JP2000172397A - Display method, data processor and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display method capable of quickly displaying information corresponding to a user's request, preferably while controlling addition to a network. SOLUTION: This display method in which the same display area of a display device is allocated to plural pages and is used by switching the pages to be displayed inquires of a user contents desired to be displayed (S1101) before acquiring data to be displayed, chooses selected contents as an initial display page (S1104) and acquires the display contents to display them (S1105).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data display method, and more particularly to a data display method useful for acquiring data to be displayed via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computers can be connected to each other to form a network. Further, a larger network can be formed by connecting the networks to each other. A computer network basically has a configuration in which a plurality of computer networks are interconnected. Of the individual computer networks, those that cover a relatively small area such as a building floor or the entire building, a group of buildings (premises), etc. Is called a local area network (LAN). LAN
By connecting to other networks, it can be incorporated into larger network systems, covering regions or even larger areas, up to the global system. Each LAN may have a variety of hardware interconnect technologies and a number of network protocols.

A LAN that is separated from other networks and has a simple configuration is unlikely to cause a serious problem even if a user of a device connected to the LAN manages the LAN individually. In other words, even if the user replaces the device or installs software on the device, the problem is unlikely to occur, and even if a problem occurs, it is relatively easy to diagnose and deal with the problem, and the extent to which the problem affects Is also narrow.

On the other hand, in the case of a large-scale complex LAN or a large interconnected LAN group, the effect of the occurrence of a problem also increases, and it becomes difficult to search, diagnose, and cope with the problem. Specialized “management” is required. "Management" means management by both a human network administrator and the software used by that administrator. Hereinafter, in this specification, "management" means management of the entire network system by software, and "user" means a person who uses network management software. This user is typically the system administrator. By using the network management software, the user can obtain management data on the network and change this data.

[0005] Large-scale network systems are usually dynamic systems that require constant addition and removal of equipment, software updates, and problem detection. Moreover, in general, it is often constituted by various systems owned by various people and supplied by various companies.

Hereinafter, an example of a large-scale network requiring management will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer network in which three LANs are interconnected. A printer 102 having an open architecture is connected to a first LAN 100 via a network board (NEB) 101 connected to a network and connected to an internal slot, for example, an Ethernet interface 10Base having a coaxial connector. 2, RJ-45
They are connected by a LAN interface such as 10Base-T having a connector.

The personal computers (PCs) 103, 104, 106 and 108 are also connected to the first LAN 1
00, and can communicate with the NEB 101 of the printer 102 under the control of the network operating system. One of the PCs, for example, PC103
Can be specified to be used as a network manager. Further, an external device such as a printer 105 connected to the PC 104 may be connected to each PC.

[0008] The PC 106 is used as a file server, and manages access to files stored in a connected large-capacity (for example, 10 gigabytes) network disk 107. The PC 108 is used as a print server, and causes a printer such as the connected printers 109a and 109b or the printer 105 at a remote place to perform printing. Further, another device may be connected to the LAN 100.

In such a LAN, software that is commercially available as so-called network software can be used to efficiently communicate between connected devices (network members). Specific examples of such network software include Novell's Netware (trade name), but the use of any other network software is not limited.

With the use of network software,
The PC 106 as a file server plays a role of a file management unit that receives, stores, queues, caches, and transmits data files between members of the network (LAN 100).

For example, data files created by each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 are sent to the file server 106, which arranges these data files in order, and
In accordance with the command from 08, the arranged data files are transmitted to the printer 109a.

Each of the PC 103 and the PC 104 generates a data file and a LAN of the generated data file.
It comprises a general-purpose computer capable of transmitting to the LAN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file. The general-purpose computer mentioned here is not limited to a so-called personal computer, but may be a computer called a workstation or the like, and an OS running on a computer for sales promotion is not limited. For example, if you are using software that runs on UNIX, you may include UNIX workstations as LAN members, and these workstations, under appropriate circumstances,
It can be used with the PC shown.

Typically, a LAN such as LAN 100 provides services to a somewhat local user group, such as a user group on one floor or multiple consecutive floors in a building. For example, a wide area network (WAN) may be created as one user moves away from another user, such as when the user is in another building or another prefecture. A WAN is basically an aggregation formed by interconnecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN) line. That is, the network shown in FIG.
N100, the second LAN 110, and the third LAN 12
0 means modulation / demodulation (MODEM) / transponder 1
30 and a backbone 140 to form a WAN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LAN includes a dedicated PC and, although not necessarily, usually includes a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a PC 111, a PC 112, a file server 113, a network disk 114, a print server 115, a printer 116, and a printer 1
17 is included. In contrast, the third LAN 120 is PC1
21 and the PC 122 only. LAN 100 and LAN
Devices connected to the LAN 110 and the LAN 120 are connected to each other via a line (WAN connection) for connecting each other.
Can access the functions of members.

As described above, management is required in a network in which such LANs are interconnected.
Therefore, as a method for managing devices on a network constituting a large-scale network system, several attempts have been made by many standard organizations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has provided a universal reference framework called the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. The OSI model of the network management protocol is based on the Common Management Information Protocol (Common Management Information Protocol).
ol, CMIP). CMIP is a common European network management protocol.

In the United States, a simple network management protocol (SN) is used as a network management protocol having higher commonality.
There is a variant of the protocol related to CMIP called MP). (Marshall T. Rose, The Simple Book, Prenti
ce-Hall, 1991).

According to the SNMP network management technology,
A network management system includes at least one network management station (NMS), a number of managed nodes, each including an agent, and a network management protocol used by the management stations and agents to exchange management information. The user can obtain data on the network and change the data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network management software on the NMS.

An agent is software that operates as a background process for each target device. When a user requests management data from a device on the network, the network management software sends the object identification information in a management packet or frame to the agent of the target device. The agent interprets the object identification information, retrieves data corresponding to the object identification information,
The data is sent back to the user in a packet. Sometimes, the corresponding process is called to retrieve the data.

The agent holds data on its own state in the form of a database. This database is called MIB (Management Information Base)
Call. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the MIB. As shown in FIG. 2, the MIB has a tree-structured data structure, and all nodes are uniquely numbered. In FIG. 2, the number written in parentheses is the identifier of the node.

For example, in FIG. 2, the identifier of the node 401 is 1. The identifier of the node 402 is
Since it is 3 below, it is written as 1.3. Similarly, the identifier mgmt (2) of the node 403 is described as 1.33.6.1.2.

This node identifier is called an object identifier (OBJECT IDENTIFIER). This MIB has a management information structure (SMI: Structure of Managemen).
t Information) and RFC1155: Structure and Id
entification of ManagementInformation for TCP / IP-b
Specified by ased Internets.

As an example of mounting an agent, it is conceivable to mount the agent on a network board for connecting a printer to a network. Thus, the printer can be managed by the network management software. The user can obtain the information of the printer to be controlled using the network management software and change the status. More specifically, for example, a character string displayed on a liquid crystal display of a printer can be obtained, or a default paper cassette can be changed.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a printer on which a network board on which an agent is mounted is mounted. The network board (NEB) 101 is preferably built in an internal expansion I / O slot of the printer 102, and the NEB 101 is an "embedded" network node having the processing and data storage functions described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the NEB 101 comprises a printed circuit board 101a on which a face plate 101b for network connection is installed, and a printer interface card 15 via a connector 170.
Connected to 0. The printer interface card 150 directly controls the printer engine of the printer 102. The print data and the printer status command are input from the NEB 101 to the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170.
Printer status information is also obtained from the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170. The NEB 101 transmits this information to the face plate 10.
Communication is performed on the LAN 100 via the network connector 1b. At the same time, the printer 102 is connected to the conventional serial port 102a and parallel port 102b.
Print data can also be received.

The configuration of the NEB 101 provides an advantage of having a characteristic auxiliary function for controlling and managing a large multi-area WAN network. These auxiliary functions include, for example, printer control and status monitoring from a remote location on the network (such as the network administrator's office), and a guaranteed initial environment for the next user after each print job. This includes automatic management of the printer configuration, characterization of the load on the printer, or access via a network to schedule replacement of toner cartridges, acquisition of printer logs or usage statistics, and the like.

An important factor in such NEB design is through a bidirectional interface such as a shared memory.
This function accesses the printer control status from the NEB 101. In addition to the shared memory, an interface such as a SCSI interface can be used. As a result, the printer operation information can be sent to the NEB 101 or the external network node so that a number of useful auxiliary function programs can be executed. The block of print image data and control information is configured by a microprocessor on the NEB 101, described in a shared memory, and read by the printer 102. Similarly, the printer status information is stored in the printer 10
2 to the shared memory from which it is read by the NEB processor.

FIG. 4 shows the NEB 101 and the printer 102.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection between the LAN and a LAN. The NEB 101 is directly connected to the LAN 100 via a LAN interface and to the printer 102 via a printer interface card 150. The microprocessor 151 accesses data with the NEB 101 via the shared memory 200 installed in the NEB 101. Microprocessor 15
1 is a printer engine 16 that actually operates the printing mechanism.
Also communicates with 0.

Next, a PC on which network management software (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as "management software") operates will be described below. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC on which network management software can operate.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a PC on which network management software operates, and P in FIG.
It is equivalent to C103 and the like. The PC 500 has a ROM 502
Or, stored in the hard disk (HD) 511,
Alternatively, C which executes the network management program supplied from the floppy disk drive (FD) 512
A PU 501 is provided, and a CPU 501 is connected to a system bus 504.
To control each device connected to

Reference numeral 503 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 501. Reference numeral 505 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC).
9 and an instruction input from a pointing device (not shown) or the like. 506 is a CRT controller (CRTC)
Controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 510. A disk controller (DKC) 507 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 511 and a floppy disk controller (FD) 512 that store a boot program, various applications, editing files, user files, a network management program, and the like. A network interface card (NIC) 508 exchanges data with an agent or a network device via the LAN 100 in two directions.

(Software Configuration) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a module configuration of network management software. The network management software is stored in the hard disk 511 in FIG. At that time, the CPU 501 uses the RAM 503 as a work area.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a device list module, which displays a list of devices connected to the network. An overall control module 602 controls other modules based on an instruction from a device list. Reference numeral 603 denotes a configurator module that performs special processing related to the network setting of the agent. A search module 604 searches for a device connected to the network. Devices searched by this module are displayed as a list in a device list 601.

Reference numeral 605 denotes the status of the print job by NetWar.
This module is obtained from a network server using an eAPI (Aprication Programming Interface) 616. (Note that the NetWare API is described in the “NetWare Programmer * s Guide for Novell, for example.”
C "and the like. This book can be purchased from Novell, Inc.) 606 and 607 are modules for displaying a device details window showing detailed information of the managed device, and display the detailed information. There is a module for each target model.Control modules 608 and 609 are responsible for control specific to the target model for acquiring detailed information, and these modules also exist for each target model for displaying detailed information. The control modules 608 and 609 control the MI
A module 60 for acquiring MIB data from a device to be managed using a B (Management Information Base) module 610 and displaying a device detail window
6 or 607.

The MIB module 610 is a module that converts between an object identifier and an object key. Here, the object key is a value corresponding to the object identifier on a one-to-one basis, for example, a 32-bit integer. The object identifier is a variable-length identifier, which is cumbersome to implement in network management software. Therefore, in the network management software shown in FIG. 6, a fixed-length value corresponding to the object identifier on a one-to-one basis is internally used as an identifier. Used. M
Modules higher than the IB module 610 handle MIB information using this object key. This facilitates implementation of network management software.

An SNMP module 611 is an SNMP module.
Send and receive packets. A common transport module 612 absorbs a difference between lower protocols for transporting SNMP data. Specifically, depending on the protocol selected by the user during operation,
IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) handler 613
Either a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) handler 614 plays a role in transferring data. Note that WinSock 617 is used as a specific implementation of the UDP handler (for WinSock, for example, Windows Socket APIv
See 1.1 specification. This document is available from multiple sources, for example, it ships with Visual C ++, a Microsoft compiler). That is, the current protocol 615 used by the configurator 603 indicates either IPX or UDP selected by the user during operation. Next, in a large-scale network system having a configuration as shown in FIG.
The case where the management software running on the PC 500 manages a printer to be managed (for example, the printer 102) will be described in more detail.

(Display of Device List) FIG. 7 shows a conventional management software in which a printer to be managed (indicated as device 1 in FIG. 7) is found on the LAN 100 and a device list (a list of devices connected to the network) is found. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation up to the display in ().

In this flowchart, the management software first checks in step S 701 whether a device to be managed exists on the LAN 100.
Issues a device discovery request.

Next, in step S702, the LAN
If each managed device on 100 can respond to the device search request in step S701, it returns a response to the device search request to the management software. In FIG. 7, only the device 1 returns a response.

Finally, in step S703, the management target devices responding to the device search request in step S701 are displayed in the device list 601 as shown in FIG. 8, and the process ends.

Note that reference numeral 801 denotes a display example of a managed device that has responded to the device search request in step S701.

When the user uses the management software to display in detail the information of the device to be managed displayed in the device list 601 according to the above flowchart, the user separately manages the information by double-clicking a line or icon in the list. In general, it is necessary to open a screen (window) for displaying detailed information of each target device, and to display a device details window 901 as shown in FIG.

This is because it is difficult to display the detailed information of each device on the list, and even if it is displayed, it is very difficult to see the information. This is because the display is restricted and cannot be easily understood, and it is difficult to specify settings or the like. In FIG. 9, reference numerals 902 to 905 are used to select a sub window (hereinafter referred to as a page) arranged on the device detail window 901.
By specifying the tabs to be displayed by clicking the respective tabs with a pointing device or the like, the contents described in the tabs, that is, the status page, the job page, the information page, and the network page can be displayed.

(Conventional Device Details Window Display Method) FIG. 10 shows a management program executed when a user double-clicks an icon of a device whose detailed information is desired to be displayed from a device list to call up the details window. It is a flowchart which shows a conventional process.

First, in step S1001, the management software selects which page of the status, job, information, and network pages shown in FIG. 9 is to be displayed first. Currently, the management software always displays the status page first.

Next, in step S1002, the process goes to the management target device to obtain detailed information of the page determined in step S1001. At this time, communication is performed between the management software and the device to be managed using the SNMP protocol.

When the acquisition of the detailed information from the device to be managed is completed, the detailed information is displayed as shown in 901 in FIG.

In step S1003, it is determined whether or not an input for closing the device detail window 901 has been made by, for example, selecting "close" from the menu of the device detail window 901. If the input for closing is performed, the device details window 901 is closed, and this processing ends.

If no input for closing is made, the flow advances to step S1004. In step S1004, it is determined whether the user has changed the page to be displayed, for example, by pressing a tab of a page that is not currently displayed among the tabs 902 to 905.

If the user changes the page to be displayed, the process returns to step S1002 to acquire and display the detailed information of the newly selected page. If the user does not change the page to be displayed, the process returns to step S1003. This ends the sequence, and the device details window shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

[0050]

As described above, in the conventional management software, the initial display page when the device detail window is first displayed is fixed (in the above-described example, to the status page). A user who wants only the page information has to wait until the display of the status page information is completed, which causes a problem that the user feels stress.

In addition, since information of a status page unnecessary for the user is also acquired and displayed from the device to be managed, there is a problem that an extra load is imposed on the network.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display method capable of displaying information according to a user's request quickly, preferably while suppressing addition to a network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device, a network system, and a network management method using the display method of the present invention.

[0054]

That is, the gist of the present invention is a display method in which the same display area of a display device is assigned to a plurality of pages and the displayed pages are switched while being used. In the display method.

Another gist of the present invention is to provide a display device,
In a system connected to the display device and comprising a data processing device capable of displaying predetermined data on the display device,
Assign the same display area of the display device to multiple pages,
A display method used while switching pages to be displayed, the method including a step of selecting a page to be displayed first.

Another aspect of the present invention is a data processing device connected to a display device, comprising: an information acquisition unit for acquiring predetermined information; and a display instruction for displaying the acquired predetermined information on the display device. Means, and the display instruction means, while switching the same display area of the display device, displays the obtained predetermined information, and among the obtained predetermined information, first sets data defined under predetermined conditions. There is a data processing device characterized by displaying.

Another gist of the present invention is to provide a display device,
In a network system including a data processing device connected to the display device and at least one remote device connected to the data processing device via a network, the data processing device transmits predetermined information from a predetermined remote device among the remote devices. And display instruction means for displaying the acquired predetermined information on the display device, and the display instruction means displays the acquired predetermined information while switching the same display area of the display device. And a network system that first displays data defined under predetermined conditions among the acquired predetermined information.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that has executed the program is provided with information acquisition means for acquiring predetermined information; Display instruction means for displaying information on the display device, and the display instruction means displays the acquired predetermined information while switching the same display area of the display device, and, among the acquired predetermined information, The storage medium is operated as a data processing device that first displays the data determined under the above condition.

Another aspect of the present invention is a network management method for collecting information on devices connected to a network and managing the devices, wherein the device information is stored in any one of claims 1 to 8. The network management method is characterized in that the data is displayed using the described data display method.

[0060]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, it is assumed that the network management software according to one embodiment of the present invention runs on the PC 500 described above.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 11 shows a process performed by network management software (management software) when a user requests display of a device detail window by double-clicking an icon in the above-described device list. It is a flowchart which shows.

The program of the management software executed according to this flowchart is a hard disk (HD) 511
Is stored in The subject of execution of the program of the management software is the CPU 501 on hardware. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is a hard disk (HD) 511
It is management software stored in.

First, an initial display page selection dialog box 1201 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed (S110).
1). The user selects any one of the network pages 1205 from the status page 1202 and designates an OK button in a dialog box with a pointer device or the like. When a selection is made (S1102), the page is set as an initial display page (S1103). When cancel is specified in the dialog box, a predetermined page, for example, a status page is set as an initial display page.

Hereinafter, the processing of S1104 to S1107 is as follows.
The processing is the same as the processing in S1001 to S1004 in FIG.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 13 is a flowchart according to another embodiment relating to initial display page selection. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the initial display page of the device detail screen to be displayed is specified, whereas the initial display page for the next display is specified. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that information on the initial display page determined at the time of the previous display, at least the type of page, is stored in advance as an initialization information file.

First, in S1104, for example, from the initialization information file stored in the hard disk 511,
Select the initial display page. This is described, for example, in the initialization information file as “initial display page =“ information page ””. Thereafter, processing until the device details window is closed (S1105 to S1105)
S1107) is the same as in the first embodiment.

When the device details window is closed,
The setting of the initial display file is obtained from the initialization information file (S1301). This step can be omitted if the contents acquired in S1104 are stored in the RAM 503 or the like. Next, a comparison is made as to whether the last displayed page is the same as the initial display page stored in the initialization information file (S1302).

If the result of comparison is the same, the process ends. On the other hand, if different, the page displayed last is determined as the next initial display page (S1303), and the initialization information file is rewritten (S1304).

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 14 is a flowchart according to another embodiment relating to selection of an initial display page. In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the initial display page for the next display is specified, and information on the initial display page determined at the previous display, at least the type of the initial display page and each page of the device display window Is stored in advance as an initialization information file.

In this embodiment, S1104 to S11
The process of 05 is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. When the user selects a new page in S1107, the number of times of display of each page is acquired from the initialization information file, and is expanded in, for example, a predetermined area of the RAM 503 (S1401). The display count data is, for example, a description such as “status page display count = 12”. Then, the number of times of display of the selected page is increased by 1 (S1402). Next, the number of times of display of each page is compared, and the page that has been displayed the most times so far is determined as the next initial display page (S14).
03).

Next, the number of display times of each page and the set value of the initial display page are written in the initialization information file (S14).
04), the detailed information of the selected page is obtained from the device via the network and displayed (S1105).
When the device details window is closed (S110
6), end the process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the page which has been displayed the most times is selected as the initial display page.

[0073]

[Other Embodiments] In the first embodiment, the selection dialog box is displayed before the display. However, the selection dialog box is not displayed before the display.
A menu or a button such as “initial display setting” may be added to the device details window, and a dialog box may be displayed when these are selected to allow the user to select the next initial display screen. .

Further, a cancel button may not be provided in the dialog box, and any page may be forcibly selected.

In the third embodiment, S140
2 to S1105, and when the device details window is closed in S1106, S1403 and S14
04 may be performed.

If the set value of the initial display page does not change after all, only the display frequency portion of the initialization file may be rewritten. Further, the integrated value of the number of times of display may be returned to 0 every predetermined period.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the display of detailed data in the network management has been described.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a display method in which a plurality of pages are allocated to the same display area and the pages are switched and displayed, there is an effect that the possibility of displaying the page requested by the user first is dramatically increased.

As a result, the stress felt by the user is reduced, and in particular, when information to be displayed is obtained via the network, there is an effect that unnecessary load is not generated on the network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a large-scale network in which LANs are interconnected.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an MIB.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a printer to which a network board on which an agent is mounted is connected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection between a network board, a printer, and a LAN.

FIG. 5 shows a P on which network management software can operate.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of C.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module configuration of network management software.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for displaying a managed device in a device list.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device list.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device details window.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for opening a device details window from a device list.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a display method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial display page selection dialog box.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a display method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a display method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 102 Printer 103 Personal computer 104 Device list 901 Device details window 1201 Initial display selection dialog box

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A display method for allocating the same display area of a display device to a plurality of pages and using the pages while switching the pages to be displayed, comprising a step of selecting a page to be displayed first. Method. 2. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the first displayed page is the last displayed page. 3. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the first page to be displayed is a page that has been displayed most in a predetermined period. 4. A display device, connected to the display device,
In a system including a data processing device capable of displaying predetermined data on the display device, a display method of allocating the same display area of the display device to a plurality of pages and switching and using the displayed page, A selection step of selecting a page to be displayed on the display. 5. The display method according to claim 4, wherein information of another device connected to the data processing device is displayed on the page. 6. The display method according to claim 5, wherein the selecting step is performed before acquiring information on the other device. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first displayed page is the last displayed page.
Display method according to any of the above. 8. The display method according to claim 4, wherein the first page to be displayed is a page that has been displayed most in a predetermined period. 9. A data processing device connected to a display device, comprising: an information acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information; and a display instruction unit that displays the acquired predetermined information on the display device, And the display instruction means displays the acquired predetermined information while switching the same display area of the display device, and first displays data defined under a predetermined condition among the acquired predetermined information. A data processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined condition is specified before said information acquisition means acquires information. 11. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition is data displayed last. 12. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition is data displayed most in a predetermined period. 13. A network system comprising a display device, a data processing device connected to the display device, and at least one remote device connected to the data processing device via a network, wherein the data processing device includes: An information acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information from a predetermined remote device among the devices; and a display instruction unit that displays the acquired predetermined information on the display device, and wherein the display instruction unit includes the display device. A network system for displaying the acquired predetermined information while switching the same display area, and first displaying data defined under a predetermined condition among the acquired predetermined information. 14. The network system according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined condition is specified before said information obtaining means obtains said predetermined information. 15. The network system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is data displayed last. 16. The network system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is data displayed most during a predetermined period. 17. A storage medium storing a program that can be executed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus that has executed the program is displayed on an information acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information, and the acquired predetermined information is displayed on a display device. Display instruction means, and the display instruction means displays the obtained predetermined information while switching the same display area of the display device, and, under the predetermined condition, of the obtained predetermined information. A storage medium that operates as a data processing device that first displays predetermined data. 18. A network management method for collecting information of a device connected to a network and managing the device, wherein the information of the device is stored in the data display method according to claim 1. A network management method characterized by using and displaying.