JP2014052924A - Operator system, user terminal, device information collection method, and program for operator system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain accurate information about a network including a user terminal by collecting information even about a device connectable by the user terminal through an external network.SOLUTION: In an operator system 1, a device information collection server 200 collects information of an electrical product 50 connected to a user terminal 10 through a public line network 3 being an external network in reference with a device driver, a configuration file, and communication records of the user terminal 10. Then, by transmitting a network structure including the electric product 50 to an operator terminal 150, more accurate information can be obtained about the network including the user terminal 10, contributing to efficient remote support to the user terminal 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operator system, a user terminal, a device information collection method, and a program for an operator system that collect information about devices connected to a user terminal via an external network.

  With the spread of information technology, local area networks are now being built in some ordinary homes and many offices. A user uses a device capable of general-purpose processing such as a personal computer or a smartphone to control and use a device that provides a special function such as a printing machine or an indoor unit that is connected to be communicable.

  In addition, using a user terminal connected to a public line network, communication with a device that does not exist in the internal network is performed, and the function of the device is exhibited. For example, in an office, you can print a document with a shared printer belonging to a network of another department, or adjust the temperature of the house before going home by switching on the air conditioning provided at home from outside. It is done.

  On the other hand, as the functionality of a user terminal becomes higher and more complicated, the opportunity to receive remote support from an operator at a remote location is also increasing. In such a case, the operator can browse the network map including the user terminal and refer to it to help infer the cause of the failure or to give advice on more efficient operation of the network. Information about network configuration is considered to contribute to remote support.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for clearly indicating the creation state of a network map in order to realize efficient management work that does not cause disruption of network management.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-47070

  According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a map storage unit in which a network management apparatus creates and stores a map based on information on network devices, and a map in which a specified map creation state is stored in association with the map By providing the state storage unit, the disclosure of an inaccurate network map is avoided, thereby contributing to efficient management work.

  However, when the user terminal communicates with other devices via the external network as described above, the operator cannot refer to information on the devices other than the local area network, so the network structure is erroneously grasped. There is a risk of it.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present invention refers to the device driver installed in the user terminal and the communication record even when the user terminal communicates with another device via the external network as described above. In this way, we paid attention to the fact that it is possible to obtain information about devices existing in the external network.

  The present invention provides an operator system, a user terminal, a device information collection method, and a program for an operator system that collect information on devices connected to a user terminal via an external network.

  The present invention provides the following solutions.

The invention according to the first aspect is an operator system in which a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected to an appliance and a public line network are communicably connected,
The user terminal is
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server A transmission means;
With
The device information collection server
Appliance information storage means for storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
An operator system is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, in the operator system in which the user terminal, the device information collection server, and the operator terminal that are communicably connected to each other via the electric appliance and the public line network are communicably connected, The user terminal detects the electric appliance connected to be communicable via an external network, and the electric appliance information including at least one of the network address and the product information on the device and the type of the issued electric appliance Is transmitted to the device information collection server. The device information collection server stores the appliance information received from the user terminal.

  Here, the invention according to the first feature is the category of the operator system, but the device information collecting method and the category of the program for the operator system have the same operations and effects.

In the invention according to the second feature, the device information collection server includes:
Network map generation means for generating a network map of a network to which the user terminal is communicably connected, using a network address included in the appliance information stored by the appliance information storage means;
The operator system which is invention which concerns on 1st characteristic provided with this is provided.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in the operator system according to the first aspect of the invention, the device information collection server uses the network address included in the stored electrical appliance information to use the user terminal. Generates a network map of networks that are communicably connected.

The invention according to the third feature is a user terminal that is communicably connected to the device information collection server and is communicably connected to the appliance via an external network,
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server A transmission means;
A user terminal is provided.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the user terminal that is communicably connected to the device information collection server and is communicably connected to the electrical appliance via the external network is connected to be communicable via the external network. The electrical appliance is detected, and electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired for the detected electrical appliance, and transmitted to the device information collection server.

The invention according to the fourth feature is a device executed by an operator system in which a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected to an appliance and a public line network are connected. An information collection method,
The user terminal is
Detecting the appliances communicatively connected via an external network;
Obtaining electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to a device or type for the detected electrical appliance, and transmitting to the device information collection server;
With
The device information collection server is
Storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
A device information collecting method is provided.

An invention according to a fifth aspect is an operator that controls an operator system in which a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected to an electrical appliance via a public network are connected. A system program,
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server Transmission means,
As a user terminal program for operating a user terminal that is a computer,
Appliance information storage means for storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
And an apparatus information collection server program that operates an apparatus information collection server that is a computer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the operator system which collects the information of the apparatus connected with the user terminal via the external network, a user terminal, the apparatus information collection method, and the program for operator systems.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an outline of the operator system 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the operator system 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of device information collection processing executed by the user terminal 10 and the device information collection server 200. FIG. 4 is an example of device driver information displayed by the user terminal 10. FIG. 5 is an example of a setting screen for linking individual electrical appliances 50 and device drivers. FIG. 6 is an example of a network map generated by the device information collection server 200.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This is merely an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

  The outline of the present invention will be described. In the operator system 1, the device information collection server 200 refers to the device driver of the user terminal 10, the setting file, and the communication record, and is connected to the user terminal 10 through the public line network 3 that is an external network. Collect product 50 information. Then, by transmitting the network structure including the appliance 50 to the operator terminal 150, more accurate information about the network including the user terminal 10 can be obtained, and efficient remote support for the user terminal 10 can be obtained. Contribute.

[System configuration of operator system 1]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an operator system 1 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The operator system 1 includes a local area network (LAN) 101 composed of a user terminal 10 and a router 100, a public network 3 (Internet network, third generation, fourth generation communication network, etc.), an electrical appliance 50, , An operator terminal 150 and a device information collection server 200.

  The user terminal 10 is communicably connected to the electrical appliance 50 and the device information collection server 200 via the public line network 3. The user terminal 10 and each electrical appliance 50 are connected via a LAN 101. The communication in the operator system 1 may be wireless communication or wired communication. In order for the user terminal 10 to connect to the public line network 3, communication is possible via a network device such as the router 100. Communication between the device information collection server 200 and the operator terminal 150 may be via a LAN or the public line network 3.

  The user terminal 10 may be a general information terminal having functions to be described later. The user terminal 10 may be, for example, white goods such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, in addition to a network device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone 10b, a composite printer, a television 10a, a router or a gateway, and a computer 10c. It may be a general information appliance such as a telephone, a netbook terminal, a slate terminal, an electronic book terminal, an electronic dictionary terminal, a portable music player, and a portable content playback / recording player.

  The electrical appliance 50 is a home or business electrical appliance capable of performing data communication. For example, in addition to a personal computer 50c, a television 50b, a telephone, and a computer, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, and a netbook terminal Slate terminals, electronic book terminals, portable music players, audio components, content playback / recording players, printers, FAX machines, copiers, scanners, MFPs (multifunctional peripheral devices, multifunction printers), etc. Including white goods such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers / dryers, electric fans, air conditioners, electric heaters, rice cookers, microwave ovens, electric lighting, servers, routers 50a, gateways, NAS (Network Attached Storage), etc. .

  The device information collection server 200 is a device information collection server that collects information about the electrical appliance 50 from the user terminal 10 and has a function to be described later.

  The operator terminal 150 is a general information terminal used by an operator who performs remote support for the user terminal 10.

[Description of each function]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of the operator terminal 150, the device information collection server 200, the portable terminal 10, and the electrical appliance 50 and the relationship between the functions.

  The portable terminal 10 and the operator terminal 150 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like as control units, and the communication unit conforms to, for example, IEEE 802.11. WiFi (Wireless Fidelity compatible device or wireless device compliant with IMT-2000 standard such as 3rd generation mobile communication system) (wired LAN connection may be used).

  Furthermore, the portable terminal 10 and the operator terminal 150 include, as an output / input unit, a display unit that outputs and displays data and images controlled by the control unit, and a touch panel or a keyboard that receives input from a user or a supporter, A mouse is provided. In addition, the portable terminal 10 and the operator terminal 150 include a data storage unit using a hard disk or a semiconductor memory as a storage unit.

  In the portable terminal 10, the appliance access module 13 and the remote support module 15 are realized in cooperation with the communication unit, the output / input unit, and the storage unit by the control unit reading a predetermined program. The appliance access module 13 includes an appliance detection module 11 that detects an appliance 50 that is communicably connected, and an execution request transmission module 12 that transmits a function execution request to the detected appliance 50. The The remote support module 15 includes an electrical appliance information transmission module 14 that transmits electrical appliance 50 information.

  Similarly, the electrical appliance 50 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like as a control unit, and an IMT-2000 standard such as a WiFi compatible device compliant with IEEE 802.11 or a third generation mobile communication system as a communication unit. A wireless device or the like conforming to the above (including a wired LAN connection).

  In the electrical appliance 50, the function execution module 51 that exhibits the functions of the electrical appliance 50 is realized in cooperation with the communication unit by the control unit reading a predetermined program.

  Similarly, the device information collection server 200 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like as a control unit, and includes, for example, a WiFi compatible device compliant with IEEE 802.11 (may be wired) as a communication unit. In addition, the device information collection server 200 includes a data storage unit using a hard disk or a semiconductor memory as a storage unit.

  The control unit of the device information collection server 200 reads a predetermined program, thereby realizing a remote support module 201 for an operator to perform remote support using the operator terminal 150 in cooperation with the communication unit and the storage unit. To do. The remote support module 201 generates a network map of the electrical appliance information receiving module 202 that receives information about the electrical appliance 50 from the user terminal 10, the local area network to which the portable terminal 10 belongs, and an external network that can communicate. Network map generation module 203.

[Remote support processing]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of device information collection processing executed by the user terminal 10 and the device information collection server 200. The procedure of the device information collection process will be described.

  First, the appliance information receiving module 202 of the device information collection server 200 transmits a request for appliance information to the user terminal 10 (step S01). The electrical appliance information transmission module 14 of the user terminal 10 receives the request (step S02), and the electrical appliance detection module 11 of the user terminal 10 starts collecting electrical appliance information. Here, in view of the gist of the invention, for the sake of simplicity, the processing will be described only with respect to the electrical appliance 50 connected to the external network. Information on the appliance 50 may be included.

  Here, communication between the normal user terminal 10 and the electrical appliance 50 is assumed to be performed as follows. That is, the appliance detection module 11 specifies the appliance 50 that is a communication transmission destination via a device driver or utility software, and the execution request transmission module 12 of the user terminal 10 executes an execution command related to the function, Send the data needed for it. The function execution module 51 of the electrical appliance 50 receives the execution request and performs the function accordingly.

  Therefore, the appliance detection module 11 of the user terminal 10 that has received the request for information searches for data stored in association with the device driver, various software setting files, and communication records with the appliance 50. (Step S03), the contents of those files are scanned (Step S04). By doing so, a list of electrical appliances 50 that are communicably connected to the user terminal 10 is acquired (step S05), and the network addresses (step S06) for each electrical appliance 50 are clarified. Since the device driver usually includes product information together with the vendor, it is also acquired (step S07).

  FIG. 4 is an example of device driver information displayed by the user terminal 10. The device driver information includes a driver name 61, product information 62, a driver provider 63, a driver version 64, and a driver last update date 65. Depending on the product, the device driver itself may not be associated with each electrical appliance 50, and the device driver may be associated with each electrical appliance 50 by a setting file on another level.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a setting screen for linking individual electrical appliances 50 and device drivers. Here, the printer identifier 71 and the network address 72 are displayed as the settings of the printer used for printing, and are displayed in association with the driver name 73 to be used. In other words, even if the network address cannot be acquired by referring to only the device driver, the identifier and the network address of the appliance 50 can be acquired by scanning the area where the setting file is stored with the name of the device driver. Is shown.

  The appliance information transmission module 14 transmits the list of appliances 50 acquired as described above, the product information of each appliance 50, and the network address to the device information collection server 200 (step S08). The electrical appliance information receiving module 202 receives the electrical product information and stores it in the storage unit of the device information collection server 200 (step S09).

  Next, the network map generation module 203 of the device information collection server generates a network map based on the stored electrical appliance information (step S10).

  FIG. 6 is an example of a network map generated by the device information collection server 200. Various devices are displayed as mini-icons on the network map, and an icon 80 representing the electrical appliance 10 and devices connected to the same LAN as the electrical appliance 10 are represented by icons 70 and 71.

  In the network map, an icon 91 representing the electrical appliance 50 connected to the user terminal 10 via the external network and an LAN 92 connected to the electrical appliance 50 are illustrated across the icon 90 representing the public line network. Has been. In addition, detailed information 93 such as an identifier and an IP address of the electrical appliance 50 may be displayed on the network map. The icon 91, the LAN 92, and the detailed information 93 as described above may be displayed for each of the appliances 50 acquired as a list.

  Finally, the remote support module 201 of the device information collection server 200 transmits the generated network map to the operator terminal 150 for use by the operator terminal 150 for browsing by the operator (step S11).

  The processing procedure of the device information collection process executed by the user terminal 10 and the device information collection server 200 has been described above.

  The means and functions described above are realized by a computer (including a CPU, an information processing apparatus, and various terminals) reading and executing a predetermined program. The program is provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD (CD-ROM, etc.), DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, etc.), for example. In this case, the computer reads the program from the recording medium, transfers it to the internal storage device or the external storage device, stores it, and executes it. The program may be recorded in advance in a storage device (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and provided from the storage device to a computer via a communication line.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment mentioned above. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

  1 operator system, 10 user terminal, 50 electrical appliance, 150 operator terminal, 200 device information collection server

Claims (5)

An operator system in which a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected via an electric appliance and a public line network are communicably connected,
The user terminal is
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server A transmission means;
With
The device information collection server
Appliance information storage means for storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
Comprising an operator system. The device information collection server is
Network map generation means for generating a network map of a network to which the user terminal is communicably connected, using a network address included in the appliance information stored by the appliance information storage means;
The operator system according to claim 1. A user terminal that is communicably connected to a device information collection server and is communicably connected to an appliance via an external network,
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server A transmission means;
A user terminal comprising: A device information collection method executed by an operator system that is communicably connected to a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected to an electrical appliance via a public line network,
The user terminal is
Detecting the appliances communicatively connected via an external network;
Obtaining electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to a device or type for the detected electrical appliance, and transmitting to the device information collection server;
With
The device information collection server is
Storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
A device information collecting method comprising: A program for an operator system that controls an operator system that is communicably connected to a user terminal, a device information collection server, and an operator terminal that are communicably connected via an electric appliance and a public network,
Electrical appliance detection means for detecting the electrical appliance connected to be communicable via an external network;
For the electrical appliance detected by the electrical appliance detection means, electrical appliance information including at least one of a network address and product information related to the device and type is acquired and transmitted to the device information collection server Transmission means,
As a user terminal program for operating a user terminal that is a computer,
Appliance information storage means for storing the appliance information received from the user terminal;
A program for an operator system comprising: a device information collection server program for operating a device information collection server which is a computer.

Images