JP2005107707A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce work and traffic needed to ask if there is a new device definition file created either by a user or device-setting software. <P>SOLUTION: When a variety of settings are made for a plurality of kinds of devices connected to one another via a network line for information about the plurality of kinds of devices, a file is provided in which settings about the devices are collected independently of the program body of the software used for the settings. Then a determination is made as to whether or not the device retrieved by the device-setting software exists within the file. If it does not exist, a new file in which definitions of the devices are collected is obtained from a server, whereby only when the definitions of the devices are updated, the file describing the newest device information can be obtained as the server is asked about it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer network, and more particularly, to a setting of a device connected to the network and a management method of the setting information.

  Generally, a device connected to a network needs to be appropriately set before starting up. The items that need to be set in this case are information unique to each network protocol. For example, a unique name known as an IP address on a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network. Is assigned to each device.

  Although the assignment of the IP address can be performed manually, there is a risk that the same IP address is set redundantly in a plurality of devices, and the burden on the network administrator is increased. For this reason, a method of dynamically assigning IP addresses is often used.

  The method of dynamically assigning an IP address is an attempt to solve a problem in manual setting by the above-mentioned manual or the like. For example, RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol), BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol, RFC951) DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, RFC1541, 2131) is known.

  As described above, the device provides the user with a plurality of options regarding the setting of the network or the setting of the service (for example, the printing method in the case of a printer). However, not all products from the same vendor offer the same options to users. When the setting item is a character string, the upper limit of the usable character string varies depending on the product model.

  In general, software for performing the above settings enumerates options that can be set in a user interface (UI) to allow the user to set or limit input. When setting multiple types of devices with a single software, the model-specific module must be installed for each model in order to absorb the differences between models as described above and facilitate new support of devices. There are many.

  In this way, in the method of mounting by incorporating information unique to each model into the program, it takes time to compile each time the information is changed, and the provided function does not change even when dealing with a new model. Nevertheless, it was necessary to create a new plug-in. For this reason, a technique is also used in which information unique to a model is separated from a program in the form of a device definition file to reduce the effort required to deal with the new model.

  However, in the method of using the device definition file, the latest state is obtained by acquiring the latest device definition file. For this purpose, the user or the setting software uses a new device definition file for a predetermined server. It was necessary to inquire about the presence or absence.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the trouble and traffic of an inquiry about the presence or absence of a new device definition file by a user or setting software.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that performs settings related to a plurality of types of devices connected via a network line, and includes information about each of the plurality of types of devices. , It is characterized in that it is combined into one file separately from the program itself.

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a device searched by software for performing various settings for a plurality of types of devices connected via a network line is present in a current file summarizing device definitions. If it does not exist, this is used as a trigger to obtain a new file that summarizes the device definition from the server, so that the file with the latest device information is written only when the device definition is updated. It is possible to obtain information by inquiring the server, and it is possible to reduce the trouble of inquiring to the server and the traffic.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<LAN configuration>
A LAN to which a device managed by the network setting software is connected will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in which the network board of the present embodiment is connected to a printer.
Reference numerals 201 to 205 denote printers equipped with network boards, which are connected to a local area network (LAN) 100. Connection to the LAN 100 is made through an interface such as 10Base-T having RF-45. A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 102 is also connected to the LAN 100, and the PC 102 communicates with the printers 201 to 205 via the LAN 100.

<Configuration of PC>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 102 capable of operating the network setting software.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 102 denotes a PC on which the network setting software operates, and is equivalent to the PC 102 in FIG. The PC 102 includes a CPU 301 that executes a network setting program stored in a ROM 302 or a hard disk (HD) 311 or supplied from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM 312, and collectively controls each device connected to the system bus 304. Control.

  Reference numeral 303 denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory and work area of the CPU 301. A keyboard controller (KBC) 305 controls an instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 309 or a pointing device (not shown).

  A CRT controller (CRTC) 306 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 310. A disk controller (DKC) 307 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 311 and a CD-ROM 312 that store a boot program, various applications, editing files, user files, a network setting program, and the like. Reference numeral 308 denotes a network board that exchanges data with an agent or a network device in two directions via the LAN 100.

<Setting protocol>
In this embodiment, a simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used as a setting protocol. (“Introduction to TCP / IP network management for practical management” MT Rose = work / Takeshi Nishida = translation Toppan Co., Ltd., published on August 20, 1992, first edition).

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

  The user can obtain data on the network and change data by communicating with the agent software on the managed node using the network management software on the NMS.

  Here, the agent is software that runs as a background process for each target device. When the user requests management data from a device on the network, the management software puts object identification information in a management packet or frame and sends it to the target agent.

  The agent interprets the object identification information, retrieves data corresponding to the object identification information, puts the data in a packet, and sends it back to the user. Sometimes the corresponding process is invoked to retrieve the data.

  In addition, the agent holds data regarding its own state in the form of a database. This database is called MIB (Management Information Base). The MIB has a tree-structured data structure, and all nodes are uniquely numbered. This node identifier is called an object identifier (OBJECT IDENTIFIER).

  This MIB structure is called a management information structure (SMI) and is defined in RFC1155 Structure and Identification of Management Information for TCP / IP-based Internets.

<Device definition file>
FIG. 5 is an example of a device definition file of setting software according to the present invention. A device definition file is a group of information related to multiple types of devices that is combined into a single file separately from the program itself. The device definition file is read by the setting software at startup and is displayed in a list of structures related to information for each model. Become.

  The contents of the file are equivalent to the table of information for each model, but the first block of the file contains all information entries expressed in the form of "xxx = yyy" and instructs the program to read " @add "is described. In the subsequent blocks, only the difference from the previous device information is described.

  Details of each information are as follows.

<Operation sequence>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart regarding the operation of the setting software.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the setting software is activated in step S1001, the device definition file is read by the above method in step S1002. Next, in step S1003, the setting software broadcasts SNMP of the MIB object that identifies the device, and searches for setting target devices on the network.

  Usually, the configurable MIB object is defined in a MIB specific to a device vendor, and is not widely disclosed to the public. Here, the setting target device is a device that knows an MIB object that can be set by the setting software, and is usually a device of a limited vendor.

  When the device search is completed, it is checked whether or not each device searched in step S1004 is defined in the device definition file. If there is a device that is not defined, it means that the device definition file is not the latest, so access to a server (for example, a sales company's website) registered in advance in step S1005. Download the latest one and replace it with the current one.

  When it is confirmed that all searched devices are defined in the device definition file, necessary information is acquired from each device in step S1006 and displayed as a device list as shown in FIG.

  In step S1007, when the user selects an operation for performing setting for each device, in step S1008, the setting software refers to the device definition file to check which option can be taken when there are several options for each setting item. For the setting item in the character string, the maximum length is checked, and the setting screen is created in step S1009.

  For example, in FIG. 4, “Manual setting”, “RARP”, “BOOTP”, and “DHCP” can be selected as the IP address setting method, but this information is based on information described in the device definition file. ing.

When the user determines a setting item, in step S1010, setting is performed for the device.
The features of the present invention are described below.

  (Appendix 1) An information processing apparatus that performs various settings for a plurality of types of devices connected via a network line, and that performs information regarding each of the plurality of types of devices and a program for performing settings regarding the devices An information processing apparatus characterized in that it is combined into a single file separately from the main body.

  (Appendix 2) An information processing method for performing various settings for a plurality of types of devices connected via a network line, wherein function information regarding each of the plurality of types of devices is set for the devices An information processing method characterized in that a single file is collected separately from the program body.

  (Supplementary note 3) The file grouped together with the program main body is composed of information including a name and a value that can be taken for each setting item for each device to be set. The information processing apparatus according to 1.

  (Appendix 4) The file, which is collected separately from the program main body, is composed of information including a name and possible values for each setting item for each device to be set. 3. The information processing method according to 2.

(Appendix 5) File reading that reads a file that summarizes the definition of the device separately from the program body of the software when starting software that performs various settings for multiple types of devices connected via a network line Means,
Device search means for searching for a device to be set from a plurality of types of devices connected on the network line;
Device information verification means for verifying whether information on the device searched by the device search means exists in the file read by the file reading means;
As a result of verification by the device information verification unit, when a setting target device exists, a setting value acquisition unit that acquires a current setting value in the setting target device;
In addition to the setting value acquired by the setting value acquisition unit, the file read by the file reading unit is referred to, and a name and a value that can be taken for each setting item are displayed on the user interface in which the setting is performed by the user. Display means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: device information setting means for setting the setting content determined by the user for the setting value displayed by the display means in the setting target device.

(Appendix 6) File reading that reads a file containing the definition of the previous device separately from the program body of the software when starting up software that performs various settings for multiple types of devices connected via a network line Steps,
A device search step of searching for a device to be set from a plurality of types of devices connected on the network line;
A device information verification step for verifying whether information on the device searched by the device search step exists in the file read by the file reading step;
As a result of the verification by the device information verification step, when a setting target device exists, a setting value acquisition step for acquiring a current setting value in the setting target device;
In addition to the setting value acquired in the setting value acquisition step, the file read in the file reading step is referred to, and a name and a value that can be taken for each setting item are displayed on the user interface in which the setting is performed by the user. A display step;
An information processing method comprising: a device information setting step for setting the setting content determined by the user for the setting value displayed in the display step in the device to be set.

(Supplementary note 7) If the device information verification means does not exist as a result of the verification, a file acquisition means for acquiring the latest file summarizing the definitions of the devices with respect to an appropriate server;
The list display means for displaying a list of values that can be set for the setting target device on a user interface with reference to the latest file acquired by the file acquisition means. Information processing device.

(Appendix 8) As a result of the verification in the device information verification step, if there is no device to be set, a file acquisition step for acquiring the latest file that summarizes the definition of the device with respect to an appropriate server;
The list display step of displaying, on a user interface, a list of values that can be set for the setting target device with reference to the latest file acquired by the file acquisition step. Information processing method.

It is the schematic showing the structure which connected the network board to the printer. It is a block diagram of PC which can operate network setting software. It is a figure which shows an example of a device list. It is a figure which shows an example of a network setting screen. It is the figure which showed the example of the device definition file. It is a flowchart regarding operation | movement of the setting software which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Local Area Network (LAN)
102 Personal computer (PC) connected to LAN
201-205 Printer with Open Architecture 301 CPU that executes network setting program supplied from FD
302 ROM of PC
303 PC RAM
304 PC system bus 305 PC keyboard controller (KBC)
306 PC CRT controller (CRTC)
307 PC disk controller (DKC)
308 PC network board 309 PC keyboard (KB)
310 PC CRT display (CRT)
311 PC hard disk (HD)
312 CD-ROM

Claims (1)

An information processing apparatus for performing various settings for a plurality of types of devices connected via a network line,
An information processing apparatus, wherein information relating to each of the plurality of types of devices is collected into a single file separately from a program main body for performing settings relating to the devices.

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