JP2001177531A - Network interface unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an NIU to automatically set a configuration parameter needed on operation after connecting a terminal device to a LAN(local network). SOLUTION: The NIU(network interface unit) 1a of the terminal device 1 acquires parameters held by the other NIUs operating on the LAN 6. In such a case, the NIU 1a acquires a parameter value held by an NIU that takes the most time after setting a configuration parameter among the NIUs 2a to 5a. Otherwise, it acquires the parameter value held by the NIU whose version number is the closest to its own version number. Then, a configuration parameter needed on operation is set by using the acquired parameter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a network interface unit (network communication device) connected to a local network (local area network).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of OA devices (hereinafter, also referred to as "terminal devices") such as a plurality of printers, scanners, and facsimile machines (FAX) are connected to a local area network (hereinafter, "LAN").
), It is necessary to attach a network interface unit having a server function (hereinafter, also referred to as “NIU”) to each OA device.

The NIU has a card type built in OA equipment, a box (BOX) connected via a general-purpose interface such as Centronics or SCSI.
There are types.

Many of these NIUs not only transmit and receive packets to and from the LAN, but also use a processor (C
PU), TCP / IP, IPX / S
Transport protocol processing such as PX and NetBEUI, and higher-order LPR, FTP, HTTP, SNM
Those that perform application protocol processing such as P are currently the mainstream.

In order to remotely operate the NIU via a LAN, it is necessary to set a parameter (parameter value) called an address for specifying a terminal device to which the NIU is attached at the time of communication. As the parameter setting method, there are the following methods (1) to (3).

(1) Setting (set) of parameters from a console such as an operation panel of a terminal device connected to the NIU
Perform (2) A parameter setting application is started from a terminal device connected to the NIU via a network, and parameters are set. (3) Obtain and set parameters from a server (such as a DHCP server) existing on the network.

[0007]

However, (1)
Parameter setting method, the console of the terminal device (OA equipment) is limited by its screen size, number of buttons, etc.
It is not easy to use. In addition, parameters must be set at the installation location of the terminal device,
It is difficult to perform centralized management.

[0008] The parameter setting method (2) compensates for the drawback of (1), but in both cases (1) and (2), the administrator must intervene when installing the terminal device. Absent.

[0009] After the introduction of the terminal device, the network cable is connected and the LAN is immediately connected without the intervention of the administrator.
In order to enable remote use from a user (plug and print in the case of a printer), it is necessary for the terminal device to automatically set parameters such as its own address.

According to the parameter setting method (3), this can be made possible, but a server for that purpose may exist in a managed network, but often does not exist in a small-scale network.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a server for assigning network parameters, such as a DHCP server, is installed on a network after a terminal device (OA device) is introduced (connected to a LAN). In order to provide a communication service by automatically setting configuration parameters to be used (necessary for operation) by the NIU in the terminal device even when the communication device does not exist in the terminal device. And

[0012]

According to the present invention, a network interface unit connected to a local network has the following features to achieve the above object.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parameter value acquiring means for acquiring a parameter value possessed by another network interface unit operating on a local area network, and an operation required by using the parameter value acquired by the means. Configuration parameter setting means for setting configuration parameters to be set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network interface unit according to the first aspect, when there are a plurality of other network interface units operating on the local network, the parameter value acquiring means is provided for each of the network interface units. Among them, after setting the configuration parameters, the parameter values possessed by the network interface unit that has passed the longest time are obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network interface unit of the first aspect, there are a plurality of other network interface units operating on the local network, and their version numbers are allocated in the same system. The parameter value acquiring means acquires a parameter value possessed by a network interface unit having a version number close to the version number of the own unit among the respective network interface units.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network system embodying the present invention.

This network system is composed of a plurality of terminal devices 1 to 5 and a LAN (local area network) 6 for interconnecting them.
The terminal devices 1 to 5 have NIUs (network interface units) 1a to 5a, respectively.

Each of the NIUs 1a to 5a is a terminal device 1
To 5 are connected to the LAN 6 using Ethernet (registered trademark). NIU of terminal devices 1 to 5
Each of 1a to 5a is a LAN 6 using Ethernet.
In order to normally communicate with the NIU of another terminal device and provide its own service to the NIU of the other terminal device, the minimum configuration parameters required for operation (hereinafter simply referred to as “parameters”) Set)
Is required.

Here, especially when parameters for the transport layer protocol need to be set, basic communication is also disabled. Representative transport layer protocols include, for example, TCP / IP, IPX / SPX, and NetBEUI, as shown in FIG.

TCP / IP is mainly used for the Internet and U
This is a protocol used in the NIX OS, but in order to communicate, it is necessary to set parameters such as an IP address, a subnet mask, and a gateway address. Among these, the IP address needs to be a unique value (specific value) that does not overlap with the others, and must be used within a range given to the environment.

IPX / SPX is Novell's NetWa
This protocol is used for communication with the re system, but can be communicated without setting parameters by the user. NetBEUI is a Microsoft Windows OS and is a protocol used for file and printer sharing, but requires a unique NetBIOS name of up to 15 characters.

In addition to the parameters required in the transport layer, there are many parameters required in the service in the application layer. For example, an SMTP server address at the time of mail transmission, an NDS tree name in a NetWare environment, a print server name, a Window
There are many requirements such as domain names in s environment.

These parameters are stored (set) in the NIU or a non-volatile storage device (such as NVRAM) associated therewith and can be read or written. N of a terminal device connected to LAN 6
As a means for acquiring parameters possessed by the NIU of another terminal device from the IU, SNMP is generally used.
Protocol.

In SNMP, parameters configured in each terminal device are managed as MIB objects, and each M
The IB object is uniquely defined by an object ID (OID), and a value is obtained and a value is set using the OID. The OIDs include those defined as standard and those defined uniquely by the vendor of each terminal device. In any case, when acquiring the object value (parameter value), the OID of the acquisition target
You need to know etc.

As described above, NIU parameters cannot be used as they are in the factory shipping state. In particular, basic communication is not possible in a TCP / IP environment. NIU supports DHCP, DHC
If the environment is managed so that the parameters are provided from the P server, it can be used immediately. However, this embodiment makes it possible to operate with appropriate parameters even when there is no parameter acquisition environment by DHCP.

Hereinafter, the processing of the NIU according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that only the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 can perform processing directly related to the present invention. In this case, the NIU 1a functions as a parameter value acquiring unit and a configuration parameter setting unit according to claims 1 to 3.

First, the processing according to the first aspect of the present invention by the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a parameter setting process performed by the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1.

If there is no parameter acquisition environment by DHCP, the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 broadcasts the NIU (network communication device) of another terminal device having the same type of service on the local network 6 where the NIU 1a itself exists. And search.

Here, the same type of service is NI service
It is necessary that U1a possesses and uses the parameters required by U1a and that the values can be obtained remotely. Of course, if the product is equivalent to the NIU1a, it is possible to satisfy this condition. Generally, broadcast systems are classified into three types as shown in the following (1) to (3).

(1) Broadcast to all nodes (NIU) on the local network (see FIG. 4) (2) Broadcast to all nodes on the remote network (3) Broadcast to the entire Internet

In a normal network environment,
Obviously, more parameters can be used in the same network as the user, that is, in the local network (LAN). In this embodiment, the NI of the terminal device 1
U1a (node N) searches for a service on the LAN 6 using the broadcast method of (1).

As a result, it is assumed that it has been detected that the NIU (node N1) of another terminal device is already operating on the LAN 6. Next, the NIU of another terminal device operating on the LAN 6 is inquired about necessary parameters by SNMP, and the value is obtained. At this time, since IP cannot be used as the protocol of the transport layer, a usable protocol such as the IPX protocol should be used.

The parameter values required by the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 are of a type that can be used in common with the NIU of another terminal device and a parameter value of a type that needs to be different from any other NIU. And can be classified. Commonly used types of parameter values are as shown in the following (a) to (e).

(A) Gateway address of TCP / IP (b) Subnet mask of TCP / IP (c) DNS server address of TCP / IP (d) Directory tree name of NetWare (e) Domain name of NetBEUI

These parameter values are obtained from the NIU (discovery node N1) of another terminal device, and are used as they are in their own NVRAM (or another nonvolatile storage device) or NVRAM (other nonvolatile memory) associated with themselves. Storage device).

Parameter values of types that need to be different from other nodes (unique for each node) and can be freely named are as shown in (f) and (g) below. (F) NetWare print server name (g) NetBEUI NetBIOS name

An NIU that can be connected to a LAN using Ethernet always has a MAC address that is unique to the NIU. Therefore, the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1
Uses this MAC address value to generate a unique parameter value (based on that value) and uses its own NVR
The data is stored in the AM (or another nonvolatile storage device) or the NVRAM (or another nonvolatile storage device) associated with itself.

Parameter values of types that need to be different from other nodes (unique for each node) and need to be set according to the environment are as shown in the following (h). (H) TCP / IP IP Address The value of this IP address needs to be set (set) according to the environment in which the NIU exists, and an appropriate value cannot be assigned without permission.

Therefore, the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1
, The IP address and the subnet mask are obtained from the NIU (discovery node N1) of another terminal device,
Calculate the range of available addresses based on them. Check for unused addresses in that range and use that address.

For example, from the NIU (discovery node N1) of another terminal device, the TCP / IP IP address "198.1"
76.54.32 "and the subnet mask" 255.
When "255.255.0" is acquired, "198.17.
6.54.1-198.176.54.254 "is LA.
The address range becomes usable at N6.

An NIU (node) that can communicate in a TCP / IP environment supports a protocol for address resolution. This is ARP (Address Resoluti
On a protocol, an inquiry packet is transmitted with an IP address as a parameter, and a node operating at the IP address returns a response packet.

The NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 transmits an ARP packet (address resolution packet for inquiring about ADx) to each address of the above address range ADx (AD1 to AD254) in order, and if there is a normal response (ARP
This address can be determined to be already in use (if a response packet is received).

Conversely, when an ARP response packet for an address in the address range ADx cannot be received,
It determines that the address is not in use at that time, and makes its own NV so that it can use it.
The data is stored in the RAM (may be another nonvolatile memory device) or the NVRAM (may be another nonvolatile memory device) associated with itself.

When all the requested parameters have been obtained, the parameters stored in the NVRAM (configuration parameters required for operation) are reflected in the operation by rebooting the apparatus itself if necessary.

Next, the processing according to the second aspect of the present invention by the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a subroutine of the broadcast search processing of FIG.

When searching for an NIU (node) of another terminal device to refer to a parameter, the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 communicates using broadcast as described above. Therefore, there may be a plurality of responses to this. Therefore, at the time of service search by broadcast, the number of days elapsed since the installation (configuration parameter setting) from the NIU (node) of another terminal device is obtained at the same time.

When a response is returned from the NIUs (nodes) of the plurality of terminal devices, among the plurality of NIUs (found nodes) as options, the number of days elapsed since the installation of each of the plurality of NIUs (nodes found) is determined. , The longest one (NIU that has passed the longest time after setting the configuration parameters) is selected, and is determined as the NIU (node N1) to be copied. Therefore, the parameter values possessed by the NIU can be obtained.

Next, the processing according to the third aspect of the present invention by the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the subroutine of the broadcast search processing of FIG.

The NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 is the NIU (node) of another terminal device which is a plurality of candidates, as in FIG.
, Select the NIU (node N1) to be a parameter copy target. Here, NI of a plurality of other terminal devices
U each have a version number and each of their N
It is assumed that IUs are version-controlled by the same system.

Therefore, the newer the version number is, the newer the release time is. If the version number is the same, the release is the same and the behavior is completely the same. When parameters are inherited, higher reliability and compatibility are obtained by inheriting parameters from NIUs having the same version number.

Even if there is no NIU with the same version number, the NIU with the closer version number is often more compatible. Therefore, the NIU 1a of the terminal device 1
Selects an NIU (node N1) of a version number close to the version number of its own (own unit) from among the NIUs (nodes) of each of the other terminal devices, which are a plurality of options, and selects the NIU (node N1) as a parameter copy target. ).
Therefore, the parameter values possessed by the NIU can be obtained. It should be noted that UNIX and Wind described above are used.
Each term such as ows is a registered trademark.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the N
According to the IU, the parameter values necessary for operation are obtained from other NIUs already operating on the network, and the configuration parameters are set using the parameter values. Therefore, the factory-installed NIU is connected to the LAN. By simply operating the system, the service provided by the NIU can be provided on the LAN without the user being particularly conscious.

Further, according to the NIU of the second aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of candidates (other CIUs) for which parameters are to be obtained (copied), the operation time is the longest among them (the configuration By selecting the parameter which has passed the most time after the setting) and acquiring the parameter value possessed by the parameter, it is possible to take over a reliable parameter having a higher operation result.

According to the NIU according to the third aspect of the present invention, a candidate (another CIU) for which a parameter is desired to be obtained (copied).
In the case where there are a plurality of parameters, by selecting a parameter having a version number that is close to itself and acquiring the parameter value possessed by the parameter, it is possible to take over a reliable parameter having the same operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of NIUs 1a to 5a of each of the terminal devices 1 to 5 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a parameter setting process by an NIU 1a of the terminal device 1 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining broadcast to all nodes (NIUs) on a LAN (local network).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a subroutine of an IP address determination process in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a subroutine of the broadcast search processing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the subroutine of the broadcast search processing of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to 5: Terminal device (OA equipment) 1a to 5a: Network interface unit (N
IU) 6: Local network (LAN)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network interface unit connected to a local network, comprising: parameter value obtaining means for obtaining parameter values possessed by another network interface unit operating on the local area network; A network interface unit comprising configuration parameter setting means for setting a configuration parameter required for operation using a parameter value. 2. The network interface unit according to claim 1, wherein, when there are a plurality of other network interface units operating on the local network, the parameter value obtaining unit is configured to select one of the network interface units. A network interface unit for acquiring a parameter value possessed by a network interface unit that has passed the most time after setting a configuration parameter. 3. The network interface unit according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of other network interface units operating on the local network, and their version numbers are assigned in the same system.
Wherein said parameter value acquiring means is means for acquiring a parameter value possessed by a network interface unit having a version number close to the version number of the unit among the respective network interface units. .