JP2003179603A - Communication control method in communication system, program, transmitter and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication control method of a communication system capable of managing a host name and an IP address without using a Wins (Windows(R) internet naming service) server in the communication system where a DHCP server is installed. <P>SOLUTION: A network scanner (transmitter) 10 is started and requests the respective IP addresses to respective PCs (receivers) 11a-11n, the respective PCs 11a-11n transmit the respective IP addresses to the network scanner 10 in response to that and the network scanner 10 stores the received IP addresses of the respective PCs together with the corresponding host name. Then, in the case that the network scanner 10 transmits data to one of the PCs, the data are transmitted on the basis of the stored IP address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a DHCP server that dynamically assigns an IP address and a data transmission method.
The present invention relates to a communication control method in a communication system in which the above transmitting device and one or more receiving devices that receive the data are arranged via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) and other terminal devices, servers, printers, facsimiles, scanners, etc. have been installed using an in-house LAN to provide one printer, facsimile, A communication system has been constructed in which a scanner or the like is shared and used.

In this communication system, DH is generally used.
A CP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server is installed, and the IP (internet)
protocol) address and collects the IP address again when the PC is terminated. And
A PC given an IP address is a Wins (Windows (registered trademark) intern installed on the same communication system.
et naming service) The host name and IP address are transmitted to the server, and the Wins server manages the host name and IP address on the communication system. Note that Wi
The ns server is a server having a function of dynamically associating a host name with an IP address.

Here, the IP assigned by the DHCP server
An expiry date is usually set for an address, and the same IP address is assigned to the same PC within the expiry date. However, there is no guarantee that the same IP address will be assigned to the same PC after the expiration date. Therefore, when performing communication between the respective devices, it is necessary to know the IP address corresponding to the host name by transmitting the host name of the other party to the Wins server.

[0005]

In the above communication system, the Wins server is indispensable, and the user who introduces this communication system needs to install the Wins server. Therefore, in terms of cost and labor for setting the application. It takes a burden.

Here, in order to establish the communication system described above without using the Wins server, the IP address of each device must be fixed. This requires as many IP addresses as there are devices, but it is inefficient in a communication system that does not assume that all devices are communicating at the same time.

Further, the IP address is not fixed, and the W
If the above communication system is operated without using the ins server, the IP address of the transmission destination registered in the transmission source must be changed manually each time the transmission destination IP address changes, which is very troublesome. It takes.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control method of a communication system in which a host name and an IP address can be managed without using a Wins server in a communication system including a server. Moreover, it aims at providing the transmitter and receiver which comprise the communication system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication control method for the transmitter and the receiver, and a program for controlling the communication.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication control method according to the present invention includes a DHCP server that dynamically assigns an IP address, one or more transmitting devices that transmit data, and the data. A communication control method in a communication system in which at least one receiving device for receiving a packet is provided via a communication line, the step of activating the transmitting device, and the transmitting device providing each of the receiving devices with an IP address.
Requesting an address, sending each of the receiving devices their respective IP addresses to the sending device, storing the IP address of each receiving device received by the sending device together with the corresponding host name, and And a step of transmitting the data based on the stored IP address when the transmitting device transmits the data to any of the receiving devices.

In this way, by receiving and storing the IP address of each receiving device when the transmitting device is activated,
Since the host name and IP address can be managed without using the Wins server, it is possible to eliminate the cost of installing the Wins server and the burden of labor for setting the application.

Further, in the communication control method according to the present invention, in the above communication control method, the step of activating the receiving device after the activation of the transmitting device, and the receiving device storing the IP address of the transmitting device. For example, the method further comprises the steps of transmitting the IP address of the receiving device to the transmitting device based on the IP address, and storing the IP address of the receiving device received by the transmitting device together with the corresponding host name. Characterize.

[0012] In this way, the receiving device, which has started up and becomes communicable, immediately transmits its own IP address to the transmitting device, and the transmitting device which has received the IP address receives the IP address.
Since the address is additionally stored, the data can be transmitted by reading the stored IP address when transmitting the data.

Further, in the communication control method according to the present invention, in the above communication control method, when the transmitting device transmits data to any of the receiving devices that do not store an IP address, the transmitting device performs broadcast communication. Requesting the IP address of the receiving device of the transmission destination, the step of the receiving device of the transmission destination transmitting its own IP address to the transmitting device, and the receiving device of the transmission destination received by the transmitting device. Storing an IP address and transmitting data to the receiving device of the transmission destination.

As described above, the I
When the P address is not stored, the host name and the IP address can be managed without using the Wins server by receiving the IP address of the receiving device of the transmission destination by the broadcast communication. Eliminates the burden of setting the application.

In the communication control method according to the present invention, a DHCP server that dynamically assigns an IP address and one or more receiving devices that receive data are provided via a communication line, and the transmission is performed to transmit the data. A method of controlling communication in a device, comprising: activating the present transmitting device; requesting each of the receiving devices their respective IP addresses; and storing the IP address received from each of the receiving devices together with the corresponding host name. Step, and when transmitting data to any of the receiving devices, the stored IP
Transmitting data based on the address.

The communication control method according to the present invention is the above communication control method, in the case where the receiving apparatus is activated after the transmitting apparatus is activated, and the receiving apparatus stores the IP address of the transmitting apparatus. In this case, the method further comprises the steps of receiving the IP address of the receiving device transmitted from the receiving device, and storing the received IP address together with the corresponding host name.

Further, in the communication control method according to the present invention, in the above communication control method, when data is transmitted to any of the receiving devices that do not store an IP address, the receiving device of the transmission destination is broadcasted. Requesting an IP address, receiving the IP address of the receiving device transmitted from the receiving device of the transmission destination, storing the received IP address, and
And a step of transmitting data to the receiving device of the transmission destination.

A program according to the present invention realizes the communication control method in the above-mentioned transmitting device.

Further, a transmitting apparatus according to the present invention comprises means for controlling by the communication control method in the above transmitting apparatus.

Further, the above transmitting device may be a network scanner, a network facsimile, a personal computer, or an image forming device connectable to a network.

In the communication control method according to the present invention, a DHCP server that dynamically assigns an IP address and one or more transmitting devices that transmit data are provided via a communication line and receive data. A method of controlling communication in an apparatus, comprising: receiving a request for an IP address of the receiving apparatus transmitted from the transmitting apparatus when the transmitting apparatus is activated; and transmitting the IP address of the receiving apparatus to the transmitting apparatus. And a step.

The communication control method according to the present invention is the communication control method for a receiving device as described above, wherein a DHCP server dynamically assigning an IP address and one or more transmitting devices for transmitting data are distributed via a communication line. A communication control method in a receiving device for receiving the data, comprising: a step of activating the receiving device after the transmitting device is activated; and an IP address of the transmitting device if the IP address is stored. And transmitting the IP address of the receiving apparatus to the transmitting apparatus based on the above.

A program according to the present invention realizes the communication control method of the above-mentioned receiving device.

The receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises means for controlling by the communication control method in the above receiving apparatus.

The receiving device may be a network scanner, a network facsimile, a personal computer, or an image forming device connectable to a network.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication system using the communication control method of the present invention. This communication system constructed by an in-house LAN or the like includes a network scanner 10 that can read image data and send it to each PC, a plurality of PCs 11a to 11n in which utility software for communicating with the network scanner 10 is installed, It is composed of a DHCP server 12 which dynamically allocates an IP address at the time of start-up and collects the IP address again when the PC is terminated. An embodiment when operating this communication system will be described below.

<First Embodiment> In the first embodiment,
The network scanner 10 is a transmission device, and PCs 11a to 1
1n is used as a receiver and the network scanner 1
The operation of the communication system from the start-up of 0 to the transmission of image data is shown.

First, when the network scanner 10 is activated, the network scanner 10 requests the respective IP addresses from the PCs 11a to 11n by loadcast communication. In response to the request, each of the PCs 11a to 11n
Sends its IP address to the network scanner 10, but a PC that has not started cannot respond.

The network scanner 10 receives the received IP
Store the address along with the corresponding host name. Figure 2
A correspondence table 20 of host names and IP addresses stored in the network scanner 10 is shown in FIG. The host name of the PC that does not respond (PC 11b in FIG. 2) and its IP address are not registered in the correspondence table 20.

Next, the network scanner 10 sets the PC 1
When transmitting image data to any of 1a to 11n, the network scanner 10 searches the correspondence table 20 for the IP address for the specified host name.

For example, when transmitting image data to the PC 11a, the IP address "xxx.xxx.xxx.aaa" corresponding to the host name "PC11a" in the correspondence table 20 is read and transmitted.

As described above, by receiving and storing the IP address of each PC when the network scanner 10 is started, the host name and IP address can be managed without using the Wins server, so that the Wins server is installed. The cost and effort of setting up the application can be eliminated.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, when image data is transmitted to the PC 11b, correspondence table 2
In 0, the host name “PC11b” and its IP address are not stored. This means that when the network scanner 10 requests the PC 11b to send the IP address, P
This is because C11b was not activated. In the first embodiment, the correspondence table 20 remains unchanged even if the PC 11b is activated thereafter.

Therefore, the second embodiment shows the operation of the communication system when the PC is started after the network scanner 10 is started. The PC started after the network scanner 10 is started stores the fixed IP address of the network scanner 10 when it communicates with the network scanner 10 last time. This IP address is not erased even when the power is turned off.

Then, the PC sends its own IP address to the network scanner 10 using the stored IP address. As a result, the network scanner 10 that has received the IP address from the PC additionally stores the received IP address of the PC in the correspondence table 20.

In this way, the P which has been activated and has become able to communicate
C immediately sends its own IP address to the network scanner 10, and the network scanner 10 that has received the IP address additionally stores the IP address in the correspondence table 20, so when transmitting data, the IP address is sent from the correspondence table. It can be sent by reading.

<Third Embodiment> According to the second embodiment, data can be transmitted from the network scanner 10 to a desired PC at any time, but the memory of the network scanner 10 (not shown). Has a limited capacity, and often cannot store all the IP addresses in the correspondence table 20. Therefore, when you try to store the IP address by exceeding the memory capacity,
The address needs to be erased.

Therefore, the third embodiment shows the operation of the communication system when the memory capacity of the network scanner 10 is exceeded and the IP address is stored. For example, it is assumed that 100 PCs (host names) can be registered in the memory of the network scanner 10 and up to 70 IP addresses corresponding thereto can be stored.

Here, if one of the PCs starts up and the network scanner 10 receives the 71st IP address, any of the IP addresses in the correspondence table 20 is deleted and the newly received IP address is displayed. Memorize At this time, the IP addresses to be deleted are searched in the order of the last access time, the one with the least access count, and the one with the smallest number, and the corresponding IP address is deleted. That is, they are erased in the order of low possibility of use.

As described above, when the number of IP addresses that can be stored is smaller than the number of registered PCs (host names), the IP address of the PC is stored in the network scanner 10 even though the PC is running. The state that is not done occurs. Therefore, when the network scanner 10 transmits data to a PC in which an IP address is not stored, it is necessary to newly receive the IP address of the transmission destination PC.

For example, if the network scanner 10 is a PC
If the IP address of 11b is not stored, the network scanner 10 broadcasts the PC1
Request the IP address of 1b. PC1 in response
1b transmits its own IP address, and the network scanner 10 having received the IP address additionally stores the IP address in the correspondence table 20 and also transmits data to the destination PC 11b using the IP address.

As described above, when the IP address of the desired destination is not stored in the network scanner 10, the IP address of the destination PC is received by the broadcast communication so that the host name can be obtained without using the Wins server. Since you can manage the IP address, Wi
It is possible to eliminate the cost of installing the ns server and the burden of labor for setting the application.

It is desirable that the stored IP address be erased when the power of the network scanner 10 is turned off. As a result, the backup memory area can be reduced.

The communication line used in the present invention is LA
An intranet or an internet line may be used instead of the N line.

In this embodiment, the network scanner 10 is used as the transmission device and the PC is used as the reception device.
Although description has been made using 11a to 11n, a network facsimile, an image forming apparatus connectable to a network, or the like can be used as the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the transmitting device is activated to request each receiving device for its respective IP address, and in response thereto, each receiving device transmits its respective IP address to the transmitting device. Stores the IP address of each receiving device received together with the corresponding host name, and when the transmitting device transmits data to any of the receiving devices, by transmitting the data based on the stored IP address, , Hostname and IP without using Wins server
Since the addresses can be managed, it is possible to eliminate the cost of installing the Wins server and the burden of labor for setting the application.

Further, according to the present invention, if the receiving device is activated after the transmitting device is activated and the receiving device stores the IP address of the transmitting device, the IP address of the receiving device is sent to the transmitting device based on the IP address. By storing the IP address of the receiving device received by the transmitting device together with the corresponding host name, when the transmitting device transmits data, it can be transmitted by reading the stored IP address.

Further, according to the present invention, when the transmitting device transmits data to any of the receiving devices which do not store the IP address, the transmitting device requests the IP address of the receiving device as the destination by broadcast communication. In response to this, the destination receiving device transmits its own IP address to the transmitting device, stores the IP address of the destination receiving device received by the transmitting device, and transmits data to the destination receiving device. By doing so, you can manage the host name and IP address without using the Wins server.
The cost of installing the server and the burden of labor for setting the application can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using a communication control method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a correspondence table of host names and IP addresses stored in the network scanner of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Network scanner (transmitter) 11a to 11n PC (reception device) 12 DHCP server

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A DHC that dynamically assigns an IP address
A communication control method in a communication system in which a P server, at least one transmitting device for transmitting data, and at least one receiving device for receiving the data are arranged via a communication line, wherein the transmitting device is activated. A step of requesting each of the receiving devices for an IP address of each of the receiving devices, a step of transmitting each of the receiving devices of each of the IP addresses to the transmitting device, Storing the IP address of the device together with the corresponding host name; and transmitting the data based on the stored IP address when the transmitting device transmits data to any of the receiving devices. And a communication control method. 2. A step of activating the receiving device after the transmitting device is activated, and if the receiving device stores an IP address of the transmitting device, the receiving device is transmitted to the transmitting device based on the IP address. 2. The communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of transmitting the IP address of the receiving apparatus and a step of storing the IP address of the receiving apparatus received by the transmitting apparatus together with a corresponding host name. 3. When the transmitting device transmits data to any of the receiving devices that do not store an IP address, the transmitting device requests the IP address of the receiving device as the destination by broadcast communication. And a step of the receiving device of the transmission destination transmitting its own IP address to the transmitting device, and storing the IP address of the receiving device of the transmission destination received by the transmitting device, and to the receiving device of the transmission destination. 3. The communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting data. 4. A DHC that dynamically assigns an IP address
A communication control method in a transmitting device, which is provided to a P server and one or more receiving devices for receiving data via a communication line, and which transmits the data, comprising: a step of activating the transmitting device; Requesting each IP address to the receiving device, storing the IP address received from each receiving device together with the corresponding host name, and transmitting the data to any of the receiving devices, the stored IP address And a step of transmitting data based on the address. 5. The receiving device transmitted from the receiving device when the receiving device is activated after the transmitting device is activated and the receiving device stores the IP address of the transmitting device. 5. The communication control method according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of receiving the IP address of the above, and a step of storing the received IP address together with a corresponding host name. 6. When transmitting data to any of the receiving devices that do not store an IP address, the I of the receiving device of the transmission destination is broadcasted.
Requesting a P address, and an I of the receiving device transmitted from the receiving device of the transmission destination.
6. The communication control method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of receiving a P address, a step of storing the received IP address, and a step of transmitting data to the receiving device of the transmission destination. 7. A program for realizing the communication control method according to claim 4. 8. A transmission device comprising means for controlling by the communication control method according to claim 4. 9. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting apparatus is a network scanner, a network facsimile, a personal computer, or an image forming apparatus connectable to a network. 10. A DH that dynamically assigns an IP address
A communication control method in a receiving device, which is provided to a CP server and one or more transmitting devices for transmitting data via a communication line, and receives the data, wherein the transmitting device activates when the transmitting device is activated. A communication control method comprising: a step of receiving a request for an IP address of the present receiving apparatus to be transmitted; and a step of transmitting the IP address of the present receiving apparatus to the transmitting apparatus. 11. A DH that dynamically assigns an IP address
What is claimed is: 1. A communication control method in a receiving device, which is provided via a communication line to a CP server and one or more transmitting devices that transmit data, and receives the data, comprising: A communication control method comprising: a step of activating and a step of transmitting the IP address of the receiving apparatus to the transmitting apparatus based on the IP address of the transmitting apparatus if the IP address of the transmitting apparatus is stored. 12. A program for realizing the communication control method according to claim 10. 13. A receiving device comprising means for controlling by the communication control method according to claim 10. 14. The receiving apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the receiving apparatus is a network scanner, a network facsimile, a personal computer, or an image forming apparatus connectable to a network.