JP2011224996A - Communication device, communication method, communication program, recording medium, communication system, and monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device for appropriately monitoring a change of a processing state.SOLUTION: A communication device includes a device control unit 120 for controlling a process relating to service, an information providing unit 121 for providing relevant information on the service, a monitoring unit 111 for receiving a request for monitoring relevant information from a PC 200 and monitoring the relevant information according to the received monitoring request, a storage unit 140 for storing the relevant information, an information acquiring unit 113 for acquiring the relevant information provided by the information providing unit 121, and a cache management unit 114 for comparing the acquired relevant information with the relevant information stored in the storage unit 140, determining the existence or non existence of the change of the relevant information, and storing the acquired relevant information in the storage unit 140. The monitoring unit 111 sends the acquired relevant information to the PC 200 which receives the monitoring request when the relevant information is changed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that provides a service via a network, a communication method, a communication program, a recording medium, a communication system, a monitoring device that monitors the status of the device that provides the service, and an information processing device that uses the service. It is.

  In recent years, communication apparatuses that provide services by communicating with information processing apparatuses such as personal computers connected to a network have been widely used. As such a communication device, for example, a printer device, a copier, a facsimile device, a scanner device, and a so-called MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) in which each function of a printer, a copy, a facsimile, a scanner, and the like is housed in one casing. And an image forming apparatus (multifunction machine).

  Usually, an application on an information processing apparatus that uses the service of such a communication apparatus monitors the processing state of the service being used and controls various processes according to the processing state. As a method for monitoring a processing state, a method for monitoring a processing state using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) which is a protocol for monitoring and control via a network is widely known. In the monitoring method using SNMP, the information processing device performs polling for inquiring of the processing state with respect to the communication device at regular intervals, and the state monitoring is performed by receiving the processing state from the communication device as a response to the polling. .

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 proposes a technique for notifying a plurality of host devices of state change information when a print server connected to a printer device performs polling and a state change is detected. Thereby, it is possible to prevent traffic congestion on the network caused by polling from a plurality of host devices.

  However, due to the improvement in device performance, the change in the processing state may be faster than the polling time. In this case, the method of polling at regular intervals as in Patent Document 1 cannot properly monitor the processing state. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a communication device, a communication method, a communication program, a recording medium, and a communication system capable of appropriately monitoring a change in the processing state of processing provided via a network An object is to provide a monitoring device and an information processing device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a communication apparatus that provides a service to an information processing apparatus via a network, and controls a process related to the service An information providing unit that provides related information of the service including information related to the status of the process controlled by the processing control unit, and the monitoring request for the related information received from the information processing apparatus. According to the monitoring unit that monitors the related information, a storage unit that stores the related information, an information acquisition unit that acquires the related information provided by the information providing unit, the acquired related information, Comparing the related information stored in the storage unit to determine whether the related information has been changed or not, and storing the acquired related information in the storage unit; Wherein the monitoring unit, if the relevant information is changed, to the monitoring request the information processing apparatus that receives, transmitting acquired the relevant information, and said.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit is further included in the related information provided by the information providing unit among the related information requested to be monitored. The related information that is not present is acquired from the processing control unit using a predetermined protocol related to network management.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit further acquires identification information for identifying the related information, and an acquisition method for acquiring the related information using the protocol. When the related information is acquired using the protocol, the information acquisition unit stores the acquisition method corresponding to the identification information of the related information to be acquired. And the related information is acquired by the acquired acquisition method.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided and provides the designated related information, and the monitoring unit is configured to monitor The monitoring request including identification information for identifying the related information to be received is received, and the information acquisition unit specifies the related information identified by the identification information included in the received monitoring request and provides the information The related information is acquired from a section.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided, provides the designated related information, and the storage unit further includes: Storing definition information in which application identification information for identifying an application executed on the information processing apparatus is associated with identification information for identifying the related information to be monitored, and the monitoring unit includes the application identification information The information acquisition unit acquires the identification information corresponding to the application identification information included in the received monitoring request from the storage unit, and is identified by the acquired identification information. The related information is specified and the related information is acquired from the information providing unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further associates identification information for identifying the related information with a condition for transmitting the related information to the information processing apparatus. The information acquisition unit further acquires the condition corresponding to the identification information of the acquired related information from the storage unit, and stores the related information according to the acquired condition. It is determined whether to transmit to the processing device, and the monitoring unit is acquired for the information processing device that has received the monitoring request when it is determined to transmit the related information to the information processing device. And transmitting the related information.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided, provides the designated related information, and the storage unit further includes: Storing definition information in which variation information indicating whether or not the related information can be changed according to the operation and identification information for identifying the related information are associated with each other. The identification information associated with the variation information indicating that it can be changed is acquired from the storage unit, the related information identified by the acquired identification information is designated, and the related information is obtained from the information providing unit. It is characterized by acquiring.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 3, 5, 6 and 7, wherein the monitoring unit further acquires and acquires a definition file storing the definition information. The definition information is read from the definition file and stored in the storage unit.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring unit acquires the definition file transmitted from the information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring unit acquires the definition file corresponding to the communication device from a server device that manages a plurality of the definition files. Features.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring unit acquires the definition file from a storage medium storing the definition file.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an information setting unit that sets the related information for the processing control unit, and the monitoring unit is further provided by the information setting unit. When the setting of the related information is completed, the fact that the setting of the related information is completed is transmitted to the information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a re-transmission condition when transmission of the related information fails, and the monitoring unit stores the related information. When the transmission fails, the retransmission condition is acquired from the storage unit, and the related information is retransmitted according to the acquired retransmission condition.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device that provides a service to an information processing device, and a monitoring device that is connected to the information processing device and monitors the operation of the communication device. A monitoring unit that receives a monitoring request for the related information of the service including information related to a processing state of the service, monitors the related information according to the received monitoring request, and a storage unit that stores the related information; The information acquisition unit that acquires the related information from the communication device, the acquired related information, and the related information stored in the storage unit are compared to determine whether the related information has been changed. A storage unit that stores the acquired related information in the storage unit, and the monitoring unit receives the monitoring request when the related information is changed In contrast, transmitting the acquired the relevant information, and wherein.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to a communication apparatus that provides a service via a network, and the monitoring request for the related information of the service including information on a processing state of the service A monitoring control unit is provided that transmits to the communication device and receives the related information transmitted from the communication device in response to the monitoring request.

  The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring control unit transmits address information of the information processing apparatus to the communication apparatus and registers the address information from the communication apparatus. When the completion information indicating is received, the monitoring request is transmitted to the communication device.

  The invention according to claim 17 relates to management of communication with the communication device when the monitoring control unit does not receive the completion information from the communication device in the invention according to claim 16. The related information is acquired from the communication device using a predetermined protocol.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 15, wherein the address information is registered when the completion information is not received from the communication device, and the information of the registered address information. An installation unit is further provided for installing a function of transmitting the related information to a processing device in the communication device.

  The invention according to claim 19 is a communication method in a communication apparatus that provides a service to an information processing apparatus via a network, wherein the communication apparatus includes a storage unit that stores the related information, and a processing control unit From the information processing apparatus, a processing control step for controlling processing related to the service, an information providing step for providing information related to the service including information related to the processing state of the service by an information providing unit, and a monitoring unit from the information processing device A monitoring step of receiving the related information monitoring request, monitoring the related information according to the received monitoring request, and an information acquiring step of acquiring the related information provided in the information providing step by an information acquiring unit And the related information acquired by the storage unit, and the related information stored in the storage unit Comparing, determining whether or not the related information has been changed, and storing the acquired related information in the storage unit, the monitoring step, when the related information is changed, The acquired related information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request.

  The invention according to claim 20 is a communication program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 19.

  The invention according to claim 21 is a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon the program according to claim 20 to be executed by a computer.

  The invention according to claim 22 is a communication system comprising: a communication device that provides a service; and an information processing device that is connected to the communication device via a network and uses the service. An apparatus includes: a process control unit that controls a process related to the service; an information providing unit that provides information related to the service including information related to a state of the process controlled by the process control unit; and Information that receives an information monitoring request, monitors the related information according to the received monitoring request, a storage unit that stores the related information, and information that acquires the related information provided by the information providing unit The acquisition unit, the acquired related information, and the related information stored in the storage unit are compared to determine whether or not the related information has been changed. A storage unit that stores the related information that has been stored in the storage unit, and the monitoring unit is acquired for the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request when the related information is changed. The information processing device transmits a monitoring request for the related information to the communication device, and receives a monitoring control unit that receives the related information transmitted from the communication device in response to the monitoring request. Provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately monitor a change in the processing state of processing provided via a network.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately monitor the change in the processing state of the processing provided via the network by using the acquisition of the processing state using a standard protocol together. .

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the processing state acquisition process by acquiring only information related to the designated item.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the processing state acquisition process by acquiring only information related to a predetermined item determined for each application that monitors the processing state.

  Moreover, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the processing state acquisition process by acquiring only information related to the variation information whose state changes.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve maintainability by acquiring definition information related to processing state acquisition processing from a definition file created externally.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the monitoring process is controlled according to the function of the communication device or the function of the communication device is added to appropriately monitor the change in the processing state of the process provided via the network. There is an effect that can be done.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 1st Embodiment, and PC. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the client information preserve | saved at a memory | storage part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the apparatus information preserve | saved at a memory | storage part. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the initialization process in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 2nd Embodiment, and PC. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the definition information preserve | saved at a memory | storage part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system concerning the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 3rd Embodiment, and PC. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the client information preserve | saved at a memory | storage part in 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 4th Embodiment, and PC. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the definition information newly added to a memory | storage part. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 5th Embodiment, and PC. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the definition information newly added to a memory | storage part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of the apparatus information preserve | saved at a memory | storage part. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the monitoring process in 5th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 6th Embodiment, and PC. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of the definition file update process in 6th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the whole flow of an apparatus information setting process. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the device concerning 7th Embodiment, a device, and PC. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of PC concerning the modification of 7th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hardware constitutions of the communication apparatus concerning 1st-7th embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of a communication apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
In the communication system according to the first embodiment, a communication device that provides a service via a network detects a change in the processing state of the service, and receives service related information related to the service when the processing state changes. This is notified to the client device (information processing device).

  In this embodiment, as related information related to the service, the device name of the communication device, the information indicating the hardware configuration, the information indicating the state of each hardware component, the information indicating the warning, and the specified processing unit Get the status that represents the status of a job. Hereinafter, the related information is referred to as device information. For example, model information of the communication device, paper feed tray information, paper discharge tray information, toner information, device status information, and the like correspond to the device information.

  In the following, an example is described in which the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment is realized as a job tracking system that tracks the status of a print job that is a unit of designated print processing, using a printer apparatus that provides a print function as a communication apparatus. To do.

  In such a job tracking system, as described above, conventionally, the job status is monitored by polling from the information processing apparatus. Due to the improvement in the printing performance of the printer device, the change in the printing state becomes faster than the polling time, and the change in the printing state cannot be appropriately monitored.

For example, the printing state is divided into several stages as follows.
(1) Print data reception start (2) Print data reception end (3) Print data before print start (4) Print data print start (5) Print data printing (including information on the page being printed) )
(6) Print data printing end

  Usually, the states of the stages (1) to (6) are acquired in order by polling. However, due to the improvement in printing performance, when the state (1) is received and polling is performed after a certain time, the printing state may have already transitioned to (6). This can be dealt with by shortening the polling time interval. However, frequently inquiring about the print state by SNMP causes a problem that the processing performance of the printer apparatus is deteriorated.

  There is also a problem due to the limited storage capacity of a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing the print state. Due to the capacity limitation, information on old print jobs that have been printed is sequentially deleted from the storage medium. The smaller the storage capacity, the higher the possibility that job information will be deleted. Since job information is erased in this way, it may occur that the processing status of the job cannot be traced. On the other hand, it is possible to cope with an increase in memory or the like, but there arises a problem that the cost increases.

  According to the present embodiment, as will be described below, the printer device itself monitors the job processing state at predetermined time intervals according to the device performance, and only when the processing state changes, The processing state is notified to the information processing apparatus. As a result, the status can be immediately grasped and the print status can be monitored easily and appropriately. Further, since the information regarding the processing state can be stored in a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having a large storage capacity, the problem of storage capacity limitation can be solved.

  An applicable communication system is not limited to a job tracking system for print jobs, and a communication apparatus that provides a service via a network and information processing that monitors related information related to the service using the service. As long as the communication system includes a device, the method of the present embodiment can be applied to a system having any configuration.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system according to the present embodiment includes a personal computer (PC) 200a and 200b as information processing apparatuses and devices 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d as communication apparatuses in a network 300 such as a LAN. It is the structure connected via.

  In addition, since PC200a, 200b has the same structure, it may only be called PC200 below. Similarly, the devices 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d may be simply referred to as the device 100.

  The PC 200 is an apparatus that executes an application that uses a service provided by the device 100. The device 100 is a device that provides a service via a network such as a printer or a copier.

  In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, conventionally, the processing state of the device 100 is monitored by polling the device 100 from the PC 200. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, when a change in reason such as a change in the processing state occurs, the device 100 notifies the PC 200 of the processing state. As a result, even when the state change interval is shorter than the polling interval, the processing state can be appropriately monitored. That is, it is possible to realize immediacy of state monitoring.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the device 100 and the PC 200 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, only one PC 200 and one device 100 are shown, but a plurality of PCs 200 and devices 100 can be connected to each other as in FIG.

  First, the configuration of the device 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F (interface) 130, a storage unit 140, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, and information. An acquisition unit 113 and a cache management unit 114 are provided.

  The communication I / F 130 is an interface that performs communication with an external device such as the PC 200.

  The storage unit 140 stores various types of information such as device information acquired from the device control unit 120, and can be configured by any commonly used storage medium such as an HDD, an optical disc, or a memory card.

  The device control unit 120 controls the operation of the device 100. When the device 100 is a printer device, the device control unit 120 performs a printing mechanism, I / O control, and the like. In addition, the device control unit 120 includes an information providing unit 121 that can provide device information of the device 100 using a device information acquisition function. Note that the information providing unit 121 has a function of setting device information in addition to the function of acquiring device information.

  The monitoring unit 111 receives a device information monitoring request from the PC 200 via the communication I / F 130, and notifies the PC 200 of device information acquired by the information acquisition unit 113 described later according to the monitoring request.

  The cache management unit 114 performs processing related to management of the storage unit 140. For example, the cache management unit 114 performs processing for initializing an area for storing information, and processing for registering the acquired device information and address information transmitted from the PC 200 in the storage unit 140.

  Further, the cache management unit 114, in response to a request from the information acquisition unit 113 described later, the latest device information acquired by the information acquisition unit 113 from the device control unit 120, and the device information already stored in the storage unit 140 To determine whether the device information has changed. Note that the monitoring unit 111 described above notifies the PC 200 of the acquired device information when it is determined that the device information has changed.

  The client management unit 112 manages information related to the PC 200 (hereinafter referred to as client information) such as address information of the PC 200. Specifically, the client management unit 112 stores the client information acquired from the PC 200 in the storage unit 140 by the cache management unit 114.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of client information stored in the storage unit 140. As illustrated in FIG. 3, as client information, the IP address of the PC 200, the port number used by the application on the PC 200, and the monitoring start flag are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 140. The monitoring start flag is information indicating whether or not a device information monitoring request has been received. “1” is set when a monitoring request is received, and “0” is set when no monitoring request is received.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the information acquisition unit 113 acquires the device information of the device control unit 120 using the information providing unit 121 and stores the device information in the storage unit 140 by the cache management unit 114 described later.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of device information stored in the storage unit 140. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the device information is represented by a hierarchical structure that is hierarchized by Category, Function, and Property. The acquired device information value is stored in the Value field. Note that device information is identified by Category, Function, and Property.

  In the figure, information about the system configuration of the device 100 (System), information about a tray to be printed (Input Tray), information about the state of the device 100 (Status), information about warning (Alert), and information about a print job (Job) Etc. are stored as device information.

  Note that the monitoring unit 111, the client management unit 112, the information acquisition unit 113, and the cache management unit 114 are components added for the monitoring process of the present embodiment, such as an SDK (Software Development Kit). And can be configured to be installed in the device 100.

  Next, the configuration of the PC 200 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the PC 200 includes an application 201, a monitoring control unit 202, and a communication I / F 203.

  The application 201 is an application having a device management function for monitoring the device 100 or a print instruction function for the device 100. The application 201 monitors device information of the device 100 using a monitoring control unit 202 described below.

  The monitoring control unit 202 controls state monitoring processing of the device 100 by communicating with the monitoring unit 111 of the device 100. Specifically, the monitoring control unit 202 starts a client registration request for registering the PC 200 in the device 100 as a device information notification target, a device information acquisition request, and a monitoring start for monitoring changes in the acquired device information. A request is transmitted to the device 100. In addition, the monitoring control unit 202 notifies the application 201 of processing results and device information transmitted from the device 100 in response to each request.

  The communication I / F 203 is an interface that performs communication with an external device such as the device 100.

  The monitoring control unit 202 is a component added to the PC 200 for the monitoring process of the present embodiment, and is provided as a program such as an SDK (Software Development Kit) and installed in the PC 200. Can be configured.

  Next, a processing sequence of the communication system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. In the communication system according to the present embodiment, an initialization process for initializing the storage unit 140 and a monitoring process for monitoring device information in response to a monitoring request from the PC 200 are executed.

  First, the processing sequence of the initialization process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the initialization process in the first embodiment. The initialization process is a process executed when the power of the device 100 is turned on.

  First, when the power of the device 100 is turned on, the monitoring unit 111 requests the client management unit 112 to perform initialization (step S501). The client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 114 to initialize a necessary area in order to secure a storage area for client information in the storage unit 140 (step S502). The cache management unit 114 initializes a necessary area and notifies the client management unit 112 of the processing result (step S503).

  Next, the client management unit 112 requests the information acquisition unit 113 to perform initialization (step S504). The information acquisition unit 113 requests the cache management unit 114 to initialize a necessary area in order to secure a storage area for device information in the storage unit 140 (step S505). The cache management unit 114 initializes a necessary area and notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of the processing result (step S506).

  In this step, the cache management unit 114 secures an area for storing device information as shown in FIG. The definition information that defines the device information for securing the area is stored in advance in a storage medium such as the storage unit 140 and is referred to in this step.

  Next, the information acquisition unit 113 notifies the client management unit 112 of the received processing result (step S507). Finally, the client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 111 of the processing result (step S508) and ends the initialization process.

  Next, a monitoring process sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are sequence diagrams showing the overall flow of the monitoring process in the first embodiment.

  The monitoring process is started with a request from the application 201 of the PC 200 after the initialization process is completed. For example, this corresponds to a case where the application 201 requests to monitor the status of a print job started after transmitting a print request to the device 100.

  First, the monitoring control unit 202 that has received a monitoring request for the device 100 from the application 201 transmits a client registration request for registering the PC 200 as a device information notification target to the monitoring unit 111 of the device 100 (step S601). The client registration request includes the IP address and port number of the PC 200.

  Next, the monitoring unit 111 notifies the client management unit 112 of the received client registration request (step S602). The client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 114 to save the client information in which the IP address and the port number included in the client registration request are associated with each other in the storage unit 140 (step S603). At this time, the monitoring start flag of the client information is set to “0 (no monitoring request has been received)”.

  Next, the cache management unit 114 notifies the client management unit 112 of the client information storage result (step S604). Subsequently, the client management unit 112 transmits the storage result to the monitoring unit 111 (step S605). The monitoring unit 111 further transmits the received storage result to the monitoring control unit 202 of the PC 200 (step S606).

  If the client information is normally stored, the monitoring control unit 202 transmits a device information acquisition request to the monitoring unit 111 of the device 100 in order to further acquire the device information and store it in the storage unit 140. (Step S607).

  Next, the monitoring unit 111 notifies the client management unit 112 of a device information acquisition request (step S608). Subsequently, the client management unit 112 notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of a device information acquisition request (step S609).

  The information acquisition unit 113 requests the device control unit 120 to acquire the device information using the device information acquisition function provided by the information providing unit 121 (step S610). The information providing unit 121 notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of the device information acquired from the device control unit 120 (step S611).

  Next, the information acquisition unit 113 requests the cache management unit 114 to save the acquired device information in the storage unit 140 (step S612). The cache management unit 114 stores the device information in the storage unit 140 in response to the request, and notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of the storage result (step S613).

  When the storage is executed normally, the information acquisition unit 113 notifies the client management unit 112 of the acquired device information (step S614). The client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 111 of the notified device information (step S615). Further, the monitoring unit 111 transmits the notified device information to the monitoring control unit 202 of the PC 200 (step S616).

  The monitoring control unit 202 that has received the device information requests the monitoring unit 111 to start monitoring the device information (step S617). The monitoring unit 111 requests the client management unit 112 to start monitoring device information (step S618).

  Next, the client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 114 to update the monitoring start flag of the stored client information (step S619). Specifically, the client management unit 112 requests the monitoring start flag to be updated to “1 (receives monitoring request)”.

  By using such a monitoring start flag, the device information can be notified only to the PC 200 that needs the notification, instead of notifying the device information to all the PCs 200 that have registered the client information.

  The cache management unit 114 updates the monitoring start flag of the client information to “1”, and notifies the update result to the client management unit 112 (step S620).

  If the update has been executed normally, the client management unit 112 requests the information acquisition unit 113 to start monitoring (step S621). Furthermore, the client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 111 that monitoring has started (step S622). The monitoring unit 111 notifies the monitoring control unit 202 of the PC 200 that monitoring has started (step S623).

  On the other hand, the information acquisition unit 113 requested to start monitoring requests the device control unit 120 to acquire the device information using the device information acquisition function provided by the information providing unit 121 (step S624). The information providing unit 121 notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of the device information acquired from the device control unit 120 (step S625).

  Next, the information acquisition unit 113 notifies the cache management unit 114 of the acquired latest device information and requests a comparison between the latest device information and the stored device information (step S626). The cache management unit 114 acquires stored device information from the storage unit 140 and compares it with the latest device information notified. Then, the cache management unit 114 notifies the information acquisition unit 113 of the comparison result (step S627). In the present embodiment, if at least one piece of device information is changed, it is determined that the device information has been changed, and this is notified as a comparison result. If the cache management unit 114 determines that the device information has been changed, the cache management unit 114 stores the changed device information in the storage unit 140.

  Next, the information acquisition unit 113 determines whether or not the device information has been changed with reference to the comparison result (step S628).

  If the device information does not change (step S628: NO), the information acquisition unit 113 returns to step S624 after a predetermined time has elapsed and repeats the device information acquisition process.

  If the device information has changed (step S628: YES), the information acquisition unit 113 notifies the client management unit 112 of the acquired device information (step S629). The client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 114 to acquire client information whose monitoring start flag is “1” (step S630).

  Next, the cache management unit 114 acquires all client information whose monitoring start flag is “1” from the storage unit 140, and notifies the client management unit 112 of the acquired client information (step S631).

  The client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 111 of the notified client information and the device information notified in step S629 (step S632). Next, the monitoring unit 111 acquires the IP address and port number included in the client information for each of the notified client information, and displays the monitoring control unit 202 of the PC 200 identified by the acquired IP address and port number. The notified device information is transmitted as a destination (step S633).

  Note that the processing from step S624 to step S633 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. Although not shown in the figure, for example, when a monitoring end request is transmitted from the PC 200, the monitoring unit 111 ends the monitoring process.

  By such processing, the PC 200 does not periodically acquire the device information by polling, but can determine the change in the device information on the device 100 side and notify the PC 200 of the device information only when the change has occurred. This makes it possible to immediately grasp changes in device information.

  It should be noted that if the device information or the like cannot be notified from the monitoring unit 111 to the monitoring control unit 202 for some reason, a re-notification may be possible. For example, the re-notification condition is added to the client registration request, and the re-notification condition is also added to the client information stored in the storage unit 140. Then, the re-notification condition is also stored in the storage unit 140 when the client information is registered. For example, the re-notification condition specifies that a predetermined time elapses.

  When an error occurs when device information or the like is transmitted from the monitoring unit 111 to the monitoring control unit 202 and the device information or the like cannot be transmitted, the monitoring unit 111 acquires a re-notification condition from the storage unit 140. When the condition is satisfied, the device information is notified again.

(Modification)
In the above description, it is assumed that the device 100 includes the monitoring unit 111 related to the monitoring process, the client management unit 112, the information acquisition unit 113, and the cache management unit 114. On the other hand, these components may be provided in an external device different from the device 100 so that the external device communicates with the device 100 and monitors the device information.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to a modified example of the first embodiment, which is configured to include the device monitoring apparatus 801 as such an external apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication system according to this modification has a configuration in which a device 802 as a communication device is connected to a PC 200 via a device monitoring device 801.

  First, the device monitoring apparatus 801 will be described. The device monitoring apparatus 801 includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 140, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, an information acquisition unit 813, a cache management unit 114, and an input / output I / F 850. .

  The communication I / F 130, the storage unit 140, the monitoring unit 111, the client management unit 112, and the cache management unit 114 have the same functions as those provided in the device 100 in FIG. The description will be omitted.

  The input / output I / F 850 is an interface that transmits / receives data to / from the device 802, and any communication interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 can be applied. Further, the interface is not limited to a wired interface, and an interface that transmits and receives data wirelessly may be used.

  The information acquisition unit 813 is different from the information acquisition unit 113 of FIG. 2 in that it acquires device information by communicating with the information providing unit 121 of the device 802 via the input / output I / F 850.

  Next, the device 802 will be described. The device 802 includes a device control unit 120 and an input / output I / F 822. The device control unit 120 has the same function as the device control unit 120 in FIG.

  The input / output I / F 822 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data, similar to the input / output I / F 850 of the device monitoring apparatus 801.

  In the case of such a configuration, a monitoring request or the like from the PC 200 is transmitted to the monitoring unit 111 of the device monitoring apparatus 801. Also, the information acquisition unit 813 of the device monitoring apparatus 801 acquires device information from the device 802 via the input / output I / F 850. The overall flow of the other monitoring processing is the same as in FIG.

  In this embodiment, an apparatus having a monitoring function is provided outside the device 802 and connected by a general-purpose interface such as a USB, so that the monitoring function cannot be introduced into the device 100. The same device information monitoring function can be realized.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the first embodiment, a communication device that provides a service detects a change in the processing state of the service, and when the processing state changes, provides the service with device information related to the service. The information processing apparatus to be received can be notified. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately monitor the change in the processing state of the processing provided via the network.

(Second Embodiment)
In the communication system according to the second embodiment, when there is a shortage of device information acquired by the method of the first embodiment, the shortage of device information is acquired by SNMP.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the device 900 and the PC 200 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the device 900 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 140, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, an information acquisition unit 913, and the like. The cache management unit 114 and the SNMP control unit 915 are provided.

  In the second embodiment, the addition of an SNMP control unit 915 and the function of the information acquisition unit 913 are different from those in the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device 100 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The SNMP control unit 915 controls management of the device 900 by SNMP. For example, the SNMP control unit 915 acquires device information from the device control unit 120 by SNMP. That is, the SNMP control unit 915 acquires device information by polling using SNMP as in the conventional case. At this time, the SNMP control unit 915 specifies the loopback address of the device 900 set in the communication I / F 130 and acquires device information by SNMP.

  The information acquisition unit 913 uses the SNMP control unit 915 to acquire the deficient device information from the device control unit 120 when the device information acquired using the information providing unit 121 is insufficient. This is different from the information acquisition unit 113 of the embodiment. Whether or not the device information is insufficient is determined, for example, by collating with a list of device information to be acquired stored in advance in the storage unit 140 or the like. The information acquisition unit 913 combines the device information obtained by the information providing unit 121 and the device information obtained by the SNMP control unit 915 into one and uses them in the subsequent processing.

  Next, monitoring processing of the communication system according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Note that the initialization process is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. 10 and 11 are sequence diagrams illustrating the overall flow of the monitoring process according to the second embodiment.

  The client registration process from step S1001 to step S1011 and the device information acquisition process by the information providing unit 121 are the same as the process from step S601 to step S611 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. To do.

  After acquiring device information using the information providing unit 121 in step S1011, the information acquiring unit 913 compares the acquired device information with the list of device information to be acquired that has been stored in advance, and thus the deficient device. It is determined whether information exists (step S1012). If there is insufficient device information (step S1012: YES), the device information that is insufficient is acquired from the device control unit 120 using the SNMP control unit 915 (step S1013). The SNMP control unit 915 acquires device information from the device control unit 120 in accordance with the SNMP rules, and notifies the information acquisition unit 913 of the acquired device information (step S1014). When there is no insufficient device information (step S1012: NO), the device information acquisition process by the SNMP control unit 915 is not executed.

  If device information that cannot be provided by the information providing unit 121 is known in advance, the SNMP control unit 915 may acquire the known device information without determining whether the information is insufficient.

  The device information storage process and the device information notification process from step S1015 to step S1019 are the same as the process from step S612 to step S616 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, in FIG. 11, the point that Steps S1029 to S1031 are added is different from FIG. 7 in the communication system according to the first embodiment. Steps S1029 to S1031 are to acquire the device information that is lacking from the device control unit 120 using the SNMP control unit 915, similarly to steps S1012 to S1014 of FIG.

  When the SNMP control unit 915 is used, device information is usually acquired according to a MIB (Management Information Base) acquisition method defined for each device information. The MIB acquisition method is a method in which information acquired as device information is determined from which MIB and in what priority order.

  For example, for the device information “TrayName”, “prtInputName” is acquired from the standard MIB (Printer-MIB) as the first priority, and “MyCompanyInputName” from the extension MIB (MyCompany Private-MIB) of the company as the second priority. It is assumed that an acquisition method for acquiring “OtherCompanyInputName” from another company's extension MIB (Private-MIB of OtherCompany) is defined as the third priority.

  According to the conventional method, when acquiring the device information “TrayName” in this example, the acquisition of “prtInputName” is tried first, and when the device information cannot be acquired, the acquisition of “MyCompanyInputName” is tried. If you still cannot get it, try to get "OtherComanyInputName". As described above, the conventional method has a problem that the device information acquisition efficiency is low. For example, even if it is known in advance that the device information “TrayName” is acquired from “MyCompanyInputName”, according to the conventional method, it is necessary to always try acquisition from the standard MIB.

  Therefore, the MIB to be acquired for each piece of device information and the definition information that defines the acquisition items may be stored in the storage unit 140 and the like, and the method for acquiring the device information may be determined with reference to the stored definition information. .

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the definition information stored in the storage unit 140 when configured in this way. As shown in the figure, for each piece of device information, definition information that associates an acquisition item acquired as device information with an acquisition source MIB is stored in the storage unit 140.

  When acquiring device information using the SNMP control unit 915, the information acquisition unit 913 determines an acquisition item corresponding to the device information with reference to the definition information as illustrated in FIG. 12, and acquires the determined acquisition item by SNMP. To do.

  In the figure, for example, it is defined that the device information “TrayName” is acquired from “MyCompanyInputName”. For this reason, the information acquisition unit 913 can acquire the device information “TrayName” by referring to the company's extended MIB from the beginning without trying to acquire from the standard MIB.

(Modification)
Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes a configuration unit related to monitoring processing in an external device different from the device 900, and the external device communicates with the device 900. It can be configured to monitor device information.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to a modification of the second embodiment, which is configured to include a device monitoring apparatus 1301 that is such an external apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the communication system according to the present modification has a configuration in which a device 1302 as a communication apparatus is connected to a PC 200 via a device monitoring apparatus 1301.

  First, the device monitoring apparatus 1301 will be described. The device monitoring apparatus 1301 includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 140, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, an information acquisition unit 1313, a cache management unit 114, an SNMP control unit 1315, an input / output I / O. F850 and communication I / F 1331 are provided.

  The communication I / F 130, the storage unit 140, the monitoring unit 111, the client management unit 112, the cache management unit 114, and the input / output I / F 850 are provided in the device 900 of FIG. 9 or the device 802 of FIG. Since they have the same functions as those described above, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The communication I / F 1331 is an interface that performs communication with the device 1302. The information acquisition unit 1313 is different from the information acquisition unit 913 in FIG. 9 in that it acquires device information by communicating with the information providing unit 121 of the device 1302 via the input / output I / F 850. The SNMP control unit 1315 acquires device information by SNMP via the communication I / F 1331.

  Next, the device 1302 will be described. The device 1302 includes a device control unit 120, an input / output I / F 822, and a communication I / F 1332. The device control unit 120 and the input / output I / F 822 have the same functions as those provided in the device 900 of FIG. 9 or the device 802 of FIG. .

  The communication I / F 1332 is an interface that performs communication with the device monitoring apparatus 1301.

  With this configuration, similar to the modification of the first embodiment, even when the monitoring function cannot be introduced into the device 900, the same device information monitoring function as that of the present embodiment can be realized. it can.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the second embodiment, when the acquired device information is insufficient, the insufficient device information can be acquired by SNMP. That is, by using the acquisition of the processing state using a standard protocol, it is possible to appropriately monitor the change in the processing state of the processing provided via the network. In addition, since an acquisition method for acquiring device information by SNMP can be determined in advance, the device information acquisition process can be made more efficient.

(Third embodiment)
In the above embodiment, all the device information hierarchized as shown in FIG. 4 is acquired. On the other hand, the communication system according to the third embodiment efficiently executes information acquisition processing by acquiring only device information designated from the information processing apparatus.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of a device 1410 and a PC 1420 according to the third embodiment.

  First, the configuration of the device 1410 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the device 1410 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 140, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 1412, an information acquisition unit 1413, And a cache management unit 1414.

  In the third embodiment, the functions of the client management unit 1412, the information acquisition unit 1413, and the cache management unit 1414 are different from those in the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device 100 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The client management unit 1412 manages client information that further includes device information to be monitored. Specifically, the client management unit 1412 stores client information including device information to be monitored transmitted from the PC 1420 in the storage unit 140 by the cache management unit 1414.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of client information stored in the storage unit 140 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, as client information, the storage unit 140 associates the IP address of the PC 1420, the port number used by the application 1401 on the PC 1420, the monitoring start flag, and the device information to be monitored. Saved in.

  The monitoring target is specified by dividing the name of each layer of the device information hierarchized as shown in FIG. 4 with the symbol “:”. If all device information below a certain level is to be monitored, only the name of the level is specified. FIG. 15 shows a specification example in which all device information below the ModelInformation function (Function) of the System category (Category) is set as one of the monitoring targets.

  Note that the monitoring target designation method is not limited to this, and any method can be applied as long as the device information to be monitored can be specified among all pieces of device information.

  Returning to FIG. 14, when acquiring the device information, the information acquisition unit 1413 acquires the device information to be monitored for each PC 1420 that notifies the device information from the storage unit 140, and only the acquired device information is provided as the information providing unit. 121 is obtained.

  The cache management unit 1414 registers client information including a monitoring target in the storage unit 140 in response to a request from the client management unit 1412. Further, the cache management unit 1414 acquires the monitoring target corresponding to the PC 1420 that is the notification destination from the storage unit 140 in response to a request from the information acquisition unit 1413. Other functions are the same as those of the cache management unit 114 of the first embodiment.

  Next, the configuration of the PC 1420 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the PC 1420 includes an application 1401, a monitoring control unit 1402, and a communication I / F 203.

  In the third embodiment, the functions of the application 1401 and the monitoring control unit 1402 are different from those of the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 200 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The application 1401 is different from the first embodiment in that the application 1401 has a function of specifying device information to be monitored when device information of the device 1410 is monitored.

  The monitoring control unit 1402 is different from the monitoring control unit 202 of the first embodiment in that a monitoring start request including designation of device information to be monitored is transmitted to the device 1410. Note that the monitoring control unit 1402 includes the device information to be monitored specified by the application 1401 in the monitoring start request.

  Next, the monitoring process of the communication system according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the initialization process is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall flow of the monitoring process according to the third embodiment.

  In addition, the figure is a sequence diagram showing the process (apparatus information acquisition process with respect to a monitoring start request | requirement) of the part equivalent to FIG. 7 of 1st Embodiment. The processing corresponding to FIG. 6 in the first embodiment, that is, the client registration processing and the device information acquisition processing for the device information acquisition request are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus illustration and description thereof are omitted. .

  First, the monitoring control unit 1402 notifies the monitoring unit 111 of the device 1410 of a monitoring start request including device information to be monitored designated by the application 1401 (step S1601). The monitoring unit 111 requests the client management unit 1412 to start monitoring device information (step S1602).

  Next, the client management unit 1412 requests the cache management unit 1414 to update the monitoring start flag of the stored client information and register the monitoring target (step S1603). Specifically, the client management unit 1412 requests to update the monitoring start flag to “1” and register the monitoring target acquired from the monitoring start request.

  The cache management unit 1414 updates the monitoring start flag of the client information to “1”, saves the designated monitoring target in the storage unit 140, and notifies the client management unit 1412 of the processing result (step S1604).

  The monitoring start request processing and the monitoring start notification processing for the information acquisition unit 1413 from step S1605 to step S1607 are the same as the processing from step S621 to step S623 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be given. Is omitted.

  The information acquisition unit 1413 requested to start monitoring requests the cache management unit 1414 to acquire device information to be monitored for each PC 1410 that has requested monitoring start (step S1608). The cache management unit 1414 acquires the corresponding monitoring target from the storage unit 140, and notifies the information acquisition unit 1413 of the acquired monitoring target (step S1609).

  Thereafter, the information acquisition unit 1413 repeats the device information acquisition process using the information providing unit 121 for the device information designated as the monitoring target (steps S1610 to S1619). Since the processing from step S1610 to step S1619 is the same as that from step S624 to step S633 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the third embodiment, only the device information designated from the information processing apparatus can be acquired, so that the information acquisition process can be executed efficiently.

(Fourth embodiment)
The communication system according to the fourth embodiment acquires only device information predetermined for each application that uses a service. In addition, the acquired device information is notified only when the condition for notifying the device information is satisfied.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of a device 1710 and a PC 1720 according to the fourth embodiment.

  First, the configuration of the device 1710 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the device 1710 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 1740, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, and an information acquisition unit 1713. A cache management unit 1714.

  In the fourth embodiment, the new information is stored in the storage unit 1740 and the functions of the information acquisition unit 1713 and the cache management unit 1714 are different from those in the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device 100 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The storage unit 1740 is different from the storage unit 140 of the first embodiment in that it further stores definition information that defines device information to be monitored for each application 201 executed on the PC 1720.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of definition information newly added to the storage unit 1740. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the storage unit 1740 acquires an application name (Application Name) for identifying the application 201, a function name (Function) of device information managed by the application 201, and the function name. Definition information that associates an attribute (Property) for identifying each piece of device information to be associated with a notification condition (Condition) when notifying device information is stored in advance.

  In the figure, for example, for the function name “Status Information” of the device information managed on the application 201 side, among the hierarchical device information managed on the device 1710 side as shown in FIG. Definition information for acquiring “Status ID” and “Status ID” under “Printer Information” is shown.

  In addition, as the notification condition, various conditions other than the condition to be surely notified can be designated if there is a change as in the above embodiment. For example, in the figure, regarding the toner status (Toner Status), a notification condition to be notified when the remaining amount of toner becomes a predetermined threshold (10%) or less is designated. Further, for example, a notification condition may be specified that is not always notified when the state changes, but is notified only when the state changes. Note that the method for specifying the notification condition is not limited to these, and any method can be applied as long as it is possible to specify whether notification is to be made according to the change mode of the device information.

  Returning to FIG. 17, when acquiring the device information, the information acquisition unit 1713 acquires the device information corresponding to the application 201 that requested the monitoring start from the storage unit 1740, and only the acquired device information is sent to the information providing unit 121. It is obtained by using. The application name is included in the monitoring start request by the monitoring control unit 1702 (described later) of the PC 1720 and transmitted to the device 1710.

  With such a function, for example, when the same application is introduced into a plurality of PCs 1720 and monitoring of device information is requested at the same time, device information is not acquired for each PC 1720, but only once for the same application. Information can be acquired. Thereby, the acquisition process of apparatus information can be made efficient.

  In addition, the information acquisition unit 1713 acquires the notification condition of the acquired device information from the storage unit 1740, determines whether the acquired device information satisfies the notification condition, and satisfies the notification condition only when the information is satisfied. Notify the PC 1720.

  The cache management unit 1714 acquires device information corresponding to the application name from the storage unit 1740 in response to a request from the information acquisition unit 1713. Other functions are the same as those of the cache management unit 114 of the first embodiment.

  Next, the configuration of the PC 1720 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the PC 1720 includes an application 201, a monitoring control unit 1702, and a communication I / F 203.

  In the fourth embodiment, the function of the monitoring control unit 1702 is different from that of the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 200 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The monitoring control unit 1702 is different from the monitoring control unit 202 of the first embodiment in that a monitoring start request including the application name of the application 201 that has requested monitoring is transmitted to the device 1710.

  Next, the monitoring process of the communication system according to the fourth embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the initialization process is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall flow of the monitoring process according to the fourth embodiment.

  In addition, the figure is a sequence diagram showing the process (apparatus information acquisition process with respect to a monitoring start request | requirement) of the part equivalent to FIG. 7 of 1st Embodiment. The processing corresponding to FIG. 6 in the first embodiment, that is, the client registration processing and the device information acquisition processing for the device information acquisition request are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus illustration and description thereof are omitted. .

  First, the monitoring control unit 1702 notifies the monitoring unit 111 of the device 1710 of a monitoring start request including the application name of the application 201 that has requested monitoring (step S1901). The monitoring unit 111 requests the client management unit 112 to start monitoring device information (step S1902).

  Next, the client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 1714 to update the monitoring start flag of the stored client information (step S1903). The cache management unit 1714 updates the monitoring start flag of the client information to “1”, and notifies the client management unit 112 of the processing result (step S1904).

  The monitoring start request processing and the monitoring start notification processing for the information acquisition unit 1713 from step S1905 to step S1907 are the same as the processing from step S621 to step S623 in the communication system according to the first embodiment. Is omitted.

  The information acquisition unit 1713 requested to start monitoring extracts the application name included in the request, and requests the cache management unit 1714 to acquire device information and notification conditions corresponding to the extracted application name (step S1908). . The cache management unit 1714 acquires corresponding device information and notification conditions from the storage unit 1740, and notifies the information acquisition unit 1713 of the acquisition result (step S1909).

  The device information acquisition processing and device information comparison processing by the information providing unit 121 from step S1910 to step S1914 are the same as the processing from step S624 to step S628 in the communication system according to the first embodiment. Omitted.

  If the device information has changed (step S1914: YES), the information acquisition unit 1713 determines whether the acquired device information satisfies the notification condition (step S1915). If the notification condition is not satisfied (step S1915: NO), the information acquisition unit 1713 returns to step S1910 after a predetermined time has elapsed and repeats the device information acquisition process.

  If the notification condition is satisfied (step S1915: YES), the information acquisition unit 1713 notifies the client management unit 112 of the acquired device information (step S1916).

  The client information acquisition processing and device information transmission processing from step S1917 to step S1920 are the same as the processing from step S630 to step S633 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to acquire only device information predetermined for each application that uses a service. Further, the acquired device information can be notified only when the condition for notifying the device information is satisfied. For this reason, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the process state acquisition process.

(Fifth embodiment)
The communication system according to the fifth embodiment acquires only device information whose contents change according to the processing status, among the device information.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the device 2000 and the PC 200 according to the fifth embodiment.

  First, the configuration of the device 2000 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the device 2000 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 2040, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 111, a client management unit 112, and an information acquisition unit 2013. A cache management unit 2014.

  In the fifth embodiment, the new information is stored in the storage unit 2040 and the functions of the information acquisition unit 2013 and the cache management unit 2014 are different from those in the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device 100 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The storage unit 2040 further stores, as definition information, variation information indicating whether the device information to be monitored is fixed device information whose value does not change or device information whose value changes. Further, when the device information is acquired, the storage unit 2040 stores the variation information in association with each device information.

  FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of definition information newly added to the storage unit 2040. As shown in FIG. 21, in the storage unit 2040, definition information in which identification information (Property) for identifying device information and variation information (Update) indicating whether the device information varies or not is associated in advance. Stored in

  FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of device information stored in the storage unit 2040. This embodiment is different from FIG. 4 showing the data structure of device information stored in the first embodiment in that a field (Update) for storing variation information is added.

  Note that the device information storage area including the Update field as shown in FIG. 22 is secured in the storage unit 2040 by the cache management unit 2014 during the initialization process. Further, the variation information set in the Update field is set with reference to definition information as shown in FIG. 21 when device information is first acquired.

  Returning to FIG. 20, when acquiring device information, the information acquisition unit 2013 acquires device information in which variation information (variation) indicating a change in value is set from the storage unit 2040, and only the acquired device information is acquired. Is obtained using the information providing unit 121.

  In response to a request from the information acquisition unit 2013, the cache management unit 2014 acquires, from the storage unit 2040, device information in which variation information indicating that the value changes is set. Other functions are the same as those of the cache management unit 114 of the first embodiment.

  Since the configuration and functions of the PC 200 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, a monitoring process of the communication system according to the fifth embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the initialization process is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall flow of the monitoring process according to the fifth embodiment.

  In addition, the figure is a sequence diagram showing the process (apparatus information acquisition process with respect to a monitoring start request | requirement) of the part equivalent to FIG. 7 of 1st Embodiment. The processing corresponding to FIG. 6 in the first embodiment, that is, the client registration processing and the device information acquisition processing for the device information acquisition request are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus illustration and description thereof are omitted. .

  Since the monitoring start flag update process and the monitoring start notification process from step S2301 to step S2307 are the same as those from step S617 to step S623 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The information acquisition unit 2013 requested to start monitoring requests the cache management unit 2014 to acquire the identification information (device information name) of the device information in which the variation information indicating that the value changes is set (step S2308). ). The cache management unit 2014 acquires the device information name of the fluctuating device information from the storage unit 2040 and notifies the information acquisition unit 2013 (step S2309).

  Thereafter, the information acquisition unit 2013 repeats the device information acquisition process using the information providing unit 121 with the device information whose value varies as a monitoring target (steps S2310 to S2319). Since the processing from step S2310 to step S2319 is similar to the processing from step S624 to step S633 in the communication system according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the communication system according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to acquire only the device information whose contents change according to the processing status among the device information. For this reason, the process status acquisition process can be made more efficient.

(Sixth embodiment)
The communication system according to the sixth embodiment acquires various definition information used in the monitoring process from a definition file created externally. As the definition information, each definition information used in the above-described embodiments is targeted. For example, device information to be acquired, device information to be acquired for each application, notification conditions, information indicating whether the device information is changed, and the like are applicable.

  In the present embodiment, the device information can be set from the information processing device, and the information processing device can be notified that the setting of the device information has been completed.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of a device 2410 and a PC 2420 according to the sixth embodiment. In the figure, a router 400, a network 500 such as the Internet, and a server 600 are added.

  The router 400 relays communication between the network 300 and the network 500. The network 500 is not limited to the Internet and can be configured by any form of network.

  The server 600 is a server device that manages a definition file and a firmware file for updating firmware for each type of communication device including the device 2410. The format of the definition file is not limited. For example, an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format file can be used.

  Each PC 2420 determines the type of the device 2410 to be used, acquires a definition file or the like corresponding to the type of the device 2410 from the server 600, and updates the definition information or device information of the device 2410 with the acquired file. Do.

  Next, the configuration of the device 2410 will be described. As shown in FIG. 24, the device 2410 according to the present embodiment includes a communication I / F 130, a storage unit 140, a device control unit 120, a monitoring unit 2411, a client management unit 112, and an information acquisition unit 113. A cache management unit 114, an SNMP control unit 915, and an information setting unit 2416.

  The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the function of the monitoring unit 2411, the SNMP control unit 915, and the information setting unit 2416 are added. Other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 1, which is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the device 100 according to the first embodiment, and thus are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted here.

  The monitoring unit 2411 is different from the monitoring unit 111 of the first embodiment in that a function for setting definition information using a definition file and a function for setting device information using an information setting unit 2416 are added.

  The SNMP control unit 915 controls management of the device 2410 by SNMP in the same manner as the SNMP control unit 915 of the second embodiment.

  The information setting unit 2416 sets device information for the device control unit 120 in response to a request from the PC 2420.

  Next, the configuration of the PC 2420 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 24, the PC 2420 includes an application 2401, a monitoring control unit 2402, and a communication I / F 203.

  In the sixth embodiment, the functions of the application 2401 and the monitoring control unit 2402 are different from those of the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 200 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The application 2401 is different from the application 201 of the first embodiment in that the application 2401 further transmits a definition file update request of the device 2410.

  In response to a definition file update request requested by the application 2401, the monitoring control unit 2402 has added processing for acquiring a definition file from the external server 600 and processing for transmitting a definition file update request to the device 2410. Is different from the monitoring control unit 202 of the first embodiment.

  Next, definition file update processing by the communication system according to the sixth embodiment configured as described above will be described. Note that the initialization process is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall flow of definition file update processing according to the sixth embodiment.

  First, the application 2401 notifies the monitoring control unit 2402 of a definition file update request (step S2501). Next, the monitoring control unit 2402 transmits an acquisition request for the model name of the device 2410 to the monitoring unit 2411 of the device 2410 in order to specify the type of the device 2410 (step S2502).

  Next, the monitoring unit 2411 acquires the model name (System: Model Information: Model Name in FIG. 4) included in the device information from the storage unit 140, and notifies the monitoring control unit 2402 (step S2503). Note that the process of acquiring the model name can be realized by the same process as that of each of the above-described embodiments, and thus details thereof are omitted.

  Next, the monitoring control unit 2402 transmits a definition file acquisition request corresponding to the notified model name to the server 600 (step S2504). The server 600 acquires the definition file corresponding to the model name from the storage unit in the own device, and notifies the monitoring control unit 2402 (step S2505).

  Next, the monitoring control unit 2402 transmits a definition file update request together with the definition file to the monitoring unit 2411 (step S2506). The monitoring unit 2411 reads the content of the transmitted definition file and stores it in the storage unit 140. The monitoring unit 2411 notifies the monitoring control unit 2402 of the processing result (step S2507).

  Next, the monitoring control unit 2402 further notifies the application 2401 of the notified processing result (Step S2508), and ends the definition file update processing.

  By such processing, definition information necessary for monitoring processing can be updated based on an externally created definition file, and maintenance of definition information can be improved.

  The definition file is not limited to the file acquired from the server 600. For example, the PC 2420 may be configured to transmit the acquired definition file to the device 2410 by another method. Alternatively, only the update request may be transmitted from the PC 2420, and the definition file may be acquired by the device 2410 from the server 600.

  Furthermore, an interface corresponding to the type of recording medium is used to store definition files recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, floppy disk (registered trademark: FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). You may comprise so that it may acquire via.

  Further, a definition file may be included in the firmware file for updating the firmware of the device 2410, and the definition file may be extracted during the firmware update process, and the definition file update process as described above may be performed.

  Next, device information setting processing for setting device information of the device 2410 from the PC 2420 will be described. When setting device information from the outside, it may be necessary not only to notify that it has been set (change in the first reason), but also to notify that the setting has become effective (change in the second reason). is there.

  For example, when the IP address of the device 2410 is updated, the new IP address does not become effective simply by notifying the new IP address and setting the IP address. To be effective, the device 2410 needs to be restarted. For this reason, after the device 2410 is restarted, it becomes necessary to further notify that the IP address is valid.

  Also, for example, when updating the firmware of the device 2410, the firmware cannot be updated only by transferring the firmware file by the FTP protocol or the like. After the device 2410 notifies the application 2401 of the completion of transfer (change in the first reason), it is necessary to execute a firmware update process based on the received firmware file and to restart in order to validate the update. . Then, after the device 2410 is restarted, it becomes necessary to notify the application 2401 that the firmware is valid.

  FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall flow of the device information setting process. First, the monitoring control unit 2402 notifies the monitoring unit 2411 of a device information setting request (step S2601). The monitoring unit 2411 notifies the client management unit 112 of a device information setting request (step S2602). The client management unit 112 notifies the information setting unit 2416 of the notified device information setting request (step S2603).

  The information setting unit 2416 requests device information setting using the device information setting function provided by the information providing unit 121 (step S2604). The information providing unit 121 sets the requested device information in the device control unit 120, and notifies the information setting unit 2416 of the setting result (step S2605).

  Also, in the case of device information set using SNMP, the information setting unit 2416 requests the SNMP control unit 915 to set device information (step S2606). The SNMP control unit 915 sets the requested device information in the device control unit 120 and notifies the information setting unit 2416 of the setting result (step S2607).

  Next, the information setting unit 2416 notifies the client management unit 112 of the device information setting result (step S2608). In addition, the client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 2411 of the setting result (step S2609). Further, the monitoring unit 2411 notifies the setting result to the monitoring control unit 2402 of the PC 2420 (step S2610).

  When the device information setting is normally executed and the device 2410 needs to be restarted, the information setting unit 2416 requests the SNMP control unit 915 to restart (step S2611). Next, the SNMP control unit 915 restarts the device 2410 (step S2612).

  When the restart is completed, the device control unit 120 notifies the SNMP control unit 915 of a completion notification (step S2613). Specifically, the SNMP control unit 915 detects restart by the SNMP Trap function.

  Next, the SNMP control unit 915 notifies the information setting unit 2416 of the completion of the restart (step S2614). In addition, the information setting unit 2416 notifies the client management unit 112 of the completion of the restart (step S2615).

  Next, the client management unit 112 requests the cache management unit 114 to acquire client information (step S2616). The cache management unit 114 retrieves the client information from the storage unit 140 and transmits it to the client management unit 112 (step S2617). The client management unit 112 notifies the monitoring unit 2411 of the completion of the restart and the client information (step S2618).

  Finally, the monitoring unit 2411 acquires the IP address and port number included in the client information for each of the notified client information, and sets the monitoring control unit 2402 of the PC 2420 identified by the acquired IP address and port number. As the destination, the completion of the restart is notified (step S2619).

  As described above, in the communication system according to the sixth embodiment, definition information can be acquired from a definition file created externally. Therefore, the definition information can be easily changed, and the maintainability of the communication apparatus is improved. be able to.

(Seventh embodiment)
The communication system according to the seventh embodiment determines whether or not the communication device supports the functions of the above-described embodiments, and controls monitoring processing on the information processing device side according to the determination result. is there. Further, the functions of the above embodiments are installed in the communication device according to the determination result.

  FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating detailed configurations of the device 100, the device 2710, and the PC 2720 according to the seventh embodiment.

  Since the device 100 has the same configuration as that of FIG. 2 representing the device 100 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The device 2710 is a communication device having a configuration that does not include the monitoring unit 111, the client management unit 112, the information acquisition unit 113, and the cache management unit 114 that are components related to the monitoring processing of the first embodiment. In other words, the device 2710 represents a communication apparatus having only a device information monitoring function by SNMP, for example, as in the prior art.

  The PC 2720 includes an application 201, a monitoring control unit 2702, and a communication I / F 203.

  In the seventh embodiment, the function of the monitoring control unit 2702 is different from that of the first embodiment. Since other configurations and functions are the same as those in FIG. 2 which is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 200 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted here.

  The monitoring control unit 2702 has a function of determining the type of communication device to be used and switching a method for monitoring device information according to the determination result. Specifically, the monitoring control unit 2702 transmits a client registration request to the communication device as in step S601 (FIG. 6) of the first embodiment, and determines whether a response is obtained within a predetermined time. Then, it is determined whether or not the communication apparatus is the device 100 having the monitoring function as in the first embodiment.

  If the transmission destination is the device 100, the monitoring control unit 2702 can receive the result of client registration as in step S606 of FIG. As a result, the monitoring control unit 2702 determines that the device 100 has the same monitoring function as in the first embodiment, and thereafter performs device information acquisition processing and monitoring start in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. Request processing (FIGS. 6 and 7) is executed.

  On the other hand, when the transmission destination is the device 2710, the monitoring control unit 2702 cannot receive the result of client registration. For this reason, the monitoring control unit 2702 determines that the device 2710 does not have the same monitoring function as in the first embodiment. In this case, the monitoring control unit 2702 performs device information monitoring processing of the device 2710 by a method similar to the conventional method such as polling using SNMP.

(Modification)
Note that when it is determined that the communication device does not have the same monitoring function as in the first embodiment, the monitoring function may be installed in the communication device. FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the PC 2820 according to the modified example of the seventh embodiment configured as described above.

  The PC 2820 includes an application 201, a monitoring control unit 2802, a communication I / F 203, and an installation unit 2804.

  The monitoring control unit 2802 determines whether or not the communication apparatus is the device 100 having the monitoring function as in the first embodiment, in the same manner as the monitoring control unit 2702 described above. If the monitoring control unit 2802 determines that the monitoring function is not provided, the monitoring control unit 2802 uses the installation unit 2804 to control processing for installing the monitoring function in the device 2710.

  The installation unit 2804 installs a monitoring function in the device 2710 in response to a request from the monitoring control unit 2802. Assuming that the components required for the monitoring function (the monitoring unit 111, the client management unit 112, the information acquisition unit 113, and the cache management unit 114) are provided as the above-described SDK, the installation unit 2804, for example, The monitoring function corresponding to the SDK is installed using an installation function of a program such as an SDK provided in the device control unit 120 in advance.

  Thus, in the communication system according to the seventh embodiment, it is determined whether or not the communication device supports the functions of the above-described embodiments, and monitoring processing on the information processing device side is performed according to the determination result. Can be controlled. In the communication system according to the seventh embodiment, when the communication device does not support the functions of the above-described embodiments, the functions of the above-described embodiments can be installed in the communication device. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately monitor the change in the processing state of the processing provided via the network.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the communication apparatus according to the first to seventh embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a hardware configuration of the communication device according to the first to seventh embodiments.

  The communication devices according to the first to seventh embodiments communicate with a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52 and a RAM 53 by connecting to a network. A communication I / F 54 to be performed and a bus 61 for connecting each unit are provided.

  The communication program executed by the communication device according to the first to seventh embodiments is provided by being incorporated in advance in the ROM 52 or the like.

  A communication program executed by the communication device according to the first to seventh embodiments is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), FD, CD-R ( (Compact Disk Recordable), DVD, and other computer-readable recording media may be recorded and provided.

  Further, the communication program executed by the communication device according to the first to seventh embodiments is stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and is provided by being downloaded via the network. May be. Moreover, you may comprise so that the communication program run with the communication apparatus concerning the 1st-7th embodiment may be provided or distributed via networks, such as the internet.

  The communication program executed by the communication devices according to the first to seventh embodiments has a module configuration including the above-described units (monitoring unit, client management unit, information acquisition unit, cache management unit, device control unit). As actual hardware, the CPU 51 reads out and executes the communication program from the ROM 52, so that the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device, and the respective units are generated on the main storage device.

  The information processing apparatus according to the first to seventh embodiments includes a control device such as a CPU 51, a storage device such as a ROM 52 and a RAM 53, a communication I / F 54 that communicates by connecting to a network, an HDD, It has a hardware configuration using a normal computer that includes an external storage device such as a CD drive device, a display device such as a display device, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a bus 61 that connects each unit. .

  As described above, a communication device, a communication method, a communication program, a recording medium, a communication system, a monitoring device, and an information processing device according to the present invention are a device, a method, a program, Suitable for the system.

51 CPU
52 ROM
53 RAM
54 Communication I / F
61 Bus 100 Device 111 Monitoring unit 112 Client management unit 113 Information acquisition unit 114 Cache management unit 120 Device control unit 121 Information provision unit 130 Communication I / F
140 Storage unit 200 PC
201 Application 202 Monitoring Control Unit 203 Communication I / F
300 Network 400 Router 500 Network 600 Server 801 Device Monitoring Device 802 Device 813 Information Acquisition Unit 822 Input / Output I / F
850 I / O I / F
900 Device 913 Information acquisition unit 915 SNMP control unit 1301 Device monitoring device 1302 Device 1313 Information acquisition unit 1315 SNMP control unit 1331, 1332 Communication I / F
1401 Application 1402 Monitoring control unit 1410 Device 1412 Client management unit 1413 Information acquisition unit 1414 Cache management unit 1420 PC
1702 Monitoring and Control Unit 1710 Device 1713 Information Acquisition Unit 1714 Cache Management Unit 1720 PC
1740 Storage unit 2000 Device 2013 Information acquisition unit 2014 Cache management unit 2040 Storage unit 2401 Application 2402 Monitoring control unit 2410 Device 2411 Monitoring unit 2416 Information setting unit 2420 PC
2702 Monitoring control unit 2710 Device 2720 PC
2802 Monitoring control unit 2804 Installation unit 2820 PC

JP 2001-043038 A

Claims (22)

A communication device that provides a service to an information processing device via a network,
A processing control unit that controls processing related to the service;
An information providing unit that provides related information of the service including information on a status of the process controlled by the process control unit;
A monitoring unit that receives the monitoring request for the related information from the information processing apparatus, and monitors the related information according to the received monitoring request;
A storage unit for storing the related information;
An information acquisition unit for acquiring the related information provided by the information providing unit;
Comparing the acquired related information with the related information stored in the storage unit to determine whether or not the related information has been changed, and storing the acquired related information in the storage unit And comprising
The monitoring unit transmits the acquired related information to the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request when the related information is changed.
A communication device characterized by the above. The information acquisition unit further uses the predetermined protocol related to network management to extract the related information not included in the related information provided by the information providing unit from among the related information requested to be monitored. Obtaining from the processing control unit;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit further stores definition information associating identification information for identifying the related information with an acquisition method when the related information is acquired using the protocol,
When acquiring the related information using the protocol, the information acquisition unit acquires the acquisition method corresponding to the identification information of the related information to be acquired from the storage unit, and acquires the acquisition method according to the acquired acquisition method. Obtaining relevant information,
The communication device according to claim 2. The information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided, and provides the designated related information;
The monitoring unit receives the monitoring request including identification information for identifying the related information to be monitored;
The information acquisition unit specifies the related information identified by the identification information included in the received monitoring request and acquires the related information from the information providing unit;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided, and provides the designated related information;
The storage unit further stores definition information in which application identification information for identifying an application executed on the information processing apparatus is associated with identification information for identifying the related information to be monitored,
The monitoring unit receives the monitoring request including the application identification information;
The information acquisition unit acquires the identification information corresponding to the application identification information included in the received monitoring request from the storage unit, specifies the related information identified by the acquired identification information, and specifies the information Obtaining the related information from a providing unit;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit further stores definition information associating identification information for identifying the related information with a condition for transmitting the related information to the information processing apparatus,
The information acquisition unit further acquires the condition corresponding to the identification information of the acquired related information from the storage unit, and determines whether to transmit the related information to the information processing device according to the acquired condition Judging
The monitoring unit, when it is determined to transmit the related information to the information processing apparatus, transmitting the acquired related information to the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The information providing unit accepts designation of the related information to be provided, and provides the designated related information;
The storage unit further stores definition information in which variation information indicating whether the related information can be changed according to the operation and identification information for identifying the related information are associated with each other,
The information acquisition unit acquires the identification information associated with the variation information indicating that the related information can be changed from the storage unit, and specifies the related information identified by the acquired identification information. Obtaining the related information from the information providing unit,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The monitoring unit further acquires a definition file storing the definition information, reads the definition information from the acquired definition file, and stores the definition information in the storage unit;
The communication device according to any one of claims 3, 5, 6, and 7. The monitoring unit obtains the definition file transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
The communication apparatus according to claim 8. The monitoring unit acquires the definition file corresponding to the communication device from a server device that manages a plurality of the definition files;
The communication apparatus according to claim 8. The monitoring unit obtains the definition file from a storage medium storing the definition file;
The communication apparatus according to claim 8. An information setting unit for setting the related information for the processing control unit;
The monitoring unit further transmits, when the setting of the related information by the information setting unit is completed, that the setting of the related information is completed to the information processing apparatus;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit further stores a retransmission condition when transmission of the related information fails,
When the monitoring unit fails to transmit the related information, the monitoring unit acquires the retransmission condition from the storage unit, and retransmits the related information according to the acquired retransmission condition.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. A communication device that provides a service to an information processing device, and a monitoring device that is connected to the information processing device and monitors the operation of the communication device,
A monitoring unit that receives a monitoring request for the related information of the service including information related to a processing state of the service from the information processing apparatus, and monitors the related information according to the received monitoring request;
A storage unit for storing the related information;
An information acquisition unit for acquiring the related information from the communication device;
Comparing the acquired related information with the related information stored in the storage unit to determine whether or not the related information has been changed, and storing the acquired related information in the storage unit And comprising
The monitoring unit transmits the acquired related information to the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request when the related information is changed.
A monitoring device characterized by. An information processing apparatus connected via a network to a communication apparatus that provides a service,
A monitoring control unit configured to transmit a monitoring request for the related information of the service including information related to a processing state of the service to the communication apparatus, and to receive the related information transmitted from the communication apparatus in response to the monitoring request; ,
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. When the monitoring control unit transmits address information of the information processing device to the communication device and receives completion information indicating that the address information has been registered from the communication device, the monitoring control unit sends the monitoring request to the communication device. Sending,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 15. When the monitoring control unit does not receive the completion information from the communication device, the monitoring control unit obtains the related information from the communication device using a predetermined protocol related to management of communication with the communication device. To do,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 16. A function of registering the address information and a function of transmitting the related information to the information processing apparatus of the registered address information when the completion information is not received from the communication apparatus. It was further equipped with an installation part to install,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 15. A communication method in a communication apparatus that provides a service to an information processing apparatus via a network,
The communication device includes a storage unit that stores the related information,
A process control step for controlling a process related to the service by a process control unit;
An information providing step of providing related information of the service including information on a processing state of the service by an information providing unit;
A monitoring step of receiving a monitoring request for the related information from the information processing apparatus by a monitoring unit, and monitoring the related information according to the received monitoring request;
An information acquisition step for acquiring the related information provided in the information providing step by an information acquisition unit;
The storage unit compares the acquired related information with the related information stored in the storage unit to determine whether the related information is changed, and the acquired related information is stored in the storage unit. And a storing step for storing
The monitoring step includes transmitting the acquired related information to the information processing apparatus that has received the monitoring request when the related information is changed.
A communication method characterized by the above.   A communication program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 19.   21. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon the program according to claim 20 to be executed by a computer. A communication system comprising: a communication device that provides a service; and an information processing device that is connected to the communication device via a network and uses the service,
The communication device
A processing control unit that controls processing related to the service;
An information providing unit that provides related information of the service including information on a status of the process controlled by the process control unit;
A monitoring unit that receives the monitoring request for the related information from the information processing apparatus, and monitors the related information according to the received monitoring request;
A storage unit for storing the related information;
An information acquisition unit for acquiring the related information provided by the information providing unit;
Comparing the acquired related information with the related information stored in the storage unit to determine whether or not the related information has been changed, and storing the acquired related information in the storage unit And comprising
When the related information is changed, the monitoring unit transmits the acquired related information to the information processing device that has received the monitoring request,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A monitoring control unit for transmitting the related information monitoring request to the communication device and receiving the related information transmitted from the communication device in response to the monitoring request;
A communication system characterized by the above.

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