device to create a driver for the virtual input device on the system program of the information processing apparatus,
A procedure for operating the virtual input device and installing the virtual input device driver in the system program of the information processing apparatus,
Run further,
When this external peripheral device is connected to the information processing device, the virtual input device, the virtual storage device, and the main device are electrically connected to the information processing device in parallel, and the driver of the virtual input device and the virtual storage device An external peripheral device characterized in that the installation process is not executed when it is detected that a driver is installed.   The control unit creates and executes a program for automatically installing a driver of a main device from a virtual storage device into a system program of the information processing apparatus by operating the virtual input device on the system program of the information processing apparatus. The external peripheral device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   7. The external storage device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual storage device stores a program for automatically installing a driver of a main device from a virtual storage device into a system program of an information processing apparatus. Peripheral equipment.   9. The external peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein an interface connected to the information processing apparatus is a USB standard. An external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing device such as a personal computer,
A main device having a function as a peripheral device, a virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device storing a driver of the main device, and a control unit that controls the device,
When the device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the control unit electrically connects the virtual storage device to the information processing apparatus, and when the virtual storage device is recognized as a general-purpose storage device,
A procedure for installing the driver of the main device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for electrically connecting the main device to the information processing device after installing the main device driver in the system program of the information processing device;
An external peripheral device that executes an installation process comprising:   The external peripheral device, wherein the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device before electrically connecting the main device. In the installation process, the control unit
A procedure for installing a virtual storage device driver from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
Run further,
When the external peripheral device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the virtual storage device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus, and if it is detected that the driver for the virtual storage device is installed, the installation is performed. Instead of processing,
A procedure for electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device from the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for electrically connecting the main device to the information processing apparatus;
An external peripheral device characterized by executing a steady process consisting of: An external peripheral device having an interface for external connection with an information processing device such as a personal computer,
A main device having a function as a peripheral device, a virtual storage device that virtually operates as a storage device storing a driver of the main device, and a control unit that controls the device,
When the device is connected to the information processing apparatus, the control unit electrically connects the virtual storage device and the main device to the information processing apparatus simultaneously in parallel, and the virtual storage device is recognized as a general-purpose storage device. In addition,
A procedure for installing the driver of the main device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
A procedure for recognizing the system program of the information processing apparatus to the main device,
An external peripheral device that executes an installation process comprising:   The external peripheral device, wherein the control unit executes a procedure of electrically disconnecting the virtual storage device after the installation process. In the installation process, the control unit
A procedure for installing a virtual storage device driver from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus;
Run further,
When this external peripheral device was connected to the information processing device, the virtual storage device and the main device were electrically connected to the information processing device in parallel, and it was detected that the driver for this virtual storage device was installed In some cases, the external peripheral device does not execute the installation process.   16. The external storage device according to claim 10, wherein the virtual storage device stores a program for automatically installing the driver of the main device from the virtual storage device into the system program of the information processing apparatus. Peripheral equipment.   17. The external peripheral device according to claim 10, wherein an interface connected to the information processing apparatus is a USB, PC card, or IEEE 1394 standard.

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