JP2017162397A - Information processing device, control method of the same and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that, when any of static configuration information of an information processing device and dynamic configuration information thereof is changed, collectively transmits these configuration information.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an information processing device and control method of the information processing device. The information processing device is configured to store static first configuration information of the information processing device; acquire and store dynamic second configuration information of the information processing device; determine whether at least any of the first and second configuration information is changed; and transmit the first configuration information determined to be changed and the second configuration information determined to be changed using a common interface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

  There are various types of electronic device configuration information, including, for example, firmware version information, license information installation information, etc., which are stored as configuration information by the control unit that controls the electronic device. ing. In addition, the configuration information of the electronic device including the printer engine includes version information of the printer engine, version information of accessories connected to the printer engine, and the like. keeping. In such an electronic device, the configuration information held by the control unit and the configuration information held by the printer engine can be acquired by the control unit via a common I / F.

  Other configuration information in the electronic device includes, for example, JAVA application installation information and version information. An electronic device that can install and execute a JAVA application includes a JAVA platform that is a virtual machine for operating the JAVA application. Various functions can be added to the electronic device by installing JAVA apps developed by other manufacturers in the electronic device. In this case, installation information and version information of the newly added JAVA application are information held by the virtual machine. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for transmitting markup language description data to a server using HTTP / SOAP in response to an event received from a printer via a device interface.

JP 2006-72967 A

  In the above example, the JAVA framework does not have a mechanism for centrally managing JAVA applications. That is, since the JAVA application developed by another manufacturer and added later is not connected by the common I / F of the electronic device, the control unit can configure the configuration information of the JAVA application through the common I / F. Can not get. In order to obtain the configuration information of the newly added JAVA application in this way, a common I / F must be added for each JAVA application. For this purpose, it is necessary to update the firmware of the control unit, and it is difficult to obtain the configuration information.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for collectively transmitting configuration information when either static configuration information or dynamic configuration information of an information processing apparatus is changed.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement. That is,
An information processing apparatus,
First storage means for storing static first configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining dynamic second configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
Second storage means for storing the second configuration information acquired by the acquisition means;
Determining means for determining whether at least one of the first and second configuration information has been changed;
And transmission means capable of transmitting the first configuration information determined to have been changed and the second configuration information determined to have been changed.

  According to the present invention, when either static configuration information or dynamic configuration information of an information processing apparatus is changed, the configuration information can be transmitted collectively.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The accompanying drawings are included in the specification, constitute a part thereof, show an embodiment of the present invention, and are used together with the description to explain the principle of the present invention.
1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system including an MFP according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the software configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the relationship between the MFP software and the JAVA application according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram showing an example of configuration information in the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of XML / SOAP data for transmitting MFP configuration information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence between the MFP and the monitoring server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing for acquiring configuration information of a JAVA application in the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining configuration information acquisition processing by the control unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 5 is a flowchart for explaining configuration information transmission processing by the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of XML / SOAP data for transmitting configuration information in the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining configuration information transmission processing by the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. .

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a system including an MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 is a multi-function peripheral that is an example of a device apparatus (information processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment, and is connected to the Internet 110 via the LAN 103 and the proxy server 102. A PC (personal computer) 105 is connected to the Internet 110 via a LAN 106 and a proxy server 104. The monitoring server 108 is connected to the Internet 110 via the LAN 109 and the proxy server 107, receives device configuration information transmitted from the multifunction peripheral 101, and monitors and controls errors of the MFP 101. The PC 105 is a PC that can use a Web browser, and can access the monitoring server 108 via the Internet 110.

  In the first embodiment, the Internet environment is used. However, the Internet environment may not be used, and the proxy server may not be particularly required. Further, the number of devices and PCs in the system is not limited to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment.

  A control unit 201 including a CPU 202 controls the operation of the entire MFP 101. The CPU 202 executes the boot program stored in the ROM 204, expands the program stored in the HDD 205 in the RAM 203, and executes the program to perform various controls as shown in the flowcharts described later. The program stored in the HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205 includes a program for controlling the JAVA application that operates on the virtual machine. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary area such as a main memory or work area for the CPU 202. The HDD 205 stores data, various programs, various information tables, and the like.

  A printer I / F 206 connects a printer (printer engine) 207 and the control unit 201. The printer 207 prints an image on a sheet fed from a paper cassette (not shown) based on print data input via the printer I / F 206. A scanner I / F 208 connects the scanner 209 and the control unit 201. The scanner 209 reads an image of a document and generates image data of the document image. In this way, the control unit 201 receives the image data generated by the scanner 209 via the scanner I / F 208, outputs it to the printer 207, and prints it, thereby achieving the copying function. The control unit 201 can also store the image data in the HDD 205 and transmit the image data to an external apparatus via the wired LAN I / F 212, the LAN 103, or the like. The operation panel I / F 210 connects the operation panel 211 and the control unit 201. The operation panel 211 includes a display unit having a touch panel function, various hard keys, and the like, and accepts user operations and displays various messages and warnings to the user. The wired LAN I / F 212 is connected to the LAN 103 via the LAN cable 213, and executes communication with an external device via the network. Through this communication, when the MFP 101 receives print data from an external device, the printer 207 executes print processing based on the received print data. The image data generated by the scanner 209 can be transmitted to an external device via the wired LAN I / F 212 and the LAN 103.

  Although the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment is described as one CPU 202 executing a program developed in the RAM 203 to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later, other forms may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs and a plurality of memories may cooperate to execute each process shown in the flowchart described below.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the software configuration of the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment. Each functional unit shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the CPU 202 developing and executing a program stored in the HDD 205 on the RAM 203.

  The configuration information acquisition unit 301 acquires configuration information from the control unit information management unit 302, the printer information management unit 305, the scanner information management unit 306, and the JAVA application information management unit 307. The control unit information management unit 302 holds configuration information managed by the control unit 201, and stores and manages the configuration information acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 301. The configuration information acquisition unit 301 receives the configuration information of the control unit from the control unit information management unit 302, the configuration information of the printer from the printer 207, the configuration information of the scanner from the scanner 209, and the configuration information of the virtual machine from the JAVA application information management unit 307. get.

  As a Web service client, the Web service control unit 303 generates various messages and instructs the network to transmit the messages to the network via the communication unit 304. A communication unit 304 controls communication executed by the wired LAN I / F 212. The printer information management unit 305 holds configuration information managed by the printer 207. A scanner information management unit 306 holds configuration information managed by the scanner 209. The JAVA application information management unit 307 holds configuration information managed by the virtual machine.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between the software of the MFP 101 and the JAVA application according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the parts common to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  Here, the software configuration of the MFP 101 is shown in three layers, and the first layer 401 is a layer of the printer 207 and the scanner 209 and includes a printer information management unit 305 and a scanner information management unit 306. The second hierarchy 402 is a hierarchy of the control unit 201 and includes a configuration information acquisition unit 301 and a control unit information management unit 302. A third hierarchy 403 is a hierarchy of virtual machines, and includes a JAVA application information management unit 307, a JAVA application A404, and a JAVA application B405.

  Here, since the configuration information acquisition unit 301 is connected to the control unit information management unit 302, the printer information management unit 305, and the scanner information management unit 306 through a common I / F 406, each configuration information can be acquired. Further, since the JAVA application information management unit 307 and the JAVA application A404 are connected by the common I / F 406, the JAVA application information management unit 307 can acquire the configuration information of the JAVA application A404. However, the JAVA application added later, such as the JAVA application B405 developed by the third party, is not connected by the common I / F 406. For this reason, the configuration information acquisition unit 301 cannot acquire the configuration information of the JAVA application B 405 through the common I / F 406.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, the configuration information acquisition unit 301 acquires the configuration information of the JAVA application B 405 acquired by the JAVA application information management unit 307 via the common I / F 406. Thereby, the configuration information acquisition unit 301 can acquire the configuration information of the JAVA application added later and not connected to the common I / F 406 via the JAVA application information management unit 307.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of configuration information in the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of configuration information held and managed by the control unit information management unit 302, the printer information management unit 305, and the scanner information management unit 306. The category 501 indicates to which category the data indicated by the item 502 and the value 503 belongs. The categories “controller” and “license” are configuration information held by the control unit information management unit 302. The categories “printer” and “finisher” are both information held by the printer information management unit 305. The configuration information acquisition unit 301 acquires the configuration information from each corresponding unit, and the SYSTEM_INFO. It is stored in the HDD 205 as a csv file.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of configuration information held and managed by the JAVA application information management unit 307. Here, the category is “Java”, indicating that the information is stored in the JAVA application information management unit 307. This configuration information is collected by the configuration information acquisition unit 301 from the JAVA application information management unit 307, and JAVA_INFO. It is stored in the HDD 205 as csv. In addition, this example is an example to the last, and is not limited to this.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of XML / SOAP data for transmitting configuration information of the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 6A shows an example of XML / SOAP data and postDeviceConfig when the configuration information of the MFP 101 is transmitted to the management server 108. Here, SYSTEM_INFO. Described with reference to FIG. csv file and JAVA_INFO. Combine and send csv file information. In the figure, reference numeral 601 is the SYSTEM_INFO. csv file information, and reference numeral 602 indicates JAVA_INFO. The csv file information is shown.

  FIG. 6B illustrates an example of postDeviceConfigResponse of a response to the postDeviceConfig in FIG.

  The XML data includes a description of the reception result (result). In addition, SYSTEM_INFO. After sending csv file information and receiving Response, JAVA_INFO. Information on the csv file may be transmitted. In this example, XML / SOAP has been described as an example, but other data structures may be used. XML / SOAP is not limited to this as long as the XML data has the same meaning.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence between the MFP 101 and the monitoring server 108 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 is a device managed by the monitoring server 108, and the MFP 101 transmits configuration information of the MFP 101 to the monitoring server 108 at a specific timing. In FIG. 7, the MFP 101 transmits a method for transmitting the configuration information “postDeviceConfig” to the monitoring server 108 at 701. As a result, the monitoring server 108 transmits a response “postDeviceConfigResponse” to “postDeviceConfig” to the MFP 101 in 702.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the acquisition processing of the JAVA application configuration information in the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that a program for executing this processing is stored in the HDD 205, and at the time of execution, the CPU 202 develops the program in the RAM 203 and executes it, whereby the processing shown in this flowchart is achieved.

  First, in step S <b> 801, the CPU 202 functions as the JAVA application information management unit 307 and acquires configuration information of the JAVA application from each JAVA application. In step S802, the CPU 202 functions as the JAVA application information management unit 307. The configuration information of the JAVA application is stored in JAVA_PF. This is stored in the HDD 205 as a csv file, and this process is terminated.

  Thereby, for example, the configuration information held by the virtual machine, such as installation information and version information of the JAVA application, is JAVA_PF. Saved as a csv file.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for describing configuration information acquisition processing by the control unit 201 of the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that a program for executing this processing is stored in the HDD 205, and at the time of execution, the CPU 202 expands and executes the program in the RAM 203, thereby achieving the processing shown in this flowchart. In the following description, it is assumed that the function shown in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 901, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301 and acquires configuration information of the control unit 201 from the control unit information management unit 302 via the common I / F. In step S902, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301. The configuration information of the control unit 201 acquired in step S901 is changed to SYSTEM_INFO. It is stored in the HDD 205 as a csv file. In step S <b> 903, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301 and acquires configuration information of the printer 207 from the printer information management unit 305 via the common I / F. In step S <b> 904, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301, and stores the configuration information of the printer 207 in the SYSTEM_INFO. Add to csv file and save. In step S905, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301, and JAVA_PF. Stored in step S802 in FIG. The configuration information of the JAVA application is acquired from the csv file. In step S906, the CPU 202 functions as the configuration information acquisition unit 301. The configuration information of the JAVA application is set to JAVA_INFO. This is stored in the HDD 205 as a csv file, and this process is terminated.

  As a result, the configuration information of the control unit 201 and the printer 207 is changed to SYSTEM_INFO. In the csv file, the configuration information held by the virtual machine is JAVA_INFO. Saved as a csv file. Here, corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6, the configuration information of the scanner 209 is not stored, but if there is information of the category “scanner”, the SYSTEM_INFO. Added to csv file and saved.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing configuration information transmission processing by the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that a program for executing this processing is stored in the HDD 205, and at the time of execution, the CPU 202 develops the program in the RAM 203 and executes it, whereby the processing shown in this flowchart is achieved. In the following description, it is assumed that the function shown in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 1001, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and the SYSTEM_INFO. csv file and JAVA_INFO. A hash value is generated from the csv file through a hash function. In step S1002, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and compares the hash value generated in step S1001 with the hash value stored at the previous activation. If there is a difference from the hash value at the time of previous activation, the process proceeds to S1003. If there is no difference, there is no configuration information to be transmitted, so this process is terminated. Here, in order to determine whether there is a change in a plurality of csv files, the hash values of the plurality of files are obtained and compared with the hash values at the time of previous activation. It is not limited. For example, the contents of each file may be compared to determine whether the file has been changed. Alternatively, it may be determined whether or not the file has been updated based on the update date and time of each file.

  In step S <b> 1003, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and the SYSTEM_INFO. Read a csv file. In step S1004, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and the SYSTEM_INFO. Create SOAP / XML data for sending csv files. In step S1005, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and JAVA_INFO. Read a csv file. In step S1006, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303. For example, as indicated by 602 in FIG. 6A, the changed JAVA_INFO. SOAP / XML data indicating the contents of the csv file is created by appending. In step S1007, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and stores the hash value generated in step S1001. In step S1008, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, passes the SOAP / XML data created in step S1006 to the communication unit 304 and transmits it to the management server 108, and ends this process.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when there is a change in either the configuration information of the control unit or the configuration information of the JAVA application, the SOAP / XML data of the configuration information of the control unit and the configuration information of the JAVA application. Is sent to the management server.

  Thereby, the configuration information acquired through the common I / F and the configuration information of the JAVA application can be transmitted together. Further, when the configuration information is not changed, the configuration information is not transmitted to the management server, so that an increase in network traffic can be prevented.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, when there is a change in one item in a plurality of csv files, the configuration information of all items in all files is transmitted. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, only the configuration information of the same category is transmitted for items that have changed in the csv file. Note that the configuration of the MFP 101 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of XML / SOAP data for the MFP 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention to transmit configuration information.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of XML / SOAP data and postDeviceConfig when the configuration information of the MFP 101 is transmitted. In the second embodiment, JAVA_INFO. Of FIG. Assuming that only the value of “rui” in the information of the csv file has changed, only information with the category “java” is extracted and transmitted. That is, JAVA_INFO. The value of “rui” in the csv file information has been changed from “000.01” to “0.0.02”. A reference number 1101 in FIG. 11 corresponds to information whose category indicated by the reference number 602 in FIG. 6A is “java”.

  Here, the configuration information of the control unit 201 and the configuration information of the printer 207 are static information, and are information that does not change unless the firmware is changed. On the other hand, JAVA application information is dynamically changing information, and changes even when the firmware does not change. In this way, by transmitting only the dynamically changing configuration information whose value has been changed, network traffic can be reduced and the load on the monitoring server 108 can be reduced.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing configuration information transmission processing by the MFP 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that a program for executing this processing is stored in the HDD 205, and at the time of execution, the CPU 202 develops the program in the RAM 203 and executes it, whereby the processing shown in this flowchart is achieved. In the following description, it is assumed that the function shown in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 1201, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and the SYSTEM_INFO. csv file and JAVA_INFO. A hash value is generated from the csv file for each category through a hash function. In step S1202, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and compares the hash value generated for each category with the hash value stored at the previous activation. If it is determined that there is a difference between these hash values, the process proceeds to S1203. However, if it is determined that there is no difference in all categories, this process ends.

  In step S1203, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, identifies a category having a difference, and temporarily holds the category. In step S1204, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and the SYSTEM_INFO. Read a csv file. In step S1205, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and creates SOAP / XML data for only categories with differences. In step S1206, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and JAVA_INFO. Read a csv file. In step S <b> 1207, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303 and creates SOAP / XML data only for categories with differences by appending. In step S1208, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, and stores the hash value generated in step S1201. In step S1209, the CPU 202 functions as the Web service control unit 303, passes the SOAP / XML data created in step S1207 to the communication unit 304, and ends this processing. In addition to confirming the difference for each category and transmitting it, the difference may be confirmed and transmitted for each file, or the difference may be confirmed and transmitted for each item.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the configuration information of the category of the configuration information of the control unit and the configuration information of the JAVA application is changed, only the SOAP / XML data of the configuration information of the changed category is displayed. Is sent to the management server.

  Thereby, the configuration information acquired through the common I / F and the configuration information of the JAVA application can be transmitted. Further, when the configuration information is not changed, the configuration information is not transmitted to the management server, so that an increase in network traffic can be prevented. Even if the configuration information is changed, only the configuration information of the changed category is transmitted to the management server, so that an increase in network traffic can be prevented.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the scope of the present invention public, the following claims are attached.

  101 ... MFP, 102, 104, 107 ... Proxy server, 103, 106, 109 ... LAN, 105 ... PC, 108 ... Monitoring server, 110 ... Internet

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus,
First storage means for storing static first configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining dynamic second configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
Second storage means for storing the second configuration information acquired by the acquisition means;
Determining means for determining whether at least one of the first and second configuration information has been changed;
Transmission means capable of transmitting the first configuration information determined to have changed the determination means and the second configuration information determined to have changed the determination means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The first configuration information includes configuration information of a control unit of the information processing apparatus, and the second configuration information includes configuration information of a virtual machine installed in the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus described.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second storage unit stores configuration information of a JAVA application.   The determination means includes the hash values of the first and second configuration information stored in the first and second storage means, and the first and second stored in the first and second storage means last time. The information processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the first and second configuration information is determined by comparing with a hash value of the configuration information. apparatus.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the first and second configuration information as a single SOAP / XML data. 6.   The determination means includes a hash value for each category of the first and second configuration information stored in the first and second storage means, and the first and last stored in the first and second storage means. And a hash value for each category of the second configuration information is compared to determine whether at least one of the first and second configuration information has been changed. The information processing apparatus according to item.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit transmits the configuration information of the category determined to be changed by the determination unit as a single SOAP / XML data.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration information includes at least one of version information and license information. A control method for controlling an information processing apparatus,
A first storage step of acquiring and storing static first configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
An acquisition step of acquiring dynamic second configuration information of the information processing apparatus;
A second storage step of storing the second configuration information acquired in the acquisition step;
A determination step of determining whether at least one of the first and second configuration information has been changed;
When it is determined that at least one of the first and second configuration information has been changed in the determination step, the first configuration information that has been determined that the determination unit has been changed and the determination unit that has been determined to have been changed A transmission step in which the transmission means capable of transmitting the second configuration information transmits the configuration information determined to have been changed;
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8.

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