JP2007018029A - Network device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network device providing various kinds of equipment management information at low cost while improving safety. <P>SOLUTION: This network device 100 registers an another XML format-converting XSLT file converting equipment management information of an XML format into another XML format different from an HTML format in an XSLT management server 300, performs XSLT processing to convert the equipment management information of the XML format into the other XML format by use of the another XML format-converting XSLT file acquired from the XSLT management server 300, and outputs it to personal computers 200a-200n. Accordingly, by updating only the XSLT file of the XSLT management server 300 without updating software of the network device 100 itself, a latest state can be maintained as the whole software. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device, and more particularly to a network device that provides various device management information at low cost while improving safety.

  Various devices have user interface functions that are unique to each device. In particular, office devices such as printers, facsimile machines, and copying machines emit light such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays). It has a user interface function attached to the device consisting of elements, various types of operation buttons and changeover switches, etc., and is equipped with a Web (World Wide Web) access mechanism inside the device, and is enhanced using Web technology A device having an extended user interface function has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  The user interface function using the Web technology is realized by using a processor, a memory, an input / output circuit, and the like that are already provided in the device, and therefore does not require extra cost and space necessary for the Web server function. There is.

  Recently, specifications of XML (eXtensible [eXtended] Markup Language) format called RDF (Resource Description Framework) and RSS (RDF Site Summary) using Web technology have been established and widely used. It has been published. These XML format specifications are mechanisms for describing information as metadata, and are attracting attention as a means for providing all of the information held by the device itself or the external device or an overview of the information to the outside. Yes.

  Conventionally, the first conversion information for converting the file format of the acquired content when the output data is generated by performing predetermined processing on the content including the content data and the regulation information that defines the output mode. And a data generation device that generates second conversion information based on content definition information and generates output data based on content content data and second conversion information (see Patent Document 2). .

  This conventional technique includes substantial content data to be displayed and regulation information that is layout information for specifying a display mode, and the regulation information is important for effective display. It is merely additional information, and the output data corresponding to the output device is generated while reducing the burden of preparing the regulation information as such additional information and the burden of associating the contents with each description language. It is an object.

JP-A-10-149270 JP 2002-31280 A

  However, in the above prior art, device management information for managing devices such as device status and operation log is converted into the latest XML format by cheap, safe and efficient conversion to external output. There was a need for improvement.

  In other words, the XML format technology is relatively new, and currently a format called RSS 1.0 is prevalent, but promising new formats such as Atom are also appearing one after another. In such a situation, software that runs on a personal computer is relatively easy to cope with a modification to an existing XML format or to follow a new format. In order to revise the software stored and incorporated in a storage medium such as a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) of the device, the entire software is updated at once, or updated for each software module divided into several parts. Although measures are often taken, it is usually difficult to revise software embedded in such devices. For example, devices such as office devices have a function of providing RSS or the like. However, there was a risk of becoming obsolete within months to years.

  The software for converting to the XML format has a size ranging from several hundred kilobytes to several megabytes, whereas the XSLT file is about several tens of kilobytes at most. It is wasteful to update to other unrelated modules at the same time just for updating. In addition, when a trouble such as the power being turned off during software update occurs, there is a risk that the flash ROM will be inconsistent and the device will not be able to operate again.

  In view of this, the present invention provides device management information for managing devices such as device status and operation log even when correction / change of the XSLT file occurs, in the latest XML format. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network device that converts the file format to an external output.

  The network device according to claim 1 is connected to a predetermined network, generates device management information for device management in an XML format, and uses an XSLT file that converts the device management information in the XML format into an HTML format. One type of network device that performs XSLT processing to convert to an HTML format for a Web browser and externally outputs the device management information in the XML format to another XML format different from the HTML format The other XML format format conversion XSLT file is registered in the external device, the other XML format format conversion XSLT file is acquired from the external device, and the device management information in the XML format is acquired. XSLT using XSLT file for XML format conversion By externally outputs the converted format of the other XML format performed Rosesshingu have achieved the above objects.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the network device receives the device management information in response to an acquisition request for the device management information that specifies an XML format from a client terminal on the network. The format is converted into the specified XML format and output to the client terminal, and the format of the specified XML format is a format using the other XML format format conversion XSLT file registered in the external device. If there is, the other XML format format conversion XSLT file is acquired from the external device, the XSLT processing is executed and converted into the specified XML format, and the converted device management information is output to the client terminal. You may do.

  For example, as described in claim 3, the external device is a server device on the network, and the other XML format format conversion XSLT file is stored in the client terminal of the server device. It may be registered in the area.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the external device is an XSLT file management server device on the network, and the XSLT file management server device is a server provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the server device. It may be a server device on which software operates.

  For example, as described in claim 5, the external device is a Web server device on the network, and the network device uses the protocol on a TCP / IP network such as HTTP or FTP. The other XML format format conversion XSLT file may be acquired from the server device.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, the external device is a file sharing server device on which a general-purpose operation system operates, and the network device is a protocol for realizing file sharing on the general-purpose operation such as SMB. The other XML format format conversion XSLT file may be acquired from the file sharing server device using the.

  According to the network device of the present invention, one or more types of other XML format format conversion XSLT files for converting the XML format device management information into another XML format different from the HTML format are registered in the external device, Since the device management information in the XML format is converted to the other XML format by performing XSLT processing using the other XML format format conversion XSLT file acquired from the external device, it is frequently corrected. By registering the XML format format conversion XSLT file for conversion to the XML format, such as RSS, which may be changed, in the external device, the software of the external device can be updated without updating the software of the network device itself. By updating only the XSLT file, the software Date can be maintained as a body, inexpensive and safe and efficient transformation and provide to the latest XML format format, thereby improving the usability.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 8 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a network device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system 1 to which an embodiment of the network device of the present invention is applied.

  1, a network system 1 includes a network device 100 and a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 200a to 200n as client terminals used by users who use the network device 100 and an XSLT management server 300 as an external device (FIG. 3). Are connected via a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network) line.

  The network device 100 includes a processor 101, a work memory 102, hardware unique to the network device 100 (hereinafter referred to as device-specific hardware) 104, an input / output circuit 105, a mass storage device 106, and the like. A network NW is connected to 105.

  The processor 101 controls various parts of the network device 100 by using the work memory 102 for various information necessary during the operation, and executes basic processing as the network device 100 and also executes device management information provision processing described later. To do.

  The work memory 102 is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores various information necessary during the operation process of the processor 101.

  The storage device 103 uses a rewritable flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like, and the large-capacity storage device 106 uses a large-capacity hard disk or the like. The storage device 103 stores various programs (software) such as a basic program of the network device 100, a device management information control program to be described later, and various information necessary for executing these various programs, and these programs and various information. May be stored in the mass storage device 106. A plurality of programs stored in the storage device 103 or the large-capacity storage device 106 can be individually updated.

  The device-specific hardware 104 is a variety of hardware necessary for executing operations unique to the network device 100, for example, the network device 100 has a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function. When it is a composite apparatus, it is equipped with hardware necessary for executing these various functions, for example, a facsimile communication unit, a printer unit, a scanner unit, and the like.

  The input / output circuit 105 is connected to various external devices, lines, and network NW, and directly communicates with the external devices, and also communicates with a partner device via the line and network NW, and transmits various signals and data. Give and receive. In particular, the input / output circuit 105 is connected to a network NW to which personal computers 200a to 200n, which are client personal computers used by users who use the network device 100, are connected. By operating the network device 200n, the network device 100 can be used by exchanging information with the network device 100 via the network NW and the input / output circuit 105.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the network device 100 includes software 110 and the hardware 120. The software 110 is an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark) or Windows (registered trademark). ..) And the service layer 130, the application layer 140, and the XSLT processor 130 that do not belong to the service layer 130 and the application layer 140.

  The service layer 130 includes service modules such as a system service 131, an engine service 132, a memory service 133, a fax service 134, and a network service 135.

  The application layer 220 includes a program that performs processing unique to each user service related to composite processing such as copying, printer, fax (FAX), scanner, and Web, and is a copy application (hereinafter referred to as an application). This is simply referred to as an application as necessary.) 141, a printer application 142 that is a printer application, a fax application 143 that is a fax application, a Web application 144, and the like.

  The copy application 141 is an application for realizing a copy function, and the printer application 142 is an application for realizing a printer function. The fax application 143 is an application for realizing a fax function. The Web application 144 is a client of the network device 1 that is a client such as a Web browser, a SOAP client software, or an RSS reader from its own personal computers 200a to 200n. This is an application that realizes an interface function in HTML or XML format so that the network device 1 can be managed using software.

  The services such as the system service 131, the engine service 132, the memory service 133, the fax service 134, and the network service 135 manage the hardware 120 and provide functions to the applications 141 to 144, respectively. The system service 131 manages the entire network device 100 (including the operation panel), and the engine service 132 manages the image reading unit (scanner) and the image output unit (plotter) of the network device 100. The memory service 133 manages the storage device 103 and the mass storage device 106, and the fax service 134 manages the facsimile communication unit. The network service 135 manages the input / output circuit 105.

  Each of the copy application 141, the printer application 142, and the fax application 143 uses the function of the hardware 120 via each service, and provides the user with a user interface on the operation panel of the network device 1. The Web application 144 uses the function of the hardware 120 via each service, and uses software for operating on the personal computers 200a to 200n that are client terminals on the network NW via the XSLT processor 150 and the network service 135. It provides device management information such as device status such as toner remaining amount and error information, operation log such as printer job history and fax communication history.

  The XSLT processor 150 has a function of converting the XML format by multiplying the XML data to be processed by the XSLT file, and the XML data output from the Web application 144 and the XSLT stored in the network device 100 in advance. A file or an XSLT file acquired from the XSLT management server 300 described later is multiplied and converted into data in an HTML format or XML format format requested by the user.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The network device 1 according to the present embodiment provides device management information of the network device 100 in a format according to a user request in response to a request from a user of the personal computers 200a to 200n on the network NW.

  If there is a request for requesting device management information from the personal computer 200a on the network NW, which is a client terminal, in the network device 100, the network device 100 converts it into data in the format requested by the request in response to the request. To provide device management information.

  That is, FIG. 3 shows a case where the network apparatus 100 receives a request for requesting device management information from the personal computer 200a which is a client terminal (displayed as client PC in FIG. 3) and returns a response to the personal computer 200a. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing. In FIG. 3, a solid line arrow indicates a basic flow when the Web application 144 receives a request from the personal computer 200 a that is a client terminal and returns a response, and a broken line arrow is designated by the XSLT processor 150. The flow when the obtained XSLT file is acquired from the XSLT file management server device 400 and stored in the temporary storage area is shown. And the processing flow in the network apparatus 100 at this time is shown in FIG.

  3 and 4, when there is a request from the personal computer 200a, the web application 144 receives the request via the network service 135, and the web application 144 receives necessary information (device management information) from the service layer 130. To generate XML format data and pass it to the XSLT processor 150. At this time, the Web application 144 analyzes the format type of the request data included in the request from the personal computer 200a, and performs the XSLT processing using the XSLT file corresponding to the format type. 150 is instructed.

  The XSLT processor 150 downloads and acquires the designated XSLT file from the XSLT file management server device 400 through the network service 135 (step S101), and uses the storage device 103 or the mass storage device 106 as a temporary storage area, Save in the storage area (step S102).

  Here, although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the XSLT file management server apparatus 400 is connected to the network NW, and is a manufacturer or distributor (hereinafter referred to as a provider) of the XSLT file management server apparatus 400. ) Provides dedicated server software (hereinafter referred to as dedicated server software), a server device dedicated to XSLT file management, and communicates using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol) It may be a general Web server device that can be used, or a file sharing server device such as a personal computer having a file sharing server function operating on an OS such as a normal Windows (registered trademark). Only one XSLT file management server device 400 used by the network device 100 may be set as the network device 100 as a whole, or the XML format provided by the network device 100 such as the system status and printer job history. May be set separately depending on the type of data and the type of XML format such as RSS 0.9 or RSS 1.0. The XSLT reference destination setting screen of the network device 100 in the latter case can be shown, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, and the user is provided by the provider of the network device 100 when using dedicated server software. It is necessary to acquire the XSLT file to be registered and register it in the dedicated server software. Here, as a method of providing the XSLT file by the provider of the network device 100, a method such as distribution of a storage medium such as a Web server or a CD-ROM can be used. When the XSLT file is updated, the network device The provider of 100 notifies the user that the XSLT file has been updated, or distributes a CD-ROM or the like.

  The XSLT file registration screen in the dedicated server software can be shown, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, when each reference button is pressed, the contents are stored in a folder of a server device such as a user's personal computer. A dialog window for selecting a file is displayed, and the acquired XSLT file can be designated and registered. When using a Web server device or a file sharing server device such as an HTTP server or an FTP server instead of the dedicated server software, the user registers the acquired XSLT file in an appropriate folder of the server device to be used. In the XSLT reference destination setting screen shown, the name, folder path, etc. of the server device in which the XSLT file is registered are set.

  3 and 4 again, the network device 100 is device management information output from the Web application 144 using the XSLT file after the XSLT processor 150 downloads the XSLT file and stores it in the temporary storage area. A network service that performs multiplication with XML data, that is, performs XSLT processing (step S103), generates XML format data in response to a request from the personal computer 200a, and transmits it as response data to the personal computer 200a. 135 is instructed.

  Here, as described above, as the temporary storage area, the storage area of the storage device 103 or the large-capacity storage device 106 configured by a RAM or the like as a volatile storage device can be used, and the XSLT processor 150 uses the XSLT processing. When is finished, the XSLT file stored in the temporary storage area is deleted.

  When the network device 100 receives a request for requesting device management information in the XML format from the personal computer 200a and returns a response to the personal computer 200a, the Web application 144 and the XSLT processor 150 are shown in FIG. As shown in the flowchart, the processing operation is performed.

  When the Web application 144 receives a request for requesting device management information from the personal computer 200a, the Web application 144 generates information (device management information) necessary for responding to the request as XML format data in a unique format (step S201). ). The data in the XML format may be a unique XML format as described above, or may be some generally known format.

  Next, the web application 144 analyzes the type of the format of the request data included in the request from the personal computer 200a, and determines whether the format is the HTML format for the web browser, the RSS 0.9 format, or RSS1. .0 format, Atom format, or any other format other than the format supported by the Web application 144 is checked (step S202). The format type may be, for example, a format described in a part of the path of a request URI (Uniform Resource Identifer) as shown in FIG. 8 or an HTTP method argument such as GET or POST. It may be in a format.

  As a result of the format analysis in step S202, if the format of the request data is the HTML format for the web browser, the web application 144 sends a web page XSLT file (an XSLT file to be converted into the HTML format) to the XSLT processor 150. And instruct to perform XSLT processing (step S203). The Web page XSLT file used at this time is stored in the storage device 103 constituted by a flash ROM or the like mounted in the network device 100, unlike the case of generating XML format data to be described later. Therefore, it is not acquired from the XSLT file management server 300 outside the network device 100. In other words, the Web page format is different from the XML format such as RSS, so it usually does not need to be updated, and it is expressed in a complex table format etc. in the HTML format, so the XSLT file size is compared. This is because it is not realistic because of the problem of communication volume and communication delay.

  As a result of the format analysis in step S202, if the format requested from the personal computer 200a is the RSS 0.9 format, the Web application 144 obtains an RSS 0.9 XSLT file (an XML format format conversion XSLT file). The XSLT processor 150 is instructed to use the XSLT processing (step S204). The instructed XSLT processor downloads the XSLT file for RSS 0.9 from the XSLT file management server 300 in accordance with the setting of the network device 1 and saves it in the temporary storage area. The saved XSLT file is an XSLT file for conversion to another XML format format. XSLT processing is performed using the 9 XSLT file.

  As a result of the format analysis in step S202, if the format requested from the personal computer 200a is the RSS 1.0 format, the Web application 144 sends an RSS 1.0 XSLT file (an XML format format conversion XSLT file). The XSLT processor 150 is instructed to use the XSLT processing (step S205). If the format requested from the personal computer 200a is the Atom format, the XSLT file for the Atom (other XML format conversion) The XSLT processor 150 is instructed to perform XSLT processing using the XSLT file) (step S206).

  Here, since the data in the XML format describes the outline of the content and pointer information such as a URI for referring to the content body, the generated XML data is generated in the case of step S203 above. It is a relatively small size data composed of an outline of content for a Web browser to be executed and information about the URI to the Web page.

  The software such as an RSS reader operating on the personal computer 200a that has received the XML data provides the user with an overview of the content and provides a means for referring to the detailed information of the content. The person can refer to the detailed information of the content using a Web browser as necessary.

  If the format requested from the personal computer 200a is one of the formats supported by the Web application 144 and the XSLT processing is performed (steps S203 to S206), then the XSLT processing is performed to perform the personal computer 200a. The result of conversion into the requested format is transmitted as a response to the personal computer 200a as the client terminal (step S207).

  When the format requested from the personal computer 200a is not one of the formats supported by the web application 144, the XSLT processor 150 adds a code indicating an error to the status code of the HTTP response. After setting, a response is transmitted to the personal computer 200a, which is a client terminal, via the network service 135, and the process is terminated (step S208).

  In the above description, the XML format supported by the network device 100 has been described as being three of RSS 0.9, SS1.0, and Atom. However, the XML format supported by the network device 100 is described above. For example, other versions of RSS and similar formats such as RDF may be supported, or RSS 0.9, RSS 1.0, or Atom may not be supported.

  As described above, the network device 100 according to the present embodiment converts one or more types of other XML format conversion XSLT files for converting the device management information in the XML format into another XML format different from the HTML format. Is registered in the XSLT management server 300, and the XML format device management information is converted into the other XML format by performing XSLT processing using the XSLT file for other XML format conversion obtained from the XSLT management server 300. And output to the personal computers 200a to 200n.

  Therefore, by registering in the XSLT management server 300 the XML format format conversion XSLT file other than the conversion to the XML format such as RSS that may be frequently modified or changed, the software of the network device 100 itself By updating only the XSLT file of the external device XSLT management server 300 without updating, the latest state of the entire software can be maintained, and the latest XML format is inexpensive, safe and efficient. It can be converted and provided to improve usability.

  In addition, the network device 100 according to the present embodiment receives device management information in response to a device management information acquisition request (request) designating an XML format from the personal computers 200a to 200n which are client terminals on the network NW. The XML file is converted into the specified XML format and output to the requesting personal computers 200a to 200n, and another XML format format conversion XSLT file in which the specified XML format is registered in the XSLT management server 300 is displayed. If the format is used, the XSLT management server 300 obtains the other XML format format conversion XSLT file, executes the XSLT processing, converts it into the specified XML format, And it outputs the management information to the requesting personal computer 200a~200n.

  Therefore, device management information can be provided inexpensively, safely and efficiently in a format that is easy to use for users of the personal computers 200a to 200n, which are client terminals, and the usability can be further improved.

  Further, in the network apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the XSLT management server 300 as an external apparatus is a server apparatus on the network NW, and the other XML format format conversion XSLT file is a client computer of the server apparatus. It may be registered in a storage area specified by 200a to 200n.

  Therefore, the network device 100 can be maintained without risk of updating the software for realizing the function of the network device 100 stored in the network device 100 only by keeping the XSLT file of the XSLT management server 300 up to date. Can update the data in the XML format such as RSS, etc., and update only the XSLT file of the XSLT management server 300 without updating the software of each network device 100 one by one. It is only necessary to reduce the trouble and danger of updating one by one.

  In addition, the network device 100 according to the present embodiment may be a server device in which the XSLT management server 300 as an external device operates server software provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the XSLT management server 300.

  In this case, the XSLT file management server apparatus 300 can be installed even in a user environment where there is no other server apparatus such as a Web server.

  Furthermore, in the network device 100 of the present embodiment, the XSLT management server 300 as an external device may be a Web server device on the network NW. In this case, the network device 100 acquires another XML format format conversion XSLT file from the Web server device using a protocol on a TCP / IP network such as HTTP or FTP.

  In this way, when there is a Web server device that can be used for any purpose in the user environment, the server device manufacturer or vendor does not provide or provides dedicated server software. If the user does not want to install the server software in the user environment, the existing Web server device can be used as an XSLT file management server to easily and easily convert and provide device management information to the latest XML format. can do.

  Further, in the network device 100 of the present embodiment, the external device may be a file sharing server device on which a general-purpose operation system operates. In this case, in the network device 100, the network device 300 acquires another XML format format conversion XSLT file from the file sharing server device using a protocol that realizes file sharing on a general-purpose operation such as SMB.

  In this way, when there is a file sharing server that can be used for any purpose in the user environment, the server device manufacturer or distributor does not provide dedicated server software or provides it. However, if the user does not want to install the server software in the user environment, the existing file sharing server can be used as an XSLT file management server to easily and easily convert the device management information to the latest XML format. Can be provided.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to a network device such as a printer, a facsimile device, a copying device, a composite device, or a scanner that provides device management information in a predetermined format of XML format.

1 is a system configuration of a network system to which an embodiment of a network apparatus of the present invention is applied, and a block configuration diagram of the network apparatus. The software block diagram of the network apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of device management information provision processing in which the network device in FIG. 1 receives a request from a personal computer and returns a response. The flowchart which shows the apparatus management information provision process in which the network apparatus of FIG. 1 receives a request from a personal computer and returns a response. The figure which shows an example of the reference destination setting screen of the XSLT file in the apparatus management information provision process of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the registration screen of the XSLT file in the apparatus management information provision process of FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing device management information provision processing based on format designation from a personal computer by the network device of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the format designation | designated in the apparatus management information provision process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network System 100 Network Device 101 Processor 102 Work Memory 104 Device Specific Hardware 105 Input / Output Circuit 106 Mass Storage Device 110 Software 120 Hardware 130 Service Layer 131 System Service 132 Engine Service 133 Memory Service 134 Fax Service 135 Network Service 140 Application Layer 141 Copy application 142 Printer application 143 Fax application 144 Web application 130 XSLT processor 200a-200n Personal computer 300 XSLT management server NW network

Claims (6)

  Connected to a predetermined network, generates device management information for device management in XML format, performs XSLT processing using the XSLT file that converts the XML format device management information into HTML format, and HTML for Web browser One or more types of other XML format format conversion XSLT files for converting the XML format device management information into another XML format different from the HTML format The other XML format conversion XSLT file registered in the external device is acquired from the external device, and the XML format device management information is acquired by using the acquired other XML format format conversion XSLT file. Process the other XML format Network device, characterized in that the external outputs the converted format.   The network device converts the device management information into the specified XML format and converts the device management information into the specified XML format in response to an acquisition request for the device management information specifying the XML format from a client terminal on the network. If the specified XML format is a format using the other XML format format conversion XSLT file registered in the external device, the external device can convert the other XML format. 2. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an XSLT file is acquired, the XSLT processing is executed to convert the file into the specified XML format, and the converted device management information is output to the client terminal.   The external device is a server device on the network, and the other XML format format conversion XSLT file is registered in a storage area designated by the client terminal of the server device. 2. The network device according to 2.   The external device is an XSLT file management server device on the network, and the XSLT file management server device is a server device on which server software provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the server device operates. The network device according to claim 1 or 2.   The external device is a Web server device on the network, and the network device uses the protocol on the TCP / IP network such as HTTP, FTP, and the other XML format format conversion XSLT file from the Web server device. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the network device is acquired. The external device is a file sharing server device that operates a general-purpose operation system, and the network device uses the other XML format from the file sharing server device using a protocol that realizes file sharing on the general-purpose operation such as SMB. 3. The network device according to claim 1, wherein a format conversion XSLT file is acquired.

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