JP2002300161A - Information processing unit and method for controlling the information processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to utilize a network application without being made aware of the state of a network environment. SOLUTION: The information processing unit acquires an IP address, receives a host name, executes a Ping command or a loopback address and then executes also Ping for its own IP address (S1 to S10). Then the information processing unit executes the Ping fro its won home name, determines the absence of a DNS(Domain Name System) server on the occurrence of an error and decides the use of IP address representation (S13 to S15). On the other hand, when no error occurs, the information processing unit determines the presence of the DNS server on the network, the information processing unit analyzes the host header of the HTTP/1.1(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol 1.1), decides the use of the host name representation when the host header uses the host name representation, or decides the use of the IP address when no host name representation is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a control method of the information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus having a network communication function for processing various data such as image data and the like. It relates to a control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid development of information technology such as the Internet, today, in a network environment, Web
b. Using the browser as client software and the Web
A client-server system using a server is widely used.

[0003] With the spread of this type of client-server system, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) for performing print processing via the Internet, SSDP and the like.
(Simple service Discovery Protocol), GENA (G
eneral Event Notification), HTTP / 1.1 (H
yper Text Transfer Protocol 1.1: RFC (Requestfo
r comment) The specifications of network applications using 2068 and 2616) have been proposed by various standardization organizations, and their implementation in network services such as network-compatible image processing devices such as printers, scanners, and copiers has progressed. I have.

[0004] In HTTP, UR is used to identify a specific information resource available from a host computer.
I (Uniform Resource Identifier) is used, but the syntax and semantics of URI are RFC1
78, 1808, and 2396, and the host computer can select either a host name notation using a host name or an IP address notation using an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

On the network, a DNS (Domain Naming System) that associates a host computer with an IP address is provided.
e System) When a server is connected and the host name notation is used for the URI, the IP address of the host computer is notified by inquiring the DNS server for the host name.

[0006]

However, in the above prior art, it is assumed that the DNS server exists on the network. Therefore, in the network environment where the DNS server does not exist, such as a small business office LAN and a home network. Also, in a network environment where there is no server function for determining an IP address by associating a host name with an IP address, an IP address for the host name cannot be obtained even if the host name notation is used, and the client device There is a problem that communication between the server and the host computer as a server device becomes impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is directed to a method in which a URI is represented by a host name or an IP.
By automatically determining whether to use address notation,
An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that allows a user to use a network application without being aware of the state of a network environment, and a control method of the information processing apparatus.

[0008]

According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus connected to a network and shared by a plurality of client apparatuses. A plurality of notation means for specifying on the network, a server device for associating the plurality of notation means with each other, a determination means for determining whether or not the plurality of notation means are connected to the network; Determining means for determining use of the one notation means specified based on the determination result of the determination means from among them.

[0009] A method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a method for controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a network and shared by a plurality of client apparatuses. A server having a plurality of notation means, and a server device for associating the plurality of notation means with each other, a determination step of determining whether or not the server device is connected to the network, and the determination step from among the plurality of notation means And determining a use of the specified notation means based on the result of the determination.

[0010] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, for example, a 32-bit reduced instruction set (RISC).
er) It is composed of chips and controls the entire device.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a flash ROM which stores a program execution code and a network management information database table (hereinafter, referred to as a "database table"). Further, a part of the flash ROM 2 is used as a non-volatile memory area to store and hold parameters set by a user, configuration information, and the like.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a DRAM, which is used as a work area of the CPU 1 and copies execution codes and database tables stored in the flash ROM 2 at the time of startup, and executes program codes when the copy work is completed. To start.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a LAN controller of a bus master type, which arbitrates for a bus right with the CPU 1 using transmission / reception as an event trigger, and which is independent of the CPU 1 and has a DRAM.
3. Data transmission / reception is executed via the transmission / reception buffer secured above.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a LAN physical layer control unit (PHY), which is connected to Ethernet (registered trademark) via a connector 6.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a peripheral I / F controller which is composed of an ASIC, controls communication with peripheral devices (peripherals) such as a printer, has a 32 KB dual port RAM, and has a dual port RAM. Data communication is performed via the peripheral I / F 8 using the RAM.

Although not shown, the information processing apparatus is equipped with three light emitting diodes (LEDs) indicating transmission, reception and error states, so that the state of the apparatus can be visually checked. Has become.

The peripheral device has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, similarly to the information processing device, and has a configuration independent of a control system on the communication control unit side.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional block of a network control unit built in the CPU 1. The functional block uses an Ethernet 9 as a data link layer and is an upper layer of the Ethernet 9. TCP (Transmissi
ons Control Protocol) 10, IP11, UDP (User
Datagram Protocol) 12 and HTTP 13 are mounted.

In the present embodiment, SSDP 14, which is a protocol for device search, an IPP 15, which controls a printer logically connected to the network controller, and configuration and status of the network controller are used as application protocols. Is implemented as an upper layer of the HTTP 13. In the present embodiment, it is automatically determined whether to select the IP address notation or the host name notation in the URI notation used in these application protocols.

The Telnet 17 is a TCP 10 for configuration and status monitoring of the network control unit.
Implemented as an upper layer of SNMP (Simple Network M
Anagement Protocol) 18 is implemented as an upper layer of TCP10 / UDP12.

RIP used for communication between routers
(Rooting Information Protocol) addresses, BootP (Bootstrap Protocol) 19, DHCP (D
dynamicHost Configuration Protocol) 20 and RA
An RP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) 21 is provided, and which protocol to use for obtaining an IP address can be selected by any of the above-described configuration settings of Telnet 17, Web server 16 and SNMP 18. It has been.

Further, the network control unit uses ICMP (Int) as a protocol for confirming the state of the network.
(Ethernet Control Message Protocol) 22 is implemented on IP11, and ICMP type 0 (Echo Request) / 8
(Response) (IP packet return transmission request / response)
Is used to determine whether a DNS server exists. ARP as a MAC address search means
(Address Resolution Protocol) 23 is implemented.

The device I / F 24 is mounted on a network application group (the SSDP 14, the IPP 15, and the Web server 26), and communicates with an information processing apparatus logically connected to the network control unit via the device I / F 24. I do.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a control method of the information processing apparatus.

First, in step S1, an IP address is obtained by starting the apparatus.

The IP address uses a protocol selected in advance by one of the Web server 16, Telnet 17, and SNMP 18 of the client existing in the same segment as the LAN connected to the network control unit, and uses the Boot.
It is obtained by executing these protocols in any of P19, DHCP20, and RARP21.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the procedure for obtaining the IP address has been completed normally. If the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S3, where the error LED is turned on, and the error state is set. The control operation is interrupted until it is canceled.

If the answer in step S2 is affirmative (Ye
s), that is, when the procedure for acquiring the IP address has been completed normally or when the IP address has been set in advance, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether a unique host name has been given to the apparatus. That is, in the present embodiment, a host name can be set for an object corresponding to the “device name” from any of the Web server 16, the Telnet 17, and the SNMP 18, and the host name is stored in the DRAM 3. Then, the network control unit refers to the storage information stored in the DRAM 3,
Determine whether a host name has been given.

If the answer to step S4 is negative (N
o), that is, when the host name has not been given, the process proceeds to step S5, and the use of the IP address notation as the URI notation is determined.

On the other hand, the answer to step S4 is affirmative (Yes).
If the host name is given, the network control unit executes the Ping command for the loopback address, and determines in step S7 whether the response to the Ping command has been abnormally terminated. When it is determined that the process has abnormally ended, the process proceeds to step S8, the error LED is turned on, and the control operation is interrupted until the error state is resolved.

If the answer to step S7 is negative (No), it is determined that the TCP / IP protocol stack is operating normally, and the process proceeds to step S9, where the network control unit pings its own IP address. A command is executed, and in a succeeding step S10, it is determined whether or not a reply to Ping has abnormally ended, and the answer is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S11 to turn on the error LED, and the control operation is suspended until the error state is eliminated.

On the other hand, the answer in step S10 is negative (No).
In the case of, it is determined that its own IP address is correctly set, the process proceeds to step S12, Ping is executed for its own host name, and in step S13, Ding is performed.
It is determined whether the name determination by the NS server has been normally processed.

Then, the answer at step S13 is affirmative (Ye).
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S14, in which it is determined that there is no DNS server on the network or that the present network control unit is not registered in the DNS server, and in step S15, the use of the IP address notation is used as the URI. Determine and end the process.

On the other hand, the answer in step S13 is negative (No).
When it is determined that Ping for its own host name has been completed normally, the process proceeds to step S16, where it is determined that the DNS server exists on the network and the name determination has been normally performed, and the host name notation is used as the URI. Decide to use.

Next, the process proceeds to step S17, where the HTTP / 1.1 host header issued by the client is analyzed, and it is determined whether or not the URI of the host header indicates the host name. In the case of Yes), the process proceeds to step S19 to determine the use of the host name notation, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S20, and the client device that has issued HTTP / 1.1 Determines that the DNS server does not use the name determination, and determines to use the IP address notation as the URI.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the DNS server is connected on the network,
By determining whether or not the client device that is the TTP / 1.1 request issuing side has requested the use of name determination by the DNS server, it is automatically determined whether the URI is in host name notation or IP address notation. It is possible to use the network application without the user being aware of the state of the network environment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the ICMP Pin
Although it is confirmed whether or not the name can be determined by executing the g command, if the network control unit has a configuration in which a DNS resolver is implemented, step S9 in FIG.
Instead of issuing a Ping to its own host name, a DNS request may be issued to its own host name. If the response to the DNS request ends abnormally, check whether there is a DNS server on the network. Or, if the network control unit determines that the DNS request is not registered in the DNS server and decides to use the IP address notation, and if the DNS request for its own host name ends normally, the network
By judging that the name determination is normally processed because of the presence of the NS server, and by deciding to use the host name notation, the notation can be automatically determined.

In the above-described embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a peripheral device other than a printer in the same manner. For example, a scanner, a facsimile, a copying machine, and a function combining these functions can be used. The present invention can also be applied to a digital multifunction device equipped with a personal computer.

The connection form with the device I / F 24 also includes bus connection, serial I / F, and parallel I / F.
F, Ethernet, or any other commonly used interface communication may be used.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is automatically determined whether a server device is connected to a network or whether a client device requests a notation determined by the server device. By automatically determining whether to use the host name notation or the IP address notation, it is possible for the user to use the network application without being conscious of the state of the network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of a network control unit;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Flash ROM 3 DRAM

Claims (8)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus connected to a network and shared by a plurality of client devices, wherein the plurality of notation means for identifying itself on the network and the plurality of notation means are associated with each other. A determination unit that determines whether or not the server device is connected to the network; and determines use of one of the plurality of notation units specified based on a determination result of the determination unit. An information processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit. 2. The notation means includes at least a host name notation and an Internet protocol notation, and the determination means determines that the server device is not connected by the determination means. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use of the Internet protocol notation is determined. 3. The notation means includes at least a host name notation and an Internet protocol notation, and the determination means determines that the server device is connected by the determination means. In the case, when a request is made in the host name notation from the client device, it is determined to use the host name notation,
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the client apparatus makes a request in the Internet protocol notation, it is determined to use the Internet protocol notation. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said server device is a domain name system server. 5. A method for controlling an information processing device connected to a network and shared by a plurality of client devices, comprising: a plurality of notation means for identifying itself on the network; A judging step of judging whether or not a server device for associating means with each other is connected to the network; and one notation specified based on the judgment result in the judging step from among the plurality of notation means And a determining step of determining the use of the means. 6. The notation means includes at least a host name notation and an Internet protocol notation, and the determining step determines that the server device is not connected in the determining step. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein determining the use of the Internet protocol notation. 7. The notation means includes at least a host name notation and an Internet protocol notation, and the determining step determines that the server device is connected by the determining step. If the request is made in the host name notation from the client device, it is determined that the host name notation is used, and if the request is made in the Internet protocol notation from the client device, 7. The control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein it is determined to use the Internet protocol notation. 8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the server device is a domain name system server.