JP2011039900A - Network system, and program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect information from and use devices available at a new connected destination when a terminal computer connected to a certain network is reconnected to another network. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal computer includes a device information requesting means for, when reconnected from one of a plurality of networks to another, requesting via the network each of a plurality of devices connected to the network to send device information used for operating each of the plurality of devices, a plurality of device drive means for driving each device via the network with the use of the device information about the device, and an enabling means for enabling devices drivable by a plurality of drive means from the device drive means of the terminal computer according to the device information sent from the devices in response to the sending request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system and a program thereof.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus setting method in which print settings are automatically updated by an information management server managing computers and printers and transmitting update information transmission means to a moved computer.
Further, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a system management information storage unit that stores system management information necessary for the operation of a computer system, a network information acquisition unit that acquires information from a network to which the computer system is connected, It is determined that the network has been moved, and a network movement determination unit that determines whether the computer system has moved by comparing the information extracted by the network information acquisition unit with the network information stored in the system management information storage unit A system management information deleting unit for deleting system management information stored in the system management information storage unit, and a system for generating system management information necessary for the operation of the computer system and newly setting it in the system management information storage unit A system management information setting device including a management information generation unit is disclosed.

JP 2000-099193 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-17541

  When a computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the present invention provides information on devices that can be used among devices connected to a new connection destination network. An object of the present invention is to provide a network system that collects and uses and a program thereof.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application includes a plurality of devices each connected via a network, and a terminal computer that can be connected to any of the plurality of networks, and each of the plurality of devices includes the network. In response to a request from the terminal computer via the device information transmission device for transmitting device information for the operation of the device to the requesting terminal computer, the terminal computer via the network, When each device is connected to a plurality of device driving means for driving each device using the device information of the device and a network of another network to each of the devices via the connected network On the other hand, device information requesting means for requesting transmission of the device information, and in response to the request for transmission Based on the located et transmitted device information, the driven may device by the plurality of drive means is a network system including a enablement means for enabling use from the apparatus drive means of the terminal computer.

  In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, the terminal computer uses a device other than the device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request. 2. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising disabling means for disabling use from the apparatus driving means of the computer.

  In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the enabling means of the terminal computer can be driven by any one of the plurality of driving means based on device information transmitted from the device in response to the request for transmission. 3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the determined device can be used from the driving device.

  In the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, when one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the plurality of devices connected to the network are connected to each of the plurality of devices via the network. Device information requesting means for requesting transmission of device information used for the operation of each device; a plurality of device driving means for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network; An enabling means for enabling a device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request to be usable from the device driving means of the terminal computer. It is a terminal computer.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus other than the apparatus that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on the apparatus information transmitted from the apparatus in response to the transmission request is provided. 5. The terminal computer according to claim 4, further comprising a disabling means for disabling the device.

  In the invention according to claim 6 of the present application, the enabling means is further determined to be drivable by any of the plurality of driving means based on device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request. 6. The terminal computer according to claim 4, wherein the device is usable from the driving device.

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is a network system having a plurality of devices each having a computer and connected via a network, and a terminal computer that can be connected to any of the plurality of networks. In response to a request from the terminal computer via the network, each computer of the device is caused to execute a step of transmitting device information for the operation of the device to the requesting terminal computer. A plurality of steps for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network, and when connected from one network to another network, via the connected network, Transmission of the device information to each of the devices Requesting, and enabling the device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the request for transmission to be used from the device driving means of the terminal computer; It is a program that executes.

  In the invention according to claim 8 of the present application, when one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the plurality of devices connected to the network are connected to each of the plurality of devices via the network. Requesting transmission of device information used for the operation of each device, a plurality of steps for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network, and requesting the transmission In response to this, the program causes the terminal computer to execute the step of making the device that can be driven by the plurality of drive means usable from the device drive means of the terminal computer, based on the device information transmitted from the device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the computer is used in a device connected to a new connection destination network. It is possible to provide a network system that collects and uses information about possible devices.

  According to the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, when a terminal computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the terminal computer connected to the new connection destination network It is possible to provide a network system that makes an unusable device unusable.

  According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, when a terminal computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the device is connected to a new connection destination network. It is possible to provide a network system that makes it possible to use a device similar to the device connected to the original network.

  According to the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, when a terminal computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the terminal computer is connected to a new connection destination network. It is possible to provide a terminal computer that collects and uses the available devices.

  According to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, when a terminal computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the device connected to the new connection destination network It is possible to provide a terminal computer that makes an unusable device unusable.

  According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, when a computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, among the devices connected to the new connection destination network, It is possible to provide a network system that makes it possible to use a device similar to a device connected to the original network.

  According to the invention of claim 7 of the present application, in a network system, when a computer connected to one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, the apparatus is connected to a new connection destination network. It is possible to provide a program that collects and uses information available from among the available devices.

  According to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, in the terminal computer connected to the network system, when this terminal computer connected to one of the plurality of networks is connected to another network, a new connection is established. It is possible to provide a program that collects and uses the available devices among the devices connected to the previous network.

It is a figure which illustrates the composition of the 1st and 2nd network system to which this-application embodiment is applied, and (A) shows the 1st network system and (B) shows the 2nd network system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating setting information set in the server device and the printer device shown in FIGS. It is a flowchart which shows a process (S10) when the computer shown in FIG. 1 is moved to the 2nd network system from the 1st network system. It is a figure which illustrates what kind of peripheral equipment the computer moved to the 2nd network system from the 1st network system by the process (S10) shown in FIG. 3 can use.

[Background to the embodiment of the present application]
For example, when it is determined that the computer has been moved to the network, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 deletes the stored system management information and generates system management information necessary for the operation of the computer system. Set to.
However, according to this apparatus, since there is no timing to update the stored information, information mismatch may occur when the configuration of the network system changes, such as when the printer apparatus is removed from the network. .

The embodiment of the present application solves such a problem, and when a user removes a computer from a network and connects it to another network, the computer is connected to the network (data server device and printer). Device information is obtained from the device, etc.) and the device information stored in the computer is modified.
Furthermore, the embodiment of the present application uses a device similar to the device connected to the network before the movement when a similar device such as a computer movement between a plurality of networks in the same company is connected. Is configured to do.
In the present embodiment, when a computer (device driver) for using a device is installed by connecting a computer to the destination network, only the device driver of the device existing in the destination network can be used. By making the other devices unusable, it is configured to prevent troubles caused by making unusable device drivers usable.

[Description of Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described.

[Network system]
Hereinafter, the first and second network systems 1-1 and 1-2 to which the present embodiment is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of first and second network systems 1-1 and 1-2 to which the embodiment of the present application is applied. FIG. 1A shows the first network system 1-1. (B) shows the second network system 1-2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the network systems (NET) 1-1 and 1-2 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively computers (PCs) 2-1-1 to 2-1-n, 2. 2-1 to 2-2n (n ≧ 2; n is not always the same number), server devices 3-1 to 1-3-1-n, and 3-2-1 to 3 -N, and the printers 4-1-1-4-1-n, 4-2-1-4-2-n are networks 120-1 and 120-including a DHCP server (not shown) and the like. 2 to be communicably connected to each other.

When any of a plurality of possible components such as the computer 2-1-1 to 2-1-n is indicated without being specified, the computer 2, the computer 2-1, or the computer 2-2 is simply indicated. Etc. may be abbreviated.
In addition, the computer 2, the server device 3, and the printer device 4 that can be the subject of information processing and information communication are sometimes collectively referred to as nodes, and the server device 3 and the printer device 4 are also collectively referred to as peripheral devices. Sometimes.

Further, for the sake of concreteness and clarification of the explanation, the computer 2-1-2 that has a plurality of nodes and is connected to the network 120-1 of the first network system 1-1 will be described below. A specific example is a case of moving to the network system 1-2.
In the network systems 1-1 and 1-2, even when the computer 2-1-2 is moved from the first network system 1-1 to the second network system 1-2, the computer 2-1 -2 is the peripheral device that can be used by using the peripheral device information used in the first network system 1-1 and the peripheral device information acquired in the second network system 1-2. Can be used, and available peripheral devices can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, for example, the computer 2-1-2 connected to the first network system 1-1 by the DHCP server of the first network 120-1 , IP address 10.20.30.100 is set, IP address 10.20.30.10 is set for server device 3-1-1, and printer devices 4-1-1 and 4-1-1-n are set. Are respectively set with IP addresses 10.20.30.50 and 10.20.30.60.
Further, for example, the IP address 50.60.200.00 is set to the computer 2-1-2 connected to the second network system 1-1 by the DHCP server of the first network 120-2. An IP address 50.60.70.5 is set for the server device 3-2-1, and an IP address 50.60.70.60 is assigned to each of the printer devices 4-2-1 and 4-2-n. 50.60.70.70 is set.

[Hardware configuration]
Hereinafter, a hardware configuration of a node connected to the network system 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a node connected to the network system 1 includes a main body 100 including a CPU 102, a memory 104 including a ROM and a RAM, and peripheral circuits thereof, a display device, a keyboard, a USB port, a mouse, and the like. An input / output device 106, an interface (IF) 110 for transmitting and receiving information between the network 120 and the main body 100, a storage device 112 for writing and reading data to and from a storage medium 114 such as HD, CD, DVD, In addition, the printing apparatus 2 includes a function implementing unit 116 such as an image forming apparatus used for printing output.
That is, each node constituting the network system 1 has a component for realizing each function, and a component as a general computer that can communicate with the other nodes 2.

[Setting information]
Hereinafter, setting information set in each peripheral device will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating setting information set in the server device 3 and the printer device 4 shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, a peripheral device (for example, the printer device 4) connected to the network system 1 includes a printer name, a model (model) name, a driver name, a connection destination port (connection destination) to the computer 2, and a printer. Setting information of each device 4 is included.
Note that the IP addresses shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may be shown as connection destinations included in the setting information.
The peripheral device setting information is also set in a program (device driver; not shown) used to use the server device 3 and the printer device 4 in the computer 2, and in order to use these peripheral devices from the computer 2. Used for.
Each piece of information shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the memory 104 and the storage device 112 (FIG. 1) of the peripheral device (the same applies hereinafter).

[Processing of computer 2 when moving between network systems]
Hereinafter, processing of the computer 2-1-2 that is disconnected from the first network system 1-1 and connected to the second network system 1-2 will be described.
In the following description, the computer 2-1-2 may be simply abbreviated as the computer 2.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process (S10) when the computer 2-1-2 shown in FIG. 1 is moved from the first network system 1-1 to the second network system 1-2.
Note that the processing shown in FIG. 3 is realized by specifically using hardware resources of the computer 2 by processing of a program (none of which is shown) executed on the OS installed in the computer 2. .

As shown in FIG. 3, when moved from the first network system 1-1 to the second network system 1-2, step 100 (S100), the computer 2 receives an IP address (from the DHCP server of the network 120-2). For example, the setting of 50.60.70.200; FIG. 1) is received.
In step 102 (S102), the computer 2 transmits the setting information and IP address (for example, included in MIB (Management Information Base) information) of each peripheral device in the broadcast format in the second network system 1-2. Request.
Each peripheral device connected to the second network system 1-2 transmits its setting information and IP address to the requesting computer 2, and the computer 2 transmits the transmitted information to the network. Receive via 120-2.

In step 104 (S104), the computer 2 determines whether the processing has been completed for the setting information of all peripheral devices received in the processing of S102.
When the processing is completed for all the peripheral device setting information, the computer 2 ends the processing. Otherwise, the computer 2 selects setting information received from peripheral devices that have not been processed so far, The process proceeds to S106.
In step 106 (S106), the computer 2 determines that the peripheral device model indicated by the setting information received from the peripheral device selected as the processing target is connected to the first network system 1-1. It is determined whether it is the same as the peripheral device model indicated by any of the setting information set in the device driver.
That is, for example, the computer 2 indicates that the “model name”, “driver” name, and “printer setting” included in the setting information received from the printer device 4 selected as the processing target are the first network system 1-1. When connected to 1, it is determined whether there is a peripheral device having setting information including the same information set in the device driver.
If the destination second network system 1-2 has a peripheral device of the same model as that in the first network system 1-1, the computer 2 proceeds to the process of S108, and otherwise proceeds to the process of S120. .

In step 108 (S108), the computer 2 determines whether or not there are a plurality of peripheral devices of the same model as in the first network system 1-1 in the second network system 1-2 at the movement destination.
If there are a plurality of peripheral devices of the same model, the computer 2 proceeds to the process of S110, and otherwise proceeds to the process of S112.
In step 110 (S110), the computer 2 selects a peripheral device configuration in the first network system 1-1 and a peripheral device having a configuration as much as possible.

In step 112 (S112), the computer 2 sets the setting information of the peripheral device selected in S106 or S110 in the device driver, makes this device driver usable, and is determined to be the same model in the processing of S106. Peripheral devices can be used.
In step 114 (S114), the computer 2 updates the device information of the peripheral device of the same model that has been stored so far with the device information of the peripheral device to be processed that has been made available in S112.

In step 120 (S120), the computer 2 determines that the peripheral device model indicated by the setting information received from the peripheral device selected as the processing target is connected to the first network system 1-1. It is determined whether or not it is similar to the peripheral device model indicated by any of the setting information set in the device driver.
The similarity of peripheral devices is determined by whether or not the contents of the setting information such as the printer settings (DEVMODE contents) are approximate.
When there is a similar peripheral device, the computer 2 performs the same process as S112, and proceeds to the process of S114. Otherwise, the computer 2 proceeds to the process of S122.
The peripheral device model indicated by the setting information received from the peripheral device selected as the processing target and the setting information set in the device driver when connected to the first network system 1-1. The similarity of the peripheral device model indicated by any of the above is similar to, for example, that at least one of the peripheral devices is set by setting setting information of the peripheral device in any device driver existing in the computer 2. Indicates that the function of the part will be available.
In step 122 (S122), the computer 2 disables the setting information of the peripheral device that has been the object of processing.

FIG. 4 shows what peripheral devices can be used by the computer 2 moved from the first network system 1-1 to the second network system 1-2 by the process (S10) shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates this.
As shown by adding symbols a and d in FIG. 4, the computer 2 performs the first network system 1 previously connected to the second network system 1-2 by the process of S <b> 10 shown in FIG. 3. When there is a printer device 4 having the same model and the same setting, the printer device 4 can be used.

In addition, as indicated by the symbol b in FIG. 4, when the second network system 1-2 does not have the same model or similar peripheral device as the first network system 1-1 previously connected, A device driver is set to stop the use of the printer device 4 connected in the first network system 1-1 connected previously.
Further, as indicated by the reference symbol c in FIG. 4, the peripheral device connected to the newly connected second network system 1-2 is connected to the first network system 1-1 previously connected. The computer 2 does not create a device driver for using the peripheral device.

1 ... Network system,
2 ... computer,
100 ... body,
104 ... memory,
106: I / O device,
110 ... IF,
112... Storage device,
114... Storage medium,
116 ... function realization part,
3 ... Server device,
4 ... Printer device,

Claims (8)

Multiple devices each connected via a network;
A terminal computer that can be connected to any of the plurality of networks,
Each of the plurality of devices
In response to a request from a terminal computer via the network, a device information transmitting device for transmitting device information for operation of the device to the requesting terminal computer,
The terminal computer is
A plurality of device driving means for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network;
Device information requesting means for requesting transmission of the device information to each of the devices via the connected network when connected from a certain network to another network;
An enabling means for enabling a device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request to be usable from the device driving means of the terminal computer. Network system. The terminal computer is
Based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request, a device other than the device that can be driven by the plurality of drive units is disabled from the device drive unit of the terminal computer. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising: The enabling means of the terminal computer further includes an apparatus determined to be drivable by any of the plurality of driving means based on apparatus information transmitted from the apparatus in response to the transmission request. The network system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the network system can be used. When one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, it is used for the operation of each of the plurality of devices to each of the plurality of devices connected to the network via the network. Device information requesting means for requesting transmission of device information;
A plurality of device driving means for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network;
An enabling means for enabling a device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request to be usable from the device driving means of the terminal computer. Terminal computer. Based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request, a device other than the device that can be driven by the plurality of drive units is disabled from the device drive unit of the terminal computer. The terminal computer according to claim 4, further comprising: The enabling means can further use a device determined to be drivable by any one of the plurality of driving means based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request. The terminal computer according to claim 4 or 5. A plurality of devices each having a computer and connected via a network;
In a network having a terminal computer that can be connected to any of the plurality of networks,
A computer for each of the plurality of devices;
In response to a request from the terminal computer via the network, causing the device information for the operation of the device to be transmitted to the requesting terminal computer;
In the terminal computer,
A plurality of steps for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network;
Requesting each of the devices to transmit the device information via the connected network when connected from one network to another network; and
A program for executing, on the basis of device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request, a device that can be driven by the plurality of driving means from the device driving means of the terminal computer. When one of a plurality of networks is connected to another network, it is used for the operation of each of the plurality of devices to each of the plurality of devices connected to the network via the network. Requesting transmission of device information; and
A plurality of steps for driving each of the devices using the device information of the device via the network;
Based on the device information transmitted from the device in response to the transmission request, the device that can be driven by the plurality of drive means from the device drive means of the terminal computer is executed in the terminal computer. Program to make.

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