Information processing apparatus and control method

1. An information processing apparatus in which an operating system (OS) is executed that provides a first user interface (UI) environment and a second UI environment different from the first UI environment, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a first obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information of a peripheral device connected to a communication network, from the peripheral device; and

a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a device control application for controlling the peripheral device, from a service that manages applications operable in the first UI environment, using the identification information of the peripheral device if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining unit when the first UI environment is provided by the OS and, wherein the obtained device control application is different from the OS and a device driver,

wherein each application operating on the OS is created depending on any one of the first UI environment and the second UI environment, and switching between the first UI environment and the second UI environment can be performed according to control by the OS,

wherein at least one processor functions as at least one of the units,

wherein the second obtaining unit, when a device control application corresponding to the identification information is not obtained, obtains a device driver corresponding to the identification information by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein the second obtaining unit, if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining unit when the second UI environment is provided by the OS, obtains a device driver corresponding to the identification information by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein the first UI environment is more suitable for an operation on a touchscreen than the second UI environment, and wherein the second UI environment is provided to maintain compatibility with an OS having a version earlier than that of the OS.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the identification information includes model identification information and compatible identification information.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the area to be searched for a device driver includes a storage area of the information processing apparatus for managing a device driver and a storage area provided by an external server.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second obtaining unit obtains, of a plurality of device control applications corresponding to the identification information, a device control application having a highest capability value calculated based on a function or functions provided by the device control application.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

a capability value is calculated based on whether or not a device control application matches the identification information and a number of functions provided by the device control application.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

when the peripheral device is added to the communication network, the first obtaining unit obtains the identification information of the peripheral device as a function of the OS.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

when an installer for a device driver is activated, the first obtaining unit obtains the identification information of the peripheral device.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the peripheral device is a printer.

9. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus in which an operating system (OS) is executed that provides a first user interface (UI) environment and a second UI environment different from the first UI environment, the method comprising:

first obtaining identification information of a peripheral device connected to a communication network, from the peripheral device; and

second obtaining a device control application for controlling the peripheral device, from a service that manages applications operable in the first UI environment, using the identification information of the peripheral device if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained when the first UI environment is provided by the OS, wherein the obtained device control application is different from the OS and a device driver,

wherein each application operating on the OS is created depending on any one of the first UI environment and the second UI environment, and switching between the first UI environment and the second UI environment can be performed according to control by the OS,

wherein in the second obtaining, when a device control application corresponding to the identification information is not obtained, a device driver corresponding to the identification information is obtained by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein in the second obtaining, if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining when the second UI environment is provided by the OS, a device driver corresponding to the identification information is obtained by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein the first UI environment is more suitable for an operation on a touchscreen than the second UI environment, and wherein the second UI environment is provided to maintain compatibility with an OS having a version earlier than that of the OS.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein

the identification information includes model identification information and compatible identification information.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein

the area to be searched for a device driver includes a storage area of the information processing apparatus for managing a device driver and a storage area provided by an external server.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein

when a peripheral device is added to the communication network, the identification information of the peripheral device is obtained as a function of the OS.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein

when an installer for a device driver is activated, the identification information of the peripheral device is obtained.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program that, when executed by a computer in which an operating system (OS) is executed that provides a first user interface (UI) environment and a second UI environment different from the first UI environment, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

obtaining identification information of a peripheral device connected to a communication network, from the peripheral device; and

obtaining a device control application for controlling the peripheral device, from a service that manages applications operable in the first UI environment, using the identification information of the peripheral device if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining when the first UI environment is provided by the OS, wherein the obtained device control application is different from the OS and a device driver,

wherein each application operating on the OS is created depending on any one of the first UI environment and the second UI environment, and switching between the first UI environment and the second UI environment can be performed according to control by the OS,

wherein in the second obtaining, when a device control application corresponding to the identification information is not obtained, a device driver corresponding to the identification information is obtained by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein in the second obtaining, if the identification information of the peripheral device has been obtained by the first obtaining when the second UI environment is provided by the OS, a device driver corresponding to the identification information is obtained by searching an area to be searched for a device driver,

wherein the first UI environment is more suitable for an operation on a touchscreen than the second UI environment, and wherein the second UI environment is provided to maintain compatibility with an OS having a version earlier than that of the OS.