JP2014179908A - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device that is able to obtain connection confirmation with a plurality of image data output devices at high speed regardless of the number of the image data output devices.SOLUTION: An information processing device 100 for obtaining scanner information from scanners 200 includes: communication information acquisition means 31 for acquiring communication information to communicate with each scanner existing on a network; authentication information reception means 32 for receiving input of authentication information; authentication means 43 for individually authenticating the scanners, the number of which is the same as the number of image data output devices existing on the network; and display means 33 for displaying, per scanner, scanner device information if the authentication by the authentication means is a success, and authentication failure if the authentication is not a success. The authentication means, of which the upper limit number is a predetermined maximum number, is characterized in that each of them, at the same time for a plurality of scanners, sets communication information to communication means and transmits the authentication information to each scanner, and receives an authentication result from each scanner.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that acquires scanner information of a scanner connected to a network.

  With the spread of networks, scanners are also compatible with networks, and so-called network scanners are used. Since a network scanner (hereinafter simply referred to as a scanner) can communicate with a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) connected to the network, each PC can receive image data created by the scanner.

  However, if one user is using the scanner and another user uses the same scanner, the image data will be sent to the other user's PC, so the user establishes a connection between the PC and the scanner before scanning the document. (Hereinafter referred to as connection limitation). For this reason, the user connects the PC and the scanner with a connection tool (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of the connection tool. When the user activates the connection tool, the connection tool displays the name of the scanner driver installed on the PC. In the figure, the scanner driver “R1SCAN” is selected.

  When the user presses the search button, the connection tool searches for a scanner connected to the network and displays the scanner name (host name) and address of the selected scanner. In the figure, two searched scanners are displayed. The user looks at the host name and selects the scanner to be used (this highlights it).

  When the user presses the connection test, the connection tool communicates with the selected scanner to determine the status such as whether or not another user is using it. Yes (some tools have separate tests for connection testing and connection limitation). In addition, a message notifying the user that the scanner is usable is displayed. As a result, the scanner is limited in connection with the PC. Thereafter, the user can control the scanner via the network by clicking an OK button and starting an image processing application.

  However, the conventional connection test has a problem that the user can perform the connection test for only one scanner at a time. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 1, when the user presses the connection test, only one scanner name can be selected, and it is necessary to check the status of each scanner. It is necessary to test the number of connections. A scanner that cannot respond because the power is not turned on does not respond to the connection test. However, in order for the connection tool to determine that it does not respond, a time-out period must elapse. For this reason, when many scanners are connected to the network, there is a problem that it takes a long time. Even if the timeout time is set short, there is a problem that the user needs to select a scanner and perform a connection test for each scanner.

  In recent years, a plurality of scanners are often connected to a network, and a scanner driver common to scanners of different models has been developed. For this reason, the opportunity to perform a scanner connection test is increasing.

  Therefore, it is considered to improve the connection tool to perform connection tests with a plurality of scanners (for example, all scanners whose addresses are known) at a time. However, when the connection tool is improved in this way, there are the following problems.

  When performing a connection test with a plurality of scanners at a time, it is conceivable to make the process of checking the state multithreaded. However, since the number of scanners on the network varies depending on the user's environment, if there are too many scanners, there is a risk of pressing other threads on the PC.

  In the connection test, authentication processing may be performed between the PC and the scanner. When performing a connection test with multiple scanners at a time, authentication processing is also multi-threaded. However, simply by multi-threading authentication processing, each thread inputs and outputs authentication information to the storage area at any time Inconveniences such as destruction of authentication information may occur.

  As described above, with simple multithreading, there is a problem that it is difficult to implement processing for performing connection tests with a plurality of scanners at once.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of acquiring connection confirmation with a plurality of scanners at high speed regardless of the number of scanners.

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for acquiring apparatus information of an image data output apparatus connected to a network, and communication information acquisition means for acquiring communication information for communicating with each image data output apparatus existing on the network Authentication information accepting means for accepting input of authentication information, authentication means for individually authenticating image data output devices as many as the number of image data output devices existing on the network, and authentication by the authenticating means Display means for displaying the image data output device information for each image data output device if authentication is not established, and a predetermined maximum number as an upper limit. Each of the authentication means simultaneously sets the communication information in a communication means for a plurality of image data output devices and sends authentication information to each image data output device. Transmitted, receives the authentication result from the image data output device, it is characterized.

  It is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of acquiring connection confirmation with a plurality of scanners at high speed regardless of the number of scanners.

It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a connection tool. It is an example of the figure which illustrates the structure of a scanner driver typically. 1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner system. FIG. It is an example of the hardware block diagram of a terminal. It is an example of the figure explaining the example of a software structure. FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between a class diagram of functions used for status confirmation in a scanner driver and instances generated from the class. It is an example of the figure explaining the structure of a scanner driver and an authentication library. It is an example of the figure which shows the example of description of a class. It is a figure which shows an example of UI displayed on the display of the terminal. It is an example of a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of the scanner driver. It is an example of the figure for demonstrating the effect of a scanner driver.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the scanner driver according to the present embodiment. The connection tool performs a connection test via this scanner driver.
(i) The scanner driver generates as many instances of control / authentication as the number of scanners for all network scanners (hereinafter, simply referred to as scanners) whose IP addresses (or host names may be known) on the network. Since one instance is executed as one thread, a plurality of instances can be executed in parallel.
(ii) Each authentication information control instance has a pointer for authentication information of each scanner acquired from the authentication information structure pointer. The pointer of the authentication information indicates an address where the authentication information is stored. Therefore, one authentication information control instance accesses one authentication information.
(iii) The scanner driver executes a predetermined number of multithreads in parallel. The predetermined number is the maximum number recommended for parallel execution in the program execution environment, and may vary depending on the capabilities of an OS (Operating System) and a PC (Personal Computer).

  As described above, since the connection tool can perform a connection test of a plurality of scanners in parallel, the time required for the connection test can be shortened as compared with the conventional case where the user performs the connection test one by one. Further, since the user only has to press the connection test button once, the operability can be improved. Further, since each authentication information control instance accesses the authentication information, it is possible to suppress inconvenience (for example, access violation) that the access concentrates on the authentication information structure pointer, and to read and write the authentication information individually.

[Configuration example]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the scanner system. A terminal and a plurality of scanners are communicably connected via a network. A general user operation flow when using the network scanner is as follows.
(i) The user operates a connection tool operating on the terminal to perform a connection test with a plurality of scanners. Internally, the scanner driver operates.
(ii) Select one (or more) scanners from the available scanners and limit the connection.
(iii) Thereafter, the user places a manuscript at the scanner installation location.
(iv) When the user operates the image processing application, the image processing application controls the scanner via the scanner driver to scan the document.
(v) The scanner transmits the image data of the document to the terminal.

  In the present embodiment, a scanner driver that enables the connection tool to check communication with a plurality of scanners in parallel in the connection test (i) will be described.

  The terminal is an information processing device in a broad sense such as a PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a mobile phone. The name may be any name as long as it has a function as an information processing apparatus.

  The scanner creates image data of a document by photographing the document with an image sensor. For example, it has an exposure lamp and an optical system mounted on a carriage that moves in the sub-scanning direction, and the reflected light when the original is exposed in the main scanning direction by the exposure lamp is condensed by the optical system and is imaged on the CCD. . The CCD generates analog data by photoelectrically converting the reflected light. The analog data is converted into digital image data of, for example, 8-bit gradation by A / D conversion. Note that when reading a color document in color, the RGB LED lights are sequentially turned on, or the document is read through RGB color filters.

  The scanner does not need to be an apparatus having only the scanner function, and may be an apparatus having an original reading function. For example, even though it is called a copier, a FAX apparatus, a printer, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), it can be included in the scanner of this embodiment. The scanner is an example of an image data output device in claims.

  The network is a LAN or a WAN in which a plurality of LANs are connected via a router or the like. In some cases, the network includes the Internet. The network may be constructed in a wired manner, or part or all of the network may be constructed in a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b / a / g / n etc.). Further, one-to-one communication may be performed for the number of scanners in the ad hoc mode of the wireless LAN.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal. The terminal 200 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an HDD 304, a graphic board 305 to which a display 320 is connected, a keyboard / mouse 306, a media drive 307, and a network communication unit 308 connected to a bus. The CPU 301 expands and executes the program 310 stored in the HDD 304 in the RAM 303, and controls each component to perform input / output and process data. The ROM 302 stores a program for reading the BIOS and OS into the RAM 303.

  The HDD 304 may be a non-volatile memory, and may be an SSD (Solid State Drive) or the like. The HDD 304 stores an OS and a program 310 (UI screen, connection tool, and scanner driver). The UI screen, connection tool, and scanner driver are often installed as a set, but may be distributed as separate programs. The OS includes Windows (registered trademark), LINUX (registered trademark), UNIX (registered trademark), and the like. The display 320 displays a GUI screen generated by the graphic board 305 as instructed by the program.

  A keyboard / mouse 306 is an input device that receives user operations. The media drive 307 reads and writes data to and from optical media such as compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Further, data may be read from and written to a memory card such as a flash memory.

  The network communication unit 308 is, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) card for connecting to a LAN. The OS and program 310 perform TCP / IP (UDP / IP) and application layer protocol processing. There are various application layer protocols, but they are compatible with general protocols including those suitable for cloud services (for example, HTTP, FTP, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), SMB (Server Message Block), etc.).

  The program 310 is a file in an installable or executable format, and is distributed by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The program 310 is distributed in a file that can be installed or executed from a server (not shown).

[Software configuration]
FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram illustrating an exemplary software configuration. The connection tool 11 and the UI screen 15 operate the scanner driver 14 via an API (Application Interface) 13. The UI screen provides a UI for the user to acquire image data.

  A standard called TWAIN (Technology Without Any Interesting Name) is widely known as the API of the scanner driver 14. When an application such as an image processing application directly controls the scanner 100, the application needs to communicate with the scanner driver 14 created by the manufacturer of the scanner 100.

  However, since the application and the scanner 100 are not necessarily created by the same manufacturer, the application manufacturer needs to be aware of the scanner driver 14 and create the application. In this case, the application needs to be changed by various scanners 100, which is inconvenient. Therefore, in TWAIN, APIs 13 are formulated on the application side and the scanner driver 14 side, respectively, and the scanner 100 is controlled by a combination of an arbitrary application and a scanner driver (scanner).

  The connection tool, UI screen 15, and scanner driver are created and provided by the scanner manufacturer. On the other hand, any image processing application can use a scanner as long as it supports TWAIN. Further, the image processing application can use the scanner via the UI screen 15. In the following, description will be made regardless of whether the UI screen 15 is activated alone or from the image processing application 12.

  When the UI screen 15 is activated, the scanner driver 14 is activated, and when the connection tool 11 is activated, the scanner driver 14 is also activated.

  In addition to TWAIN, the API 13 may be WIA (Windows Image Acquisition) or the like, and may be a device driver of an image creation apparatus such as a scanner or a digital camera and an application API.

  The connection tool 11 provides a user interface (UI) and receives an operation from the user, and requests the OS 21 and API 13 for processing. For example, a device connected to the network 300 via the OS 21 is searched, or connection is limited via the API 13. Further, the connection tool 11 stores (registers) the scanner information (IP address, host name, authentication information) of the scanner 100 for which connection is limited in the registry.

  The connection tool 11 includes a search unit 31 (an example of a communication information acquisition unit in claims), an authentication information reception unit 32 (an example of an authentication information reception unit in claims), and a display unit 33. . The search unit 31 searches for a scanner connected to the network and acquires at least one of a host name and an IP address. The authentication information receiving unit 32 receives authentication information (user name, password) input by the user from a UI screen described later. The display unit 33 displays the status of the scanner.

  Although the authentication library will be described later, the authentication library has an authentication information structure pointer, and manages the storage location of each authentication information acquired by the scanner driver by communicating with the scanner.

[Scanner Driver Functions]
FIG. 6A is an example of a diagram illustrating a class diagram of functions used for status confirmation in the scanner driver. The status confirmation function is provided by four classes of “multiple scanner control class” 41, “one scanner control class” 42, “authentication information control class” 43, and “network communication class” 44.

  The “multiple scanner control class” has an aggregation relationship with the “single scanner control class”, the “single scanner control class” has an aggregation relationship with the “authentication information control class”, and the “authentication information control class” has “ Network communication class ”and aggregation relationship. Aggregation is a term used in object-oriented programming and indicates that a certain class object is “partially related to the whole (has-a relationship)”. Class A, which is generally an aggregation of class B, can call methods of class B, that is, use the functions of class B.

Therefore, the “multiple scanner control class” uses the function of “one scanner control class”, the “single scanner control class” uses the function of “authentication information control class”, and the “authentication information control class” The function of “network communication class” can be used. Such a relationship can be expressed simply as one having the function of the other.
There is one “multiple scanner control instance” generated from “multiple scanner control class”, and “one scanner control instance” generated from “one scanner control class” is 0 or more. More specifically, the number of scanners whose IP addresses or host names hit the search on the network are known is generated. Hereinafter, a scanner whose IP address or host name is known is simply referred to as “the number of scanners”. Similarly, “authentication information control instances” generated from the “authentication information control class” are generated by the number of scanners. There is one “network communication instance” generated from the “network communication class”.

  The “one scanner control class” has “scanner name”, “IP address”, “host name”, and “scanner status” as members. The “scanner status” is information indicating the scanner status such as “power is not turned on”, “authentication information is different”, “cannot be used”, and the like. Therefore, the “one scanner control instance” holds specific values of these members.

  The “authentication information control class” has authentication information such as “authentication strength”, “user name”, and “password” as members. Therefore, the “authentication information control instance” holds specific values of these members. The authentication strength is the bit length of the authentication algorithm or encryption key.

  The “multiple scanner control instance” is an instance generated by the activation of the scanner driver and exists constantly. The “multiple scanner control instance” is an instance that serves as an interface with the API (that is, the application side).

  The “multiple scanner control instance” generates only one “network communication instance”. In addition, “multiple scanner control instances” create “one scanner control instance” as many as the number of scanners. Each “one scanner control instance” creates one “authentication information control instance”. Therefore, the number of “authentication information control instances” is the same as the number of scanners.

  FIG. 6B is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between instances generated from classes. FIG. 6B assumes a case where the number of scanners is four.

  The “multiple scanner control instance” 41I executes the scanner information / status acquisition process using each “one scanner control instance” 42I. Each “one scanner control instance” performs authentication processing + information / status acquisition using an “authentication information control instance” 43I. The “authentication information control instance” communicates with the scanner using only one “network communication instance” 44I, and also performs authentication processing to acquire the scanner status. Each “one scanner control instance” updates the member according to the scanner status acquired by the “authentication information control instance”.

  Note that the number of “one scanner control instance” and “authentication information control instance” created as many as the number of scanners is an entity that occupies a memory such as a RAM. The terminal of the embodiment has a sufficient memory capacity capable of creating an instance of the number of scanners.

  The “one scanner control instance” and the “authentication information control instance” are executed as multi-threads. The OS 21 that supports multitasking makes different applications appear as one task, and the applications are switched at predetermined time intervals so that a plurality of applications are executed concurrently. Multithreading is a technique in which a single application realizes multitasking. That is, a predetermined number of “one scanner control instance” and “authentication information control instance” are executed concurrently. A description example of this code will be described later.

  Since “authentication information control instance” is held for one “scanner control instance”, even when the authentication information is different for each scanner, it is possible to easily manage each authentication information.

  In addition, since the “network communication instance” uses the API 13 that supports multi-threading, authentication processing can be multi-threaded. Since the authentication information differs depending on the device, it is necessary to generate as many instances as the number of scanners. However, since network communication is common regardless of the type of scanner, it is implemented to generate only one object. . The “authentication information control instance” communicates from the “network communication instance” to the scanner via the network, and acquires information and status.

[Authentication processing library]
FIG. 7 is an example of a diagram for explaining the structure of the scanner driver and the authentication library 16. The authentication library 16 has authentication APIs 25 and authentication information structure pointers 26 used for authentication processing. Since the authentication information structure pointer (the pointer of the structure holding authentication information) is a global variable, each instance is accessible. However, in a multi-thread environment, a change in a structure member or the like is performed without exclusive control, and access violation may occur.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, each authentication information control instance holds the same information as the authentication information structure pointer 26 held in the authentication library 16. When the authentication information control instance is generated, it acquires a pointer (which is an example of storage area instruction information in claims) from the authentication library 16 and holds it before being executed as a thread.

  The network communication instance of this embodiment is prohibited from accessing the authentication information structure pointer 26 via each authentication API 25 of the authentication library 16.

  Further, when performing authentication processing using a network communication instance, the authentication information control instance operates the authentication information pointer of the authentication information control instance itself without executing each authentication API 25 of the authentication library 16. As described above, the operations of the authentication library 16 and the authentication information control instance are changed from the conventional ones, thereby enabling the exclusive control of the authentication process. In addition, multi-thread authentication processing can be performed in a stable environment without occurrence of access violation.

  The authentication information control instance has a role of initializing (starting) and ending the authentication processing library in addition to the role of holding and controlling the authentication information of each scanner. Although the number of executions of the authentication information control instance of each scanner is proportional to the number of scanners, the number of executions of initialization and finalization needs to be one time regardless of the number of scanners.

  For this reason, initialization and termination processing can be performed without generating an authentication information control instance by using initialization and termination processing as static functions. With such a class configuration, it is no longer necessary to generate a special authentication information control instance for initialization and termination, and management of each instance becomes very easy.

[Description example]
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a description example of the network communication class. By setting the access specifier of the network communication class to Private, the scanner driver cannot create an instance of this class. Therefore, the network communication instance can be limited to only one. For one network communication instance, the access specifier is set in public. Thereby, the “authentication information control instance” can access only one network communication instance.

  FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a description example of “one scanner control class”, “authentication information control class”, instance generation, and thread description. Members (scanner name, IP address, host name, scanner status) are defined in the “one scanner control class”, and members (authentication strength, user name, password) are defined in the “authentication information control class” The

  In the main function, the generation of “one scanner control instance” is repeated 256 times to generate each “one scanner control instance”. Each instance is described as a thread in which 64 instances are executed simultaneously.

  8 is described in a programming language called C ++, it may be described in any language as long as it is an object-oriented language having the structure described in the present embodiment.

[Screen example]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI displayed on the display of the terminal. The scanner driver of this embodiment is common to a plurality of scanners of different models.

  FIG. 9A is an example of a diagram illustrating a screen example of the connection tool. The connection tool can be activated from the image processing application or can be activated alone.

  The connection tool has a driver selection field 501, a scanner search button 502, a direct input field 505, and an authentication information field 503 as main functions. A driver selection field 501 is a button for selecting a scanner driver installed in the terminal 200.

  A scanner search button 502 is a button for selecting a scanner on the network. The search result screen of FIG. 9B is displayed by the scanner search.

  Note that the user can also directly enter the IP address or host name in the direct entry field 505. As a result, when the IP address or host name is known, the search becomes unnecessary, and the connection of the scanners 100 having different segments can be limited.

  The authentication information column 503 is a column for setting authentication information (password, user name) when the scanner 100 authenticates a user. The authentication information is, for example, an account name, a password, and an authentication algorithm.

  When the scanner search button 502 is pressed, the search unit 31 searches for a scanner. The scanner search method is well known, but for example, the display is performed in the following procedure. Since devices in the same segment have the same network address, the range of IP addresses that each device can take can be specified. For example, when the network address is “192.168.1.0/24”, it is like “192.168.1.0” to “192.168.1.255”. Therefore, the search unit 31 can search for an IP address and an existing device depending on whether or not there is a response by transmitting a ping command by broadcast with “192.168.1.255” as a destination.

  In this embodiment, the scanner 100 of the same segment as the terminal 200 is searched. However, if the network address of another segment is known, the scanner 100 of another segment can be searched.

  Since the IP addresses of the devices responding to the ping command are registered in the ARP table, the IP addresses of all devices existing at the same network address are registered in the ARP table. The host name of the scanner 100 can be inquired using a ping command, or can be inquired of a DNS server.

  If the IP address of the existing device is found, the search unit 31 can specify the scanner 100 to which the scanner driver 14 corresponds by SNMP. SNMP provides object tree information called MIB. In addition to the device name and host name, the MIB stores information uniquely defined by the scanner manufacturer. In this embodiment, it is assumed that authentication information of the scanner 100 is stored in the MIB.

  Therefore, the search unit 31 inquires about the name of the responding device, and determines that the search is hit when the scanner driver 14 has a corresponding scanner name.

  In addition, the scanner driver can perform a connection test at once with a plurality of devices that have been hit by the search. Alternatively, a connection test button may be provided on the connection tool.

  FIG. 9B shows an example of the search result screen. The search result screen has a scanner name column 511, an IP address / host name column 512, a status display column 516, a selection box 513, and a re-search button 514. The scanner name column 511 displays the scanner name of the scanner searched by the search unit. The IP address / host name column 512 displays the IP address or host name of the scanner being displayed. The status display column 516 is a column for displaying the status of the searched scanner. The status includes usable, in use, authentication not possible, and power off. This state is acquired by the control instance of one scanner. The selection box is a button for the user to select a scanner for connection limitation. The re-search button 514 is a button for re-searching.

  In the search result screen, all (or one or more) scanners existing in the network searched in this way are displayed together with the scanner name and the like, and the user can limit connection to a plurality of scanners at a time. .

[Operation procedure]
FIG. 10 shows an example of a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of the scanner driver of this embodiment. The big flow is as follows.
I. Creating a network communication instance
II. Generation of one scanner control instance and authentication information control instance for N scanners
III. In the following description, it is assumed that N = 256 scanners and the maximum number of multithreads is 64. The maximum number of multithreads is a value recommended by the OS 21 and does not necessarily make it difficult to simultaneously execute more than 64 multithreads. This may vary depending on the type / version of the OS 21, the CPU capability, the amount of memory, and the like.

I. Creating a network communication instance
S1: The authentication information receiving unit 32 receives input of authentication information.
S2: The search unit 31 searches for a network scanner.
S3: The connection tool 11 receives a user operation and requests a connection test from the API 13. At this time, the connection tool sends an IP address (and host name), authentication information, and the number N (256) of scanners for acquiring scanner information / status to the API.
S4: The API 13 requests the multiple scanner control instance to generate a network communication instance.
S5: The multiple scanner control instance generates one network communication instance. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of network communication instances are not generated.

II. Generation of one scanner control instance and authentication information control instance for N scanners
S6: The API 13 requests the “multiple scanner control instances” to generate “one scanner control instance” for N scanners.
S7: “Multiple Scanner Control Instance” generates N “One Scanner Control Instance”.
S8: The generated “single scanner control instance” generates an “authentication information control instance”.
S9: The generated “authentication information control instance” registers itself as a member of the “network communication instance”. Thereby, the network communication instance recognizes the authentication information control instance. The API grasps the generated one scanner control instance and authentication information control instance.
S10: When the generation of the instance is completed, the API 13 sets at least one of the authentication information, the scanner name, and the IP address or host name in all “one scanner control instance”.
S11: The API 13 dynamically registers 256 “one scanner control instance” as a member of “multiple scanner control instances”.

III. Multi-threaded scanner information / status acquisition for a given number of scanners
S12: The API 13 requests the “multiple scanner control instance” to obtain scanner information / status of a plurality of scanners.
S13: The “multiple scanner control instance” requests the “scanner control instance” to obtain scanner information / status of the scanner.
S14: “One scanner control instance” sets the authentication information to “authentication information control instance”.
S15: “One scanner control instance” performs scanner status / status acquisition.
S16: “One scanner control instance” requests “authentication information control instance” for authentication processing and scanner information / status acquisition.
S17: The “authentication information control instance” causes the “network communication instance” to communicate with the scanner, and performs authentication processing and scanner information / status acquisition. That is, the authentication information is transmitted to the scanner, and the authentication result is acquired from the scanner. Since an IP address is set in the “one scanner control instance”, the “network communication instance” can communicate with the scanner, and the scanner provides an authentication result (whether the authentication information matches) and scanner information (scanner name, Scanner status).

When the authentication is established (and the power is ON), the scanner state or the scanner state acquired from the device through the “network communication instance” is sent again to the “one scanner control instance”. If the scanner status is successfully acquired, the status is “available”. If the authentication is not established, the acquisition of the scanner status fails, and the status “authentication information is different” is acquired. The acquired information is finally sent to the connection tool.
S18: The connection tool display unit 33 displays the status of the scanner as shown in FIG.

  The scanner driver executes the procedure of III in parallel by multithreading. First, the scanner group is divided into blocks each having a predetermined number (the maximum number of simultaneous execution threads). Since the predetermined number is 64 and the number of scanners is 256, it is divided into 256/64 = 4 blocks. This number of blocks corresponds to the number of loops outside the sequence diagram. 64 pieces of the first block, the second block, the third block, and the fourth block are simultaneously executed for the scanner information / status acquisition process by multithreading.

  Therefore, by dividing the scanner group into blocks by a predetermined number (simultaneous maximum number of execution threads), the number of execution threads of the terminal is not compressed even if the number of scanners increases.

〔effect〕
FIG. 11 is an example of a diagram for explaining the effect of the scanner driver of the present embodiment. Similarly to the description so far, it is assumed that the status of N = 256 scanners is acquired and the maximum simultaneous execution thread is 64.

  In order to acquire scanner information / status, it is necessary to set a timeout or at least to set an initial value in advance. This is because a scanner that is not turned on does not respond to a request for scanner information, and the scanner driver needs to wait for a response for a long time.

  Therefore, when the timeout time elapses, it is common to determine that the scanner is not turned on. As an example, the timeout time is 3 seconds.

  If 256 scanners are divided into blocks with the maximum number of simultaneous execution threads, it can be divided into 4 blocks. Since 64 multi-threads are acquired simultaneously, the time required to acquire the scanner information / status of one scanner group is almost equal to the time required for one scanner. Therefore, the time required for acquiring the 256 scanner information / states according to the present embodiment is substantially equal to the time required for the 4 scanner information / states in the prior art.

Assume that all 256 scanners are in a power-off state as the most time-consuming pattern.
The time required for this embodiment is:
(Timeout time = 3 seconds) × (4 blocks) = 12 seconds.
In the prior art,
(Timeout time = 3 seconds) x (256 units) = 768 seconds. In this way, the time required for acquiring the scanner information / status can be greatly shortened.

Also, even if the number of scanners connected to the network is increased, other threads executed by the terminal are not compressed. For example, when the number of scanners is increased to 1000, the number of blocks only increases from 4 to 15, and the maximum number of concurrently executing threads remains 64.
Therefore, even if the load on the terminal due to the increase in the number of scanners increases, the operation of other applications is not affected.

  As described above, the scanner driver according to the present embodiment can perform a connection test for a plurality of scanners in parallel. Therefore, the time required for the connection test is longer than a conventional user connection test. Can be shortened. Since each authentication information control instance accesses the authentication information, it is possible to suppress inconvenience that the access is concentrated on the authentication information structure pointer 26, and to read or write the authentication information individually.

11 Connection tool 13 API
14 Scanner Driver 16 Authentication Library 25 Each Authentication API
26 Authentication Information Structure Pointer 41 Multiple Scanner Control Class 42 One Scanner Control Class 43 Authentication Information Control Class 44 Network Communication Class 100 Scanner 200 Terminal

Japanese Patent No. 4612112

Claims (4)

An information processing apparatus for acquiring apparatus information of an image data output apparatus connected to a network,
Communication information acquisition means for acquiring communication information for communicating with each image data output device existing on the network;
Authentication information receiving means for receiving input of authentication information;
Authentication means for individually authenticating the image data output devices, the same number as the number of image data output devices existing on the network;
When the authentication is established by the authentication means, the apparatus information of the image data output device, and if the authentication is not established, display means for displaying the authentication failure for each image data output device,
Each of the authentication means having an upper limit of a predetermined maximum number is simultaneously applied to a plurality of image data output devices.
Setting the communication information in the communication means, transmitting authentication information to each image data output device, and receiving an authentication result from each image data output device;
An information processing apparatus characterized by that.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is only one communication unit regardless of the number of authentication units. Each of the authentication means as many as the number of image data output devices existing on the network stores the authentication information of each image data output device existing on the network before transmitting the authentication information to the image data output device. Obtaining storage area instruction information for storing authentication information of each image data output device from the structure securing the area;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. In an information processing device that operates based on a predetermined program,
A communication information acquisition step of acquiring communication information for communicating with each image data output device existing on the network;
An authentication information receiving step for receiving input of authentication information;
Generating authentication means for individually authenticating the image data output devices by the same number as the number of image data output devices existing on the network;
For the authentication means having an upper limit of a predetermined maximum as an upper limit, the communication information is simultaneously set in the communication means for a plurality of image data output devices, and the authentication information is transmitted to each image data output device. Receiving an authentication result from the data output device; and
When authentication is established, the device information of the image data output device is displayed, and when authentication is not established, authentication failure is displayed for each image data output device; and
A program that executes

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