JP2011248806A - Image processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an information processor connected to a network to acquire device information of an image processor connected to another different network without increasing a communication load between networks.SOLUTION: A request command generation and interpretation and response data generation unit 31 of a printer 11 transmits, on receiving a request command from a computer 10, the request command to devices which are in range information of the image processor on the network included in the request command; and on receiving the device information from other printers 12, 13, deletes its own device information stored in a storage unit 30 and, in device conditions received, the device information which does not correspond to the device condition included in the request command from the computer 10; generates response data integrating the rest of device information after the deletion into one; and transmits the response data to the computer 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a program including an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a printing apparatus, a copying machine, and a multifunction peripheral.

When you want to obtain device information about image processing devices including image reading devices (scanners), facsimile devices, printing devices (printers), copiers (copiers), and multifunction devices from information processing devices including personal computers on a network There is.
The device information includes the device model name, device system version information, the memory size provided by the device, information indicating whether the device is a color printer or a monochrome printer, and is set in the paper feed tray. There are various types of information including information including the paper size and paper type, and information of equipment (for example, a duplex unit and an automatic document feeder: ADF) mounted as an option.

For example, when device information of a printer on a network is acquired by a printer driver of a computer (PC), if a simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used, a management information base (MIB) of a management information base (MIB) is used. It can be obtained by specifying device information to be acquired by an object identifier (OID).
The SNMP protocol is a type of network management protocol used as a standard on the Internet, and is mainly used to monitor devices on the network.
The MIB is information that is disclosed so that devices on the network managed by SNMP can inform the outside of the state of the device itself.
The OID is information for identifying the type (group) of MIB management information.

However, if the network is the Internet and the printer and the PC communicate via the Internet, or if there is a firewall or the like between the networks to tighten security, the hypertext transfer protocol (HyperText Transfer Protocol) :) may be able to communicate only with some protocols including HTTP).
Conventionally, in a network, a printer accesses a PC by sending a command described in XML by HTTP, the PC sends an OID described as XML tag information to the printer as a response command, and the printer The device information corresponding to the tag information of the response command is described in XML by creating an OID from the MIB and transmitted by HTTP again so that the PC can acquire the device information of the printer on the network (for example, And Patent Document 1).

However, in the conventional technique described above, when it is desired to know what other printers are in the network to which the printer of the communication partner is connected, or when it is desired to obtain device information of other printers, the network All devices in the network are inquired as to whether they are brute force printers, and if the communication partner is a printer, the device information must be requested and acquired. There is a problem that the communication load between the printer and the network to which the printer is connected increases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and acquires device information of an image processing apparatus connected to another network in which an information processing apparatus connected to the network is different without increasing the communication load between the networks. The purpose is to be able to.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of networks connected to a plurality of other networks, and a predetermined communication procedure from an information processing apparatus connected to the other networks. And receiving means for receiving device information acquisition requests of the image processing apparatuses on each network, and when receiving the acquisition request by the receiving means, the other connected to each network by a predetermined communication procedure. Acquisition means for acquiring apparatus information from the image processing apparatus, and transmission means for transmitting the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition means and the apparatus information of the self-image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus by a predetermined communication procedure. Provided is an image processing apparatus.
The acquisition unit may include a unit for acquiring apparatus information from an image processing apparatus within the range of the range information when the acquisition request includes range information of the image processing apparatus on the network. .

Furthermore, when the acquisition request includes the condition information of the image processing apparatus that acquires the apparatus information, the transmission means transmits the image information from the image processing apparatus that does not correspond to the condition information among the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition means. It is preferable to have means for deleting the acquired device information and transmitting the remaining device information.
In addition, based on the device information acquired by the acquisition unit, a determination unit that determines whether the image processing device that acquired the device information is connected to a network to which the image processing device is connected is provided, and the transmission unit However, it is good to have a means which also transmits the determination result by the said determination means with the apparatus information transmitted to the said information processing apparatus.
Furthermore, the predetermined communication procedure may be a protocol that allows communication between different image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses respectively connected to different networks.

Further, a computer for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of networks connected to a plurality of other networks is transmitted from the information processing apparatus connected to the other networks according to a predetermined communication procedure on each network. Receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for image information of the image processing apparatus, and when receiving the acquisition request by the receiving means, apparatus information from other image processing apparatuses connected to the networks according to a predetermined communication procedure And a program for causing the device information acquired by the acquisition unit and the device information of the self-image processing device to function as a transmission unit that transmits the information to the information processing device according to a predetermined communication procedure. To do.
Furthermore, in the above program, when the acquisition request includes range information of an image processing device on the network, the computer functions as a unit that acquires device information from the image processing device within the range of the range information. It is recommended that the program to be included is included.

Further, in the above program, when the acquisition request includes the condition information of the image processing apparatus that acquires the apparatus information, the computer does not correspond to the condition information among the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition means. It is preferable to include a program that deletes the device information acquired from the image processing device and functions as means for transmitting the remaining device information.
Further, in the above program, based on the device information acquired by the acquisition unit, the computer determines whether the image processing device that has acquired the device information is connected to a network to which the self-image processing device is connected. It is preferable to include a program that functions as a means for transmitting the determination result by the determination means together with the determination means for performing the determination and the apparatus information to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus.
In the above program, the predetermined communication procedure may be a protocol that allows communication between different image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses respectively connected to different networks.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention can acquire device information of an image processing apparatus connected to another network having different information processing apparatuses connected to the network without increasing the communication load between the networks.
The program according to the present invention enables a computer to acquire device information of an image processing apparatus connected to another network having a different information processing apparatus connected to the network without increasing the communication load between the networks. Can be realized.

It is a block diagram which shows the main function structures of the computer and printer of each network shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network system which is one Example of invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process of the request command generation module of the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the input screen of the apparatus conditions displayed on the display part of the computer shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the input screen of the range information of the image processing apparatus on a network displayed on the display part of the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of device information stored in each printer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a format of response data including an information device that the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 transmits to a computer.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the apparatus information list based on the response data shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing of the request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a display of an apparatus information list.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the invention.
The network system of this embodiment has a plurality of networks 1 to 3 which are local area networks. The network 1 is connected to the network 2 or 3 via the Internet 4, and the networks 2 and 3 are connected to each other in the local area. Connected via network.
The Internet 4 includes a wide area network (WAN).

A number of PCs (not shown) including a computer (PC) 10 are connected to the network 1 so as to be able to exchange data with each other wirelessly or by wire. Although not shown, an image processing apparatus including a printer, Other devices are also connected. A router 5 is also connected, and this router 5 is a device for connecting to the Internet 4 or another network not shown. Since routers 6 and 7 to be described later including this router 5 are well-known techniques, their detailed functions and communication control processing will not be described.
The Internet 4 is a network in which devices between multiple networks including the networks 1 to 3 can perform data communication. Since the Internet 4 is also a well-known technique, a detailed description of its detailed functions and communication control processing will be omitted.

The network 2 is connected to a device including a number of PCs (not shown) and a number of printers (not shown) including the printers 11 and 12 so that data can be exchanged between them wirelessly or by wire. A device for connecting the Internet 4 and the network 3.
The network 3 is also connected to a device including a number of PCs (not shown) and a number of printers (not shown) including the printer 13 so that data can be exchanged wirelessly or by wire. 3 is a device for connecting to other networks not shown.

Next, in this network system, the computer 10 knows the address of the printer 11 connected to the network 2 and asks the printer 11 for the printers 11 to 13 connected to the networks 1 to 3 respectively. Processing for acquiring device information will be described.
First, each function of the computer 10 and the printers 11 to 13 in this case will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing main functional configurations of computers and printers in each network shown in FIG.
The computer 10 corresponds to an information processing apparatus including a personal computer, and includes an input unit 20, a display unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.
The input unit 20 is an input device including a keyboard and a pointing device through which a user inputs various types of operation information.
The display unit 21 is a display device including an LCD that displays various types of information to the user.
The memory | storage part 22 is a memory | storage device containing HDD which memorize | stores various information including apparatus information so that reading is possible.
The control unit 23 is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, controls the entire computer 10, and executes various processes by executing procedures of various programs including the application 23 and the printer driver 24. To do.

The application 24 is a program having a procedure for executing information processing including creation of a document or a drawing by being executed by the control unit 23.
The printer driver 25 is responsible for overall control processing related to printing with printers including the printers 11 to 13.
The request command generation module 26 acquires a request command for an acquisition request that causes any one of the printers 11 to 13 on the networks 1 to 3 to acquire and transmit device information (also referred to as “printer information”) of the printers on the networks 1 to 3. Request command generation process for generating a request, a transmission process for transmitting the request command to any one of the printers 11 to 13, and a reception process for receiving response data including device information from any of the printers 11 to 13 that transmitted the acquisition request. Then, the device information in the response data is stored in the storage unit 22 or displayed on the display unit 21.

On the other hand, the printers 11 to 13 correspond to image processing apparatuses, respectively. The printer 11 includes a storage unit 30 and a request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit 31, and the printer 12 includes a storage unit 32 and a request command generation interpretation / response. The data generation unit 33, the printer 13 includes a storage unit 34, and a request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit 35. The printers 11 to 13, although not shown, print data on paper. The mechanism and the user input various operation information, and an operation display unit that displays various information to the user is also provided.
The storage units 30, 32, and 34 are storage devices including HDDs, and store print data and device information of the printers 11 to 13, respectively.

The request command generation / interpretation / response data generation units 31, 33, and 35 are realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and are a function unit of a control unit that controls each of the printers 11 to 13. It controls overall control processing related to the function of acquiring the device information of the printers on the networks 1 to 3 based on the acquisition request and transmitting them to the computer 10.
In this network system, when a device information acquisition request is sent from the application 24 of the computer 10 to the request command generation module 26 of the printer driver 25, the request command generation module 26 sends each request to the printer 11 whose address is known. A request command which is a request for acquiring device information of the printers 11 to 13 is generated, and the request command is transmitted to the outside of the network 1 via the router 5 by an HTTP protocol communication procedure.
The HTTP is a protocol that enables communication between different networks between an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus connected to different networks, and corresponds to a predetermined communication procedure.

When the printer 11 receives a request command from the computer 10 via the Internet 4 and the router 6, the request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit 31 requests the other printers 12 and 13 to transmit device information. A request command is generated, and the request command is transmitted to the network 3 in the network 2 and via the router 6 by an HTTP protocol communication procedure.
In the network 2, the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation unit 33 of the printer 12 that has received the request command reads the device information of the own device stored in the storage unit 32, and performs the printer 11 according to the HTTP protocol communication procedure. Send device information to.

In addition, the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation unit 35 of the printer 13 that has received the request command in the network 3 reads the device information of the own device stored in the storage unit 34, and performs the HTTP protocol communication procedure. Device information is transmitted to the printer 11.
When the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation unit 31 of the printer 11 receives the device information from the printers 12 and 13, respectively, the device 11 reads the device information of its own device from the storage unit 30, and receives the received device information together with the read device information. The pieces of device information are combined into one and transmitted to the computer 10 by the HTTP protocol communication procedure.

  In other words, the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation units 31, 33, and 35 receive information on the apparatus information of the image processing apparatus on each network from an information processing apparatus connected to another network according to a predetermined communication procedure. A receiving unit that receives an acquisition request, an acquisition unit that acquires apparatus information from another image processing apparatus connected to each network according to a predetermined communication procedure when the acquisition request is received by the receiving unit, and an acquiring unit It fulfills the function of a transmission means for transmitting the apparatus information acquired by the above and the apparatus information of the self-image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus by a predetermined communication procedure.

Further, when the range information of the image processing device on the network is included in the acquisition request, means for acquiring device information from the image processing device within the range of the range information, and an image for acquiring the device information in the acquisition request Means for deleting the device information acquired from the image processing device not corresponding to the condition information from the device information acquired by the acquisition means and transmitting the remaining device information when the condition information of the processing device is included; Based on the apparatus information acquired by the means, determination means for determining whether the image processing apparatus that has acquired the apparatus information is connected to a network to which the self-image processing apparatus is connected, and apparatus information to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus At the same time, it also functions as a means for transmitting the determination result by the determination means.
Furthermore, when a device information acquisition request is received from another image processing device, it also functions as a reply unit that returns the device information of the device itself.
The device information corresponds to printer device information.

  Further, a program for causing the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation units 31, 33, and 35 to function as each of the above means is stored in the memory (not shown) of the control unit of the printers 11 to 13, or can be read by a computer. If the data is stored in a simple recording medium (for example, an optical disc including a CD and a DVD) and installed in the memory of the control unit of the printers 11 to 13, the functions of the above units can be easily provided to the printers 11 to 13. Can be introduced.

Next, in this network system, processing when the computer 10 acquires device information of the printers 11 to 13 via the printer 11 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the request command generation module of the computer shown in FIG.
The request command generation module 26 of the computer 10 receives a device information acquisition request for the printer along with input of device conditions and range information of the image processing apparatus on the network from the input unit 20 in step (indicated by “S” in FIG. 1) If entered, the process proceeds to Step 2.
The device condition corresponds to condition information of an image processing apparatus that acquires apparatus information in an acquisition request.

In step 2, a request command for printer device information including device conditions and range information of image processing devices on the network is transmitted to the printer 11 whose address on the network is known, and waits.
In step 3, when the device information of the printers 11 to 13 in the networks 2 and 3 is received from the printer 11 that has transmitted the request command, this processing is terminated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit of the printer shown in FIG.
Communication between the computer 10 and the printer 11 and between the printer 11 and the printers 12 and 13 in this process is performed according to an HTTP protocol communication procedure.
When the request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit 31 of the printer 11 receives a request command from the computer 10 at step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 11, the process proceeds to step 12.
In step 12, the request command is transmitted to the device within the range information of the image processing apparatus on the network included in the request command from the computer 10, and the process proceeds to step 13.

When device information is received from the other printers 12 and 13 in step 13, the process proceeds to step 14.
In step 14, device information not corresponding to the device condition included in the request command from the computer is deleted from the device information of the own device and each received device condition, and the process proceeds to step 15.
In step 15, the remaining device information after the deletion is combined and transmitted to the computer, and this process ends.
In this way, only with some protocols including HTTP, such as when the printer and PC communicate via the Internet, or when there is a firewall or the like between networks to tighten security. Even when communication is not possible, the device information of the printers 11 to 13 connected to other networks can be acquired without increasing the communication load between different networks of the computer 10 and the printers 11 to 13.

Next, an example of the device condition input screen and the range information input screen of the image processing apparatus on the network will be described.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a device condition input screen displayed on the display unit of the computer shown in FIG.
In this input screen, three items of “all printers”, “color machine only”, and “duplex printing capable machine only” are displayed as condition information of the printer from which the device information is acquired. Device conditions (multiple items can be selected) are included in the request command and sent to the printer 11.

For example, when “all printers” is selected, the printer 11 acquires and transmits device information of all printers on a communicable network. If “color machine only” is selected, the printer 11 acquires device information of all printers on the communicable network. Based on the device information, the printer 11 includes a monochrome printer device. The information is deleted and only the device information of the color printer is transmitted. Similarly, when “only double-sided printing capable machine” is selected, the printer 11 acquires device information of all printers on a communicable network, and based on the device information, double-sided of the device information. The device information of the unprintable printer is deleted, and only the device information of the printer capable of duplex printing is transmitted.
When “color machine only” and “double-sided printable machine only” are selected, only device information of a color printer capable of duplex printing is transmitted to the computer 10.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a range information input screen of the image processing apparatus on the network displayed on the display unit of the computer shown in FIG.
In this input screen, when the range of the IP address (denoted as “address” in the figure) of each device on the network is input as the range information of the image processing apparatus on the network, the input range information is used as the request command. It is included and sent to the printer 11.
Since the printer 11 transmits a request command to a device within the range of the range information, a request command that is unnecessary for the user to acquire device information is not transmitted on the network. In other words, communication between networks can be prevented from being burdened.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of device information stored in each printer shown in FIG.
For example, FIG. 7A shows device information of the printer 11 and is stored in the storage unit 30. 7B is device information of the printer 12 and is stored in the storage unit 32. FIG. Further, (c) in FIG. 7 is device information of the printer 13 and is stored in the storage unit 34.
This device information includes printer model name information, system version information, memory size information, color machine and monochrome machine identification information, the name of the tray for each paper tray, and the paper size stored in the tray. Information on the type of paper stored in the tray, information on the type of equipment (for example, a duplex unit, ADF, etc.) mounted as an option, and information on an IP address on the printer network are included. In addition, various information may be included, and illustration and description thereof are omitted in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of response data including information equipment that the printer shown in FIG. 1 transmits to the computer.
This response data is described in the XML format, and is an example of data when the printer 11 acquires the device information shown in FIG. 7 and “only color machine” is specified as the device condition from the computer 10. .
Regarding this response data, for example, the <Model> column in the figure is “model name” and includes “Printer1” of information corresponding to the first printer. <MediaName> corresponds to the paper type of the tray, and “Plain” indicates plain paper.
As described above, the response data includes the device information of the printers 11 and 12 of the color printer and is transmitted to the computer 10 without including the device information of the printer 13 of the monochrome printer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a device information list based on the response data shown in FIG.
When receiving the response data shown in FIG. 8, the computer 10 displays a device information list screen as shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 21.
The device information list screen shown in FIG. 9 displays device information of the printers 11 and 12 of the color printer. In the drawing, the model name “first printer” corresponds to the printer 11, and the model name “second printer” corresponds to the printer 12.
The user can search for a necessary printer from the device information list screen.

Next, after acquiring device information from the other printers 12 and 13, the printer 11 determines whether the printers 12 and 13 are connected to the same network 2 as its own device, and includes the determination result. Device information can be transmitted to the computer 10.
Next, processing in this case will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another process example of the request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit of the printer shown in FIG.
Communication between the computer 10 and the printer 11 and between the printer 11 and the printers 12 and 13 in this process is also performed according to the HTTP protocol communication procedure.
The processes in steps 21 to 24 shown in FIG. 10 are the same as the processes in steps 11 to 14 shown in FIG.

In step 25, the request command generation / interpretation / response data generation unit 31 of the printer 11 determines whether the printer that acquired the device information of the remaining device information after deletion is connected to the network 2 to which the printer 11 is connected. The network is determined to determine whether or not, and the process proceeds to step 26.
For example, the printer 11 can determine based on the IP address of the device information of the printer 13 that the printer 11 is connected to a network 3 different from the network 2 to which the printer 11 is connected.

In step 26, the remaining device information after deletion is integrated into one, response data to which the determination result is added is generated, the response data is transmitted to the computer 10, and this process is terminated.
In this way, the printer 11 not only transmits the device information of the printers on the network in response to the request from the computer 10, but also determines whether the printer of the device information acquired from the network is the same network as its own printer. Since the determination information indicating this is also notified, information useful to the user can be provided to the computer 10.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another display example of the device information list.
The printer 11 determines that the printer 13 is connected to another network 3 different from the network 2 to which the printer 11 is connected, adds the determination result, and transmits response data including device information of the printers 11 to 13. In this case, the computer 10 displays each device information list screen of the printers 11 to 13 as shown in FIG. 11 on the display unit 21 based on the response data. In the drawing, the model name “first printer” corresponds to the printer 11, the model name “second printer” corresponds to the printer 12, and the model name “third printer” corresponds to the printer 13.
Further, a message “The first printer and the second printer are in the same network B, but the third printer is in a different network C” is displayed on the screen as the determination result, and the printer is notified to the user. 11 and 12 are connected to the same network, and the printer 13 can notify that it is connected to another network.
By referring to the information of the determination result, for example, when the printer 13 of the network 3 is far from the computer 10, the user does not need to instruct the printer 13 to print, and the user has printed I don't go far to pick up paper.

In the network system of this embodiment, when a device information acquisition request is sent from the PC side to the printer, the printer acquires device information of the printers existing in the network, deletes unnecessary information, and collects them together. Since the device information is returned to the PC side, the printer information in the network of the destination printer can be acquired all at once from the destination printer, and the communication load between different networks can be reduced. it can.
In addition, by specifying a condition such as “I want only the device information of the color machine” from the PC to the communication destination printer, a request is made, and only the device information that meets the conditions of the communication destination printer is returned to the PC. The communication load can be further reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the computer 10 requests the printer 11 to acquire the device information of the other printers 12 and 13 including the printer 11 has been described. Even in the case of requesting to, it can be performed in the same manner as described above.
Also, the case of acquiring printer device information has been described. However, other types of image processing apparatuses including a facsimile apparatus, an image reading apparatus, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine on a network can be implemented in the same manner as described above. The computer 10 does not have to perform a complicated process of acquiring device information by accessing a large number of image processing apparatuses on the network one by one, and without increasing the communication load between the networks. Device information of the image processing apparatus connected to the network can be easily acquired.

Furthermore, although the case where HTTP was used as the communication procedure between the computer 10 and the printer 11 and between the printer 11 and the printers 12 and 13 has been described in the above embodiment, it includes a file transfer protocol (File Transfer Protocol: FTP). Similar implementations can be made using other protocols.
That is, any protocol that can communicate between different networks between an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus connected to different networks can be implemented in the same manner as described above.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the XML format is used for the response data has been described. However, other formats may be used as long as the format can be used in communication protocols including HTTP and FTP.

  The image processing apparatus and the program according to the present invention can be applied to all image processing apparatuses including an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a printing apparatus, a copying machine, and a multifunction peripheral.

1-3: Network 4: Internet 5-7: Router 10: Computer 11-13: Printer 20: Input unit 21: Display unit 22, 30, 32, 34: Storage unit 23: Control unit 24: Application 25: Printer driver 26: Request command generation module 31, 33, 35: Request command generation interpretation / response data generation unit

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-264995

Claims (10)

An image processing apparatus connected to a network connected to a plurality of other networks,
Receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for apparatus information of the image processing apparatus on each network by a predetermined communication procedure from the information processing apparatus connected to the other network;
When receiving the acquisition request by the receiving means, an acquisition means for acquiring apparatus information from another image processing apparatus connected to each network according to a predetermined communication procedure;
An image processing apparatus comprising: transmission means for transmitting apparatus information acquired by the acquisition means and apparatus information of the self-image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus by a predetermined communication procedure.   The acquisition means includes means for acquiring apparatus information from an image processing apparatus within a range of the range information when the acquisition request includes range information of an image processing apparatus on a network. Item 6. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1.   When the acquisition request includes condition information of an image processing apparatus that acquires apparatus information, the transmission unit acquires the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition unit from an image processing apparatus that does not correspond to the condition information. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the apparatus information and transmitting the remaining apparatus information. Based on the device information acquired by the acquisition unit, provided is a determination unit that determines whether the image processing device that acquired the device information is connected to a network to which the self-image processing device is connected,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit includes a unit that transmits the determination result by the determination unit together with the apparatus information to be transmitted to the information processing apparatus.   5. The protocol according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication procedure is a protocol that enables communication between different image processing apparatuses and information processing apparatuses respectively connected to different networks. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   A computer for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of networks connected to a plurality of other networks is processed by an image processing on each network from an information processing apparatus connected to the other network according to a predetermined communication procedure. Receiving means for receiving a device information acquisition request of the device, and when receiving the acquisition request by the receiving means, device information is acquired from other image processing devices connected to each network according to a predetermined communication procedure A program for causing the information processing apparatus to function as a transmission means for transmitting to the information processing apparatus according to a predetermined communication procedure.   7. A program for causing the computer to function as means for acquiring apparatus information from an image processing apparatus within a range of the range information when the acquisition request includes range information of an image processing apparatus on a network. The listed program.   When the acquisition request includes condition information of an image processing apparatus that acquires apparatus information, the apparatus acquires the apparatus from an image processing apparatus that does not correspond to the condition information among the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition unit 8. The program according to claim 6, further comprising a program that deletes information and functions as means for transmitting remaining device information.   A determination unit that determines whether the image processing apparatus that has acquired the apparatus information is connected to a network to which the image processing apparatus is connected based on the apparatus information acquired by the acquisition unit; 8. The program according to claim 6, further comprising a program that functions as means for transmitting the determination result by the determination means together with apparatus information to be transmitted to the processing apparatus.   10. The protocol according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined communication procedure is a protocol capable of communication between different networks between an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus respectively connected to different networks. Program.

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