JP2004289488A - Communication controller and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication controller for reducing probability failing communication by recovering it even in case that errors occur during communication, and to provide a communication control method. <P>SOLUTION: A related table relating protocol (initial setting protocol) set previously so as to be used for communication with a device 20 by a user and protocol (validation protocol) validating initial setting protocol is stored to a storing part 16. In the case that communication errors occur during communication of the initial setting protocol, the initial setting protocol at the side of the device 20 is controlled to be validated by using the validation protocol stored to be related to the initial setting protocol. In the case that the initial setting protocol at the side of the device 20 is validated, communication is controlled by the device 20 and the initial setting protocol. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication control device and a communication control method, and more particularly to a communication control device and a communication control method that can reduce the probability of communication failure even when an error occurs during communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Communication terminals and the like are widely used to communicate with various devices such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile to change device settings and acquire device information.
[0003]
By the way, a communication error may occur during communication between a communication terminal and various devices. For example, there are a communication error that occurs because a protocol used on the communication terminal side is turned off (invalidated) in the setting on the device side, and a communication error due to noise or the like.
[0004]
Conventionally, when such a communication error occurs, the processing has to be interrupted until the communication error is cleared, or the communication has to be manually restarted by switching the protocol to be used.
[0005]
As an apparatus for solving such a problem, it communicates with a device using a certain protocol, and when an error occurs during communication, selects another available protocol from a plurality of protocols, 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an information processing apparatus that continues communication using a selected protocol (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-308790
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, depending on the protocol, executable operations and information that can be handled may be different. Necessary information cannot be obtained or necessary settings can be obtained only by simply switching the protocol as in the conventional device described above. There is a problem that it may not be possible.
[0008]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problem. Even when an error occurs during communication, a communication control device capable of recovering the error and reducing the probability of communication failure is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The communication control device according to claim 1 includes a first protocol for performing communication with a communication target and a second protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side through communication with the communication target. Storage means for storing related information for associating with the second protocol, and when a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol, the storage means stores the related information in association with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage means. The second protocol is used to control the first protocol on the communication target side to be enabled, and when the first protocol is enabled, the communication target and the second And control means for controlling communication to be performed according to one protocol.
[0010]
In the communication control method according to the present invention, a first protocol for performing communication with a communication target and a first protocol on the communication target side are enabled by communication with the communication target in the storage unit. Related information for associating the first protocol with the second protocol, and when a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the first information is stored in the storage unit according to the related information. Using a second protocol associated with the protocol, control is performed such that the first protocol on the communication target side is enabled, and when the first protocol is enabled, the communication target is controlled. And the first protocol.
[0011]
According to the first and seventh aspects of the present invention, the storage means stores the first protocol for performing communication with the communication target and the first protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. Relevant information for associating with the second protocol is stored. When a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the first protocol on the communication target side is used by using the second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. Is controlled to be activated, and when the first protocol is activated, control is performed so that communication with a communication target is performed by the first protocol.
[0012]
Accordingly, even if a communication error occurs during communication because the first protocol used for communication is invalidated on the communication target side, the first protocol on the communication target side is used using the second protocol. Is attempted, the probability of communication failure can be reduced.
[0013]
The communication control device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the communication control device according to the first aspect, wherein the storage unit stores related information that associates the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols. The control unit controls the first protocol to be validated using one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. And if the first protocol has not been activated, then, of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the relevant information stored in the storage means, A second protocol is selected one by one, excluding the second protocol used, and the first protocol is selected until the selected second protocol activates the first protocol. Tokoru is to control so as to activate.
[0014]
In a communication control method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the seventh aspect, related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols is stored in the storage unit. Controlling the first protocol to be validated using one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage means, If the first protocol has not been validated, it is used for validation among the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. The second protocol except the second protocol is selected one by one, and the first protocol is used until the selected second protocol activates the first protocol. And controls so as to Enabling.
[0015]
According to the second and eighth aspects of the present invention, when the activation of the first protocol using one second protocol among the plurality of second protocols stored in the storage means fails, Also, since the first protocol is attempted to be validated using the remaining second protocol stored in the storage means, the probability of communication failure is greatly reduced.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the communication control device, wherein a plurality of second information for replacing information that can be handled by the first protocol with information that can be handled by the first protocol. A storage unit for storing related information for associating a combination of information that can be handled in communication by the protocol; and, when a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, replacing the communication by the first protocol. Based on a combination of information that can be handled in the communication by the plurality of second protocols associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit, And control means for controlling communication so as to be performed by a plurality of second protocols constituting the combination.
[0017]
The communication control method according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is a communication control method, wherein the storage means substitutes information that can be handled by the first protocol with information that can be handled by the first protocol. Related information that associates a combination of information that can be handled in the communication of the second protocol, and when a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication of the first protocol is performed. Instead of the combination of the information that can be handled in the communication by the plurality of second protocols associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit, Based on this, control is performed so that communication is performed using a plurality of second protocols that constitute the combination.
[0018]
According to the third and ninth aspects of the present invention, the storage means stores a plurality of pieces of information that can be handled by the first protocol in place of the information that can be handled by the first protocol. Related information that associates a combination of information that can be handled by communication according to the second protocol is stored. If a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the information handled during the communication of the first protocol is replaced with the related information stored in the storage unit instead of the communication of the first protocol. Based on a combination of information that can be handled by the communication using the plurality of associated second protocols, control is performed so that communication is performed using the plurality of second protocols that constitute the combination.
[0019]
Since the information that can be handled may differ depending on the protocol, it may not be possible to substitute the information that can be handled by the first protocol with one type of second protocol. According to the invention described in claim 9, information that can be handled by the first protocol is associated with a combination of a plurality of information that can be handled by the second protocol that substitutes for the information, and the first protocol Even if a communication error occurs in the communication, the communication can be performed by the plurality of second protocols constituting the associated combination, so that the probability of communication failure can be reduced.
[0020]
The information that can be handled by the first protocol and the information that can be handled by the second protocol are not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a command (command) issued to a communication target. , May be an operation on the communication target, or may be data exchanged with the communication target.
[0021]
Further, as a combination of information that can be handled in communication by a plurality of second protocols, a combination in which the order of each information is determined may be used, or an order is not determined, and a simple combination of each information may be used. It can also be.
[0022]
A communication control device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the communication control device according to the third aspect, wherein the storage means stores information that can be handled by the first protocol in communication with the first protocol. Storing related information that associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by communication using a plurality of second protocols to replace information that can be handled by the control unit, and the control unit uses the related information stored in the storage unit to store Based on one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, control is performed such that communication is performed by a plurality of second protocols constituting the combination. In addition, when an error occurs during communication of the plurality of second protocols constituting the combination, the error is stored in the storage unit. From the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the link information, a combination other than the combination used for communication is selected one by one, and based on the selected combination , So that communication is performed by the second protocol constituting the combination until the communication ends normally.
[0023]
A communication control method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the communication control method according to the ninth aspect, wherein the storage means stores, in the storage means, information that can be handled by the first protocol for communication using the first protocol. Related information that associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by a plurality of communications using the second protocol that substitutes information that can be handled by the storage unit, and stores the first information based on the related information stored in the storage unit. Based on one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the protocol, control to perform communication by a plurality of second protocols constituting the combination, and When an error occurs during communication of the plurality of second protocols constituting the combination, the related information stored in the storage means is stored. From among the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, combinations other than the combination used for communication are selected one by one, and communication is performed based on the selected combination. Is controlled so that communication is performed by the second protocol that constitutes the combination until the communication ends normally.
[0024]
According to the fourth and tenth aspects of the present invention, during communication performed based on one of a plurality of combinations of a plurality of sets of information that can be handled in a plurality of communication by the second protocol stored in the storage unit. Even if a communication error occurs, one of the remaining combinations stored in the storage means is selected and communication is performed based on the selected combination until the communication ends normally. Controlled, the probability of communication failure is greatly reduced.
[0025]
A communication control device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a first protocol for performing communication with a communication target and a second protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. A first storage unit for storing related information for associating with the second protocol, and replacing information that can be handled by the first protocol with information that can be handled by the first protocol. A second storage unit that stores related information that associates a combination of information that can be handled by a plurality of third protocols, and a communication error that occurs during the communication of the first protocol. Using a second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage means, the first protocol on the communication target side is Control to be enabled, and when the first protocol is enabled, first control for controlling communication with the communication target according to the first protocol, or Instead of the communication by the first protocol, the communication by the plurality of third protocols associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the second storage means. Based on a combination of information that can be handled, one of the second controls for controlling the communication to be performed according to a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination is performed, and one of the controls is performed. If the communication error has not been resolved, the control means performs the other control.
[0026]
12. The communication control method according to claim 11, wherein the first storage means includes a first protocol for performing communication with the communication target, and a first protocol on the communication target side based on communication with the communication target. Related information for associating the first protocol with the second protocol for validating the first protocol is stored in the second storage unit. Relevant information that associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by communication by the third protocol that substitutes for information that can be handled by communication by the protocol is stored, and a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol. In the case where the error occurs, the communication target side is used by using a second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage means. A first control for controlling the first protocol to be enabled and for controlling to perform communication with the communication target by the first protocol when the first protocol is enabled; Alternatively, instead of the communication according to the first protocol, the plurality of third information associated with the information handled during the communication according to the first protocol by the related information stored in the second storage unit. Based on a combination of information that can be handled by communication according to the protocol, one of the second controls for controlling the communication to be performed according to a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination is performed. If the communication error is not eliminated by performing one control, the other control is performed.
[0027]
According to the fifth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the first storage means enables the first protocol for performing communication with the communication target and the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. Related information for associating the second protocol with the second protocol. In the second storage means, for information that can be handled by the first protocol, information that can be handled by the first protocol is handled by a plurality of third protocols that substitute information that can be handled by the first protocol. Related information that associates a combination of pieces of information that can be generated is stored. If a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication target side uses the second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage means. The first control is performed so that the first protocol is enabled, and when the first protocol is enabled, the first control that controls the communication with the communication target by the first protocol is performed, or the first control is performed. Instead of the communication using the first protocol, the communication may be handled by the communication using a plurality of third protocols associated with the information handled during the communication using the first protocol based on the related information stored in the second storage unit. Based on the combination of information that can be performed, any one of the second controls for controlling the communication to be performed according to the plurality of third protocols that constitute the combination is performed. If the communication error is not eliminated by performing one of these controls, the other control is performed.
[0028]
As described above, even when a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol, the first protocol on the communication target side is used by using the second protocol related by the related information of the first storage unit. Of the first control or the communication of the first protocol, instead of the communication of the first protocol. Since the second control is performed, the probability of communication failure can be reduced. Furthermore, if the communication error is not resolved by performing either the first control or the second control, the other control is used, so that the probability of communication failure is greatly reduced. I do.
[0029]
A communication control device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the communication control device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the first storage means stores related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols. In addition, the second storage means associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by the plurality of third protocols with information that can be handled by the communication by the first protocol. Information, and said control means, in said first control, one of said plurality of second protocols associated with said first protocol by related information stored in said first storage means Is used to control the first protocol to be activated, and when the first protocol is not activated, the association stored in the first storage means is performed. The second protocol except for the second protocol used for validation among the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol according to the report, and selects the selected second protocol Controls the first protocol to be validated until the first protocol is validated, and furthermore, in the second control, the relevant information stored in the second storage means is used to control the first protocol. On the basis of one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, control is performed so as to perform communication using a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination. If an error occurs during communication of the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, the related information stored in the second storage means From among the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, combinations other than the combination used for communication are selected one by one, and based on the selected combination, communication is performed. The control is performed so that communication is performed by the third protocol that constitutes the combination until normal termination.
[0030]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the communication control method according to the eleventh aspect, related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols is stored in the first storage unit. In addition, the second storage unit stores a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by the plurality of third protocols with information that can be handled by the first protocol. Related information to be associated is stored, and in the first control, one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol is determined by the related information stored in the first storage unit. To control the first protocol to be activated, and when the first protocol is not activated, the related information stored in the first storage means. Among the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol, one by one, excluding the second protocol used for activation, is selected, and the selected second protocol The first protocol is controlled to be activated until the first protocol is activated. Further, in the second control, the first protocol is activated by the relevant information stored in the second storage means. Based on one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the one protocol, control is performed such that communication is performed by a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, If an error occurs during the communication of the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, the previous information is stored based on the related information stored in the second storage means. Among the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, the combinations other than the combination used for the communication are selected one by one, and based on the selected combination, the communication is normally performed. The control is performed so that communication is performed by the third protocol configuring the combination until the process is completed.
[0031]
In the invention according to claims 6 and 12, in the first control, of the first protocol using one second protocol among the plurality of second protocols stored in the first storage means. Even if the activation fails, the first protocol is attempted to be activated using the remaining second protocol stored in the storage means, so that the probability of communication failure is greatly reduced. In the second control, a communication error occurs during communication performed based on one of a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled in communication using a plurality of second protocols stored in the storage unit. Even if it occurs, it is controlled so that one of the remaining combinations stored in the storage means is selected and communication is performed based on the selected combination until the communication ends normally. , The probability of communication failure is greatly reduced.
[0032]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0033]
[First Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, operations such as creation, deletion, and setting change of a confidential box from a client PC 10 to a multifunction device (hereinafter, referred to as a device) 20 via a network 30 Will be described.
[0034]
The confidential box refers to a storage area for storing documents, mails, and the like received by the device 20 for each user, and is newly created directly on the device 20 side or from the client PC 10 via the network 30. Or delete or change the settings.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the client PC 10 and the device 20. As shown in the figure, the client PC 10 is provided with a main control unit 12 composed of a microcomputer including a CPU and a ROM (not shown), and the main control unit 12 is provided for communicating with the device 20 via the network 30. The communication control unit 14 and the storage unit 16 are connected.
[0036]
A ROM (not shown) of the main control unit 12 stores a program of a communication control processing routine for executing a process of controlling communication with the device 20, and the main control unit 12 is controlled by the communication control unit 14 via the network 30. Then, various operations are performed on the storage unit 26 of the device 20.
[0037]
The storage unit 16 stores an association table that associates a protocol (initial setting protocol) that is set in advance by the user to be used for communication with the device 20 and a protocol (activation protocol) that can activate the initial setting protocol. Is stored.
[0038]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the association table stored in the storage unit 16. As shown in the figure, the name of a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) as an initial setting protocol, the name of an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for enabling SOAP, and the name of an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) Are stored in association with each other. The SNMP is stored in the association table with the number 1 as the first validation protocol, and the HTTP with the number 2 as the second validation protocol.
[0039]
The device 20 is provided with a main control unit 22 including a microcomputer including a CPU and a ROM (not shown). The main control unit 22 includes a communication control unit 24 for communicating with the client PC 10 via the network 30. And the storage unit 26 are connected.
[0040]
The storage unit 26 of the device 20 stores various information and setting contents regarding the confidential box.
[0041]
Hereinafter, the communication control processing routine executed by the main control unit 12 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0042]
In step 100, communication for performing an operation on the confidential box of the device 20 with the device 20 using the initial setting protocol SOAP is performed. That is, communication is performed using the initial setting protocol SOAP in order to operate information and setting contents regarding the confidential box stored in the storage unit 26 of the device 20.
[0043]
In step 102, it is determined whether a communication error has occurred during communication. If it is determined that a communication error has occurred, 1 is set to the parameter n in step 104.
[0044]
In step 106, the n-th activation protocol in the association table of the storage unit 16 is used, and an attempt is made to activate the initialization protocol SOAP on the device 20 side. That is, the communication with the device 20 is performed using the n-th validation protocol such that the setting of the initial setting protocol SOAP on the device 20 side is turned ON. Since 1 is set to n in step 104, the communication is performed by the first validation protocol in this case, that is, by SNMP in the present embodiment.
[0045]
In step 108, it is determined whether or not the activation of the initialization protocol SOAP has been successfully performed. Specifically, if the communication was successfully completed without a communication error during the communication of the activation protocol, it is determined that the activation was successful.If a communication error occurred, the activation was successful. It is determined that there was not. If it is determined that a communication error has occurred and the activation has not been successful, 1 is added to n in step 110 and incremented. Here, n is 2.
[0046]
In step 112, it is determined whether or not the association table has an n-th (second) activation protocol associated with the initialization protocol SOAP. In the present embodiment, since HTTP is associated with SOAP as the second validation protocol, a positive determination is made here. Subsequently, the process returns to step 106, and the second activation protocol HTTP is used to try to activate the initialization protocol SOAP on the device 20 side.
[0047]
If it is determined in step 108 that the activation of the initialization protocol SOAP is successful, the process returns to step 100, and communication with the device 20 and the initialization protocol SOAP is resumed.
[0048]
If it is determined in step 102 that a communication error has not occurred, the process proceeds to step 114, and it is determined whether or not the communication has been completed. If it is determined that the communication has not been completed, the communication using the initial setting protocol SOAP is continued. If it is determined in step 114 that the communication has been completed, the process ends normally.
[0049]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 108 that the activation of the initial setting protocol SOAP has not been successfully performed by the second validation protocol HTTP, in step 110, 1 is further added to n and incremented. In step 112, it is determined whether or not the association table has an n-th (third) activation protocol associated with the initialization protocol SOAP. In the present embodiment, since only two protocols, SNMP and HTTP, are associated in the association table as protocols for which SOAP can be validated, a negative determination is made here. In this case, a communication error occurs because the initialization protocol cannot be validated.
[0050]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when a communication error occurs during communication of the initial setting protocol, control is performed so that the initial setting protocol on the communication target side is activated using the activation protocol. Thus, the probability of communication failure can be reduced.
[0051]
Note that, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which two protocols, SNMP and HTTP, are associated with the initial setting protocol SOAP as the protocols that can activate the initial setting protocol, based on the association table. There may be only one, or three or more, and the number and type are not particularly limited.
[0052]
Further, in the present embodiment, in the association table, a plurality of activation protocols are associated with the initialization protocol with a predetermined priority, and when a communication error occurs during communication of the initialization protocol, In the above description, an example is described in which the activation protocol is used in the order of the priority order to activate the initialization protocol on the communication target side. May be arbitrarily selected and used for validation.
[0053]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0054]
Also in this embodiment, similar to the above-described first embodiment, a case where an operation such as creation, deletion, and setting change of a confidential box is performed from the client PC 10 to the device 20 via the network 30 is performed. explain.
[0055]
Furthermore, since the configurations of the client PC 10 and the device 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted.
[0056]
However, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 16 of the client PC 10 stores an association table that associates a combination of a plurality of protocol operations, which substitutes for each operation, with respect to the operation of the initialization protocol. In the following, a combination of operations of a plurality of protocols that substitutes for the operation of the initialization protocol will be referred to as an operation of an alternative protocol group.
[0057]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the association table stored in the storage unit 16. As shown in the figure, a name indicating each operation (acquisition of a list of confidential boxes, creation of a confidential box, deletion of a confidential box, and change of the setting of a confidential box) performed using the initial setting protocol SOAP. In addition, the names of a plurality of protocols that substitute for those operations and the contents of the operations performed in each protocol are stored in association with each other as the operations of the alternative protocol group. The order of operation of each protocol constituting the operation of the alternative protocol group is determined in advance, and the order is also stored in the associated table with a number attached to each operation. If the operation of the initial setting protocol can be replaced by the operation of one protocol, only the name of one protocol and the content of the operation are stored.
[0058]
The operation of the first alternative protocol group that replaces the confidential box list acquisition operation by SOAP is configured by a combination of operations of two types of protocols, Salutation protocol (hereinafter abbreviated as Salutation (registered trademark)) and HTTP. I have. As shown in the figure, the operation of the first alternative protocol group includes an operation of acquiring a list of confidential box numbers by Salutation, and an operation of acquiring each confidential box name based on the list of confidential box numbers acquired by Salutation by HTTP. The order of the operations is stored so that the operation by the HTTP is performed next to the operation by the Salutation.
[0059]
In addition, since a new operation of creating a confidential box by using SOAP can perform the same operation using only HTTP, here, only the operation of HTTP is associated as the operation of the first alternative protocol group.
[0060]
The operation of the first alternative protocol group that replaces the operation of deleting the confidential box by SOAP includes the operation of deleting the document left in the confidential box by Salutation and the operation of the confidential box emptied by the operation of Salutation by HTTP. The operation order is stored so that the HTTP operation is performed next to the Salutation operation.
[0061]
In addition, since the operation of changing the setting of the confidential box by SOAP can be equivalent to the operation of only the HTTP similarly to the operation of creating a new confidential box, here, only the operation of the HTTP is performed as the operation of the first alternative protocol group. Is associated with.
[0062]
Note that the HTTP referred to here is used to access a Web service provided by the device 20, and the Web service is designed on the assumption that a human operation.
[0063]
In addition, a specific example of the operation of the second and subsequent alternative protocol groups will be omitted.
[0064]
Hereinafter, the communication control processing routine executed by the main control unit 12 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0065]
In step 200, communication with the device 20 is performed using the initialization protocol.
[0066]
In step 202, it is determined whether a communication error has occurred during communication. If it is determined that no communication error has occurred, the process proceeds to step 214, and it is determined whether the communication has been completed. If it is determined that the communication has not been completed, the communication of the initialization protocol is continued. If it is determined in step 214 that the communication has been completed, the process ends normally.
[0067]
If it is determined in step 202 that a communication error has occurred, 1 is set in the parameter m in step 204.
[0068]
In step 206, the operation of the m-th alternative protocol group associated with the operation of the initialization protocol performed during the communication in the association table of the storage unit 16 is performed instead of the operation of the initialization protocol. . That is, communication with the device 20 is performed by each protocol constituting the operation of the m-th alternative protocol group, and an operation for replacing the operation of the initialization protocol is performed. Since m is set to 1 in step 202, the operation of the first alternative protocol group is performed here.
[0069]
In step 208, it is determined whether or not a communication error has occurred during communication by the operation of the m-th alternative protocol group. If it is determined that a communication error has occurred, m is incremented by 1 in step 210 and incremented. Here, m is 2.
[0070]
In step 212, it is determined whether or not there is an operation of the m-th (second) alternative protocol group associated with the operation of the default protocol SOAP in the association table of the storage unit 16. If it is determined that the operation of the second alternative protocol group associated with the SOAP operation is present in the association table, the process returns to step 206, and the operation of the second alternative protocol group is performed. Performed instead of the operation of the initialization protocol. If it is determined that there is no operation of the associated second alternative protocol group in the association table, a communication error occurs.
[0071]
If it is determined in step 208 that no communication error has occurred, it is determined in step 216 whether the communication has been completed. If it is determined that the communication has not been completed, the operation of the currently executed alternative program group is continued. If it is determined that the communication has been completed, the process ends normally.
[0072]
Next, the confidential box list acquisition operation of the initial setting protocol SOAP and the operation of the first alternative protocol group that substitutes the operation will be described in detail.
[0073]
FIG. 7A illustrates a communication sequence performed between the client PC 10 and the device 20 in a confidential box list acquisition operation of the initial setting protocol SOAP. As shown, first, a request for a list of confidential boxes is transmitted from the client PC 10 to the device 20. When this request is received by the device 20, a list of confidential boxes is transmitted from the device 20 to the client PC 10. The list of confidential boxes includes confidential box numbers and confidential box names corresponding to the confidential box numbers. With the SOAP operation, such information can be acquired from the device 20 with a single request.
[0074]
FIG. 7B shows a communication sequence in the operation of the first alternative protocol group that substitutes the confidential box list acquisition operation of the initial setting protocol SOAP.
[0075]
As shown in the drawing, first, a request for a list of confidential box numbers is transmitted from the client PC 10 to the device 20 by communication through Salutation. When this request is received by the device 20, a list of confidential box numbers is transmitted from the device 20 to the client PC 10. Here, the communication by Salutation ends.
[0076]
Next, a request for a confidential box name corresponding to each confidential box number is transmitted from the client PC 10 to the device 20 by HTTP communication. Specifically, first, a request for a confidential box name corresponding to the first confidential box number is transmitted. When the device 20 receives this request, the first confidential box name is transmitted from the device 20 to the client PC 10. Subsequently, a request for a confidential box name corresponding to the second confidential box number is transmitted. When the device 20 receives this request, the second confidential box name is transmitted from the device 20 to the client PC 10. This operation is repeated to obtain confidential box names corresponding to all confidential box numbers.
[0077]
In the operation of this alternative protocol group, it is not possible to acquire all information by one request, but by performing a plurality of exchanges, it is possible to acquire information equivalent to the operation of the initialization protocol SOAP. it can.
[0078]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when a communication error occurs during the communication of the initialization protocol, the operation of the initialization protocol is replaced by the operation of the alternative protocol group, thereby reducing the probability of communication failure. Can be done.
[0079]
In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a plurality of sets of operations of the alternative protocol group that substitutes for the operation of the initial setting protocol are stored in the association table for each operation. May be only one set. Further, the number of operations of the alternative protocol group may be different for each operation.
[0080]
Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the order of operation of each protocol constituting the operation of the alternative protocol group is predetermined, and the order is also stored in the related table. When the initial setting protocol operation can be substituted regardless of the order of operation of each protocol, the order may be determined and stored as a simple combination of the operations in the association table.
[0081]
Further, in the present embodiment, the operations of the plurality of alternative protocol groups are stored in the association table in a predetermined priority order, and when a communication error occurs during the communication of the initialization protocol, the priority order is stored. According to the example described above, the operation of the alternative protocol group is sequentially selected one by one, and communication is performed according to each protocol constituting the operation of the selected alternative protocol group. Communication may be performed by arbitrarily selecting one of the operations of the plurality of alternative protocol groups one by one.
[0082]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0083]
In the present embodiment, an example in which the communication control of the first embodiment and the communication control of the second embodiment described above are combined will be described.
[0084]
Also, in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the client PC 10 and the device 20 communicate with each other via the network 30, as in the above-described first and second embodiments. Note that the configurations of the client PC 10 and the device 20 are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. However, in the present embodiment, the first storage area (not shown) of the storage unit 16 also does not show an association table for associating the initialization protocol and the validation protocol that can validate the initialization protocol as shown in FIG. The second storage area stores an association table that associates operations performed using the initialization protocol as shown in FIG. 5 with operations of an alternative protocol group for substituting each operation. These related tables are referred to by the main control unit 12 to perform communication control when a communication error occurs.
[0085]
Hereinafter, the communication control processing routine executed by the main control unit 12 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0086]
The details of the processing from the start of communication in step 300 to the failure in activating the initialization protocol in step 312 or the normal end of communication in step 316 are the same as in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the description is omitted.
[0087]
If a negative determination is made in step 312, there is no protocol for validating the initial setting protocol, so that a communication error occurs in the first embodiment and the communication ends, but in the present embodiment, step 314 follows. Of the alternative protocol group is performed. In this process, similarly to the communication control process shown in the second embodiment, instead of the operation of the initialization protocol, the operation of the alternative protocol group associated in the association table of the second storage area of the storage unit 16 is performed. It is controlled to be performed. If a communication error has also occurred due to the operation of all the alternative protocol groups, the process ends with a communication error. The details of the alternative processing by operating the alternative protocol group are the same as in the above-described second embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.
[0088]
In the present embodiment, when a communication error occurs during communication of the initialization protocol, control is performed so that the initialization protocol on the device side is first activated using the activation protocol, and the activation fails. In the above case, an example in which control is performed so as to perform the operation of the alternative protocol group has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. Then, if a communication error occurs, control may be performed so that the initialization protocol is validated using the validation protocol.
[0089]
In this way, when a communication error occurs during communication of the initialization protocol, control is performed so that the initialization protocol of the communication target side is activated using the activation protocol, or operation of the initialization protocol is performed. Is controlled to be replaced by the operation of the alternative protocol group, so that the probability of communication failure can be reduced. Further, if the communication error is not eliminated by any of the controls, the other control is performed, so that the probability of communication failure can be significantly reduced.
[0090]
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described client PC, but can be applied to various communication control devices within the scope described in the claims. Also, the communication target is not limited to the above-described multifunction device, and any device that can communicate can be used.
[0091]
【The invention's effect】
The invention according to claims 1, 2 and 7, 8 enables the first protocol on the communication target side using the second protocol when a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol. Therefore, the probability of communication failure can be reduced.
[0092]
The invention according to Claims 3 and 4 and Claims 9 and 10 is characterized in that information that can be handled by the first protocol is associated with a combination of information that can be handled by a plurality of second protocols that substitute this information. When a communication error occurs in communication of the first protocol, control is performed so that communication is performed by a plurality of second protocols that constitute an associated combination, so that the probability of communication failure is reduced. Can be.
[0093]
Furthermore, the invention according to claims 5 and 6 and the invention according to claims 11 and 12 is characterized in that when a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol, the first protocol on the communication target side is used by using the second protocol. Or a plurality of third protocols that substitute for information that can be handled by the first protocol and that are associated with information that can be handled by the first protocol. One of the second controls for controlling the communication to be performed according to a plurality of third protocols constituting a combination of information that can be handled is performed, and the communication error is not eliminated by any one of the controls. In such a case, since the other control is performed, the probability of communication failure can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a case where a client PC and a multifunction device communicate via a network according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client PC and a multifunction device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an association table stored in a storage unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication control processing routine executed by a main control unit in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an association table stored in a storage unit according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a communication control processing routine executed by a main control unit in the second embodiment.
FIG. 7A is a communication sequence performed between a client PC and a device in a confidential box list acquisition operation of the initialization protocol SOAP, and FIG. 7B is a confidential communication of the initialization protocol SOAP. It is a communication sequence in operation of the 1st substitution protocol group which substitutes box list acquisition operation.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a communication control processing routine executed by a main control unit in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Client PC
12 Main control unit
14 Communication control unit
16 Storage unit
20 Multi-function devices
22 Main control unit
24 Communication control unit
26 Memory
30 Network

Claims (12)

Storage means for storing related information for associating a first protocol for communicating with a communication target and a second protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. When,
When a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol, the communication target side uses the second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. Control means for controlling the first protocol to be activated, and controlling to communicate with the communication target according to the first protocol when the first protocol is activated;
A communication control device including: The storage means stores related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols,
The control unit is configured to enable the first protocol using one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. Controlling and, if the first protocol is not activated, activates the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage means. The second protocol is selected one by one except for the second protocol used for the first protocol, and the first protocol is activated until the selected second protocol activates the first protocol. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed in the following manner. The information that can be handled by the first protocol is associated with a combination of information that can be handled by a plurality of second protocols that replaces the information that can be handled by the first protocol. Storage means for storing related information;
When a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication error is handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit instead of the communication of the first protocol. Control means for controlling, based on a combination of information that can be handled in communication by the plurality of second protocols associated with the information that has been associated with the information, communication to be performed by the plurality of second protocols constituting the combination; ,
A communication control device including: In the storage unit, information that can be handled by the communication by the first protocol can be handled by communication by a plurality of second protocols that substitute information that can be handled by the communication by the first protocol. Relevant information relating multiple sets of information is stored,
The control unit configures the combination based on one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit. The communication is controlled so as to be performed by a plurality of second protocols, and when an error occurs during the communication of the plurality of second protocols constituting the combination, the error is determined by the related information stored in the storage unit. From among the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol, combinations other than the combination used for communication are selected one by one, and based on the selected combination, communication is performed. 4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein communication is controlled to be performed by a second protocol constituting the combination until normal termination. Apparatus. A first protocol for storing a first protocol for communicating with a communication target and a second protocol for validating a first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target; Storage means;
A combination of information that can be handled by a plurality of third protocols that substitutes information that can be handled by the first protocol for information that can be handled by the first protocol. Second storage means for storing related information to be associated;
When a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication is performed using a second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage unit. Controlling the first protocol on the target side to be enabled, and controlling the communication with the communication target by the first protocol when the first protocol is enabled. 1 or in place of the communication according to the first protocol, the plurality of pieces of information associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by related information stored in the second storage unit. Is controlled based on a combination of information that can be handled in the communication by the third protocol, so that the communication is performed by a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination. Do either of the control of the second control, when the communication error is not resolved by performing one of control, and control means for performing other control,
A communication control device including: The first storage means may store related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols, and the second storage means may handle the information by communication using the first protocol. For related information, related information that associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled in the communication by the plurality of third protocols is stored,
The control means, in the first control, uses one of a plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on related information stored in the first storage means, The first protocol is controlled to be activated, and when the first protocol is not activated, the first protocol is associated with the first protocol by the related information stored in the first storage means. The second protocol other than the second protocol used for activation is selected one by one from among the plurality of second protocols, and the first protocol is activated by the selected second protocol. Until the first protocol is activated,
Further, in the second control, one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the second storage unit. Control based on the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, and if an error occurs during communication of the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, the second protocol Selecting one by one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the relevant information stored in the storage means, except for the combination used for the communication. Based on the selected combination, control is performed such that communication is performed by the third protocol configuring the combination until the communication ends normally. The communication control apparatus according to claim 5. The storage means stores related information for associating a first protocol for communicating with the communication target and a second protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. Remember,
When a communication error occurs during communication of the first protocol, the communication target side uses the second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage unit. A communication control method that controls so that a first protocol is validated, and controls, when the first protocol is validated, to communicate with the communication target using the first protocol. In the storage unit, related information for associating the first protocol with a plurality of the second protocols is stored.
Controlling the first protocol to be validated using one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage means, If the first protocol has not been activated, of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the storage means, A second protocol other than the second protocol is selected one by one, and control is performed such that the first protocol is activated until the selected second protocol activates the first protocol. A communication control method according to claim 7. The information that can be handled by a plurality of second protocols that replaces the information that can be handled by the first protocol with respect to the information that can be handled by the first protocol. Remember related information that associates the combination of
When a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication error is handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit instead of the communication of the first protocol. A communication control method for controlling communication based on a plurality of second protocols constituting the combination based on a combination of information that can be handled in communication using the plurality of second protocols associated with the associated information . In the storage unit, information that can be handled by the communication by the first protocol can be handled by communication by a plurality of second protocols that substitute information that can be handled by the communication by the first protocol. Relevant information that associates multiple combinations of information is stored,
Based on one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the storage unit, a plurality of second And if an error occurs during the communication of the plurality of second protocols that make up the combination, the first protocol is used according to the related information stored in the storage means. Of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication are selected one by one except for the combination used for the communication, and based on the selected combination, the combination is selected until the communication is normally completed. 10. The communication control method according to claim 9, wherein control is performed so that communication is performed according to a second protocol constituting the combination. The first storage unit associates a first protocol for performing communication with a communication target and a second protocol for validating the first protocol on the communication target side by communicating with the communication target. In addition to storing related information, the second storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of information that can be replaced by information that can be handled by the first protocol for information that can be handled by the first protocol. Related information that associates a combination of information that can be handled in communication by the third protocol of
When a communication error occurs during the communication of the first protocol, the communication is performed using a second protocol associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage unit. Controlling the first protocol on the target side to be enabled, and controlling the communication with the communication target by the first protocol when the first protocol is enabled. 1 or in place of the communication according to the first protocol, the plurality of pieces of information associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by related information stored in the second storage unit. Is controlled based on a combination of information that can be handled in the communication by the third protocol, so that the communication is performed by a plurality of third protocols constituting the combination. Do either of the control of the second control, when the communication error is not resolved by performing one of control, communication control method for performing other control. The first storage unit stores related information for associating the first protocol with the plurality of second protocols, and the second storage unit handles communication by the first protocol. For information that can be handled, related information that associates a plurality of combinations of information that can be handled by the plurality of third protocols with communication is stored,
In the first control, the first protocol is enabled by using one of the plurality of second protocols associated with the first protocol based on the related information stored in the first storage unit. And if the first protocol is not validated, a plurality of the second protocols associated with the first protocol by the related information stored in the first storage means. The second protocol is selected one by one from the second protocol except for the second protocol used for activation, and the first protocol is selected until the first protocol is activated by the selected second protocol. Control that the protocol is enabled,
Further, in the second control, one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the related information stored in the second storage unit. Control based on the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, and if an error occurs during communication of the plurality of third protocols constituting the combination, the second protocol Selecting one by one of the plurality of combinations associated with the information handled during the communication of the first protocol by the relevant information stored in the storage means, except for the combination used for the communication. Based on the selected combination, control is performed such that communication is performed by the third protocol configuring the combination until the communication ends normally. The communication control method according to claim 11, wherein.

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