JP2017167661A - System, portable terminal, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology, with which when devices are configured, the amount of setting work is not proportional to the number of devices, thus the need to perform setting work on a device-by-device basis is eliminated.SOLUTION: When a list of identification information of an information processing apparatus to which setting contents are distributed and a network construction request are received from a portable terminal, a network list in which identification information of the own apparatus is recorded, the list of identification information of the information processing apparatus to which the setting contents are distributed, and the network construction request are sent to a first information processing apparatus. Upon reception, from the first information processing apparatus, of a network list in which are recorded at least the identification information of the own apparatus and the identification information of the first information processing apparatus, the network list is sent to the portable terminal. When the setting contents and a setting distribution request are received from the portable terminal, the setting contents are reflected on the own apparatus and the setting contents and the setting distribution request are sent to the first information processing apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a system, a mobile terminal, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

In general, an information processing apparatus often requires setting of an apparatus (hereinafter referred to as initial setting) according to a use environment before operation. There are many types of initial settings. If you include even setting items that are not directly operated by the end user, entering all these settings will be a lot of work. In addition, since the value to be set differs depending on the user environment, it is difficult to set all devices at the same time during production.
Therefore, various methods for performing the initial setting have been devised. For example, as a technique for performing the initial setting, there is an initial setting using peer connection with a setting device such as USB communication (Patent Document 1). Compared to the manual setting method using a normal setting interface such as a console or GUI, the setting content is set using the peer connection from the device that has entered the setting contents, so the initial setting work amount is increased. Can be reduced. Also, a method has been proposed in which network settings are made for all devices connected to a specific LAN.

JP 2010-143111 A

However, since the initial setting method using conventional communication requires physical work for establishing communication or setting work for communication, the work amount is proportional to the number of information processing apparatuses to be installed. There is a problem that becomes larger. The essence of this issue is that there are two types of setting items, client-independent items and client-dependent items, and client-independent items can be set uniformly at the time of production. It is a point that needs to be set in stages. In the latter policy of initial setting by USB communication one by one in order to set items that cannot be set uniformly during production, it is necessary to connect a USB cable to the information processing apparatus in order to start USB communication. In addition, initial setting for connecting to the network is necessary for setting distribution over the network.
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique in which the work amount is not proportional to the number of information processing apparatuses to be installed when setting items that cannot be set uniformly at the time of production, and it is not necessary to perform pre-work one by one. To do.

  The present invention is a system including a mobile terminal and a plurality of information processing devices, wherein the mobile terminal communicates with at least a first information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices. A communication means, a display means for displaying information, a list of identification information of information processing apparatuses to which setting contents are to be distributed, and a network construction request are sent to the first information processing apparatus via the first communication means. Control to transmit, and when receiving the network list from the first information processing apparatus via the first communication means, control to display the network list on the screen via the display means, and the display means A first control unit that controls to transmit setting contents and a setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus via the first communication unit when a distribution instruction is received from the screen via The first information processing apparatus includes: the portable terminal; a second communication unit that communicates with at least a second information processing apparatus among the plurality of information processing apparatuses; When receiving the list of identification information of the information processing apparatus to be distributed and the network construction request via the second communication means, the network list recording the identification information of the own apparatus and the information processing to be distributed A list of device identification information and the network construction request are controlled to be transmitted to the second information processing device via the second communication means, and the second communication is performed by the second information processing device. When receiving a network list in which at least the identification information of the own apparatus and the identification information of the second information processing apparatus are received via the means, the network list is transmitted to the second communication means. When the setting contents and the setting distribution request are received from the portable terminal via the second communication means, the setting contents are reflected in the own device and And second control means for controlling to transmit the setting contents and the setting distribution request to the second information processing apparatus via the second communication means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique in which the amount of work is not proportional to the number of information processing apparatuses to be installed when setting items that cannot be set uniformly at the time of production, and it is not necessary to perform prior work one by one. it can.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of an information processing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the apparatus which comprises an information processing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the software configuration of the apparatus which comprises an information processing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the Bluetooth (trademark) service which a portable terminal provides. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Bluetooth service provided by an MFP. FIG. It is a flowchart of the mesh construction phase of a portable terminal. It is a flowchart of the setting delivery phase of a portable terminal. It is a flowchart of the mesh construction phase of MFP. 5 is a flowchart of an MFP setting distribution phase. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process of the whole system. It is a figure which shows the user interface of a portable terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the information processing system 100.
The information processing system 100 includes a plurality of MFPs 102, 103, and 104 that have not yet been initially set up and one mobile terminal 101. In FIG. 1, three MFPs are illustrated, but this is an example. The information processing system 100 includes not only three units but the number of MFPs for which initial setting is desired. Although the present embodiment will be described by taking an MFP (image forming apparatus) as an example, the initial setting target device is not limited to the MFP. The initial setting target device may be a general information processing apparatus, that is, a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like. The situation in which the information processing system 100 executes the processing shown below is a scene where the sales side performs initial setting work in a lump using the portable terminal before delivering the MFP to the user. In many cases, the identifier (MAC address or the like) of each individual MFP to be set is known. For this reason, a setting manager or the like operates a portable terminal or the like, and creates a list of identifiers (hereinafter referred to as import lists) of MFPs to be set and distributed on the portable terminal or the like in advance. The import list is a constant value that is not rewritten by the information processing system 100. Table 1 shows an example of the import list. The identifier is an example of identification information. The import list is an example of a list of identification information of information processing apparatuses to which setting contents are distributed.

In addition to this import list, the information processing system 100 has an identifier list of MFPs managed by the information processing system 100, and this is called a mesh list. The mesh list is also a list of MFP identifiers similar to the import list (Table 2).

配信状況テーブルは各設定配信対象への初期設定結果の成否を示す。インポートリスト及びメッシュリストとは異なり、ＭＡＣアドレスとＭＡＣアドレスに結び付けられた初期設定結果の成否である値（２：設定成功、１：設定失敗、０：未設定）とがペアとなったテーブルである。 In the examples of Tables 1 and 2, there are three MFPs that are the target of setting distribution. However, since the information processing system 100 can find two MFPs, there is still one undetected MFP. Become. The information processing system 100 compares the import list, which is a list of setting distribution target identifiers, with the mesh list currently under the management of the information processing system 100, thereby completing the initial setting of all MFPs targeted for setting distribution. You can figure out whether or not. It is also possible to prevent the initial settings from being distributed to MFPs that are not subject to setting distribution. The portable terminal 101 also holds a distribution status table as shown in Table 3 in order to notify the user of the distribution result.

The distribution status table indicates success or failure of the initial setting result for each setting distribution target. Unlike the import list and the mesh list, this is a table in which a MAC address and a value that is a success or failure of the initial setting result associated with the MAC address (2: setting success, 1: setting failure, 0: not set) are paired. is there.

  The portable terminal 101, the MFP 102, the MFP 103, and the MFP 104 have Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication capability, and can perform mutual communication by Bluetooth without any initial setting. When performing wireless communication, devices that communicate with each other need to be within a range where radio waves reach, but it is not necessary that all MFPs be within a distance that allows mutual communication. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, it is only necessary that the MFP 102 and the MFP 104 can communicate with each other via the MFP 103 even if the MFP 102 and the MFP 104 cannot communicate directly. In the description of the present embodiment, both the Bluetooth and WiFi modules are installed in the software / hardware configuration of the portable terminal and the MFP. However, only Bluetooth is used in the description of the present embodiment. Bluetooth is an example of near field communication.

<Hardware configuration of portable terminal 101>
Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
CPU201 controls operation | movement of the whole portable terminal. The RAM 202 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 201 to execute various programs. The flash memory 203 is a non-volatile memory that stores various programs and data. The operation unit 204 includes a display that operates as a touch panel that can be operated by a user's finger. The Bluetooth I / F 205 is an interface for communicating with Bluetooth, and communicates with other devices having the Bluetooth interface. In the present embodiment, the portable terminal 101 communicates with each other by MFP and Bluetooth. The WiFi I / F 206 is a wireless compatible NIC (Network Interface Card) capable of network communication. The speaker 207 is a device that converts an electronic sound signal into sound. The microphone 208 detects sound and converts it into an electronic signal. The camera 209 captures still images and moving images and converts them into electronic data. The GPS 210 is a receiver of the Global Positioning System. When the CPU 201 executes processing based on a program stored in the flash memory 203 or the like, the software configuration of the mobile terminal 101, the processing of flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 described later, and the processing of the mobile terminal 101 of FIG. 10 are realized. .

<Hardware Configuration of MFP 102>
The CPU 211 controls the overall operation of the MFP 102. The CPU 211 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 212 and performs various controls such as reading control and transmission control. The RAM 213 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 211 to execute various programs. The HDD 214 stores image data and various programs. The operation unit 215 includes a display that operates as a touch panel that can be operated with a user's finger. The printer 216 prints image data transferred via the internal bus on paper. A scanner 217 reads an image on a document and generates image data. The Bluetooth I / F 218 is an interface that performs wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth standard, and performs communication with other devices having the Bluetooth I / F. In the present embodiment, the Bluetooth I / F 218 communicates with the mobile terminal according to the Bluetooth standard. The WiFi I / F 206 is a NIC for connecting to a network. The hardware 211 to 219 is connected by an internal bus and can exchange data with each other. When the CPU 211 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 212 or the HDD 214, the software configuration of the MFP, the processing of flowcharts in FIGS. 8 and 9 described later, and the processing of the MFP in FIG. 10 are realized.

<Software configuration of portable terminal 101>
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the mobile terminal 101. The WiFi communication control unit 305 is a module for controlling the WiFi communication I / F 206. The Bluetooth communication control unit 304 is a module for controlling the Bluetooth I / F 205. The Bluetooth communication control unit 304 authenticates whether the communication partner can be trusted using the certificate information 301 issued by the certificate authority before starting the Bluetooth communication. This authentication process is performed when the initial distribution application 302 is activated and connected to the MFP. The Bluetooth communication control unit 304 and the initial setting distribution application 302 do not directly communicate with each other, but perform communication for communication via the OS kernel 303. When there are many initial setting items, the mobile terminal 101 can switch to WiFi communication that is faster than Bluetooth communication. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the initial setting distribution application 302 is installed in the mobile terminal in advance. The initial setting distribution application 302 has the following functions.
・ Edit the initial settings to be distributed.
-Issue a mesh network construction command for initial delivery.
・ Receive the mesh network construction status and display it.
-Issue an initial setting command for initial setting distribution and send initial setting information. For example, the initial setting information includes setting items as shown in Table 7 to be described later.
・ Receive and display the default distribution status.
-Issue a mesh network disassembly command for initial delivery.

<Software Configuration of MFP 102>
FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the MFP 102.
The WiFi communication control unit 311 is a module for controlling the WiFi communication I / F 219. The Bluetooth communication control unit 310 is a module for controlling the Bluetooth I / F 218. These modules are controlled by the OS kernel 312. The mesh framework control unit 313 constructs a mesh network, and performs processing for managing and controlling the network. The mesh framework control unit 313 performs processing for constructing a mesh network after proving that it is a reliable communication partner based on the certificate information 307 issued by the certificate authority at the time of initial communication. The MFP 102 in the present embodiment provides a mesh distribution service 510 and a device setting service 520, which will be described later, to a terminal connected by Bluetooth communication. Among these, the mesh distribution service 510 is implemented by the mesh framework control unit 313. The device setting service 520 is implemented by the setting distribution unit 306. The setting distribution unit 306 is an application that runs on the mesh framework control unit 313. The setting distribution unit 306 includes logic for receiving and applying initial setting information by a function provided by the mesh framework control unit 313 and transmitting the setting to the next MFP, and a UI for displaying the current setting state to the user. It is out.

・ＭＡＣ Ａｄｄｒｅｓｓｅｓ Ｉｎｆｏ４１２
ＭＦＰからメッシュリスト又は配信状況テーブルをこのキャラクタリスティック値に書き込み、受信するために用いられる。メッシュリストを受信する場合、先頭１バイトは送信するリスト上のＭＦＰの数を指定する非負の整数である。最大２５５個のＭＦＰを指定できる。テーブルを送信する場合は対象ＭＦＰ識別子と配信可否フラグとが交互に書き込まれる。 <Bluetooth service provided in mobile terminals>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the Bluetooth service provided by the mobile terminal 101. The mobile terminal 101 publishes a mesh mesh distribution service 410 to the MFP connected via Bluetooth using a GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profile). A GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profile) can be accessed from a device that establishes a BLE connection with the mobile terminal 101.
・ Command Request 411
This is a characteristic value for the MFP to request an operation on the mobile terminal. For example, RequestID shown in Table 4 below can be written.

・ MAC Addresses Info412
The mesh list or distribution status table is written from the MFP to this characteristic value and used for receiving. When receiving a mesh list, the first byte is a non-negative integer that specifies the number of MFPs on the list to be transmitted. A maximum of 255 MFPs can be specified. When transmitting the table, the target MFP identifier and the distribution availability flag are alternately written.

・ＭＡＣ Ａｄｄｒｅｓｓｅｓ Ｉｎｆｏ５１２
ＭＦＰからインポートリスト、メッシュリスト又は配信状況テーブルをこのキャラクタリスティック値に書き込み、受信するために用いられる。インポートリスト又はメッシュリストを受信する場合、先頭１バイトは送信するリスト上のＭＦＰの数を指定する非負の整数である。最大２５５個のＭＦＰを指定できる。テーブルを送信する場合は対象ＭＦＰ識別子と配信可否フラグとが交互に書き込まれる。 <Bluetooth service provided by MFP>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the Bluetooth service provided in the MFPs 102, 103, and 104. The MFP according to the present embodiment publishes a device setting service 520 and a mesh distribution service 510 defined by a GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profile) to mobile terminals connected via Bluetooth. A GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profile) can be accessed from a mobile terminal or the like that has established a BLE connection with the MFPs 102, 103, and 104.
The first mesh distribution service 510 provides a service for distributing settings to each MFP using a mesh network.
・ Command Request 511
This is a characteristic value for another information processing apparatus (mobile terminal, MFP) to request an operation on the MFP. For example, the ID shown in the table below can be written. The setting distribution unit 306 processes the value written from the portable terminal in response to the request.

・ MAC Addresses Info512
The import list, mesh list, or distribution status table is written to the characteristic value from the MFP and used for receiving. When receiving an import list or a mesh list, the first byte is a non-negative integer that specifies the number of MFPs on the list to be transmitted. A maximum of 255 MFPs can be specified. When transmitting the table, the target MFP identifier and the distribution availability flag are alternately written.

The next device setting service 520 provides a series of services for performing initial setting and setting reading to the MFP.
・ Set / Get Request 521
This is a characteristic value for requesting a Set / Get operation for a device setting item.

・ＰａｒａｍｅｔｅｒＡｒｇ５２３
Ｓｅｔ／Ｇｅｔ ＲｅｑｕｅｓｔによるＭＦＰ設定項目の操作において、設定項目に対して実際に設定する、又は設定されている値である。Ｓｅｔ時はＰａｒａｍｅｔｅｒＡｒｇの値がＲｅｑｕｅｓｔＰａｒａｍｅｔｅｒで指定した設定項目に代入され、Ｇｅｔ時は現在設定項目に格納されている値がＰａｒａｍｅｔｅｒＡｒｇにロードされる。 RequestParameter 522
In the operation of the MFP initial setting item by Set / Get Request, the setting item is designated for the operation. For example, there are the following setting items.

・ ParameterArg523
This is the value that is actually set or set for the setting item in the operation of the MFP setting item by Set / Get Request. At the time of Set, the value of ParameterArg is substituted for the setting item specified by RequestParameter, and at the time of Get, the value currently stored in the setting item is loaded into ParameterArg.

<Flow chart of mesh construction phase for mobile devices>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing in the mesh construction phase in the first half of the distribution process in the process details when the setting manager performs initial setting distribution using the mobile terminal 101.
When a delivery execution button 1142 shown in FIG. 11 to be described later is pressed, the CPU 201 first starts communication using Bluetooth Low Energy in Central Mode and tries to connect to the closest MFP (S601). The delivery execution button 1142 is an example of an object that can accept a delivery instruction. That is, the CPU 201 connects to an MFP that is not registered in the mesh list and is in the import list. When the connection is established, the CPU 201 writes the characteristic value of the MAC Addresses Info 512 of the mesh distribution service 510 of the MFP to which the MAC address list described in the import list is connected. At this time, the CPU 201 designates the number of MFPs to be imported in the first 1 byte, and stores the MAC address array of the device to be actually imported in the subsequent byte string (S602). Next, the CPU 201 writes 2 (import list acceptance request) to the characteristic value of the command request 511 of the MFP using Bluetooth communication (S603). As a result, the MFP side accepts the value of the MAC address array written in the current MAC Addresses Info as an import list. Thereafter, the CPU 201 of the portable terminal writes 1 (mesh construction request) in the command request of the MFP, and issues a mesh construction instruction to the MFP (S604). The mesh construction request is an example of a network construction request for a system that distributes setting contents. When this process is executed, the MFP side is activated in the Central Mode, so the CPU 201 of the portable terminal activates the mesh distribution service 510 in the Peripheral Mode (S605). The characteristic value of Command Request 411 is rewritten to 1 (mesh list reception request) by the MFP. Then, the CPU 201 of the mobile terminal receives the MAC address list of the MFP written in the current MAC Addresses Info 412 characteristic value as the current mesh construction status (S606). The CPU 201 displays the result as in the mesh construction screen 1120 in FIG. 11 (S607). After that, the CPU 201 of the portable terminal determines whether or not the characteristic value of the Command Request 411 has been rewritten to 4 (mesh construction completion notification) by the MFP (S608). CPU201 returns to the process of S606, when the characteristic value of Command Request411 is not rewritten to 4 (mesh construction completion notification) (NO in S608). On the other hand, when the characteristic value of Command Request 411 is rewritten to 4 (mesh construction completion notification) (YES in S608), CPU 201 determines that mesh construction has been completed and proceeds to the next process (S609). In the next process, the CPU 201 compares the import list with the mesh list and determines whether the two lists match (S609). The mesh list is an example of a network list. If the two lists match (YES in S609), CPU 201 determines that all the MFPs scheduled for initial setting have been detected, and proceeds to the process of S610. In that case, the CPU 201 enables the delivery execution button 1122 in the mesh construction in-progress screen 1120 of the mobile terminal in FIG. 11 like the delivery execution button 1142 in the screen 1140 (S610). The process of enabling the delivery execution button 1142 is an example of a process for displaying the delivery execution button 1142 so that it can be selected. In the present embodiment, in S610, the CPU 201 enables the distribution execution button 1122 that has been grayed out so as to be selectable like the distribution execution button 1142, but the present invention is not limited to this. The CPU 201 may display the delivery execution button that has been hidden in S610. The CPU 201 accepts pressing processing of the delivery execution button 1142. On the other hand, if the lists do not match (NO in S609), the CPU 201 proceeds to the process of S611. That is, the CPU 201 displays a screen 1130 and inquires of the user whether or not to execute mesh network reconstruction (S611). When reconstructing, the CPU 201 starts over from the beginning of the mesh construction phase. When the distribution execution button is pressed, the CPU 201 proceeds to the next set distribution phase.

<Flow chart of mobile terminal setting distribution phase>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing for sharing the actual setting content between MFPs and setting each information device in the setting distribution phase following the first half mesh construction phase. First, the CPU 201 writes settings from the portable terminal to the MFP using the device setting service 520 of the MFP (S701). Upon completion of the setting writing, the CPU 201 writes 3 (setting distribution request) in the Command Request characteristic value of the MFP, and starts the setting distribution processing (S702). Next, the CPU 201 of the portable terminal activates the mesh distribution service 510 again in the Peripheral Mode (S703). The MFP writes 3 (setting distribution status reception request) to the characteristic value of the command request 411 of the portable terminal. Then, the CPU 201 receives the value written in the characteristic value of the current MAC Addresses Info 412 as the distribution status (S704). Then, the CPU 201 displays the setting status as shown in the screen 1130 in FIG. 11 (S705). Then, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the setting process has been completed (S706). When the CPU 201 does not write 4 in the characteristic value of the Command Request 411 (NO in S706), the CPU 201 returns to the process of S704. On the other hand, 4 (distribution processing completion notification, end processing request) is written in the characteristic value of the Command Request 411 of the mobile terminal. Then, the CPU 201 completes the setting process (YES in S706), and proceeds to the next process (S707). In the next process, the CPU 201 determines whether all MFPs have been set from the received setting distribution status list (S707). If the setting has been made (YES in S707), the CPU 201 proceeds to S708. That is, the CPU 201 displays the setting result as shown in a screen 1160 in FIG. 11 (S708). On the other hand, if the setting has failed (NO in S707), the CPU 201 proceeds to S709. That is, the CPU 201 displays a screen 1150 and inquires of the user whether to resend the setting (S709). When the retransmission is selected (YES in S709), the CPU 201 restarts from the beginning of the set distribution phase, and when not retransmitting (N0 in S709), displays the distribution result in S708, and then ends the process of FIG. .

<MFP Mesh Construction Phase Flowchart>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing in the mesh construction phase in the first half of processing when the MFP receives a connection from the mobile terminal 101 and executes initial setting processing.
After powering on the MFP 102, the CPU 211 activates the mesh distribution service 510 as the Peripheral Mode, and starts transmitting an advertising packet (S801). When the CPU 211 receives a BLE connection from the mobile terminal 101 and the content of the characteristic value of the Command Request 511 is changed to 2 (import request) or 3 (mesh list reception request), the CPU 211 performs the following processing. That is, the CPU 211 receives the contents currently written in the characteristic value of the MAC Address Info 512 as the current mesh list / import list (S802). Thereafter, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the characteristic value of the MFP Command Request 511 has been changed to 1 (mesh construction request) by the portable terminal (S803). If the characteristic value of Command Request 511 is not changed to 1 (mesh construction request) (NO in S803), CPU 211 returns to S802. On the other hand, when the characteristic value of Command Request 511 is changed to 1 (mesh construction request) (YES in S803), the CPU 211 proceeds to the next process (S804). In the next processing, the CPU 211 adds and records its own MAC address to the mesh list (initially an empty list) (S804). The CPU 211 connects to a terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “previous terminal”, which is a mobile terminal at first) as a central mode. Then, the CPU 211 writes the updated mesh list information into the characteristic value of the MAC Addresses Info of the previous terminal (S805). The CPU 211 transmits a new mesh list by rewriting the characteristic value of the command request of the previous terminal to 3 (mesh list reception request) (S806). Next, the CPU 211 compares the received import list with the current mesh list and determines whether the lists match (S807). If they match (YES in S807), the CPU 211 proceeds to S821. That is, the CPU 211 determines that all the MFPs have been detected, and writes the mesh list to the characteristic value of the MAC Addresses Info of the previous terminal (S821). In addition, the CPU 211 writes 3 (mesh list reception request) in the Command Request value (S822). Thereafter, the CPU 211 writes 4 (mesh construction completion) in the characteristic value of the command request of the previous terminal (S823).

  On the other hand, if the lists do not match (NO in S807), the CPU 211 proceeds to S808. In other words, the CPU 211 connects to an MFP (hereinafter referred to as “next terminal”) that is present in the import list and is not yet registered in the mesh list (S808). The CPU 211 writes the import list in the MAC Addresses Info of the next terminal (S809). The CPU 211 transmits the import list by writing 2 (import request) in the Command Request of the next terminal (S810). Next, the CPU 211 writes the mesh list in the MAC Addresses Info of the next terminal (S811). The CPU 211 transmits the mesh list updated by writing 3 (mesh list reception request) in the Command Request of the next terminal (S812). After transmitting the two lists, the CPU 211 writes 1 (mesh construction request) in the command request of the next terminal (S813). Next, the CPU 211 activates the mesh distribution service 510 as the Peripheral Mode (S814). The CPU 211 determines whether the command request of the MFP is 4 (configuration completion notification) (S815). If the CPU 211 is not 4 (construction completion notification) (NO in S815), the CPU 211 performs mesh list reception and relay transmission. That is, the CPU 211 receives, as a mesh list, a value written in the MAC Address Info when the command request of the MFP is rewritten to 3 by the previous terminal (S816). Then, the CPU 211 writes the contents of the currently received mesh list in the MAC Addresses Info of the previous terminal (S817). Then, the CPU 211 writes 3 (mesh list reception request) in the Command Request of the previous terminal (S818). On the other hand, if the Command Request is 4 (construction completion notification) in the first determination in S815 (YES in S815), the CPU 211 proceeds to S819. In other words, the CPU 211 starts the MFP as the Central Mode and connects to the previous terminal (S819). Finally, the CPU 211 writes 4 (construction completion notification) in the Command Request of the previous terminal (S820).

<Flowchart of MFP setting distribution phase>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing in the setting distribution phase of the MFP.
First, the CPU 211 activates the mesh distribution service 510 of the MFP as Peripheral Mode (S901). The CPU 211 waits for setting distribution contents to be sent from the previous terminal using the device setting service 520. More specifically, the ID of an item (for example, an IP address, etc.) to be set in the characteristic value of the RequestParameter 522 of the MFP is written from the previous terminal. Then, the actual setting value (a value such as 192.168..XX.XX) is written to the characteristic value of ParameterArg 523, and then 1 (Set request) is written to the characteristic value of Set / GetRequest. Then, the CPU 211 receives the set value (S902). The CPU 211 determines whether or not Command Request has been rewritten to 5 (setting distribution request) after receiving the setting (S903). If the Command Request has not been rewritten to 5 (setting distribution request) (NO in S903), the CPU 211 returns to the processing of S902. On the other hand, if the Command Request is rewritten to 5 (setting distribution request) (YES in S903), the CPU 211 proceeds to S904. The CPU 211 reflects the received setting contents on its own MFP (S904). When the setting is completed, the CPU 211 refers to the setting distribution table to determine whether there is an unset MFP (S905). If there is no unconfigured MFP (NO in S905), the CPU 211 proceeds to S912. On the other hand, if there is still an unset MFP (YES in S905), the CPU 211 proceeds to S906 and transmits the setting content to the next terminal in the same manner as the previous terminal has performed. First, the CPU 211 activates the mesh distribution service 510 in Central Mode and connects to the next terminal (S906). Then, the CPU 211 writes the setting contents to the next terminal using the device setting service 520 of the next terminal (S907). Then, the CPU 211 writes 5 (setting distribution request) in the Command Request of the next terminal (S908). When the transmission of the setting contents is completed, the CPU 211 finally receives and displays the setting status (screen 1150 in FIG. 11). More specifically, the CPU 211 first activates the MFP in the peripheral mode (S909). The CPU 211 receives the setting status until 2 (setting completion notification) is written in the Command Request (S910). The CPU 211 receives a setting completion notification (S911). Then, the CPU 211 activates CentralMode and connects the mesh distribution service 510 of the MFP to the previous terminal (S912). The CPU 211 writes the table of the setting status received earlier in the characteristic value of the MAC Address Info (412 or 512) of the previous terminal (S913). Then, the CPU 211 propagates the setting status by writing 6 (setting status reception request) in the Command Request of the previous terminal (S914). Finally, the CPU 211 writes 2 (setting completion notification) in the characteristic value of the command request of the previous terminal, and ends the process (S915).

<Processing flow of the entire system>
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram in which the outline of the flowcharts described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 is reorganized focusing on the mutual relationship between the mobile terminal and the MFP. First, an import list / mesh construction request is transmitted from the portable terminal to the MFP (S604). The MFP 102 adds its own MAC address to the mesh list that was an empty list and transmits it to the previous terminal (S606). Further, the MFP 102 connects to an MFP having a MAC address in the import list that is not yet in the mesh list, and similarly transmits an import list / mesh list / mesh construction request (S813). Thereafter, the MFP continues the process of receiving the mesh list from the next terminal and relaying it to the previous terminal until a construction completion notification is received (S816). The MFP 104, which is the last one in the import list that has not yet been added to the mesh list, determines that the import list and the mesh list match, and sends the mesh list and the construction completion notification to the previous terminal. (S815). Similarly to the mesh list, the construction completion notification is relayed between the MFPs and finally transmitted to the portable terminal (S815, S607).
When the construction of the mesh network is completed, the mobile terminal transmits the setting content and the setting distribution request to the next terminal (S702). This information is also relayed between MFPs (S908). When the final MFP is reached, transmission to the previous terminal is repeated together with a setting completion notification and setting status (S911). Then, the setting completion notification and the setting status are finally transmitted to the mobile terminal (S706).

<User interface of mobile terminal>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface after list import of the mobile terminal. Starting from the screen 1110, when the mesh construction button 1111 is pressed, the screen transits to a mesh construction screen 1120. A mesh construction screen 1120 displays a list of MAC addresses of MFPs that can be detected at present. When an interrupt button 1121 is pressed during this screen, the CPU 201 can interrupt the mesh construction process. If all of the imported MFP lists cannot be detected, the screen transitions to a screen 1130. On the screen 1130, the result of whether or not each imported MFP has been detected is displayed, and the user can select whether to perform mesh reconstruction or to end the process as it is. If all the MFPs are detected, the screen transitions to a screen 1140, and the CPU 201 asks the user whether to execute setting distribution. When the distribution execution button 1142 is pressed, the CPU 201 determines that a distribution instruction has been received, and starts a setting distribution process for transmitting setting contents and a setting distribution request. If there is an MFP that could not be set by the setting distribution process, the screen transitions to a screen 1150 and the setting status is displayed. When the user presses the re-distribution button 1152 on this screen 1150, the setting distribution process starts again. If all MFPs can be set, the screen transitions to a screen 1160 where a list of MFPs that can be set is displayed. By pressing an end button 1163 on this screen, the user can end the application. However, there is an end button in all the screens so far, and the user can also end it at any timing.

<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. It can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment which concerns.

  According to the processing of each of the embodiments described above, the amount of work is not proportional to the number of information processing apparatuses to be installed when setting items that cannot be uniformly set during production, and it is not necessary to perform preliminary work one by one. Can be provided.

101 Mobile terminal 102 MFP
201 CPU
211 CPU

Claims (12)

A system including a mobile terminal and a plurality of information processing devices,
The portable terminal is
First communication means for communicating with at least a first information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices;
Display means for displaying information;
Control is performed to transmit a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting contents are to be distributed and a network construction request to the first information processing device via the first communication unit, and the first information processing When a network list is received from the apparatus via the first communication means, the network list is controlled to be displayed on the screen via the display means, and a distribution instruction is received from the screen via the display means First control means for controlling to transmit the setting contents and the setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus via the first communication means;
Have
The first information processing apparatus includes:
A second communication means for communicating with at least a second information processing device of the portable terminal and the plurality of information processing devices;
When a list of identification information of the information processing apparatus to be distributed and the network construction request are received from the portable terminal via the second communication means, the network list in which the identification information of the own apparatus is recorded and the distribution Control is performed to transmit the list of identification information of the target information processing apparatus and the network construction request to the second information processing apparatus via the second communication unit, and the second information processing apparatus When receiving a network list in which at least the identification information of the own device and the identification information of the second information processing apparatus are recorded via the second communication unit, the network list is transmitted via the second communication unit. If the setting content and the setting distribution request are received from the portable terminal via the second communication means, And second control means for controlling to transmit to said second information processing apparatus through the second communication means with the setting and the setting distribution request while reflecting to the own device,
Having a system.   The system according to claim 1, wherein communication between the first communication unit and the second communication unit is short-range wireless communication.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of information processing apparatuses are a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Communication means for communicating with at least a first information processing apparatus of the plurality of information processing apparatuses;
Display means for displaying information;
Control is performed to transmit a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting contents are to be distributed and a network construction request to the first information processing device via the communication means, and the first information processing device from the first information processing device When the network list is received via the communication means, the network list is controlled to be displayed on the screen via the display means, and when the distribution instruction is received from the screen via the display means, the setting contents and the setting distribution Control means for controlling the request to be transmitted to the first information processing apparatus via the communication means;
Mobile terminal having.   When the control means receives a construction completion notification together with the network list from the first information processing apparatus via the communication means, the control means performs control so as to selectably display an object that can accept the distribution instruction on the screen. 5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein when the distribution instruction is received via the object, control is performed so as to transmit setting contents and a setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus via the communication unit. A communication means for communicating with the portable terminal and at least the first information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices;
When receiving a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting contents are to be distributed and a network construction request from the portable terminal via the communication means, a network list in which identification information of the own device is recorded and the distribution target A list of identification information of the information processing apparatus and the network construction request are controlled to be transmitted to the first information processing apparatus via the communication means, and the first information processing apparatus via the communication means When receiving a network list recording at least the identification information of the own device and the identification information of the first information processing device, the network list is controlled to be transmitted to the portable terminal via the communication unit, When setting contents and a setting distribution request are received from the portable terminal via the communication means, the setting contents are reflected in the own device and And control means for controlling so as to be transmitted to the first information processing apparatus and the setting distribution request via the communication means and,
An information processing apparatus. The communication means further communicates with at least a second information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices,
The control means receives a list of identification information of the information processing apparatus to be distributed and the network construction request from the second information processing apparatus via the communication means, and the information processing apparatus to be distributed A configuration completion notification is transmitted to the second information processing apparatus via the communication means together with the network list when the list of identification information matches the network list in which the identification information of the own apparatus is recorded. 6. The information processing apparatus according to 6. An information processing method executed by a system including a mobile terminal and a plurality of information processing devices,
Controlling the portable terminal to transmit a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting content is distributed and a network construction request to a first information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices;
When the first information processing apparatus receives a list of identification information of the information processing apparatus to be distributed and the network construction request from the portable terminal, the network list in which the identification information of the own apparatus is recorded and the distribution Controlling to transmit a list of identification information of a target information processing apparatus and the network construction request to a second information processing apparatus among the plurality of information processing apparatuses;
When the first information processing apparatus receives a network list in which at least the identification information of the own apparatus and the identification information of the second information processing apparatus are recorded from the second information processing apparatus, the network list is Controlling to transmit to the mobile terminal;
Controlling to display the network list on a screen when the mobile terminal receives the network list from the first information processing apparatus;
A step of controlling the mobile terminal to transmit setting contents and a setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus when receiving a distribution instruction from the screen;
When the first information processing apparatus receives the setting contents and the setting distribution request from the mobile terminal, the setting information and the setting distribution request are reflected on the second apparatus and the setting contents and the setting distribution request are reflected on the second information processing apparatus. Controlling to transmit to the information processing apparatus,
An information processing method including: An information processing method executed by a mobile terminal,
Controlling to transmit a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting contents are to be distributed and a network construction request to a first information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices;
Receiving a network list from the first information processing apparatus, controlling to display the network list on a screen;
Controlling to transmit a setting content and a setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus when a distribution instruction is received from the screen;
An information processing method including: An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
When a list of identification information of information processing devices to be distributed of setting contents and a network construction request are received from a portable terminal, a network list in which identification information of the own device is recorded and identification information of the information processing devices to be distributed Controlling to transmit the list of information and the network construction request to a second information processing device among a plurality of information processing devices;
When receiving from the second information processing apparatus a network list in which at least the identification information of the own apparatus and the identification information of the second information processing apparatus are recorded, the network list is controlled to be transmitted to the portable terminal. Steps,
When receiving the setting contents and the setting distribution request from the portable terminal, the step of controlling the setting contents and the setting distribution request to be transmitted to the second information processing apparatus while reflecting the setting contents to the own device. When,
An information processing method including: On the computer,
Controlling to transmit a list of identification information of information processing devices to which setting contents are to be distributed and a network construction request to a first information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices;
Receiving a network list from the first information processing apparatus, controlling to display the network list on a screen;
Controlling to transmit a setting content and a setting distribution request to the first information processing apparatus when a distribution instruction is received from the screen;
A program for running On the computer,
When receiving a list of identification information of a computer that is a distribution target of setting contents and a network construction request from a mobile terminal, a network list that records the identification information of the own device, a list of identification information of the computer that is the distribution target, Controlling to send a network construction request to a second computer of the plurality of computers;
Receiving a network list recording at least identification information of the device and identification information of the second computer from the second computer, and controlling the network list to be transmitted to the mobile terminal;
When receiving the setting content and the setting distribution request from the portable terminal, the step of reflecting the setting content on the own device and controlling the setting content and the setting distribution request to be transmitted to the second computer;
A program for running

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