JP2005252578A - Network device and method and program for setting network information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network device, a network information setting method, and a network information setting program capable of appropriately setting an IP address when connecting to a network. <P>SOLUTION: In a printer 301, a DHCP server communication section 302 acquires information on network setting including the IP address from a DHCP server 101. And when a user sets the IP address from an operation panel 306, the printer 301 displays the IP address acquired from the DHCP server 101 as a default value, and the user changes and sets the displayed information as required. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device that communicates with a network by setting an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a network information setting method, and a network information setting program, and more particularly, to easily and appropriately set an IP address when connecting to a network. The present invention relates to a network device, a network information setting method, and a network information setting program that can be performed.

  Conventionally, in this type of network device, “TCP / IP host address automatic setting method and device” described in Patent Document 1 and “address automatic setting method” described in Patent Document 2 are methods for easily setting an IP address. It is disclosed.

  The invention of this Patent Document 1 assigns a host part with a randomly generated numerical value only by giving a network address and a subnet mask to a host constituting a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network. An inquiry is made by ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) whether an IP address is used. If there is no ARP response, it is determined that there is no host having the IP address, and the local IP address is determined.

The invention of Patent Document 2 generates an IP address based on a preset network address (for example, IP address, subnet mask, etc.) and broadcasts it to check whether the IP address is in use. When it is determined that the IP address is not in use, the IP address is notified by broadcast to a network device newly added to the network.
JP 08-223169 A JP 2003-046519 A

  However, in the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, even though it is known that there is no network device using the IP address as a result of the inquiry by ARP, the network device is not operating at that time, or some sort of It may be an IP address that other network devices use on a daily basis just because an ARP response cannot be returned due to a problem. In such a case, if the IP address is used, there is a problem that batting occurs when a network device that uses the IP address is operated on a daily basis.

  Similarly to the invention of Patent Document 1, the invention of Patent Document 2 causes an erroneous determination result when broadcasting is performed when a network device originally using an IP address is not in operation. There is a problem that batting occurs between network devices.

  In addition, in the case of automatic IP address setting by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) that has been used conventionally, when the IP address is updated and acquired after the expiration of the leased address, the acquired IP address is stored in the server. There is a possibility that an IP address different from the IP address used before may be assigned due to the circumstances. In such a case, the IP address that was previously used is used by other network devices, and for the network devices that specify the IP address to access the network device, the IP address designation destination is also the same. There is a problem that it is necessary to change them together.

  When setting an IP address by manual setting, all of the network address part, host part, subnet mask, and gateway address of the IP address must be input from the beginning. In particular, an input interface that does not have a numeric keypad like the operation panel of the printer shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network device, a network information setting method, and a network information setting program that can easily and appropriately set an IP address when connecting to a network.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a network device for setting information for performing network communication by communicating with a server, the network address portion of the IP address notified from the server is set. An IP address for setting the IP address by changing a holding unit for holding at least information for performing network communication, and changing a host part of the IP address in the information held by the holding unit from a predetermined value And setting means.

  Further, the invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, wherein the IP address setting means sets the host part of the IP address in the information for performing network communication held by the holding means to a predetermined initial value. Display means for displaying as, and changing means for sequentially changing the value of the host unit displayed as the initial value of the IP addresses displayed on the display means, the changing means sequentially changing the value The IP address is set by selecting a desired value among the values of the host unit by a user operation.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the changing means sequentially changes and displays a value that can be selected as a host part value of the IP address in accordance with a user operation. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a network information setting method for setting information for performing network communication by communicating with a server, the network information setting method includes at least a network address portion of an IP address notified from the server Information for performing network communication is held by a holding unit, and the IP address is set by changing a host part of the IP address of the information held by the holding unit from a predetermined value. .

  The invention of claim 5 is a network information setting program for causing a computer to execute network information setting processing for setting information for performing network communication by communicating with a server, and is notified from the server. Holding the information for performing the network communication including at least the network address part of the IP address, and changing the host part of the IP address of the information held by the holding means from a predetermined value And setting an IP address.

  The network address part, subnet mask, and gateway address of the IP address are automatically assigned, and the user can set the network only by setting the host part. Therefore, the complexity of manually setting the IP address can be reduced and the user This has the effect of preventing input errors.

  Further, there is no problem that the IP address is changed after the expiration date of the IP address notified from the DHCP server is ended by the user manually setting the host unit.

  Embodiments of a network device, a network information setting method, and a network information setting program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a network configuration to which a network information setting method according to the present invention is applied.

  The network shown in FIG. 1 includes a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server 101, a plurality of network devices 201, and a printer 301 to which the present invention is applied, each connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 401.

  The DHCP server 101 holds the IP address of the gateway server and DNS (Domain Name System) server, the subnet mask, the range of IP addresses that can be assigned to the client, and responds to requests from the client. Provide information.

  A printer 301 is an application of the network information setting method of the present invention, and shows a network printer connected to the network and operating.

  The printer 301 includes a DHCP server communication unit 302, a network address detection unit 303, a UI control unit 304, a temporary save memory 305, and an operation panel 306.

  The DHCP server communication unit 302 performs communication control processing with the DHCP server 101 connected to the network. When the DHCP server 101 needs to assign an IP address, it transmits a DHCP packet having a DHCPDISCOVER message, performs a DHCPOFFER message reception process as a response thereto, and receives the IP address included in the DHCPOFFER message received from the DHCP server 101. The subnet mask and gateway address are stored in the temporary save memory 305.

  The network address detection unit 303 detects the network address part of the IP address from the IP address and subnet mask received by the DHCP server communication unit 302 and stored in the temporary save memory 305.

  The UI control unit 304 controls display processing on the UI screen of the operation panel 306 and information input from the user through the operation unit of the operation panel 306. For example, the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address are acquired from the temporary save memory 305 and output to the UI screen of the operation panel 306.

  The temporary save memory 305 is a save area used for temporarily storing the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address notified from the DHCP server 101.

  The operation panel 306 is configured to include a display device (UI screen) and an operation panel incorporated in the main body of the printer 301, and is as shown in FIG. This is an interface between the user and the printer 301.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure with the DHCP server 101 as a method for setting the IP address of the printer 301 shown in FIG.

  First, the printer 301 broadcasts a DHCP packet having a DHCPDISCOVER message to the DHCP server 101 and requests a response from the DHCP server 101.

  Upon receiving this request, the DHCP server 101 returns a DHCPOFFER message as a response. This packet is composed of information including an IP address of a lease candidate, a subnet mask, a gateway address, and the like.

  The printer 301 holds the lease candidate IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address information sent from the DHCP server 101.

  Here, normally, DHCPREQUEST is transmitted from the printer 301 to notify the DHCP server 101 that the notified IP address is to be used. However, in the present invention, DHCPREQUEST is not transmitted to the DHCP server 101 here.

  The printer 301 detects the network address part from the held lease candidate IP address and subnet mask, and holds it.

  Here, a method for detecting the network address portion of the IP address from the IP address and the subnet mask will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows an IP address “192.168.2.1” and a subnet mask “255.255.255.0”. First, since each is expressed in decimal numbers, base conversion is performed to binary numbers. Then, by calculating a logical product with the obtained IP address “11000000.10101000.000000010.00000001” and the subnet mask “11111111.11111111.11111111.000000000000”, a network address part “192. 168.2 "can be detected. Further, the part other than the network address part becomes a host part for identifying individual computers in the network, and here is the host part “1”.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the printer 301 next displays an initial IP address on a user interface such as the operation panel 306 shown in FIG. Here, the detected result is displayed as a default in the network address part of the IP address, and a predetermined value (for example, 0) is displayed as a default in the host part.

  Based on this, the user can set the IP address by changing only the necessary part of the IP address from the operation panel 306. Normally only the host part needs to be changed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the subnet mask received from the DHCP server 101 is displayed by default to prompt the user to register.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the gateway address received from the DHCP server 101 is displayed as a default to prompt the user to register. Normally, the subnet mask and gateway address can be used without change.

  The network address setting procedure in the present invention is as described above. Instead of using the IP address notified from the DHCP server 101 as it is, an appropriate network setting is performed by the user intervening based on the IP address. Network settings can be made.

  Normally, the IP address notified from the DHCP server is generally used as it is, and if the user changes the IP address notified to the DHCP server, the default is displayed on the operation panel 306. The IP address is cleared to ALL0. When setting the IP address from this state, there is a problem that an excessive burden is imposed on the user and an input error occurs. The present invention can solve such problems.

  In addition, even an input interface without a numeric keypad such as the operation panel 306 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed as a default (with the network address portion set for the IP address), so the user load can be reduced.

  In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 3, the network information is set according to procedures such as IP address setting, subnet mask setting, and gateway address setting. However, this is merely an example, and the order is not limited. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining network information setting processing in the printer 301 shown in FIG.

  When the user selects manual IP address setting from the operation panel 306, the network information setting process is started (step S001).

  In this network information setting process, first, a DHCP packet having a DHCPDISCOVER message is broadcast to the DHCP server 101 on the network (step S002), and a response from the DHCP server 101 is requested (step S003).

  If there is no response from the DHCP server 101 for a certain period of time (NO in step S003), the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address are manually set with the conventional ALL0 as default (step 004). Then, the network information setting process ends.

  If there is a response from the DHCP server 101 (YES in step S003), a DHCPOFFER message is received as a response (step S005), and the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address included in the received response message are saved in a temporary area. (Step S006).

  The network address part of the IP address is detected from the IP address and subnet mask saved in the temporary area (step S007).

  Next, IP address setting processing is performed (step S008). Details of this IP address setting process are shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, when this IP address setting process is started, an IP address is initially displayed (step S101). The network address part of the IP address displays the address obtained by the preprocessing, and the host part of the IP address displays a predetermined value (for example, 0).

  Next, based on the initially displayed IP address, the user inputs the host unit (step S102). In the case of an input interface that does not have a numeric keypad, such as the operation panel shown in FIG. It is necessary to set an appropriate IP address by pressing (subtract 1 from the host part) as many times as necessary. That is, in this step S102, the user presses the “Up (1-B)” button or the “Down (1-D)” button in order to input an appropriate value to the host part value of the IP address initially displayed. It shows the state that was done.

  Next, an ARP request is issued to the IP address input by the user (step S103). That is, the input IP address is put in an “ARP inquiry” packet and broadcast toward the network.

  Then, it is determined whether or not there is a response to the ARP request within a certain time (step S104). If there is an ARP response, it indicates that the IP address has already been used by any network device connected to the network. If there is no ARP response, the IP address is unique to the network. Indicates that the IP address may be used.

  If an ARP response is received (YES in step S104), another IP address is set (step S105), and an ARP request is issued to the IP address (step S103).

  Another IP address is that the user presses the “Up (1-B)” button (adds 1 to the host unit) or the “Down (1-D)” button (subtracts 1 from the host unit). The IP address obtained by further adding or subtracting to the IP address selected by (the IP address selected in step S102).

  If there is no ARP response (NO in step S104), the IP address is displayed on the operation panel 306 (step S106). Between step S102 and step S105, the IP address initially displayed is displayed without changing the display state of the operation panel, and the user performs the “up (1-B)” button or “down” for the first time in the process of step S106. By pressing the “(1-D)” button, the value of the IP address displayed on the operation panel 306 changes. That is, when the initially displayed IP address is “192.168.2.000” and “192.168.2.1” is already used, the user is “up (1-B)”. When the button (1 is added to the host part) is pressed, the IP address displayed next is “192.168.2.2”.

  In addition, even when the same IP address notified from the DHCP server is input by the user pressing the “Up (1-B)” button or the “Down (1-D)” button, The next IP address is displayed without displaying on the operation panel 306 so that the IP address cannot be selected.

  That is, since the IP address acquired from the DHCP server is to be used as a DHCP pool area (IP address managed by DHCP), control is performed so that it cannot be used in the present invention.

  In addition, by registering an IP address in the range managed in the DHCP pool area (IP address managed by DHCP) as a non-selectable IP address in the printer 301 in advance, control is performed so that the user cannot select. May be.

  If there is no problem with the IP address displayed on the operation panel 306, the user selects setting completion (step S107), and the IP address setting process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the IP address setting process is completed (step S008), the subnet mask saved in the temporary area is displayed, and the setting process by the user is performed. Similarly, when the gateway address setting process is performed and terminated (step S009), the network information setting process is terminated.

  The processing contents of the network setting according to the present invention are as described above. Since the IP address notified from the DHCP server is not used as it is, an optimum IP address can be assigned by the user, so the notification from the DHCP server. Since the leased period (expiration date) has expired because the used IP address was used, it is possible to prevent the IP address used previously from being unusable and the IP address being forced to be changed. it can.

  In addition, when the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address are set, the default value is displayed so that the user can easily set the IP address, the subnet mask, and the gateway address.

  In the above embodiment, the network information setting process according to the present invention is configured to be performed by the printer 301. However, the network information setting process is not limited to the printer 301, and may be a facsimile, a copier, a personal computer, or the like. It can be applied to any device connected to the network and operating.

  The network setting device, the network information setting method, and the network information setting program of the present invention are effective in solving a problem in a network in which an IP address is automatically set by a DHCP server. Etc. can be used effectively in a network where the user manually performs all of the above.

1 shows an outline of a network configuration to which a network information setting method according to the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed an example of the layout of an operation panel. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a communication procedure between the printer 301 and the DHCP server 101 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of an IP address and a subnet mask. 3 is a flowchart illustrating network information setting processing in the printer 301 illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the IP address setting process illustrated in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 DHCP server 201 Network apparatus 301 Printer 302 DHCP server communication part 303 Network address detection part 304 UI control part 305 Temporary save memory 306 Operation panel 401 LAN

Claims (5)

In a network device that sets information for network communication by communicating with a server,
Holding means for holding information for performing the network communication including at least the network address portion of the IP address notified from the server;
An IP address setting means for setting the IP address by changing the host part of the IP address in the information held by the holding means from a predetermined value. The IP address setting means
Display means for displaying the host part of the IP address of the information for performing network communication held by the holding means as a predetermined initial value;
Change means for sequentially changing the value of the host part displayed as the initial value among the IP addresses displayed on the display means, and among the values of the host part sequentially changed by the change means The network device according to claim 1, wherein the IP address is set by selecting a desired value by a user operation. The changing means is
The network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a value that can be selected as a value of the host part of the IP address is sequentially changed and displayed in response to a user operation. In the network information setting method for setting information for performing network communication by communicating with a server,
Holding information for performing the network communication including at least the network address part of the IP address notified from the server by a holding unit;
The network information setting method, wherein the IP address is set by changing a host part of the IP address in the information held by the holding means from a predetermined value. A network information setting program for causing a computer to execute network information setting processing for setting information for performing network communication by communicating with a server,
Holding information for performing the network communication including at least the network address portion of the IP address notified from the server;
And setting the IP address by changing the host part of the IP address of the information held by the holding means from a predetermined value.

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