JP2005258898A - Network device, and its setup method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network device for reliably completing a set-up work even when a user does not know a network address which is set in the network device, and to provide its set-up method. <P>SOLUTION: When a storage medium 15 is connected to the storage medium I/F 111 of a device driver 3, a parameter information file generating part 9 generates a parameter information file with parameter information 13 reflected thereon. A storage medium writing part 12 writes an installer program 14 and the parameter information file in the storage medium 15. The storage medium 15 is connected to the storage medium I/F 112 of the information processor 2 and the installer program 14 which is stored and held in the storage medium 15 is started. The installer program 14 performs the set-up of the network device 3, based on the network address etc., included in the parameter information file which is stored and held in the storage medium 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device and a setup method thereof, and more particularly to a network device that provides a service to an information processing apparatus and a setup method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices (for example, printers, scanners, digital cameras, video printers, etc.) connected to an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) have become commercially available. However, in order to use a device connected to the information processing apparatus, it is necessary to register the device in the information processing apparatus.

For example, there is a USB connection device that can be used without complicated installation work by simply connecting to a computer without using a storage medium such as a CD-ROM (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-114859

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is effective when the information processing apparatus and the device are locally connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like, but in a device on the network (hereinafter referred to as a network device). It is difficult.

  This is because a network device is assigned an individual network address necessary for identifying itself on the network, and in order to use the network device in an information processing apparatus on the network, the user designates this network address. An operation of registering a network device in the information processing apparatus is necessary. At this time, the user must know the network address.

  For this reason, even when using an installer program for setting up a network device on the information processing apparatus side, the installer program must always provide a scene for the user to specify the network address of the network device. You must request knowledge about the network and the network address assigned to the network device (and, if you do not know this network address, a method for verifying the network address).

  In general, since the network address is a parameter that is assigned without being related to the physical location information at all, the correspondence between the physical location of the network device and the network address cannot be visually seen. Even if only the network address is notified from the administrator or the like, the user cannot know which network device it points to.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when a network device specified by a user from a physical installation location is registered in the information processing apparatus, the setup operation is surely performed without the user knowing the network address set in the network device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network device that can be made successful and a method for setting it up.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a network device that is connected to a network and provides a service to an information processing apparatus on the network. Storage medium interface means connected to a writable storage medium, parameter information storage means for storing and holding parameter information including an address for specifying a logical position on the network, and parameters stored and held by the parameter information storage means A parameter information file creating means for creating a parameter information file reflecting the information, an installer program storage means for storing and holding an installer program for executing setup for enabling the information processing apparatus to use the service, An installer program stored and retained in the installer program storage means in a storage medium connected to the storage medium interface means, and a storage medium writing means for writing the parameter information file created by the parameter information file creation means; When the storage medium in which the installer program and the parameter information file are written is connected to the information processing apparatus, the network address included in the parameter information file is read from the storage medium, and the network address is read based on the read network address. It is characterized by executing setup.

  The network communication means corresponds to the network I / F 51 shown in FIG. 2, the storage medium interface means corresponds to the storage medium I / F 111 shown in FIG. 2, and the parameter information storage means corresponds to the parameter information storage shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the parameter information file creation unit 9 shown in FIG. 2, the installer program storage unit corresponds to the installer program storage unit 10 shown in FIG. 2, and the storage medium writing unit corresponds to FIG. 2 corresponds to the storage medium I / F 111 shown in FIG.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the parameter information file creation means creates the parameter information file when writing the installer program to a storage medium connected to the storage medium interface means. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device setup method in an information processing apparatus on a network, wherein the network device allows the information processing apparatus to use a service provided by the network device. An installer program for executing setup of the network device in the apparatus is stored and created, a parameter information file reflecting parameter information including an address for specifying a logical position on the network is created, and data is stored in the network device. When a writable storage medium is connected, the installer program and the parameter information file are written to the connected storage medium, and the installer program stores the installer program and the parameter information file. When the storage medium in which the parameter information file is written is connected, the network address included in the parameter information file is read from the storage medium, and the network device is set up in the information processing apparatus based on the read network address It is characterized by performing.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the parameter information file is created when the installer program is written in the storage medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to omit the work of designating a device address by the user in the setup work, and the user can be made aware of the network address by physically generating the setup medium from the network device itself. However, it is possible to reliably set up the network device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration in which an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) and a network device are connected via a network will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a network device service system 1 used in the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network device service system 1 is configured by connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses 2 and a plurality of network devices 3 via a network 4. Note that a plurality of information processing apparatuses 2 and network devices 3 are not necessarily required.

  The network device 3 provides a network service to the information processing apparatus 2 connected to the network 4. In the embodiment of the present invention, the type of network service is arbitrary (for example, storage service, print service, etc.).

  The information processing apparatus 2 is a general-purpose computer such as a PC, and can use the network service of the network device 3.

  Next, functional configurations of the network device 3 and the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the network device 3 and the information processing apparatus 2.

  A functional configuration of the network device 3 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the network device 3 includes a network I / F 5, a control unit 6, a service component 7, a parameter information storage unit 8, a parameter information file creation unit 9, an installer program storage unit 10, and a storage medium I. / F11 and a storage medium writing unit 12 are provided.

  A network I / F (Interface) 51 is physically connected to the network 4 and provides a network service to the information processing apparatus 2 via the connected network 4.

  The control unit 6 performs network service control processing, and manually sets a network address (IP address in a TCP / IP network) for specifying the network device 3 on the network 4 or a network address automatic setting mechanism (for example, A setting using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or the like in a TCP / IP network is performed, a process of logically connecting to the network 4, and a process of updating parameter information including a network address and the like. In the case of connection to a network 4 that uses the unique address of the network device 3 (for example, NetBEUI [NetBIOS Extended User Interface] that uses a MAC [Media Access Control address] address unique to the network device)) Just do it.

  The service component 7 performs network service processing.

  The parameter information storage unit 8 stores and holds parameter information 13 including a network address set by the control unit 6 and a setting value unique to the network device set to the network device 3.

  The parameter information file creation unit 9 performs processing for creating a parameter information file reflecting the parameter information 13 stored and held in the parameter information storage unit 8.

  The installer program storage unit 10 registers the network device 3 that can be executed by an arbitrary information processing apparatus 2 with an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) stored in the arbitrary information processing apparatus 2 so that it can be used. An installer program 14 that is a setup program is stored and held. The installer program 14 holds a unique driver file necessary for using the network device 3 in the information processing apparatus 2 as a resource in addition to the function of registering in the OS, and the driver file is stored in the information processing apparatus 2. A function for expanding the data into a storage device, and a function for reading a file system (arbitrary format) in a medium in which the installer program 14 is stored, reading a parameter information file from the file system, and reflecting the contents in the setup process Have. In addition, the installer program storage unit 10 is not limited to the configuration built in the network device 3, and a configuration in which the installer program 14 is stored and stored in a server on the network 4 and the installer program 14 is appropriately extracted from the server may be applied.

  The storage medium I / F 111 is an interface physically connected to the storage medium 15.

  The storage medium writing unit 12 stores the parameter information file created by the parameter information file creation unit 9 and the installer program 14 stored in the installer program storage unit 10 for the storage medium 15 connected to the storage medium I / F 111. Perform the writing process. The format of the storage medium 15 is arbitrary (for example, when the storage medium 15 is a USB memory, the storage medium writing unit 12 has a USB host function).

  A functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 2 is physically connected to a network 4, receives a network service from the network device 3 via the connected network 4, the storage medium 15 and the physical The storage medium I / F 112, which is an interface to be connected, is provided. The information processing apparatus 2 receives data processing and network services using a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and HD (Hard Disk) (not shown).

  Next, functional operations performed by the network device 3 when the network device 3 is connected to the network 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When the network I / F 51 of the network device 3 is connected to the network 4, the control unit 6 performs manual setting of the network address or setting using the network address automatic setting mechanism, logically connects the network device 3 to the network 4, The parameter information 13 including the network address and the like is stored and held in the parameter information storage unit 8.

  Next, functional operations performed by the network device 3 when the installer program 14 and the parameter information file are written in the storage medium 15 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  When the user connects the storage medium 15 whose format conforms to the storage medium I / F 111 of the network device 3, the storage medium I / F 111 notifies the control unit 6 that the storage medium is connected. When the notification of connection is received, the parameter information file creation instruction is notified to the parameter information file creation unit 9 and the instruction to write the installer program 14 and the parameter information file to the storage medium 15 is notified to the storage medium writing unit 12. . The method for notifying the storage medium connection may be any method, and for example, a method of notifying the control unit 6 that the storage medium is connected by pressing a button or the like by the user is also applicable.

  When the parameter information file creation unit 9 receives the notification of the parameter information file creation instruction, the parameter information file creation unit 9 reads the parameter information 13 currently set for the network device itself from the parameter information storage unit 8 and reflects the read parameter information 13 And the created parameter information file is passed to the storage medium writing unit 12.

  When the storage medium writing unit 12 receives an instruction to write the installer program 14 and the parameter information file to the storage medium 15, the storage medium writing unit 12 reads the installer program 14 from the installer program storage unit 10 and creates the read installer program 14 and parameter information file. The parameter information file received from the unit 9 is written to the storage medium 15 via the storage medium I / F 111.

  Then, the network device 3 notifies the user of completion of writing the installer program 14 and the parameter information file to the storage medium 15 by an arbitrary method (for example, display on a panel), and the user stores the storage medium 15. The storage medium 15 taken out from the medium I / F 111 is connected to the storage medium I / F 112 of the information processing apparatus 2 that wants to use the network device 3, and the user starts the installer program 14 stored and held in the storage medium 15. Alternatively, the installer program 14 is automatically activated by an automatic reproduction function or the like included in the OS stored in the information processing apparatus 2, and the activated installer program 14 reads the parameter information file from the storage medium 15, and is included in the read parameter information file. Ne Executing a network setup device 3 based on the network address or the like.

  Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 2 that has completed the setup of the network device 3 can receive the provision of the network service of the network device 3 via the network I / F 52.

  Next, the procedure of parameter information setting processing performed by the network device 3 when the network device 3 is connected to the network 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The network device connects to the network (step S301), sets a network address (step S302), stores and holds parameter information including the set network address (step S303), and ends the parameter information setting process.

  Next, a writing process performed by the network device 3 when writing the installer program 14 and the parameter information file to the storage medium 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The storage medium is connected to the network device (step S401), a parameter information file is created based on the parameter information (step S402), the installer program is read (step S403), and the parameter information file and the installer program are written to the storage medium (step S403). Step S404), the writing process is terminated.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the parameter information file is created when the installer program 14 is written in the storage medium 15 as in the embodiment described above, and the parameter information file is created and stored in advance. The configuration can also be applied. In such a case, as a timing for creating the parameter information file, a configuration for storing the original file from the time of shipment of the network device 3, a configuration for creating and storing the parameter information file after the network device 3 is turned on, and a storage medium once For example, a configuration in which a parameter information file created at the time of writing in the file 15 is stored may be applied. Furthermore, in such a case, as a parameter information file update timing, a configuration in which the parameter setting of the network device 3 is updated whenever necessary, a configuration in which the parameter setting at that time is updated when writing to the storage medium, and the like are applied. You may do it.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a network device service system 1 used in the embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of a network device 3 and an information processing apparatus 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of parameter information setting processing performed by the network device 3 when the network device 3 is connected to the network 4. 4 is a flowchart showing a writing process performed by the network device 3 when writing an installer program 14 and a parameter information file to the storage medium 15.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network device system 2 Information processing apparatus 3 Network device 4 Network 51, 52 Network I / F
6 Control unit 7 Service component 8 Parameter information storage unit 9 Parameter information file creation unit 10 Installer program storage unit 111, 112 I / F for storage medium
12 Storage medium writing unit 13 Parameter information 14 Installer program 15 Storage medium

Claims (4)

In a network device that connects to a network and provides a service to an information processing apparatus on the network,
Network communication means for performing communication via the network;
Storage medium interface means for connecting to a storage medium into which data can be written;
Parameter information storage means for storing and holding parameter information including an address for specifying a logical position on the network;
Parameter information file creation means for creating a parameter information file reflecting the parameter information stored and held in the parameter information storage means;
Installer program storage means for storing and holding an installer program for executing setup for enabling the information processing apparatus to use the service;
A storage medium connected to the storage medium interface means, an installer program stored in the installer program storage means, and a storage medium writing means for writing the parameter information file created by the parameter information file creation means,
The installer program is
When the storage medium in which the installer program and the parameter information file are written is connected to the information processing apparatus, the network address included in the parameter information file is read from the storage medium, and the setup is performed based on the read network address. A network device characterized by executing The parameter information file creation means includes:
The network device according to claim 1, wherein the parameter information file is created when the installer program is written in a storage medium connected to the storage medium interface unit. In a network device setup method in an information processing apparatus on a network,
The network device is
Storing and holding an installer program for executing setup of the network device in the information processing apparatus for enabling the information processing apparatus to use services provided by the network device
Create a parameter information file reflecting the parameter information including the address for specifying the logical position on the network,
When a storage medium capable of writing data is connected to the network device, the installer program and the parameter information file are written to the connected storage medium,
The installer program is
When the storage medium in which the installer program and the parameter information file are written is connected, the network address included in the parameter information file is read from the storage medium,
A network device setup method, wherein the network device setup in the information processing apparatus is executed based on the read network address. The network device setup method according to claim 3, wherein the parameter information file is created when the installer program is written to the storage medium.

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