JP2006067064A - Service position retrieving device, server device, service position retrieving system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily retrieve the service position of a server device. <P>SOLUTION: A generation part 26 of a composite unit 20 generates service position information including a network address and encrypted specific information for self-identification. A printing part 23 adds the service position information to a raster image to be printed, and prints it on a sheet 16. A transmitting part 46 of the composite unit 40 transmits a connection request including the service position information and its own network address extracted from a sheet 16 read by a reading part 43 to the composite unit 20. A judging part 28 of the composite unit 20 verifies the specific information based on specific information included in the connection request received by a receiving part 27, and registers the network address of the composite unit 40 in a service position information storage part 24. Afterwards, a permission returning part 29 returns a connection permission response to the composite unit 40. A registering part 48 of the composite unit 40 confirms the reception of the connection permission response by a receiving part 47, and then registers the network address of the composite unit 20 in a service position information storage part 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device that is connected to a wide area network, provides a network service, a service location search device that holds and manages information indicating the location of the server device on the network, and a service location search having the server device and the service location search device About the system.

  In a wide area computer network, which is a set of a plurality of sub-networks, various services are provided by computers. Typical examples of the provided services include an information providing service using a WWW (World Wide Web) system, a print service using a server-client system, and a service discovery service.

  When a user uses a service on the network, first, information (network address, domain name, URL (Uniform Resource Locator), etc.) indicating the location of the server device providing the service on the network. It is necessary to know collectively “position”. This is called “search”. When a server device that satisfies the request is found from various server devices scattered on the network, the server device is designated by the service location. If a plurality of server devices are found, one service location is selected from them. Communication is performed via the network with the server device thus identified, and a desired process is executed. Here, “request” means desired processing, desired service attributes (for example, function, performance), constraint conditions (for example, supported communication protocol, type of charging used), request for cost or quality, etc. It is.

  In recent years, with the generalization of Internet use, various services provided by remote computers can be used via a network. Thus, the service search system is required to have a wide searchable range.

  On the other hand, the service search technology using the conventional broadcast communication is applied to the local network, and uses either or both of the following methods. That is,

(A) A method in which a message for a client device to search for a server device (hereinafter referred to as “search message”) is broadcast to all computers on the network. The server device that has received the search message transmits a response message to the client device, so that the client device can detect the presence of the server device and its service location. The client device can acquire the service attribute by communicating with the detected server device.

(B) The server device broadcasts a message that advertises its existence (hereinafter referred to as “advertisement message”) at start-up or at regular intervals, thereby allowing the client device to Detect presence.

  Also, instead of the client device, a dedicated service search device acquires and holds the service position and service attribute of all server devices by the above method, and searches the server device for the service attribute of the server device. It may be configured to provide a function to do. A conventional example of this technique is SLP (Service Location Protocol, Version 2; IETF RFC2608).

  However, the service search technology using broadcast communication is searchable because the detectable range of the server device (hereinafter referred to as “service detection area”) is limited to the reachable range of broadcast communication. The range is finite. This is because broadcasts may be blocked by a network relay device such as a router or firewall for management reasons based on the operation policy of each network, or the broadcast packet lifetime (number of router HOPs) ) In some cases. As a result, there are many service detection areas in the wide area computer network. Therefore, in the service search technique using only the broadcast communication, there is a problem that a client device connected to a network in a service detection area cannot find a service located in another service detection area existing in a wide area. Even if the reachable range of broadcast communication can be expanded, the search message and announcement message will be broadcast all over the network, increasing the load on the entire network and reducing the usage efficiency. It will be.

  In view of this, a technology has been devised that gives a wide range to service search technology using simultaneous broadcast communications by pre-registering all service search devices existing in each service detection area in a dedicated database function such as one directory. Has been.

  That is, the service search device discovers another service search device by referring to the directory or the like of the dedicated database function, communicates with the found service search device via the network, and the other service search device is located. By acquiring information on the service position and service attribute of the server device in the service detection area, it is possible to search for services across a plurality of service detection areas. There exists patent document 1 as a prior art example by this technique, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-091553

  However, this conventional method requires a device having a dedicated database function. In addition, when searching for a service location, the device cannot be used unless the service location of the device is known in advance. Further, when the service location of the device is changed, there is a problem that the load of setting change work associated with the change of the service location becomes enormous and the management cost of the service search system is increased. As described above, in the service search system of the prior art, in order to maintain the wide range of the searchable range, there are problems that manpower and knowledge are required for management and operation of the system, and the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a service location search device, a service location search system, and a program that can easily search for a service location of a server device. is there. Further, the present invention provides a server device that can easily search for a service position.

  In order to achieve the above object, a service location search apparatus according to the present invention relates to a self-apparatus that includes at least its own service position in a service location search apparatus that searches for a service location of a server device that provides a network service. Storage means for storing information, generation means for generating service position information including its own service position, output means for outputting service position information generated by the generation means, and service position output by the output means A receiving unit that receives a connection request that is transmitted from the server device to which information is input and includes at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device; and is included in the connection request received by the receiving unit By comparing the service location information with the information stored in the storage means And having a determining means for determining whether connection is possible with the server device, and a service location registration means for registering the service position of the server apparatus when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determining means.

  Further, the generation means includes in the service position information specific information that proves that it is service position information issued by itself, and the determination means includes the specific information included in the connection request received by the reception means. Is determined based on the specific information stored in the storage means, and only when the received specific information can be authenticated as self-issued, it is determined that the connection with the server device is possible. And

  In addition, it is characterized by having a permission reply means for returning a connection permission to the server device when the judgment means judges that the connection is possible.

  In addition, the determination unit is included in a connection permission range set in advance by the server device based on a service position of the server device included in the connection request received by the receiving unit. Only when it is confirmed, it is determined that the connection with the server device is possible.

  Further, the output means has a printing function for outputting service location information on a medium.

  Further, the output means has a facsimile transmission function for converting service location information into electronic data and outputting it.

  Further, the output means has an e-mail transmission function for transmitting service location information as an e-mail.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the multifunction device provides at least one of a copy service, a print service, a facsimile service, a scan service, or a mail service.

  The server device according to the present invention is a server device that provides a network service. The input device inputs service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device, at least the input service location information and its own service location. Transmission means for transmitting a connection request including a message to a service location searching device specified by service location information.

  Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising service location registration means for registering the service location of the service location search device when connection permission is sent from the connection location transmission destination service location search device.

  In addition, when the transmission unit can confirm that the service location of the service location search device included in the service location information input by the input unit is included in a preset connection permission range Only, a connection request is transmitted.

  In addition, the input unit includes a reading unit that reads service location information printed on a medium.

  The input means has a facsimile reception function for receiving service location information converted into electronic data.

  The input means has an e-mail receiving function for receiving e-mail including service location information.

  The service location search system according to the present invention includes a server device that provides a network service, and a service location search device that searches for a service location of the server device. Storage means for storing information relating to the self-device including the service position, generation means for generating service position information including the service position of the apparatus, output means for outputting the service position information generated by the generation means, A receiving unit that receives a connection request that is transmitted from the server device that has received the service location information output by the output unit and includes at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device; and that is received by the receiving unit. Service location information included in a connection request A determination unit that determines whether or not connection to the server device is possible by comparing with information stored in the storage unit, and a service that registers the service location of the server device when the determination unit determines that connection is possible The server device includes an input unit for inputting service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device, and a connection request including at least the input service location information and its own service location. Is transmitted to the service location searching device specified by the service location information.

  A program according to the present invention includes a computer having a service location search function for searching for a service location of a server device that provides a network service, storage means for storing information about the device itself, including at least its own service location, Generating means for generating service position information including the service position, output means for outputting the service position information generated by the generating means, and a server device that has received the service position information output by the output means. Receiving means for receiving a connection request including at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device; and service location information included in the connection request received by the receiving means in the storage means The connection with the server device can be checked by comparing with the stored information. Determining means for disconnection, a program to function as the service location registration means for registering the service position of the server apparatus when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determining means.

  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a program for inputting, into a server computer providing a network service, input means for inputting service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device, at least the input service location information and its own service location Is a program for functioning as a transmission means for transmitting a connection request including a message to a service location searching device specified by service location information.

  According to the present invention, the service location information is output, and the service location of the server device included in the connection request sent from the output server device is received. The service location of the server device can be searched while maintaining Further, the search for the service location of the server device does not increase the load on the entire network and requires no manual or prior knowledge for operation and management.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a service location search system according to the present invention. The service location search devices 1 and 11 constituting the service location search system are connected to the local networks 2 and 12, respectively, and hold information on the server devices 3 and 13 that provide network services in the same network. The service location searching devices 1 and 11 include server devices 13 and 3 connected to other local networks via firewalls 4 and 14 and a wide area network 15 under predetermined restrictions, and service location searching devices 11 and 1. The location of the other computer is searched, and the location of the server device, that is, the service location is provided to a client device (not shown) in the same network.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that constitute the service location search system according to the present embodiment. The multi-function devices 20 and 40 in the present embodiment have a function of providing at least one of a copy service, a print service, a facsimile service, a scan service, and a mail service. However, for the description of the present embodiment, the multi-function device 20 has at least a copy service or a print service for printing out service position information, which will be described later, on a medium called paper, while the multi-function device 40 is used as a medium. It is assumed that it has at least a scan service for reading printed service location information and the like.

  Further, each of the multifunction devices 20 and 40 corresponds to a server device and is equipped with a function for operating as a service location search device. Among these, a functional block for operating as a server device according to the present invention is illustrated in the multifunction device 40 for the multifunction device 20 to operate as a service location search device according to the present invention.

  First, the MFP 20 includes a service location search function processing unit 21 that causes the MFP 20 to operate with a service location search device, a storage unit 22 that stores properties including its service location, and a service location search function processing unit 21. The printing unit 23 prints out the service position information on a sheet by a print service or the like according to the instruction. The storage unit 22 is realized by an external storage device, and the printing unit 23 is realized by a printer mechanism of a multifunction machine.

  The service location search function processing unit 21 is a component for causing the MFP 20 to operate with the service location search device, and a service location information storage unit 24 that stores the location (service location) of a server device that provides a network service; In addition, the present embodiment has a characteristic connection possibility determination processing unit 25. The connectability determination processing unit 25 includes a generation unit 26, a reception unit 27, a determination unit 28, a permission reply unit 29, and a registration unit 30. The generation unit 26 generates service location information including its own service location and specific information. The receiving unit 27 receives a connection request (connection request) including the service location information of the multifunction device 20 and the service location of the multifunction device 40 transmitted from the multifunction device 40. The multi-function device 40 transmits a connection inquiry upon reading the service location information printed by the printing unit 23. The determination unit 28 determines whether the connection with the multi-function device 40 is possible by comparing the service location information included in the connection request with the information stored in the storage unit 22. The permission reply unit 29 returns a connection permission to the multi-function device 40 when the determination unit 28 determines that the connection is possible. The registration unit 30 registers the service location of the connectable multifunction device 40 in the service location information storage unit 24.

  On the other hand, the multi-function device 40 includes a service position search function processing unit 41 that causes the multi-function device 40 to operate as a service position search device, a storage unit 42 that stores properties including its own service position, and a multi-function device 40 through a scan service by user operation. The service position search apparatus 43 reads the service position information from the paper set in the printer and the service position search apparatus (multifunction machine 20) characteristic in the present embodiment and performs the process described later, thereby providing the service position search apparatus with its own service. A connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 that notifies the position is provided. The storage unit 42 is realized by an external storage device, and the reading unit 43 is realized by a scanner mechanism of a multifunction machine. The service location search function processing unit 41 mounted on the multi-function device 40 that operates as a server device only needs to have the same processing function as the conventional example, and includes a service location information storage unit 45. The connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 includes a transmission unit 46, a reception unit 47, and a registration unit 48. The transmission unit 46 is a service location search device (multifunction device 20) identified by the service location information for a connection inquiry (connection request) including the service location information input by the reading operation by the reading unit 43 and its own service location. Send to. The receiving unit 47 receives the connection permission returned in response to the connection request from the MFP 20 that has made the connection request. The registration unit 48 registers the service location of the multifunction machine 20 in the service location information storage unit 45 according to the returned connection permission.

  In FIG. 2, each functional process provided by the components other than the storage units 22, 24, 42, 45 is realized by executing a predetermined application program by the CPU mounted on each multifunction device 20, 40. In FIG. 2, the characteristic components as the service location search apparatus in the present embodiment are illustrated in the multifunction device 20, and the characteristic components as the server device in the present embodiment are illustrated in the multifunction device 40. You may make it mount both functions in each multifunction device 20 and 40. FIG.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, the generation unit 26 in the multifunction device 20 that expects to collect the service position acquires the network address of the multifunction device 20 from the storage unit 22 by retrieving it (step 101). The network address may be acquired by a command prepared in the operating system (OS). For example, in the case of a Windows (registered trademark) OS, an ipconfig command is used, and in the case of Unix (registered trademark) / Linux, an ifconfig command is used. Further, the generation unit 26 generates specific information (step 102).

The specific information is data with which it is possible to confirm that the service location information advertised to the outside is generated and issued by the connectability determination processing unit 25 in the multifunction device 20. The generation unit 26 forms the specific information with, for example, a character string unique to the connectability determination processing unit 25 and a ciphertext obtained by encrypting the character string with a secret key unique to the connectability determination processing unit 25. Commonly used algorithms such as DES, triple DES, and AES can be used as the common key encryption method. For example, an encryptObject function provided by J2SE (Java (registered trademark) 2 Platform Standard Edition) or a function provided by opensl distributed freely (DES encryption) can be used. plain. When encrypting txt with DES and outputting to cryptod, at the command prompt of the UNIX (registered trademark) machine where opensl is installed,
% openssl enc -e -des -in plain.txt -out crypted
And For example, if the value obtained by encrypting the machine ID of the multifunction machine 20 with the common key A is specified information, the specified information cannot be decrypted without the common key A, and therefore cannot be altered except by the multifunction machine 20.

  As described above, when the generation unit 26 of the connectability determination processing unit 25 generates the service location information including the network address indicating the service location and the specific information, the information is sent to the printing unit 23.

  When the printing unit 23 receives a raster image sent as data to be printed and prints it, the service location information sent from the generating unit 26 is added to the raster image, that is, a network address and specific information are added. Printing is performed (step 103). If the printing target is paper, the printing unit 23 inputs a raster image sent from a scanner mechanism portion (not shown) of the multifunction device 20. Alternatively, if it is an output file of a document creation application such as Microsoft's Word, it is converted into a raster image by the rasterizing function of the printing unit 23. The network address and the specific information are numerical values. Therefore, the printing unit 23 converts the numbers indicating these numerical values into a raster image or encodes it into a raster image such as a barcode, adds it to the raster image, and prints it on the paper 16. FIG. 6 shows an example of printing. The location for printing the image indicating the network address is determined in advance. In this example, the barcode 16a indicating the service position information is printed on the upper right, but the printing location on the paper is arbitrary.

  The printed paper 16 is distributed to various places according to the purpose of use of the user (issuer of the paper 16). In the case of the approval document illustrated in FIG. 6, it is distributed to the general affairs in accordance with the circulation order.

  In FIG. 4, the distributed paper 16 is read by the reading unit 43 in the multi-function device 40 installed in the general affairs (step 201). The connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 extracts service position information printed on a predetermined position of the raster image read by the reading unit 43, that is, on the upper right of the paper 16. Then, the network address and specific information are extracted from the raster image by barcode decoding or character recognition (step 202).

  Then, the connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 confirms whether or not the extracted network address is within the connectable range preset by the administrator or the like (step 203). Note that the network address of a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol is composed of a combination of a subnet number and a host number. Therefore, the administrator presets a list of subnet numbers permitted to be connected as shown in FIG. 7 as a connectable range. Accordingly, the connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 checks whether the received service location, that is, the network number of the network address exists in the list illustrated in FIG. If it exists, it is determined that it is within the connectable range, and the transmission unit 46 transmits a connection request as a connection request to the multi-function device 20 (step 204). The connection request includes the connection request, the network address and specific information read from the paper 16, and the own network address read from the storage unit 42. It is assumed that the network address read from the paper 16 is designated as a connection inquiry destination. Accordingly, if any fraud is performed, the connection destination is not always the MFP 20 correctly.

  The transmission unit 46 performs inter-computer packet communication. The packet communication can be realized by standard protocols Ethernet (registered trademark), TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and the like. The transmission unit 46 assembles various data into protocol messages and transfers them transparently.

  On the other hand, if the received service location does not exist in the list illustrated in FIG. 7, the connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 determines that the service location is out of the connectable range, and ends the processing in the multifunction device 40. To do. The determination result in the multifunction device 40 is not notified to the multifunction device 20.

  In FIG. 5, when the reception unit 27 in the connection possibility determination processing unit 25 receives a connection request from the multifunction device 40 (step 111), the determination unit 28 determines whether the connection to the multifunction device 40 is possible or not as follows. .

  First, the determination unit 28 checks whether or not the network address of the multi-function device 40 that is a connection inquiry source is within a connectable range preset by an administrator or the like (step 112). The connectable range used here is set in advance as a connectable range by a list of subnet numbers that the administrator permits to connect, as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the determination unit 28 checks whether the network number of the received network address exists in the list illustrated in FIG. If it does not exist, it is determined that the multi-function device 40 is outside the connectable range. Thereby, the connection possibility determination processing unit 25 ends the process. That is not notified to the multi-function device 40 that issued the connection request. On the other hand, if it exists, it is determined that it is in the connectable range, and then the specific information included in the connection inquiry is checked (step 113).

That is, the determination unit 28 decrypts the received specific information with the common key A, and determines that it is the specific information of itself when the decryption result matches the machine ID of the multifunction device 20. That is, it can be confirmed that the multifunction device 40 that sent the connection request scanned the paper 16 output from the multifunction device 20 and obtained the specific information. For example, the encrypted text encrypted with DES is changed to plain. When outputting to txt, at the command prompt of the UNIX (registered trademark) machine where opensl is installed,
% openssl enc -d -des -in crypted -out plain.txt.decoded
And On the other hand, if the decryption result does not match the machine ID of the multifunction device 20, it is determined that the specific information has not been acquired from the paper 16 output by the multifunction device 20. Thereby, the connection possibility determination processing unit 25 ends the process. That is not notified to the multi-function device 40 that issued the connection request.

  As described above, when it is determined that the connection with the multifunction device 40 that has issued the connection request can be permitted, the permission reply unit 39 returns a “connection permission response” to the multifunction device 40 (step 114), and the registration unit 30. Thus, the network address of the multi-function device 40 that issued the “connection inquiry” is registered in the service location information storage unit 24 (step 115).

  In FIG. 4, in the multi-function device 40 that is waiting for a reply after sending the connection request, the connection destination confirmation processing unit receives the “connection permission response” transmitted from the multi-function device 20 by the receiving unit 47 (step 205). The registration unit 30 registers the network address of the MFP 20 that has issued the “connection permission response” in the service location information storage unit 45 (step 206). If the “connection permission response” such as a timeout cannot be received normally, the network address of the multifunction device 20 is discarded.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the service position is determined between the multifunction device 20 having a processing function characteristic as a service position search device and the multifunction device 40 having a processing function characteristic as a server device. As a result of the exchange, the network address of the multifunction device 40 is registered in the multifunction device 20, and the network address of the multifunction device 20 is registered in the multifunction device 40. Will be completed.

  More specifically, the multi-function device 40 reads the paper 16 output from the multi-function device 20, acquires the service position of the multi-function device 20 from the read raster image data, and asks for connection to the multi-function device 20. . As a result, the multi-function device 20 serving as the service position search device can search for the service position of the multi-function device 40 serving as the server device. If the multi-function device 40 is merely a server device and is not equipped with a function as a service location search device, the processing may be terminated at this point. This is because the multifunction device 20 that is a service location search device can obtain the service position of the multifunction device 40 that is a server device. On the other hand, the multi-function device 40 that is not a service location search device does not hold and manage the service location of other server devices.

  Here, when the multifunction device 40 is equipped with a function as a service location search device, a “connection permission response” is returned as described above. Of course, the multi-function device 40 acquires the service position of the multi-function device 20 at the time of reading the paper 16, but by receiving the “connection permission response”, the service position of the multi-function device 20 recorded on the paper 16 is obtained. Validity can be confirmed. In this way, the MFPs 20 and 40, which are service location search devices, mutually complete the service location search process.

  When the MFP 20 and the MFP 40 are in the positional relationship between the service location search device 1 and the service location search device 11 shown in FIG. 1, network communication is blocked by the network relay device such as the firewalls 4 and 14. , It will be outside the service detection area that is the reachable range of each simultaneous broadcast communication. For this reason, conventionally, it has been impossible to exchange network addresses via the wide area network 15. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is possible to notify the multifunction device 40 that is outside the service detection area of the network address of the multifunction device 20 via the medium of paper 16 output from the multifunction device 20.

  The approval document shown in FIG. 6 is read by the multi-function device 40 installed in the general affairs department. This reading operation by the user is read for processing related to the request, and is not for notifying the multifunction device 20 of the service position of itself (the multifunction device 40). However, taking advantage of the original target process (request reading process) performed by the user, the multi-function device 40 reads the service location information through a process automatically executed internally, and the multi-function device 20 Service locations can be exchanged with each other. As described above, in this embodiment, the user is not forced to perform a special operation for searching for the service position. In the present embodiment, as long as the multi-function device 40 reads the paper 16 to which the service position information is added, the multi-function device 20 automatically sets the service position of the multi-function device 40 from which the paper 16 has been read. It will be possible to search reliably.

  The approval document shown in FIG. 6 is read by the multi-function device 40 installed in the general affairs department, and after approval, it is sent to the legal department in accordance with the circulation order. If the multifunction device 20 is read by a multifunction device installed in the Legal Department, the multifunction device 20 receives a connection request from the multifunction device installed in the Legal Department in the same manner as described above. The position can be acquired. By repeatedly reading the approval document, the multi-function device 20 searches for the service position of the server device installed at a position beyond the service detection area regardless of the network connection form with other multi-function devices. Can do.

  In the above description, since the approval document is an example of the paper 16, the service position can be acquired only by one server device according to the circulation order. If the paper 16 is read by the machine, the service positions of a large number of server devices can be searched.

  In the above description, the MFPs 20 and 40 compare the network address and the subnet number list to check whether they are within the connectable range. The contents of a list need not always be the same. Further, the connectable range may not be specified.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the service location of the server apparatus is searched using the print service, copy service, or scan service of the multifunction peripheral. In this embodiment, a form in which a service position of a server apparatus is searched using a FAX service is shown.

  FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that constitute the service location search system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The multi-function device 20 according to the present embodiment has a facsimile function instead of a printing unit necessary for providing a copy service or a print service, and a FAX transmission unit 31 necessary for providing a FAX service. ing. On the other hand, the multi-function device 40 has a facsimile function instead of a reading unit necessary for providing a scanning service, and has a FAX receiving unit 49 necessary for providing a FAX service. Each of the MFPs 20 and 40 has a FAX reception unit and a FAX transmission unit in providing a FAX service, but is omitted in the description here because it is unnecessary.

  Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described. The basic operation and the flow of processing are the same as those in the first embodiment. In other words, the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the method in which the multifunction device 20 passes service location information to the multifunction device 40 uses the FAX service. Therefore, in the following description, differences will be described unless otherwise specified.

  In the process in which the multi-function device 20 outputs the service location information, only step 103 in FIG. 3 is different. That is, when the generation unit 26 generates service position information in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the FAX transmission unit 31 receives a raster image and transmits the raster image to the raster image when the FAX transmission is performed. A FAX image is generated by adding service location information, that is, a network address and specific information. Then, FAX transmission is performed via a telephone line in accordance with a communication procedure defined by the FAX communication standard. Note that the network address and the specific information are numerical values. Therefore, the FAX transmission unit 31 converts the numbers indicating these numerical values into a raster image or encodes it into a raster image such as a barcode and adds it to the raster image. The position to which the service position information image is added is set in advance. Here, it is set to the upper right as in the first embodiment.

  In the multi-function device 40, the FAX receiving unit 49 receives a raster image received according to a communication procedure defined by a communication standard. The connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 extracts service position information located at a predetermined position of the raster image received by the FAX receiving unit 49, that is, at the upper right of the image. Since the subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the FAX service is used, service location searches can be performed mutually, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the service location of the server apparatus is searched using the print service, copy service, or scan service of the multifunction peripheral. In the present embodiment, a form in which a service position of a server device is searched using a scan-to-mail service and a direct print service is shown.

  FIG. 9 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that constitute the service location search system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The multi-function device 20 according to the present embodiment has a scan-to-mail function in which a scan function and an e-mail function are combined, instead of a printing unit necessary for providing a copy service or a print service. A scan-to-mail transmission unit 32 necessary for providing the message. On the other hand, the multifunction device 40 has a direct print function for printing received mail instead of a reading unit necessary for providing a scan service, and a direct print unit 50 necessary for providing a direct print service. is doing.

  FIG. 9 shows a mobile phone 60 as an information device that receives outgoing mail from the multifunction device 20. The cellular phone 60 includes a mail receiving unit 61 that receives an e-mail and a mail transfer unit 62 that transfers the received mail. The information device may be a device having an electronic mail function, and may be a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), or the like.

  Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described. The basic operation and the flow of processing are the same as those in the first embodiment. That is, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the method in which the multifunction device 20 passes the service location information to the multifunction device 40 is different from the first embodiment, and is otherwise the same. Therefore, in the following description, differences will be described unless otherwise specified.

  In the process in which the multi-function device 20 outputs the service location information, only step 103 in FIG. 3 is different. That is, when the generation unit 26 generates service position information in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the scan-to-mail transmission unit 32 receives a raster image obtained by scanning, and is sent from the generation unit 26 to the raster image. Service location information, that is, a network address and specific information are added. Then, after attaching the raster image to which the service position information is added to the e-mail, the e-mail is transmitted to the mobile phone 60 designated as the destination. Note that the network address and the specific information are numerical values. Therefore, the scan-to-mail transmission unit 32 converts the numbers indicating these numerical values into a raster image or encodes it into a raster image such as a barcode and adds it to the raster image. The position to which the service position information image is added is set in advance. Here, it is set to the upper right as in the first embodiment.

  When the cellular phone 60 receives the electronic mail transmitted from the multifunction device 20 by the mail receiving unit 61, the cellular phone 60 transfers the received mail together with the attached file to the multifunction device 40 by the mail transfer unit 62.

  In the multi-function device 40, the direct print unit 50 extracts an attached file (raster image) from the transferred e-mail, and the connection destination confirmation processing unit 44 determines the raster image sent by the direct print unit 50 in advance. The service position information located at the predetermined position, that is, the upper right of the image is extracted. Since the subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the FAX service is used, service location searches can be performed mutually, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multi-function device has been described as an example of the server device or the service location search device. In each embodiment, the form using each service has been described separately. However, since the multi-function peripheral can provide a plurality of services such as a print service and a facsimile service, the printing unit 23 and the FAX transmission unit provided as output means. 31 and the scan-to-mail transmission unit 32 are all mounted on the multi-function device 20, and the reading unit 43, the FAX receiving unit 49, and the direct print unit 50 provided as input means are all mounted on the multi-function device 40. . And it will be selectively used by the user.

  Moreover, the structure shown in each embodiment is an example, and this invention is not limited by the said structure example. For example, the process for adding the service position information to the raster image may be performed by the connectability determination processing unit 25 instead of the output unit such as the printing unit 23. Further, the process of extracting the service position information from the raster image may be performed by an input unit such as the reading unit 43 instead of the connection destination confirmation processing unit 44.

It is the network block diagram which showed one Embodiment of the service location search system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that constitute the service location search system according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for outputting service location information for service location search in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for inputting service location information and searching for a service location in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing after service location information is output for service location search in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents of a sheet output in Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a subnet number list preset as a connectable range in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that configure a service location search system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram of two multifunction peripherals that configure a service location search system according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1,11 Service location search device, 2,12 network, 3,13 server device, 4,14 firewall, 15 wide area network, 16 sheets, 16a barcode, 20, 40 MFP, 21,41 service location search function processing unit , 22, 42 storage unit, 23 printing unit, 24, 45 service location information storage unit, 25 connection possibility determination processing unit, 26 generation unit, 27, 47 reception unit, 28 determination unit, 29 permission reply unit, 30, 48 registration Unit, 31 FAX transmission unit, 32 Scan to mail transmission unit, 39 Permit reply unit, 43 Reading unit, 44 Connection destination confirmation processing unit, 46 Transmission unit, 49 FAX reception unit, 50 Direct print unit, 60 Mobile phone, 61 Mail Receiving part, 62 mail forwarding part.

Claims (17)

In a service location search device that searches for a service location of a server device that provides a network service,
Storage means for storing information about the self-device including at least its own service location;
Generating means for generating service location information including its own service location;
Output means for outputting service location information generated by the generating means;
Receiving means for receiving a connection request that is transmitted from the server device that has received the service location information output by the output means and includes at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device;
A determination unit that determines whether or not connection to the server device is possible by comparing service location information included in the connection request received by the reception unit with information stored in the storage unit;
Service location registration means for registering the service location of the server device when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determination means;
A service location search apparatus characterized by comprising: The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
The generating means includes, in the service location information, specific information that proves that the service location information is issued by itself,
The determining means verifies the specific information included in the connection request received by the receiving means with the specific information stored in the storage means, so that the received specific information is self-issued. A service location searching apparatus that determines that connection with the server apparatus is possible only when authentication is successful. The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
A service location searching apparatus comprising permission return means for returning connection permission to the server apparatus when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determination means. The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
The determination means can confirm that the server apparatus is included in a connection permission range set in advance by the server apparatus based on a service position of the server apparatus included in the connection request received by the receiving means. A service location search apparatus that judges that connection with the server apparatus is possible only in the case of The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
The service location search apparatus, wherein the output means has a print function for outputting service location information on a medium. The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
The service location searching apparatus characterized in that the output means has a facsimile transmission function for outputting service location information as electronic data. The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
The service location search apparatus, wherein the output means has an e-mail transmission function for transmitting service location information as an e-mail. The service location search apparatus according to claim 1,
A service location search apparatus, which is a multi-function peripheral that provides at least one of a copy service, a print service, a facsimile service, a scan service, or a mail service. In a server device that provides a network service,
Input means for inputting service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device;
Transmitting means for transmitting a connection request including at least the input service location information and its own service location to a service location search device specified by the service location information;
The server apparatus characterized by having. The server device according to claim 9, wherein
A server device comprising service location registration means for registering a service location of the service location search device when a connection permission is transmitted from a service location search device as a connection request transmission destination. The server device according to claim 9, wherein
The transmission means only when it can be confirmed that the service location of the service location search device included in the service location information input by the input means is included within a preset connection permission range. A server device that transmits a connection request. The server device according to claim 1,
The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit includes a reading unit that reads service location information printed on a medium. The server device according to claim 1,
The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input means has a facsimile reception function for receiving service location information converted into electronic data. The server device according to claim 1,
The server device characterized in that the input means has an e-mail receiving function for receiving an e-mail including service location information. A server device for providing a network service;
A service location search device for searching for a service location of the server device;
In a service location search system having
The service location search apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing information about the self-device including at least its own service location;
Generating means for generating service location information including its own service location;
Output means for outputting service location information generated by the generating means;
Receiving means for receiving a connection request that is transmitted from the server device that has received the service location information output by the output means and includes at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device;
A determination unit that determines whether or not connection to the server device is possible by comparing service location information included in the connection request received by the reception unit with information stored in the storage unit;
Service location registration means for registering the service location of the server device when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determination means;
Have
The server device
Input means for inputting service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device;
Transmitting means for transmitting a connection request including at least the input service location information and its own service location to a service location search device specified by the service location information;
A service location search system comprising: A computer equipped with a service location search function for searching a service location of a server device that provides a network service,
Storage means for storing information about the self-device including at least its own service location;
Generating means for generating service location information including its own service location;
Output means for outputting service location information generated by the generating means;
Receiving means for receiving a connection request that is transmitted from the server device that has received the service location information output by the output means and includes at least the input service location information and the service location of the server device;
A determination unit that determines whether or not connection to the server device is possible by comparing service location information included in the connection request received by the reception unit with information stored in the storage unit;
Service location registration means for registering the service location of the server device when it is determined that the connection is possible by the determination means;
Program to make it function. A server computer that provides network services
Input means for inputting service location information including at least the service location of the service location search device;
Transmitting means for transmitting a connection request including at least the input service location information and its own service location to a service location search device specified by the service location information;
Program to make it function.

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