JP2003330630A - Information processing method, network system, information providing device and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the processing load of an information processor, and to increase probability that the information processor can acquire the latest attribute information. <P>SOLUTION: In this information processing method to be applied to a network system configured by mutually connecting an information providing device 1, an information acquiring device 2, and a server device 3 through a network 4, a plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing device 1 is classified into first attribute information to which the information providing device 1 should respond and second attribute information to which the server device 3 should respond, and the attribute information classified into the second attribute information is registered in the server device 3, and when the information acquiring device 2 makes a request for the acquisition of any of the plurality of attribute information, the information processor 1 performs response processing to the request for the acquisition of the first attribute information, and the server device 3 performs response processing to the request for the acquisition of the second attribute information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique suitable for application to a network system in which an information providing device, an information acquiring device, and a server device are mutually connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an increasing number of information providing apparatuses are capable of providing various attribute information such as processing ability and status of the apparatus itself to an external information acquisition apparatus via a network. For example, when the information providing device is a printer device, the attribute information regarding the processing capability of the device includes the presence / absence of a color printing function, the presence / absence of a double-sided printing function, the printing resolution, the printing speed, etc. , Job list currently being processed, paper storage status of each tray, toner consumption status, etc.

Regarding such various kinds of attribute information, for example, while the printer device is the information providing device, the personal computer using this printer device is the information acquisition device, and the attribute information of the printer device in response to the acquisition request from the personal computer. By providing the above, the user using the personal computer can obtain various attribute information regarding the printer apparatus and refer to the attribute information even from a place away from the installation location of the printer apparatus.

The information processing system when the attribute information of the information providing device is obtained by the information obtaining device is roughly classified into two types. One is a method in which the information acquisition device directly acquires the attribute information from the information providing device (hereinafter, a direct processing method), and the other is that the attribute information of the information providing device is registered in advance in the server device. The information acquisition device indirectly acquires the attribute information of the information providing device from the server device (hereinafter, indirect processing method).

[0005]

However, the direct processing method and the indirect processing method described above have both merits and demerits, and are not sufficiently satisfactory. That is, in the direct processing method, since the information providing device itself performs the response process to the acquisition request from the information acquiring device, even if the information providing device updates the attribute information, the information acquiring device can obtain the latest attribute information. However, when the information acquisition device frequently makes acquisition requests, there is a drawback that the response processing load on the information providing device side increases in response to this.

Further, in the indirect processing method, after the attribute information is registered in the server device, the server device substitutes the response process to the acquisition request from the information acquisition device, so that the load of the response process of the information providing device can be reduced. However, when the information providing device updates the attribute information, the information acquisition device cannot always obtain the latest attribute information. As a countermeasure against this, for example, every time the information providing apparatus updates the attribute information, the information providing apparatus sends a registration request to the server apparatus to update the registration content of the server apparatus, thereby responding to the acquisition request of the information obtaining apparatus. The probability of providing new attribute information can be increased. However, in this case, the load of attribute information registration / update processing increases on both the information providing apparatus and the server apparatus.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-43160, when the device information of a certain device is registered in the server device, the device information is classified into a plurality of information according to the frequency of change and registered. , If an error occurs in the device for which this device information registration processing has been performed (hereinafter referred to as the registration source device) and the registration source device itself cannot update the registration information, another device (hereafter referred to as the proxy device) will act on its behalf. A technique for updating the registration information has also been proposed.

However, in the technique described in the above publication, in a so-called normal state in which no abnormality has occurred in the registration source device, the registration source device itself performs the registration and update processing in the server device, so that the actual processing is performed. The form is the same as that of the above-mentioned indirect processing method, and the drawbacks when the above-mentioned indirect processing method is adopted cannot be eliminated. Further, if the proxy device performs the update process to the server device in the normal state, the device information registered in the server device can be maintained in a new state. Since it is necessary to frequently request update processing to the device, the effect of reducing the load on the registration source device is not noticeable, and it is necessary to perform a procedure for processing on behalf of the devices on the network, which complicates the network configuration. And information communication becomes complicated.

As another information processing method, for example, RF
SLP (Service Location Protocol) is proposed by C2608. In this SLP, whether or not there is a server device that can be used on the network is periodically searched, and in this search result, the indirect processing method is used when the server device exists, and the direct processing method is used when the server device does not exist. By using it, it is possible to select an information processing method according to the usage environment and exchange information. However, S
In the LP, since the drawbacks of each method are selectively exposed depending on whether the information processing method actually selected is the intermediate processing method or the direct processing method, it is not a fundamental solution. I don't get it.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the processing load of an information providing apparatus and to determine the probability that the information acquiring apparatus can obtain the latest attribute information. To raise.

[0011]

An information processing method according to the present invention is an information processing method for a network system in which an information providing device, an information acquiring device and a server device are mutually connected via a network. First attribute information providing apparatus should respond with a plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus
Attribute information and the second attribute information to be responded by the server device, the attribute information classified into the second attribute information is registered in the server device, and the information acquisition device sets any of the plurality of attribute information. When the acquisition request is made, the information providing device performs the response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information, and the server device performs the response process to the acquisition request of the second attribute information.

In this information processing method, the plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus is classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information, and the attribute information classified into the second attribute information is stored in the server apparatus. When the information acquisition device requests acquisition of any of the plurality of attribute information, the information providing device performs a response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information and the acquisition request of the second attribute information. By performing the response process on the server device, the classification type of the attribute information that is the target of the acquisition request (whether it is the first attribute information or the second attribute information).
It is possible to switch the information processing method according to the attribute information of (1).

A network system according to the present invention is a network system in which an information providing device, an information obtaining device, and a server device are connected to each other via a network, and the information providing device includes a plurality of attribute information about its own device. And an information classifying unit for classifying a plurality of attribute information managed by the information managing unit into first attribute information to be responded by the own apparatus and second attribute information to be responded by the server apparatus. And registration requesting means for requesting the server apparatus to register the attribute information classified by the information classifying means into the second attribute information, and the server apparatus registers the attribute information requested by the information providing apparatus for registration in its own apparatus. The registration execution means is provided.

In this network system, on the information providing device side, a plurality of attribute information managed by the information managing means is classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information by the information classifying means, and at the same time, the second attribute. The registration request means requests the server device to register the attribute information classified into the information. Then, on the server device side that receives the registration request from the information providing device, the registration execution means registers the attribute information for which the registration request has been made in the device itself (server device). As a result, among the plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus, the attribute information classified as the second attribute information is registered in the server apparatus, so that when the information acquisition apparatus makes an attribute information acquisition request. The information providing apparatus can perform the response processing for the first attribute information acquisition request, and the server apparatus can perform the response processing for the second attribute information acquisition request.

An information providing apparatus according to the present invention is an information providing apparatus that is mutually connected to an information acquiring apparatus and a server apparatus via a network, and an information managing means for managing a plurality of attribute information about the apparatus itself. An information classifying unit that classifies a plurality of attribute information managed by the information managing unit into first attribute information that should be responded by the device itself and second attribute information that should be responded by the server device, and second by this information classifying unit. Registration requesting means for requesting the server device to register the attribute information classified into the attribute information of 1.

In this information providing device, the plurality of attribute information managed by the information management means is classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information by the information classification means, and
The registration requesting unit requests the server device to register the attribute information classified into the second attribute information. This allows the second
It is possible to register the attribute information classified as the attribute information of the above in the server device and allow this server device to perform the response process of the second attribute information on behalf of the server device.

A server device according to the present invention is a server device which is mutually connected to an information providing device and an information acquiring device via a network, and is a plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing device and which is provided by the information providing device. The first attribute information to be responded by the information providing apparatus and the second attribute information to be responded by the server apparatus
Of the respective attribute information classified into the attribute information, the registration execution means for registering the second attribute information requested to be registered by the information providing apparatus in the apparatus itself, and the information acquisition apparatus requested acquisition of the attribute information. In this case, the response processing to the acquisition request of the first attribute information is performed using the attribute information obtained by the response processing by the information providing apparatus by making a proxy request to the information providing apparatus, and the acquisition of the second attribute information. A response processing unit that performs a response process to the request using the attribute information registered in the own device is provided.

In this server device, the second attribute information requested to be registered is the registration execution means out of the respective attribute information classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information on the information providing device side. Is registered in the device. When the information acquisition device requests acquisition of the attribute information, the first
Response processing to the attribute information acquisition request is performed by using the attribute information obtained by the response processing by the information providing apparatus by making a proxy request to the information providing apparatus, and
The response processing to the acquisition request of the attribute information is performed using the attribute information registered in the own device. Thus, in the information acquisition device that is the acquisition request source of the attribute information, whether the attribute information to be acquired is classified into the first or second attribute information, the acquisition request to the server device It becomes possible to acquire desired attribute information.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information providing device 1 and an information acquiring device 2
The server device 3 is connected to each other via the network 4. The information providing apparatus 1 is, for example, a printer apparatus, and the information acquisition apparatus 2 is, for example, a personal computer or the like. The number of devices connected to the network 4 can be arbitrarily changed.

The information providing apparatus 1 responds to a part or all of the attribute information in response to an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition apparatus 2 and registers some or all of the attribute information in the server apparatus 3. . The information acquisition device 2 individually requests the information providing device 1 and the server device 3 to acquire attribute information and receives a response. The server device 3 is the information providing device 1
The registration request is received from the information acquisition device 2, and the registered attribute information is responded to in response to the attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2. The network 4 is, for example, the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Neighbor).
twork) or the like, which may be a network means such as the Internet and a LAN interconnected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information providing device 1. As illustrated, the information providing device 1 includes a network transmission / reception unit 11, a user interface unit 12, a condition setting unit 13, an attribute information management unit 14, an information classification unit 15,
The registration request unit 16, the response determination unit 17, and the response processing unit 18 are provided.

The network transmitting / receiving unit 11 has an interface for connecting to the network 4, and the network 4
It sends and receives data to and from. The user interface unit 12 includes an interface such as a liquid crystal panel and buttons, receives commands from the user, and displays the results. The condition setting unit 13 is for setting a classification condition applied to the classification process in the information classification unit 15. The specific condition setting is performed based on the default condition setting information prepared in advance, the condition setting information input by the user through the user interface unit 12, or the condition setting information received through the network transmission / reception unit 11. Be seen.

The attribute information management section 14 manages a plurality of attribute information relating to the information providing device 1 in a table format. The attribute information management table managed by the attribute information management unit 14 (hereinafter also referred to as the attribute information management table) includes:
Each attribute information regarding the information providing device 4 is stored as information in which, for example, an attribute name, an attribute value, a property of the attribute information, a registration flag, and the like are associated with each other. The attribute information management unit 14 updates the attribute information each time an attribute information update command is given from the outside or a preset update period is reached. This gives, for example,
When an optional function or the like is added to the information providing device 1 afterwards, or when the remaining amount of consumables or supplies changes due to the operation of the information providing device 1, the attribute information of the information providing device 1 is changed accordingly. Updated from time to time.

Here, the contents of the attribute information management table when the information providing device 4 is a printer device are illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 3, as the attribute names, the product name of the printer device, the double-sided printing function, the color printing function, the number of remaining sheets in tray 1, the number of remaining sheets in tray 2, and the like are shown, and the attribute value corresponding to each attribute name. It is shown. The property of the attribute information defines the condition (classification condition) for performing the classification process in the information classification unit 15, and here the update frequency of the attribute information is illustrated. In this case, the update frequency is stored in three stages of "low", "medium", and "high".

The registration flag is a flag indicating how to handle the attribute information of the corresponding entry, and the value before the initialization processing described later is "-1" (unset). This registration flag is "1" according to the result of the classification processing (described later) of the information classification unit 15 in the initialization processing.
Alternatively, it is set to "0". The attribute information whose registration flag is set to "0" is classified as the first attribute information, and the attribute information whose registration flag is set to "1" is classified as the second attribute information. .

The registration flag in the initialization process may be set by the information classifying unit 5, or the result of the classifying process from the information classifying unit 5 may be notified to the attribute information managing unit 14, and the attribute information managing unit may be notified in accordance with this notification. 14 may set the registration flag. After the initialization processing is completed, for example, when the registration requesting unit 16 makes a registration request, the registration flag is referred to as indicating whether or not the attribute information of the corresponding entry is registered in the server device 3, and the response information selecting unit. 17
In the selection processing by, the registration flag is referred to as indicating whether the attribute information of the corresponding entry needs to be responded by the device itself.

The information classifying section 15 sends a plurality of attribute information managed by the attribute information managing section 14 to the first attribute information to which the own apparatus (the information providing apparatus 1) should respond and the second attribute information to which the server apparatus 3 should respond. It is classified into attribute information. The registration flag of the attribute information classified into the first attribute information by the information classification unit 15 is set to "0", and the flag corresponding to the attribute information classified into the second attribute information is set to "1". It The attribute information classified by the information classification unit 15 as the first attribute information is determined to be unnecessary to be registered in the server device 3,
The attribute information classified as the second attribute information is determined to be required to be registered in the server device 3.

The registration request unit 16 requests the server device 3 to register attribute information. The registration request unit 16 requests the server device 3 to register attribute information by referring to the registration flag corresponding to each attribute information in the attribute information management table. At this time, the attribute information whose registration flag is set to “1” is treated as a request for registration to the server device 3, and the attribute information set to “0” is treated as a request for no registration request to the server device 3.

Further, when no response notification of completion of registration is obtained from the server device 3 in response to the registration request by the registration request unit 16 (for example, the server device 3 is down or a failure occurs in the network 4). If so, the attribute information of the corresponding entry is "1" until then.
The flag that has been set to is changed to "0". By changing the setting of the registration flag, the classification of the attribute information targeted for the registration request is changed from the second attribute information to the first attribute information. The registration request unit 16 may change the setting of the registration flag 16, or the registration request unit 6 may notify the attribute information management unit 14 that the registration completion response notification has not been obtained, and the attribute information management unit 14 may follow the notification. The management unit 14 may change the setting of the registration flag.

The response determination unit 17 confirms the content of the attribute information acquisition request received via the network transmission / reception unit 11, thereby acquiring (extracting) the attribute name of the attribute information for which the acquisition request is made, and at the same time acquiring this. By confirming the set value of the registration flag corresponding to the attribute name with reference to the table contents of the attribute information management unit 14, whether the attribute information needs to be response-processed by its own device (information providing device 1) It is to determine whether or not. Specifically, when the registration flag corresponding to the attribute information requested to be acquired is set to "0", it is determined that the attribute information needs to be responded by the own device, and the registration flag is "1". If it is set to, it is determined that the attribute information does not need to be responded by the device itself.

The response processing unit 18 performs a response process to the attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2. In the response processing unit 17, based on the determination result of the response determination unit 17, it is determined that the device itself needs to respond (in other words, the attribute information in which the registration flag is set to “0”; the first Response information) is performed only for the attribute information).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information acquisition device 2. As illustrated, the information acquisition device 2 includes a network transmission / reception unit 21, a user interface unit 22,
The acquisition request unit 23 and the response content determination unit 24 are provided.

The network transmission / reception unit 21 has an interface for connecting to the network 4, and
It sends and receives data to and from. The user interface unit 22 includes an interface such as a liquid crystal display, a keyboard, and buttons, receives commands from the user, and displays the results.

The acquisition requesting unit 23 requests the information providing device 1 or the server device 3 to acquire attribute information via the network transmitting / receiving unit 21. The acquisition request unit 23 creates a request document in which the attribute name of the desired attribute information is specified, and the request document is sent to the network transmission / reception unit 21.
Send from

When the network transmission / reception unit 21 receives a response returned from the information providing apparatus 1 or the server apparatus 3 in response to the attribute information acquisition request by the acquisition requesting unit 23, the response content determination unit 24 responds to the request. By receiving and confirming the content, the presence or absence of the attribute information that could not be acquired is determined. If there is attribute information that could not be acquired, the acquisition request unit 23 is notified of that fact. As a result, the acquisition requesting unit 23 changes the acquisition request destination device and requests acquisition again in order to acquire the attribute information that could not be acquired first. For example, when an acquisition request is first made to the information providing apparatus 1 and a response is received, if there is attribute information that could not be acquired from the response content, the acquisition request for the unacquired attribute information is issued. This is performed for the server device 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the server device 3. As illustrated, the server device 3 includes a network transmission / reception unit 31, a request content determination unit 32, a registration information management unit 33, a search execution unit 34, a registration execution unit 35, and a response processing unit 36. Has been done. The network transmission / reception unit 31 includes an interface connected to the network 4 and transmits / receives data to / from the network 4.

The request content determination section 32 determines various request content received by the network transmission / reception section 31. The registration information management unit 33 manages the attribute information registered by the registration execution unit 36. The registration information management unit 33 manages the attribute information in a table format like the attribute information management unit 14 of the information providing device 1. However, the management table managed by the registration information management unit 33 need only hold the attribute name and the attribute value as the attribute information.

When the request content determined by the request content determination unit 32 is an attribute information acquisition request, the search execution unit 34 manages the attribute information for which the acquisition request has been made by the registration information management unit 33. It is a search for whether or not it is registered in the table. The search result by the search execution unit 34 is notified to the response processing unit 36. When the request content determined by the request content determination unit 32 is a registration request for attribute information, the registration execution unit 35 sets the attribute information requested by the registration information to
The information is registered in the management table managed by the registration information management unit 33. When the registration execution unit 35 normally registers the attribute information, a notification to that effect is given to the response processing unit 36.

The response processing unit 36 creates a response document corresponding to the request content determined by the request content determination unit 32, and transmits (replies) this response document to the request source device via the network transmission / reception unit 31. is there. For example, in response to a registration request for attribute information from the information providing device 1, the registration execution unit 3
When you received a notification from 5 that the registration was successful,
A response document indicating that registration is completed is created, and this response document is transmitted to the information providing device 1 via the network transmission / reception unit 31. Further, in response to an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2, a response document is created in accordance with the search result notification content from the search execution unit 34, and this response document is requested via the network transmission / reception unit 31. It is transmitted to the source device (information acquisition device 2).

Next, specific processing contents of the information processing method performed in the network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the initialization processing procedure performed when the information providing apparatus 1 is started. First, the information classification unit 15 refers to the attribute information management table managed by the attribute information management unit 14, and acquires an entry of attribute information that has not been initialized yet (step S101).
Since the value of the registration flag corresponding to the attribute information that has not been initialized is "-1" (unset), the attribute information for which the flag has not been set must be acquired one by one in step S101. become.

Next, with respect to the entry of the attribute information acquired in the previous step S101, the information classification unit 15 determines whether or not the attribute information should be returned to the server device 3 (step S102). Here, the information classification unit 15
The update frequency corresponding to the entered attribute information is referenced from the table content of the attribute information management unit 14, and the attribute information is classified into either the first attribute information or the second attribute information according to the update frequency. To do. In this case, the registration flag corresponding to the attribute information classified into the first attribute information is set (reset) to “0”, and the attribute information classified into the second attribute information corresponds to this. The registration flag is set (set) to "1".

As a specific example, for the attribute information whose update frequency is “low” or “medium”, the server device 3
It is determined that the registration is necessary for the entry, and the registration flag of the corresponding entry is set to "1" (step S103). Further, it is determined that the referenced update frequency is “high” and attribute information does not need to be registered in the server device 3, and the registration flag of the corresponding entry is reset to “0” (step S10).
4). As a result, the attribute information whose registration flag is set to “0” is classified as the first attribute information to which the self-device should respond, and the attribute information whose registration flag is set to “1” is:
It is classified as the second attribute information to be responded by the server device 3.

By such processing, step S101
When the setting of the registration flag for the entry of the attribute information acquired in step 1 has been completed, the information classification unit 15 again refers to the attribute information management table and determines whether there is an entry that has not been initialized yet (see Step S10
5). If there is an entry that has not been initialized in the attribute information management table, the previous step S
By returning to 101 and repeating the same processing as above,
Initialization processing is performed for all entries existing in the attribute information management table.

After that, when the initialization processing for all the entries existing in the attribute information management table is completed, the attribute information (second attribute) for which the registration flag is set to "1" in the processing of steps S101 to S105. For the attribute information classified as information), the registration request unit 16 makes a registration request to the server device 3 (step S106).

The attribute information registration request to the server device 3 may be made collectively for all the attribute information for which the registration flag is set to "1" or may be made one by one. When requesting registrations all at once, the registration flag is "1".
The registration request section 16 creates a registration request document in which a registration data list of attribute names and attribute values relating to all the attribute information set in the above is created, and this registration request document is transmitted to the server device 3 via the network transmission / reception section 11. To do. In addition, when the registration requests are made one by one, the registration request section 16 sequentially creates the registration request documents in which the registration data of the attribute name and the attribute value related to each attribute information whose registration flag is set to “1” is placed. , The registration request document is sent to the network transmission / reception unit 11
To the server device 3 sequentially.

Next, a response from the server device 3 to the registration request in step S106 is sent to the network transmission / reception unit 1
When it is received at 1, the registration request unit 16 confirms the response content, and determines whether the registration is successful (step S
107). At this time, if the response content from the server device 3 notifies the completion of registration, it is determined that the registration has succeeded, and the timer for updating the registration information is set (step S).
108). Here, the registration information update timer is used to periodically update the attribute information registered in the server device 3 to the latest information. When the time set by the timer elapses, the processing from step S106 is started each time according to the arrow in the figure, thereby causing the server device 3 to execute the registration process of the attribute information, and thereby the registration process is performed in the server device 3. The updated attribute information is updated at any time.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the registration to the server device 3 has failed, all the registration flags of the entry for which the registration request is made are reset to "0" (step S109).
As a result, the attribute information for which the registration request is made may be transmitted for some reason (for example, power-off of the server device 3, system down,
When the registration cannot be performed in the server device 3 due to a network trouble (when the registration process of the attribute information is not normally performed), the attribute information that has been classified as the second attribute information until then is registered as the registration flag. First according to reset
Is changed to the attribute information of. As a result, the information providing apparatus 1 itself can perform the response process for the acquisition requests of all the attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus 1. Therefore, even if the server device 3 falls into an unusable state for some reason and the attribute information registration process is not normally performed, the information providing device 1 alone appropriately responds to the acquisition request from the information acquiring device 2. Therefore, the convenience of the user is improved.

With the above, the initialization process in the information providing apparatus 1 is completed. In the above initialization process,
The classification condition for classifying the plurality of attribute information managed by the attribute information management unit 14 into the first attribute information and the second attribute information by the information classification unit 15 is defined by the update frequency of the attribute information by the information providing device 1. Then, according to this update frequency, those with an update frequency of “high” are classified into the first attribute information, and those with an update frequency of “low” and “medium” are classified into the second attribute information. However, various changes and applications can be made to the method of classifying the attribute information.

For example, when the update frequency of the attribute information is divided into three stages of low / medium / high, the update frequency is “high”.
It is also possible to classify those having "medium" as the first attribute information and those having the update frequency "low" as the second attribute information.

Also, the update frequency of the attribute information is set to low / medium / high.
Instead of dividing into stages, the update period of the attribute information is expressed by a numerical value in time, and the one with an update period shorter than the threshold is compared with a threshold (for example, 1 hour) set as a concrete classification condition. The attribute information of 1 and the update period of which is equal to or longer than the threshold value may be classified as the second attribute information. In this case, the attribute information classified as the first attribute information has a shorter update period (in other words, a higher update frequency) than the attribute information classified as the second attribute information. Further, when the update frequency is divided into three stages as described above, the attribute information classified into the first attribute information has a higher update frequency than the attribute information classified into the second attribute information.

Further, instead of the update frequency described above, the classification condition may be defined by another item, for example, the frequency of the attribute information acquisition request by the information acquisition device 2. in this case,
The acquisition request frequency of the attribute information by the information acquisition device 2 is managed for each attribute information managed by the information providing device 1, for example, by the acquisition request frequency per unit time, and this acquisition request frequency is used as a classification condition. A given threshold (eg 5
Less than the number of times) is classified as the first attribute information, and more than the threshold value is classified as the second attribute information. In this case, the attribute information classified into the first attribute information has a smaller number of acquisition requests per unit time than the attribute information classified into the second attribute information (in other words, the acquisition request frequency is lower). Become.

Further, the above classification condition may be defined by both the update frequency and the acquisition request count. In this case, for example, a threshold value is set individually for each of the update frequency and the acquisition request frequency, and the update frequency is equal to or higher than the corresponding threshold value and the acquisition request frequency is equal to or lower than the corresponding threshold value. Attribute information, and other information are classified as second attribute information. In this case, the attribute information classified as the first attribute information has a higher update frequency and a lower acquisition request frequency than the attribute information classified as the second attribute information.

Further, it is desirable that the classification condition described above can be arbitrarily set by using the condition setting section 13 in addition to the case of setting the default condition prepared in advance. By providing the condition setting unit 13, for example,
By inputting the condition setting information from the user interface unit 12, the information providing apparatus 1 alone can arbitrarily set the classification condition or can change the classification condition once set (setting change).
You can Further, by transmitting the condition setting information from the external device (for example, the information acquisition device 2) to the information providing device 1 via the network 4 and receiving the condition setting information by the network transmission / reception unit 11, the classification condition can be set from the outside. It is possible to arbitrarily set or change (setting change) the once set classification condition.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure for registering attribute information performed by the server device 3. First, the network transmission / reception unit 31 receives the attribute information registration request sent from the information providing apparatus 1 (step S201). Next, the content of the registration request received in the previous step S201 is determined by the request content determination unit 32, and if the request is a registration request, the attribute information (the attribute name and attribute value ) Is acquired (step S202).

The attribute information acquired by the request content determination unit 32 is sent to the registration execution unit 35. Then, the registration execution unit 3
In 5, the attribute information provided by the request content determination unit 32 is registered in the management table managed by the registration information management unit 33 (step S203). At this time, the information providing device 1
When there is a registration request for a plurality of attribute information from the request content determination unit 32, the request content determination unit 32 collectively or individually acquires the acquired attribute information, and the registration execution unit 35 collectively acquires the acquired attribute information. Alternatively, it is individually registered in the management table of the registration information management unit 33.

When the registration execution unit 35 completes the registration of the attribute information, a notification to that effect is sent to the response processing unit 36.
Then, the response processing unit 36 creates a response document indicating that the registration of the attribute information for which the registration request has been made is completed, and transmits the response document to the information providing apparatus 1 that is the registration request source (step S204). ). The transmission of the response document to the information providing apparatus 1 is performed via the network transmission / reception unit 31. This completes the registration processing of the attribute information in the server device 3.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the attribute information acquisition processing performed by the information acquisition device 2. First, for one or more pieces of attribute information desired to be acquired, the acquisition request unit 23 acquires an acquisition request document that requests acquisition of the attribute information.
Created and transmitted to the information providing device 1 (step S301). In the acquisition request document, the attribute name of the attribute information that is the target of the acquisition request is specified. The location information (network address or the like) of the information providing apparatus 1 that is the acquisition request destination (provider) of the attribute information may be set in advance by input from the user interface unit 22, or may be broadcast or multicast. An inquiry signal may be sent to the network 4 by using it, and the address information included in the response sent from the information providing device 1 in response to the inquiry signal may be acquired and used.

Then, the network transmission / reception unit 21 receives a response from the information providing device 1 to the previous acquisition request (step S302). Next, by checking the received response content with the response content determination unit 24, it is determined whether or not the response content includes all the attribute information requested to be obtained in step S301, that is, the attribute information that cannot be obtained. Is determined (step S30
3). At this time, if it is determined that the received response contents include all the attribute information requested to be acquired (when there is no attribute information that could not be acquired), it means that all the desired attribute information has been obtained. Therefore, the processing ends at that point.

On the other hand, if the received response contents do not include all the attribute information requested for acquisition, that is, if there is attribute information that could not be acquired, the attribute value of the attribute information that could not be acquired is extracted. Then, the acquisition request unit 23 newly creates an acquisition request document in which this attribute value is specified, and transmits this acquisition request document to the server device 3 (step S30).
4), the network transmitter / receiver 21 receives a response from the server device 3 to the acquisition request (step S30).
5).

This completes the attribute information acquisition process in the information acquisition device 2. In this acquisition processing, for example, if all the attribute information requested to be acquired in step S301 is classified into the first attribute information, the response processing to the acquisition request of the first attribute information is all performed by the information providing device 1. Since it is performed (details will be described later), the response content from the information providing device 1 includes all the attribute information requested to be acquired. If part or all of the attribute information requested to be acquired in step S301 is classified into the second attribute information, the information providing apparatus 1 performs a response process to the acquisition request of the second attribute information. Since there is none (details will be described later), the response content from the information providing device 1 does not include all the attribute information requested to be acquired. Then, the attribute information that could not be acquired is included in the response content from the server device 3. Therefore, in the information acquisition device 2, by an acquisition request to the information providing device 1 or an acquisition request to both the information providing device 1 and the server device 3,
It is possible to acquire all desired attribute information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the attribute information response process (providing process) performed by the information providing apparatus 1. First, the network transmission / reception unit 11 receives an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2 (step S40).
1). Next, the content of the received acquisition request is determined by the response determination unit 17
Then, one of the attribute names of the attribute information included in the content of the acquisition request is acquired from the attribute name list described in the acquisition request document (step S402).

Next, the response determination section 17 searches for whether the attribute information corresponding to this attribute name is stored in the attribute information management table using the previously acquired attribute name as a search key, and stores it. In this case, by referring to the registration flag associated with the attribute name, it is determined whether or not the attribute information should be responded by the own device (step S40).
3). At this time, if the referred registration flag is set to “0” (that is, the attribute information requested to be acquired is the first
If it is classified into the attribute information (1), it is determined that the device itself needs to respond, and after the response processing unit 18 performs a response process for the attribute information for which the acquisition request is made (step S404), Proceed to S405.

The response process of the attribute information in step S404 is performed as follows. First, the response determination unit 18 reads the attribute value of the attribute information requested to be acquired, and gives the read attribute value to the response processing unit 18. Then, the response processing unit 18 creates a response document by associating the attribute value of the attribute information requested to be acquired with the previously given attribute value, and the response document is transmitted via the network transmission / reception unit 11 to the information acquisition device. Send to 2.

On the other hand, when the referred registration flag is set to "1" (that is, when the attribute information for which the acquisition request is made is classified into the second attribute information), the self-device responds. Judge that it is not necessary to In this case, step S
Since the processing of 404 is passed and the processing proceeds to step S405,
The response processing of the attribute information to the acquisition request is not substantially performed. That is, the response processing unit 18 performs the attribute information response process to the information acquisition device 2 only when the attribute information requested to be acquired is the first attribute information.

Then, in step S405, the response determination unit 17 determines whether or not the acquisition request received in step S401 includes attribute information to be processed next (unprocessed attribute information). If there is attribute information to be processed next (that is, if there is a request for acquisition of a plurality of attribute information from the information acquisition device 2), the process returns to the previous step S402 and the same processing as described above is performed, and the next processing should be performed. If there is no attribute information, the series of response processing ends at that point.

In the example of the response process described above, the response process of the attribute information to the information acquisition device 2 is performed only when the attribute information requested to be acquired by the information acquisition device 2 is the first attribute information. As an example of this application, when the attribute information requested to be acquired from the information acquisition device 2 is the second attribute information, the server device that is the registration destination of the attribute information is used as the application example. The response processing unit 18 may notify the location information of No. 3 to the information acquisition device 2.

As another application example, the information acquisition device 2
If the attribute information requested to be acquired from the first attribute information is neither the first attribute information nor the second attribute information (that is, the attribute information does not belong to the attribute information managed by the information providing device 1), For example, the fact that the attribute information for which the acquisition request has been made does not exist anywhere on the network including the server device 3 may be notified to the information acquisition device 2. Upon receiving this notification, the information acquisition device 2 can know in advance that the attribute information that could not be acquired at the time of the acquisition request to the information providing device 1 is not registered in the server device 3. Therefore, between the information acquisition device 2 and the server device 3, the attribute information desired by the information acquisition device 2 is the server device 3.
The information acquisition device 2 can cause the server device 3 to execute an attribute information acquisition request only when the information is registered in.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a procedure of response processing of attribute information performed by the server device 3. First, the network transmission / reception unit 31 receives an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2 (step S501). next,
The content of the received acquisition request is confirmed by the request content determination unit 32, and the attribute name of the attribute information included in the acquisition request content is
One is acquired from the attribute name list described in the acquisition request document (step S502).

The attribute name previously acquired by the request content determination unit 32 is sent to the search execution unit 34. Then, the search execution unit 34 uses the attribute name provided by the request content determination unit 32 as a search key, and determines whether the attribute information corresponding to this attribute name is registered in the management table managed by the registration information management unit 33. Is searched (step S503).

When the attribute name of the requested attribute information is registered as a result of the search, the attribute value associated with the attribute name is read from the management table and notified to the response processing unit 36. In response to this notification, the response processing unit 36 performs a response process for the attribute information (step S504). In the response processing of the attribute information, the attribute name of the attribute information requested to be acquired is associated with the previously notified attribute value to create a response document, and the response document is transmitted via the network transmission / reception unit 11 to the information acquisition device 2 By sending to.

When the attribute name of the requested attribute information is not registered as a result of the search, the response processing unit 36
Without performing a response process of attribute information in step S50
It progresses from 3 to S505. As an application example in this case, the information acquisition device 2 may be notified that the attribute information for which the acquisition request is made is not registered in the own device (server device 3).

After that, in step S505, the request content determination unit 32 determines whether or not the acquisition request received in the previous step S501 includes attribute information to be processed next (unprocessed attribute information). If there is attribute information to be processed next (that is, if there is a request for acquisition of a plurality of attribute information from the information acquisition device 2), the process returns to the previous step S502 and the same processing as described above is performed and the next processing is performed. If there is no attribute information that should be used, a series of response processing ends at that point. And
After that, the process waits until a new acquisition request is received from the information acquisition device 2.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus 1 is classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information, and is also classified into the second attribute information. When the information acquisition device 2 requests acquisition of the attribute information, the information providing device 1 performs a response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information, and the registered attribute information is registered in the server device 3. The server device 3 is configured to perform a response process in response to the attribute information acquisition request of No. 2. Therefore, the information processing method (direct processing method, intermediate processing method) is set according to which of the first and second attribute information the attribute information targeted by the information acquisition device 2 is classified. It can be switched appropriately.

That is, when the attribute information that is the target of the acquisition request is classified into the first attribute information, a response process to the acquisition request is performed by the information providing device 1 and In the case where the attribute information that has been obtained is classified into the second attribute information, the server device 3 performs a response process to the acquisition request. In this way, by appropriately switching the information processing method according to the classification type of the attribute information that is the target of the acquisition request, it is possible to make up for the drawbacks of the direct processing method and the indirect processing method while making the most of the advantages of both methods.

Specifically, for example, a plurality of pieces of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus 1 are assigned the first attribute information depending on the update frequency of the attribute information by the information providing apparatus 1. , Second is less frequently updated
The attribute information having a high update frequency (classified as the first attribute information) is directly responded by the information providing device 1 and the attribute information having a low update frequency (second
(Which is classified into the attribute information of 1), the server device 3 substitutes the response.

As a result, the information providing apparatus 1 does not need to perform a response process for attribute information having a low update frequency.
The response processing load on the information providing apparatus 1 can be reduced. Further, the information providing apparatus 1 does not need to register the attribute information having a high update frequency in the server apparatus 3 or update (re-register) after registration, so that the load of the registration processing in the information providing apparatus 1 can be reduced. it can.
Furthermore, since the response process of the attribute information having a high update frequency is performed by the information providing device 1 itself, the information acquisition device 2 can always obtain the latest information regarding this attribute information. Moreover, since the attribute information with which the server device 3 performs response processing has a low update frequency, the information acquisition device 2 causes the server device 3 to perform the response process.
Even when the attribute information is acquired from, the attribute information to be acquired can be maintained in the latest state or something close thereto. As a result, it is possible to increase the probability that the information acquisition device 2 can acquire the latest attribute information while reducing the processing load of the information providing device 1.

As another specific example, the information providing device 1
Of the plurality of attribute information managed by the information acquisition device 2, the one having a lower acquisition request frequency is the first attribute information, and the one having a higher acquisition request frequency is the second attribute information. The attribute information having a low acquisition request frequency (classified as the first attribute information) is directly responded by the information providing device 1, and the attribute information having a high acquisition request frequency (second attribute) Information (classified as information) will be substituted by the server device 3.

As a result, the information providing apparatus does not need to perform the response processing of the attribute information having a high acquisition request frequency, so that the load of the response processing in the information providing apparatus 1 can be reduced. Further, the information providing apparatus 1 does not need to register the attribute information having a low acquisition request frequency in the server apparatus 3 or update (re-register) after registration, so that the load of the registration processing in the information providing apparatus 1 can be reduced. You can Furthermore, since the response processing of the attribute information having a low acquisition request frequency is performed by the information providing device 1 itself, the information acquisition device 2 can always obtain the latest information regarding this attribute information. In addition, since the attribute information for which the server device 3 performs response processing has a high acquisition request frequency, the attribute acquisition information is provided to the information acquisition device 2 by maintaining this attribute information in the latest state or a similar state. can do. As a result, it is possible to increase the probability that the information acquisition device 2 can acquire the latest attribute information while reducing the processing load of the information providing device 1.

Further, a plurality of attribute information items managed by the information providing device 1 are assigned a first attribute according to both the update frequency of the attribute information by the information providing device 1 and the acquisition request frequency of the attribute information by the information obtaining device 2. By classifying the information into the information and the second attribute information, it is possible to further optimize the classification of the attribute information in consideration of the update status on the information providing apparatus 1 side and the acquisition request status on the information acquiring apparatus 2 side.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the information providing device 1, the information acquisition device 2, and the server device 3 are connected to each other via a network 4, and this point is the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, the server device 3
Has a proxy function. Regarding the respective configurations of the information providing device 1 and the information acquisition device 2, the above first
Since it is basically the same as the case of the embodiment, detailed description will be omitted. However, in the system configuration according to the second embodiment, the attribute acquisition request by the information acquisition device 2 is made only to the proxy-equipped server device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a server device) 3. . Also,
The acquisition request of the attribute information to the information providing apparatus 1 is made by the server apparatus 3 on behalf of the information acquisition apparatus 2.

That is, the information providing device 1 responds to a part or all of the attribute information in response to the acquisition request of the attribute information from the server device 3, and requests the server device 3 to register part or all of the attribute information. To do. The information acquisition device 2 requests the server device 3 to acquire attribute information and receives a response. The server device 3 receives and responds to the attribute information registration request from the information providing device 1. Further, the server device 3 is
In response to an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2, the attribute information registered in the device itself is responded, and an attribute information acquisition request is sent to the information providing device 1 on behalf of the information acquisition device 2. The attribute information obtained thereby is returned to the information acquisition device 2.

FIG. 12 shows a server device 3 with a proxy function.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of FIG. As illustrated, the server device 3 includes a network transmission / reception unit 31, a request content determination unit 32, a registration information management unit 33, a search execution unit 34,
The registration execution unit 35, the response processing unit 36, the proxy request execution unit 37, and the response content determination unit 38 are provided.
Of these, the proxy request execution unit 37 and the response content determination unit 38
The processing functions of the other functional units except for are basically the same as those in the case of the above-described first embodiment, but the detailed functional differences will be apparent in the response processing procedure of the server device 3 described later. To do.

When the proxy request execution unit 37 receives an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2, part or all of the requested attribute information is searched by the search execution unit 34, and as a result, its own device. When it is determined that the information is not registered in the (server device 3), a request for acquisition of attribute information (proxy request) is made to the information providing device 1 as a proxy for the information acquiring device 2. That is, in the proxy request execution unit 37, when the information acquisition apparatus 2 receives a request for acquisition of attribute information that is not registered in the server apparatus 3, the information providing apparatus 1 acquires the attribute information on behalf of the information acquisition apparatus 2. Make a request. The proxy request execution unit 37 receives from the search execution unit 34 the attribute name of the attribute information that is determined not to be registered in the own device by the search processing of the search execution unit 34, and acquires the acquisition request document in which the attribute name is specified. The acquisition request document is created and transmitted to the information providing apparatus 1 via the network transmission / reception unit 31.

The response content judgment unit 38 is the proxy request execution unit 3
When the network transmission / reception unit 31 receives the response returned from the information providing apparatus 1 in response to the attribute information acquisition request of 7, the response content is confirmed, and the response content includes
When the attribute information requested by the proxy request execution unit 37 is present, it is given to the response processing unit 36.

Next, the contents of processing performed by the network system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The initialization process performed when the information providing apparatus 1 is activated is step S101 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
~ The process of S109 is the same as the process of registering the attribute information performed by the server device 3 is the same as the process of steps S201 to S204 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7. Also, the attribute information acquisition process performed by the information acquisition device 2 is
Step S3 included in the flowchart shown in FIG.
This is the same as the processing of 04 and S305. Therefore, detailed description of these processing procedures is omitted.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a procedure of response processing of attribute information performed by the server device 3. First, the network transmission / reception unit 31 receives an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device 2 (step S601). next,
The content of the received acquisition request is confirmed by the request content determination unit 32, and the attribute name of the attribute information included in the acquisition request content is
One is acquired from the attribute name list described in the acquisition request document (step S602).

The attribute name previously acquired by the request content determination unit 32 is sent to the search execution unit 34. Then, the search execution unit 34 uses the attribute name provided by the request content determination unit 32 as a search key, and determines whether the attribute information corresponding to this attribute name is registered in the management table managed by the registration information management unit 33. Is searched (step S603).

As a result of the search, when the attribute name of the requested attribute information is registered, the attribute value associated with the attribute name is read from the management table and notified to the response processing unit 36. In response to this notification, the response processing unit 36 performs a response process of attribute information to the information acquisition device 2 (step S606). In the response processing of the attribute information, the attribute name of the attribute information requested to be acquired is associated with the previously notified attribute value to create a response document, and the response document is transmitted via the network transmission / reception unit 11 to the information acquisition device 2 By sending to.

If the attribute name of the requested attribute information is not registered as a result of the search, the search execution unit 34 gives the attribute name to the proxy request execution unit 37. Then, the proxy request execution unit 37 receives the attribute name from the search execution unit 34 and requests the information providing apparatus 1 to acquire the attribute information (step S604). As for the acquisition request of the attribute information to the information providing apparatus 1, an acquisition request document in which the attribute name received from the search execution unit 34 is specified is created, and the acquisition request document is transmitted to the information providing apparatus 1 via the network transmission / reception unit 31. It is done by doing.

Then, the network transmission / reception unit 31 receives a response from the information providing apparatus 1 to the attribute information acquisition request from the proxy request execution unit 37 (step S60).
5). At this time, the received response content is compared with the response content determination unit 3
If the response content includes the attribute information (corresponding data of the attribute name and the attribute value) requested to be acquired in the previous step S604, the response processing unit 36 is notified of this. In response to this notification, the response processing unit 36 performs a response process of attribute information to the information acquisition device 2 (step S606).
In this case, the response of the attribute information classified into the first attribute information by the information providing device 1 is sent from the server device 3 to the information acquisition device 2, but it is substantially the response to the acquisition request of the first attribute information. The response process is performed by the information providing device 1 as in the case of the first embodiment. That is, as the information processing method of the network system, the point that the information providing apparatus 1 performs the response processing to the acquisition request of the first attribute information and the point that the server apparatus 3 performs the response processing to the acquisition request of the second attribute information. The items are common to the first and second embodiments.

After that, in step S607, the request content determination unit 32 determines whether or not the acquisition request received in step S601 includes attribute information to be processed next (unprocessed attribute information). If there is attribute information to be processed next, the process returns to the previous step S602 to perform the same processing as described above, and if there is no attribute information to be processed next, the series of response processing ends at that point. After that, the process waits until a new acquisition request is received from the information acquisition device 2.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing device 1 is classified into the first attribute information and the second attribute information, and is also classified into the second attribute information. When the attribute acquisition information is registered in the server device 3 and the information acquisition device 2 makes an attribute information acquisition request, the server device 3 receives a proxy request for response processing to the first attribute information acquisition request. The information providing apparatus 1 performs the response processing to the acquisition request of the second attribute information, and the server apparatus 3 performs the response processing. Therefore, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the second embodiment, since the server device 3 having the proxy function is adopted, the information acquisition device 2 sends an attribute information acquisition request to the server device 3.
The attribute information registered in the server device 3 (second attribute information) and the attribute information not registered in the server device 3 (the attribute information managed by the information providing device 1 Both of the attribute information classified into the attribute information) can be acquired. Therefore, the processing load of the information acquisition device 2 can be significantly reduced. Further, only when the information acquisition device 2 requests the server device 3 to acquire the attribute information including the first attribute information, the server device 3 makes a proxy request to the information providing device 1. When the server 2 makes a request to acquire the second attribute information, the server device 3 does not make a proxy request, so that the processing load of the information providing device 1 can be further reduced.

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the information acquisition device makes a request for acquisition of attribute information, the first request is made according to the classification type of the attribute information for which the acquisition request is made.
The information providing apparatus directly performs the response processing to the attribute information acquisition request of the above, and the server apparatus performs the response processing to the second attribute information acquisition request on behalf of the information processing apparatus, thus compensating for the shortcomings of the direct processing method and the intermediate processing method. At the same time, the advantages of both types can be utilized. As a result, it is possible to increase the probability that the information acquisition device can acquire the latest attribute information while reducing the processing load of the information provision device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a management table of attribute information managed by the information providing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information acquisition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an initialization processing procedure performed by the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a registration processing procedure of attribute information performed by the server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an attribute information acquisition processing procedure performed by the information acquisition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of attribute information response processing performed by the information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a response processing procedure of attribute information performed by the server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a response processing procedure of attribute information performed by the server device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information providing device, 2 ... Information acquisition device, 3 ... Server device, 4 ... Network 11,21,31 ... Network transmission / reception part, 12, 22 ... User interface part, 1
3 ... Condition setting unit, 14 ... Attribute information management unit, 15 ... Information classification unit, 16 ... Registration request unit, 17 ... Response determination unit, 18 ... Response processing unit, 23 ... Acquisition request unit, 24, 38 ... Response content determination Part, 32 ... request content determination part, 33 ... registration information management part,
34 ... Search execution unit, 35 ... Registration execution unit, 36 ... Response processing unit, 37 ... Proxy request execution unit

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An information processing method for a network system, which comprises an information providing device, an information obtaining device, and a server device interconnected via a network, wherein a plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing device is associated with the information. The first attribute information to be responded by the providing apparatus and the second attribute information to be responded to by the server apparatus are classified, and the attribute information classified as the second attribute information is registered in the server apparatus, When the acquisition device requests acquisition of any of the plurality of attribute information, the information providing device performs a response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information and a response to the acquisition request of the second attribute information. An information processing method, wherein processing is performed by the server device. 2. When registering the attribute information classified into the second attribute information in the server device, if the registration processing is not normally performed, the classification of the attribute information that is the target of registration is performed. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the second attribute information is changed to the first attribute information. 3. When the server device receives an attribute information acquisition request from the information acquisition device, the server device substitutes a response process for the first attribute information acquisition request to the information providing device. The request processing is performed using the attribute information obtained by the response processing by the information providing apparatus, and the response processing for the acquisition request of the second attribute information is performed using the attribute information registered in the server apparatus. The information processing method according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: 4. A classification condition for classifying the plurality of attribute information into the first attribute information and the second attribute information is a frequency of updating attribute information by the information providing device and an attribute by the information acquiring device. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of information acquisition request frequencies is defined. 5. The first attribute information is classified as attribute information having a higher update frequency than the second attribute information, when the classification condition is defined by the update frequency. Information processing method described. 6. When defining the classification condition by the acquisition request frequency, the first attribute information is classified as attribute information having the acquisition request frequency lower than that of the second attribute information. The information processing method according to claim 4. 7. A network system in which an information providing device, an information acquiring device, and a server device are connected to each other via a network, wherein the information providing device manages a plurality of attribute information about the device itself. Means, information classifying means for classifying the plurality of attribute information managed by the information managing means into first attribute information to be responded by the device itself and second attribute information to be responded by the server device, and the information Registration requesting means for requesting the server apparatus to register the attribute information classified by the classifying means into the second attribute information, wherein the server apparatus sends the attribute information requested by the information providing apparatus to the own apparatus. A network system comprising registration execution means for registering. 8. The information providing apparatus further comprises condition setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a classification condition when classifying the plurality of attribute information into the first attribute information and the second attribute information. The network system according to claim 7. 9. When the information acquisition device requests acquisition of attribute information, the information providing device performs a response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information, and the server device operates the second device. 8. The network system according to claim 7, wherein a response process to the acquisition request of the attribute information is performed. 10. The information providing device, when a registration completion response notification is not received from the server device when the registration request means makes a registration request to the server device,
The classification of the attribute information subject to the registration request is the second
8. The network system according to claim 7, further comprising a classification changing unit that changes the attribute information of the above item to the first attribute information item. 11. The information acquisition device sends an attribute information acquisition request to the server device, and when the information acquisition device makes an attribute information acquisition request, the server device receives the attribute information acquisition request. The response process to the acquisition request of the attribute information is performed using the attribute information obtained by the response process by the information providing device by making a proxy request to the information providing device, and the response process to the acquisition request of the second attribute information. The network system according to claim 7, wherein the registration is performed by using the attribute information registered by the registration executing unit. 12. An information providing device that is mutually connected to an information acquisition device and a server device via a network, the information management device managing a plurality of attribute information about the device itself, and the information management device managing the information. Information classifying means for classifying the plurality of attribute information into first attribute information which should be responded by the device itself and second attribute information which should be responded by the server device; An information providing apparatus comprising: a registration requesting unit that requests the server apparatus to register the classified attribute information. 13. The response processing means for performing a response process to the acquisition request of the first attribute information when the acquisition request of the attribute information is received from the information acquisition device. Information providing device. 14. A condition setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a classification condition when classifying the plurality of attribute information into the first attribute information and the second attribute information. Information providing device described. 15. When the registration request means makes a registration request to the server device and no response notification of completion of registration is obtained from the server device, the attribute information targeted for the registration request is classified. 13. The information providing device according to claim 12, further comprising a classification changing unit that changes the second attribute information to the first attribute information. 16. The information classifying unit sets a classification condition when classifying the plurality of attribute information into the first attribute information and the second attribute information, the update frequency of the attribute information by the information providing apparatus, and 13. The information providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the frequency of attribute information acquisition requests made by the information acquisition apparatus is specified. 17. The information classifying unit classifies the first attribute information as attribute information having a higher update frequency than the second attribute information when defining the classification condition by the update frequency. The information providing apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that: 18. The information classifying unit classifies the first attribute information as attribute information having a lower acquisition request frequency than the second attribute information when the classification condition is defined by the acquisition request frequency. The information providing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the information providing apparatus comprises: 19. A server device interconnected with an information providing device and an information obtaining device via a network, wherein the information providing device has a plurality of attribute information managed by the information providing device. Among the respective attribute information classified into the first attribute information that should be responded by and the second attribute information that should be responded by the server device, the second attribute information for which a registration request has been issued from the information providing device is the device itself. Registration execution means for registering with the information acquisition device, when the information acquisition device makes an acquisition request for attribute information, a response process to the acquisition request for the first attribute information is performed, and a proxy request is made to the information providing device to obtain the information. A response process is performed using the attribute information obtained by the response process performed by the providing device, and the response process for the acquisition request for the second attribute information is performed using the attribute information registered in the own device. Server device, characterized in that it comprises a means.