JP2008004010A - Communication equipment and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To install only a licensed application to communication equipment or a printer to which the communication equipment is being connected. <P>SOLUTION: The communication equipment has: a means for receiving an application program having predetermined functions and identification information corresponding to the application program; a means for acquiring identification information about a connected data processing terminal; a first installation means for installing the application program when the identification information corresponding to the application program matched with identification information of the communication equipment and a second installation means for installing the application program and storing the identification information when the identification information corresponding to the application program is matched with the identification program of the data processing terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an application program control method according to a communication apparatus that provides an additional function capability of an existing network device.

  Large network environments, such as networks to support business office environments, often include a large number of different types and generations of network devices with different functional capabilities, such as printing devices with network capabilities There is. As new technologies emerge and improved functionality is implemented in new models or generations of network devices, the functionality available in the network varies significantly depending on which network device is being utilized. there's a possibility that. For example, some newer printing devices in a network environment can support secure printing, while older printing devices that exist in the network environment do not support secure printing. obtain.

  It is generally desirable to implement new technologies and improvements throughout the network environment, thereby making the same set of capabilities available to all network users for all network devices. Otherwise, network devices assigned to some network users will not be able to take advantage of new functionality supported by other newer network devices.

  One problem-solving approach to this problem is simply to replace all conventional network devices with new network devices with the desired new functional capabilities. However, the effort and cost of implementing this problem-solving approach is significant. Therefore, it is not a practical method when new applications requiring new functional capabilities are frequently implemented.

  Another possible solution to this problem is to use a relay device that can be connected to a conventional network device via a connection interface and that has a desired additional functionality for the conventional network device.

  One specific example of the relay device is a communication device that has first and second network interfaces and relays between a printing device and an external network. Here, the first network interface is connected to the external network, and the second network interface is connected to the printing apparatus via the local network.

  The communication apparatus is provided with a print server function for performing overall control of various print services via an external network, and the printing apparatus and the communication apparatus communicate via the local network to implement a desired service.

  On the contrary, this makes it possible to drive a heavy load function to the communication device, relatively lowering the CPU and peripheral performance of the printing device main body, and reducing the cost of the printing device main body.

  The printing apparatus communicates with other communication terminals existing on the external network via the communication apparatus by using the network address previously assigned by the network administrator. On the other hand, the communication device acquires a network address assigned to the printing device from a packet when the printing device communicates with a communication terminal on the network. Then, by using the network address itself, the printer communicates with another communication terminal existing on the external network by imitating the printing apparatus. This means that when viewed from another communication terminal existing on the external network, the printing apparatus and the communication apparatus are recognized as a single communication terminal existing on the network. As a result, services such as a print server function provided on the communication apparatus side can behave as if they were additional extended services on the printing apparatus main body.

At present, a system that acquires and executes an application program operable on a data processing apparatus from an external apparatus on a network is proposed in Patent Document 1. Recently, a technique for incorporating an application program created using a Java (registered trademark of US Sun Microsystems, Inc.) language into a device has been proposed. With this technology, an application program incorporated in a device can be operated on a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine mounted on the device. By using this technology, it has become possible to add new functions to embedded devices such as printing apparatuses later. (See Patent Document 1)
The above-described Java (registered trademark) virtual machine includes an application program interface (API) for providing various functions necessary for controlling an embedded device, including a network communication function. Application programs created in the Java (registered trademark) language call these APIs, and control embedded devices and process requests from host computers connected via a network.

  The API provided on the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine includes a function necessary for network communication, and shares a basic module for processing a network communication protocol.

Accordingly, it is possible to implement network communication by mounting the Java (registered trademark) environment on the communication device described above. Thereby, also in the above-mentioned communication apparatus,
New functionality for controlling the printing device and the like can be added later.

Here, the application program is generally licensed by a supplier of the application program. The supplier of the application program obtains in advance information specific to the device that uses the application program from the user of the application program. Then, a license that restricts the use to the device is generated and provided to the user. This prevents situations where application programs can be freely embedded in any device.
JP 2000-298561 A

  When generating a license for an application program, there is a case where what the license is granted to differs. For example, in the above-described printing apparatus and communication apparatus, a license may be issued to the communication apparatus or a license may be issued to the printing apparatus.

  These are determined by the provider of the application program based on predetermined criteria such as what function the application program performs.

  For this reason, the communication apparatus in which the application program is installed is also required to determine what the license is granted to and to perform optimal control according to each case.

  In addition, as a feature of the communication device, the printer is connected to the printing device via a local network. For this reason, by switching the network cable to another printing device during operation of the communication device, it becomes relatively easy to switch and use one communication device among a plurality of printing devices. Therefore, for example, there may be a situation in which an application program to which a license that can be used only in combination with a certain printing apparatus is used can be used even when connected to another printing apparatus. Therefore, there is a further need for an application program control method that can cope with such a situation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a communication device connected to a network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
First network interface means for connecting to the network;
Second network interface means for connecting to the data processing terminal;
Receiving means for receiving an application program having a predetermined function and identification information corresponding to the application program;
Data processing terminal identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
First identification means for installing the application program when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information of the communication device;
A second installation unit that installs the application program and stores the identification information when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information acquired by the data processing terminal identification information acquisition unit;
It is characterized by having.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, when there is an application program installed by the first installation unit, a first activation unit that activates the application program;
When there is an application program installed by the second installation unit, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition unit is used to acquire the data processing terminal identification information, and the second installation unit stores the identification information. Identification information determination means for determining whether or not the identification information matches, second activation means for starting the application program when the determination results in a match,
It further has these.
A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, when there is an application program activated by the second activation means,
Link-up detection means for detecting a link-up in the second network interface means;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection means, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition means is used to acquire the data processing terminal identification information again, and the identification information stored by the second installation means Identification information re-determination means for determining whether or not matches,
Application program stopping means for stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
It further has these.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a communication device connected to a network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
First network interface means for connecting to the network;
Second network interface means for connecting to the data processing terminal;
Receiving means for receiving an application program having a predetermined function and device identification information corresponding to the application program;
Device identification information acquisition means for acquiring device identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
Physical address acquisition means for acquiring a physical address of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
First installation means for installing the application program when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information of the communication apparatus;
A second installation unit that installs the application program and stores the physical address when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information acquired by the device identification information acquisition unit;
It is characterized by having.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, when there is an application program installed by the first installation unit, a first activation unit that activates the application program;
When the application program installed by the second installation unit exists, the physical address acquisition unit is used to acquire the physical address of the data processing terminal, and the physical address stored by the second installation unit A physical address determination unit that determines whether or not the second address corresponds to the physical address determination unit;
It further has these.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, when there is an application program activated by the second activation means,
Link-up detection means for detecting a link-up in the second network interface means;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection means, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired again using the physical address acquisition means and matches the physical address stored by the second installation means. Physical address re-determination means for determining whether or not
Application program stopping means for stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
It further has these.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the physical address acquisition means
Data receiving means for receiving transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface means;
Physical address extraction means for extracting a physical address of the data processing terminal from header information of the transmission data;
It further has these.

A communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the transmission data transmitted from the data processing terminal via the second network interface means is transmitted via the first network interface means, and received via the first network interface means. Communication relay means for transferring data to the data processing terminal via the second network interface means;
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. A first network interface connected to the network;
A second network interface connected to the data processing terminal;
In a communication device connected to the network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
A receiving step of receiving an application program having a predetermined function and identification information corresponding to the application program;
A data processing terminal identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A first installation step of installing the application program when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information of the communication device;
A second installation step of installing the application program and storing the identification information when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information acquired in the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step;
It is characterized by having.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, when there is an application program installed by the first installation step, a first startup step of starting the application program;
When there is an application program installed by the second installation step, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step is used to acquire data processing terminal identification information, and the second installation step stores the information. An identification information determination step for determining whether or not the identification information matches, a second activation step for activating the application program when the result of the determination is a match,
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, when there is an application program activated by the second activation process,
A link-up detection step of detecting a link-up in the second network interface;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection step, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step is used again to acquire data processing terminal identification information, and the identification information stored in the second installation step is stored. Identification information re-determination step for determining whether or not it matches,
An application program stop step of stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. A first network interface connected to the network;
A second network interface connected to the data processing terminal;
In a communication device connected to the network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
A receiving step of receiving an application program having a predetermined function and device identification information corresponding to the application program;
A device identification information acquisition step of acquiring device identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A physical address acquisition step of acquiring a physical address of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A first installation step of installing the application program when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information of the communication apparatus;
A second installation step of installing the application program and storing the physical address when device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information acquired in the device identification information acquisition step;
It is characterized by having.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, when there is an application program installed by the first installation step, a first startup step of starting the application program;
When the application program installed by the second installation step exists, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired using the physical address acquisition step, and the physical address stored by the second installation step A physical address determination step for determining whether or not they match, a second start step for starting the application program when the determination results in a match,
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, when there is an application program activated by the second activation process,
A link-up detection step of detecting a link-up disconnection in the second network interface;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection step, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired again using the physical address acquisition step, and matches the physical address stored by the second installation step. A physical address re-determination step to determine whether or not
An application program stop step of stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, the physical address acquisition step includes
A data receiving step of receiving transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface;
A physical address extraction step of extracting a physical address of the data processing terminal from header information of the transmission data;
It further has these.

A communication control method for a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface is transmitted via the first network interface, and reception data received via the first network interface is A communication relay step of transferring to the data processing terminal via a second network interface;
It further has these.

  According to the present invention, the communication device can perform appropriate control processing in each case according to the type of license assigned to the application.

  First, it is possible to install only the application licensed for the communication device itself or the printing device to which the communication device is currently connected.

  Next, applications licensed to the communication device itself can always be made available.

  Furthermore, an application licensed to a specific printing device can be used only when connected to the printing device.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a communication apparatus 1500 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 1 of the communication device 1500 controls the operation of each unit connected to the system bus 4 based on a control program stored in the rewritable FlashROM 6. The Flash ROM 6 also stores a program for performing application control processing according to the present invention as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The first network controller (LANC 7) communicates with a plurality of external devices (not shown) such as a host computer connected to the local area network (LAN) 2000 using a predetermined network communication protocol. The second network controller (LANC3) communicates with the printer 1000 connected via a network cable using a predetermined network communication protocol. The communication device 1500 comprehensively controls various data transmission / reception requests such as print data and printer control commands sent from the external device via the LANC 7 and transfers appropriate data to the printer 1000 connected via the LANC 3. Take control. The LED 5 is used as a display unit that indicates an operation state of the communication device 1500. For example, the electrical connection state (LINK) between the LANC 7 and the LAN 2000 or the LANC 3 and the printer 1000 can be indicated by the blinking pattern or color of the LED 5. Furthermore, various operation states such as the network communication mode (10Base, 100Base, full duplex, half duplex) can be indicated by the blinking pattern and color of the LED 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration in the control program stored in communication apparatus 1500 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control program is analyzed and processed by the CPU 1 of the communication device 1500.

  An operating system 1501 is an operating system (OS) that controls basic data input / output control of the network print server 1500. The operating system 1501 includes a file system 1505, a first network interface driver 1507, and a second network interface driver 1506. Here, the file system 1505 performs input / output control with the program / data storage unit 1508. The first network interface driver 1507 communicates with an external device such as a host computer (not shown) via a local area network (LAN2000) communication medium. The second network interface driver 1506 performs communication control with the printer 1000 via the network cable 2100. Note that the second network interface driver 1506 also has a LinkUp detection function for detecting an electrical connection state (LINK) with the printer 1000.

  An application program interface (API) 1502 provides various functions of the operating system 1501 to the application program.

  Examples of application programs include a user application 1503 that operates on the communication apparatus 1500, a printer 1000, and a management application 1504 that registers and manages user applications. Functions provided by the application program interface 1502 include a data transfer API, a resource control API, a printer control API, a job control API, a print server control API, and the like. The data transfer API provides a print data transmission / reception function. The resource control API performs input / output control of resource data such as bitmap images and display messages. The printer control API controls the restart of the printer 1000, initialization of setting values, setting, and the like. The job control API controls cancellation of a print job, reprint instruction, and the like. The print server control API is for restarting the communication device 1500 and initializing and setting the setting values.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an application installation process in the communication apparatus 1500 according to the present invention. S301 to S309 indicate each processing step, and correspond to the processing flow in the communication apparatus 1500 when there is an application installation instruction from the user. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500.

  First, in step S301, the communication device 1500 waits for an access from a user. This access from the user is performed when the user starts a WWW application on a client such as a host computer and inputs the URL of an application installer that operates on the communication device 1500.

  Upon receiving the access from the client in S301, the communication apparatus 1500 proceeds to S302 and activates the application installer. The application installer displays a predetermined application installer screen on the client and provides a graphical user interface.

  Next, in S303, it waits for an application to be installed and a license file to be transferred from the user via the application installer screen on the client. Here, the license file is given to the user in advance by the supplier of the application.

  In step S304, the communication apparatus 1500 extracts a device serial number from the license file. This device serial number uniquely determines a device on which the application can be installed. Only a device having a device serial number that matches the device serial number included in the license file can install the application.

  In S305, it is determined whether or not the device serial number extracted in S304 matches the device serial number of the communication apparatus 1500 itself.

  If they match, the process proceeds to S309, and after the application is installed, this processing flow ends.

  On the other hand, if the device serial number does not match the number of the communication device 1500 in S305, the process proceeds to S306. In step S <b> 306, the communication apparatus 1500 makes an inquiry to the printer 1000 via the network cable 2100 and acquires the device serial number of the printer 1000.

  In step S307, it is determined whether the device serial number extracted in step S304 matches the device serial number of the print 1000 acquired in step S306.

  If they do not match, it is determined that the application is not permitted to be installed, and the communication apparatus 1500 ends this processing flow. In this case, the communication device 1500 may notify the client of installation disapproval and display a message indicating an installation failure according to this notification on the WWW application on the client.

  If it is determined in S307 that the device serial number of the print 1000 matches, the process proceeds to S308. In step S308, the device serial number of the print 1000 is stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  In step S309, the application is stored in the program / data storage unit 1508. As a result, the application is installed in the communication device 1500. When the data storage process as described above is completed, the communication apparatus 1500 ends this process flow. In this case, the communication device 1500 may notify the client of the completion of installation, and display the completion of installation on the WWW application on the client.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of application activation processing in the communication apparatus 1500 according to the present invention. S401 to S404 indicate each processing step and correspond to the flow of application activation processing at the time of activation in the communication apparatus 1500 in which application installation illustrated in FIG. 3 is performed. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500. In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the number of applications currently installed in the communication device 1500 is only one for the sake of simplicity.

  When the power is turned on by the user, the communication device 1500 performs an application activation process. In step S401, it is first determined whether the device serial number of the print 1000 is stored in the license storage unit 1509 for the application.

  If it is not stored, it can be determined that the application is an application licensed for the communication apparatus 1500. Therefore, the process proceeds to S404, and immediately after the application is started, this processing flow ends. Thereby, the application can be used. In this case, since the application is licensed for the communication device 1500, it can be used in combination with any printer.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S401, if the device serial number of the print 1000 is stored, the process proceeds to S402. In step S <b> 402, the communication apparatus 1500 makes an inquiry to the printer 1000 via the network cable 2100 and acquires the device serial number of the printer 1000.

  In step S <b> 403, it is determined whether the device serial number of the printer 1000 acquired in step S <b> 402 matches the device serial number stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  If they do not match, it is determined that the application is not permitted to be used in combination with the currently connected printer 1000, and this processing flow is immediately terminated without starting the application.

  If the device serial numbers match as a result of the determination in S403, the process proceeds to S404, and the application is activated.

  As described above, an application licensed for a specific printer 1000 can be used only when connected to the printer 1000.

  However, in the case described above, there is a possibility that the network cable 2100 may be connected to another printer after that even if the printer 1000 is connected to an appropriate printer 1000 at the time of startup.

  In order to deal with the above problem, FIG. 5 will be used to describe an embodiment of processing after activation of the communication apparatus 1500 when an application licensed for a specific printer 1000 in FIG. 4 is activated. I will explain. S501 to S504 indicate each processing step, and correspond to the processing flow of the communication apparatus 1500 after the application activation processing illustrated in FIG. 4 is performed. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500.

  Further, it is assumed that only one application licensed for the printer 1000 is installed in the communication apparatus 1500, and that the application is currently activated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, it is assumed that the communication device 1500 is connected to the printer 1000 at the time of activation.

  In S501, the communication apparatus 1500 waits for the LinkUp to be detected by the LinkUp detection function provided in the second network interface driver 1506.

  If LinkUp is detected in step S501, the process advances to step S502, and the communication apparatus 1500 inquires the currently connected printer via the network cable 2100 and acquires the device serial number of the printer. This is because there is a possibility that another printer other than the printer 1000 is connected.

  In step S503, it is determined whether the device serial number acquired in step S502 matches the device serial number stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  If they match, it can be determined that the printer has not been switched. In this case, the communication apparatus 1500 returns to S501 and continues to wait until LinkUp is detected again.

  On the other hand, if the device serial numbers do not match as a result of the determination in S503, it can be determined that the communication apparatus 1500 has been switched to a printer different from the printer 1000 connected at the time of activation. Therefore, the process proceeds to S504, where the application is stopped so that the application is not used in combination with an unauthorized printer. Thereafter, this processing flow ends.

  As described above, even when the communication device 1500 is connected to another printer during startup, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an application is illegally used.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, appropriate application license management can be performed in each case according to the type of license assigned to the application.

  In other words, the application installation process described with reference to FIG. 3 makes it possible to install only the licensed application for the communication device 1500 itself or the printer 1000 to which the communication device 1500 is currently connected.

  Next, with the application activation process described with reference to FIG. 3, it is possible to always activate an application licensed to the communication device 1500 itself. An application licensed to a specific printer 1000 can be activated only when connected to the printer 1000.

  Further, regarding an application licensed to a specific printer 1000, unauthorized use can be prevented even if the communication device 1500 is changed to another printer after startup by the processing described in FIG. It becomes.

  Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

  First, the hardware configuration and the software configuration in the second embodiment are not different from those in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of application installation processing of the communication apparatus 1500 in the second embodiment according to the present invention. S601 to S610 indicate each processing step, and correspond to the processing flow in the communication apparatus 1500 when there is an application installation instruction from the user. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500.

  First, in step S601, the communication apparatus 1500 acquires the MAC address of the currently connected printer 1000.

  Here, an embodiment of a process for acquiring the MAC address of the printer 1000 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. S701 to S703 indicate each processing step, and correspond to the flow of the MAC address acquisition process of the printer 1000 in the communication apparatus 1500. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500.

  In step S <b> 701, the communication apparatus 1500 waits for some data to be transferred from the printer 1000 via the network cable 2100.

  When any data is transferred from the printer 1000, the communication apparatus 1500 proceeds to S702 and reads the header of the packet.

  FIG. 8 shows the header. As shown in FIG. 8, the header includes a destination MAC address 801, a source MAC address 802, a type 803, a data part 804, and a CRC 805.

  In step S703, the communication apparatus 1500 acquires the transmission source MAC address 802 in FIG. 8 described above from the header read in step S702. This transmission source MAC address 802 represents the MAC address of the printer 1000. After performing the above processing, this processing flow ends.

  The above is one example of the MAC address acquisition process of the printer 1000 performed by the communication apparatus 1500 in S601.

  Next, in step S602, the communication apparatus 1500 waits for access from the user. This access from the user is performed when the user starts a WWW application on a client such as a host computer and inputs the URL of an application installer that operates on the communication device 1500.

  Upon receiving the access from the client in S602, the communication apparatus 1500 proceeds to S603 and activates the application installer. The application installer displays a predetermined application installer screen on the client and provides a graphical user interface.

  Next, in S604, it waits for an application to be installed and a license file to be transferred from the user via the application installer screen on the client. Here, the license file is given to the user in advance by the supplier of the application.

  In step S605, the communication apparatus 1500 extracts a device serial number from the license file. This device serial number uniquely determines a device on which the application can be installed. Only a device having a device serial number that matches the device serial number included in the license file can install the application.

  In S606, it is determined whether or not the device serial number extracted in S605 matches the device serial number of the communication apparatus 1500 itself.

  If they match, the process proceeds to S610, and after the application is installed, this processing flow ends.

  On the other hand, if the device serial number does not match the number of the communication device 1500 in S606, the process proceeds to S607. In step S <b> 607, the communication apparatus 1500 makes an inquiry to the printer 1000 via the network cable 2100 and acquires the device serial number of the printer 1000.

  In step S608, it is determined whether the device serial number extracted in step S605 matches the device serial number of the print 1000 acquired in step S607.

  If they do not match, it is determined that the application is not permitted to be installed, and the communication apparatus 1500 ends this processing flow. In this case, the communication device 1500 may notify the client of installation disapproval and display a message indicating an installation failure according to this notification on the WWW application on the client.

  If it is determined in step S608 that the device serial number matches the print 1000, the process advances to step S609. In step S609, the MAC address of the print 1000 acquired in step S601 is stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  Next, in step S610, the application is stored in the program / data storage unit 1508. As a result, the application is installed in the communication device 1500. When the data storage process as described above is completed, the communication apparatus 1500 ends this process flow. In this case, the communication device 1500 may notify the client of the completion of installation, and display the completion of installation according to this completion notification on the WWW application on the client.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of application activation processing of the communication device 1500 in the second example of the present invention. Steps S901 to S904 indicate each processing step and correspond to the flow of application activation processing at the time of activation in the communication apparatus 1500 in which application installation illustrated in FIG. 6 is performed. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500. In FIG. 9, it is assumed that the number of applications currently installed in the communication device 1500 is only one for the sake of simplicity.

  When the power is turned on by the user, the communication device 1500 first performs a MAC address acquisition process of the printer 1000 in S901. Note that the MAC address acquisition processing of the printer 1000 is the same as that described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, in step S902, the communication apparatus 1500 determines whether the MAC address of the print 1000 is stored in the license storage unit 1509 for the application.

  If it is not stored, it can be determined that the application is an application licensed for the communication apparatus 1500, and thus the process proceeds to S904, and immediately after the application is started, this processing flow ends. Thereby, the application can be used. In this case, since the application is licensed for the communication device 1500, it can be used in combination with any printer.

  On the other hand, if the device serial number of the print 1000 is stored as a result of the determination in S902, the process proceeds to S903. In step S903, it is determined whether the MAC address of the printer 1000 acquired in step S901 matches the MAC address stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  If they do not match, it is determined that the application is not permitted to be used in combination with the currently connected printer 1000, and this processing flow is immediately terminated without starting the application.

  If the MAC addresses match as a result of the determination in S903, the process proceeds to S904, and the application is activated.

  As described above, an application licensed for a specific printer 1000 can be used only when connected to the printer 1000.

  However, in the case described above, there is a possibility that the network cable 2100 may be connected to another printer after that even if the printer 1000 is connected to an appropriate printer 1000 at the time of startup.

  In order to cope with the above problem, FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of processing after the communication device 1500 is started up when an application licensed for a specific printer 1000 in FIG. 9 is started. It explains using. S1001 to S1004 indicate each processing step, and correspond to the processing flow of the communication apparatus 1500 after the application activation processing illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed. The control procedure corresponding to each step is stored in the Flash ROM 6 of the communication device 1500.

  Further, it is assumed that only one application licensed for the printer 1000 is installed in the communication device 1500, and that the application is currently activated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, it is assumed that the communication device 1500 is connected to the printer 1000 at the time of activation.

  In S1001, the communication apparatus 1500 waits for the LinkUp to be detected by the LinkUp detection function provided in the network interface driver A1506.

  If LinkUp is detected in step S1001, the process advances to step S1002, and the communication apparatus 1500 performs the printer MAC address acquisition process described in FIG. Note that the printer MAC address acquisition process shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that already described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  In S1003, it is determined whether or not the MAC address acquired in S1002 matches the MAC address stored in the license storage unit 1509.

  If they match, it can be determined that the printer has not been switched. In this case, the communication apparatus 1500 returns to S1001 and continues to wait until LinkUp is detected again.

  On the other hand, if the MAC addresses do not match as a result of the determination in S1003, it can be determined that the communication apparatus 1500 has been switched to a printer different from the printer 1000 connected at the time of activation. Accordingly, the process proceeds to S1004, where the application is stopped so that the application is not used in combination with an unauthorized printer. Thereafter, this processing flow ends.

  As described above, even when the communication device 1500 is connected to another printer during startup, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an application is illegally used.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, appropriate application license management can be performed in each case according to the type of license assigned to the application.

  That is, the application installation process described with reference to FIG. 6 makes it possible to install only the licensed application for the communication device 1500 itself or the printer 1000 to which the communication device 1500 is currently connected.

Next, the application activation process described with reference to FIG. 9 can always be used for the application licensed to the communication device 1500 itself. For the application licensed to the specific printer 1000, It can be activated only when connected to the printer 1000.

  Further, regarding an application licensed to a specific printer 1000, unauthorized use can be prevented even if the communication device 1500 is switched to another printer after startup by the processing described in FIG. It becomes.

  Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, even when the communication apparatus 1500 is connected to another printer that does not have a device serial number or does not have a notification function, an application control process can be performed appropriately and quickly. Can be done.

  The present invention includes a case where a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. Further, the present invention includes a case where the computer of the system or apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program. Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. In addition, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like. As another program supply method, the program can be supplied by connecting to a homepage on the Internet using a browser of a client computer. In this case, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a storage medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.

  It is also possible to encrypt the program of the present invention, store it in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and distribute it to users. Further, a user who satisfies a predetermined condition is allowed to download key information to be decrypted from a homepage via the Internet, execute an encrypted program by using the key information, and install it on a computer. Is also possible.

  Further, based on the instructions of the program read by the computer, the OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

The hardware block diagram of the communication apparatus in connection with embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a software configuration block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application installation process in the communication apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application starting process in the communication apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application control process after the application starting in the communication apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application installation process in the communication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a printer MAC address acquisition process in a communication apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the header in connection with embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application starting process in the communication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. The flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the application control process after the application starting in the communication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1000 Printer 1500 Network Print Server 2000 Local Area Network 2100 Network Cable 1 CPU
2 RAM
3 Second LAN controller 4 System bus 5 LED
6 Flash ROM
7 First LAN controller

Claims (18)

A communication device connected to a network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
First network interface means for connecting to the network;
Second network interface means for connecting to the data processing terminal;
Receiving means for receiving an application program and identification information corresponding to the application program;
Data processing terminal identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
First identification means for installing the application program when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information of the communication device;
A second installation unit that installs the application program and stores the identification information when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information acquired by the data processing terminal identification information acquisition unit;
A communication apparatus comprising: First activation means for activating the application program when there is an application program installed by the first installation means;
When there is an application program installed by the second installation unit, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition unit is used to acquire the data processing terminal identification information, and the second installation unit stores the identification information. Identification information determination means for determining whether or not the identification information matches, second activation means for starting the application program when the determination results in a match,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: When there is an application program activated by the second activation means,
Link-up detection means for detecting a link-up in the second network interface means;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection means, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition means is used to acquire the data processing terminal identification information again, and the identification information stored by the second installation means Identification information re-determination means for determining whether or not matches,
Application program stopping means for stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: A communication device connected to a network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
First network interface means for connecting to the network;
Second network interface means for connecting to the data processing terminal;
Receiving means for receiving an application program and device identification information corresponding to the application program;
Device identification information acquisition means for acquiring device identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
Physical address acquisition means for acquiring a physical address of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface means;
First installation means for installing the application program when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information of the communication apparatus;
A second installation unit that installs the application program and stores the physical address when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information acquired by the device identification information acquisition unit;
A communication apparatus comprising: First activation means for activating the application program when there is an application program installed by the first installation means;
When the application program installed by the second installation unit exists, the physical address acquisition unit is used to acquire the physical address of the data processing terminal, and the physical address stored by the second installation unit A physical address determination unit that determines whether or not the second address corresponds to the physical address determination unit;
The communication device according to claim 4, further comprising: When there is an application program activated by the second activation means,
Link-up detection means for detecting a link-up in the second network interface means;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection means, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired again using the physical address acquisition means and matches the physical address stored by the second installation means. Physical address re-determination means for determining whether or not
Application program stopping means for stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: The physical address acquisition means includes
Data receiving means for receiving transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface means;
Physical address extraction means for extracting a physical address of the data processing terminal from header information of the transmission data;
The communication apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: The transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface means is transmitted via the first network interface means, and the reception data received via the first network interface means is received. Communication relay means for transferring to the data processing terminal via the second network interface means;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A first network interface connected to the network;
A second network interface connected to the data processing terminal;
In a communication device connected to the network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
A receiving step of receiving an application program and identification information corresponding to the application program;
A data processing terminal identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A first installation step of installing the application program when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information of the communication device;
A second installation step of installing the application program and storing the identification information when the identification information corresponding to the application program matches the identification information acquired in the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step;
A communication control method for a communication apparatus, comprising: A first activation step of activating the application program when there is an application program installed by the first installation step;
When there is an application program installed by the second installation step, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step is used to acquire data processing terminal identification information, and the second installation step stores the information. An identification information determination step for determining whether or not the identification information matches, a second activation step for activating the application program when the result of the determination is a match,
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: When there is an application program activated by the second activation process,
A link-up detection step of detecting a link-up in the second network interface;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection step, the data processing terminal identification information acquisition step is used again to acquire data processing terminal identification information, and the identification information stored in the second installation step is stored. Identification information re-determination step for determining whether or not it matches,
An application program stop step of stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: A first network interface connected to the network;
A second network interface connected to the data processing terminal;
In a communication device connected to the network and transmitting / receiving data via the network,
A receiving step of receiving an application program and device identification information corresponding to the application program;
A device identification information acquisition step of acquiring device identification information of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A physical address acquisition step of acquiring a physical address of a data processing terminal connected via the second network interface;
A first installation step of installing the application program when the device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information of the communication apparatus;
A second installation step of installing the application program and storing the physical address when device identification information corresponding to the application program matches the device identification information acquired in the device identification information acquisition step;
A communication control method for a communication apparatus, comprising: A first activation step of activating the application program when there is an application program installed by the first installation step;
When the application program installed by the second installation step exists, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired using the physical address acquisition step, and the physical address stored by the second installation step A physical address determination step for determining whether or not they match, a second start step for starting the application program when the determination results in a match,
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: When there is an application program activated by the second activation process,
A link-up detection step of detecting a link-up in the second network interface;
When link-up is detected by the link-up detection step, the physical address of the data processing terminal is acquired again using the physical address acquisition step, and matches the physical address stored by the second installation step. A physical address re-determination step to determine whether or not
An application program stop step of stopping the application program when the result of the re-determination does not match;
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: The physical address acquisition step includes
A data receiving step of receiving transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface;
A physical address extraction step of extracting a physical address of the data processing terminal from header information of the transmission data;
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: Transmission data transferred from the data processing terminal via the second network interface is transmitted via the first network interface, and reception data received via the first network interface is transmitted to the second network interface. A communication relay step of transferring to the data processing terminal via the network interface of
The communication control method for a communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:   A program for executing the communication control method according to any one of claims 9 to 16.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 17.

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