JP2007281684A - Gateway device, information sharing system, and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gateway device, an information sharing system, and a method therefor capable of safely and immediately sharing information with a destination in voice speech status. <P>SOLUTION: If button operation is performed at an IP telephone apparatus 22 in an information provisioning destination network 20 between networks where a sound session and a data session are established through a gateway device, a driver module and a management program are transmitted from a gateway device 21 of the network 10 to an information provisioning source network 10. A printer driver contained in the driver module is installed in a client PC 13 with an install module contained in the management program. Moreover, the printer driver is executed with an execution module contained in the management program, and a printing request is issued using an IP address contained in the driver module as destination. Then, the printer driver is un-installed with an un-installation module contained in the management program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gateway device and an information sharing system and method for sharing predetermined information between mutual networks, and more particularly to a gateway device and information that can provide the information based on the operating environment of the device that broadcasts the information. The present invention relates to a sharing system and method.

  Generally, when information such as an electronic document is shared by a plurality of users, information sharing can be performed by providing a device that can be commonly accessed by the sharing user, such as a document management server. In addition, when providing information to an unspecified number of people, it is possible to provide information to a third party by starting up a Web server that provides Web content.

  Among them, when information is shared between specific users, it is common to share the information by simply transmitting the information using an e-mail function or a P2P (Peer to Peer) function.

  The information provider (user) who received the information can share the information by referring to the provided content, but when making an inquiry about the content of the provided information to the information provider, For example, inquiries can be made using methods such as telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, and bulletin board. In this case, from the perspective of the provider who provided the information, if a specific information is provided, it can be easily determined that the inquiry is for that information. If so, it takes time to identify the information to be inquired.

  In response to the inquiry, the information provider may provide further information to the user who has made the inquiry as necessary. In such a case, in order to provide information immediately, it is necessary to constantly monitor the inquiry and to prepare the information to be provided in advance.

  As an example of a technology for providing information, there is a conventional technology that can provide a printing service for outputting information to a printer installed at the provider, where the information provider and the provider are at a long distance. 1 is disclosed.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a proxy device that can communicate with a print server that cannot pass through a firewall by using IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) is provided, and a server site for the print server is established in the proxy device. Thus, the print server is regarded as an IPP server published on the Internet, and a print service request and a response can be exchanged.

  By using such a technology, it becomes possible to easily share necessary information between the information provider and the provider. However, in recent years, threats (risks) have been generated by exploiting rapidly developed technologies. It is also true that information needs to be protected from these threats.

In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, a management apparatus that manages management information (printer driver and IP address) of these printing apparatuses is provided in a network in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are installed, and printing is performed. Acquires management information of a printing device that can be printed from the management device and makes a print request based on the management information, so that a printing device can be searched and printed appropriately at the destination.
JP 2003-58459 A JP-A-2004-280644

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a proxy device is provided so that communication can be performed across a firewall. However, it is necessary to know detailed information of the information providing destination printer in advance. There is a problem that information cannot be shared with a large number of specific providers.

  Further, in this conventional technique, since it is necessary to newly provide a proxy device, it takes a lot of time and a large amount of cost to construct the system.

  Furthermore, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, by arranging a management apparatus that manages a plurality of printing apparatuses installed on a network, the unspecified number of problems that are indicated in Patent Document 1 The point that information cannot be shared is solved, and it is possible to appropriately print out with each other. However, as with Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a management device, so it takes a lot of time and a lot of cost to construct the system. It will be necessary.

  In addition, the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem in that necessary information cannot be immediately exchanged with a specific partner.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device, an information sharing system, and a method that can safely and immediately share information with a partner in a voice call state.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 establishes a call session between telephones provided at each point by connecting a plurality of points, and between a destination and a node of the call session. In a gateway device for controlling digital communication, management means for managing control information for realizing the digital communication, and based on establishment of the call session, the control information managed by the management means is transferred to the other party of the call session. And a reception control means for performing reception control for causing the node to receive digital information transmitted from the other party based on the control information notified by the information notification means. To do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the node is an image forming apparatus, and the management unit identifies driver software for realizing the function of the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus. The identification information is managed, the information notification means notifies the destination of the driver software and the identification information, and the reception control means sets the identification information as the destination by executing the driver software at the destination. The image forming request transmitted from the other party is transferred to the image forming apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the management means includes an install module for installing the driver software, an execution module for executing the driver software, and an uninstall module for uninstalling the driver software. The information notifying means notifies the other party of the module group managed by the managing means, and the other party is installed module included in the module group notified by the information notifying means. The driver software is installed by the execution module, the driver software is executed by the execution module to set a function, and the driver receives the completion of reception from the image forming apparatus by the uninstallation module. And said that you want to uninstall the software.

  Further, the invention of claim 4 is an information sharing system in which each point is connected by a gateway device, and information is shared with the other party who has established a call session between the telephones via the gateway device. The apparatus includes: a management unit that manages control information for realizing the digital communication at a node provided for each point; and the control information managed by the management unit based on the establishment of the call session Information notifying means for notifying the other party who has established a session, and performing digital communication with the node based on the control information notified by the information notifying means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the node is an image forming apparatus, and the management unit includes an install module for installing the driver software, an execution module for executing the driver software, and the execution module. The module group including an uninstall module for uninstalling the driver software is managed, the information notification unit notifies the destination of the module group managed by the management unit, and the destination is notified by the information notification unit. The driver software is installed by an installation module included in the notified module group, the driver software is executed by the execution module to set a function, and the uninstallation is notified by a reception completion notification from the image forming apparatus. Wherein the uninstalling the driver software by Lumpur module.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the gateway device includes the telephone.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the gateway device includes the image forming apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 8 is an information sharing system in an information sharing system in which points where nodes are provided are connected by gateway devices at each point, and information is shared by digital communication via the connected gateway devices. In the method, control information for realizing digital communication at a node provided for each point is managed by a management unit of the gateway device, and the control information managed by the management unit based on establishment of the call session Is notified to the other party who has established the call session by the information notification means, and communication with the node that has notified the control information by the information notification means is performed together with the telephone call.

  According to the present invention, an IP address and a printer driver of a printer that prints digital information shared between each other are transferred to a client PC that is an information provider, with respect to a partner in a call state using digital communication. With this configuration, the information provider can print output in an optimal format based on the printer's operating specifications, and it is possible to minimize problems that are difficult to see and do not print. The effect of becoming.

  In addition, since the transferred IP address and printer driver are deleted after the print output, there is an effect that unauthorized use can be prevented.

  That is, it is possible to print out in an optimum format for an information providing destination printer that performs information sharing, and it is possible to share information with high safety.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gateway device, an information sharing system, and a method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the information sharing system shown in the following embodiment, an example is shown in which information points are shared by connecting points in remote locations via communication lines, but the present invention is limited to this. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied in a closed network such as a LAN.

  In addition, a plurality of points can be set in the network of the providing source on the side of providing information and the network of the providing destination on the side of receiving information provided through the communication line.

  Further, in the following embodiments, a printer is connected as an example of an image forming apparatus to a network at a point where information is provided, and information is shared between the mutual networks by printing out from the printer. Information sharing may be performed by connecting a client PC to the network of the providing destination on the information receiving side and displaying data on the display screen of the client PC. As other examples of the image forming apparatus at this time, a multifunction peripheral, an Internet facsimile machine, or the like is shown.

  FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram configured by applying a gateway apparatus, an information sharing system, and a method according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, this information sharing system is a system for sharing digital information with a communication partner of the communication service by using a communication service typified by broadband communication such as voice communication, video and chat using a communication line. In this system, digital information is provided and information is shared in a format suitable for a processing apparatus that processes digital information provided in a network on the information receiving side.

  As voice communication at this time, for example, there is an IP phone using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, and as broadband communication, there are real-time video distribution and video chat using a network camera.

  Information sharing is performed with a communication partner using such a communication service.

  In the following, an example in which “IP phone” is used as a communication service will be described.

  This information sharing system provides information by sending a call to an information provider network 10 that accepts a call by an IP phone and provides digital information to be shared between the IP provider and the information provider network 10. The information providing destination network 20 configured by the receiving information providing destination network 20 and connected to the information providing source network 10 is configured by one or more networks.

  The information providing source network 10 and the information providing destination network 20 are connected by a communication line. For example, in addition to Internet connection, a public line such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or a wide area Ethernet (registered trademark) service or a dedicated line is used. Connect using wires. Of course, not only these WAN (Wide Area Network) connections but also connections within a closed network using LAN cables may be used. In this case, it is indicated that the information providing source network 10 and the information providing destination network 20 are in the same network (within the LAN).

  The information providing source network 10 includes a gateway device 11, an IP phone 12, and a client PC 13, and the information providing destination network 20 includes a gateway device 21, an IP phone 22, and a printer 23. All the devices belonging to are nodes connected by LAN cables and can communicate with each other.

  In this information sharing system configured by connecting these networks to each other, the digital information stored in the client PC 13 installed in the information providing source network 10 is transferred to the printer 23 installed in the information providing destination network 20. Share information by printing out digital information. That is, the client PC 13 of the information providing source network 10 performs information sharing by converting the data into a data format suitable for the printer 23.

  Next, nodes constituting each network will be described.

  First, in the information providing destination network 20, the gateway device 21 is a network interface device that plays the role of a default gateway, and is configured by a router or the like. The gateway device 21 has route information to each node in the network, and can switch a transfer destination device according to the type of data to be transferred. For example, in the case of communication from the outside, if the received data is voice data by voice communication, it is transferred to the IP telephone 22, and if it is print data by broadband communication, it is transferred to the printer 23. That is, the stored route information includes the IP addresses assigned to the IP telephone 22 and the printer 23, respectively.

  Further, in the communication, a “data session” for transmitting / receiving print data simultaneously with a “voice session” between IP telephones can be established, and a communication path for print data in addition to the voice data is established. That is, by specifying the communication partner of the voice session by the IP telephone as the communication partner of the print data, it is not necessary to newly perform processing for establishing a route to the communication destination. The gateway devices of each network in a call state by the IP telephone can recognize each other, and the transfer destination of the print data is determined based on the path information stored in the gateway device.

  In the VoIP technology for realizing this IP phone, a voice packet encapsulating voice data with identification information such as a source IP address and a destination IP address is received from the IP telephone set 22 of the information providing destination network 20. The identification information (network address etc.) of the network in communication state can be specified by using.

  Further, the gateway device 21 stores a printer driver for printing out print data corresponding to digital information shared between the mutual networks by the printer 23, and the printer driver is stored in the client PC 13 of the information providing source network 10. The management program to be installed and uninstalled after execution is also stored.

  This management program is composed of an automatic installation module, an automatic printing module, and an automatic uninstallation module. The automatic installation module is a module that automatically installs the printer driver in the client PC 13.

  The automatic printing module activates the printer driver installed by the automatic installation module, displays a print setting screen that enables print settings in the print output process by the information provider of the information providing source network 10, and by the information provider This module performs processing for transferring print data of digital information to the information providing destination network 20 that is the transmission source of the management program based on the set print settings.

  The automatic uninstallation module is a module for uninstalling the printer driver installed by the automatic installation module.

  These management program, printer driver, and IP address of the printer 23 are transferred to the client PC 13 of the network where the data session is established. Incidentally, a printer driver necessary for printing output by the printer 23 and a printer IP address included in the path information are collectively referred to as a “driver module”.

  That is, in order to share information, the gateway device 21 of the information providing destination network 20 transfers the management program and the driver module to the client PC 13 of the information providing source network 10.

  The IP telephone 22 realizes voice communication by transmitting voice data obtained by packetizing voice to the other party. Of course, the processing is performed via a processing server that processes voice data represented by a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server or the like (not shown).

  In addition, a management program and a driver module can be transmitted by a button operation to a network in which the other party's IP telephone in a call state is installed. For example, when the information provider of the information providing destination network 20 presses the button of the IP telephone as “# 1”, the operation content is notified to the gateway device 21 of the network, and the management program and driver stored in the gateway device 21 The module is transferred to the network (information provider network 20) where the data session is established.

  Further, after the information provider confirms that the print data has been printed out by the printer 23, for example, when the button of the IP telephone is pressed to “# 2”, a notification indicating the completion of printing is given. At this point, the digital information is shared as a print document between the mutual networks.

  Of course, the information provider does not perform the button operation, but the gateway device 21 of the information providing destination network 20 transfers the management program and the driver module in a state where the data session is established between the networks. Also good.

  The printer 23 prints out the transferred print data. Further, when a status confirmation request is made from the gateway device 21, the IP address installed in the printer is notified. At this time, the printer driver stored in the printer 23 may be transmitted to the gateway device 21. With this configuration, the printer driver stored in the gateway device 21 can be easily updated to the latest driver.

  Next, in the information providing destination network 10, the gateway device 11 is a network interface device that plays the role of a default gateway like the gateway device 21 of the information providing source network 20, and is configured by a router or the like. The gateway device 21 has route information to each node in the network, and can switch a transfer destination device according to the type of data to be transferred. For example, when the data is voice data by voice communication, the data is transferred to the IP telephone 12, and when the data is a management program or driver module by broadband communication, the data is transferred to the client PC 13.

  In addition, when transmission / reception of voice data by voice call using an IP telephone is started, a status confirmation request is transmitted to the client PC 13 in order to confirm the status of the client PC 13 storing the digital information. As a response, a status confirmation response is received.

  The IP telephone 12 implements a voice call with the IP telephone 21 of the information providing destination network 20.

  A plurality of client PCs 13 can be installed in the information providing source network 10 and store digital information shared between the mutual networks. The digital information provided to the information provider is selected from the digital information stored by the information provider in a call state using the IP telephone 12, and the screen is displayed. The management program and the driver module are received from the information providing destination network 20 by informing the information provider of this state by voice call.

  In these received client PCs 13, the printer driver of the driver module is installed in the client PC 13 by the automatic installation module included in the management program, and print output processing of print data for the digital information is executed by the automatic printing module. Then, the printer driver is uninstalled by the automatic uninstallation module.

  A flow of information providing processing performed by the received management program and driver module at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The management program and driver module information itself are deleted by the OS (Operating System) of the client PC 13 by rebooting or logging off the client PC 13.

  As a result, no management program or driver module remains on the client PC 13.

  With the network configuration as described above, it becomes possible to provide information in a format suitable for the device of the providing destination between the mutual networks in a call state.

  In the information sharing system having the network configuration as shown in FIG. 1, the gateway device (11, 21) is provided at the edge portion of the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The network configuration shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 may be used.

  In the network configuration shown in FIG. 2, IP telephones (12, 22) are provided at the edge of the network, and the functions of the gateway devices (11, 21) shown in FIG. Realized.

  Further, in the network configuration shown in FIG. 3, a printer 23 is provided at the edge portion of the information providing destination network 20, and this printer is configured to have the functions of the gateway devices (11, 21) shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, in the network configuration shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the network configuration shown in FIG. 1, a processing server 14 is newly provided in the information providing source network. In this configuration, the management module and driver module received from the gateway device 21 of the information providing destination network 20 are not installed in the client PC 13 of the information providing source network 10 but are installed in the newly provided processing server 14.

  By accessing the processing server 14 from the client PC 13, the information provider designates digital information to be provided and displays a print setting screen indicated by the installed printer driver to perform print settings. By issuing a print instruction, print data for the digital information is transferred to the information providing destination network 20.

  With this configuration, information can be shared with a simple network configuration.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the gateway device shown in FIG.

  The gateway device having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is a device that is installed at the edge of the network and has a bridge function inside and outside the network, and includes voice data for voice calls using an IP telephone, and print data from a client PC to a printer. In addition to the function of transferring the management program and the driver module to the client PC.

  Of course, route information indicating an access route to the network node is held, and data such as voice data is transferred based on the route information.

  The gateway device includes a call control unit 501, a data generation unit 502, a state confirmation unit 503, a storage unit 504, a management unit 505, a data control unit 506, and a communication unit 507, and voice data is transmitted by the call control unit 501. The data control unit 506 receives data other than voice.

  This gateway device is installed in any of the information providing source network 10 and the information providing destination network 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the processing contents of the gateway devices installed in the respective networks are shown below.

  First, in the gateway device 21 installed in the information providing destination network 20, the call control unit 501 that has received the voice data establishes a voice session between the IP telephones by controlling the voice data of the digital communication using the IP telephone. To do.

  The call control unit 501 transfers voice data to the data generation unit 502, and the data generation unit 502 creates voice data specifying a transfer destination IP address based on the route information stored in the storage unit 504, and performs communication. Audio data is transferred via the unit 507. The route information at this time is information in which an IP address of a transfer destination processing server, for example, a DNS (Domain Name Server) server or a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server is designated, and is sequentially processed by each processing server. The voice data is transferred to the other party's IP phone.

  A voice session is established between IP telephones in the mutual network by notifying a response to the voice data transfer process from the IP telephone of the other party.

  Furthermore, when the voice control unit 501 receives voice data from the IP telephone, the call control unit 501 notifies the status confirmation unit 503 of the fact. When the state confirmation unit 503 is notified from the call control unit 501 that the voice data from the IP telephone has been received, the state confirmation unit 503 confirms the state to the printer 23 node of the network (information providing destination network) where the gateway device 21 is installed. Send a request. This status confirmation request may be transferred to all nodes constituting the network without being limited to only the printer 23 node.

  In response to the status confirmation request transmitted by this operation confirmation, when the data control unit 506 receives a status confirmation response in which the printer driver and the IP address are designated from the printer 23, the printer 23 is in a normal operation state. to decide. If no notification is given after waiting for a certain time, it is determined that the printer is not in a normal operating state.

  The printer driver and IP address received by the data control unit 506 are managed by the management unit 505 for each printer. The management unit 505 manages a printer driver and an IP address for each printer, and manages a management program including an automatic installation module, an automatic printing module, and an automatic uninstallation module. The driver module including the printer driver and the IP address and the management program are acquired by the data generation unit 502 based on the transfer request from the data control unit 506, and are sent to the client PC of the information providing source network in which the voice session is established. Transferred.

  The processing as described above is performed by the gateway device 21 of the information providing destination network 20.

  Next, in the gateway device 11 installed in the information providing source network 10, when the call control unit 501 accepts voice data, it is transferred to the IP phone via the communication unit 507 based on the route information stored in the storage unit 504. To do. At the same time, the data generation unit 502 is notified that the audio data has been transferred. The data generation unit 502 creates a status confirmation request and transmits it via the communication unit 507 in order to confirm the operation of the client PC 13.

  Further, when the data control unit 506 receives the management program and the driver module, the data control unit 506 transfers the management program and the driver module to the client PC 13 designated as the transfer destination via the communication unit 507. When the data control unit 506 receives a print data transfer request from the client PC 13, the data control unit 506 transfers the print data to the gateway device of the network where the voice session is established. The message is transferred to the client PC 13.

  The processing as described above is performed by the gateway device 11 of the information providing destination network 10.

  6, 7 and 8 are sequence diagrams showing the flow of processing in the information sharing system of the present invention.

  6, in the information providing system shown in FIG. 1, an information providing source network that is a network that provides digital information shared between networks and an information providing destination network that is a network that receives digital information. The process transition in is shown.

  In FIG. 6, the nodes connected to the gateway device of the information providing destination network in a state where the gateway devices provided at the edge portions of the information providing destination network and the information providing source network are confirmed to be connected via communication lines or wirelessly. The IP telephone of the information provider network is called from the IP telephone that is (601).

  The gateway device of the information providing destination network that receives the call from the IP telephone makes a status check request to the printer in the network (602). This status confirmation request includes whether or not the printer is in a normal operating state and includes an IP address set for the printer and a transmission request from the printer driver, and receives a status confirmation response as a response (603).

  The gateway device that has received the status confirmation response stores the printer IP address and printer driver included in the status confirmation response, and waits for a response to the call originated from the IP telephone.

  Then, the IP phone of the information providing source network that receives a call from the IP telephone of the information providing destination network calls the information provider, and the gateway device of the information providing source network that forwards the call is a client PC of the same network. A status check request is made to 604 (604). When the client PC is in a normal operation state, a state confirmation response is received (605).

  When the information provider answers the call, the call response is notified to the IP telephone in the information providing destination network (606).

  As a result, a voice session in a voice call is established between the IP telephones between the mutual networks, and a data session is established between the printer and the client PC whose operation has been confirmed by the gateway device.

  The information provider of the information provider network displays the digital information to be shared on the screen by operating the client PC (607), and notifies the information provider of the information provider network that the information has been displayed. In response to this, the information provider presses the button of the IP telephone, for example, “# 1” (608), and the button operation content is notified to the gateway device of the same network (609).

  The notified gateway device performs transfer processing of the stored management program and driver module (610). By this transfer processing, the management program and the driver module are transferred to the client PC of the information providing source network in which the data session is established (611).

  In the client PC of the information providing source network that has received these, information providing processing is performed by the management program and the driver module (612-1, 612-2). In this information providing process, the printer driver of the driver module is first installed by the automatic installation module included in the management program, and then the print setting screen indicated by the driver module installed by the automatic printing module also included in the management program Is displayed on the client PC (612-1). When the print setting is performed by the information provider, the displayed digital information is printed out, and the print data corresponding to the digital information is transferred to the printer of the information providing destination network (613).

  When the print output is performed, the printer driver installed by the automatic uninstallation module included in the management program is uninstalled, and the management program and the driver module are deleted by the OS of the client PC (612-2).

  Then, a print completion notification indicating that the print output has been completed by the printer is received (615).

  Finally, the process is terminated by disconnecting the IP telephone call (616).

  Such a sequence makes it possible to provide digital information in a format suitable for the printer.

  The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

  In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 6, the gateway device of the information providing source network performs information providing processing (612-1) using the received management program and driver module, and sends a digital information print request to the printer of the information providing destination network. (613). Thereafter, the process transition is such that uninstallation is performed using the automatic uninstall module included in the management program (612-2). In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7, the printer shows that the print output has been performed. This is a process transition for uninstalling the printer driver after receiving the completion notification.

  In the process transition shown in FIG. 7, digital information is displayed when the information provider operates the client PC of the information providing source network in a state where the data session is established (607), and the IP telephone of the information providing destination network is displayed. When the information provider performs the button operation (608), the IP phone notifies the gateway device of the network of the button operation (609), and performs the transfer processing of the management program and the driver module (610). Then, the management program and the driver module are transferred to the client PC (611).

  The client PC performs information provision processing (612-1) using the received management program and driver module, and transfers print data for the digital information to a printer in the information provision destination network (613). The printer performs print output (614), and the information provider confirming the contents presses the button operation (701) of the IP telephone, for example, “# 2”, so that the print completion notification is sent to the information provider network. It is transferred to the client PC (615).

  Upon receiving the print completion notification, the printer driver installed by the client PC is uninstalled by the automatic uninstall module included in the management program (612-2).

  In the processing of the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7, since the printer driver installed after the digital information print output has been confirmed is uninstalled, reprinting is easy even if the print output is not performed successfully. To be able to do that.

  Next, the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8 is similar to the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS.

  In the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the management program and the driver module are transferred to the information providing source network by operating a button on the IP telephone of the information providing destination network with the voice session and the data session established. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8, the process transition is such that the management program and the driver module are transferred from the gateway device of the information providing destination network when the data session is established.

  In this case, the client PC of the information providing source network that has received the management program and the driver module waits until the digital information is displayed by the information provider, and starts the information providing process by displaying the digital information.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed process flow of the information providing process shown in the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

  The information providing process shown in FIG. 9 is a process executed on the client PC of the information providing source network that provides information.

  This information provision process can be divided into two processes. One is information provision from the process of receiving the management program and the driver module to the process of requesting the printer to print the digital information print data shared between the mutual networks. The process 1 is the information providing process 2 indicating the process after the print request.

  In FIG. 9, when the management program and the driver module are received from the gateway device of the information providing destination network and the digital information shared on the client PC is displayed by the information provider, the processing is started, and the management program and the driver module are normal. (901, 902). If any of them is abnormal (NO in 901 or NO in 902), the information providing destination network is notified that either the management program or the driver module is abnormal (903), and the process ends. To do.

  On the other hand, if both are received normally (YES in 901 and YES in 902), the automatic installation module included in the management program is executed to install the printer driver in the client PC (904).

  It is determined whether the driver has been installed normally (905). If the printer driver has not been installed normally because the printer driver cannot be called (NO in 905), a driver module resend request is sent to the information providing destination network. (906). If the printer driver is normally installed (YES in 905), the printer driver installed by executing the automatic print module included in the management program is called to instruct the information provider to set the print (907).

  When the print setting is performed, a print request for print data corresponding to the digital information displayed on the client PC is made to the information providing destination network (908).

  The process so far is the process of the information providing process 1.

  The process after the print request is the information providing process 2.

  After the print request, in the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the information providing process 2 is started immediately. On the other hand, in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7, the information providing process 2 is started after receiving the completion notification indicating that the print output is completed.

  First, the printer driver is uninstalled by executing an automatic uninstall module included in the management program (909). Next, the management program and the driver module are deleted by the OS of the client PC (910).

  As a result, the installed printer driver is deleted from the client PC, and all data transferred from the information providing destination network is deleted from the client PC.

  Therefore, by applying the present invention, digital information can be shared between networks together with a telephone call by an IP telephone. Furthermore, since the information used when sharing the information is deleted, unauthorized use can be prevented, and information sharing with high safety can be achieved.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  The present invention is applicable to a system for sharing information with a communication partner in a digital communication state, and in particular, for printing and outputting information in a format suitable for an information providing apparatus in information sharing. Useful.

1 is a network configuration diagram configured by applying a gateway device and an information sharing system and method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is another network configuration diagram configured by applying the gateway device, the information sharing system, and the method according to the present invention. The 3rd network block diagram comprised by applying the gateway apparatus and information-sharing system and method concerning this invention. The 4th network block diagram comprised by applying the gateway apparatus and information sharing system, and method concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the gateway apparatus of this invention. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of a process in the information sharing system of this invention. The other sequence figure which shows the flow of a process in the information sharing system of this invention. The 3rd sequence figure which shows the flow of a process in the information sharing system of this invention. The flowchart which showed the flow of the detailed process of the information provision process shown in the sequence diagram of FIG.6, FIG.7, FIG.8.

Explanation of symbols

10 Information Provider Network 11 Gateway Device 12 IP Phone 13 Client PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Processing server 20 Information provision destination network 21 Gateway apparatus 22 IP telephone 23 Printer 501 Call control part 502 Data generation part 503 Status confirmation part 504 Storage part 505 Management part 506 Data control part 507 Communication part

Claims (8)

In a gateway device that connects a plurality of points and establishes a call session between telephones provided at each point, and controls digital communication between the other party of the call session and a node,
Management means for managing control information for realizing the digital communication;
Information notification means for notifying the other party of the call session of the control information managed by the management means based on establishment of the call session;
A gateway device comprising: reception control means for performing reception control for causing the node to receive digital information transmitted from a counterpart based on the control information notified by the information notification means. The node is
An image forming apparatus,
The management means includes
Managing driver software for realizing the functions of the image forming apparatus and identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus;
The information notification means includes
Notifying the other party of the driver software and the identification information,
The reception control means includes
The gateway apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming request transmitted from the other party with the identification information as a destination is transferred to the image forming apparatus by execution of the driver software at the other party. The management means includes
Managing a module group including an install module for installing the driver software, an execution module for executing the driver software, and an uninstall module for uninstalling the driver software;
The information notification means includes
Notifying the other party of the module group managed by the management means,
The destination is
The driver software is installed by an installation module included in the module group notified by the information notification unit, the driver software is executed by the execution module to perform function setting, and the reception completion notification from the image forming apparatus The gateway device according to claim 2, wherein the driver software is uninstalled by an uninstall module. In an information sharing system that connects each point by a gateway device and shares information with a partner that has established a call session between the telephones via the gateway device,
The gateway device is
Management means for managing control information for realizing the digital communication at a node provided for each point;
Information notifying means for notifying the other party who has established the call session the control information managed by the managing means based on the establishment of the call session;
Comprising
An information sharing system for performing digital communication with the node based on the control information notified by the information notification means. The node is
An image forming apparatus,
The management means includes
Managing a module group including an install module for installing the driver software, an execution module for executing the driver software, and an uninstall module for uninstalling the driver software;
The information notification means includes
Notifying the other party of the module group managed by the management means,
The destination is
The driver software is installed by an installation module included in the module group notified by the information notification unit, the driver software is executed by the execution module to perform function setting, and the reception completion notification from the image forming apparatus The information sharing system according to claim 4, wherein the driver software is uninstalled by an uninstall module. The gateway device is
6. The information sharing system according to claim 4, further comprising the telephone. The gateway device is
6. The information sharing system according to claim 4, further comprising the image forming apparatus. In the information sharing method in the information sharing system for connecting the points where the nodes are provided by the gateway device at each point, and sharing the information by digital communication via the connected gateway device,
Control information for realizing digital communication at a node provided for each point is managed by the management means of the gateway device,
Based on the establishment of the call session, the control information managed by the management means is notified to the other party who established the call session by the information notification means,
An information sharing method in an information sharing system, wherein communication with the node that has notified the control information by the information notification means is performed together with a telephone call.

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