JPH09200247A - Ip address setting method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily set an intrinsic internet protocol(IP) address to network equipment. SOLUTION: Through an interface connected to a network, packet data on that network are sampled and the network address of the network is specified (S1) from these packet data. Besides, any arbitrary host address corresponding to this network address is selected (S2), the temporary IP address is set based on these host address and network address, and a response request packet addressed to this temporary IP address is issued (S3) through the interface onto the network. When no response packet is returned corresponding to this response request packet, this temporary IP address is set (S5) as a formal IP address.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IP address setting method and apparatus, and more particularly, to an IP address for automatically setting a unique IP address to a network device connected to a network environment using a TCP / IP protocol. The present invention relates to an address setting method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small printers that can be directly connected to a network environment have begun to spread. TCP /
When connecting a printer directly to a network environment using the IP protocol, a unique IP address (Internet address) that does not overlap with other network devices
Need to be set. The IP address is given by a combination of a unique network address for each single network and a unique host address for each device connected to the network.

In particular, recently, a local area network (LAN) is being installed in offices and factories, and in accordance with the planned expansion of the system scale, the network printer and other network devices can be added. It is becoming more frequent.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a new network device is added, the IP address is carefully planned so that the IP address does not overlap with other existing network devices. And there was a disadvantage that labor was required. Further, setting an IP address for the network device to be added involves special device operation, and thus there is a problem that a specialized worker who is familiar with knowledge about the network operating system and TCP / IP protocol is required for installing the device.

[0005]

An object of the present invention is to solve the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an IP address setting method which is mounted on or attached to a network device and which can easily set an IP address unique to the network device. And to provide an apparatus.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, packet data on a network is collected through an interface connected to the network, and a network address of the network is specified from the packet data. Further, an arbitrary host address corresponding to the network address is selected, a temporary IP address is set based on the host address and the network address, and a response request packet addressed to the temporary IP address is sent to the network via the interface. Issue above. Then, when a response packet is not returned in response to the response request packet, the temporary IP address is set as a formal IP address.

In the invention according to claim 2, when a response packet is returned in response to the issuance of the response request packet,
A method of changing the host address and reissuing the response request packet is adopted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an interface connectable to a network, packet collecting means for collecting packet data on the network via the interface, and a network address specification for specifying a network address of the network from the packet data. Means. Further, a host address selecting means for selecting an arbitrary host address corresponding to the network address, a temporary IP address setting means for setting a temporary IP address based on the host address and the network address, and a response addressed to the temporary IP address Response request issuing means for issuing a request packet to the network via the interface. Further, if a response packet is not returned for the response request packet, the temporary IP
An IP address setting means for setting an address as a formal IP address is provided.

In the invention according to claim 4, when a response packet is returned in response to the issuance of the response request packet,
The host address selecting means changes the host address, and the response request issuing means re-issues the response request packet;
The configuration is adopted.

According to the first or third aspect of the present invention, a host address which has the same network address as the network address of the packet data collected from the network and does not overlap with other network devices connected to the network Is automatically set.

In the invention according to claim 2 or 4, when the set temporary IP address overlaps with another network device, a new IP address having a different host address is set, and the response request packet is regenerated. publish. Then, when it is confirmed that the temporary IP address does not overlap with another network device, the temporary IP address is set as an official IP address.

Here, the response packet is a packet that is returned by the network device having the same IP address as the temporary IP address to the received response request packet. The object is achieved by these means.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, an IP address setting device 10
Are installed in the network printer 100. This network printer 100 (hereinafter, printer 100)
) Is a central processing unit (C) that executes various arithmetic processes and control processes according to a control program prepared in advance.
PU) 1, a memory 2 for storing various data handled by the CPU 1, an operator panel 11 having a plurality of setting switches for setting printing conditions of the printer 100 and forcing a forced operation of the printer mechanism. Printer 100
A display unit 12 for displaying the operation status of the printer, an interface 3 connected to the network transmission line B via the transceiver cable C, and a printing unit for printing on a recording medium based on print data received by the interface 3. 13
And Here, the code TR is 10BASE-
5 shows a transceiver that relays between a network transmission line B of five specifications and a transceiver cable C. On the network transmission path B, data transmission conforming to the TCP / IP protocol is performed.

The CPU 1, the memory 2, and the interface 3 constitute an IP address setting device 10. That is, the CPU 1 implements the following various functions in the present embodiment in addition to the processing functions as a normal printer.

[0016] A function as packet collecting means for collecting packet data on the network transmission path B via the interface 3;

[0017] Function as network address specifying means for specifying the network address of the network transmission path B from the collected packet data.

.. A function as a host address selecting means for selecting an arbitrary host address corresponding to the specified network address.

[0019] Function as temporary IP address setting means for setting a temporary IP address based on the selected host address and network address.

[0020] A function as a response request issuing means for issuing a response request packet addressed to a temporary IP address on the network transmission path B via the interface 3.

[0021] A function as IP address setting means for setting a temporary IP address as an official IP address when a response packet is not returned in response to the issued response request packet.

[0022] When a response packet is returned for a response request packet, this function changes the host address and reissues the response request packet.

These functions are realized by sequentially executing operation programs prepared in the memory 2. Here, the memory 2 includes a rewritable additional memory (for example, an EEPROM) in addition to a random access memory (RAM). In the additional memory, an officially set IP address is stored.

Next, an IP address setting operation in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, by turning on the power of the printer 100 while pressing a predetermined key on the operator panel 11, the firmware is called from the memory 2 to the CPU 1, and then the mode is shifted to the IP address setting mode. At this time, all devices connected to the network transmission path B are activated.

When shifting to the IP address setting mode, C
The PU 1 collects arbitrary packet data transmitted on the network transmission path B via the interface 3. Subsequently, the CPU 1 specifies a network address given to the network transmission path B from the destination of the packet data (step S1). Subsequently, the CPU 1 selects an arbitrary host address corresponding to the specified network address (Step S2). For example, memory 2
May be provided with a host address setting counter, and the host address may be set based on the index value of the counter.

Next, the CPU 1 determines a temporary I / O based on the specified network address and the selected host address.
The P address is set, and a response request packet addressed to the temporary IP address is issued to the network transmission path B via the interface 3 (step S3). At this time, a predetermined temporary value set in advance may be used for the host address of the network printer. Then, it is determined whether a response packet has been returned from another network device in response to the issuance of the response request packet (step S).
4).

Here, the response request packet is, for example, ICM
P echo request packet, and the response packet is I
This is a CMP echo reply packet (ping command).

As a result, when a response packet is returned, there is a network device having the same IP address as the temporary IP address, so that the CPU 1 selects a new different host address and changes the temporary IP address. Set again and reissue the response request packet (step S
2, S3).

On the other hand, when the response packet is not returned,
The CPU 1 determines that there is no network device having the same IP address as the temporary IP address, and registers the temporary IP address as a formal IP address in the additional memory of the memory 2 (step S5). Also, C
The PU 1 displays the officially registered IP address on the display unit 12. Thereby, the system administrator can set the printer 1
It is possible to know the IP address officially set to 00.

Subsequently, when the printer 100 is restarted,
The CPU 1 starts up as a network printer having an IP address stored in the memory 2, collects print data addressed to the IP address via the interface 3, and activates a printing operation by the printing unit 13.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the host having the same network address as the network address of the packet data collected from the network and not overlapping with other network devices connected to the network. Since an IP address having an address is automatically set, a systematic selection of an IP address by an administrator is not required when installing a network device, and the labor of a worker when installing the device can be reduced. In addition, the installation work does not require any specialized knowledge of the network operating system or the TCP / IP protocol, so that the user at the installation location can easily install the system.

Further, when the set temporary IP address is the same as another network device, a new IP address having a different host address is set, a response request packet is reissued, and the temporary IP address is changed. The temporary IP address is set as an official IP address when it is confirmed that the IP address does not overlap with other network devices, so that the IP address can be set reliably.

Here, the IP address setting device 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to a network printer, but is suitable for a wide variety of network devices. It can be. The concept of the present invention is applicable to all network protocols other than the TCP / IP protocol.

[0035]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, the invention according to claim 1 or 3 has the same network address as the network address of the packet data collected from the network, and Since an IP address having a host address that does not overlap with other network devices connected to the network is automatically set, there is no need for a systematic selection of an IP address by an administrator when introducing network devices, and The labor of the worker at the time of installation can be reduced. In addition, the installation work does not require any specialized knowledge of the network operating system or the TCP / IP protocol, so that the user at the installation location can easily install the system.

According to the second or fourth aspect of the present invention, when the set temporary IP address is duplicated with another network device, a new IP address having a different host address is set, and the response request packet is retransmitted. Issued and provisional I
The temporary IP address is set as a formal IP address when it is confirmed that the P address does not overlap with another network device, so that the IP address can be set reliably without the conventional advantage. And a method and apparatus for setting an IP address.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an IP address setting operation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 2 Memory 3 Interface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A packet data on a network is collected through an interface connected to the network, a network address of the network is specified from the packet data, and an arbitrary host address corresponding to the network address is selected. Based on the host address and the network address, a temporary I
A P-address is set, a response request packet addressed to the temporary IP address is issued on the network via the interface, and if the response packet is not returned in response to the response request packet, the temporary IP address is formalized. IP that is set as a simple IP address
Address setting method. 2. The IP address setting according to claim 2, wherein when a response packet is returned in response to the issuance of the response request packet, the host address is changed and the response request packet is reissued. Method. 3. An interface connectable to a network, packet collecting means for collecting packet data on the network via the interface, network address specifying means for specifying a network address of the network from the packet data, A host address selecting means for selecting an arbitrary host address corresponding to the network address, and a temporary IP based on the host address and the network address.
Temporary IP address setting means for setting an address, response request issuing means for issuing a response request packet addressed to the temporary IP address on the network via the interface, and no response packet is returned for the response request packet In this case, the temporary IP address is
An IP address setting device, comprising: an IP address setting means for setting a P address. 4. When the response packet is returned in response to the issuance of the response request packet, the host address selecting means changes the host address, and the response request issuing means reissues the response request packet. 4. The IP address setting device according to claim 3, wherein: