JP2012195745A - Network configuration program, network configuration device, and network configuration method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network configuration program and the like for easily achieving an automatic setup of network information and the like at the time when a network device was installed.SOLUTION: A network configuration program causes a host device to execute a setup process of a network device connected via a network, the host device instructing the network device to perform a predetermined process, the program causing the host device to store information concerning an operating status of a network device already installed in the network when configuration information including network information of the network device already installed is stored, detect a network device newly installed in the network, and instruct to set to the detected network device the configuration information of a network device which is the same model as the detected network device and of which information concerning the operating status indicates that the device is not operating.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program for performing setting processing of a network device, and more particularly to a network setting program for easily realizing automatic setting of network information and the like when a network device is installed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a network environment such as a LAN (Local Area Network) has been widely used in various places such as offices, and various network devices such as a printer connected to a network by instructing from a computer (host device) connected to the network. Is being used.

  When installing a new network device in such a network environment, it is necessary to make initial settings for the settings of network-related information such as an IP address and the operation contents of the device in order to use the network according to the installation environment. Become. Conventionally, this setting action has been performed by a person with specialized knowledge such as a service person dispatched from the manufacturer of the device.

  A technique related to such setting processing is described in Patent Document 1 below, for example.

JP 2000-31002 A

  However, the setting work at the time of installation of the network device described above is a time-consuming work, and it has been necessary for an expert to perform as described above.

  The contents described in Patent Document 1 relate to the setting of the DHCP client, and the contents do not solve the above-described problem relating to a network device such as a printer.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a network setting program for easily realizing automatic setting of network information and the like when a network device is installed, which is a program for performing setting processing of a network device It is to be.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network setting program for causing a host device that instructs a predetermined processing to a network device connected via a network to execute setting processing of the network device. When the setting information including the network information of the network device already installed in the network is stored in the host device, information regarding the operating status of the network device already installed is acquired and stored. A step of detecting a network device newly installed in the network, and the same type as the detected network device, and indicating that the information on the operation status to be held is not in operation. The setting information of the network device that is To execute the steps of issuing an instruction to set the location, to the host device, is that.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect thereof is characterized in that the network information includes an IP address.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferable aspect thereof is characterized in that the setting instruction for the detected network device is executed when the IP address of the detected network device is a factory-shipped IP address. And

  Further, in the above invention, one aspect is characterized in that the network device is a printer.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network setting device for instructing a predetermined process to a network device connected via a network and executing the setting process of the network device. The setting information including the network information of the network device already installed in the network is retained, the information regarding the operation status of the network device already installed is acquired and retained, and the network device is newly installed in the network The network device is detected and the setting information of the already installed network device indicating that the information on the operation status to be held is not operating in the same model as the detected network device is detected. An instruction to set the network device is issued.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network setting method for executing a setting process of the network device in a host device that instructs a predetermined process to the network device connected via the network. However, when the host device holds setting information including network information of the network device already installed in the network, the host device is informed about the operating status of the network device already installed. Obtaining and holding, a step in which the host device detects a network device newly installed in the network, and an operation in which the host device is held in the same model as the detected network device. The already installed network indicating that the status information is not in operation The configuration information over-click device, and a step of issuing an instruction to set the detected network devices, is that.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

It is a block diagram concerning the example of an embodiment of a host device to which the present invention is applied. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a setting information table 12. FIG. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process sequence of the automatic setting process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the matters described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a host device to which the present invention is applied. A host device 1 (network setting device) shown in FIG. 1 is a device according to the present embodiment, and network devices such as printers (2A, 2B) connected via a network (LAN 3) together with their operating statuses. When setting information including these IP addresses is held and a new network device (2C) is installed in the network, the same model as the device already exists among the devices holding the setting information. If there is a device that is not in operation, processing for transmitting the setting information of the device to the device and setting it is executed. By such processing of the host device 1, initial setting suitable for the installation environment of a newly installed printer or the like is automatically performed, and work by specialists can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the host device 1 is connected to a plurality of printers 2 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 3 and issues instructions to these network devices to execute predetermined processing. Here, printing can be executed mainly by transmitting a print instruction to each printer 2. There may also be a plurality of host devices that issue instructions to the printer 2 on the LAN 3.

  The host device 1 is configured by a personal computer or the like that can communicate via a network, and includes a CPU, a RAM, an HDD, a display device, an input device, and the like (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the functional configuration includes a network setting unit 11, a setting information table 12, a driver 13 for each printer 2, and the like.

  The network setting unit 11 is a characteristic part of the host device 1 and executes update processing of a setting information table 12, which will be described later, setting processing when a new network device is installed, and the like. Specific contents of these processes will be described later. The network setting unit 11 includes a program stored in the HDD or the like and the CPU or the like that executes processing according to the program, and this program corresponds to the network setting program.

  The setting information table 12 is a data table that stores various information set for a network device such as the printer 2 connected to the LAN 3, and is stored in the HDD or the like. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the setting information table 12. The setting information table 12 includes setting information such as network related information including an IP address necessary for the network device to perform network communication, information on various conditions when the network device operates, and the operation status of the network device. Information and model information are stored for each network device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the various types of information are stored for each piece of network device identification information, here, the ID information of the printer 2, and the IP address, the operation status information, and the model information are respectively shown in the figure. Are stored in the items of “IP address”, “operation status”, and “model”. Here, IDs of the printer 2A and the printer 2B are represented by “A” and “B”, respectively. As the “IP address”, an address suitable for use in the LAN 3 is set. The “operation status” stores information indicating whether or not the network device is operating. “ON” is stored when the network device is operating, and “OFF” is stored when the network device is not operating. The The information is appropriately acquired and updated by the network setting unit 11. Here, “ON” during operation means a state in which the network device is powered on and can be connected via the LAN 3, and is “OFF” when the power is turned off. In addition, in a state where the cable is not connected to the LAN 3 in a device that performs wired communication, it is regarded as “OFF”.

  “Model” represents the model of the network device. In the example of FIG. 2, it is indicated that the models of the printer 2A and the printer 2B are different. The “other setting information” includes the network related information other than the IP address, information on various conditions during the operation, and the like. For example, in the case of a printer, various default printing conditions that are set are stored here. Naturally, the setting information has contents suitable for use in the LAN3 environment.

  Next, the driver 13 is a driver for each network device used by being connected to the LAN 3, and here, the drivers 13A, 13B, and 13C for the printers 2A, 2B, and 2C are shown. The IP addresses of the corresponding network devices are also set in these drivers 13. The driver 13 includes a program stored in the HDD or the like and the CPU or the like that executes processing according to the program.

  Next, as described above, the printer 2 is a network device that receives an instruction from the host device 1 and executes a printing process or the like. Here, all of the printers 2 are general printers having a communication function via the LAN 3. In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as an example, the printer 2A is an apparatus that is already installed and is operating, and the printer 2B is an apparatus that is no longer operating due to a failure or the like. 2C is a device newly installed in LAN3.

  Although not shown, each printer 2 includes a controller unit and a print execution unit, and the print execution unit executes print processing under the control of the controller unit that receives an instruction from the host device 1 or the like. Further, the controller unit having a communication function via the LAN 3 executes the setting process in accordance with the setting information setting instruction transmitted from the host device 1. The set information is stored in an NVRAM or the like in each printer 2 and is read from there as appropriate and used.

  As described above, the host device 1 having the above-described configuration is characterized by the automatic setting process for the printer 2, and the specific contents thereof will be described below. First, the initial registration of the setting information table 12 will be described.

  The setting information table 12 is valid for a network device that can be used via the LAN 3, or a device that has been used in the past and is currently unusable (the IP address is not used by another device). The network apparatus preferably holds the latest information, and the initial registration can be performed by an input operation by a network administrator or the like or by automatic registration by the network setting unit 11.

  When performing automatic registration, the network setting unit 11 receives an instruction from the user and sends a setting information response request to the IP address designated by each driver 13 to return information. Follow the instructions to register. In addition, since the information which cannot be used at the said time cannot be obtained by the said communication, it registers by manual input operation as needed.

  Next, setting information automatic setting processing using the setting information table 12 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the processing. The network setting unit 11 always operates while the host device 1 is operating, and monitors the operation status and new installation status of the network device (in this case, the printer 2).

  Then, the operating status of the printer 2 is checked at a predetermined cycle. That is, the “operation status” information in the setting information table 12 is maintained repeatedly at a predetermined timing. When the maintenance timing comes (Yes in step S1), the network setting unit 11 transmits a setting information response request to the IP address designated by each driver 13, and the printer 2 to which the reply is made. The “operation status” information is updated to “ON” for “no”, and “OFF” for the printer 2 that has not been replied to (step S2). In addition, in this update process, the update process may be performed on the information whose content has changed with respect to the other information of the setting information table 12.

  It should be noted that when the reply is not obtained, it is preferable not to immediately update it to “OFF” but to update it to “OFF” when the reply is not obtained after making the reply request several times.

  On the other hand, when the timing has not come (No in step S1) and after the update process has been performed, the network setting unit 11 checks whether the monitoring timing of the new installation status has come (step S3). The monitoring timing is also determined in advance, and monitoring is repeatedly executed according to the timing.

  If the monitoring timing has not yet been reached (No in step S3), the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, when it is the monitoring timing (Yes in Step S3), the network setting unit 11 checks whether or not there is a printer 2 newly installed in the LAN 3 (Step S4). Specifically, broadcasting for obtaining the setting information and the like in the LAN 3 is performed, and whether there is a reply from the printer 2 whose IP address is different from the IP address stored in the setting information table 12. Check. The returned information includes information indicating the IP address and the model of the network device, and the information is checked based on these information.

  As a result of the check, if there is no newly installed printer 2 (No in step S4), the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if there is a newly installed printer 2 (Yes in step S4), the network setting unit 11 checks whether or not the IP address of the newly installed printer 2 is a factory-shipped IP address (step S5). ). The network setting unit 11 stores an IP address set at the time of factory shipment or a feature of the IP address, and the IP address included in the returned information is an IP address at the time of factory shipment. Determine whether or not.

  As a result of the check, if it is not an IP address at the time of factory shipment (No in step S5), the process proceeds to step S8. In such a case, since there is a high possibility that the IP address of the newly installed printer 2 is intentionally set manually, the set information such as the IP address is not automatically changed. When the newly installed printer 2 is a second-hand product, if the user understands the function of the network setting unit 11 and desires automatic setting, the function of returning to the factory default setting provided in the printer 2 After setting is restored using the, the LAN 3 is installed.

  On the other hand, if the result of the check shows that the IP address is a factory-shipped IP address (Yes in step S5), the network setting unit 11 includes the newly installed printer 2 in the information stored in the setting information table 12. It is checked whether or not there is a printer 2 of the same model whose operation status is “OFF” (step S6). Specifically, information on the printer 2 that satisfies the above conditions in the setting information table 12 is searched using information indicating the model included in the returned information.

  As a result of the check, if there is no printer 2 that satisfies the above conditions (No in step S6), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, as a result of the check, if there is a printer 2 that satisfies the above condition (Yes in step S6), the network setting unit 11 adds the newly installed printer 2 to the setting information table 12 of the printer 2 that satisfies the above condition. An instruction to set stored information is issued (step S7). That is, an instruction is issued to the newly installed printer 2 so as to set the content set in the printer 2 of the same model that is not operating and searched in the setting information table 12 as it is. In the newly installed printer 2 that has received the instruction, the controller unit executes the setting process according to the instruction. As a result, the network information such as the IP address and the information related to the operating conditions are set with contents suitable for the LAN3 environment and become available.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, as described above, when the printer 2C is installed, if the same type of printer 2B is not already operating (if it has been removed), the setting information of the printer 2B remains unchanged. It is set in the printer 2C. In this case, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the information of the printer ID “B” is searched, and the information is transmitted to the printer 2C and set.

  Next, in step S8, the network setting unit 11 performs an update process of information stored in the setting information table 12. When the process proceeds from No in step S5 and No in step S6 to the corresponding step, an update process for adding information set in the newly installed printer 2 to the setting information table 12 is performed. When the process proceeds from step S7, the printer ID and the operating status are updated for the information record used for the newly installed printer 2. Specifically, the printer ID is set as the ID of the newly installed printer 2 and the operation status is set to “ON”. In the above example using the setting information of the printer 2B for the printer 2C, the printer ID “B” information shown in FIG. 2 is updated to “C” for the printer ID and “ON” for the operation status.

  The monitoring and automatic setting processes by the network setting unit 11 described above are repeatedly executed.

  As described above, in the host device 1 according to the present embodiment, the setting process including the network information of the printer 2 newly installed in the network is performed using the information of the past printer 2 used in the network. Therefore, the setting process suitable for the environment can be easily performed without human labor. Therefore, it is possible to omit the work of an expert that has been conventionally performed.

  The automatic setting need not be provided with a special mechanism for the printer 2, and the host device 1 may be provided with the network setting unit 11 and the like and can be realized relatively easily.

  The automatic setting is executed when the IP address of the newly installed printer 2 is an IP address at the time of shipment from the factory, and information set intentionally by human is not altered without permission.

  In the above embodiment, the network device is a printer. However, the present invention can be applied to other network devices such as a scanner, a projector, and a facsimile.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  1 Host device, 2 Printer, 3 LAN, 11 Network setting unit, 12 Setting information table, 13 Driver

Claims (6)

A network setting program for causing a host device that instructs a predetermined process to a network device connected via a network to execute the setting process of the network device,
The host device holds setting information including network information of the network device already installed in the network,
Obtaining and holding information on the operating status of the network device already installed; and
Detecting a network device newly installed in the network;
An instruction to set the setting information of the already installed network device in the detected network device indicating that the information regarding the operation status to be held is not operating in the same model as the detected network device A network setting program which causes the host device to execute In claim 1,
The network information includes an IP address. The network setting program. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The network setting program, wherein the setting instruction for the detected network device is executed when the IP address of the detected network device is a factory-shipped IP address. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The network setting program, wherein the network device is a printer. A network setting device for instructing a predetermined process to a network device connected via a network and executing a setting process of the network device,
Holding setting information including network information of the network device already installed in the network;
Obtain and retain information about the operating status of the network devices already installed,
Detect newly installed network devices in the network,
An instruction to set the setting information of the already installed network device in the detected network device indicating that the information regarding the operation status to be held is not operating in the same model as the detected network device A network setting device characterized by A network setting method for executing a setting process of the network device in a host device that instructs a predetermined process to a network device connected via a network,
The host device holds setting information including network information of the network device already installed in the network,
The host device acquires and holds information on the operating status of the network device already installed; and
The host device detecting a network device newly installed in the network;
The host device is the same model as the detected network device, and the setting information of the already installed network device indicating that the information regarding the operation status to be held is not operating is used for the detected network. And a step of issuing an instruction to set to the device.

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