JP4273053B2 - Information processing apparatus and method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus as a network device search apparatus that searches for devices on a network, a control method thereof, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, network devices such as printers and multifunction peripherals that are connected to a network and that can be operated from a computer via the network are used. Accordingly, management software for easily using these network devices has been developed. Such management software provides various functions for managing devices such as device search, network address setting, and device control.

  There are various methods for the management software to search for devices on the network, and one method is a broadcast method.

  In the broadcast method, the management software broadcasts a search request packet for a device on the network, and the device that has received the search request packet returns a search response to the management software to search for the presence of the device. . This broadcast method can be easily implemented, but broadcast packets often cannot pass through routers connecting networks. This is because the network administrator often sets the router so that the broadcast packet is not routed in order to suppress unnecessary network traffic. As a result, the device search by the broadcast method has a problem that the searchable range is narrowed within the same subnet.

  Therefore, a device search method using multicast instead of broadcast has been developed. Multicast can send data to multiple destinations at the same time as broadcast, but unlike broadcast, by sending data to a special address for multicast, it is possible for nodes that are preparing to receive from this multicast address. Data transmission can only be performed. Because of these characteristics, for multicast packets, packet routing by a router is often permitted. In general, whether or not to transfer a packet received by the router to another network is determined according to the following rules.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a packet structure. The TCP / IP packet has a structure 101, and the IP header portion 102 therein has a TTL 103 (Time To Live) area. The initial value of this TTL value is set by the transmission source, but the router receiving this packet decreases the value by 1 and transfers it to another network. At that time, if the TTL value of the received packet is 1 or less, the router discards the packet without transferring it. As a result, it is guaranteed that a situation in which unnecessary packets continue to be transferred over the network forever does not occur. According to this rule, the packet transmission source can control the reach of the packet by first setting the TTL value of the packet transmitted by the packet to an appropriate value.

  SLP (Service Location Protocol) defined by RFC2608 is a protocol that enables a service search on a network using multicast. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet structure of a Service Request (function = 1) which is a command for searching for a service in the SLP. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a packet structure of Service Reply (function = 2), which is a command for a service to receive a service request to respond.

  In accordance with the packet structure shown in FIG. 2, the transmission source generates search request packets in which the types and scopes of services to be searched are described as 201 and 202, respectively, and transmits the packets using multicast. The node that has received the search request packet on the network analyzes its contents, and returns a response with the packet structure of FIG. 3 when the node matches the search condition. If it does not match, discard the packet.

  In response to the problem that a situation in which the response of the device to the search request packet cannot be obtained within a certain time may occur due to the increase in the size of the network, the search client software can change the device from the device search FSA arranged for each subnet. It is considered to solve the problem by acquiring a list (see Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in order to save energy, improvements are being made to reduce power consumption in these network devices. In particular, in the case of devices with high power consumption such as printers and copiers that fix images using heat, the low power consumption is considered to be a factor for the spread of products. Normally, if these devices are not operated by the user for a certain period of time, or if communication with other devices or computers is not performed for a certain period of time, the device shifts to the sleep mode (power saving mode), and the one-chip microcomputer, LAN Processing that suppresses power consumption by stopping unnecessary power supply is performed by supplying power only to low-power-consumption hardware such as a controller. Further, in order to cancel the sleep mode, in addition to the case where there is an operation from the user, when a packet having a specific data format is received from the network, a process for resuming all functions is performed.
JP 2003-99341 A

  However, in the network device having the sleep mode as described above, a problem occurs when searching for the device from the management software. That is, when the device is in the sleep mode state, even if the management software transmits a device search request, the device does not return to the normal state, so no response is returned, and as a result, the device cannot be searched.

  The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problem, and the purpose of the present invention is that a device that is in a desired network range is in a sleep mode state in which the device cannot respond to a search request. It is another object of the present invention to provide a network device search apparatus that can reliably search for a device.

To achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus on a network, and performs a search for instructing to search for a desired image processing apparatus on the network. In response to a search instruction from the search instruction means, a first transmission means for transmitting a request for causing the image processing apparatus on the network to transition from the power saving state to the normal state, and the first transmission means After the request is transmitted by the second transmission means for transmitting a search request for searching for a desired image processing apparatus, the request transmitted by the first transmission means, and the second transmission means Designating means for designating a transmission range of a search request to be transmitted, wherein the first sending means and the second sending means send the request and the search request by the designating means. And transmits to the specified transmission range.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a network device search apparatus that can reliably search for a device that exists in a desired network range even if the device is in a sleep mode.

  Furthermore, by making the Wakeup packet, which is a packet for resuming all the functions of the device in the sleep state and returning to the normal state, the same reachable range of the search request packet, the unnecessary state can be changed from the sleep state to the normal state. Thus, it is possible to search for a device without deteriorating the power saving function of the device.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a construction example of a network device search system to which the present invention can be applied in the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, three LANs 400, 410, 420 are interconnected by routers 430, 440, a computer device 401 and a device 402 are in LAN 400, a device 411 is in LAN 410, and a device is in LAN 420. 421 are connected to each other. Here, the device is an image processing apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a FAX, a scanner, or a multifunction peripheral.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer apparatus 401 that can be used as a network device search apparatus according to the present invention. The network device search apparatus according to the present invention can be realized by a computer apparatus similar to a conventional computer apparatus.

  In FIG. 5, a hard disk (HD) 511 stores a program that causes the computer apparatus 401 to function as a network device search apparatus in the present embodiment. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the processing execution subject of the network device search apparatus is the CPU 501, and the software control subject is the network device search software stored in the hard disk (HD) 511.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the network device. Here, a laser beam printer will be described as an example. In the printer 600 of FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a printer CPU (CPU), which comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 604 based on a control program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 603. An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 610 connected via the print interface 607. Further, a control program that can be executed by the CPU 601 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 603. Further, the font ROM of the ROM 603 stores font data (including outline font data) used when generating the output information, and the ROM 603 data ROM stores information used on the host computer. Is remembered. The CPU 601 can communicate with a host computer on the network via the LAN controller unit 606. Reference numeral 602 denotes a RAM, which mainly functions as a main memory, work area, and the like of the CPU 601, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 602 is used as an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, and the like. Access to an external storage device 611 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 608. The hard disk is used as a job storage area for storing font data, emulation programs, form data, etc., temporarily spooling print jobs, and controlling the spooled jobs from the outside. Reference numeral 605 denotes an operation panel which allows the user to input various information from software keys. The above-described external storage device is not limited to one, and at least one external storage device is provided. In addition to the built-in font, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected. It may be configured. A non-volatile memory 609 stores printer mode setting information from the operation panel 605 for each user and each group.

  Although not shown, the printer 600 can be equipped with various expansion devices such as a finisher for performing stapling and sorting functions and a double-sided device for realizing a double-sided printing function. Those operations are controlled by the CPU 601.

  The power control unit 612 controls power supply to each unit of the printer 600 and includes two power control lines. One line is connected to the LAN controller 606 and the operation panel 605 via a line 614, and the other line is connected to the printer controller 605 and the print engine 610 via a line 613. The printer 600 remains in a standby state for a certain time and sleeps from the CPU 601. When instructed to shift to the mode, the power supply from the line 613 is stopped, and only the LAN controller 606, the operation panel 605, and the power supply control unit 612 connected to the line 614 are in an operable state. ing. In addition, a specific data pattern can be registered in the LAN controller 606. When a packet including this data pattern is received from the network, the power supply control unit 612 is reset to return the printer 600 to the normal state. The power supply resume instruction to the line 613 is performed. When the CPU 601 executes the control program at the time of startup, the CPU 601 performs a data pattern registration process to the LAN controller 606. A part of this data pattern can be set by the user as will be described later. Hereinafter, a packet including a specific data pattern for returning the device from the sleep state to the normal state is expressed as a Wakeup packet.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the internal operation of the network device search software.

  When search execution is instructed, in step 701, the TTL value and SCOPE value used for the transmission packet, which are input and set by the user from the search setting screen shown in FIG. 17, are acquired. Next, in Step 702, a Wakeup packet for shifting the device in the sleep state to the normal state is transmitted by multicast. At this time, the TTL value acquired in step 701 is set in the Wakeup packet. The SCOPE value is always set to “AAA”. The format of this Wakeup packet will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Thereafter, in step 703, the device waits for the device to transition from the sleep state to the normal state. Here, for example, it is assumed that the user waits for 10 seconds, but this value may be changeable by the user.

  Next, in step 704, the search request packet is transmitted by multicast. At that time, the TTL value and SCOPE value acquired in step 701 are set in the search request packet. The format of the search request packet will be described later with reference to FIG. Thereafter, in step 705, it is determined whether a search response from the device has been received. The format of the search response packet will be described later with reference to FIG. If a search response is received, the process proceeds to step 706, device information such as a MAC address and an IP address is extracted from the received search response, added to the device list, and then the process proceeds to step 707. Note that the device list is as shown in FIG. 8, and holds device information in response to a search request in a list format. If the search response is not received in step 705, the process also proceeds to step 707. In step 707, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the search request packet was transmitted in step 704. Here, for example, it is assumed that the user waits for 10 seconds, but this value may be changeable by the user. If the predetermined time has not elapsed in step 707, the process returns to step 705. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 708 to display the generated device list and end the process. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the search request packet is transmitted after a predetermined time has elapsed after the transmission of the Wakeup packet. However, these may be transmitted as one packet.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a Wakeup packet transmitted in step 702 of FIG. The Wakeup packet conforms to the SLP format and designates “wakeup.AAA” as the service type. When the LAN controller 606 of the device receives the SLP packet in which “wakeup.AAA” is designated as the service type, the device returns from the sleep state to the normal state. That is, in this embodiment, a case where “wakeup.AAA” is registered as a specific data pattern in the LAN controller 606 of the device is shown.

  FIG. 10 is an example of a search request packet transmitted in step 704 of FIG. In the search request packet, “service: ws-discovery.AAA” is specified as the service type to be searched and “AAA” is specified as the SCOPE in accordance with the SLP format.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a search response packet received in step 705 of FIG. The search response packet returns URL Entry including information such as URL for access according to the SLP format.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing device state transition. In the normal state 1201, when a state in which no user operation is performed for a certain period of time or a state in which communication with another device or computer is not performed for a certain period of time continues, a transition to the sleep state 1202 is made. In the sleep state 1202, when a user operation is performed or a Wakeup packet is received from the network, the normal state 1201 is entered.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing internal processing in the device in the sleep state. When the device in the sleep state receives a Wakeup packet as shown in FIG. 9 from the network in step 1301, the device proceeds to step 1302, and shifts to the normal mode. Next, when a search request packet as shown in FIG. 10 is received in step 1303, the process proceeds to step 1304, where the packet is analyzed, and in step 1305, it is determined whether or not to respond to the search request. If it is determined that a response should be made, the process proceeds to step 1306, a search response as shown in FIG. 11 is transmitted, and the process ends. If it is determined that the response should not be made, the process proceeds to step 1307, where the received search request packet is discarded and the process is terminated. The determination of whether or not to respond will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen for performing search setting on the operation panel 605 of the device.

  Whether or not to perform an SLP response in the device is determined by selecting a button 1401 or 1402. When performing an SLP response, it is also possible to perform SCOPE setting to which the device belongs. When the button 1403 is pressed, a software keyboard is displayed (not shown), SCOPE information can be input, and the input information is displayed in an area 1404. In the example of FIG. 14, “AAA” is input as the SCOPE value. Items set on this screen are saved in the nonvolatile memory 609 when a button 1405 is pressed. In this embodiment, the SCOPE value set here is used only for the determination process of FIG. 15 and does not affect the data pattern registration in the LAN controller 606.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing in detail the determination processing in step 1305 of FIG.

  First, in step 1501, the value of SCOPE set according to FIG. 14 is acquired. Next, in step 1502, it is determined whether or not the SCOPE specified in the received search request packet has the same value acquired in step 1501. If they are the same, the process advances to step 1503 to determine whether the service type specified in the received search request packet is “service: ws-discovery.AAA”. If they are the same, it is determined that the search response should be made (S1504). If they are not the same in step 1502 and step 1503, it is determined that a search response should not be made (S1505).

  Next, an operation when a user searches for a device in the network of FIG. 4 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the devices 402, 411, and 421 are all in the sleep state when the device search is executed.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a search screen held by device search software on the device search apparatus 401. Here, the search is set with the setting button 1601 and the search is performed according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 by pressing the execution button 1602. A device list generated as a result of the search process is displayed in area 1603. When the user presses a setting button 1601, a search setting screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. The user inputs a TTL value and a SCOPE value from the search setting screen.

  In FIG. 17, when the search is executed by inputting 1 as the TTL value, 1 is set as the TTL value in the Wakeup packet and the search request packet in the search process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Then, the Wakeup packet transmitted from the search device 401 is received by the router 430, but since the TTL is 1, this Wakeup packet is not transferred to the LAN 410. As a result, only the device 402 on the LAN 400 receives the Wakeup packet and shifts to the normal state. Further, since the devices 411 and 421 do not receive the Wakeup packet, they remain in the sleep state.

  Next, since the search request packet subsequently transmitted from the search device 401 also has a TTL of 1, the router 430 does not transfer the search request packet to the LAN 410. As a result, only the device 402 on the LAN 400 receives the search request packet and returns a search response to the search device. As a result, the search apparatus 401 can search for one device, and displays a device list as shown in FIG.

  Next, when the user performs a search by inputting 2 as the TTL value in FIG. 17, 2 is set as the TTL value in the Wakeup packet and the search request packet. The Wakeup packet transmitted from the search device 401 is received by the router 430, and the router 430 reduces the TTL value of this Wakeup packet to 1 and forwards it to the LAN 410. Further, the Wakeup packet transferred to the LAN 410 is received by the router 440, but since the TTL is 1, this Wakeup packet is not transferred to the LAN 420. As a result, the device 402 on the LAN 400 and the device 411 on the LAN 410 receive the Wakeup packet and shift to the normal state. Further, since the device 421 does not receive the Wakeup packet, it remains in the sleep state. Next, the search request packet subsequently transmitted from the search device 401 also has a TTL of 2, and is transferred to the LAN 410 by the router 430, but the router 440 does not transfer to the LAN 420. As a result, the device 402 on the LAN 400 and the device 411 on the LAN 410 receive the search request packet and return a search response to the search device. As a result, the search apparatus 401 can search for two devices, and displays a device list as shown in FIG.

(Example 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In this embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and only the difference will be described. In the first embodiment, the device in the sleep mode is returned to the normal state by always using “AAA” as the SCOPE value of the Wakeup packet. However, in this embodiment, the SCOPE value is also made variable. This enables finer search control.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a construction example of the network device search system in the present embodiment. In FIG. 20, a search device 2001 and devices 2002, 2003, and 2004 are connected on the LAN 2000. Although a plurality of LANs can be interconnected by a router as in the first embodiment, a simplified description will be given to clarify the difference from the first embodiment.

  The search software operating on the search device 2001 performs the processing shown in FIG. 7, but the SCOPE value acquired in step 701 is set in the Wakeup packet transmitted in step 702.

  Further, in the search setting performed from the operation panel of the device in FIG. 14, the SCOPE value set by the user is also used for data pattern registration in the LAN controller 606. As a result, in order to shift the device in the sleep state to the normal state, it is necessary to transmit a Wakeup packet having the same value as the SCOPE value set here.

  Next, an operation when a user searches for a device in the network of FIG. 20 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the devices 2002, 2003, and 2004 are all in the sleep state when the device search is executed. Further, it is assumed that “Floor1” is set as the SCOPE value in the device 2002 and “Floor2” is set as the SCOPE value in the devices 2003 and 2004 by the method shown in FIG.

  When the user inputs “Floor1” as the SCOPE value on the screen of FIG. 17 and executes a search, “Floor1” is set as the SCOPE value in the Wakeup packet and the search request packet in the search process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Is done. Then, all the devices 2002, 2003, and 2004 receive the Wakeup packet transmitted from the search device 2001, but only the device 2002 in which “Floor1” is set as the SCOPE value of the device shifts to the normal state, and the devices 2003 and 2004 Remains in the sleep state. That is, the specific data pattern for the device in the first embodiment to return from the sleep state to the normal state is the SLP packet in which “wakeup.AAA” is registered, while the specific data in the second embodiment The pattern is an SLP packet in which “wakeup.AAA” is registered and the same SCOPE value as the SCOPE value registered in the device is registered.

  Next, only the device 2002 in the normal state receives a search request packet transmitted from the search device 2001, and returns a search response to the search device. As a result, the search apparatus 2001 can search for one device, and displays a device list as shown in FIG.

  Next, when the user inputs “Floor2” as the SCOPE value on the screen of FIG. 17 and executes the search, in the search process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, “Floor2” is set as the SCOPE value in the Wakeup packet and the search request packet. Is set. Then, all the devices 2002, 2003, and 2004 receive the Wakeup packet transmitted from the search device 2001, but the devices 2003 and 2004 in which “Floor2” is set as the SCOPE value of the device shift to the normal state, and the device 2002 Stay in sleep. Next, the search request packet transmitted from the search device 2001 is received by the devices 2003 and 2004 in the normal state, and a search response is returned to the search device. As a result, the search apparatus 2001 can search for two devices, and displays a device list as shown in FIG.

  In the first and second embodiments, the search device is a conventional computer device as shown in FIG. 5, but the search device is not limited to this. For example, a device having an operation panel such as a copying machine stores a search software program in the ROM 603 and the CPU 601 executes it to search for another device.

(Other examples)
The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A medium such as a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the medium in the storage medium or the like. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as a storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. . As a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM Alternatively, download via a network can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the packet structure generally used in a prior art example. It is a figure which shows the packet structure of the Service Request command in SLP. It is a figure which shows the packet structure of the Service Reply command in SLP. It is a block diagram of the network device search system in a 1st Example. It is a block diagram of a device search apparatus. It is a block diagram of a network device. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the device search software in this invention. It is an example of the device list produced | generated in the device search apparatus of this invention. It is an example of a Wakeup packet in the present invention. It is an example of the search request packet in this invention. It is an example of the search response packet in this invention. It is a figure which shows the state transition of the device in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the device of the sleep state in this invention. It is an example of the screen which performs the search setting of the device in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the search response determination process in the device of this invention. It is an example of the search screen of the device search software in this invention. It is an example of a search setting screen of device search software in the present invention. It is an example of the searched device list in a 1st Example. It is an example of the searched device list in a 1st Example. It is a network device search system block diagram in a 2nd Example. It is an example of the searched device list in a 2nd Example. It is an example of the searched device list in a 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

401 Computer 501 CPU
502 ROM
503 RAM
505 KBC
506 CRTC
507 DKC
508 NIC
509 KB
510 CRT
511 HD
512 FD

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus on a network,
Search instruction means for instructing to search for a desired image processing apparatus on the network;
First transmission means for transmitting a request for transitioning the image processing apparatus on the network from the power saving state to the normal state in response to the search instruction by the search instruction means;
Second transmission means for transmitting a search request for searching for a desired image processing apparatus after the request is transmitted by the first transmission means;
A designation unit for designating a transmission range of a request transmitted by the first transmission unit and a search request transmitted by the second transmission unit;
Have
The information processing apparatus, wherein the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit transmit the request and the search request to a transmission range designated by the designation unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for receiving a response to the search request from an image processing apparatus that satisfies the search request.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying information indicating an image processing apparatus that satisfies the search request based on a response received by the receiving means.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the search request includes a setting value set by a user, and the receiving unit receives a response from an image processing apparatus that satisfies the setting value. An information processing apparatus control method capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus on a network,
A search instruction step for instructing to search for a desired image processing apparatus on the network;
A first transmission step of transmitting a request for causing the image processing apparatus on the network to transition from the power saving state to the normal state in response to the search instruction in the search instruction step;
A second transmission step of transmitting a search request for searching for a desired image processing apparatus after the request is transmitted by the first transmission step;
A designation step for designating a transmission range of the request transmitted by the first transmission step and the search request transmitted by the second transmission step;
Have
The control method for an information processing apparatus, wherein the first transmission step and the second transmission step transmit the request and the search request to the transmission range designated by the designation step.   6. The information processing apparatus control method according to claim 5, further comprising a reception step of receiving a response to the search request from an image processing apparatus that satisfies the search request.   The information processing apparatus control method according to claim 6, further comprising a display step of displaying information indicating an image processing apparatus that satisfies the search request on a display unit based on the response received in the reception step.   8. The information processing apparatus control according to claim 6, wherein the search request includes a setting value set by a user, and the reception step receives a response from an image processing apparatus that satisfies the setting value. Method. A program for causing an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus on a network to execute the following steps:
A search instruction step for instructing to search for a desired image processing apparatus on the network;
A first transmission step of transmitting a request for causing the image processing apparatus on the network to transition from the power saving state to the normal state in response to the search instruction in the search instruction step;
A second transmission step of transmitting a search request for searching for a desired image processing apparatus after the request is transmitted by the first transmission step;
A designation step for designating a transmission range of the request transmitted by the first transmission step and the search request transmitted by the second transmission step;
Have
In the first transmission step and the second transmission step, the request and the search request are transmitted to a transmission range designated by the designation step.

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