JP2009009220A - Event notification method, control program, and control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an event notification method, a control program and a control device for efficiently achieving event notification by suppressing the increase of traffic or the deterioration of the performance of a device to be controlled. <P>SOLUTION: In a control system composed by connecting a device to be controlled via a communication network to a control device, when an SDK operating in the control device is notified of event notification reservation information for specifying the classification of an event whose notification is necessary by each application operating in the control device, the SDK starts another process, and an event notification reservation message for specifying the classification of the event whose notification is necessary is created by any application, and the device to be controlled is notified of the event notification reservation message in the other process. Also, when the event notification message is transmitted from the device to be controlled, the application for which the notification of the event is necessary is specified based on the event notification reservation information, and event notification is operated to the specified application. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an event notification method, a control program, and a control device for controlling event notification of a controlled device.

  Copiers and multi-function peripherals (MFPs) having a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as an image forming apparatus) are widely used. When the image forming apparatus is used on a network, the control apparatus receives a status notification from the image forming apparatus, and the control apparatus monitors the state of the image forming apparatus based on the status notification.

  Regarding the status notification, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a status transmission request is made from the host (control device) to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus that has received the status transmission request receives a status change for each job or device Discloses a system for notifying a host of status.

JP-A-8-139844

  In the above control device, an application that uses the image forming apparatus is running. If the status notification is set for each application on the image forming apparatus side, the status is changed for all applications whenever the status changes. Notification has to be performed, and traffic is increased correspondingly, and the load on the image forming apparatus is increased, resulting in a decrease in performance such as printing.

  The image forming apparatus normally limits the number of users (number of applications) to be notified of status, and if status notification registration is performed for each of a plurality of applications of one control device, There has also been a problem that the number of users that can be registered is reduced, and the status notification cannot be received by an application of another control apparatus.

  These problems occur not only in the image forming apparatus but also in any controlled apparatus that notifies the control apparatus of its own status information, and these problems are not limited to status notification. The same occurs for event notifications related to devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main object is to suppress an increase in traffic and a decrease in performance of a controlled device, and an event notification method and control capable of efficiently performing event notification To provide a program and a control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is capable of performing a plurality of types of event notifications, and a controlled device capable of setting the necessity of event notification for each event type, and a control for receiving event notifications from the controlled device An event notification method in a control system in which a device is connected via a communication network, wherein the control device specifies an event notification reservation that identifies a type of event that each application operating on the control device requires notification of Information is acquired, and based on the event notification reservation information, an event notification reservation message that identifies the type of event that any application needs to be notified is created, and the event notification reservation message is notified to the controlled device Then, the controlled apparatus controls the control based on the received event notification reservation message. It is for setting the necessity of an event notification to the device.

  In the present invention, the controlled device transmits an event notification message to the control device when an event that is set to be notified to the control device occurs, and the control device stores the event notification message in advance. Based on the event notification reservation information, an application that needs to be notified of an event described in the received event notification message may be specified, and an event notification may be made to the specified application.

  Further, in the present invention, the control device acquires communication version information from the controlled device, and if the control device supports the communication version information, loads the communication module of the communication version, When the control device does not support the communication version information, the communication module having the latest communication version can be loaded.

  Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of event notifications are possible, and a controlled device capable of setting necessity / unnecessity of event notification for each event type communicates with a control device that receives the event notification from the controlled device. An event notification method in a control system connected by a network, wherein an event type that each application operating on the control device needs to notify is specified in an SDK (Software Development Kit) operating on the control device In the event notification reservation information to be notified, and in the process of starting the SDK, based on the event notification reservation information, create an event notification reservation message that identifies the type of event for which any application requires notification And notifying the controlled device of the event notification reservation message; In the controlled device, based on the event notification subscription message received, a step of setting the necessity of an event notification to the control device, and has at least.

  In the present invention, the process is configured to monitor the application and regenerate the event notification reservation message except for the event notification reservation information corresponding to the ended application when any of the applications ends. be able to.

  Further, in the present invention, when an event that is set to be notified to the control device occurs in the controlled device, a step of sending an event notification message to the control device, and in the process, Further comprising: specifying an application that requires notification of an event described in the received event notification message based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance, and performing event notification for the specified application. It can be configured.

  In the present invention, the step of notifying the SDK of information requesting connection with the controlled device, the step of acquiring the communication version information from the controlled device, the SDK, When the control device is compatible with the communication version information, the communication module of the communication version is loaded. When the control device is not compatible with the communication version information, the communication module of the latest communication version is loaded. And the step of performing.

  In addition, the present invention is a program that operates on a control device that can receive event notifications via a communication network from a controlled device that can set a plurality of types of event notifications and can set the necessity of event notification for each event type. The event information reservation information for identifying the type of event for which each application operating on the control device needs to be notified is acquired from the computer, and one of the applications is based on the event notification reservation information. An event notification reservation message that identifies the type of event that requires notification is created, and processing for notifying the controlled device of the event notification reservation message is executed.

  In the present invention, the computer further receives an event notification message transmitted from the controlled device, and notifies the event described in the received event notification message based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance. It is possible to specify an application that needs to be executed and to perform a process of performing event notification for the specified application.

  In the present invention, the computer further acquires communication version information from the controlled device, and when the control device supports the communication version information, loads the communication module of the communication version, When the control device does not support the communication version information, a process of loading a communication module with the latest communication version can be executed.

  Further, the present invention is a control device that can receive a plurality of types of event notifications, and from a controlled device that can set the necessity of event notification for each event type, via a communication network, The event notification reservation information that identifies the type of event for which each application operating on the control device requires notification is acquired, and based on the event notification reservation information, the event of which one of the applications needs notification An event notification reservation message indicating a type is created, a function for notifying the controlled device of the event notification reservation message, a function of receiving an event notification message from the controlled device, and the event notification reservation information stored in advance Based on the event notification message described in the received event notification message Identify the application that is intended to include a function of performing an event notification to the identified application, at least.

  In the present invention, the function of acquiring the communication version information from the controlled device and, if the control device supports the communication version information, the communication module of the communication version is loaded, and the control device If the communication version information is not supported, a function of loading a communication module of the latest communication version can be further provided.

  Thus, in the present invention, an event notification reservation message in which event notification reservation information from a plurality of applications operating on the control device is collected is transmitted to the controlled device, and the controlled device is based on the event notification reservation message, An event notification to be transmitted to the control device is set. When the control device receives the event notification from the controlled device, the control device identifies an application that requires the event notification and performs event notification only for the application. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which event notification is performed for each application, it is possible to suppress an increase in traffic and a decrease in performance of the controlled device, thereby enabling status notification to be performed efficiently.

  According to the event notification method, the control program, and the control device of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in traffic and a decrease in performance of the controlled device, and to perform status notification efficiently.

  The reason for this is that, conventionally, whether or not an event notification is required for each application is set for the controlled device, so that when a plurality of applications are running on the control device, an event notification is sent to the control device. However, in the present invention, when an event notification reservation is made from the application to the SDK, the SDK starts another process, and the separate process receives the event notification reservation from each application. In summary, let the controlled device set the necessity of event notification so that only the event notification required by any application is notified, and receive the event notification from the controlled device on behalf of another process Identify the application that another process needs to be notified of the event, To only, it is because as an event notification.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a controlled apparatus (for example, an image forming apparatus) that can make event notifications for a plurality of types of events and can reserve the necessity of event notification for each event type. In a control system in which an event notification from a controlled device is connected via a communication network, each application operating on the control device notifies the SDK (Software Development Kit) operating on the control device. When the event notification reservation information for specifying the type of event required is notified, the SDK starts another process for processing the event notification and notifies the other process of a plurality of event notification reservation information. Based on the notification reservation information, identify the type of event that any application requires notification Create an event subscription message notifies the controlled device, the controlled device based on the event notification subscription message, sets the necessity of an event notification to be sent to the controller.

  In addition, when an event that is set to require notification occurs in the controlled device, an event notification message is sent to another process, and the other process needs to notify the event based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance. The application to be specified is identified, and event notification is performed for the identified application.

  Further, when the SDK requests connection with the controlled device, the SDK acquires the communication version information of the controlled device. If the control device supports the communication version information, the communication module of the communication version is acquired. If the control device does not support the communication version information, the communication module of the latest communication version is loaded.

  By performing such control, the controlled device does not need to send the same event notification repeatedly to one control device, and it is only necessary to always send the minimum necessary event notification. It is possible to reduce the load on the image forming apparatus itself and to suppress a decrease in performance.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an event notification method, a control program, and a control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the control device and the software of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 5 and 13 are flowcharts illustrating a status notification procedure using the control system according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a description example of a specific URL, and FIGS. 15 to 17 are diagrams illustrating description examples of various tables.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the control system of this embodiment, one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 for notifying an event relating to the own apparatus and one or a plurality of control apparatuses 20 for receiving the event notification include a LAN (Local Area). Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). The event in this embodiment is a concept including a status indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 10, and the event notification includes a status notification.

[Image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a display / operation unit 13, a printing unit 14, and a paper supply / discharge unit unit 15.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU reads various programs stored in the ROM by operating the display / operation unit 13 and expands them in the RAM. According to the expanded programs, the display / operation unit 13, the printing unit 14, the paper supply / discharge unit 15, etc. The operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 is controlled.

  In addition, the control unit 11 includes a setting control unit 11a that controls the setting of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10, a state detection control unit 11b that detects the state of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10, and the control device 20 via a communication network. It also functions as a communication control unit 11c that controls communication with the communication device. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication control unit 11 c is a communication version information sending unit that sends version information of the communication module of the image forming apparatus 10 to the control device 20, and communication that sends and receives various messages to and from the control device 20. A message transmission / reception unit; a communication message determination unit that determines a message from the control device 20; an event notification setting unit that sets necessity of event notification for each event type; and an event notification setting storage unit that stores necessity setting of event notification Function as such.

  The storage unit 12 is configured by a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like, and stores various data. In this embodiment, a setting storage memory 12a for storing various settings of the image forming apparatus 10 and an image data storage memory 12b for storing received image data are provided.

  The display / operation unit 13 is configured by providing a pressure-sensitive operation unit (touch panel) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid on a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL (electroluminescence) display device. The XY coordinates of the force point pressed with a finger or a touch pen are detected by a voltage value, and the detected position signal is output to the control unit 11 as an operation signal.

  The printing unit 14 forms an image to be printed on transfer paper based on the received image data or image data read by a scanner, a transfer unit to transfer the formed image to the transfer paper, and fixes the transferred image. Equipped with a fixing unit, a transport unit that transports transfer paper, an image forming unit and transfer unit, a cleaning unit that cleans the fixing unit, etc., and forms an image on the transfer paper based on the input image data by electrophotography. Output.

  The paper supply / discharge unit unit 15 stores transfer paper of various sizes, and supplies the transfer paper of a predetermined size to the printing unit 14 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment only needs to be able to perform event notification for a plurality of types of events and can set necessity of event notification for each event type. 2 is not limited to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, for example, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 2, a post-processing device such as an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a finisher, and a staple / punch may be provided.

[Control device]
As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, and the like.

  The control unit 21 is configured by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU reads various applications stored in the ROM by operating the operation unit 24, expands them in the RAM, and controls the operation of each unit of the control device 20 according to the expanded applications.

  Further, the control unit 21 responds to a request from one or a plurality of applications operating on the control unit 21, and a Connect function (a function describing connection request information for establishing a connection with the image forming apparatus 10). SDK function calling unit 21a that calls various functions such as an event notification reservation function or a function that describes event notification reservation information for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to set the necessity of event notification for each event type. An event notification callback processing unit 21b for callback of an event notification for a predetermined application, an SDK 21c for processing a Connect function or an event notification reservation function, a separate process (event processor 21d) for processing an event notification, etc. Function.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the SDK 21c includes a Connect function processing unit that processes a Connect function call from the SDK function calling unit, a communication module load processing unit that loads a communication module of a specified communication version, and an SDK function calling unit. The Connect function processing unit functions as a version determination processing unit that determines the communication version of the image forming apparatus 10, and the event notification reservation function processing unit. Functions as an event notification reservation transmitter for sending event notification reservation information described in the event notification reservation function to the event processor 21d and an event processor activation processing unit for activating the event processor 21d.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the event processor 21d activated by the SDK 21c collects event notification reservation information and transmits an event notification reservation message to the image forming apparatus 10 as an event notification reservation message. As an event notification receiving unit that receives an event notification message that is transmitted when an event occurs, an event notification callback transmitting unit that calls back an event notification to a predetermined application, a device transmission / reception table storage unit that stores a device transmission / reception table described later, etc. Function.

  The SDK 21c only needs to be configured to process the function from the SDK function calling unit 21a, and the event processor 21d can set the necessity of event notification and receive the event notification on behalf of the application. Any configuration may be used, and the names and configurations of the respective parts are not limited to those shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the SDK function calling unit 21a, the callback processing unit 21b, the SDK 21c, and the event processor 21d are configured as software. However, any one or a part thereof may be configured as hardware. Good.

  The storage unit 22 is configured by a flash memory, a hard disk, or the like, and stores various data. In this embodiment, in particular, an event notification reservation gathering table, which will be described later, is stored.

  The display unit 23 includes a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, and the like, and displays various management screens on the screen according to display signals from the control unit 21. The operation unit 24 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and performs operations such as selection of a communication method applied to each image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating software functions of the control device 20 and the image forming apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 4, when the Connect function is called from the SDK function calling unit to the Connect function processing unit, the version determination processing unit of the Connect function processing unit transmits the communication version information from the communication version information sending unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The communication module load processing unit loads a communication module having a communication version suitable for communication with the image forming apparatus 10 on the control device based on the acquired communication version information.

  When an event notification reservation function is called from the SDK function calling unit to the event notification reservation function processing unit, the event processor activation processing unit starts the event processor, and the event notification reservation transmission unit is described in the event notification reservation function. Event notification reservation information is sent to the event processor, and the event notification reservation transmission unit of the event processor collects the event notification reservation information and records it in an event notification reservation management table to be described later, and any application needs notification Is transmitted to the communication message transmission / reception unit of the image forming apparatus 10 as an event notification reservation message describing the event type. This event notification reservation message is discriminated by the communication message discriminating unit, and the necessity of event notification is set by the event notification setting unit. When an event that is set to require event notification occurs, an event notification message is transmitted from the communication message transmission / reception unit to the event notification reception unit of the event processor, and the event notification callback transmission unit sets the event notification destination application. Once identified, an event notification is called back to the application via the callback processing unit.

  Hereinafter, the operation of each part of the application, the SDK, and the event processor will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[Application side processing]
As shown in the flowchart 1 of FIG. 5, when the SDK 21c is loaded in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21 of the control device 20 in step S101, in step S102, the SDK function calling unit 21a sets the argument of the Connect function as, for example, The Connect function is called to the Connect function processing unit of the SDK 21c by designating the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 to be connected and the communication version to be used when connecting to the image forming apparatus 10.

  Next, in step S103, the SDK function calling unit 21a includes, for example, an identifier of an application that reserves an event notification, an IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 used by the application, and its arguments as arguments of the event notification reservation function. An event notification function processing unit of the SDK 21c specifying a communication version to be used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10, a type of event for which event notification is reserved, a callback reception port number for receiving the event notification, and the like. Call the event notification reservation function. Note that the arguments of the event notification reservation function may include application identification information, location information on the communication network of the image forming apparatus 10, and the type of event for which event notification is reserved.

  Until the application is terminated, the event notification callback processing unit 21b waits for an event notification callback from the event notification callback transmission unit of the event processor 21d (No in Step S104, No in Step S105, and Step S106). When the callback is received (Yes in step S106), processing after receiving the callback is performed in step S107.

[Processing from Connect to Disconnect in SDK]
As shown in the flowchart 2 of FIG. 6, when the Connect function is called from the SDK function calling unit 21 a in step S <b> 201, the version determination processing unit of the Connect function processing unit of the SDK 21 c in step S <b> 202 Communication version information is acquired from the communication version information transmission unit, and based on the acquired communication version information, a communication version used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10 is determined, and the communication version is notified to the communication module load processing unit. To do. The determination of the communication version will be described in detail in the flowchart 3.

  Next, in step S203, the communication module load processing unit specifies and loads a communication module corresponding to the communication version, and stores the communication version in the storage unit 22 in step S204.

  Next, in step S205, the SDK 21c waits for a function call from the SDK function calling unit 21a. If the called function is a Disconnect function (Yes in step S206), the process of the SDK 21c is terminated in step S207. To do.

  On the other hand, if the called function is not the Disconnect function (No in step S206) and is an event notification reservation function (Yes in step S208), the event notification function processing unit is the event notification reservation function. The process is executed, and the process returns to step S205. The SDK 21c waits for the next function call from the SDK function calling unit 21a, and repeats the same process until the Disconnect function is called. The processing of the event notification reservation function will be described in detail in the flowchart 4.

  If the called function is not an event notification reservation function (No in step S208), the process of another function is executed in step S210, the process returns to step S205, and the SDK 21c is transferred from the SDK function calling unit 21a. Waits for the next function call, and repeats the same process until the Disconnect function is called.

[Process to determine communication version in SDK]
As described above, when the SDK function calling unit 21 a calls the Connect function to the SDK 21 c in Step S <b> 102 of the flowchart 1, the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 to be connected and the image forming apparatus 10 are connected as arguments of the Connect function. Specify the communication version you want to use when connecting to. At this time, the communication version to be used at the time of connection is specified in the argument in association with ProductID which is a value unique to the model of the image forming apparatus 10 as described below.

ProductID [0] = 1.3.6.1.4.1.18334.1.2.1.2.1, Version [0] = 3.0
ProductID [1] = 1.3.6.1.4.1.18334.1.2.1.2.2, Version [1] = 3.1
ProductID [2] = 1.3.6.1.4.1.18334.1.2.1.2.3, Version [2] = 3.2

  Thereafter, as shown in the flowchart 3 of FIG. 7, in step S301, the Connect function processing unit of the SDK 21c acquires the ProductID of the image forming apparatus 10 and the corresponding communication version designation list from the argument of the Connect function.

  Next, in step S302, the version determination processing unit accesses a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the image forming apparatus 10 to be connected, and from the communication version information sending unit, the ProductID described in the URL and its ID The communication version of the communication module installed in the image forming apparatus 10 is acquired.

  The specific URL is, for example, “http://150.16.100.123/DeviceDescription/”, in which “150.16.100.123” is the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 to be connected, and is used as an argument of the Connect function. It is what is passed. “/ DeviceDescription /” is a specific place decided with the device, and various information regarding the image forming apparatus 10 is described in the specific place, for example, as shown in Table 1 of FIG. ing.

  Next, in step S303, the version determination processing unit checks whether the ProductID described in the URL is in the specified list based on the argument of the Connect function. If there is the same ProductID (Yes in step S304), step S305 is performed. Then, it is checked whether the communication version corresponding to the ProductID is in the communication version of the communication module installed in the control device 20. If there is the same communication version (Yes in step S306), in step S307, the version determination processing unit determines the communication version corresponding to ProductID as the actual communication version used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10. .

  On the other hand, if the ProductID installed in the URL is not in the specified list based on the argument of the Connect function (No in step S304), the communication ID installed in the control device 20 in step S308 The latest communication version (the version with the largest number) is determined as the actual communication version used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10.

  Also, when the communication version corresponding to ProductID is not in the communication version of the communication module installed in the control device 20 (No in step S306), the communication module installed in the control device 20 in step S308. The latest communication version is determined as the actual communication version used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10.

[Processing of event notification reservation function in SDK]
When the SDK function calling unit 21a calls the event notification reservation function in the flowchart 1 described above, the SDK 21c activates the event processor 21d (software operating in another process) in step S401 as shown in the flowchart 4 of FIG. Check whether you are doing.

  If the event processor 21d is not activated (No in step S402), the event processor activation processing unit activates the event processor 21d in step S403.

  Thereafter, in step S404, the event notification reservation transmitting unit transmits the event notification reservation information received as an argument of the event notification reservation function as it is to the event processor 21d as an event notification reservation message.

[Processing in the event processor]
As shown in the flowchart 5 of FIG. 9, in step S501, the event notification reservation transmission unit of the event processor 21d sends the event notification reservation message sent from the event notification reservation processing unit of the SDK 21c in step S404 of the flowchart 4 described above. This waiting state continues until a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes or 1 hour) elapses from the previous confirmation time described later (No in step S502, No in step S504, and step S505).

  When the event notification reservation message is received (Yes in step S502), in step S503, the event notification reservation transmission unit identifies the identifier of the application that has transmitted the event notification reservation message, and the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 with which the application communicates. The communication version used for communication with the image forming apparatus 10, the type of event for which event notification is reserved, and the callback reception port number are recorded in, for example, an event notification reservation gathering table as shown in FIG. The communication version is also stored in the storage unit 22.

  The application identifier referred to here is a process ID, but is not particularly limited as long as the application can be identified. In the above table, the event types are the four types of device status (D), tray status (T), job status (J), and counter status (C). In addition to these, statuses such as ADF (Auto Document Feeder), finisher, staple / punch unit, and toner can be included.

  Next, the event notification reservation transmitting unit writes the event notification reservation message in the table or when a predetermined time has elapsed from the previous confirmation time (described later) (No in step S502, Yes in step S504, step S505) In step S506, it is confirmed whether or not the application specified by the application identifier already described in the event notification reservation gathering table has ended.

  If the application is completed (Yes in step S507), in step S508, the event notification reservation transmitting unit deletes the corresponding application identifier from the event notification reservation collecting table, and in step S509, the previous notification described above is performed. Update the confirmation time. This confirmation time is the time at which it is confirmed whether or not the application described in the event notification reservation gathering table has already ended.

  Thereafter, in step S510, the event notification reservation transmission unit checks whether there is an application remaining in the event notification reservation gathering table. If not (No in step S511), the event notification reservation transmitter transmits an event notification reservation to the image forming apparatus 10. Processing necessary for terminating the event processor 21d, such as canceling all, is performed, and the event processor 21d is terminated.

  On the other hand, if an application remains (Yes in step S511), in step S512, the event type of the event type described in association with the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 in the event notification reservation gathering table for which event notification reservation is desired. Take OR for On / Off.

For example, in the example of Table 2 in FIG. 15, there are three applications that make an event notification reservation for the image forming apparatus 10 whose IP address is 150.16.100.123.
PID0020 is D = On, T = Off, J = Off, C = On
PID0021 has D = Off, T = Off, J = Off, C = On
PID0030 is D = On, T = On, J = Off, C = Off
So, if you take OR,
D = On, T = On, J = Off, C = On.

  Next, in step S513, the event notification reservation transmission unit inquires of the image forming apparatus 10 about the type of event currently set in the image forming apparatus 10. In the image forming apparatus 10, as shown in a flowchart 8 to be described later, a process for returning a response to an inquiry about the currently set event type is prepared in advance.

  In step S514, the event serial reservation transmission unit compares the event type currently set in the image forming apparatus 10 with the event type obtained by ORing the above-described summary table, and in step S515, If they do not match (for example, if the event type set in the image forming apparatus 10 is D = On, T = Off, J = Off, C = On), in step S516, In step S517, the device transmission / reception table storage unit associates the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 with the event notification message reception port number in step S517. Described in the device transmission / reception table as shown in The event notification reservation message can be composed of a user account, a reply destination IP address, a port number for receiving the event notification message, an event type obtained by ORing from the management table, etc., and a control device that receives the event notification 20 location information on the communication network and an event type to be notified to one of the applications may be included.

  On the other hand, if they match at step S515, there is no need to transmit an event notification reservation message, so the process returns to step S501 and the same processing is repeated.

[Event processor event notification message acquisition processing]
As shown in the flowchart 6 of FIG. 10, in step S601, the event notification receiving unit of the event processor 21d waits for an event notification message transmitted from the communication message transmitting / receiving unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The transmission of the event notification message will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart 9 in FIG.

  When receiving the message (Yes in step S602), the event notification receiving unit determines the type of the received message and sends it to the event notification callback transmission unit in step S603. In step S604, the event notification callback transmission is performed. The unit refers to the device transmission / reception table (Table 3) in FIG. 16 to determine the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 from the event message reception port number.

  Next, in step S605, the event notification callback transmission unit refers to the event notification reservation gathering table (Table 2) in FIG. 15, determines the callback reception port number corresponding to the IP address, and receives it. The application that needs the message

  Next, in step S606, the event notification callback transmission unit calls back the event notification to the callback reception port number.

[Event notification reservation registration process of image forming apparatus]
As shown in the flowchart 7 of FIG. 11, in step S701, the communication message transmission / reception unit of the image forming apparatus 10 waits for a message from the control device 20, and when the message is received, in step S702, the communication message determination unit receives the message. It is determined whether the received message is an event notification reservation message from the event communication reservation transmission unit of the event processor 21d.

  If it is an event notification reservation message (Yes in step S702), in step S703, the event notification setting unit stores, for example, a user account, a reply destination IP address, and a port number in the event notification transmission determination table shown in FIG. The type of event to be notified is registered, and the event notification setting storage unit stores the table.

[Notification reservation status inquiry processing of image forming apparatus]
As shown in the flowchart 8 of FIG. 12, in step S801, the communication message transmission / reception unit of the image forming apparatus 10 waits for a message from the control device 20, and when the message is received, in step S802, the communication message determination unit receives the message. It is determined whether the received message is a notification reservation status inquiry message.

  If it is a notification reservation status inquiry message (Yes in step S802), in step S803, the communication message transmission / reception unit determines the IP address, port number, user account of the inquiry partner from the event notification transmission determination table shown in FIG. The event type corresponding to is acquired and returned to the control device 20.

[Event notification message transmission processing of image forming apparatus]
As shown in the flowchart 9 of FIG. 13, in step S901, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 monitors the state of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10, and when the state changes (that is, an event occurs) (step S902). Yes), in step S903, the type of the event is determined. In step S904, the event notification transmission determination table shown in FIG.

  If it is requested (Yes in step S905), in step S906, the communication message transmitting / receiving unit determines the return destination IP address and port number requesting the event notification from the event notification transmission determination table. Acquire and send an event notification message to the reply destination IP address and port number.

  As described above, in the control device 20 of this embodiment, when the event notification reservation function is called, the SDK 21c starts another process (event processor 21d), and the event processor 21d receives event notification reservation information from a plurality of applications. The event notification reservation message is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 to cause the image forming apparatus 10 to set the necessity of event notification. When the event notification message is received from the image forming apparatus 10, the event notification is required. Since an application to be identified is identified and an event notification is called back to the application, only the necessary event notification can be sent to the necessary application, thereby increasing traffic and improving the performance of the image forming apparatus 10. Suppress the decline Can, it is possible to efficiently perform the event notification.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is described as an example of the controlled apparatus. However, a function that can perform event notification corresponding to a plurality of types of events and can set necessity of event notification for each type. The present invention can be similarly applied to any device provided.

  The present invention is applicable to an event notification method, a control program for controlling event notification, and a control apparatus for controlling event notification.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating software functions of a control device and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (application process) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (process from Connect by SDK in SDK) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (communication version discrimination | determination process in SDK) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (event notification function process in SDK) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (process of an event processor) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (event change message acquisition process in an event processor) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (event notification reservation registration process in an image forming apparatus) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (event notification reservation status inquiry process in an image forming apparatus) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the event notification procedure (event notification message transmission process in an image forming apparatus) using the control system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of description of specific URL which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of description of the table for event notification reservation summary which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of description of the device transmission / reception table based on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of description of the table for event notification transmission discrimination | determination concerning one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Control part 11a Setting control part 11b State detection control part 11c Communication control part 12 Storage part 12a Setting preservation | save memory part 12b Image data preservation | save memory 13 Display / operation part 14 Printing part 15 Feed / discharge unit part 20 Control apparatus 21 Control Unit 21a SDK Function Calling Unit 21b Event Notification Callback Processing Unit 21c SDK
21d event processor 22 storage unit 23 display unit 24 operation unit

Claims (15)

Multiple types of event notifications are possible, and a controlled device that can set the necessity of event notification for each event type and a control device that receives event notifications from the controlled device are connected via a communication network. An event notification method in a control system,
In the control device, each application operating on the control device acquires event notification reservation information that specifies a type of event that requires notification, and any application notifies the event notification reservation information based on the event notification reservation information. Create an event notification reservation message that identifies the type of event that is required, and notify the controlled device of the event notification reservation message,
An event notification method, wherein the controlled device sets necessity of event notification to the control device based on the received event notification reservation message. In the controlled device, when an event that is set to be notified to the control device occurs, an event notification message is transmitted to the control device,
The control device identifies an application that requires notification of the event described in the received event notification message based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance, and notifies the identified application of the event The event notification method according to claim 1.   The control device acquires communication version information from the controlled device. If the control device is compatible with the communication version information, the communication device loads the communication version of the communication version, and the control device transmits the communication version information. 3. The event notification method according to claim 1, wherein when the information does not correspond to the information, the communication module of the latest communication version is loaded. Multiple types of event notifications are possible, and a controlled device that can set the necessity of event notification for each event type and a control device that receives event notifications from the controlled device are connected via a communication network. An event notification method in a control system,
Notifying the SDK (Software Development Kit) operating on the control device of event notification reservation information that identifies the type of event that each application operating on the control device requires notification;
In the process of starting the SDK, based on the event notification reservation information, an event notification reservation message that identifies the type of event that any application needs to be notified is created, and the event notification reservation message is controlled by the controlled event Notifying the device;
An event notification method comprising: at least a step of setting whether or not an event notification is required for the control device based on the received event notification reservation message in the controlled device.   5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the process monitors an application, and when any application ends, the event notification reservation message is recreated except for event notification reservation information corresponding to the ended application. The event notification method described. A step of transmitting an event notification message to the control device when an event that is set to be notified to the control device occurs in the controlled device;
Identifying an application that requires notification of the event described in the received event notification message based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance in the process, and performing event notification for the identified application; The event notification method according to claim 4, further comprising: Notifying the SDK of information requesting connection with the controlled device;
The SDK obtaining communication version information from the controlled device;
In the SDK, when the control device is compatible with the communication version information, the communication module of the communication version is loaded, and when the control device is not compatible with the communication version information, the latest communication version is loaded. The event notification method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of loading the communication module. The event notification reservation information includes identification information of each application, location information of the controlled device on the communication network, and a type of event for which each application requires notification,
The event notification request message includes location information on the communication network that is a notification destination of the event notification, and an event type for which any application needs to be notified. The event notification method according to any one of the above. A program that is capable of performing multiple types of event notifications and that operates on a control device that receives event notifications via a communication network from a controlled device that can be configured to determine whether event notification is required for each event type,
On the computer,
The event notification reservation information that identifies the type of event for which each application operating on the control device requires notification is acquired, and based on the event notification reservation information, the event of which one of the applications needs notification A control program for generating an event notification reservation message for identifying a type and notifying the controlled device of the event notification reservation message. To the computer,
An event notification message transmitted from the controlled device is received, and an application that requires notification of the event described in the received event notification message is identified and specified based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance. The control program according to claim 9, wherein a process for notifying an event of an event is executed. To the computer,
If communication version information is acquired from the controlled device, and the control device supports the communication version information, a communication module of the communication version is loaded, and the control device supports the communication version information. 11. The control program according to claim 9, wherein if there is not, a process of loading a communication module of the latest communication version is executed. The event notification reservation information includes identification information of each application, location information of the controlled device on the communication network, and a type of event for which each application requires notification,
12. The event notification request message includes location information on the communication network that is a notification destination of the event notification and an event type for which any application needs to be notified. A control program according to any one of the above. Multiple types of event notifications are possible, and a control device that receives event notifications via a communication network from a controlled device that can set the necessity of event notification for each event type,
The event notification reservation information that identifies the type of event for which each application operating on the control device requires notification is acquired, and based on the event notification reservation information, the event of which one of the applications needs notification Creating an event notification reservation message indicating the type, and notifying the controlled device of the event notification reservation message;
A function of receiving an event notification message from the controlled device;
Based on the event notification reservation information stored in advance, at least a function for specifying an application that needs to be notified of an event described in the received event notification message and performing event notification for the specified application is provided. A control device characterized by that. A function of acquiring communication version information from the controlled device;
When the control device is compatible with the communication version information, the communication module of the communication version is loaded. When the control device is not compatible with the communication version information, the communication module of the latest communication version is loaded. The control device according to claim 13, further comprising a loading function. The event notification reservation information includes identification information of each application, location information of the controlled device on the communication network, and a type of event for which each application requires notification,
15. The event notification request message includes location information on the communication network that is a notification destination of the event notification and an event type for which any application needs to be notified. The control device described in 1.

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