JP3979055B2 - Fixed address setting device, fixed address setting method, and fixed address setting program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fixed address setting device, a fixed address setting method, and a fixed address setting program for setting a fixed address in a device connected to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 7 shows a state where the computer 1 and the network device 3 are connected to the network 5. The network 5 may be further connected to an external network by the gateway 7. As described above, in order to purchase a network device 3, such as a network printer, and connect to the network 5 and actually use it, it is necessary to set an address on the network, that is, a so-called IP address (Internet Protocol address). become. Hereinafter, the address is an IP address. For this address setting, since it is complicated for the user to set the address of each network device, a DHCP server 9 is provided in the network 5 and address setting by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is often performed. . In the address setting by DHCP, for example, when the system including the network device 3 is started up, the DHCP server 9 assigns an address to the network device 3 from the settable addresses. There is no need to do it.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, according to the prior art in which addresses are assigned to network devices by DHCP, user processing is not required for address setting. However, the address assigned by DHCP is lost when the operation of the system is completed and the power is turned off, and a new address setting request is issued when the system is restarted next time. In general, however, an address different from the previous one is assigned. In other words, the DHCP address is a dynamic address that may vary depending on the network status each time the system power is turned on or off. For the convenience of communication with the network device, the fixed address is easier to establish communication, and in the case of a network printer, the fixed address is more preferable for printing through the network. Therefore, finally, it is necessary to reset the address assigned by DHCP to a fixed address.
[0004]
One method of resetting to a fixed address is to enter the address on the operation panel of the network device. However, because of the size of the operation panel screen, the operability is limited, and the user must enter the address one by one. It is cumbersome to do. The other method is a method of fixing addresses using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is an address setting protocol by communication on a network. In this case, a large number of devices can be set at a time. However, there are the following problems. That is, when the network device is connected to the network for the first time, since no address is acquired, communication on the network cannot be performed and SNMP cannot be used. In addition, when an address is already assigned by DHCP, communication is possible and SNMP can be used. However, since the address is dynamic, the current address of the target device whose address is to be fixed is unknown.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to fix such a problem that the conventional technique does not require an operation on the operation panel of the network device, and a fixed address can be easily set using an address setting protocol by communication on the network. An address setting device, a fixed address setting method, and a fixed address setting program are provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fixed address setting device according to the present invention is a fixed address setting device for fixing a dynamic address already assigned to a device connected to a network to a static address, the fixed address setting device A target search means for searching and specifying a dynamic address of a target device on the network, and a fixed address providing means for assigning a fixed address to the specified target device and transmitting the fixed address. To do.
[0009]
The fixed address setting method according to the present invention is a fixed address setting method for fixing a dynamic address already assigned to a device connected to a network to a static address, A target search step of searching and specifying a dynamic address of a target device on the network on a network, and a fixed address providing step of allocating and transmitting a fixed address to the specified target device. To do.
[0011]
A fixed address setting program according to the present invention is a fixed address setting program for fixing a dynamic address already assigned to a device connected to a network to a static address. A target search processing procedure for searching and specifying a dynamic address of the target device to be fixed on the network, and a fixed address providing processing procedure for allocating and transmitting a fixed address to the specified target device. It is made to perform.
[0013]
Also, the fixed address setting device according to the present invention searches the network for a device to be fixed in order to fix a dynamic address already assigned to a device connected to the network. By this search, a device to be fixed can be designated, and a fixed address is assigned to the designated device using SNMP. Therefore, a fixed address can be easily set using an address setting protocol by communication on the network without requiring an operation on the operation panel of the network device. The search can use SNMP broadcast communication. The fixed address is preferably set to the same address as the searched dynamic address, but a fixed address different from the searched dynamic address can be set in order to avoid collision with the address of another device.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computer 1 connected to a network device 3 via a network 5. In the computer 1, a CPU 21, a communication control unit 23, and an internal storage device 25 are connected by an internal bus line. The CPU 21 includes a temporary address setting unit 27, a fixed address setting unit 29, and a target search unit 31. The communication control unit 23 is connected to the network device 3 via the network 5. The operation of the fixed address setting for the network device 3 of the computer 1 having such a configuration will be described below.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is an event diagram showing the operation of the computer 1 and the network device 3 via the network in the first embodiment. When the network device 3 has not yet been assigned an address, for example, when the network device 3 is first connected to the network, the following operations are performed.
[0016]
S1 is a temporary address requesting step in which a temporary address setting request for network communication is made from the network device 3 to the computer 1 via the network 5. Control of communication via the network is performed by the communication control unit 23 of the computer 1 through all processes.
[0017]
S3 is a temporary address providing step in which the communication control unit 23 of the computer 1 receives the temporary address setting request and allocates the same temporary address as the address to be finally fixed by the temporary address setting unit 27. The assignment is performed using DHCP by holding a pair of a MAC (Media Access Control) address and a temporary address of the network device 3.
[0018]
S5 is a temporary address setting response step, in which the network device 3 transmits to the computer 1 that the temporary address has been assigned. Thereby, a temporary address is set on the network device 3 on the network, and SNMP as an address setting protocol can be used by communication on the network.
[0019]
S7 is a fixed address providing step, in which the fixed address setting unit 29 of the computer 1 assigns a fixed address to the network device 3 by using SNMP which is an address setting protocol by network communication under the temporary address. The fixed address is preferably set to the same address as the temporary address, but an address different from the temporary address can be set in order to avoid collision with other devices.
[0020]
S9 is a fixed address setting response step, in which the network device 3 transmits to the computer 1 that a fixed address has been assigned, thereby completing the setting of the fixed address.
[0021]
When a specific address is assigned to the computer 1 and an address is automatically assigned to the network device 3, communication by SNMP cannot be performed. Therefore, the network device 3 is turned off and then turned on again. The present invention can also be implemented by enabling provisional address assignment by DHCP.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is an event diagram of an operation through the network between the computer 1 and the network device 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. When the network device 3 has already been assigned a dynamic address, for example, when the network device 3 is already connected to the network, has been assigned an address by DHCP, and the dynamic address is fixed to a static address The following operations are performed.
[0023]
S21 is a target search step, in which the target search unit 31 of the computer 1 searches for a network device connected to the network using SNMP broadcast communication or the like, and displays a list of its name, model, address, MAC address, and the like. create. Next, the target network device 3 is designated from the list and its dynamic address is obtained.
[0024]
S23 is a fixed address providing step, in which the fixed address setting unit 29 of the computer 1 sets the same fixed address as the dynamic address for the specified network device 3. In order to avoid collision with other devices, it is possible to set a fixed address different from the dynamic address. Setting is performed by SNMP.
[0025]
S25 is a fixed address setting response step, in which the network device 3 sends a message to the computer 1 that it has been assigned a fixed address, thereby fixing the dynamic address to a static address and setting the fixed address. Is completed.
[0026]
FIGS. 4 to 6 show examples of fixed address setting user interfaces in a computer connected to a network which is a fixed address setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, by using a fixed address setting tool installed in the computer, a fixed address setting can be performed without special knowledge for the user of the network device.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a selection screen. When the fixed address setting tool is activated on the computer 1, this selection screen is displayed following the startup page on which the MAC address of the target network device 3 is displayed first. In the selection screen, dynamic address assignment by DHCP is not yet performed, but in the first case where a fixed address is set by specifying the MAC address of the device, or a device to which a dynamic address has already been assigned is searched on the network. Then, any one of the second cases in which a fixed address is set is selected by clicking on the screen. This selection corresponds to selecting either the first embodiment or the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a device setting screen. When the user inputs information to be set in the network device 3, the fixed address setting unit 29 of the computer 1 sets the fixed address in the network device 3.
[0029]
In the selection of FIG. 4, when the first selection is made, enter the MAC address of the network device 3 to which the fixed address is to be set, the IP address to be set to the fixed address, the subnetwork of the network to which the network device 3 is connected, and the gateway address. To do. The same screen as the temporary address setting by DHCP and the fixed address setting by SNMP can be used, and a fixed address different from the temporary address can be set in order to avoid collision with other devices.
[0030]
When the second selection is made, the network device for which a fixed address is to be set is searched and specified on the list, and the dynamic address and the MAC address are input. In order to avoid collision with other devices, it is possible to set a fixed address different from the dynamic address.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a search screen. This screen is displayed when the second selection is made in the selection of FIG. The target search unit 31 of the computer 1 searches for network devices connected to the network by SNMP broadcast communication or the like, creates a list of devices that can be specified, and displays the list on the screen. The target device for which a fixed address is to be set is specified from the name, model, etc. of the device in this list. The dynamic addresses displayed in this list are displayed in the IP address column of FIG. 5 and can be set as fixed addresses.
[0032]
As described above, the fixed address can be smoothly set in a user-friendly manner by using the user interface of the computer connected to the network.
[0033]
A representative network device is a network printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a game machine connected to a home network, an information home appliance, and the like.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
The fixed address setting device according to the present invention does not require operation on the operation panel of the network device, and can easily set a fixed address using a communication protocol on the network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an event diagram of an operation through a network between a computer and a network device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an event diagram of an operation through a network between a computer and a network device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a selection screen in the fixed address setting user interface according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a device setting screen in the fixed address setting user interface according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search screen in the fixed address setting user interface according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a network in which a computer and a network device are connected.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer, 3 Network device, 5 Network, 7 Gateway, 9 DHCP server, 21 CPU, 23 Communication control part, 25 Internal storage device, 27 Temporary address setting part, 29 Fixed address setting part, 31 Object search part.

Claims (3)

A dynamic address that is already assigned to devices connected to the network, a fixed address setting device for immobilizing a static address,
Target search means for searching and specifying a dynamic address of the target device to be fixed on the network;
A fixed address providing means for allocating and transmitting a fixed address to the designated target device;
A fixed address setting device comprising: A fixed address setting method for fixing a dynamic address already assigned to a device connected to a network to a static address,
A target search step of searching and specifying a dynamic address of the target device to be fixed on the network;
A fixed address providing step of allocating and transmitting a fixed address to the designated target device;
A fixed address setting method comprising: A dynamic address that is already assigned to devices connected to the network, a fixed address setting program for immobilizing a static address,
On the computer,
A target search processing procedure for searching and specifying a dynamic address of the target device to be fixed on the network;
A fixed address provision processing procedure for allocating and transmitting a fixed address to the designated target device;
Allowed to run a fixed address setting program characterized Rukoto.

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