JP2014006910A - Management mediation device, image formation device, management mediation program and recording medium in which management mediation program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a management system to perform remote management of a management target system in an appropriate timing in a remote management system for performing remote management of the management target system by using Internet connection.SOLUTION: The management mediation device according to the invention comprises: a management system communication unit for connecting from the inside of a firewall to an external management system through the Internet; a processing unit for receiving a command from the management system through the management system communication unit and performing predetermined processing corresponding to the received command; a management target system communication unit for transferring the command received by the processing unit to a management target system; a storage unit for storing a connection schedule of the management system communication unit; and a connection instruction unit for instructing the management system communication unit to connect to the management system according to the connection schedule.

Description

  The present invention relates to a management mediating apparatus that mediates information transmitted and received between a management system and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus (managed system) installed in a remote management system and a firewall. And a management mediating apparatus for managing the image forming apparatus by communicating via the Internet. Furthermore, the present invention provides a management intermediary function for managing an image forming apparatus through communication between a remote management system and an image forming apparatus (managed system) installed inside a firewall via the Internet. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided.

  A system for remotely managing a management target system (for example, an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a copier, a printer, etc.) installed at a customer from a remote management system is known.

  A conventional remote management system maintains and manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the customer side by operating a management system at a remote location through a communication line such as a telephone line. When performing remote management using a telephone line connection, communication costs increase. In order to reduce communication costs, remote management using an Internet connection from a local network on the customer side can be considered.

  On the other hand, in a local network such as a company, a firewall is often provided to prevent a third party from entering through an external network such as the Internet and illegally copying, falsifying, and destroying data and programs. When the conventional remote management system is applied as it is, it becomes difficult to remotely manage the image forming apparatus in the local network from the management system connected via an external network such as the Internet due to the presence of the firewall.

  When an image forming device connected to a local network provided inside a firewall is connected to a remote management system using an Internet connection, the firewall issues instructions and requests from the management system. In many cases, direct transmission to the forming apparatus is not possible. This allows the firewall to pass requests that are typically sent from systems in the customer's local network to the Internet and responses to those requests, but not from the Internet side to requests to systems in the local network. It is because it is set to.

  When a managed system is to be managed via the Internet, the customer's managed system is generally installed inside a firewall. For example, in order to perform communication using HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), it is necessary to start a connection from a management target system in a firewall toward a remote management system.

  However, the management system has management restrictions on the management system side, so that the management system can send management instructions from the management system to the managed system only when a connection request is received from the managed system side. Then, there are cases where remote management cannot be performed at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a remote management system that performs remote management of a managed system using an Internet connection, the management system remotely manages the managed system at an appropriate timing. It aims to make possible.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a management intermediary device that connects from the inside of a firewall to an external management system via a network, and stores a connection schedule for connecting to the management system A connection means for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule, and the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request. A schedule change means for changing, when the response from the management system to the connection request is a partial change request for a connection schedule, based on the connection schedule added to the response, Change the connection schedule stored in the storage means In addition, when the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the schedule changing unit adds the new connection schedule added to the response from the storage destination storing the new connection schedule. A management intermediary device that acquires a connection schedule and replaces the connection schedule stored in the storage means with the acquired new connection schedule.

  In order to solve the above problems, a second aspect of the present invention includes a hardware resource used for image forming processing, a plurality of application programs for performing processing unique to a plurality of user services related to image formation, and A platform that intervenes between the application program and the hardware resource, and performs management, execution control, and image formation processing of the hardware resource shared by at least two of the application programs when providing the user service. An image forming apparatus connected to an external management system from the inside of the firewall via a network, storing means for storing a connection schedule for connecting to the management system, and according to the connection schedule, External tube Connection means for making a connection request to the system; and schedule change means for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request, the schedule change means When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response, In addition, when the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the schedule changing unit adds the new connection from the storage destination that stores the new connection schedule added to the response. The schedule obtained and the connection stored in the storage means The schedule, which is an image forming apparatus and replaces with the acquired new connection schedule.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by establishing a connection with the management system from the management mediating apparatus side according to a preset connection schedule, the management mediating apparatus and the managed system are placed in the firewall of the customer system. Even if it is installed, it becomes possible to perform remote management by issuing a command at a convenient timing on the management system side.

  In addition, by using the schedule change command, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit of the management intermediary device can be appropriately changed according to the convenience of the management system. The command can be issued from the management system at an appropriate timing.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, by establishing a connection with the management system from the image forming apparatus side according to a preset connection schedule, the image forming apparatus and the managed system are placed in the firewall of the customer system. Even if it is installed, it becomes possible to perform remote management by issuing a command at a convenient timing on the management system side.

  Also, by using the schedule change command, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus can be changed as appropriate according to the convenience of the management system. The command can be issued from the management system at an appropriate timing.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the remote management system containing the management mediation apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the management mediation apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection schedule set in the management mediating apparatus of FIG. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the basic management operation | movement which the management mediating apparatus of FIG. 2 performs. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the schedule batch change operation which the management mediating apparatus of FIG. 2 performs. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the schedule partial change operation which the management mediating apparatus of FIG. 2 performs. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the schedule read-out operation which the management mediating apparatus of FIG. 2 performs. It is a figure which shows the example of a message transmitted to a management system from a management mediation apparatus at the time of a connection start. It is a figure which shows the example of a response message containing a schedule batch change command. It is a figure which shows the example of a response message containing a schedule addition command. It is a figure which shows the example of a response message containing a schedule deletion command. It is a figure which shows the example of a response message containing a schedule read command. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the request | requirement / response transmitted / received between a management system and a management object system. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a remote management system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of software and hardware of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 14. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a remote management system including a management mediating apparatus 10, a management target system 30, and a management system 70 that manages the management target system 30 according to the present invention.

  In the remote management system of FIG. 1, a customer system 60a is a system installed at a customer site. In the customer system 60a, the management mediating apparatus 10 is connected to the management target system 30 and the firewall 20 by a LAN (local area network). Among these, the management target system 30 includes, for example, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 31 such as a facsimile, a copying machine, a printer, and a digital multifunction peripheral. The management mediating apparatus 10 has a firmware update function for updating firmware provided in each image forming apparatus 31 using an Internet connection.

  Similarly, the customer system 60c is a system installed at another customer. In the customer system 60c, the management mediating apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of management target systems 30 and the firewall 20 by a LAN. Among these, one management target system 30 includes, for example, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 31 such as a facsimile, a copying machine, a printer, a digital multifunction peripheral, and a management intermediary having the same firmware update function as the management intermediary apparatus 10. A device 32 is included.

  In the example of FIG. 1, a configuration in which the management target system 30 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 31 and a single management mediating apparatus 32 is shown, but it may be configured to include other devices. In this customer system 60c, the load increases only by installing one management intermediary device 10. Therefore, the function for updating firmware with each image forming apparatus 31 in one management target system 30 is the management intermediary device 32. The management mediating apparatus 10 is assigned a function for centrally performing remote management of a plurality of management target systems 30 using an Internet connection with an external management system.

  Similarly, the customer system 60b is a system installed at another customer. In the customer system 60b, the image forming apparatus 33 with a management mediation function is connected to the firewall 20 via a LAN. The image forming apparatus with management mediation function 33 is an image forming apparatus having the same firmware update function as that of the management mediation apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus with management mediation function 33 uses the embodiment shown in FIGS. Will be described later.

  The customer systems 60a, 60b and 60c configured as shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the external management system 70 from the inside of the firewall via the Internet 80. This management system 70 performs remote management of each management target system 30 using the Internet connection. Here, a remote management system including the management mediating apparatus 10 will be described using the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 13.

  The management system 70 and the management mediating apparatus 10 are configured to include general computer elements. That is, it includes at least a CPU that executes program processing, storage means such as RAM, ROM, and large-capacity storage that the CPU uses for program processing, and communication means such as a modem and a network interface (illustrated). Abbreviation).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a request / response operation transmitted / received between the management system 70 and the customer system 60 including the management mediating apparatus 10 and the management target system 30 using the Internet connection.

  In the remote management system as shown in FIG. 1, the management mediating apparatus 10 has an application program for remote management of the management target system 30 connected thereto.

  As described above, the firewall of the customer's local network generally passes a request sent from the system in the customer's local network to the Internet and a response to the request, but the Internet side enters the local network. Since a request to a certain system is set not to pass, in order to start a connection between the customer system 60 and the management system 70, a connection start request from the management mediating apparatus 10 side to the management system 70 side due to a firewall. There is no choice but to send as.

  The management system 70 is equipped with an application program for performing control management of each management mediating apparatus 10 and further remote management of the management target system 30 via the management mediating apparatus 10. In this remote management system, the management system 70 and the customer system 60 including the management mediating apparatus 10 and the management target system 30 use RPC (remote procedure call) to request processing of application programs to be mounted on each other. Remote management is implemented by transmitting a “request” and receiving a “response” that is the result of the requested processing.

  That is, using the Internet connection, the customer system 60 including the management mediating apparatus 10 and the management target system 30 generates a request to the management system 70, transmits it to the management system 70, and sends a response to this request. It can be received from the management system 70. On the other hand, the management system 70 generates a request to the management mediating apparatus 10 side using the Internet connection, transmits the request to the management mediating apparatus 10 side, and receives a response to the request from the management mediating apparatus 10 side. be able to. When requests / responses transmitted / received by the management system 70 are transmitted to the management target system 30 via the management mediating apparatus 10, and responses from the management target system 30 are received via the management mediating apparatus 10. Is also included.

  As communication procedures for realizing the RPC, SOAP (simple object access protocol), HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), FTP (file transfer protocol), COM (component object model), CORBA (common object request broker architecture) A known protocol or the like can be used.

  FIG. 13A shows a request / response operation when a request to the management system 70 is generated on the management target system 30 side. In this case, the management target system 30 generates the image forming apparatus side request A0 and transmits it to the management system 70 via the management mediating apparatus 10. The management system 70 that has received this request A0 generates a response A1 to the request and transmits it to the managed system 30 side. The managed system 30 in the customer system 60 finally receives the response A1.

  In the example of FIG. 13A, it may be considered that the management system 70 transmits not only the response A1 but also the response delay notification A2. When the management system 70 receives the image forming apparatus side request A0 via the management mediating apparatus 10 and determines that the response to the request cannot be returned immediately, it sends a response delay notification A2 once. The connection state may be disconnected and a response to the request A0 may be transmitted again at the next connection.

  FIG. 13B shows a request / response operation when a request to the management target system 30 occurs on the management system 70 side. In this case, the management system 70 generates a management system side request B0 and transmits it to the management target system 30 via the management mediating apparatus 10. The managed system 30 that has received this request B0 generates a response B1 to the request and transmits it to the management system 70 side. The management system 70 finally receives the response B1.

  In the example of FIG. 13B, the managed system 30 or the management mediating apparatus 10 of the customer system 60 transmits the response delay notification B2 when the response B1 cannot be returned immediately, as shown in FIG. Same as the case.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the management mediating apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  2 receives a command from the management system 70 via the management system communication unit 1 and the management system communication unit 1 connected from the inside of the firewall 20 to the external management system 70 via the Internet 80. The processing unit 2 executes predetermined processing according to the received command, and the management target system communication unit 3 transfers the command received by the processing unit 2 to the management target system 30. 2 also includes a storage unit 4 that stores the connection schedule 4a of the management system communication unit 1, and a connection instruction that instructs the management system communication unit 1 to connect to the management system 70 in accordance with the connection schedule 4a. Part 5.

  In the management mediating apparatus 10 of FIG. 2, the management system communication unit 1, the processing unit 2, the management target system communication unit 3, and the connection instruction unit 5 are realized by the above-described CPU executing a management mediation program recorded in advance. The The management mediation program may be downloaded from the Internet in advance and installed in the management mediation device 10, or may be installed in advance in the management mediation device 10 from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the management system communication unit 1 includes an HTTP communication function 1 a that realizes transmission and reception of information by HTTP communication with the management system 70. The management system communication unit 1 further includes a SOAP processing function 1b that realizes transmission / reception of information to / from the management system 70 by SOAP communication.

  In addition, the connection schedule 4a stored in the storage unit 4 has a data structure in which the start date / time, the end date / time, and the interval are associated with each other, as shown in FIGS. The connection schedule 4 a shown in FIG. 3A is composed of a set of a plurality of unit schedules 41 and has a data structure in which an identifier (ID) is added to each unit schedule 41.

  The connection instruction unit 5 executes at least one of the following connection instructions to the management system communication unit 1 in accordance with the connection schedule 4a.

  1) When only a specific start date / time is designated, a connection instruction is given at the start date / time. That is, if it is specified like the unit schedule 41 of ID = 23 in FIG. 3A, a connection instruction is given at 0:00:00 on April 1, 2002.

  2) When only a specific time of the start date and time is designated, a daily connection instruction at the start time is performed. That is, if it is specified like the unit schedule 41 of ID = 13 in FIG. 3A, a connection instruction is given at 0: 0: 0 every day.

  3) When only the start date / time is specified and a specific “month” of the start date / time is not specified, a monthly connection instruction at the start date / time is performed. That is, if it is specified like the unit schedule 41 of ID = 11 in FIG. 3A, a connection instruction is given at 00: 00: 00: 00 on the 25th of every month in 2002.

  4) When all of the start date and time, the end date and time, and the interval are specified, a periodic connection instruction is performed according to the interval within the period from the start date and time to the end date and time. That is, if it is specified like the unit schedule 41 in FIG. 3 (b), the period from April 1, 2002 0: 0: 0 to April 1, 2003 0: 0: 0 Instructs connection at a cycle of every hour.

  5) The start date and time, the end date and time, and the interval are all specified, but when only a specific time is specified among the start date and time and the end date and time, the start time and the end time A periodic daily connection instruction is performed according to the interval. That is, when the unit schedule 41 is specified as shown in FIG. 3 (c), connection is instructed at intervals of 30 minutes from 14:00:00 to 18:00:00 every day. .

  6) When a specific start date and time and a specific interval are specified, but a specific end date and time is not specified, a periodic connection instruction is performed indefinitely from the start date and time. That is, when the unit schedule 41 is specified as shown in FIG. 3D, a connection instruction is given at intervals of 3 hours from 00: 00: 00: 00 on April 1, 2002 indefinitely.

  In the management mediating apparatus 10 of FIG. 2, the processing unit 2 includes a schedule change function 2a that changes the connection schedule 4a of the storage unit 4 in accordance with the received command. By using the schedule change function 2a, the processing unit 2 adds the connection schedule added to the schedule addition command to the connection schedule 4a of the storage unit 4 when the received command is a schedule addition command. In this case, a new unit schedule 41 row is added to the list of connection schedules 4a shown in FIG.

  New unit schedule data to be added is added to the schedule addition command transmitted from the management system 70 to the management mediating apparatus 10. As an example of the schedule addition command in this case, the command format 94 of FIG. 10 can be used.

  When the schedule change function 2a is used, the processing unit 2 stores the unit schedule 41 corresponding to the identifier (ID) added to the schedule deletion command when the received command is a schedule deletion command. 4 and the searched unit schedule 41 is deleted. For example, if the deletion target ID added to the received schedule deletion command is 23, the unit schedule 41 with ID = 23 is deleted in FIG. The ID of the unit schedule data to be deleted is added to the schedule deletion command transmitted from the management system 70 to the management mediating apparatus 10. As an example of the schedule deletion command, the command format 96 of FIG. 11 can be used.

  In addition, when the schedule change function 2a is used, the processing unit 2, when the received command is a schedule batch change command, the Internet address added to the schedule batch change command (for example, URL (uniform resource locator)) And the new connection schedule 71 recorded at the acquired Internet address is acquired via the management system communication unit 1, and the connection schedule 4 a of the storage unit 4 is replaced with the acquired new connection schedule 71. The Internet address is added to the schedule batch change command transmitted from the management system 70 to the management mediating apparatus 10. As an example of the schedule batch change command, the command format 92 of FIG. 9 can be used.

  Further, when the received command is a schedule request command, the processing unit 2 reads the connection schedule 4a stored in the storage unit 4 and sends the read connection schedule 4a to the management system 70 via the management system communication unit 1. Send. As an example of the schedule request command, the command format 98 of FIG. 12 can be used.

  Here, the reason why the management system 70 issues the schedule request command is that there is a case where it is desired to refer to the connection schedule currently set in the management mediating apparatus 10 when examining the change of the connection schedule 4a.

  Next, the operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS.

  The operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 described below is realized by the CPU of the management mediating apparatus 10 executing a management mediation program recorded in advance.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a basic management operation executed by the management mediating apparatus 10. The basic management operation is an operation for the management system 70 to remotely manage the management target system 30.

  In FIG. 4, the connection instruction unit 5 periodically monitors the connection schedule 4a in the storage unit 4 and detects the timing of the connection instruction to the management system communication unit 1 by comparison with a timer (not shown). 1 is instructed to connect.

  Upon receiving this connection instruction, the management system communication unit 1 activates the HTTP communication function 1 a and establishes a connection with the management system 70 via the firewall 20 and the Internet 80. At this time, when the SOAP processing function 1b of the management system communication unit 1 is used, the above-described request / response operation is performed between the management system communication unit 1 and the management system 70 by signals transmitted and received according to the SOAP protocol. .

  As a response to this connection request, the management system 70 generates a command prepared in advance for the management target system 30 according to the SOAP protocol, and transmits the command to the management mediating apparatus 10.

  The command from the management system 70 is received by the management system communication unit 1 using the HTTP communication function 1a, and a necessary command part is extracted using the SOAP processing function 1b, and then stored in the storage unit 4. When the processing unit 2 reads a command stored in the storage unit 2 at a predetermined timing and determines that the destination of the read command is the management target system 30, the processing unit 2 transfers the command to the management target system communication unit 3. Further, the managed system communication unit 3 transmits the received command to the managed system 30.

  Each image forming apparatus included in the management target system 30 receives a command addressed to itself and executes a predetermined operation instructed by the received command. The predetermined operation is, for example, an operation of reading the counter value of the number of printed pages of the image forming apparatus and outputting the counter value as a response to the received command, or a command receiving the temperature of the heater built in the image forming apparatus. For example, the operation is controlled to the designated predetermined temperature.

  When the managed system 30 processes the received command, the managed system 30 transmits a response to the command to the management system 70. This response signal includes, for example, parameters such as the counter value of the number of printed pages and command processing status (normal end, abnormal end, etc.). This response signal is received by the managed system communication unit 3 and stored in the storage unit 4.

  Further, when the management system communication unit 1 detects a predetermined timing for connecting to the management system 70 (connection timing defined in the connection schedule 4a of the storage unit 4), the management system communication unit 1 sends to the management system 70 in the same manner as described above. Start the connection. When this connection is established, a response from the management target system 30 stored in the storage unit 4 is transferred to the management system 70. When the management system 70 receives the response from the management target system 30, the management system 70 transmits a signal indicating reception OK to the management mediating apparatus 10 when the response is received normally. When the management system communication unit 1 of the management mediating apparatus 10 receives the signal indicating this reception OK, a series of transmission / reception operations from command issuance to response to the command are completed.

  In the basic management operation of FIG. 4, when the command issued from the management system 70 is addressed to the management mediating apparatus 10, the processing unit 2 confirms that the command received from the management system 70 is addressed to its own apparatus. Determination is made, and predetermined processing according to the content of the received command is executed. This predetermined process includes a process using a connection schedule 4a changing function 2a described later. When the processing unit 2 executes a predetermined process corresponding to the received command, the processing unit 2 generates a response to the command, and temporarily stores the generated response in the storage unit 4. The response stored in the storage unit 4 is transmitted from the management mediating apparatus 10 to the management system 70 in the same manner as the response from the management target system 30 described above.

  In this way, when the management mediating apparatus 10 and the management target system 30 are installed in the firewall 20 by establishing a connection with the management system 70 from the management mediating apparatus 10 according to the connection schedule 4a set in advance. However, it is possible to issue a command for remote management at a convenient timing of the management system 70.

  FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams for explaining a schedule change operation executed by the management mediating apparatus 10 in order to change or read the connection schedule 4a stored in the storage unit 4. FIG. These processes are realized by using the schedule change function 2a of the processing unit 2.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process for collectively changing the connection schedule 4a.

  In the schedule batch change process of FIG. 5, the entire connection schedule 4 a of the storage unit 4 configured by a set of unit schedules 41 is replaced with a new connection schedule 71 received from the management system 70. As described in FIG. 4, when the management system communication unit 1 establishes a connection with the management system 70 at a timing according to the connection schedule 4a, a schedule batch change command is transmitted from the management system 70 to the management mediating apparatus 10. .

  The schedule batch change command is received by the management system communication unit 1 and accumulated in the storage unit 4. After that, when the processing unit 2 reads the schedule batch change command from the storage unit 4 at a predetermined timing and determines that the read command is the schedule batch change command addressed to its own device, the schedule change function 2a is activated and the storage unit 4 Start the batch change of the connection schedule 4a.

  In the schedule batch change command received from the management system 70, the URL on the Internet where the new connection schedule 71 is stored is added as an argument in advance. The processing unit 2 extracts the URL of the new connection schedule added to the schedule batch change command, and instructs the management system communication unit 1 to download the new connection schedule from the URL.

  The management system communication unit 1 activates the HTTP communication function 1a and requests the management system 70 to acquire a new connection schedule from the URL. In response to this request, the management system 70 transmits the requested new connection schedule 71 to the management mediating apparatus 10. As a transmission method of this new connection schedule, FTP download or transmission by an attached file of an email can be used in addition to HTTP download using the HTTP communication function 1a. These new connection schedule transmission methods executed between the management system 70 and the management system communication unit 1 can be configured so as to be switched as appropriate.

  The management system communication unit 1 receives the new connection schedule 71 provided from the management system 70 and transfers the received new connection schedule 71 to the processing unit 2. The processing unit 2 overwrites and updates (replaces) the connection schedule 4 a stored in the storage unit 4 with the acquired new connection schedule 71. Thereafter, in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the updated new connection schedule in the storage unit 4 is referred to, so that the subsequent connection establishment timing with the management system 70 is changed.

  FIG. 6 shows a process for partially changing a schedule (adding or deleting a unit schedule). The operation until the management system communication unit 1 starts a connection at the timing specified in the connection schedule 4a and the schedule change command is acquired by the processing unit 2 is the same as the case of the schedule batch change operation of FIG. Since there is, explanation is omitted.

  In FIG. 6, when the processing unit 2 determines that the schedule change command read from the storage unit 4 is a schedule addition command addressed to the own device, the processing unit 2 extracts a new unit schedule 41 added to the schedule addition command, 4 is added to the connection schedule 4a. That is, a new unit schedule 41 is added to the connection schedule 4 a that is a set of a plurality of unit schedules 41. Thereafter, in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the connection schedule 4 a after the change in the storage unit 4 is referred to, so that subsequent connection establishment timing to the management system 70 is added.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 6, when the processing unit 2 determines that the schedule change command read from the storage unit 4 is a schedule deletion command addressed to itself, the processing unit 2 identifies the ID of the unit schedule to be deleted added to the schedule deletion command ( Identifier) is taken out, the unit schedule 41 matching the ID is searched from the connection schedule 4a of the storage unit 4, and the searched unit schedule 41 is deleted from the connection schedule 4a. That is, the specific unit schedule 41 is deleted from the connection schedule 4 a that is a set of unit schedules 41. Thereafter, in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the connection schedule 4a after the change in the storage unit 4 is referred to, so that the subsequent connection establishment timing to the management system 70 is reduced.

  According to the schedule change process described above, the connection schedule 4a stored in the management mediating apparatus 10 is appropriately changed according to the convenience of the management system 70, so that the management mediating apparatus 10 side establishes a connection at a timing desired by the management system 70. Thus, the management system 70 can transmit a command for remote management at an appropriate timing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation in which the management system 70 reads the connection schedule 4 a stored in the storage unit 4.

  In the schedule change process of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 described above, if the management system 70 side knows in advance by reading the connection schedule 4a stored in the management mediating apparatus 10, part of the unit schedule is added or deleted. Useful for planning. For this purpose, the schedule request command is for reading the connection schedule 4 a in the storage unit 4 in response to a request from the management system 70 and transmitting the read connection schedule 4 a to the management system 70.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, when the management system communication unit 1 establishes a connection with the management system 70 at the connection timing specified in the connection schedule 4a, a schedule request command is transmitted from the management system 70. The schedule request command is received by the management system communication unit 1 and accumulated in the storage unit 4. Thereafter, when the processing unit 2 reads the schedule request command from the storage unit 4, the processing unit 2 reads the current connection schedule 4a from the storage unit 4 according to the read schedule request command, and via the management system communication unit 1, Transmit to the management system 70.

  Here, as a method of transmitting the connection schedule 4a to the management system 70, a method of transmitting the connection schedule in the response to the command described in FIG. 4 or a connection schedule as an attached file of an e-mail addressed to the management system 70 is transmitted. The method of doing etc. can be considered. In the management system 70, it is possible to plan addition or deletion of the connection schedule 4a based on the connection schedule received from the management mediating apparatus 10.

  In the management mediating apparatus 10 of FIG. 2, the management system communication unit 1 includes a SOAP processing function 1b. The SOAP processing function 1b requests a connection from the management mediating apparatus 10 to the management system 70 in accordance with the SOAP protocol, and provides the management system communication unit 1 with a function of processing a SOAP protocol command received from the management system 70.

  FIG. 8 shows an example message 91 at the start of connection transmitted from the management mediating apparatus 10 to the management system 70.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a response message 93 from the management mediating apparatus 10 when the schedule batch change command 91 is received from the management system 70.

  FIG. 10 shows a response message example 95 from the management mediating apparatus 10 when the schedule addition command 94 is received from the management system 70.

  FIG. 11 shows a response message example 97 from the management mediating apparatus 10 when the schedule deletion command 96 is received from the management system 70.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a response message 99 from the management mediating apparatus 10 when the schedule request command 98 is received from the management system 70.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 14 shows the entire remote management system including an image forming apparatus 131 having an apparatus management function 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a management target system 130, and a management system 70 for remotely managing the management target system 130. It is a block diagram which shows a structure.

  In the remote management system of FIG. 14, a customer system 160 is a system installed at a customer. In the customer system 160, the image forming apparatus 131 is connected to the management target system 130 and the firewall 120 via a LAN. Among these, the image forming apparatus 131 is, for example, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer, or a digital multifunction machine. In this example, only one image forming apparatus 131 is illustrated as the management target system 130, but a configuration may be made so as to include a plurality of image forming apparatuses 131.

  The customer system 160 configured as described above is connected from the inside of the firewall 120 to the external management system 70 via the Internet 80. This management system 70 performs remote management of the management target system 130 via the Internet 80.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 131 provided with the apparatus management function 110 includes a general computer element. That is, it includes at least a CPU that executes program processing, storage means such as RAM, ROM, and large-capacity storage that the CPU uses for program processing, and communication means such as a modem and a network interface (illustrated). Abbreviation). Further, the image forming apparatus 131 in FIG. 14 corresponds to the image forming apparatus 33 with a management mediation function in FIG.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of software and hardware of a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of the image forming apparatus 131 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus 131 includes a plurality of hardware resources including a line printer (LP) 156, a scanner 157, a facsimile 158, a hard disk (HD) 159, and a network interface (network I / F) 164. 163. Further, in the image forming apparatus 131, the platform 162 includes a general-purpose OS (operating system) and a plurality of services 153, and the application group 161 includes a plurality of applications 151. An API (Application Program Interface) 152 transmits and receives information, commands, processing requests, and the like between the application group 161 and the platform 162, and information, commands, processing requests, etc. between the platform 162 and the hardware resources 163. Are transmitted and received by the engine interface 155.

  The platform 162 includes a plurality of services 153 that interpret processing requests from the application group 161 and generate acquisition requests for hardware resources 163, and a general-purpose OS 154, and manages the plurality of hardware resources 163.

  The general-purpose OS 154 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 162 and the application group 161 in parallel as processes. Further, the device management function 110 (see FIG. 14) is realized by the cooperation of the plurality of applications 151 and the plurality of services 153.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 131 communicates with the management target system 130, the customer system 160, the firewall 120, the Internet 80, and the management system 70 via the network interface 164.

  FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of an image forming apparatus 131 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 131 in FIG. 16 receives a command from the management system communication unit 101 that connects to the external management system 70 from the inside of the firewall 120 via the Internet 80 and the management system communication unit 101 from the management system 70. A processing unit 102 that executes predetermined processing according to the received command, and an engine interface 103 that transfers the command received by the processing unit 102 to the hardware resource 130 as an inspection signal.

  The image forming apparatus 131 also includes a storage unit 104 that stores the connection schedule 104a of the management system communication unit 101, and a connection instruction unit 105 that instructs the management system communication unit 101 to connect to the management system 70 according to the connection schedule 104a. Prepare.

  In the image forming apparatus 131 of FIG. 16, the management system communication unit 101, the processing unit 102, the engine interface 103, and the connection instruction unit 105 execute the device management function 110 (see FIG. 14) recorded in advance by the CPU. It is realized by. The apparatus management function 110 may be downloaded from the Internet in advance and installed in the image forming apparatus 131, or may be installed in advance from the recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the management system communication unit 101 includes an HTTP communication function 101 a that realizes transmission and reception of information by HTTP communication with the management system 70. The management system communication unit 101 further includes a SOAP processing function 101b that realizes transmission / reception of information with the management system 70 through SOAP communication. The SOAP processing function 101 b requests a connection from the image forming apparatus 131 to the management system 70 according to the SOAP protocol, and provides the management system communication unit 101 with a function for processing a SOAP protocol command received from the management system 70.

  In addition, the connection schedule 104a stored in the storage unit 104 includes a start date and time, an end date and time, and an interval, as in the connection schedule 4a in the above-described embodiment illustrated in FIGS. Has an associated data structure. Further, the connection schedule 104a is configured by a set of a plurality of unit schedules 41, and has a data structure in which an identifier (ID) is added to each unit schedule 41.

  The data structure of the connection schedule 104a and the connection instruction method using the connection schedule 104a by the connection instruction unit 105 are basically the same as those in the above-described embodiment of FIG. 2 described with reference to FIGS. The description thereof will be omitted.

  In the image forming apparatus 131 of FIG. 16, the connection instruction unit 105 executes at least one of the connection instructions 1) to 6) described above to the management system communication unit 101 according to the connection schedule 104a.

  In the image forming apparatus 131 of FIG. 16, the processing unit 102 includes a schedule change function 102a that changes the connection schedule 104a of the storage unit 104 in accordance with the received command. By using the schedule change function 102a, the processing unit 102 adds the connection schedule added to the schedule addition command to the connection schedule 104a of the storage unit 104 when the received command is a schedule addition command. In this case, a new unit schedule 41 row is added to the list of connection schedules as shown in FIG.

  Unit schedule data to be added is added to the schedule addition command transmitted from the management system 70 to the image forming apparatus 131. As an example of the schedule addition command in this case, the command format 94 of FIG. 10 can be used.

  When the schedule change function 102a is used, the processing unit 102 stores the unit schedule 41 corresponding to the identifier (ID) added to the schedule deletion command when the received command is a schedule deletion command. A search is made from 104 and the searched unit schedule 41 is deleted. For example, if the ID to be deleted added to the received schedule deletion command is 23, the unit schedule 41 with ID = 23 is deleted in FIG. The schedule deletion command transmitted from the management system 70 to the image forming apparatus 131 is added with the ID of the unit schedule data to be deleted. As an example of the schedule deletion command, the command format 96 of FIG. 11 can be used.

  When the schedule change function 102a is used, when the received command is a schedule batch change command, the processing unit 102 acquires an Internet address (for example, URL) added to the schedule batch change command, The new connection schedule 71 recorded in the acquired Internet address is acquired via the management system communication unit 101, and the connection schedule 104a of the storage unit 104 is replaced with the acquired new connection schedule 71. The internet address is added to the schedule batch change command transmitted from the management system 70 to the image forming apparatus 131. As an example of the schedule batch change command, the command format 92 of FIG. 9 can be used.

  When the received command is a schedule request command, the processing unit 102 reads the connection schedule 104a stored in the storage unit 104, and sends the read connection schedule 104a to the management system 70 via the management system communication unit 101. Send. As an example of the schedule request command, the command format 98 of FIG. 12 can be used.

  Here, the reason why the management system 70 issues the schedule request command is that there is a case where it is desired to refer to the connection schedule currently set in the image forming apparatus 131 when considering the change of the connection schedule 104a.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 131 of FIG. 16 is basically the same as the operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. Omitted. The operation of the image forming apparatus 131 in the present embodiment is realized by the CPU of the image forming apparatus 131 executing the apparatus management function 110 in cooperation with a plurality of applications 151 and a plurality of services 153.

  The basic management operation executed by the image forming apparatus 131 in this embodiment is the same as the basic management operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. The basic management operation is an operation for the management system 70 to remotely manage the management target system 130 including the image forming apparatus 131.

  The connection instructing unit 105 periodically monitors the connection schedule 104a in the storage unit 104, and detects the timing of the connection instruction to the management system communication unit 101 by comparison with a timer (not shown), and then connects to the management system communication unit 101. Give instructions.

  Upon receiving this connection instruction, the management system communication unit 101 activates the HTTP communication function 101 a and establishes a connection with the management system 70 via the firewall 120 and the Internet 80. At this time, when the SOAP processing function 101b of the management system communication unit 101 is used, the above request / response operation is performed between the management system communication unit 101 and the management system 70 by a signal transmitted / received according to the SOAP protocol. .

  As a response to the connection request, the management system 70 generates a command prepared in advance for the management target system 130 according to the SOAP protocol, and transmits the command to the image forming apparatus 131.

  A command from the management system 70 is received by the management system communication unit 101 using the HTTP communication function 101a, and a necessary command portion is extracted using the SOAP processing function 101b, and then stored in the storage unit 104. The processing unit 102 reads a command stored in the storage unit 2 at a predetermined timing, and when the read command is an information request command for the hardware resource 130, transfers the command to the engine interface 103 as an inspection signal, An inspection signal is input from the engine interface 103 to the hardware resource 130.

  The hardware resource 130 executes a predetermined operation instructed by the inspection signal. The predetermined operation is, for example, an operation of reading a counter value of the number of printed pages of the image forming apparatus 131 and outputting a counter value as a response to the received command, or a temperature of a heater built in the image forming apparatus 131 is received. For example, the operation is controlled to a predetermined temperature designated by the command.

  The hardware resource 130 executes a predetermined operation instructed by the inspection signal and outputs a response to the inspection signal. This response includes, for example, a parameter such as the counter value of the number of printed pages and a command processing status (normal end, abnormal end, etc.).

  This response is received by the engine interface 103 and stored in the storage unit 104.

  Further, when the management system communication unit 101 detects a predetermined timing (connection timing defined in the connection schedule 104a of the storage unit 104) when connecting to the management system 70, the management system communication unit 101 sends the management system 70 to the management system 70 in the same manner as described above. The connection from the hardware resource 130 stored in the storage unit 104 is transferred to the management system 70 when the connection is established. When the management system 70 receives the response from the management target system 130, the management system 70 transmits a signal indicating reception OK to the management target system 130 in the case of normal reception. When the management system communication unit 101 receives a signal indicating this reception OK, a series of transmission / reception operations from command issuance to response to the command are completed.

  In the basic management operation described above, when the command issued from the management system 70 is a command for the connection schedule 104a recorded in the storage unit 104, the processing unit 102 responds to the content of the command. Execute the process. This process includes a process for changing the connection schedule 104a. When processing according to the content of the command received by the processing unit 102 is executed, the processing unit 102 generates a response to the command, and temporarily stores the generated response in the storage unit 104. The response stored in the storage unit 104 is transmitted to the management system 70 in the same manner as the response from the hardware resource 130 described above.

  As described above, when the image forming apparatus 131 and the management target system 130 are installed in the firewall 120 by establishing a connection with the management system 70 from the image forming apparatus 131 side according to the preset connection schedule 104a. However, it is possible to issue a command for remote management at a convenient timing on the management system 70 side.

  The schedule batch change operation executed by the image forming apparatus 131 in this embodiment is basically the same as the schedule batch change operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. Illustration is omitted.

  In the connection schedule batch change process in the present embodiment, the entire connection schedule 104a configured by a set of a plurality of unit schedules 41 is replaced with a new connection schedule 71 received from the management system. When the management system communication unit 101 establishes a connection with the management system 70 at a connection timing according to the connection schedule 104a, a schedule batch change command is transmitted from the management system 70 to the image forming apparatus 131.

  The schedule batch change command is received by the management system communication unit 101 and accumulated in the storage unit 104. Thereafter, when the processing unit 102 reads the schedule batch change command from the storage unit 104 at a predetermined timing and determines that the read command is a schedule batch change command addressed to the own apparatus, the processing unit 102 activates the schedule change function 102a. , Start batch change processing of connection schedule.

  In the schedule batch change command received from the management system 70, the URL on the Internet where the new connection schedule 71 is stored is added as an argument in advance. The processing unit 102 extracts the URL of the new connection schedule added to the schedule batch change command, and instructs the management system communication unit 101 to download the new connection schedule from the URL.

  The management system communication unit 101 activates the HTTP communication function 101a and requests the management system 70 to acquire a new connection schedule from the URL. In response to this request, the management system 70 transmits the requested new connection schedule 71 to the image forming apparatus 131. As a transmission method of this new connection schedule, FTP download or transmission by an attached file of an e-mail can be used in addition to HTTP download using the HTTP communication function 101a. These new connection schedule transmission methods executed between the management system 70 and the management system communication unit 101 can be configured to be appropriately switched and used.

  The management system communication unit 101 receives the new connection schedule 71 provided from the management system 70 and transfers the received new connection schedule 71 to the processing unit 102. The processing unit 102 overwrites and updates (replaces) the connection schedule 104 a stored in the storage unit 104 with the acquired new connection schedule 71. Thereafter, since the updated new connection schedule in the storage unit 104 is referred to in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the subsequent connection establishment timing with the management system 70 is changed.

  The operation of changing part of the schedule executed by the image forming apparatus 131 in this embodiment is basically the same as the operation of changing part of the schedule in the management mediating apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. The illustration is omitted.

  In the process of partially changing the schedule of the image forming apparatus 131 in the present embodiment, the management system communication unit 101 starts a connection at the timing specified in the connection schedule 104 a until the schedule change command is acquired by the processing unit 102. Since the operation is the same as in the case of the batch batch change described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the processing unit 102 determines that the schedule change command read from the storage unit 104 is a schedule addition command addressed to the own device, the processing unit 102 extracts and stores the new unit schedule 41 added to the schedule addition command. Added to the connection schedule 104 a of the unit 104. That is, a new unit schedule 41 is added to the connection schedule 104 a that is a set of a plurality of unit schedules 41. Thereafter, in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the connection schedule 104 a after the change is referred to, so that the subsequent connection establishment timing to the management system 70 is added.

  On the other hand, if the processing unit 102 determines that the schedule change command read from the storage unit 104 is a schedule deletion command addressed to itself, the processing unit 102 extracts the ID (identifier) of the unit schedule to be deleted added to the schedule deletion command. The unit schedule 41 matching the ID is searched from the connection schedule 104a of the storage unit 104, and the searched unit schedule 41 is deleted from the connection schedule 104a. That is, the specific unit schedule 41 is deleted from the connection schedule 104 a that is a set of unit schedules 41. Thereafter, in the schedule confirmation operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the connection schedule 104 a after the change in the storage unit 104 is referred to, so that the subsequent connection establishment timing to the management system 70 is reduced.

  According to the schedule change process described above, the connection schedule 104a stored in the storage unit 104 of the image forming apparatus 131 is appropriately changed according to the convenience of the management system 70, so that the image forming apparatus 131 desires the management system 70. A connection is established at a timing, a connection is established from the management system 70 at an appropriate timing, and the management system 70 side can transmit a command for remote management at an appropriate timing.

  The schedule read operation performed by the image forming apparatus 131 in this embodiment is basically the same as the schedule read operation of the management mediating apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. .

  In the schedule read processing in the present embodiment, when the management system communication unit 101 establishes a connection with the management system 70 at the connection timing specified in the connection schedule 104a, a schedule request command is transmitted from the management system 70. This schedule request command is received by the management system communication unit 101 and accumulated in the storage unit 104. Thereafter, when the processing unit 102 reads the schedule request command from the storage unit 104, the processing unit 102 reads the current connection schedule 104a from the storage unit 104 in accordance with the read schedule request command, and via the management system communication unit 101, Transmit to the management system 70.

  Here, as a method of transmitting the connection schedule 104a to the management system 70, a method of transmitting the connection schedule including the connection schedule in response to the command described in FIG. 4 or a connection schedule as an attached file of an e-mail addressed to the management system 70 The method of doing etc. can be considered. In the management system 70, it is possible to plan addition or deletion of the connection schedule 104a based on the connection schedule received from the image forming apparatus 131.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Management system communication part 1a HTTP communication function 1b SOAP processing function 2 Processing part 3 Management object system communication part 4 Storage part 4a Connection schedule 5 Connection instruction part 10,32 Management mediating apparatus 20 Firewall 30 Management object system 31 Image forming apparatus 41 Unit Schedule data 60a, 60b, 60c Customer system 70 Management system 71 New connection schedule 80 Internet

In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a communication device connected to a first device and a second device, and is connected to the first device at a predetermined timing. A connection request transmitting means for transmitting a request; a response receiving means for receiving a response from the first device for each connection request transmitted by the connection request transmitting means; and a first connection request transmitted by the connection request transmitting means. When the response received by the response receiving means includes a request for execution of a predetermined process, the predetermined process based on the execution request is executed by the second apparatus or executed by the communication apparatus. A determination unit that determines whether to perform the determination, and, as a result of the determination by the determination unit, a predetermined process executed by the communication device includes a schedule change process that changes a timing for transmitting a connection request to the first device The above After the connection with the first apparatus is established by the second connection request transmitted by the connection request transmitting means at the timing when the execution result of the predetermined process is changed by the execution of the schedule change process, And a control unit that controls transmission to one apparatus .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a second aspect of the present invention is a connection request that is connected to the first device and the second device and transmits a connection request to the first device at a predetermined timing. A communication method for controlling a communication device comprising: a transmission unit; and a response reception unit that receives a response from the first device for each connection request transmitted by the connection request transmission unit, the connection request transmission unit When the response received by the response receiving unit includes a request for executing a predetermined process in response to the first connection request transmitted in step S2, the second apparatus executes the predetermined process based on the execution request. Or a determination step for determining whether to execute the communication device, and, as a result of the determination in the determination step, a timing at which a predetermined process executed by the communication device transmits a connection request to the first device is changed. Schedule When the second connection request is transmitted by the connection request transmitting means at a timing changed by the execution of the schedule change process, the execution result of the predetermined process is transmitted to the first apparatus. And a control step of controlling transmission to the first device after connection is established .

Claims (10)

A management intermediary device that connects from the inside of a firewall to an external management system via a network,
Storage means for storing a connection schedule for connection to the management system;
Connection means for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule;
Schedule changing means for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request;
The schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response,
Further, the schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the storage unit acquires the new connection schedule from a storage destination that stores the new connection schedule added to the response. A management intermediary device that replaces the connection schedule stored in the network with the acquired new connection schedule.   The connection means at least according to the connection schedule, 1) a connection instruction at a specific date and time, 2) a connection instruction at a specific time every day, 3) a connection instruction at a specific date every month, and 4) a connection instruction at a specific period within a specific period 5. The management intermediary device according to claim 1, wherein the management intermediary device executes any one of 5) a connection instruction in a specific period within a specific time every day, and 6) a connection instruction in a specific period indefinitely from a specific date and time.   The connection schedule has a data structure associating a start date and time, an end date and time, and an interval, and the connection means is at least according to the connection schedule 1) Only the start date and time is specified Includes a connection instruction at the start date and time, 2) when only a time at the start date and time is specified, 3) a daily connection instruction at the start time, and 3) only the start date and time is specified. If "Month" is not specified, a monthly connection instruction at the start date and time, 4) If all of the start date and time, the end date and time, and the interval are specified, the start date and time Periodic connection instruction by the interval within the period until the end date and time, 5) The start date and time, the end date and time, and all the intervals are specified, but the start date and time When only the time is specified as the end date and time, a periodic daily connection instruction based on the interval from the start time to the end time, and 6) the start date and time and the interval are specified. 2. The management intermediary device according to claim 1, wherein if the end date / time is not designated, one of periodic connection instructions based on the interval indefinitely from the start date / time is executed. .   The connection schedule stored in the storage means is composed of a set of a plurality of unit schedules, has a data structure with an identifier added to each unit schedule, and the schedule change means When the response from the management system is a connection schedule deletion request, the unit schedule corresponding to the identifier added to the response is searched from the connection schedule, and the searched unit schedule is deleted. Item 3. The management mediating apparatus according to Item 1.   When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule transmission request, the schedule change unit reads the connection schedule stored in the storage unit and transmits the read connection schedule to the management system. The management mediating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The management intermediary device according to claim 1, further comprising a SOAP processing function that realizes communication based on SOAP with the management system. A management intermediary device connected from the inside of the firewall to an external management system via a network, and a computer for managing the managed system by communication between the management system,
Storage means for storing a connection schedule for connection to the management system;
A connection means for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule, and a schedule for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request Change means,
A management mediation program for causing the schedule change means to function as:
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response,
Further, the schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the storage unit acquires the new connection schedule from a storage destination that stores the new connection schedule added to the response. A management mediation program that replaces the connection schedule stored in the network with the acquired new connection schedule. Intervening between hardware resources used for image forming processing, a plurality of application programs for performing processing specific to a plurality of user services related to image formation, and between the application programs and the hardware resources, A platform for performing management, execution control, and image formation processing of the hardware resources shared by at least two of the application programs when providing the user service, and connecting a network from the inside of the firewall to an external management system An image forming apparatus connected via
Storage means for storing a connection schedule for connection to the management system;
Connection means for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule;
Schedule changing means for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request;
The schedule changing means further includes:
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response,
Further, the schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the storage unit acquires the new connection schedule from a storage destination that stores the new connection schedule added to the response. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the connection schedule stored in is replaced with the acquired new connection schedule. In a management intermediary device that connects to the external management system from the inside of the firewall via a network, and a remote management system that remotely manages a management target system by communication with the management system, the management mediation device includes:
Storage means for storing a connection schedule for connection to the management system;
Connection means for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule;
Schedule changing means for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage means based on a response from the management system to the connection request;
The schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage unit is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response,
Further, the schedule changing means includes
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the storage unit acquires the new connection schedule from a storage destination that stores the new connection schedule added to the response. The remote management system is characterized in that the connection schedule stored in is replaced with the acquired new connection schedule. In a remote management method for remotely managing a managed system by communication between the management intermediary device connected from the inside of the firewall to an external management system via a network, and the management system,
A storage procedure for storing a connection schedule for connection to the management system;
A connection procedure for making a connection request to the management system outside the firewall according to the connection schedule;
A schedule change procedure for changing the connection schedule stored in the storage procedure based on a response from the management system to the connection request;
And the schedule change procedure includes:
If the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule partial change request, the connection schedule stored in the storage procedure is changed based on the connection schedule added to the response,
Further, the schedule change procedure includes:
When the response from the management system to the connection request is a connection schedule batch change request, the new connection schedule is acquired from the storage destination in which the new connection schedule added to the response is stored, and the storing procedure The remote management method characterized by replacing the connection schedule stored in step 1 with the acquired new connection schedule.

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