JP2006005820A - Terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform communication processing even in a terminal device having a DHCP client function which is similar to the one in a terminal using a fixed IP address. <P>SOLUTION: Facsimile equipment 100 has the DHCP client function for acquiring an IP address from a DHCP server 120. The facsimile equipment 100 includes: a DHCP client function switch 102 which turns on or off the DHCP client function; an IP address acquisition part 104 which acquires the IP address from the DHCP server 120 when the DHCP client function is on; and a connection processing part 110 which performs connection to an IP network 140 using the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition part 104. The DHCP client function switch 102 turns off the DHCP client function when the IP address acquisition part 104 acquires the IP address from the DHCP server 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device connected to a network, and more particularly to a terminal device having a DHCP client function.

  In recent years, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server has been developed that performs setting and collective management of IP addresses of client terminals. When a client terminal is physically connected to the network by using a DHCP server, settings necessary for TCP / IP communication are automatically performed. As a result, the burden on the network administrator can be greatly reduced.

  Incidentally, in recent years, facsimile apparatuses such as MFPs (Multi Functional Peripherals) are frequently used by being connected to a network such as the Internet. Such a facsimile machine has a server function such as an HTTP server, and accepts access from other client terminals.

Patent Document 1 describes a DHCP support terminal device that includes a fixed IP address setting unit and a DHCP client unit that obtains an IP address from DHCP. Here, a network facsimile apparatus is exemplified as the DHCP support terminal apparatus.
JP 2004-86748 A

  However, when DHCP is used in a network facsimile apparatus, since the IP itself is not fixed, the receiving side cannot be specified from the transmitting side, and there is a possibility that FAX reception with IP address designation may not be possible. . In particular, in the MFP having the server function as described above, if the IP address changes every time the apparatus is activated, it is necessary to change the settings of the client terminal and the DNS server, and the processing becomes complicated.

  In Patent Document 1, in such a case, the user is notified that there is a possibility that the Internet FAX reception with the IP address designation may not be possible, and the user is allowed to select whether or not to continue the DHCP setting. Yes.

  On the other hand, conventionally, in order to use a fixed IP, a user has to input an IP address and a subnet mask, which is troublesome (Patent Document 1).

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables a terminal device having a DHCP client function to perform the same communication processing as a terminal using a fixed IP address. It is in.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a terminal device having a DHCP client function for obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server, the switch means for turning the DHCP client function on or off, and the DHCP server when the DHCP client function is on. An IP address acquisition unit that acquires an IP address from the network, and a connection unit that connects to the network using the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit. The switch unit includes: A terminal device is provided in which the DHCP client function is turned off when the password is acquired.

  In this way, an IP address can be acquired using a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, and once the IP address is acquired, the DHCP client function is turned off. The address can be used as a fixed IP address.

  The terminal device of the present invention can be a device having a server function such as a network facsimile device or an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral) and accepting access from other terminals. In an apparatus having such a server function, if the IP address is not fixed, there arises a problem that access specifying the IP address from another terminal cannot be performed. According to the present invention, after the IP address acquisition unit acquires an IP address, the IP address can be used as a fixed IP address, so that access from other terminals can be accepted.

  The terminal device according to the present invention may further include a storage unit that stores the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit, and the switch unit is configured to switch from the DHCP server based on whether or not the IP address is stored in the storage unit. It is determined whether the IP address has been acquired, and when the IP address has not been acquired, the DHCP client function can be turned on.

  The switch means may directly refer to the storage means for storing the IP address to determine whether or not the IP address has been acquired, and refer to a flag indicating whether or not the IP address is stored in the storage means. Then, it may be determined whether or not the IP address has been acquired.

  The terminal device of the present invention can further include a notification unit that notifies the DHCP server of the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit as an IP address that cannot be assigned to another terminal.

  In this way, the DHCP server can be prohibited from assigning the IP address assigned to the terminal device of the present invention to another terminal.

  The terminal device of the present invention can further include an initialization unit that erases the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit, and the notification unit can assign the IP address erased by the initialization unit to another terminal. The DHCP server can be notified as an IP address.

  As a result, for example, when the terminal device of the present invention is removed from the network for movement or replacement, the DHCP server can assign the IP address occupied by the terminal device as a fixed IP address to another terminal.

  The terminal device of the present invention may further include an output unit that outputs the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit.

  Here, the output means can be a printer or an e-mail transmission means. As a result, the user of the terminal device of the present invention can know the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition means, and can set the DHCP server as an IP address that cannot be assigned to other terminals.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, a terminal device having a DHCP client function can perform communication processing similar to that of a terminal using a fixed IP address.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of facsimile apparatus 100 in the present embodiment.
The facsimile apparatus 100 includes a DHCP client function switch 102, an IP address acquisition unit 104, an IP address storage unit 106, an IP address notification unit 108, a connection processing unit 110, a communication unit 112, and an initialization processing unit 114.

  In FIG. 1, the configuration of parts not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted. For example, the document reading unit, the image processing unit, etc., which are the configuration of the facsimile apparatus, are not shown.

  Each component of the facsimile machine 100 includes an arbitrary computer CPU, memory, a program for realizing the components shown in the figure loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It is realized by any combination of hardware and software. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications to the implementation method and apparatus. Each drawing described below shows a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration.

  The facsimile apparatus 100 is, for example, a network facsimile apparatus or an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral). In the present embodiment, the facsimile apparatus 100 can be connected to a network 130 or an IP network 140. The network 130 is, for example, a LAN. The IP network 140 is a network in which data is transmitted and received using an IP address, such as the Internet or an intranet. A DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server 120 is connected to the network 130. When there is an IP address assignment request from a terminal having a DHCP client function connected to the network 130, the DHCP server 120 assigns an IP address to the terminal in response to the request. Here, although the network 130 and the IP network 140 are respectively described, these may be a single network. For example, the DHCP server 120 can be configured to be connected to the IP network 140.

  In the present embodiment, the facsimile machine 100 has a DHCP client function and acquires an IP address from the DHCP server 120. Once the facsimile apparatus 100 obtains an IP address, the DHCP client function is turned off and the IP address is used as a fixed address. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 100 can easily set an IP address and can also perform communication using a fixed IP address.

  The communication unit 112 communicates with the DHCP server 120 connected to the network 130 and other terminals connected to the IP network 140.

  The DHCP client function switch 102 switches the DHCP client function on or off. The IP address acquisition unit 104 acquires an IP address from the DHCP server 120 via the communication unit 112 when the DHCP client function is on. The IP address acquisition unit 104 stores the acquired IP address in the IP address storage unit 106. When the IP address acquisition unit 104 acquires the IP address, the DHCP client function switch 102 turns off the DHCP client function. Thus, once the IP address acquisition unit 104 acquires an IP address, the facsimile machine 100 uses the acquired IP address as a fixed address without receiving a new IP address assignment from the DHCP server 120 thereafter. Can do.

  When the IP address acquisition unit 104 acquires an IP address from the DHCP server 120, the IP address notification unit 108 notifies the DHCP server 120 of the IP address as an IP address that cannot be assigned to another terminal. As a result, the DHCP server 120 can be prohibited from assigning the IP address assigned to the facsimile apparatus 100 to another terminal.

  The connection processing unit 110 uses the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106 to connect to another terminal connected to the IP network 140 via the communication unit 112. Further, since the IP address of the facsimile machine 100 is fixed, the connection processing unit 110 can accept an access specifying an IP address from another terminal.

  The initialization processing unit 114 receives an initialization instruction from the user, and initializes the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit 104. The user can issue an initialization instruction to the initialization processing unit 114 when, for example, the connection between the facsimile apparatus 100 and the network 130 is released for movement or replacement.

  Specifically, upon receiving an initialization instruction from the user, the initialization processing unit 114 erases the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106. In addition, when the initialization processing unit 114 receives the initialization instruction and deletes the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106, the IP address notification unit 108 becomes an IP address that can be assigned to another terminal. , Notify the DHCP server 120. As a result, the DHCP server 120 can assign the IP address deleted by the facsimile apparatus 100 to another terminal.

  Thereby, when the facsimile apparatus 100 is initialized, the IP address occupied by the facsimile apparatus 100 as a fixed IP address can be assigned to another terminal.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the facsimile machine 100 and the DHCP server 120 in the present embodiment.
Hereinafter, a case where the DHCP client function is turned off when the facsimile apparatus 100 is activated will be described as an example.

  First, when the facsimile apparatus 100 is activated, the DHCP client function switch 102 refers to the IP address storage unit 106 and detects whether an IP address is held (S102). When the IP address is not held (NO in S102), the DHCP client function switch 102 turns on the DHCP client function (S104).

  Subsequently, the IP address acquisition unit 104 connects to the DHCP server 120 via the network 130, and acquires an IP address from the DHCP server 120 (S106). When there is an IP address assignment request from the facsimile machine 100, the DHCP server 120 assigns one of the assignable IP addresses to the facsimile machine 100 accordingly (S116).

  In the facsimile apparatus 100, the IP address acquisition unit 104 stores the acquired IP address in the IP address storage unit 106 (S108). When the IP address acquisition unit 104 acquires an IP address, the IP address notification unit 108 notifies the DHCP server 120 of the acquired IP address as an IP address that cannot be assigned to another terminal (S110). The DHCP server 120 stores the IP address notified from the IP address notification unit 108 as an unassignable IP address (S118).

  Thereafter, the DHCP client function switch 102 turns off the DHCP client function (S112). With the above processing, the setting of the IP address in the facsimile machine 100 is completed.

  The connection processing unit 110 uses the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106 as a fixed address, connects to the IP network 140, and exchanges data with other terminals (S114). If the IP address is held in step S102 (YES in S102), the process proceeds to step S114, and the same processing as described above is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the facsimile apparatus 100 and the DHCP server 120 in the present embodiment when there is an initialization instruction from the user.

  When receiving an initialization instruction from the user (YES in S202), the initialization processing unit 114 deletes the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106 (S204). When the initialization processing unit 114 deletes the IP address, the IP address notification unit 108 notifies the DHCP server 120 of the deleted IP address as an address that can be assigned to another terminal (S206). The DHCP server 120 stores the IP address notified from the IP address notification unit 108 as an assignable IP address (S208).

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  The facsimile apparatus 100 may be configured not to include the IP address notifying unit 108. Instead, the facsimile apparatus 100 may include a function of notifying the user of the IP address acquired by the IP address acquiring unit 104. . The user notification can be performed, for example, by outputting the IP address by a printer or by e-mail. As a result, the user of the facsimile machine 100 can store the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit 104 in the DHCP server 120 as an IP address that cannot be assigned to other terminals.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the DHCP client function switch 102 refers to the IP address storage unit 106 to turn the DHCP client function off or on depending on whether or not the IP address is held has been described. The apparatus 100 can also include a storage area for storing a flag indicating whether an IP address has been acquired. In this case, the DHCP client function switch 102 can determine whether or not the IP address has been acquired with reference to the flag. In this case, upon receiving an initialization instruction from the user, the initialization processing unit 114 can rewrite the flag to indicate that an IP address has not been acquired.

  Further, when the initialization processing unit 114 performs the initialization process, the DHCP client function switch 102 can turn on the DHCP client function.

  The operation of turning on the DHCP client function can also be performed according to a user instruction. In this case, the processing procedure of the facsimile machine 100 is as shown in FIG. When the facsimile apparatus 100 is activated, the IP address acquisition unit 104 determines whether or not the DHCP client function is on (S302). When the DHCP client function is on (YES in S302), the IP address acquisition unit 104 connects to the DHCP server 120 via the network 130 and acquires an IP address from the DHCP server 120 (S304). The subsequent processing (S304 to S310, and S314 and S316) is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, when the DHCP client function is off in step S302 (NO in S302), the connection processing unit 110 uses the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 106 as a fixed address, connects to the IP network 140, and so on. Exchange data with the other terminal (S312).

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the process sequence of the facsimile apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Facsimile Device 102 DHCP Client Function Switch 104 IP Address Acquisition Unit 106 IP Address Storage Unit 108 IP Address Notification Unit 110 Connection Processing Unit 112 Communication Unit 114 Initialization Processing Unit 120 DHCP Server 130 Network 140 IP Network

Claims (5)

A terminal device having a DHCP client function for obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server,
Switch means for turning on or off the DHCP client function;
IP address acquisition means for acquiring an IP address from the DHCP server when the DHCP client function is on;
Connection means for connecting to the network using the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition means;
Including
The terminal device characterized in that the switch means turns off the DHCP client function when the IP address obtaining means obtains an IP address from the DHCP server. The terminal device according to claim 1,
And further comprising storage means for storing the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition means,
The switch means determines whether an IP address has been acquired from the DHCP server based on whether an IP address is stored in the storage means. When the IP address has not been acquired, the DHCP means A terminal device characterized by turning on a client function. In the terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
The terminal device further comprising a notification means for notifying the DHCP server of the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition means as an IP address that cannot be assigned to another terminal. The terminal device according to claim 3,
An initialization unit that erases the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition unit;
The notification unit notifies the DHCP server of the IP address erased by the initialization unit as an IP address that can be assigned to another terminal. In the terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
The terminal device further comprising output means for outputting the IP address acquired by the IP address acquisition means.

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