JP2007193833A - Setting processing program and setting processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to simply specify an effective communication I/F part without conducting selection operation of the communication I/F part when setting network devices with a setting processing device provided with the plurality of communication I/F parts. <P>SOLUTION: A PC 30 broadcasts a packet for requesting a response to an unset device using a plurality of LAN I/Fs 34, 35, 38 and 39. If a response that the device is unset is returned, the PC 30 stores LAN I/F used at the time as an effective LAN I/F (S202 to S210). On the basis of the result, if only one effective LAN I/F can be detected, the one LAN I/F is specified as the one to be used to set a printer 20 (S220 to S232). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to setting processing technology network devices, and particularly relates setting processing program for executing the setting processing of the network device, the setting processing devices that run setting processing of the network device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technology for connecting a network device to be set up and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) via a LAN (Local Area Network) and setting the network device over the network by an operation on the PC side is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 below).

  The printer described in Patent Document 1 below has a function as a network device. Specifically, the printer can be wirelessly connected to another wireless LAN terminal by functioning as a wireless LAN access point. By functioning as a wireless LAN terminal, it is possible to establish a wireless connection with another wireless LAN access point. This printer is set to function as a wireless LAN access point in the initial state. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to make the printer function as a wireless LAN terminal, such as when the printer is added to a network having a wireless LAN access point, it is necessary to change the setting of the printer. Over the network by side operations.

  Specifically, first, the printer is caused to function as a wireless LAN access point by operating the printer in the initial state. Also, a PC having a function as a wireless LAN terminal is prepared, and the settings relating to the wireless connection of the PC are changed in accordance with the settings on the printer side. As a result, the printer and the PC are wirelessly connected. In this state, since the printer can be accessed from the PC side, settings relating to the wireless connection of the printer can be updated by an operation on the PC side. Therefore, the printer settings can be changed by the operation on the PC side so that the printer functions as a wireless LAN terminal, and the printer can be wirelessly connected to a wireless LAN access point provided in the target network.

Conventionally, a technique for performing various settings using interactive software called a wizard is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2 below).
The software described in Patent Document 2 below sets a printer and a printer driver. If this type of interactive software is used, the user performs an input operation in accordance with the guidance of the screens that are sequentially displayed. Thus, the target setting can be completed.

Furthermore, conventionally, a PC having a plurality of wireless communication I / F units is also known (see Patent Document 3 below).
In the PC described in Patent Document 3 below, the user arbitrarily selects which of the plurality of wireless communication I / F units is used. When the user selects one wireless communication I / F unit, the SSID is acquired using the wireless communication I / F unit selected by the user, and a plurality of sets are set in advance based on the acquired SSID. A set of setting information is extracted from the prepared setting information, and a process for updating settings related to wireless connection is executed according to the extracted setting information.
JP 2003-143156 A JP-A-11-327830 JP 2003-91467 A

  By the way, as described in Patent Document 1, a PC having a plurality of communication I / F units as described in Patent Document 3 when performing setting processing for a network device by an operation on the PC side. When it is desired to use, a communication I / F unit that can be used for communication with a network device to be set must be selected from a plurality of communication I / F units.

  However, when there are a large number of communication I / F units, it takes a lot of work to find an appropriate communication I / F unit from among them, and in the unlikely event that an invalid communication I / F unit is selected by mistake. If this happens, the subsequent setting process cannot be continued, or the setting process cannot be properly completed.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to communicate with a communication I / F when setting a network device with a setting processing device having a plurality of communication I / F units. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily identify an effective communication I / F unit without performing the selection operation of the F unit.

The characteristic configuration employed in the present invention to achieve the above object will be described below.
First, the setting processing program of the present invention is:
A setting processing device having a plurality of communication I / F units each connectable to a different network, and one or more network devices with which the setting processing device can communicate using any of the plurality of communication I / F units When executing setting of the setting target device by transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device with one of the network devices as a setting target device, A processing program executed by the setting processing device ,
In all of the plurality of communication I / F units , the setting is performed by broadcasting a response request inquiring whether or not the setting target device capable of communication for each communication I / F unit exists on the network. Existence confirmation procedure for confirming the existence of the target device ,
If there is a response to the response request, a communication I / F unit specifying procedure for specifying the communication I / F unit that broadcast the response request ;

And a transmission procedure for transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the specified communication I / F unit.

When the setting processing device executes each procedure in accordance with the setting processing program, the setting processing device first sets the communicable I / F unit so that the communication I / F unit can sequentially communicate with the setting. By broadcasting a response request asking whether the target device exists on the network, the presence of the setting target device is confirmed . When there is a response, the communication I / F unit that performed the broadcast is specified. Then, the setting target device is set by transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the specified communication I / F unit. Therefore, even if the setting processing device is provided with a large number of communication I / F units, a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device is specified by executing the test procedure and the communication I / F unit specifying procedure. The

  Therefore, if each procedure according to the setting processing program is executed by the setting processing device, the user does not have to carry out the work of searching for an appropriate communication I / F unit, and the user is erroneously disabled. Due to the selection of the communication I / F unit, the subsequent setting process cannot be continued, and the setting process cannot be properly completed.

The setting processing program is preferably configured as follows.
First, before SL communication I / F unit specific instructions,
A procedure for identifying whether the device is a setting target device based on information included in a response to the response request ;
Identification results, when was the setting target device, a communication I / F unit which utilizes upon receiving the transmission and the response of the response request may is a procedure and a procedure for specific.

  When the setting processing device executes each procedure according to the setting processing program, the setting processing device first uses each of the plurality of communication I / F units to determine whether or not the setting target device exists on the network. Send a response request to inquire. The setting target device side is provided with a function of returning a response including information for identifying whether the device is a setting target device to the setting processing device side, and a response request is transmitted from the setting processing device side. Then, a response is returned to the setting processing device side. When a response is returned from the setting target device side, the setting processing device side receives the response, identifies whether the device is a setting target device based on the information included in the response, and the result of this identification is the setting target If the device is a device, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received is specified as a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device. Hereinafter, as described above, the setting target device is set by transmitting the setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the specified communication I / F unit. Become.

  Therefore, if each procedure according to the setting processing program is executed by the setting processing device, the operation and effect as described above can be obtained. In particular, the setting processing device side sets based on information included in the response. Since it is possible to identify whether or not it is a target device, whether or not it is a communication I / F unit that can communicate with a setting target device compared to a case where a setting target is a network device that does not have a function of returning a response including equivalent information This determination can be performed easily and reliably.

Next, the setting processing device of the present invention provides:
Each of the network devices has a plurality of communication I / F units connectable to different networks, and can communicate with one or more network devices using any of the plurality of communication I / F units. Is a setting processing device for setting the setting target device by transmitting setting data to the setting target device.
In all of the plurality of communication I / F units , the setting is performed by broadcasting a response request inquiring whether or not the setting target device capable of communication for each communication I / F unit exists on the network. Presence checking means for checking the existence of the target device ;
If there is a response to the response request, a communication I / F unit specifying means for specifying the communication I / F unit that broadcast the response request ;
Transmission means for transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the communication I / F portion specified by the communication I / F portion specifying means.

In this setting processing device, the test means determines whether or not the setting target device capable of communication sequentially exists for each communication I / F unit in the plurality of communication I / F units on the network. The presence of the setting target device is confirmed by broadcasting a response request to be inquired . When there is a response, the communication I / F unit that performed the broadcast is specified. And a transmission means transmits setting data to a setting object apparatus from a setting process apparatus using the specified communication I / F part. Therefore, even if the setting processing device is provided with a large number of communication I / F units, the communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device is specified.

  Therefore, according to this setting processing device, the user does not have to perform an operation of searching for an appropriate communication I / F unit, and the user has erroneously selected an invalid communication I / F unit. Thus, the subsequent setting process cannot be continued, and the setting process cannot be properly completed.

The setting processing device is preferably configured as follows.
First, before SL communication I / F section specifying means,
Means for identifying whether the device is a setting target device based on information included in a response to the response request ;
Identification results, when was the setting target device, a communication I / F unit which utilizes upon receiving the transmission and the response of the response request may and has a means for specific.

  In this setting processing device, the test means transmits a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on the network using each of the plurality of communication I / F units. The setting target device side is provided with a function of returning a response including information for identifying whether the device is a setting target device to the setting processing device side, and a response request is transmitted from the setting processing device side. Then, a response is returned to the setting processing device side. When a response is returned from the setting target device side, on the setting processing device side, the test unit receives the response, and the communication I / F unit specifying unit is the setting target device based on the information included in the response. If the result of this identification is a setting target device, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received can be communicated with the setting target device. Specify as a part. Thereafter, as described above, the transmission unit transmits the setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the specified communication I / F unit.

  Therefore, according to this setting processing device, in addition to the effects and effects as described above, in particular, the setting processing device side can identify whether it is a setting target device based on the information included in the response. Compared with a case where a network device that does not have a function of returning a response including equivalent information is set as a setting target, it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not the communication I / F unit can communicate with the setting target device. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, when setting a network device by a setting processing device having a plurality of communication I / F units, the user does not perform the selection operation of the communication I / F unit. However, an effective communication I / F unit can be easily specified.

Next, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with some examples.
[First Embodiment]
First, the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a network including an access point 10, a network printer 20 (hereinafter referred to as a printer 20) to be newly added to the network, and a personal computer 30 (hereinafter referred to as a PC 30) that executes setting processing for the printer 20. ) Is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the entire system. Among these, the printer 20 corresponds to the network device referred to in the present invention, and the PC 30 corresponds to the setting processing device referred to in the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the access point 10 is a device compliant with IEEE802.11b / IEEE802.11g, which is one of the wireless LAN standards. The access point 10 operates in an infrastructure mode and establishes a wireless connection with a plurality of wireless LAN terminals, whereby a network (wireless LAN) in which a plurality of wireless LAN terminals are connected using the access point 10 as a relay device. Can be formed. The access point 10 also includes a wired LAN I / F for connecting to the wired LAN side. By connecting to the wired LAN side via a LAN cable, the access point 10 can be connected to the wireless LAN side and the wired LAN side described above. Can be connected to each other.

  A non-volatile memory (not shown) built in the access point 10 stores an SSID (Service Set Identifier) corresponding to the name of the wireless LAN as information related to the wireless LAN to which the access point 10 belongs. In addition, when performing encrypted communication in accordance with a predetermined encryption method (for example, WEP: Wireless Encryption Privacy) within the wireless LAN, an encryption key required for encrypted communication (for example, several bytes in the case of WEP) (A data string of tens of bytes) is also stored. The access point 10 recognizes that a wireless LAN terminal using an SSID different from the SSID stored on the access point 10 side is a wireless LAN terminal belonging to another wireless LAN, and wirelessly communicates with the wireless LAN terminal. Do not establish a connection. In addition, when an encryption key is stored on the access point 10 side, even if the wireless LAN terminal uses the same SSID as the SSID stored on the access point 10 side, a different encryption key is used. If so, the wireless connection with the wireless LAN terminal is not established.

  In this embodiment, the printer 20 has a wireless LAN I / F conforming to the same wireless LAN standard IEEE802.11b / IEEE802.11g as the access point 10 described above. The printer 20 can operate in the infrastructure mode or the ad hoc mode. When the printer 20 operates in the infrastructure mode, the printer 20 becomes a node on the network including the access point 10 by establishing a wireless connection with the access point 10. . In this case, print data transmitted from another node on the same network (for example, the PC 30 operating in the infrastructure mode and wirelessly connected to the access point 10) can be printed out. Further, when the printer 20 operates in the ad hoc mode, the printer 20 transmits from the wireless LAN terminal by establishing a wireless connection with another wireless LAN terminal (for example, the PC 30 operating in the ad hoc mode) that also operates in the ad hoc mode. The printed data can be printed out.

  In a nonvolatile memory (not shown) built in the printer 20, as a wireless LAN related information to which the printer 20 belongs, a communication mode (infrastructure mode / ad hoc mode) of the printer 20, an SSID corresponding to the name of the wireless LAN, and the like. Remembered. In addition, when performing encrypted communication in accordance with a predetermined encryption method (for example, WEP) in the wireless LAN, an encryption key necessary for encrypted communication is also stored. These pieces of information need to use the same information according to the object for which the wireless connection is to be established. For example, if the wireless connection between the printer 20 and the access point 10 is to be established, the communication mode is set to the infrastructure. Mode, and the same SSID and encryption key as those stored on the access point 10 side are also used on the printer 20 side. If it is desired to establish a wireless connection between the printer 20 and the PC 30, both use the communication mode as an ad hoc mode, and both use the same SSID and encryption key.

  The printer 20 is compatible with a simple network management protocol (SNMP), and the printer 20 has a management information base (MIB) managed in the printer 20 in response to a request from a request source. An SNMP agent, which is software that provides information in the Management Information Base) to the request source.

  The PC 30 has hardware such as a CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, wireless LAN I / F 34, 35, input unit 36, display unit 37, and wired LAN I / F 38, 39, and various functions by controlling these hardware. And software for realization.

  Among these, the wireless LAN I / Fs 34 and 35 are devices compliant with the same wireless LAN standard IEEE802.11b / IEEE802.11g as the access point 10 and the printer 20 in this embodiment. These wireless LAN I / Fs 34 and 35 can also operate in the infrastructure mode or the ad hoc mode, and when operated in the infrastructure mode, the wireless connection with the access point 10 can be established. It becomes a node on the network including the access point 10. Further, when operating in the ad hoc mode, the wireless LAN I / Fs 34 and 35 can establish a wireless connection with another wireless LAN terminal (for example, the printer 20 operating in the ad hoc mode) that also operates in the ad hoc mode. Thus, data communication (for example, output of print data from the PC 30 to the printer 20) can be performed between the other wireless LAN terminal and the PC 30.

  The input unit 36 includes a keyboard and various pointing devices (for example, a mouse). The display unit 37 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like that can display a color image.

  In this embodiment, the wired LAN I / Fs 38 and 39 are devices compliant with the LAN standard IEEE802.3 / IEEE802.3u (10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX). By connecting a LAN cable on the wired LAN side to these wired LAN I / Fs 38 and 39, the PC 30 can be used as a node on the wired LAN side, whereby the PC 30 and a device on the wired LAN side (for example, the printer 40). ) (For example, print data output from the PC 30 to the printer 40).

  In a nonvolatile memory (such as a flash memory corresponding to a part of the ROM 32 or an NVRAM corresponding to a part of the RAM 33) built in the PC 30, the communication mode (infrastructure mode) of the PC 30 is used as information related to the wireless LAN to which the PC 30 belongs. / Ad hoc mode), SSID corresponding to the name of the wireless LAN, and the like are stored. In addition, when performing encrypted communication in accordance with a predetermined encryption method (for example, WEP) in the wireless LAN, an encryption key necessary for encrypted communication is also stored. As in the case of the printer 20, it is necessary to use the same information according to the object for which a wireless connection is to be established.

  In the case of this embodiment, in order to establish a wireless connection ((A) in FIG. 1) between the PC 30 and the access point 10 via the wireless LAN I / F 34, the communication mode is set to the infrastructure mode for the wireless LAN I / F 34. The same SSID and encryption key as the SSID and encryption key stored on the access point 10 side are also used on the PC 30 side. In order to establish a wireless connection ((B) in FIG. 1) between the PC 30 and the printer 20 via the wireless LAN I / F 35, the communication mode of the wireless LAN I / F 35 is set to the ad hoc mode, and the PC 30 and the printer 20 Both use the same SSID and encryption key.

  Furthermore, of the software included in the PC 30, Windows (registered trademark) is installed as an OS (Operating System). Various input / output functions such as input by operating the input unit 36 (keyboard or pointing device), display output to the display unit 37, communication commands to the wireless LAN I / F 34, 35 and the wired LAN I / F 38, 39, Other basic functions necessary for the operation of the PC 30 such as management of the hard disk and memory are provided by the OS. As the OS, for example, an OS capable of providing a similar function such as Linux (registered trademark) or MacOS (registered trademark) may be installed.

  Further, the PC 30 is requested to provide information in a management information base (MIB) managed in each device to a device on the network (for example, the printer 20) using SNMP. An SNMP manager, which is software that receives information returned in response to this request, is also installed.

  FIG. 1 illustrates all three wireless communication paths (A), (B), and (E) that can exist between the three of the access point 10, the printer 20, and the PC 30. However, this does not mean that the three parties are simultaneously connected by radio. Some of these three wireless communication paths (A), (B), and (E) are established or some are disconnected as the setting process described below proceeds.

  In the present embodiment, the access point 10, the PC 30, and the printer 40 are already operated devices, and operate as nodes on the network to which each device belongs in the initial state. On the other hand, the printer 20 is a device that is newly added to the network including the access point 10 and is not connected to either the access point 10 or the PC 30 in the initial state.

  When executing a setting process to be described later, it is necessary to establish a wireless connection ((B) in FIG. 1) between the printer 20 and the PC 30 prior to the setting process. Specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, since the PC 30 and the printer 20 are wirelessly connected via the wireless LAN I / F 35, the setting for the wireless LAN I / F 35 is set to the initial value of the wireless setting on the printer 20 side. Set to match. In this embodiment, the initial wireless settings on the printer 20 side are the ad-hoc mode, the SSID is “Wireless”, and the encryption is not used. Do. As a result, a wireless connection ((B) in FIG. 1) between the printer 20 and the PC 30 is established, and an environment for executing setting processing described later is prepared.

Next, setting processing executed by the PC 30 in order to set the printer 20 from the PC 30 by the remote setup method will be described.
The setting process described below is for setting the printer 20 using interactive software called a wizard, and the user performs input operations on each screen according to the guidance of the screens that are sequentially displayed. The target setting can be completed. This setting process is started by executing a setting process program in the PC 30. This setting processing program is software describing a procedure for causing the PC 30 to function as a setting processing device according to the present invention. For example, the setting processing program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and provided to the user. Or provided to the user via a network such as the Internet.

First, the general flow of this setting process will be described with reference to FIG.
When the setting process is started, the PC 30 first displays a wizard start screen (see FIG. 3) on the display unit 37, and enters a state of accepting pressing of the “Next>” button 201 (S100).

  In this state, the user confirms the content displayed on the wizard start screen, and presses the “Next>” button 201 (the operation of clicking the button displayed on the screen using a pointing device such as a mouse, Alternatively, an operation of pressing a shortcut key to which a function equivalent to the operation is assigned; hereinafter, the same operation is simply referred to as “pressing the ** button”). In addition to the “Next>” button 201, a “Cancel” button 203 is also displayed on the wizard start screen. When the “Cancel” button 203 is pressed, the process proceeds to a process for interrupting this process. The process for interrupting the process is a process necessary for interrupting the process, such as a process for releasing the resources used in the process, but this type of process itself is the main part of the present invention. However, since the processing is generally employed in the same kind of interactive program, the description of the processing related to the similar “Cancel” button will be omitted.

  When the “Next>” button 201 is pressed in the process of S100, the PC 30 executes a process for determining a network I / F used for setting (S200). Regarding the processing of S200, the specific processing contents will be described in detail later, but the PC 30 tests whether it is possible to communicate with the setting target for all of the plurality of network I / Fs included in the PC 30, and can communicate with each other. If a network I / F is found, the network I / F is determined as a network I / F used for setting.

  When the network I / F used for setting is determined, the PC 30 subsequently executes setting target device determination processing (S300). In the process of S300, a device that can be accessed via the network I / F determined in the process of S200 is searched, a list of detected devices is displayed on the screen, and an input from the user is awaited.

  In this state, the user confirms the displayed device on the screen, and performs an operation of selecting a device to be set from the device. In the case of the present embodiment, the printer 20 that is an unset device is the setting target device, and as a result of the user performing an operation of selecting the printer 20, the printer 20 is determined as the setting target device.

When the setting target device is determined, the PC 30 then displays the IP address setting screen (see FIG. 4) on the display unit 37, and enters a state of accepting input (S400).
In this state, by performing an operation of selecting any one of the radio buttons 401, the user can select whether to automatically acquire an IP address assigned to the setting target device or to manually set the IP address. When a setting for automatic acquisition is selected, an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway address, and the like are dynamically assigned by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function. When manual setting is selected, the user inputs an IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address in the input field 403 on the screen, and these setting values are statically assigned. After inputting these items, the user presses a “Next>” button 405. In addition to the “Next>” button 405, a “Cancel” button 407 and a “<Back” button 409 are also displayed on the IP address setting screen. When the “<Back” button 409 is pressed, the process proceeds to a process for returning to the previous process. This process is a process for restoring setting values in the middle of input, etc., but this type of process itself is not a main part of the present invention, and is a process generally adopted in the same type of interactive program. Hereinafter, the description of the processing related to the similar “<Back” button is omitted.

  After completing the setting relating to the IP address in this way, the PC 30 subsequently executes a process for determining a network in which the setting target device participates (S500). When the processing of S500 is executed, either the network selection screen (see FIG. 5) or the network setting screen (see FIG. 6) is displayed, and an input is accepted. The network selection screen (see FIG. 5) is displayed when the network candidate to which the setting target device participates is automatically searched. The network setting screen (see FIG. 6) is displayed when the setting target device is selected. This is a case of manually inputting information on the network to participate. Whether the network selection screen or the network setting screen is displayed is switched depending on whether the setting target device, the PC 30 or another network device has an automatic network search function. May be specified arbitrarily.

  In a state where the network selection screen (see FIG. 5) is displayed, the user can select one network from the networks displayed in the network selection field 501. When a “Next>” button 503 is pressed after selecting one network, the network to which the setting target device belongs is determined.

  In the state where the network setting screen A (see FIG. 6A) is displayed, the user can select the setting of the wireless mode by performing an operation of selecting any one of the radio buttons 511. When the “Next>” button 513 is pressed after this selection, the network setting screen B (see FIG. 6B) is displayed. In this network setting screen B, a network name input field 521, a check box 523 for designating whether or not the communication mode is set to the ad hoc mode, a channel number selection field 525, and the like are displayed. Selection can be made. When the “Next>” button 527 is pressed after this input and selection, the network to which the setting target device belongs is determined. In the case of this embodiment, a wireless LAN formed around the access point 10 is selected as a network to which the printer 20 that is a setting target device participates.

Subsequently, the PC 30 displays a security setting screen (see FIG. 7) on the display unit 37, and enters a state of accepting input (S600).
In this state, the user can perform an operation of inputting security-related settings. Specifically, one authentication method (Open System / Shared Key / WPA-PSK) is selected in the authentication method selection field 601, and one encryption mode (None / WEP / TKIP) is selected in the encryption mode selection field 603. Then, an arbitrary encryption key is input to the network key input field 605 and the network key confirmation input field 607. When the setting value is input to each item, the user presses a “Next>” button 609. In addition to the “Next>” button 609, a “Cancel” button 611, a “<Back” button 613, and a “Help” button 615 are also displayed on the security setting screen. When the “Help” button 615 is pressed, the process proceeds to a process for displaying an explanation regarding each item in the security setting screen. This process is a process of displaying a separately prepared help file, but this type of process itself is not a main part of the present invention and is a process generally adopted in the same type of interactive program. A description of similar processing related to the “Help” button is omitted.

  When the processing of S600 is completed, the PC 30 displays a setting content confirmation screen (see FIG. 8) on the display unit 37 in order to make the user confirm the setting content collected or generated in the previous processing (processing of S100 to S600). Then, the key press is accepted (S700). In the present embodiment, since the setting target device is the printer 20, the setting content confirmation screen is provided with a check box 701 for selecting whether or not to perform test printing. When an operation for checking the check box 701 is performed, test printing is performed on the printer 20 after the setting is completed.

  In this state, the user confirms the setting contents, and presses the “Next>” button 703 when the confirmation is completed. In addition to the “Next>” button 703, a “Cancel” button 705 and a “<Back” button 707 are also displayed on the setting content confirmation screen.

  Subsequently, the PC 30 executes a setting transmission process (S800). Through the process of S800, the setting confirmed on the setting content confirmation screen is transmitted to the printer 20 as the setting target device, and the setting on the printer 20 side is updated. That is, the various setting values sequentially input in the processes from S100 to S700 described above are not transmitted to the printer 20 each time they are input, but are transmitted for the first time in the process of S800.

  When this setting transmission processing is completed, a wizard completion screen (see FIG. 9) is displayed, and the pressing of the “Exit” button 901 is accepted (S900). In this state, when the user “Exit” button is pressed, this processing is terminated.

  Through the processing of S100 to S900 described above, the setting of the printer 20 is completed, and as a result, the wireless connection ((E) in FIG. 1) between the printer 20 and the access point 10 is established. Note that after the wireless connection between the printer 20 and the access point 10 ((E) in FIG. 1) is established, the wireless connection between the printer 20 and the PC 30 ((B) in FIG. 1) may be disconnected. . In this embodiment, since the PC 30 has established a wireless connection (A in FIG. 1) with the access point 10, the wireless connection between the printer 20 and the PC 30 (B in FIG. 1) is disconnected. However, the printer 30 can be accessed from the PC 30 via the access point 10.

  The outline of the setting process has been described above. Next, the process of S200 including the process procedure corresponding to the main part of the present invention will be described in more detail. The network I / F determination process in S200 is a process as shown in detail in FIG.

  When the network I / F determination process is started, the PC 30 targets a plurality of LAN I / Fs (wireless LAN I / Fs 34 and 35 and wired LAN I / Fs 38 and 39) included in the PC 30 and performs this process. It is checked whether there is an unprocessed LAN I / F that has not been received (S202).

  Here, at least at first, an unprocessed LAN I / F always exists (S202: YES), so one LAN I / F is selected from the unprocessed LAN I / Fs and bound (S204). ), Make necessary preparations for communication, such as establishing a communication channel between components (protocol driver, network adapter, etc.) used during communication. Then, a test is performed to determine whether or not one LAN I / F that has been bound is an effective LAN I / F for accessing the target unset device (in this embodiment, the printer 20). Therefore, an unset device check process is executed (S206).

The unset device check process is a process as shown in detail in FIG.
When the unconfigured device check process is started, the PC 30 broadcasts an SNMP Get packet of “Configured MIB” using SNMP (S242) and accepts SNMP Reply for 2 seconds (S244).

  The packet broadcast in the process of S242 is transmitted to all devices existing on the network connected through this LAN I / F via one LAN I / F selected at the time of the process of S242. Is done. If there is a device that can return a response to the packet among the devices that have received the packet, the device returns a response. A device that cannot return a response to the packet simply discards the received packet.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 20 is a device that can return a response to the packet. When the printer 20 receives the packet, the printer 20 waits for 2 seconds by the process of S244. Executes the printer side response process shown in FIG.

  When the printer side response process is started, the printer 20 first checks whether or not there is an unchecked condition among a plurality of conditions for determining whether the printer 20 is not set or has been set. (S1002).

  A plurality of conditions for determining whether it is unset or set are (1) SSID is an initial value (“Wireless” in this embodiment) in this embodiment. (2) The above three conditions are that the communication mode is the initial value (in the present embodiment, the ad hoc mode), and (3) the IP address is the initial value. Since there is an unchecked condition at least initially (S1002: YES), the printer 20 selects one condition from the unchecked conditions and checks whether the one condition is satisfied (S1004).

  When one condition selected in the processing of S1004 is not satisfied (S1004: NO), a packet in which “configured” is set as the value of “Configured MIB” is returned to the PC 30 that is the response request source ( S1006), this process is finished.

  On the other hand, when one condition to be checked in the process of S1004 is satisfied (S1004: YES), returning to the process of S1002, as long as an unchecked condition exists (S1002: YES), S1002 to S1004. Repeat the process. As a result, the above three conditions are checked in order. In the present embodiment, since the above three conditions are checked, there is no unchecked condition when the process of S1002 for the fourth time is performed (S1002: NO). In this case, the value “Configured MIB” is “ The packet in which “unonfigured” is set is returned to the PC 30 that is the response request source (S1006), and this processing is completed.

That is, when all the above three conditions are satisfied, a response indicating that the setting has not been made is returned from the printer 20 to the PC 30, and when there is a condition that does not satisfy any one of the above three conditions, the setting has been completed. Is returned from the printer 20 to the PC 30. In the present embodiment, the value of “Configured MIB” serves as an unset flag.

  When the printer-side response process described above is performed while the PC 30 is waiting for 2 seconds in the process of S244, a certain response (SNMP Reply) is returned from the printer 20 to the PC 30. In addition to the printer 20, there is a possibility that an SNMP compatible device (not shown) capable of returning information equivalent to the printer 20 exists on the network. In this case, the SNMP compatible device also connects to the PC 30. A response (SNMP Reply) is returned.

  However, the packet broadcast in the process of S242 is received by the printer 20 when one LAN I / F selected at the time of the process of S206 is a wireless LAN I / F 35. Limited. When one LAN I / F selected at the time of the process of S206 is a wireless LAN I / F 34 or a wired LAN I / F 38, 39, the packet broadcasted in the process of S242 reaches the printer 20. Never do. In this case, as a matter of course, the printer 20 does not execute the printer-side response process, and a response (SNMP Reply) from the printer 20 to the PC 30 is not returned.

  In short, the PC 30 receives a response (SNMP Reply) to the PC 30 in the processing of S244 via the LAN I / F selected via the one LAN I / F selected at the time of the processing of S206. This is a case where a device equivalent to the printer 20 (an SNMP-compatible device capable of returning information equivalent to the printer 20 or the printer 20) exists on the network.

  Now, after finishing the process of S244, the PC 30 checks whether there is an SNMP reply (S246). Here, if there is an SNMP reply from the printer 20 (S246: YES), the PC 30 checks whether there is even one reply whose value of “Configured MIB” is “unconfigured” (S248). If there is even one reply with the value of “Configured MIB” being “unconfigured” (S248: YES), the test result is determined to be an unconfigured device (S250). On the other hand, when there is no SNMP Reply from the printer 20 (S246: NO), or when there is no reply with “Configured MIB” value “unconfigured” even if there is an SNMP Reply (S248: NO). ), It is assumed that there is no unset device as a test result (S252). This test result is stored in the form of a flag or the like, and is referred to in the determination processing in S208 described later.

  When the processing of S242 to S252 shown in FIG. 11 described above is finished, the processing of S206 shown in FIG. 10 is finished. Subsequently, as a result of the test by the processing of S206, the PC 30 determines that an unset device is If there is an unset device (S208: YES), the LAN I / F to be tested is stored as a valid LAN I / F (S210). Then, when the process of S210 is completed or there is no unset device (S208: YES), the process returns to S202. As a result, as long as there is an unprocessed LAN I / F, the processes of S202 to S210 are repeated, and the LAN I / F is processed one by one in order.

  As a result of the above repeated processing, when processing for all LAN I / Fs is completed, there is no unprocessed LAN I / F (S202: NO), and then the PC 30 can detect a valid LAN I / F. It is checked whether or not there is (S220).

  If a valid LAN I / F has not been detected (S220: YES), an error message (see FIG. 13) prompting the user to prepare a valid LAN I / F is displayed (S222), and the wizard The process proceeds to end the process. Note that the process for ending the wizard is a process necessary for ending this process, such as a process for releasing the resources used in this process, but this type of process itself is the key to the present invention. Since this is a process that is generally used in a similar interactive program, not a detailed description, a detailed description of the process for ending the wizard will be omitted.

  On the other hand, if a valid LAN I / F has been detected in the process of S220 (S220: NO), the PC 30 checks whether or not there are a plurality of valid LAN I / Fs (S224).

  Here, when there are a plurality of valid LAN I / Fs (S224: YES), a message (see FIG. 14) is displayed instructing the user to disable unnecessary I / Fs (see FIG. 14). (S226), and the process proceeds to the process for ending the wizard. Note that the content of the message is to be set by turning off the power of the device (such as another printer in the same network as the printer 20) that has been detected as having multiple LAN I / Fs enabled. It may be a message indicating that only the printer power is turned on. In other words, by stopping the unnecessary communication I / F unit, the user may be notified that erroneous detection of the unnecessary communication I / F unit should be avoided, or the unnecessary communication I / F unit is detected. By stopping the operation of the network device that is the cause, the user may be notified that erroneous detection of the unnecessary communication I / F unit should be avoided.

  On the other hand, in the process of S224, when there are not a plurality of effective LAN I / Fs (S224: YES), the process of S220 and S224 indicates that there is one effective LAN I / F. This means that the automatic selection of the LAN I / F has succeeded (S228). Therefore, it is checked whether or not a valid IP address is assigned to the LAN I / F for the automatically selected LAN I / F (S230).

  If a valid IP address is not assigned (S230: NO), an error message (see FIG. 15) without a valid IP address is displayed (S232), and the process proceeds to a process for ending the wizard. .

  On the other hand, if a valid IP address is assigned (S230: YES), an unconfigured device can be accessed and only one LAN I / F to which a valid IP address is assigned can be detected. As a result, this process ends normally.

As described above, when the PC 30 executes each procedure according to the setting processing program, the PC 30 (setting processing device in the present invention) first performs a plurality of LAN I / F 34, 35, 38, and 39 (communication I / F section in the present invention) are used to test whether communication with the printer 20 (setting target apparatus in the present invention) is possible. Based on the processing of S220 to S228, the LAN I / F that can communicate with the printer 20 (in this embodiment, the wireless LAN I / F 35) is specified. After accepting input of various setting values from the user in the processing of S300 to S700, in the processing of S800, setting data is transmitted from the PC 30 to the printer 20 using the previously specified wireless LAN I / F 35. Is sent to set up the printer 20 (remote setup). Therefore, (in this embodiment, four LAN I / F) a number of LAN I / F in PC30 be provided with, the above steps S202～S210 (test procedure) and the S220~S228 procedure ( By executing the communication I / F unit specifying procedure in the present invention, a LAN I / F that can communicate with the printer 20 is specified.

  Therefore, if each procedure according to the setting processing program is executed by the PC 30, the user can search for a suitable LAN I / F from among a plurality of LAN I / Fs for remote setup of the printer 20. Will not need to be performed, and the user will not be able to continue with the remote setup or the remote setup will not be completed properly due to the user's accidentally selecting an invalid LAN I / F. There's nothing to do.

  Further, on the PC 30 side, it is possible to identify whether or not the printer 20 is an unconfigured device (configuration target device) based on information included in the response from the printer 20 (value of “Configured MIB”). Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not the device is a setting target device, compared to a case where a network device that does not have a function of returning a response including equivalent information is set as a setting target. In addition, since a network device that has already been set is not set as a setting target, even if there are a plurality of set network devices on the network, if only the printer 20 is an unset device, the printer 20 can be simplified. And it can identify reliably as a setting object apparatus. Furthermore, since it is possible to determine whether the device is an unconfigured device by looking at only the value of “Configured MIB” on the PC 30 side, compared with the case where the determination is made by looking at a plurality of data, Judgment procedure becomes simple procedure.

  If a plurality of LAN I / Fs remain as candidates as LAN I / Fs that can communicate with the printer 20, such as when another SNMP-compatible device equivalent to the printer 20 exists on the network, S224 and By the process of S226, the user can know a workaround for enabling automatic selection of an appropriate LAN I / F, and thus can take appropriate measures.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the processing that is shifted when it is determined that there are a plurality of valid LAN I / Fs in the determination processing of S224 described in the first embodiment. However, other processing procedures and hardware configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, for the same configuration as in the first embodiment, by using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as they are, the correspondence with the first embodiment. The contents overlapping with those of the first embodiment are not described and illustrated.

  The second embodiment will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 16, the processes from S202 to S224 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description starts from the portion corresponding to the determination process in S224.

  The PC 30 checks whether or not there are a plurality of valid LAN I / Fs (S224). If there are a plurality of valid LAN I / Fs (S224: YES), the process proceeds to the user selection process of the LAN I / F. (S227).

The process of S227 is a process as shown in detail in FIG.
First, the PC 30 acquires information about all LAN I / F recognized by the OS from the OS (S262), and displays a LAN I / F selection screen (see FIG. 18) (S264). LAN
In the LAN I / F selection field 211 in the I / F selection screen, information on the LAN I / F acquired by the processing of S262 is displayed. In addition, a “Refresh” button 213, a “<Back” button 215, a “Cancel” button 217, a “Next>” button 219, and the like are also displayed on the LAN I / F selection screen.

  Subsequently, the PC 30 waits until receiving an operation from the user (S266: NO). If the operation is received from the user (S266: YES), the PC 30 is an operation of pressing the “Refresh” button 213 (S268: YES), the process of S200 described above is started from the beginning. If the operation is not an operation of pressing the “Refresh” button 213 (S268: NO), an operation of pressing the “<Back” button 215 (S270: YES) starts the processing of S100 described above from the beginning. . If the operation is not an operation of pressing the “<Back” button 215 (S270: NO), an operation of pressing the “Cancel” button 217 (S272: YES) shifts to the Cancel process (S274).

  In addition, if it transfers to Cancel processing, the cancellation confirmation screen (refer FIG. 19) will be displayed. In the cancellation confirmation screen, an “Exit” button 221, a “Resume” button 223, and the like are displayed. When the user performs an operation of pressing the “Exit” button 221, processing for releasing resources used in this processing, etc. Then, the process proceeds to a process for interrupting the present process. On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of pressing the “Resume” button 223, the process returns to the stage before the transition to the cancel confirmation screen.

  If it is not an operation of pressing the “Cancel” button 217 (S272: NO), if the operation is to press the “Next>” button 217 (S276: YES), the highlighted LAN I / F is selected. (S278). In the LAN I / F selection field 211 in the LAN I / F selection screen, information on the LAN I / F acquired by the processing of S262 is displayed. Here, one or more LAN I / Fs are displayed. F may be displayed, and only one of the LAN I / Fs is highlighted. In the process of S278, one LAN I / F highlighted at the time of the process of S278 is selected. Then, when the process of S278 is finished, this process is finished.

  If the operation is not an operation of pressing the “Next>” button 217 (S276: NO), other processing is executed (S280), and the processing returns to S266. As other processing, the above highlight display movement processing by an operation with an arrow key or a pointing device is performed, but since this processing is also generally used in this kind of interactive program, detailed processing is performed. Description is omitted.

  When the processes of S262 to S280 described above are normally completed through the process of S278, the process of S227 shown in FIG. 16 is completed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to the process of S230. Since the processing after S230 is the same as the processing already described in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  Even if each procedure according to such a setting processing program is executed by the PC 30, as in the first embodiment, the PC 30 (setting processing device referred to in the present invention) is connected to the printer 20 by the processing of S220 to S228. A communicable LAN I / F (wireless LAN I / F 35 in the case of this embodiment) is specified. In particular, the following operations and effects differ from those of the first embodiment in the following points.

  When there is a LAN I / F that can communicate with a device equivalent to the printer 20 in addition to the wireless LAN I / F 35 that can communicate with the printer 20, such as when there is an SNMP-compatible device that returns a response equivalent to the printer 20. (In other words, in the case of S224: YES), in the first embodiment, the coping method is notified to the user and the processing is simply finished. In the second embodiment, a plurality of LAN I / Fs are candidates. Even when it remains, the LAN I / F that can communicate with the printer 20 can be specified based on the instruction received from the user, and the subsequent processing can be continued.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
In the third embodiment, the unset device check process in S204 described in the first embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment, but the other processing procedures and hardware configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. This is the same as the embodiment. Therefore, also in the description of the third embodiment, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is used as it is in the first embodiment by using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment as they are. The contents corresponding to those in the first embodiment are not described and illustrated.

  The third embodiment will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 20 replaces the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When the unset device check process shown in FIG. 20 is started, the PC 30 broadcasts an SNMP Get packet of “SSID MIB” and “communication mode MIB” using SNMP (S290), and accepts SNMP Reply for 2 seconds ( S291).

As in the first embodiment, the packet broadcast in the process of S290 is sent to this LAN via one LAN I / F selected at the time of the process of S242 described above.
It is transmitted to all devices existing on the network connected via the I / F. If there is a device that can return a response to the packet among the devices that have received the packet, the device returns a response. A device that cannot return a response to the packet simply discards the received packet.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 20 is a device that can return a response to the packet. When the printer 20 receives the packet, the printer 20 returns a response (SNMP Reply) to the PC 30. In the present embodiment, if the printer 20 is not set, the initial value “Wireless” is returned as the value of “SSID MIB”, and the initial value “ad hoc mode” is returned as the value of “communication mode MIB”.

  Therefore, after completing the process of S291, the PC 30 checks whether there is an SNMP reply (S292). If there is an SNMP Reply from the printer 20 (S292: YES), the PC 30 determines whether there is at least one reply in which both “SSID MIB” and “communication mode MIB” match the initial values. Check (S294). If there is at least one reply in which both “SSID MIB” and “communication mode MIB” match the initial value (S294: YES), the test result is set as an unset device (S296). On the other hand, when there is no SNMP Reply from the printer 20 (S292: NO), or there is an SNMP Reply, there is only a reply that at least one of “SSID MIB” or “Communication Mode MIB” does not match the initial value, If there is no reply in which both “SSID MIB” and “communication mode MIB” match the initial values (S294: NO), the test result is set to no unset device (S298). This test result is stored in the form of a flag or the like, and is later referred to in the determination processing of S208 as in the case of the first embodiment.

When the processes of S290 to S298 shown in FIG. 20 described above are completed, the process of S206 (see FIG. 10) described in the first embodiment is completed.
Even if each procedure according to such a setting processing program is executed by the PC 30, as in the first embodiment, the PC 30 (setting processing device as referred to in the present invention) performs a plurality of LANs by the processing of S202 to S210. Using each of the I / Fs 34, 35, 38, and 39 (communication I / F unit in the present invention) to test whether or not communication with the printer 20 (setting target device in the present invention) is possible. However, in particular, the following functions and effects different from those of the first embodiment are exhibited in the following points.

In the case of the first embodiment, the printer 20 is configured to return information ( unset flag) indicating whether or not the printer 20 is not set, and on the PC 30 side, the printer 20 is not set based on the information. Since the device was recognized as a device, a device that cannot return equivalent information could not be recognized as an unconfigured device on the PC 30 side. On the other hand, in the case of the third embodiment, the printer 20 does not return information indicating whether or not the printer 20 is not set, but returns a setting value for the SSID and communication mode. Based on the information, the printer 20 recognizes that it is an unset device.

Therefore, since the PC 30 determines whether the device is an unconfigured device by looking at data of a plurality of items, as compared with the case where only the “Configured MIB” value (unconfigured flag) is viewed as in the first embodiment. However, although the determination procedure on the PC 30 side is somewhat complicated, the multi-item data does not necessarily have to be dedicated information indicating that it has not been set, and the multi-item data provided for other purposes. Can be used to determine whether the device is an unset device.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said specific one Embodiment, In addition, it can implement with a various form.

  For example, in the above embodiment, since the initial value of the communication mode is the ad hoc mode among the settings related to the wireless connection of the printer 20, the setting on the PC 30 side is set to the ad hoc mode according to the setting on the printer 20 side. The wireless connection between the printer 20 and the PC 30 has been established, but the communication mode between the devices is not particularly limited as long as communication can be performed between the devices, and may be arbitrarily set according to the specifications of the device serving as the node. .

  As a specific example, for example, when the printer 20 described above is configured to function as an access point and a wireless connection with a wireless LAN terminal can be established in the infrastructure mode, the setting of the PC 30 is matched with the printer 20. By setting, the wireless connection between the printer 20 and the PC 30 may be established in the infrastructure mode, and the above setting process may be started in that state.

  In the above embodiment, IEEE802.11b / IEEE802.11g, which is one of the wireless LAN standards, and LAN standards IEEE802.3 / IEEE802.3u are exemplified, but the communication I / F standard is not limited at all. As standards other than the above-described embodiment, there are standards such as Bluetooth (trademark) and IEEE802.11a, for example, but the configuration of the present invention is adopted even when communication I / F units of different standards are mixed. be able to.

  Further, in the second embodiment, in the process of S262, the information about all the LAN I / F recognized by the OS is obtained and presented to the user as selection targets. However, the process of S210 Since the effective LAN I / F is stored, information on the effective LAN I / F may be acquired and presented to the user as a selection target. In this case, since the LAN I / F that is not determined to be valid is excluded from the selection candidates by the user, all LAN I / Fs included in the PC 30 are more appropriate than those that are candidates. Can be easily selected.

  In addition, although a printer has been exemplified as a setting target device, the present invention is applied to a network device such as a copier, a scanner, a FAX, a multifunction device having some of those functions, and a file server device. Can do.

  In particular, the present invention is preferably applied to a device that requires initial setting but does not have sufficient user I / F.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire system described as an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of a setting process. The figure which shows a wizard start screen. The figure which shows an IP address setting screen. The figure which shows a network selection screen. The figure which shows a network setting screen. The figure which shows a security setting screen. The figure which shows a setting content confirmation screen. The figure which shows a wizard completion screen. The flowchart which shows a network I / F determination process. The flowchart which shows a non-setting device check process. 6 is a flowchart showing printer-side response processing. The figure which shows the error message screen which prompts preparation of effective LAN I / F. The figure which shows the error message screen of having a user disable I / F which is not required. The figure which shows the error message screen without a valid IP address. 9 is a flowchart showing network I / F determination processing in the second embodiment. The flowchart which shows the user selection process of LAN I / F. The figure which shows a LAN I / F selection screen. The figure which shows a cancellation confirmation screen. 10 is a flowchart illustrating unset device check processing according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Access point, 20, 40 ... Printer, 30 ... Personal computer, 31 ... CPU, 32 ... ROM, 33 ... RAM, 34, 35 ... Wireless LAN I / F, 36 ... input unit, 37 ... display unit, 38, 39 ... wired LAN I / F.

Claims (31)

A setting processing device having a plurality of communication I / F units each connectable to a different network, and one or more network devices with which the setting processing device can communicate using any of the plurality of communication I / F units A program for executing setting of the setting target device by transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device, with one of the network devices as a setting target device. There,
A test procedure for testing whether or not communication with the setting target device is possible using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
A communication I / F unit identification procedure for identifying a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the setting target device based on the result of the test;
A setting processing program, comprising: a transmission procedure for transmitting setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device using the specified communication I / F unit. The test procedure is:
Using each of the plurality of communication I / F units to send a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on the network;
Receiving a response when a response is returned in response to the response request,
The communication I / F part specifying procedure is as follows:
A procedure for identifying whether or not the device is a setting target device based on information included in a response received in the test procedure;
When the identification result is the setting target device, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received can be communicated with the setting target device. The setting processing program according to claim 1, wherein the setting processing program includes: The setting processing program according to claim 2, wherein the setting target device is an unset device that has not undergone setting processing. The information included in the response received in the test procedure is an unset flag that is set when the device that returned the response is the unset device,
In the communication I / F unit specifying procedure, when the unset flag included in the response received in the test procedure is set, the device that returned the response is identified as the unset device. The setting processing program according to claim 3, wherein a communication I / F unit used for communication with the non-set device is specified as a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the non-set device. The information included in the response received in the test procedure has a predetermined initial value when the device that returned the response is the unset device, while the device that returned the response Is not the unset device, at least one item is data of a plurality of items that are data other than the initial value,
In the communication I / F unit specifying procedure, when all of the data of the plurality of items included in the response received in the test procedure remains the initial values, the device that has returned the response is the unset device. The setting according to claim 3, wherein the communication I / F unit used for communication with the non-set device is identified as a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the non-set device. Processing program. The test procedure is:
Using each of the plurality of communication I / F units to send a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on the network;
Receiving a response when a response is returned in response to the response request,
The communication I / F part specifying procedure is as follows:
When receiving the response, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received is specified as a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device. The setting processing program according to claim 1, wherein: The setting process according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the test procedure is a procedure for transmitting the response request and receiving the response in accordance with a simple network management protocol (SNMP). program. When a plurality of communication I / F units are detected as communication I / F units capable of communicating with the setting target device, the user selects one communication I / F unit from the plurality of communication I / F units. A selection input procedure for accepting an input for selection;
2. A communication I / F unit identification support procedure for identifying a communication I / F unit selected by a user by the input as a communication I / F unit communicable with the setting target device. A setting processing program according to claim 7. When a plurality of communication I / F units are detected as communication I / F units capable of communicating with the setting target device, the useless communication I / F unit is stopped by stopping the useless communication I / F unit. The setting processing program according to claim 1, further comprising: an erroneous detection avoidance method notification procedure for notifying a user that erroneous detection should be avoided. A setting data input procedure for displaying a data input screen and allowing the user to input the setting data;
The transmission procedure is a procedure for transmitting the setting data input by the user through the setting data input procedure from the setting processing device to the setting target device,
The communication I / F unit identification procedure is a procedure for identifying a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device before the transmission procedure. The setting processing program described in the above. The setting according to claim 10, wherein the communication I / F unit specifying procedure is a procedure for specifying a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device before the setting data input procedure. Processing program. A setting target device information display screen for displaying information related to the setting target device, and a setting target device information display procedure for allowing the user to confirm the setting target device;
The transmission procedure is a procedure for transmitting the setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device after the setting target device information display procedure,
The communication I / F unit specifying procedure is a procedure for specifying a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the setting target device before the setting target device information display procedure. Item 12. A setting processing program according to Item 11. The selection input procedure includes:
When a plurality of communication I / F units are detected as communication I / F units capable of communicating with the setting target device, the user selects one communication I / F unit from the plurality of communication I / F units. A procedure for displaying a communication I / F part selection screen for selection;
The setting processing program according to claim 8, further comprising: a procedure for receiving an input from the communication I / F unit selection screen. Each of the network devices has a plurality of communication I / F units connectable to different networks, and can communicate with one or more network devices using any of the plurality of communication I / F units. Is a setting processing device for setting the setting target device by transmitting setting data to the setting target device.
Test means for testing whether communication with the setting target device is possible using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
A communication I / F unit specifying unit that specifies a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device based on a result of the test performed by the test unit;
A transmission unit configured to transmit setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device by using the communication I / F unit specified by the communication I / F unit specifying unit. Processing equipment. The test means includes
Means for transmitting a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on a network by using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
Means for receiving the response when a response is returned in response to the response request,
The communication I / F unit specifying means includes:
Means for identifying whether or not it is the setting target device based on information included in a response received by the test means;
When the identification result is the setting target device, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received can be communicated with the setting target device. The setting processing device according to claim 14, further comprising: means for specifying The setting processing device according to claim 15, wherein the setting target device is an unset device that has not undergone setting processing. The information included in the response received by the test means is an unset flag that is set when the device that returned the response is the unset device,
The communication I / F specifying unit identifies that the device that returned the response is the unset device when the unset flag included in the response received by the test unit is set. The setting processing device according to claim 16, wherein a communication I / F unit used for communication with the non-set device is specified as a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the non-set device. The information included in the response received by the test means is a predetermined initial value when the device that returned the response is the unset device, while the device that returned the response Is not the unset device, at least one item is data of a plurality of items that are data other than the initial value,
The communication I / F unit specifying unit, when all of the data of the plurality of items included in the response received by the test unit remains the initial value, the device that has returned the response is the unset device. The setting according to claim 16, wherein the communication I / F unit used for communication with the unconfigured device is identified as a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the unconfigured device. Processing equipment. The test means includes
Means for transmitting a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on a network by using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
Means for receiving the response when a response is returned in response to the response request,
The communication I / F unit specifying means includes:
A means for specifying a communication I / F unit used when transmitting the response request and receiving the response as a communication I / F unit capable of communicating with the setting target device when the response is received; The setting processing device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The setting process according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the test unit is a unit that transmits the response request and receives the response in accordance with a simple network management protocol (SNMP). apparatus. When a plurality of communication I / F units are detected as communication I / F units capable of communicating with the setting target device, a user can select one communication I / F unit from the plurality of communication I / F units. Selection input means for receiving an input for selecting,
A communication I / F unit identification support unit that identifies a communication I / F unit selected by a user by input using the selection input unit as a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device. The setting processing device according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the setting processing device is characterized in that: A setting data input means for displaying a data input screen and allowing the user to input the setting data;
The transmission means is means for transmitting the setting data input by a user by a setting data input means from the setting processing device to the setting target device,
The communication I / F unit identification unit is a unit that identifies a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device before the transmission unit transmits the setting data to the setting target device. The setting processing device according to any one of claims 14 to 21. The communication I / F unit identification unit is a unit that identifies a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device before the setting data input unit displays the data input screen. The setting processing device according to claim 22. A setting target device information display means for displaying a setting target device information display screen for displaying information relating to the setting target device, and allowing a user to confirm the setting target device;
The transmission means is means for transmitting the setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device after the setting target device information display means displays a setting target device information display screen.
The communication I / F unit identification unit is a unit that identifies a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device before the setting target device information display unit displays the setting target device information display screen. 24. A setting processing apparatus according to claim 22 or claim 23. The selection input means includes
When a plurality of communication I / F units are detected as communication I / F units capable of communicating with the setting target device, the user selects one communication I / F unit from the plurality of communication I / F units. Means for displaying a communication I / F part selection screen for selection;
The setting processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: means for receiving an input from the communication I / F unit selection screen. A setting processing device having a plurality of communication I / F units each connectable to a different network, and one or more network devices with which the setting processing device can communicate using any of the plurality of communication I / F units A setting process in which the setting processing device sets the setting target device by transmitting setting data to the setting target device using one of the network devices as the setting target device. A system,
The setting processing device includes:
Test means for testing whether communication with the setting target device is possible using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
A communication I / F unit specifying unit that specifies a communication I / F unit that can communicate with the setting target device based on a result of the test performed by the test unit;
A transmission unit configured to transmit setting data from the setting processing device to the setting target device by using the communication I / F unit specified by the communication I / F unit specifying unit. Processing system. The test means includes
Means for transmitting a response request for inquiring whether or not the setting target device exists on a network by using each of the plurality of communication I / F units;
Means for receiving the response when a response is returned in response to the response request,
The communication I / F unit specifying means includes:
Means for identifying whether or not it is the setting target device based on information included in a response received by the test means;
When the identification result is the setting target device, the communication I / F unit used when the response request is transmitted and when the response is received can be communicated with the setting target device. The setting processing system according to claim 26, further comprising: means for specifying The setting processing system according to claim 27, wherein the setting target device is an unset device that has not undergone setting processing. A network device used when configuring the setting processing system according to claim 28,
When a response request for inquiring whether or not the unset device exists on the network is transmitted from the setting processing device, response request receiving means for receiving the response request;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the setting processing by the setting processing device has been received;
Undetected information transmitting means for returning a response in which an unset flag indicating that the apparatus is not set is set to the setting processing apparatus when the detecting means detects that the setting process has not been received; A network apparatus comprising: A network device used when configuring the setting processing system according to claim 28,
When a response request for inquiring whether or not the unset device exists on the network is transmitted from the setting processing device, response request receiving means for receiving the response request;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the setting processing by the setting processing device has been received;
If the detection means detects that the setting process has not been received, a response is returned to the setting processing device, whereas if it is detected that the setting process has been received, a response is sent to the setting process. A network device comprising: an unset response means that is not returned to the device. The network device according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the network device performs reception of the response request and transmission of the response according to a simple network management protocol (SNMP).