System and method for plug and play between host and client

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for plug and play between a host and client. The system includes a client device configured to be communicatively connected to a host device, the client device including at least a portion of memory configured to store computer code for allowing the host device to identify and control the client device. Additionally, the client device is configured such that the host device is not required to have pre-installed the computer code for allowing the host device to identify and control the client device, prior to being communicatively connected to the client device, and the client device is further configured such that when the client device is communicatively connected to the host device, the client device is configured to transfer the computer code for allowing the host device to identify and control the client device to the host device for installation.

1 . A host client plug-and-play system in a host client communication system where at least one client is controlled by at least one host, comprising:
 a host; and   a client including a memory which stores a device driver and control software for allowing the host to identify and control the client,   wherein:   the host does not include a pre-installed device driver or control software to identify and control the client prior to being connected to the client, and   when the client is connected to the host through communication means, the host   receives from the client the device driver and control software stored in the memory of the client, and automatically installs the device driver and control software received from the client.   
     
     
         2 . A host client plug-and-play system in a host client communication system where at least one client is controlled by at least one host, comprising:
 a host;   a client; and   a device server connected to the host through a wired/wireless network, the device server including a device driver and control software for allowing the host to identify and control the client,   wherein:   the host does not include a pre-installed device driver or control software to identify and control the client prior to being connected to the client, and   when the client is connected to the host through communication means, the host receives the device driver and control software from the device server, and   automatically installs the received device driver and control software.   
     
     
         3 . The host client plug-and-play system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a service server which is connected to the host through a wired/wireless network and provides client based service software and service to the host. 
     
     
         4 . The host client plug-and-play system according to  claim 2 , wherein the device server comprises an authentication unit which authenticates transmission and installation of the device driver and software provided to the host. 
     
     
         5 . The host client plug-and-play system according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         6 . The host client plug-and-play system according to  claim 1 , wherein the host and the client are connected to each other through wired or wireless communication means. 
     
     
         7 . The host client plug-and-play system according to  claim 6 , wherein the communication means is one selected among Infrared data association communication (IrDA), universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394, RS-232, RS422, RS-485, 
       and Bluetooth communication schemes. 
     
     
         8 . A host client plug-and-play method in a host client communication system where at least one client is controlled by at least one host, comprising:
 (a) a step of performing device connection between the client and the host, wherein the client includes a memory which stores, prior to the device connection between the client and the host, a device driver and control software for allowing the host to identify and control the client, wherein the host does not include, prior to the device connection between the client and the host, a pre-installed device driver or control software to identify and control the client;   (b) a step of performing communication compatible operation step between the client and the host;   (c) a step where the client transmits to the host the device driver and control software, and the host receives from the client the device driver and control software;   (d) a step where the host installs the received device driver and control software;   (e) a step of performing device identification and communication compatible operation between the host and the client by using the device driver installed in the host; and   (f) a step where the host controls the client by using the control software installed in the host.   
     
     
         9 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , further comprising, after the step (e):
 a step where the host connects the service server to transmit client terminal information;   a step where the service server searches supportable client based service software from the client terminal information; and   a step where the host receives the client based service software from the service server and install the client based service software.   
     
     
         10 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step (b) comprises:
 a step where the client loads a virtual device driver of the memory on a controller and executes the virtual device driver;   a step where the client executes a virtual device response process to transmit a client connection response signal to the host;   a step where the host analyses the received client connection response signal to search a standard device driver;   a step where the host loads the searched standard device driver on a memory; and   a step where the host identifies the client and performs communication compatible operation by using the standard device driver.   
     
     
         11 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step (b) comprises:
 a step where the client executes a standard device driver;   a step where the client executes a standard device response process to transmit a client connection response signal to the host;   a step where the host analyzes the received client connection response signal to search the standard device driver;   a step where the host loads the searched standard device driver on a memory; and   a step where the host identifies the client and performs communication compatible operation by using the standard device driver.   
     
     
         12 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step (c) includes:
 a step where the client transmits an installation agent to the host;   a step where the host executes the transmitted installation agent to transmit a list of the device drivers and control software which are to be installed in the host to the client; and   a step where the client transmits the device drivers and control software requested by the installation agent to the host.   
     
     
         13 . The host client plug-and-play method according to claim  25 , wherein the step (c) comprises:
 a step where the client transmits position information of the device driver and control software to the host;   a step where the host requests the device server for the device driver and control software;   a step where the device serve transmits the requested device driver and control software to the host.   
     
     
         14 . The host client plug-and-play method according to claim  25 , wherein the step (c) comprises:
 a step where the client transmits an installation agent to the host;   a step where the host executes the transmitted installation agent to transmit a list of the device drivers and control software which are to be installed in the host to the device server; and   a step where the device server transmits the requested device drivers and control software to the host.   
     
     
         15 . The host client plug-and-play method according to claim  25 , wherein the step (c) comprises:
 a step where the clients connects the device server to receive the device driver and control software;   a step where the client transmits the received device driver and control software to the host.   
     
     
         16 . The host client plug-and-play method according to claim  25 , wherein the step (c) comprises:
 a step where the client connects the device server to request the device server to transmit the device driver and control software to the host; and   a step where the device server transmits the device driver and control software to the host.   
     
     
         17 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step (e) comprises:
 a step where the host transmits device driver install completion information to the client;   a step where the client executes the device driver;   a step where the client transmits execution information of the device driver to the host and ends executing of a virtual device driver or a standard device driver;   a step of performing device identification and connection between the host and the client by using the device driver; and   a step where the host loads the device driver on a memory and executes the control software.   
     
     
         18 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , further comprising, before the step (c), an authentication step for transmitting the device driver and control software. 
     
     
         19 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 18 , wherein the authentication step comprises:
 a step where the host receives authentication information;   a step where the host transmits the transmitted authentication information to an authentication server;   a step where the authentication server verifies the transmitted authentication information;   a step where authentication success information is transmitted to the host where the authentication succeeds as a verification result;   a step where the host analyzes the authentication success information to inform data transmission permission;   a step where authentication failure information is transmitted to the host where the authentication does not succeed as a verification result; and   a step where the host analyzes the authentication failure information to inform data transmission prohibition.   
     
     
         20 . The host client plug-and-play method according to  claim 8 , further comprising, before the step (d), an authentication step for installing the device driver and control software.