JP2000339258A - Device retrieval client and device retrieval method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device retrieval client and a device retrieval method which make re-retrieval easier even when a device which satisfies all conditions does not exist in retrieving the device on a network. SOLUTION: A device retrieval client 111 extracts attribute data belonging to an object class from a retrieval condition that an operator inputs, inquires a device retrieval server 112 and acquires a retrieval result. Then, with a device which is acquired from the retrieval result as an object, coincidence condition of the inputted retrieval condition is examined, and a list of coincident attribute data and attribute data which are not coincident are displayed in a list form or in an icon form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a search client and a search method for searching for devices on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called directory service has been provided as a method for efficiently finding and using various resources (printers, servers, scanners, etc.) on a network. The directory service is, so to speak, a telephone directory relating to a network, and stores various information. As a specific example of the directory system, for example, LDAP (Lightweight Directo
ry Access Protocol). The LDAP specification is described in RFC1777 issued by the IETF. In addition, as a commentary, for example, “L
DAP Internet Directory Application Programming "was published on November 1, 1997. By using this directory service, for example, by searching for devices connected to the network, a list of network addresses of devices available on the network can be obtained.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, for example, when searching for a network printer, if a search is performed by designating various attributes such as the presence or absence of a staple function and the presence or absence of double-sided printing support, Only devices that meet all the conditions are searched. If there is no printer that satisfies all the conditions, the conditions are reset and the search is performed again. However, since there is no information that can be used as a guide for which of the specified conditions should be relaxed, you must repeat the search several times, and if you do did not become.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a device search client and a device search method that facilitate re-search even when there is no device satisfying all the conditions. The purpose is to:

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a device search client for searching for a device on a network, comprising a plurality of attribute data. Input means for inputting search conditions, and among the search conditions input by the input means,
Extracting means for extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data, search means for transmitting the search condition extracted by the extract means to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, and search by the search means Display means for displaying a result, and determination means for determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search means matches each attribute data of the search condition input by the input means. The means displays the determination result of the determination means in a list format for each attribute data.

Further, a second invention of the present application is a device search client for searching for a device on a network, comprising: input means for inputting a search condition comprising a plurality of attribute data; Extracting means for extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data from the search conditions, and search means for transmitting the search condition extracted by the extractor to a search server on the network to obtain the search result; A display unit for displaying a search result of the search unit in an icon format, and determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search unit matches the attribute data of the search condition input by the input unit. And a display unit that displays the determination result of the determination unit by using the attribute data that matches and the attribute data that does not match. And displaying by changing aspects.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the display means displays an icon indicating that the attribute data completely matches, for a device whose attribute data completely matches. It is characterized by the following.

A fourth invention of the present application is a device search method for searching for a device on a network,
An input step of inputting a search condition composed of a plurality of attribute data, and an extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data from the search conditions input in the input step;
A search step of transmitting the search condition extracted in the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, a display step of displaying the search result of the search step, and a search result of the search step. A determination step of determining whether the obtained device matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step,
The display step displays the determination result of the determination step in a list format for each attribute data.

A fifth invention of the present application is a device search method for searching for a device on a network,
An input step of inputting a search condition composed of a plurality of attribute data, and an extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data from the search conditions input in the input step;
A search step of transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, a display step of displaying the search result of the search step in an icon format, A determination step of determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step, wherein the display step determines whether or not the determination result of the determination step matches. The icon data is displayed by changing the form of the icon between the attribute data that does not match and the attribute data that does not match.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the display step, for a device whose attribute data completely matches, an icon indicating that the attribute data completely matches is displayed. It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition including a plurality of attribute data; Extracting, from the search conditions input in the input step, search conditions consisting of predetermined attribute data; transmitting the search conditions extracted in the extraction step to a search server on the network, A search step of obtaining a search result, a display step of displaying a search result of the search step, and a device obtained from the search result of the search step,
Storing a program code for executing a determining step of determining whether or not each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step matches the attribute data; and displaying the determination result of the determining step in the attribute data. A storage medium readable by a computer, wherein the storage medium is displayed in the form of a list for each computer.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an inputting step of inputting a search condition comprising a plurality of attribute data; An extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data from the input search conditions, and transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result A search step, a display step of displaying a search result of the search step in an icon form, and whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search step matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step And a program code for executing a determining step of determining whether or not the determination result of the determining step is the same as a matching attribute. A computer readable storage medium and displaying by changing the mode of icon and attribute data that does not match the over data.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> In the present invention, a network device having an attribute desired by a user is easily searched, and the search result is displayed in a format that is easy for the user to understand. This is particularly effective when printing is performed by connecting a portable computer to a visited network. Details will be clarified in the following description.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network on which the device search system of the present embodiment can operate. In the figure, 101 is a color printer, 102 is an MFP
(Multi Function Peripheral, which is a copy machine but can also be used as a network printer.)
Reference numerals 3 and 104 denote monochrome printers, and 105 denotes a scanner connected to a network. 111 and 113
Is a desktop computer (hereinafter referred to as PC
And a notebook computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook PC).
). These are executable by the device search client program of the present embodiment, and issue a device search request that satisfies desired conditions to the device search server as described later and receive the search result. Display on the display screen. Hereinafter, a PC that can execute the device search client program
111 and the notebook PC 113 are referred to as device search clients 111 and 113, respectively. 112 is
The PC of the present embodiment is a PC that can execute the program of the device search server, and stores information (database) related to the network devices 101 to 105 as described later. Accept and return the result. Hereinafter, the PC 112 capable of executing the program of the device search server is referred to as the device search server 11.
No. 2.

Of these devices, 101, 10
2, 103, 111, 112 and 120 are installed on the second floor, and 104 and 105 are installed on the first floor. Since 113 is a notebook PC, it is currently LAN from the first floor
100, but may be removed from its portability. Further, the network 100 that connects these devices to each other is connected to the Internet 130 via a firewall 120, and is also connected to another network 140 via the Internet 130.

FIG. 2 shows search clients 111 and 113.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a search server 112, which has the same configuration as a general-purpose personal computer. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes an entire PC on which device search client software or device search server software (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as device search software), and 111, 112, or 113 in FIG.
Is equivalent to The PC 200 is stored in the ROM 202 or the hard disk (HD) 211 or a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FD) 212
C that executes device search software supplied by
The system includes a PU 201 and comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 204. 203 is a RAM, CP
It functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of U201.
A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls input of instructions from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 is a CRT display (CRT) 2
10 is controlled. Reference numeral 207 denotes a disk controller (DKC), which is a hard disk (HD) that stores a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like.
211 and floppy disk controller (FD)
Access to the H.212. A network interface card (NIC) 208 bidirectionally exchanges data with a network printer, another network device, or another PC via the LAN 220. The LAN 220 is the same as the LAN 100 in FIG.

Next, the configuration and operation of the device search server will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram expressing the structure of a database related to network devices stored in the search server 112 in a table format. In the search server 112, information of the database 300 is physically stored on the hard disk 211. In the table of FIG. 3, each row represents one network device. Each column includes a device name (301), a printer network address (302), an object class (303) indicating a device function type, and a device type (30).
4) Whether color printing is supported (30
5) Whether double-sided printing is supported (30
6) Whether staples are supported (30)
7) respectively.

Here, an object class (ObjectClas)
s) indicates the function type of the device. For example, if the device is a printer, the printer class (pr
inter). If a device has a printing function, the device may be registered as a printer class device even if the device is an MFP. On the other hand, the device type indicates the overall function of the device, and here, a single printer and an MFP are distinguished. In the notations 305 to 307, 1 indicates that it is supported, and 0 indicates that it is not supported. NA indicates that information on the attribute is not stored.

The data shown in FIG. 3 will be specifically described by taking, for example, a device registered in the first line of the table as an example. A device named "Color" exists at a network address of 192.168.16.131. Has a print function, is a single printer in form, and supports color printing and staple as attributes, but does not support the function of double-sided printing. In the present embodiment, the devices in the first to fifth rows illustrated in FIG. 3 correspond to 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 in FIG. 1, respectively. Note that the information shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the information stored in the search server 112 may include additional information such as an installation location.

Next, the operation of the device search server 112 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, FIG. 4 shows the device search server 112.
5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first embodiment. The determination and execution of these series of processes are performed by the CPU 201 inside the device search server in terms of hardware. When the device search server 112 starts, first, in step S
At 401, a reception port for receiving a device search request from a device search client is opened.
With this operation, when a search request from the device search client is received, the operating system issues a reception event and the program is notified of the reception of the search request. Next, the process proceeds to step S402, and waits until a certain event is notified from the operating system. If any event is notified, get the event and go to the next step. In the next step S403, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S402 is a system shutdown event by the user. If it is a shutdown event, the program closes the receiving port after closing the receiving port in step S408. On the other hand, step S403
If it is determined that the event is not a shutdown event, the process advances to step S404 to determine whether the event is an inquiry reception event from a device search client. If the event is an inquiry reception event, the process proceeds to step S405, and an appropriate device is selected by comparing the search conditions acquired in the event with the database shown in FIG. In subsequent step S406, the search result obtained in step S405 is returned to the device search client. On the other hand, step S407
If it is determined that the event is not an inquiry reception event in step S407, the process proceeds to step S407, and processing other than the shutdown event or the inquiry reception event, for example, updating of the display screen is performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the database search operation of step S405 in FIG. 4 in more detail. Briefly describing the whole, in the database search step of the present embodiment, when the device search client specifies a plurality of search conditions,
A method of processing these search conditions one by one is adopted. That is the outer loop from step S501 via the NO determination and returning to step S501 again.
The inner loop that comes out of the NO determination from step S504 and returns to step S504 again is for scanning all the registered information in the database for one search condition. Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail. In the database search operation, step S50
In step 1, it is determined whether all search conditions have been processed. If all the conditions have been processed, the process proceeds to step S502, and the search result is returned to the host program.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that all search conditions have not been processed, step S503 is performed.
To retrieve one search condition from the information received from the device search client.

Next, the process proceeds to step S504, where the database 300 relating to the network device described with reference to FIG.
It is determined whether or not all have been scanned. If it is determined that the scanning is completed, the process returns to step S501,
The next search condition is processed. On the other hand, step S504
If it is determined that the scanning of the database 300 has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S505. Step S5
At 05, data for one device is extracted from the database 300. In a succeeding step S506, it is determined whether or not the data extracted in the step S505 matches the search condition. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S507. On the other hand, step S50
If it is determined in step S505 that the data extracted in step S505 does not match the search condition, the process returns to step S504, and the process is continued for the next device information registered in the database 300. In step S507,
Among the information of the devices determined to match the search condition in step S506, the device name 301, the network address 302, the device type 304, and the color 30
5. The double-sided printing 306 and the staple 307 are taken out and added to the search result in the subsequent step S508. Upon completion of the process in the step S508, the process returns to the step S504 to continue scanning the next data.

Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the client
The description will be made assuming a case where "device whose object class is a printer" is requested as a search condition. FIG. 6 shows a search result obtained by performing a search on the database 300 under the search conditions. In the figure, the search result 600 includes four devices that meet the condition that the object class is “printer”, and each has a device name 601 and a network address 60.
2, device type 603, color function 60
4, information on the presence / absence of the double-sided printing function 605 and the presence / absence of the staple function 606 are shown.

Next, the operation of the device search client will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the screen display of the client before searching for a device. In the figure, various information is displayed in a window 700. Reference numeral 701 denotes a combo box for specifying an object class of a device to be searched. 70
By operating the first combo box, the object class of the device to be searched can be changed to “printer” or “scanner”. Further, in response to the change, the search attribute condition of the area for specifying the search attribute indicated by 703 changes to an attribute corresponding to the object class. For example, the double-sided printing attribute 703b and the stapling attribute 703c are displayed when the object class is a printer, but the object class is "scanner".
If they are changed, they will not be displayed because they are invalid. Reference numeral 702 denotes a search start button. When the user presses this button using the keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown), an inquiry is made to the device search server as to whether there is a device meeting the conditions.

An area 703 specifies a search attribute.
At present, a printer is selected as an object class in a combo box 701, and therefore, in 703, attributes relating to the printer are indicated by three check boxes. Whether color printing is possible (703a), whether stapling is possible (703b), whether double-sided printing is possible (703c), and whether there is a sorter function (703).
d) can be specified. In this example, since the check boxes of the color 703a, the staple 703b, and the double-sided printing 703c are checked (blacked out), a device capable of color printing, double-sided printing, and stapling is searched. An area 704 for displaying search results includes a device name 704a, an IP address 704b,
The presence or absence of each attribute 704c to 704f is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of search conditions specified on the display screen of FIG. 7 and search condition data for making an inquiry to the device search server. In this embodiment, the specification of RFC1960 issued by IETF is shown. Notation based on is used. Reference numeral 801 denotes search condition data input by the operator. The object class is a printer (first line), and color printing is possible (second line), double-sided printing is possible (third line), stapling is possible. (4th line) A device is specified. 80
Reference numeral 2 denotes search condition data for inquiring the device search server. As will be described later on the operation of the device search client, only the condition that the object class is a printer is shown as a condition for querying the server by extracting only a search condition related to the object class from the search condition. Here, the search condition shown in 801 is changed every time the user operates the window shown in FIG. 7 to change the search condition.
01 and temporarily stored in the RAM 203.

FIG. 9 shows the device search client 111.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 113. still,
A device search client program may be executed on the device search server 112. First, the general operation of the device search client program will be described. The system waits for an event until the system is terminated, and operates as an event-driven program that processes the event when an event occurs. The main events are a system end event, a device search request event, and a device search result reception event. Hereinafter, the individual steps will be described in detail.

When the search client starts, it waits in step S901 until an event occurs. If an event has occurred, the event is acquired and step S90
Proceed to 2. In step S902, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S901 has been issued by the user using the keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown) to end the system. If it is determined that the user has issued the end command, the program ends. On the other hand, step S90
If it is determined in step 2 that the event is not an end command issuance event, the process advances to step S903. Step S9
In 03, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S901 is caused by issuing a device search command by selecting the search menu 701 by the user. If the event is a device search command issuance, the process advances to step S904 to transmit a device search request to the device search server 112. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S903 that the event is not caused by issuing the device search command, the process advances to step S905. In step S905, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S901 is an event caused by receiving a search result reply from the device search server 112 in response to the transmission of the device search request transmitted in step S904. If it is determined that the answer is received, the process advances to step S906 to display the received search result in the window 700. Upon completion of the process in the step S906, the process returns to the step S901 and waits for a next event.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that the event is not an event due to the reception of a reply, the flow advances to step S907 to perform other processing. The other processing is, for example, redrawing the screen when the program is activated or when the user moves the window through the window. Upon completion of the process in the step S907, the process returns to the step S901 to wait for a next event.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of FIG.
It is a flow chart which explained search request operation S904 in detail. First, in step S1001, R
By accessing the AM 203, the search condition stored in advance as described with reference to FIG. 8 is obtained. In the following step S1002, only the conditions relating to the object class are extracted from the search conditions, and the search server 11
2 to request a search for a network device.

The address of the device search server is
In the present embodiment, for example, a value input by the user using the keyboard 209 is written to the hard disk 211 and is known in advance by reading the value. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of FIG.
It is a flow chart which explained search result display operation S906 in detail. First, in step S1101, the number of attributes to be searched is obtained from the search conditions temporarily stored in the RAM 203. In the example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of attributes to be searched is three (color function, staple function, double-sided printing function), and the number data is stored in the RAM 203. Step S
In step 1102, it is determined whether all search results have been processed. If all search results have been processed, step S1 is performed.
Go to 111. In step S1111, final display processing is performed so as to be easily understood by the user. For example, in the display screen 704, the display is reconfigured so that the display is arranged in the order of the device having the highest matching attribute.

In step S1102, if there is an unprocessed search result, the process proceeds to step S1103,
The information for one device is obtained from the search result. In step S1104, the device name 70
4a and the IP address 704b are displayed. In step S1105, it is determined whether all the attributes of the search condition stored in the RAM 203 have been processed. If all the attributes have been processed, the process returns to step S1102 to process the information of the next device. . Step S11
In step 06, one attribute is acquired from the search condition, and step S1
At 107, it is determined whether the attribute matches the attribute of the device obtained from the search result. If they match, a "O" mark is displayed at the corresponding attribute of the device being processed as display processing in step S1108.
In step S1109, a counter for counting the number of matching attributes provided in the RAM 203 for each device is incremented. The counter is used in the final display process of step S1111, when displaying the devices in descending order of matching attributes. On the other hand, step S11
If the attributes do not match in 07, as a display process in the case where the attributes do not match, "-" is displayed at the corresponding attribute of the device being processed. With this operation, it is possible to display a list of which attributes match the attributes of the search condition and which attributes do not match, so that the user can easily understand the search result.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the screen display of the device search client after the search operation has been completed. In the example of the figure, the object class is printer,
The results of searching for devices having a color printing function, a duplex printing function, and a staple function are displayed in a list format. There are four devices whose object class is a printer. Each of the devices 704a is named “color-kun”, “developing-room printer”, and “first-floor printer”.
Is displayed. In 704b, the IP address of each device is displayed, and 704c, 704d, 70
4e displays the search results of the attributes of the color function, the staple function, and the duplex printing function. Here "○"
Indicates that the feature is supported,
The "-" mark indicates that the function is not supported, and the step S1108 and the step S111 are respectively performed.
0 is displayed.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment described above, the case where search results are displayed in a list format has been described. As a second embodiment, a case where search results are displayed in an icon format is described. explain.

FIG. 13 is an example of a screen display of the device search clients 111 and 113 before searching for a device. In the figure, various information is displayed in a window 1300. A combo box 1301 is used to specify an object class of a device to be searched. The combo box is operated by a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). The object class of the device to be searched can be set to “printer” or “scanner”. Reference numeral 1302 denotes a search start button. When the user presses this button using the keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown), an inquiry is made to the device search server 112 as to whether a matching device exists. Will be Reference numeral 1303 denotes an area for specifying a search attribute (hereinafter, an attribute area 1303). Since the object class is set to the printer in the combo box 1301, the attribute related to the printer is displayed as an icon in the attribute area 1303. Here, if the scanner is set in the combo box 1301, the attribute related to the scanner is displayed as an icon in the attribute area 1303. In the attribute area 1303 in this example, whether or not double-sided printing is possible (13
03a), whether or not there is a sorter function (1303b), whether or not stapling is possible (1303c), whether or not there is a mailbox function (1303d), whether or not Z-fold output is possible (1303e), and Each attribute of whether or not color printing is possible (1303f) is displayed as an icon, and can be designated by the user. In the example of this figure, the staple 1303c and the collar 1303c
The figure shows a state in which the two attributes f are selected, and indicates that the icon of each attribute is selected by displaying the image with a three-dimensional effect as if the button were pressed down. An area 1304 for displaying a search result includes a device name 1304a and an IP address 130.
4b, details 1304c of other search results are displayed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a correspondence map between search results and icons. An icon 1501 indicates that a printer whose attribute completely matches is found.
An icon 1508 indicates that the attribute of the printer partially matches, and is displayed together with the device name in the area 1304a. Here, the icon 1501
And the icon 1508 have the same printer shape,
By reducing the color and density of the icon 1508 (so-called gray-out), the icon 1508 is displayed in a manner that is easier for the user to understand. Reference numerals 1502 to 1507 denote icons indicating matching attributes, which indicate double-sided printing, staples, sorters, mailboxes, Z-folding, and color printing, respectively, and are displayed in the area of detailed search result 1304c.
The icons 1502 to 1507 are the same as the icons of the respective attributes displayed in the attribute area 1303 shown in FIG. 13, so that the user can intuitively understand the search result.

Next, the device search client 111
Operations of steps 113 and 113 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in the case where display is performed in the case where the attributes match in step S1108, the icon corresponding to the attribute shown in FIG.
04c is displayed in the area. To display when the attributes do not match in step S1110, use 13
No icon is displayed in the area 04c.

In the final display processing of the search result in step S1111, for the device whose attribute completely matches,
Icon 1 along with the device name in the area 1304a
501 is displayed, and processing for displaying an icon 1508 in an area 1304a is performed for a device whose attribute partially matches. In this process, the counter used to count the number of matching attributes provided in the RAM 203 for each device and used in step S1109 is read out, and the process proceeds to step S110.
1 is compared with the number of attributes to be searched stored in the RAM 203, and if both are the same value, it is determined that they are completely matched, and if they are different values, it is determined that they are partially matched.

FIG. 14 shows the display of the result of such processing.
Shown in The figure shows that four devices have been found. The device "color-kun" is 1304c
Since the staple icon 1503 and the color icon 1507 are displayed in the area, it can be understood that both the staple function and the color printing function are provided. Since these two attributes are all of the search conditions, the icon 1501 indicating that the attributes completely match is displayed as 13 icons.
04a is displayed in the area. Device "2nd floor high-speed machine"
And "Development room printer", only the staple icon 1503 is displayed in the area of 1304c, and does not have the color print function of the search condition.
4a is displayed in the area. Device "1st floor printer"
Since no icon is displayed in the area 1304c, neither the color printing function nor the stapling function, which is a search condition, is satisfied, and only the condition that the object class is a printer matches. , An icon 150 indicating that the attributes partially match
8 is displayed in the area 1304a.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when there is no device that satisfies all the conditions when searching for a device on the network, unmatched attribute information and the like are also displayed, making it easy to search again. It can be.

The network device control program according to the present invention may be executed by the PC 200 by a program installed from the outside.
In that case, the program loads the information group including the program onto the PC 200 from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or a floppy disk, or from an external storage medium via a network such as e-mail or personal computer communication. Thus, the present invention is applied even when supplied to the PC 200.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a memory map of a storage medium in which the program according to the present embodiment is stored. Here, a CD-ROM is assumed as the storage medium. 9
An area 999 stores directory information, and an area 9998 stores subsequent installation programs.
And the position of the area 9997 storing the network device control program. Reference numeral 9998 denotes an area in which an installation program is stored. 99
An area 97 stores a network device control program. When the network control program of the present invention is installed in the PC 200, first, the installation program stored in the area 9998 storing the installation program is loaded into the system and executed by the CPU 201. Next, CPU
The installation program executed by 201 is
The network device control program is read from the area 9997 in which the network device control program is stored, and stored in the hard disk 211.

The present invention can be applied to a system or an integrated device including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, etc.).
You may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

Further, a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code read from the storage medium itself 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, C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiment are implemented when the computer executes the readout program code, and the OS or the like running on the computer performs actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. The functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing a part or all of the above.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on 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, A CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a case where the program is distributed to a requester via a communication line such as a personal computer communication from a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say, this can also be applied.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the results for each attribute data of the search condition specified by the user are displayed in a list format, so that which attribute data matches The user can easily understand which attribute data does not match.

Further, according to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the attribute that matches among the search conditions specified by the user is displayed as an icon, so that the user can intuitively understand which attribute data matches. can do.

Further, according to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, the fact that the search condition completely matches the search condition specified by the user is displayed, so that the user can intuitively determine which device is a suitable device. I can understand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing a configuration of a network in which a network device search system according to an embodiment can operate.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a device search server and a device search client.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of device information held by a device search server.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device search server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a database search operation of the device search server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result output by a device search server.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a device search client at a time before a device search. (Display in list format)

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of search conditions and inquiry conditions temporarily stored in a device search client.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device search client.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a search request operation of the device search client.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a search result display operation of the device search client.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a device search client at a time after a device search. (Display in list format)

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a device search client at a time before a device search. (Display in icon format)

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of a screen display of a device search client at a time after a device search. (Display in icon format)

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a correspondence map between search results and icons.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary view showing a memory map in a storage medium of the device search software according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

100 LAN 101 Color Printer 102 MFP 103 Monochrome Printer 104 Monochrome Printer 105 Scanner 111 Device Search Client (Desktop P
C) 112 Device search server 113 Device search client (notebook PC) 120 Firewall 130 Internet 140 Other network

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 EE04 FF03 KK06 LE08 LG07 5B075 ND04 NK46 PP12 PQ02 PQ20 PQ46 5B089 GA11 GA21 GB02 HA06 JA40 KA13 KB03 KB12 KC23 KC32 LB04 LB15 5E501 AA09 FA03 EB03 FA05 FA47 FB43

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device search client for searching for a device on a network, comprising: input means for inputting a search condition comprising a plurality of attribute data; and a predetermined attribute from among the search conditions input by the input means. Extraction means for extracting search conditions composed of data; search means for transmitting the search conditions extracted by the extraction means to a search server on the network to obtain the search results; and displaying the search results of the search means Display means, and a determination means for determining whether or not the device obtained from the search result of the search means matches each attribute data of the search condition input by the input means, and the display means, A device search client, wherein the determination result of the determination means is displayed in a list format for each attribute data. 2. A device search client for searching for a device on a network, comprising: input means for inputting a search condition comprising a plurality of attribute data; and a predetermined attribute from the search conditions input by the input means. Extraction means for extracting search conditions composed of data; search means for transmitting the search conditions extracted by the extraction means to a search server on the network to obtain the search results; Display means for displaying in a format, and determining means for determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search means matches each attribute data of the search condition input by the input means. The means displays the determination result of the determination means by changing the form of the icon between the matched attribute data and the unmatched attribute data. A device search client, comprising: 3. The device search client according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays an icon indicating that the attribute data completely matches, for a device whose attribute data completely matches. 4. A device search method for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition composed of a plurality of attribute data; and a predetermined attribute from the search conditions input in the input step. An extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of data; a search step of transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result; and displaying a search result of the search step And a determination step of determining whether a device obtained from the search result of the search step matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step, and the display step includes: A device search method, wherein the determination result of the determination step is displayed in a list format for each attribute data. 5. A device search method for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an input step of inputting search conditions including a plurality of attribute data; and a predetermined attribute from the search conditions input in the input step. An extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of data; a search step of transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result; and displaying the search result of the search step with an icon. A display step of displaying in a format, and a determination step of determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search step matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step. Displaying the determination result of the determination step by changing the form of the icon between the matched attribute data and the unmatched attribute data. A device search method characterized by the following. 6. The device search method according to claim 5, wherein, in the display step, for a device whose attribute data completely matches, an icon indicating that the attribute data completely matches is displayed. 7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition including a plurality of attribute data; and a search input in the input step. An extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data from the conditions, and a search step of transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network and acquiring the search result; A display step of displaying a search result of the search step; and a determination step of determining whether a device obtained from the search result of the search step matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step. And displaying the program code in a list format for each attribute data in the display step. A storage medium readable by a computer, characterized in that: 8. A computer-readable storage medium for searching for a device on a network, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition including a plurality of attribute data; and a search condition input in the input step. An extraction step of extracting a search condition composed of predetermined attribute data, and a search step of transmitting the search condition extracted by the extraction step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result;
A display step of displaying a search result of the search step in an icon format; and determining whether or not a device obtained from the search result of the search step matches each attribute data of the search condition input in the input step. Storing a program code for executing the determination step, wherein the display step displays the determination result of the determination step by changing the form of the icon between the matched attribute data and the non-matched attribute data. Computer-readable storage medium.