JP2001255974A - Device and method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for processing information for improving visibility of a device list. SOLUTION: In this network managing device for monitoring or controlling the states of devices connected via a network, the information of the plural devices is arrayed for each device so as to be displayed as a list in a list view, and when the device list is sorted by using the arbitrary column information as a sort key, the information used as the sort key is moved to the leftmost side column and displayed (S1306).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing method for monitoring or controlling various devices connected to a network and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a local area network (LAN) in which computers are connected to each other has become widespread.
Such a local area network can be built over the same floor of a building or the entire building, a group of buildings (premises), an area, or a larger area. Such networks are further interconnected and can be connected to global networks. Many devices such as a computer such as a PC and a printer can be connected to these networks.

In order to enable a user of a certain PC to monitor a plurality of devices such as printers connected via a network at the same time, a network device management method or an apparatus thereof uses one of the devices connected to the network. A device list display window is provided for displaying a list of all or part of the devices. The device list display window displays information that many devices have in common. In a network management method and apparatus using the SNMP protocol, usually, a part of information defined as an essential item in a standard MIB is displayed. Specific examples of the information displayed in the device list display window include a device name, a network interface board name, and a network address.

As a method of displaying such information in the device list display window in a legible manner, there is a display method of a list view format shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, different devices are arranged in the vertical direction, and information (device name, product name, network interface board name, etc.) about each device is arranged in the horizontal direction. The display area of each piece of information arranged in the horizontal direction is called a column.

When a title bar of an arbitrary column is clicked, information included in the column is used as a sort key.
The device list is sorted. Here, sorting means that the rows of the device list are rearranged in a predetermined order.

[0006]

The information contained in the column, that is, the information that can be used as a sort key, includes a device name, a product name, a network interface board name, and the like. Only the rows were sorted, and the display position of the columns did not change.

The information selected by the user as the sort key is likely to be the most noticeable information for the user. However, even if the information has a high degree of attention, the information is displayed only at a predetermined column position, so the user has to pay attention to a different column position every time the sort key is changed, and the number of columns is large. In some cases, the visibility of the device list was reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing method and apparatus capable of improving the visibility of a device list. .

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus for monitoring or controlling the status of devices connected via a network. Device list display means for arranging the information of each device for each device and displaying a list, and device list sorting for sorting the device list using arbitrary column information of the list view displayed by the device list display means as a sort key Means, and column position changing means for moving the information used as a sort key by the device list sorting means to the leftmost column for display.

[0010] Further, there is provided device information obtaining means for obtaining predetermined information from a plurality of devices, and the device list display means arranges information obtained by the device information obtaining means for each device. It is characterized in that a list is displayed.

[0011] The column position changing means displays information not used as a sort key in an order before sorting.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a method according to the present invention is an information processing method for monitoring or controlling the status of devices connected via a network. A device list displaying step for arranging and displaying a list in a device list; a device list sorting step for sorting a device list using arbitrary column information of a list view displayed in the device list displaying step as a sort key; and the device list. A column position changing step of moving information used as a sort key in the sorting step to the leftmost column for display.

[0013] The apparatus further comprises a device information obtaining step for obtaining predetermined information from a plurality of devices, wherein the device list displaying step displays the information obtained in the device information obtaining step. I do.

In the column position changing step, information not used as a sort key is displayed in the order before sorting.

[0015] To achieve the above object, a storage medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable medium storing a program for monitoring or controlling the status of a device connected via a network. A device list display step module for arranging and displaying a list of information possessed by a plurality of devices for each device, and sorting the device list using arbitrary column information of the list view displayed by the device list display step module as a sort key And a column position changing step module for moving information used as a sort key in the device list sorting step module to the leftmost column for display.

The program further includes a device information obtaining step module for obtaining predetermined information from a plurality of devices, and the device list displaying step module displays the information obtained in the device information obtaining step. It is a module to perform.

The column position changing step module is a module for displaying information not used as a sort key in the order before sorting.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components described in this embodiment, formulas, numerical values, etc., unless otherwise specified,
It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First Embodiment) A network device management apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a network board (NEB) for connecting the printer of this embodiment to a network.
101 is a printer 102 having an open architecture
It is a figure showing the case where it was connected. The NEB 101 connects to a local area network (LAN) 100 such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface 10Base-2 having a coaxial connector or an LBase such as 10Base-T having an RJ-45.
They are connected via an AN interface.

A plurality of personal computers (PCs) such as a PC 103 and a PC 104 are also connected to the LAN 100. Under the control of a network operating system, these PCs 103 and 104 are connected to the NEB 101.
Can communicate with In this state, one of the PCs, for example, the PC 103 can be designated to be used as the network management unit. In addition, PC 103
A printer such as the printer 105 connected to the printer 104 may be connected.

A file server (FIL) is connected to the LAN 100.
E SERVER) 106, which is a large-capacity (for example, 10 billion bytes) network disk (NETWORK).
DISK) 107 to manage access to the file. A print server (PSERVER) 108 includes connected printers 109 (109a, 109b, etc. (not shown)),
Alternatively, a remote printer such as the printer 105 performs printing. Other peripheral devices (not shown)
It may be connected to 0.

More specifically, the network shown in FIG. 1 can use network software such as Novell or UNIX (registered trademark) software in order to efficiently communicate between various network members. Although any network software can be used, for example, Novell's NetWare (registered trademark of Novell, hereinafter abbreviated) software can be used. For a detailed description of this software package, please refer to the online documentation included with the NetWare package. It is available for purchase from Novell with the NetWare package.

Briefly describing the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the file server 106 plays a role as a file management unit that receives, stores, queues, caches, and transmits data files between LAN members. For example, the 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 prints the arranged data files according to a command from the print server 108 to the printer. 109
Send to

The PC 103 and the PC 104 are respectively
Generation of data file and L of generated data file
It comprises a normal PC capable of transmitting to the AN 100, receiving a file from the LAN 100, and displaying and / or processing such a file.
It should be noted that although FIG. 1 shows a personal computer device, other computer devices that are suitable for executing network software may be included. For example, if you are using UNIX software,
Workstations may be included in the network, and these workstations may be used with the illustrated PC under appropriate circumstances.

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. WA
N is basically an aggregate formed by connecting several LANs with a high-speed digital line such as an integrated high-speed service digital network (ISDN) telephone line.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
, LAN 110 and LAN 120 are modulated / demodulated (MO
DEM) / transponder (MODEM / ROUTER) 130 and W connected through a backbone (BACK BONE) 140
Form AN. These connections are simple electrical connections with several buses. Each LAN is a dedicated PC
And typically, but not necessarily, include a file server and a print server.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Are the PC 111, the PC 112, and the file server 11
3, a network disk 114, a print server 115, a printer 116 and a printer 117. In contrast, LAN 120 has PC 121 and PC 122
Including only. LAN 100, LAN 110, LAN
120 can access devices belonging to other LANs via a WAN connection.

As a method for managing devices on a network constituting a large-scale network system as described above, several attempts have been made by many standard organizations so far. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established OpenSystem Interconnection,
A generic reference framework called the OSI) model was provided. The OSI model of the network management protocol is based on the Common Management Info Protocol.
rmation Protocol (CMIP). CMIP is a common European network management protocol.

In the United States, a simple network management protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol,
There is one variant of the protocol related to CMIP called SNMP). ("Introduction to TCP / IP Network Management Aiming for Practical Management" MT Rose = Author / Takeshi Nishida =
(Translated by Toppan Co., Ltd., see the first edition on August 20, 1992).

According to the SNMP network management technique, the network management system includes at least one network management station (NMS), several managed nodes each including an agent, and the management stations and agents exchange management information. Contains the network management protocol used for 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.

Here, the agent is software that runs as a background process for each target device. When a user requests management data from a device on the network, the management software sends the object identification information in a management packet or frame to the target agent. The agent interprets the object identification information, extracts data corresponding to the object identification information, puts the data in a packet, and sends it back to the user. Occasionally, a 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 referred to as MIB (Management Information Ba
se). FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the MIB. As shown in FIG. 4, the MIB has a tree-structured data structure, and all nodes are uniquely numbered.
In FIG. 4, the number written in parentheses is the identifier of the node. For example, in FIG.
The identifier of 01 is “1”. Since the identifier of the node 402 is “3” below the node 401, “1 · 3”
Is written. Similarly, the identifier of the node 403 is
It is described as “1.33.6.1.2”. The identifier of this node is called the object identifier (OBJECT IDENTIFIE
R).

The MIB has a management information structure (SMI:
Structure of Management Information)
155 Structure and Identification of Management Inf
ormation for TCP / IP-based Internets.

FIG. 4 shows the MI defined as a standard.
Among B, only a part is extracted and described.

Reference numeral 404 denotes a node which is the top of an object group called a standard MIB which is provided as standard in a device managed by SNMP. The detailed structure of the object under this node is described in RFC1213 Management.
Information Base for Network Management of TCP / IP
-based internets: Defined in MIB-II.

Reference numeral 405 denotes a node which is a vertex of an object group called a printer MIB which is provided as a standard feature of a printer managed by SNMP. The detailed structure of an object under this node is described in RFC 1759 P.
Specified in the rinter MIB.

Reference numeral 406 denotes a node which is called a private MIB and serves as a vertex for companies and organizations to define their own MIB. A node 407 is called a company extension MIB, and is a top node in the private MIB for a company to perform its own extension. Canon Inc. has a company number of "160" for its own definition.
2 is assigned, and a vertex node 408 for defining a Canon MIB (Canon MIB), which is a unique MIB of Canon, is a node 40 which is a node meaning a company.
7 below. The object identifier of the vertex node of the Canon MIB is “1, 3, 6, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1”.
602 ".

<< Implementation of Agent on Network Board >> As an example of implementation of the agent, it is conceivable to implement 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. Hereinafter, an example in which a network board (NEB) on which an agent is mounted is connected to a printer will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, NEB1 is preferably used.
01 is built in the 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. With the configuration of the NEB 101, a large multi-area WAN network can be controlled and managed.
This has the advantage of having a characteristic auxiliary function. 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 after each print job, providing a guaranteed initial environment for the next user. Automatic management of printer configuration,
And printer logs or usage statistics accessible through a network to characterize printer load or schedule toner cartridge replacement.

An important factor in this NEB design is that N bidirectional interface such as shared memory 200
This function accesses the printer control status from the EB 101. In addition to the shared memory, an interface such as a SCSI interface can be used. This allows
The printer operation information can be sent to the NEB 101 or an external network node so that many useful auxiliary function programs can be created. The block of print image data and control information is configured by a microprocessor 301 on the NEB 101, described in the shared memory 200, and read by the printer 102. Similarly, printer status information is sent from the printer 102 to the shared memory 200, where it is read by the microprocessor 301 on the NEB.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view showing a state in which the NEB 101 is installed in the printer 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the NEB 101 is a printed circuit board 10 having a face plate 101b for network connection.
1a, and is connected to the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170. The printer interface card 150 is used for the printer 102.
Directly control the printer engine. The print data and the printer status command are transmitted from the NEB 101 to the connector 17.
0, and is input to the printer interface card 150, and printer status information is also obtained from the printer interface card 150 via the connector 170. The NEB 101 transmits this information to the LAN 10 via the network connector of the face plate 101b.
Communicate on 0. At the same time, the printer 102 can also receive print data from the general serial port 102a and parallel port 102b.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection between the NEB 101, the printer 102, and the LAN 100.
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. NEB1
01, a microprocessor (MPU) 301 for controlling the NEB 101 and a microprocessor 301
ROM 303 for storing the operation program of the above, RAM 302 for the microprocessor 301 to use as a work when executing the program, NEB 101
There is a shared memory 200 for exchanging data with the printer interface card 150, and these are mutually connected through an internal bus. NEB1
A program for operating the SNMP 01 as an SNMP agent is stored in the ROM 303. The microprocessor 301 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 303, and uses the RAM 302 as a work area. The shared memory 2 serves as a buffer area for mutual communication with the printer interface card 150.
00 is used.

The microprocessor 151 on the printer interface card 150 accesses data with the NEB 101 via the shared memory 200 installed in the NEB 101. Printer interface card 1
The microprocessor 151 on 50 also communicates with the printer engine 160 that actually runs the printing mechanism.

<< Configuration on PC Side >> On the other hand, the PC side on which the network management software operates will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a PC on which network management software can operate.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a PC (computer) on which network management software operates, which is equivalent to 103 in FIG. PC500 is
A CPU 501 that executes a network management program stored in a ROM 502 or a hard disk (HD) 511 or supplied from a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FD) 512 is provided. To control. A RAM 503 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 501. A keyboard controller (KBC) 505 controls an instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 509 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 506 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC).
The display of the T display (CRT) 510 is controlled. 5
A disk controller (DKC) 07 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 511 and a floppy disk controller (FD) 512 for storing a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like. 508 is a network interface card (N
IC), bidirectionally exchanges data with an agent or a network device via the LAN 100.
In this embodiment, the hardware is a PC (FIG. 5).
This is realized on a PC having the same configuration as that of the PC, but has a feature in control by software as described below.

The network management device according to the present embodiment
It is realized on a PC having the same configuration as a PC capable of realizing the network management device as shown in FIG. The hard disk (HD) 511 stores a network management software program according to the present embodiment, which is an operation main body in all the descriptions below. In all the descriptions below, the subject of execution is the CPU 501 on hardware unless otherwise specified. On the other hand, the subject of control on software is network management software stored in a hard disk (HD) 511. In the present embodiment, the OS is assumed to be, for example, Windows 95 (manufactured by Microsoft), but is not limited to this. The network management program according to the present embodiment may be supplied in a form stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM. In this case, a floppy disk controller (FD) 5 shown in FIG.
The program is read from a storage medium by a CD-ROM drive 12 or a CD-ROM drive (not shown) and installed in a hard disk (HD) 511.

FIG. 6 is a module configuration diagram of the network management software according to the embodiment of the present invention. This network management software is stored in the hard disk 511 in FIG. 5 and is executed by the CPU 501. 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 is a module for displaying a list of devices connected to the network. 602 is called an overall control module, and controls other modules based on an instruction from the device list 601. Reference numeral 603 denotes a module called a configurator, which performs a special process related to the network setting of the agent. 6
04 is a module called a search module that searches for devices connected to the network. Devices searched by the search module 604 are displayed as a list in the device list 601. 605 is
This is a NetWare job module that acquires the status of a print job from a network server using the NetWare API 616. (Note that for NetWare API, for example, Nov
"NetWare Programmer's Guide published by ell
for C "and the like. This book can be purchased from Novell, Inc.) 606 and 607 are UI modules for displaying a device detail window to be described later, and a UI module is provided for each target model for displaying detailed information. 608 and 609 are control modules, which are responsible for control specific to the target model from which detailed information is acquired.

As with the UI module, a control module exists for each target model for displaying detailed information. The control A module 608 and the control B module 609
B from the device to be managed using the B module 610
Get B data, convert data as needed,
The data is passed to the corresponding UIA module 606 or UIB module 607, respectively.

The MIB module 610 is a module that converts between an object identifier and an object key. Here, the object key is a 32-bit integer corresponding to the object identifier on a one-to-one basis. Since the object identifier is a variable-length identifier and is cumbersome to implement in network management software, the network management software according to the present application internally uses a fixed-length identifier that has a one-to-one correspondence with the object identifier. . MIB module 610
The higher-level module handles MIB information using this object key. This facilitates implementation of network management software.

Reference numeral 611 is called an SNMP module.
It transmits and receives NMP packets. A common transport module 612 is a module that absorbs a difference between lower protocols for transporting SNMP data. In practice, depending on the protocol selected by the user during operation, the IPX handler 613 or the UDP handler 61
4 has a role of transferring data. Note that U
The DP handler uses WinSock 617 as an implementation. (For WinSock, refer to, for example, the specification of Windows (registered trademark) Socket API v1.1. This document is available from a plurality of places. For example, ViSock is a compiler manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.
sual C ++). Configurator 60
The current protocol 615 used by 3 indicates either the IPX protocol or the UDP protocol selected by the user during operation. In the following description, the network management software according to the present application is referred to as “NetSpot”.

<< Installation of NetSpot >> Files required for installation of NetSpot are usually recorded on a physical medium such as a floppy disk (FD) or CD-ROM and distributed, or transmitted via a network. Is done. After the user obtains a file required for installing NetSpot by these means, the user starts installing NetSpot according to a predetermined installation procedure. The procedure for installing NetSpot is the same as the procedure for installing other general software. That is, when the user activates the NetSpot installer on a personal computer (PC), the installer automatically executes the installation thereafter. The installer copies files necessary for the operation of NetSpot to the hard disk of the PC, and also corrects or newly creates files necessary for the operation of NetSpot while receiving information from the user as necessary.

The information input by the user when installing NetSpot includes selection of the following two operation modes (administrator mode and general user mode).

<<< Operation Mode of NetSpot >>>
There are two types of operation modes, an administrator mode and a general user mode, as described below. The user specifies which of these modes of operation to use when installing NetSpot. In order for the user to change the operation mode of NetSpot, it is necessary in principle to reinstall NetSpot.

Administrator mode: A mode used by a user having a specific authority (for example, a network administrator or a network peripheral device administrator).

General user mode: A mode used by general users who do not have a specific authority.

The functions supported in the general user mode are obtained by adding restrictions to the functions supported in the administrator mode. That is, the functions supported in the general user mode correspond to a part of the functions supported in the administrator mode.

<<< Startup of NetSpot and Password Authentication >>> N
If etSpot is installed in general user mode, the user can start NetSpot simply by running the NetSpot executable. On the other hand, when NetSpot is installed in the administrator mode, the user is required to input a NetSpot password immediately after executing the NetSpot executable file. At this time, the user cannot start NetSpot in the administrator mode without inputting an appropriate password. In the administrator mode of NetSpot, the user can make various settings for network peripheral devices (devices). Incorrect settings may cause malfunction or failure of the devices. Therefore, in order to prevent a general user from starting the administrator mode, NetSpot requests the user to input a NetSpot password when starting the administrator mode. However, the user is NetS
When prompted to enter the pot password, NetSpot can be started in general user mode without entering the password.

When installing NetSpot in the administrator mode, the user performing the installation can set a NetSpot password at the time of starting the administrator mode. Further, after starting NetSpot in the administrator mode, the user can set or change the NetSpot password at the time of starting the administrator mode.

The set or changed NetSpot password is used the next time NetSpot is started in the administrator mode. The NetSpot administrator mode is activated if the NetSpot password entered at the time of activation of the administrator mode matches the actual set value, but is not activated if they do not match.

The administrator mode of NetSpot is set to
Instead of prompting the user for an ot password, it can operate to check that you are logged in to the NetWare file server as an administrator. That is, Ne
When the administrator mode of tSpot starts, the user
If you are logged in to the file server as an administrator, you can skip the NetSpot password prompt.

In an actual network, a plurality of managers exist in one network environment, and the managers may be different for each network peripheral device.
Therefore, in the administrator mode of NetSpot, in addition to the NetSpot password at the time of starting the administrator mode, it is possible to optionally set a device password for each network interface board. A function of performing device password authentication for each network peripheral device when a user selects a device is supported.

The device password for selecting the network peripheral device is set by the administrator for each network interface board as necessary. When a device password is set on the network interface board, when the user selects a new network peripheral device from the device list display window in the administrator mode of NetSpot, that is, when the device detail window is newly opened, the network interface board The device password set by the administrator is authenticated every time.

The user sets the device password when selecting the network peripheral device equal to the NetSpot password when starting the administrator mode, so that the user can newly select a network peripheral device from the device list display window in the NetSpot administrator mode. In addition, the input of the device password can be omitted.

<< Exclusive Control of NetSpot >> When a plurality of NetSpot administrator modes are activated for one network peripheral device, the network peripheral device (device)
May cause inconsistencies in the configuration of the network and network settings. For this reason, the number of NetSpot administrator modes that can be activated for one network peripheral device is limited to one. In other words, the same network peripheral device cannot be selected in a plurality of NetSpot manager modes. On the other hand, the general user mode of NetSpot is 1
A plurality of network peripheral devices can be activated. That is, the same network peripheral device can be selected in a plurality of NetSpot general user modes.

<< Transition Diagram of Windows Displayed by NetSpot >> FIGS. 7 and 8 show the transition of windows that NetSpot sequentially displays according to a user's instruction when the user starts NetSpot in the administrator mode. FIG. However,
The windows shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are not all windows displayed by NetSpot. NetSpot automatically displays various windows according to the operating status of NetSpot and information obtained from the network even when there is no instruction from the user.

The user monitors the operation status of the network peripheral device (device) by looking at the information displayed in various windows displayed by NetSpot, and sets appropriate values in these windows to display the network status. Peripheral devices can be controlled.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a list of dialog boxes called from various sheets described later when NetSpot is started in the administrator mode.

Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a device detail window for displaying detailed information on each device.
2, a job sheet 703, an information sheet 704, and a network sheet 705.

From the status sheet 702, a dialog box 706 for displaying detailed error information and a dialog box 709 for setting a printer environment are displayed. From the error detailed information display dialog box 706, a printer paper supply / discharge unit selection dialog box 707 is selected.

Further, the printer environment setting dialog box 709 includes a printer sheet supply / discharge unit setting sheet 710, a common print environment basic setting sheet 711, a LIPS print environment basic setting sheet 715, an N201 print environment basic setting sheet 718, and ESC / P printing. Basic environment setting sheet 722
Has five sheets. Where LIPS, N201, ES
C / P is a type of page description language for printers.

From the common print environment basic setting sheet 711, a common print environment extension setting dialog box 7 is displayed.
12, a print adjustment setting dialog box 713 and a print operation mode setting dialog box 714 are called.

From the LIPS print environment basic setting sheet 715, the LIPS print environment extension setting dialog box 7 is displayed.
16. The LIPS utility dialog box 717 is called.

From the N201 print environment basic setting sheet 718, an N201 print environment extension 1 setting dialog box 719, an N201 print environment extension 2 setting dialog box 720, and an N201 utility dialog box 72 are displayed.
1 is called.

ESC / P print environment basic setting sheet 722
From here, the ESC / P print environment extension 1 setting dialog box 723, the ESC / P print environment extension 2 setting dialog box 724, and the ESC / P utility dialog box 725 are called.

Next, the printer queue setting change dialog box 726 is called from the job sheet 703, and the printer queue setting change dialog box 726 is called.
From here, the NetWare login dialog box 727 is called. From the information sheet 704, a manager information display dialog box 728 is called. Finally, a protocol setting dialog box 729 is called from the network sheet 705.

This protocol setting dialog box 7
29 has three sheets, a NetWare setting sheet 730, a TCP / IP setting sheet 732, and an AppleTalk setting sheet 733. From the NetWare setting sheet 730, NetWare setting sheet 730
The login dialog box 727 is called. Note that the device list display window 801 is
Since this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8, the description is omitted here.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a list of dialog boxes called from various menus described later when NetSpot is started in the administrator mode.

In FIG. 8, the device list display window 801 has four menus: a device menu 802, a display menu 803, a setting menu 804, and a help menu 805. Among them, device menu 8
From 02, a new addition device setting dialog box 806 and a standard printer driver installation window 807 for the operating system are called.
Next, a display option dialog box 808 is called from the display menu 803.

Further, from the setting menu 804, a device search range setting dialog box 809, a device display setting dialog box 810, a device list display automatic update setting dialog box 811, a NetWare log-in dialog box 727, a NetWare log-out dialog box 813, and a NetSpot A NetSpot password change dialog box 814 for changing the password to be used when executing is executed. Finally, from the help menu 805, a help file window 815 for displaying NetSpot help and a NetSpot version information display dialog box 816 for displaying the NetSpot version are called.

<< Display of Device List Display Window >> FIG. 9 is a view showing a display example of a display option dialog box 808 of NetSpot. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a conventional device list display window 801 (see FIG. 8) corresponding to the display options shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of the device list display window 801 according to the present embodiment, which corresponds to the display options shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of a conventional method for displaying a device list display window 801. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of a method for displaying device list display window 801 in the present embodiment.

In the following, first, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG.
2, a method of displaying the device list display window 801 in the conventional mode will be described.

The user can open the display option dialog box 808 illustrated in FIG. 9 at any time to set information to be displayed in the device list, that is, display options. In FIG. 9, both the display information when using a large icon and the display information when using a small icon can be set at the same time. By selecting the display menu 803, the user can switch between using large icons and small icons.

A display option when using a large icon can be selected by pressing a radio button.
"Device name only", "Device name and product name", "Device name and network interface board name", "Device name and network address", "Device name and M"
Only one of the five options of "AC address" can be selected. The display option when using small icons can be selected by checking a check box. Since the device name is always displayed, there is no "device name" checkbox, but other "product name"
As for “network interface board name”, “network address”, and “MAC address”, only those whose check boxes are checked are displayed.

When the user presses the “OK” button in FIG. 9, the display options are stored in the RAM 503 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 10 shows a method of displaying a device list display window when a small icon is used. The device information displayed in FIG. 10 is obtained by a device search unit (not shown). Each time the device searching means finds a new device, information on the new device is added to the device list display window.

At this time, a device list display window is displayed according to the processing shown in FIG.

That is, first, in step S1201, the display options stored in the RAM 503 according to the above-described procedure are checked.

In step S1202, device list display information, that is, “device name”, “product name”, “network interface board name”, “network address”, and “MAC address” according to the display option.
Select the item to be displayed from.

In step S1203, the sort key is checked. As for the sort key, when a user selects (for example, clicks with a mouse) an arbitrary column from the list view of the device list, information included in the column is designated as the sort key. However, if the user has never selected any column, “device name” is used as the initial value of the sort key. The sort key is
Each time it is changed, it is stored in the RAM 503 (see FIG. 5). Examining the sort key in step S1203 refers to examining the sort key stored in the RAM 503.

In step S1204, the device list display information selected in step S1202 is sorted using the sort key.

In step S1205, step S12
Each item of the device list display information sorted in 04 is displayed in order from the left column position of the list view.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the columns are always displayed in the order of “device name”, “product name”, “network interface board name”, “network address”, and “MAC address” regardless of the sort key. .

Accordingly, even the information of high interest selected by the user as a sort key is displayed only at a predetermined column position, and the user must pay attention to a different column position every time the sort key is changed. When the number of columns is large, the visibility of the device list is reduced.

In order to improve the visibility, the device list display window 801 is displayed as follows.

In step S1301, the display options stored in the RAM 503 are checked.

In step S1302, the device list display information, ie, “device name”, “product name”, “network interface board name”, “network address”, “MAC address”, is displayed in accordance with the display option.
Select the item to be displayed from.

In step S1303, the sort key stored in the RAM 503 is checked.

In step S1304, the device list display information selected in step S1302 is sorted using the sort key.

In step S1305, step S13
Only the items used as sort keys are extracted from the device list display information sorted in 04 and displayed in the leftmost column position of the list view.

In step S1306, step S13
The remaining items of the device list display information not displayed in 05 are displayed in order from the second column position from the left of the list view.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the "network address" is selected as a sort key when a small icon is used, the "network address" used as the sort key is displayed in the leftmost column, and then the "device name" Each column is displayed in the order of “product name”, “network interface board name”, and “MAC address”.

As described above, according to the display method of the device list display window according to the present embodiment, the information selected as the sort key is moved to the leftmost column position and displayed, and the information of interest is displayed. It is always displayed at the leftmost column position, and the visibility of the device list can be improved.

The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but it can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine). Etc.).

Further, an 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 a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

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

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. 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. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in 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, The case where the CPU provided 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 is also included.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing method and apparatus capable of improving the visibility of a device list.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a case where a network board for connecting a printer to a network is connected to a printer having an open architecture as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view showing how a network board on which an agent is mounted is connected to a printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection between a network board, a printer, and a LAN.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an MIB.

FIG. 5 shows a P on which network management software can operate.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of C.

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

FIG. 7 is a transition diagram of a window when NetSpot is started in an administrator mode.

FIG. 8 is a transition diagram of a window when NetSpot is started in an administrator mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display option dialog box of NetSpot.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a conventional device list display window.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a device list display window according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for displaying a device list display window.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a device list display window according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for monitoring or controlling the status of a device connected via a network, wherein a device list display for arranging and displaying information of a plurality of devices for each device. Means, a device list sorting means for sorting a device list using any column information of the list view displayed by the device list display means as a sort key, and information used as a sort key by the device list sort means on the leftmost side. An information processing apparatus, comprising: column position changing means for moving to a column for display. 2. Device information obtaining means for obtaining predetermined information from a plurality of devices, wherein the device list display means displays the information obtained by the device information obtaining means for each device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus displays the information in a list. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said column position changing means displays information not used as a sort key in an order before sorting. 4. An information processing method for monitoring or controlling the status of a device connected via a network, wherein a device list display for arranging and displaying information of a plurality of devices for each device. A device list sorting step for sorting a device list using any column information of the list view displayed by the device list displaying step as a sort key; and information on the leftmost side used as a sort key in the device list sorting step. A column position changing step for moving to a column for display. 5. A device information acquiring step for acquiring predetermined information from a plurality of devices, wherein the device list displaying step includes displaying the information acquired in the device information acquiring step. 5. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein in the column position changing step, information not used as a sort key is displayed in an order before sorting. 7. A computer-readable medium storing a program for monitoring or controlling the status of a device connected via a network, wherein the program arranges information of a plurality of devices for each device. A device list display step module for displaying a list, a device list sorting step module for sorting a device list using arbitrary column information of the list view displayed by the device list display step module as a sort key, and the device list sort A computer readable medium comprising: a column position changing step module for moving information used as a sort key in a process module to a leftmost column for display. 8. The program further includes a device information obtaining step module for obtaining predetermined information from a plurality of devices, wherein the device list displaying step module includes information obtained in the device information obtaining step. The computer readable medium according to claim 7, wherein the module is a module that displays 9. The column position changing step module is a module for displaying information not used as a sort key in an order before sorting.
A computer-readable medium according to claim 1.