JP2007174106A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which can assign multiple IP addresses to a single terminal using IPv6 technology. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor acquires a number of functions established in the apparatus (Step S100). Next, it discriminates whether IP addresses for the all functions are generated (Step S101). In the embodiments, it discriminates whether IP addresses A to C corresponding to three functions are generated. If IP addresses of the all functions are not generated (Step S101/NO), it automatically generates the IP addresses (Step S102), and confirms whether the automatically generated IP addresses can be used using a stateless function (Step S103). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus used in a network environment where IPv6 can be used.

  The Internet usage has shifted from dial-up connection to broadband continuous connection, and this always-connected Internet environment has become widespread. In addition, what is connected to the Internet only with a computer has recently become possible to connect with a mobile phone or an Internet phone (VoIP: Voice over IP).

As described above, with the realization of a ubiquitous environment that is being expanded to various uses, the depletion of IP (Internet Protocol) addresses has become a problem. The IP that is currently used on a daily basis is called IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4), and the address space is 2 ³² = about 4.3 billion.

  Now that the world population is about 6 billion people, it is not possible to assign one IP address per person. Furthermore, considering that Internet technology is also applied to home appliances and automobiles. However, the problem of IP address depletion has become an issue to be solved as soon as possible.

Therefore, there has been a shift from the conventional IPv4 to IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) which is the next generation IP. The IPv6 is space IP address has been enlarged in 2 ^128, so that it has two ^96-fold of the address space in IPv4. This enormous address space is said to be the greatest merit in IPv6.

  For example, in the conventional IPv4, a private IP address is used in a LAN (Local Area Network) environment in a house or at home in order to reduce the use of the IP address as a countermeasure against the exhaustion of the IP address described above. A global IP address is used when connecting to the outside (outside the LAN environment). When IP communication is performed between a private IP address and a global IP address, the IP address is converted using NAT (National Address Translation) to associate the IP address with each other.

  However, since the address space is almost infinite in IPv6, for example, it is possible to have a plurality of IP addresses for one terminal, and a private IP address that saves use of the IP address, or NAT Can be eliminated.

  Here, a mechanism for distributing IP addresses and prefixes in IPv6 defined by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) will be described.

  The IPv6 128-bit address field is composed of two parts, a high-order 64-bit network prefix part and a low-order 64-bit interface ID part. The network prefix unit corresponds to a network unit in IPv4, and can configure addresses hierarchically using an aggregated address structure. The interface ID part corresponds to a host part in IPv4, and has a fixed length of 64 bits.

  The higher-order bits of the network prefix part are the IP address part in terms of the length of the IP address and the number of bits, and this is called a prefix. This prefix is given to a subscriber by, for example, an ISP (Internet Service Provider). Further, the length indicated by the number of bits, that is, the prefix length is variable.

  Also, the ISP router used for IP connection with the above-mentioned subscriber is called a PE (Provider Edge) router, and the router at the Internet connection in the office or home is called a CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) router. This CPE router generates and manages an address following the prefix given by the server.

  The user terminal connected to the CPE router is given an address corresponding to the upper 64 bits of the network prefix part. Each user terminal generates a 128-bit IPv6 address by adding the lower 64 bits of the above-described interface ID part as its own identifier to this assigned address.

  In addition, by assigning prefix information to the CPE router using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), it is not necessary to manually set the IP address to the user terminal. For the address corresponding to the upper 64 bits of the network prefix assigned from the CPE router to the user terminal, RA (Router Advertisement) is used as a standard specification of the IPv6 network address (prefix). This eliminates the need for the user of the user terminal to set an IP address for the user terminal.

  In the user terminal, EUI-64 (64-bit Extended Unique Identifier) may be used as the interface ID section. This is an address system defined by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), which generates a 64-bit bit string from a 48-bit MAC address. Alternatively, a random number generation or the like may be used.

  These contents are disclosed in RFC (Request for Comments) which is a standard document defined by IETF (see Non-Patent Document 1). In addition, as the prior art having a plurality of IP addresses in a user terminal, the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

Patent Document 1 discloses an invention that enables one magnetic disk device to be managed as a plurality of storage devices having different personalities. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention in which one end terminal uses one application usage environment according to an IPv6 address.
JP-A-5-265914 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-045472 IETF Request for Comments (http://www.ietf.org/rfc.html)

  In a conventional image processing apparatus, since an IP address that can be assigned to a device having one network interface is one, the image processing apparatus has a plurality of functions such as a scanner, a printer, and a facsimile that are a plurality of image processing functions. However, since there is only one address for identification from other terminals on the network, only one terminal is recognized, and all the devices must be provided with services through one IP address.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of assigning a plurality of IP addresses to a single terminal using the IPv6 technology.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions, wherein an IP address is set for each of the plurality of image processing functions. It has the 1st distribution means which distributes the IP address used for every image processing function, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions, a plurality of IP addresses are allocated to a plurality of users in a state where IP addresses are set for the plurality of image processing functions. It has 2 sorting means.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, characterized by comprising first IP address generation means for generating an IP address for each of a plurality of image processing functions.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising second IP address generation means for generating an IP address for each of a plurality of users.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the IP address is 128-bit information corresponding to IPv6, and the lower-order 64 bits in the IP address Of these, 8 bits can be set by the user, and 54 bits are randomly assigned to numbers.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the 8 bits settable by the user in the IP address can be increased or decreased.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first distribution unit sets a priority when distributing IP addresses for each of a plurality of image processing functions. To do.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second sorting means sets a priority when assigning IP addresses for each user.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first distribution means notifies the user when IP address distribution fails for a plurality of image processing functions. It is characterized by.

  The tenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the second distribution unit notifies the user when the distribution of the IP address to a plurality of users fails. And

  The invention according to claim 11 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the IP address is assigned to a plurality of image processing functions by the first assigning means, an image to which a predetermined IP address is assigned. The processing function cannot be accessed by another IP address.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the IP address is assigned to a plurality of users by the second distributing means, the IP address assigned to the user is the user. And a comparison means for comparing with an IP address assigned to an image processing function that can be used.

  A thirteenth aspect of the invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein an IP address assigned to each of a plurality of image processing functions is assigned to a specific image processing function. When there is an access from an IP address different from the IP address, a message to that effect is displayed.

  The invention according to claim 14 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an IP address assigned to each user is different from an IP address assigned to a specific user. If there is an access from an address, that fact is displayed.

  According to the present invention, since a single image processing apparatus corresponding to IPv6 can have a plurality of IP addresses, operability can be improved by using the IPv6 technology.

Next, the image processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The image processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 101, an operation unit 102, a communication processing unit 103, an encoding / decoding processing unit 104, a LAN control unit 105, a router 106, a ROM 107, a RAM 108, a buffer memory 109, a reading unit 110, and a recording unit 111. It is composed of

  The control unit is a system control unit and controls the entire terminal device including each block. The operation unit includes various input keys, LEDs, LCDs, and the like, and performs various input operations by the user and displays the operation status of the image processing apparatus. The communication processing unit 103 is configured by a modem, an NCU, and the like, and is connected to a communication line such as PSTN, and performs line control such as communication control using a protocol based on the ITU-T recommendation, and outgoing and incoming calls for the communication line It is. The communication processing unit 103 is controlled by a communication control task program of a control program stored in the ROM 107 and RAM 108.

  The encoding / decoding processing unit 104 performs encoding / decoding processing for compressing / decompressing image data. The encoding / decoding processing unit 104 mainly depends on encoding / decoding methods such as MH and MR used in facsimile communication or device specifications. Supports encoding / decoding schemes such as JPEG and MPEG.

  The LAN control unit 105 is connected to a router 106 that supports IPv6 via a LAN cable. The ROM 107 stores a control program of the control unit 101, an OS program, and the like. The control unit 101 controls the operation of the terminal device according to the control program stored in the ROM 107. The RAM 108 is used for arithmetic processing, storage of setting knowledge registered by the user, device management data, and the like, and storage of an IP address acquired when the terminal device is connected to the IPv6 router 106.

  The buffer memory is for accumulating read image data and received image data, and accumulating data packets transmitted and received via the LAN. The reading unit 110 optically reads a document by a photoelectric conversion element, performs various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing on an image signal converted into electrical image data, and outputs high-definition image data. To do. The recording unit performs resolution conversion processing and smoothing processing on the recorded image data in order to store the image data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a table of IP addresses and FQDNs allocated for each function.
In the table shown in FIG. 2, IP addresses A to C are assigned to the printer function, the scanner function, and the FAX function, respectively, and FQDNs (Full Qualified Domain Names) X to Z are assigned. When using each function, an IP address and FQDN are acquired from the table.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when three users are registered, a table in which IP addresses A to C and FQDNX to Z are assigned to functions for each user is provided. Each user logs in and acquires an IP address and FQDN from this table when using the printer function, scanner function, and FAX function shown in FIG. Each user can also be acquired from the IP address or FQDN.
The tables shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are stored in the RAM 108 shown in FIG. 1, and can be read from the ROM when necessary.

Next, the processing operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the number of functions set in the device is acquired (step S100). Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, there are three functions of a printer function, a scanner function, and a FAX function, and the number of these functions is acquired.

  Next, it is determined whether IP addresses for all functions have been generated (step S101). In this embodiment, it is determined whether IP addresses A to C corresponding to the three functions have been generated. If the IP addresses for all functions are not generated (step S101 / NO), IP addresses are automatically generated (step S102), and it is confirmed using the stateless function whether the automatically generated IP addresses can be used (step S102). Step S103).

  Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of users set in the device is acquired (step S200). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Next, it is determined whether IP addresses for all the numbers of users have been generated (step S201).

  If IP addresses for all users have not been generated (step S201 / NO), IP addresses are automatically generated (step S202), and then it is confirmed using the stateless function whether the automatically generated IP addresses can be used. (Step S203).

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the configuration of an IPv6 address is shown.
The IPv6 address shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is 128 bits, and the upper 64 bits are a network prefix notified from the router 106. Among the lower 64 bits, the user freely sets the upper 8 bits, and the lower 58 bits are automatically generated at random.

  Regarding the 8 bits that can be set by the user in the lower 64 bits, the user can freely change the setting as shown in FIG. The remaining lower 58 bits can be randomly generated.

Next, processing operations when data is received by the printer function will be described with reference to FIGS.
The reading unit 110 determines whether there is data received from the printer (step S300). If there is no data received, the reading unit 110 enters a standby state (step S300 / NO). If there is data received (step S300 / YES), Then, it is checked whether the destination IP address is an address that can be used in the printer function (step S301). If the IP address is usable (step S301 / YES), the printer printing process is performed as it is, and if the destination IP address is different from the IP address assigned to the printer (step S301 / NO), the printer As an abnormal process, the use of the printer function is rejected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the reading unit 110 determines whether there is data reception of the printer print (step S400). When there is no data reception (step S400), it enters a standby state, and when there is data reception (step S400 / YES), it is determined whether or not the user registered in advance matches the received IP address. (Step S401). If they match, it is determined whether the user can use the printer function (step S402). If the user can use the printer function (step S402 / YES), the printer printing process is performed as it is.

  If the IP addresses do not match in step S401 (step S401 / NO), or if the use of the printer function is not permitted in step S402 (step S402 / NO), the use of the printer function is rejected as a printer abnormality process. To do.

  According to the present embodiment, since a single image processing apparatus corresponding to IPv6 can have a plurality of IP addresses, operability can be improved by using IPv6 technology.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus in this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the table of the IP address and FQDN which are allocated according to each function in this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the table of the IP address and FQDN which are allocated to each user in this embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the IP address in IPv6. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 101 Control part 102 Operation part 103 Communication processing part 104 Encoding / decoding processing part 105 LAN control part 106 Router 107 ROM
108 RAM
109 Buffer memory 110 Reading unit 111 Recording unit

Claims (14)

In an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions,
With an IP address set for each of the plurality of image processing functions,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a first distribution unit that distributes an IP address to be used for each of the plurality of image processing functions. In an image processing apparatus having a plurality of image processing functions,
With an IP address set for each of the plurality of image processing functions,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a second distribution unit that distributes a plurality of IP addresses to a plurality of users.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first IP address generation unit configured to generate an IP address for each of the plurality of image processing functions.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising second IP address generation means for generating an IP address for each of the plurality of users. The IP address is 128-bit information corresponding to IPv6,
Of the lower 64 bits in the IP address, 8 bits can be set by the user,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the 54 bits are randomly assigned to numbers.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein 8 bits settable by the user in the IP address can be increased or decreased.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first distribution unit sets a priority when distributing an IP address for each of the plurality of image processing functions.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second distribution unit sets a priority when distributing IP addresses for each user.   8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first distribution unit notifies a user when IP address distribution fails for the plurality of image processing functions.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second distribution unit notifies the user when IP address distribution fails for the plurality of users.   2. The image processing function to which a predetermined IP address is assigned cannot be accessed by another IP address when the IP address is assigned to a plurality of image processing functions by the first assigning means. Image processing apparatus.   Comparing means for comparing the IP address assigned to the user with the IP address assigned to the image processing function usable by the user when the second assigning means assigns the IP address to a plurality of users. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. In the IP address assigned to each of the plurality of image processing functions,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein when there is an access from an IP address different from the IP address assigned to the specific image processing function, the fact is displayed. . In the IP address assigned to each user,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein when there is an access from an IP address different from an IP address assigned to a specific user, the fact is displayed.

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