JP2022012999A - Control device, control system, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device, system, method, and program that enable electronic apparatuses to be started and used in a short time without requiring an intermediary device.SOLUTION: A control device is a system that controls an electronic apparatus connected to a network, and includes: control means for stopping supplying power to the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus has not been accessed for a predetermined period; and communication means for receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to the network. The control means starts supplying power to the electronic apparatus when the predetermined request received by the communication means is an activation request of the electronic apparatus transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a control device, a control system, a control method and a program for controlling an electronic device connected to a network.

WOL (Wake-on-LAN) is known as a technology for turning on the power of an electronic device connected to a network. WOL sends a packet requesting activation to an electronic device and turns on the power of the electronic device. Therefore, in order to send a packet requesting activation and confirm whether or not the electronic device has actually been activated, it is necessary to access again after the electronic device is activated.

Since such an operation is a burden on the user, it is confirmed whether the electronic device is activated when a specific communication packet is received in the relay device that relays the communication between the two networks, and the operation is activated. A technique for transmitting an activation request packet when there is no such device has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, the above-mentioned technology requires an intermediary device that confirms the activation of the electronic device and transmits the activation request packet, and has a problem that it takes time until the electronic device can be used.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device, a system, a method and a program capable of starting and using an electronic device in a short time without requiring an intermediary device. And.

According to the present invention, it is a control device for controlling an electronic device connected to a network.
A control means for stopping the power supply to an electronic device when the electronic device is not accessed for a predetermined period of time.
Including a communication means for receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to a network.
The control means provides a control device that starts supplying power to an electronic device when a predetermined request received by the communication means is a start request of the electronic device transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device. do.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device, a system, a method and a program that enable an electronic device to be started and used in a short time without requiring an intermediary device.

The figure which showed the configuration example of the information processing system. The figure which showed an example of the hardware configuration of NAS. The block diagram which showed an example of the functional structure of a PC. A flowchart showing the flow of processing at the time of initial setting of an application executed by a PC. A flowchart showing the flow of processing at the time of starting an application executed by a PC. A flowchart showing the flow of processing after the application executed by the PC is started. The block diagram which showed an example of the functional structure of NAS. The flowchart which showed the flow of ON / OFF control of the power of HDD executed by NAS. A flowchart showing the flow of control from the power off of the HDD to the recovery.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described later.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system. The information processing system includes an electronic device and an information processing device that accesses the electronic device. The electronic device is installed in, for example, an in-house LAN (Local Area Network) network. The information processing device is installed or arranged, for example, in a LAN network in the company, a remote place outside the company, or both.

The LAN network includes a router 10 as a relay device, LANs 11 and 12 connected by the router 10, and a gateway 13 as a relay device for connecting the LAN 12 and an external network (Internet) 20. The router 10 is a device that relays communication between networks having a common communication procedure (protocol). The gateway 13 is a device that relays communication between networks having different protocols. PCs (Personal Computers) 14 to 16 are connected to the LAN 11 as information processing devices. A PC 17 and an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 18 are connected to the LAN 12 as an information processing device, and a NAS (Network Attached Storage) 19 is connected as an electronic device.

The PC 17 and the MFP 18 connected to the LAN 12 can directly access the NAS 19 belonging to the same segment. Since the segments of PCs 14 to 16 connected to the LAN 11 are different from those of the NAS 19, they can be accessed via the router 10.

Terminals 21 and 22 are connected to the external network 20 as information processing devices. The terminals 21 and 22 are a PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like. A cloud environment is constructed in the external network 20, and a cloud composed of a group of servers plays the role of a relay server connecting the inside and the outside. Therefore, the terminals 21 and 22 can access the NAS 19 belonging to the internal LAN network via the external network 20. When the terminals 21 and 22 access NAS19, the terminals 21 and 22 access the gateway 13 and then access NAS19.

PCs 14 to 16, MFPs 18, terminals 21 and 22, are equipped with a dedicated application for accessing NAS19. The PCs 14 to 16, the MFPs 18, the terminals 21 and 22, send a start request (WOL) packet to the NAS 19 when the dedicated application is started, and start the application. When transmitting data to NAS 19, the MFP 18 can set a series of operations as a timing or workflow in which NAS 19 is selected as a data transmission destination. Therefore, the MFP 18 can transmit and activate the activation request packet at the time of selecting the workflow in which NAS 19 is set as the data transmission destination.

The activation request packet is a special packet called a magic packet and includes the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the device to be activated. The activation request packet is broadcast within the segment. Therefore, it cannot be transmitted via the router 10 or the gateway 13. However, when the router 10 or the gateway 13 is a router or gateway capable of forwarding the activation request packet, that is, a WOL-compatible device, the activation request packet can be transmitted to the target NAS 19 beyond the router 10 or the gateway 13. ..

In this way, by transmitting the activation request packet at the timing of starting the dedicated application, it is not necessary for the intermediary device to confirm the presence or absence of activation and send the activation request packet, and it is necessary to install the intermediary device. It disappears. Further, since NAS19 receives the activation request packet and activates immediately, the user can use NAS19 in a short time.

The information processing device is not limited to the PCs 14 to 16, the MFPs 18, and the terminals 21 and 22 as long as they can access NAS19 as an electronic device. Information processing devices include, for example, PJ (Projector: projector), IWB (Interactive White Board: white board having an electronic blackboard function capable of mutual communication), HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machine, image pickup device, collection. It may be a sound device, a medical device, a network home appliance, a car (Connected Car), a notebook PC, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a PDA, a digital camera, a wearable PC, a desktop PC, or the like.

The electronic device is not limited to NAS19 as long as it can communicate with the information processing device, but is not limited to a printer, a copier, a fax device, a scanner device, an MFP, PJ, IWB, an output device such as a digital signage, and a PC. And so on. The electronic device is not limited to one NAS19, and may be two or more NAS, or may include an electronic device other than the NAS.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of NAS19 as an electronic device. Since the hardware configurations of the PCs 14 to 16 and the terminals 21 and 22 as the information processing apparatus are the same, the description of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus will be omitted here. NAS19 has the same configuration as a general computer, and NAS19 will be described as a general computer.

The NAS 19 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 31, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32, an HD (Hard Disk) 33, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 34. The NAS 19 also includes a display 35, an external device connection I / F 36, a network I / F 37, a data bus 38, a keyboard 39, a pointing device 40, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 41, and the like. A media I / F 42 is provided. The keyboard 39, the pointing device 40, the DVD-RW drive 41, and the media I / F 42 may not be provided.

The CPU 30 controls the operation of the entire NAS 19. The ROM 31 stores a program used for driving the CPU 30 such as an IPL (Initial Program Loader). The RAM 32 provides a working area for the CPU 30. The HD33 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 34 controls reading or writing of various data to the HD 33 according to the control of the CPU 30. The display 35 displays various information such as cursors, menus, windows, characters, and images. The NAS 19 does not have to be provided with the display 35.

The external device connection I / F36 is an interface for connecting various external devices. Examples of the external device include a USB memory and a printer. The network I / F37 is an interface for communicating data using the network. The data bus 38 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 30.

The keyboard 39 is a kind of input means including a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. The pointing device 40 is a kind of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. The DVD-RW drive 41 is an example of a detachable recording medium, and controls reading or writing of various data to the DVD-RW 43. Here, the DVD-RW43 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a DVD-R or the like may be used. The media I / F 42 controls reading or writing of data to the recording medium 44 such as a flash memory.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the PC 14. Since the functional configurations of the PCs 14 to 16, the MFPs 18, the terminals 21 and 22, are the same as those of the PC14, only the PC14 will be described here. Each function provided in the PC 14 can be realized by a processing circuit such as a CPU. The processing circuit is a processor programmed to execute each function by a dedicated application such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or an ASIC or DSP (Digital Signal Processor) designed to execute each function. Includes devices such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and conventional circuit modules. Here, it is described that each function is realized by executing a dedicated application.

The PC 14 includes a screen management unit 50, a setting / image storage unit 51, a communication management unit 52, and a communication unit 53. The screen management unit 50 accepts user operations. As an example of the user's operation, an operation of changing the file name of one file in the file list stored in the PC 14 and updating the screen can be mentioned. In FIG. 3, an arrow requested by the screen management unit 50 to itself indicates a screen update by a user operation. Note that the user operation is not limited to changing the file name.

The setting / image storage unit 51 has a function of creating and saving thumbnails used for initial setting values and a file list displayed by the screen management unit 50. Thumbnails are reduced images used to list files. The setting / image storage unit 51 stores NAS19 setting values such as a MAC address and an IP (Internet Protocol) address specified by the user's operation as initial setting settings. The setting / image storage unit 51 saves the setting values, thumbnails, etc. in response to a storage request for setting values, thumbnails, etc. from the screen management unit 50, and responds to an acquisition request for thumbnails, etc. from the screen management unit 50. Then, the requested thumbnail or the like is read out and provided to the screen management unit 50.

The communication management unit 52 manages the communication status of the communication unit 53 that communicates with NAS 19. For example, when the communication management unit 52 acquires a file list stored in NAS 19, the communication management unit 52 receives a file list acquisition request from the screen management unit 50. Upon receiving the acquisition request, the communication management unit 52 instructs the communication unit 53 to acquire the file list. However, the communication management unit 52 manages the communication status of NAS19 and instructs acquisition when it is in a standby state other than during communication.

The communication unit 53 communicates with the NAS 19 in response to an instruction from the communication management unit 52, and acquires a file list. The communication unit 53 returns the acquired file list to the communication management unit 52 as a communication result.

After receiving the communication result from the communication unit 53, the communication management unit 52 sends a thumbnail creation request to the setting / image storage unit 51, causes the thumbnail to be created, and instructs the screen management unit 50 to send the thumbnail. In response to the instruction, the screen management unit 50 displays the file list saved by NAS 19 as a screen of the file list including thumbnails.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing at the time of initial setting of the dedicated application executed by the PC 14. Here, only the normal processing will be described, and the processing when an error occurs will be omitted. The process shown in FIG. 4 is a process at the time of initial setting performed after installing the dedicated application and before the connection test with NAS19.

The dedicated application is installed on the PC 14 in the form of downloading from a recording medium, a server, or the like. In response to the installation of the dedicated application, the process is started from step 100. In step 101, before performing the communication test with NAS19, the MAC address of NAS19, which is the information necessary for communication with NAS19, is input and stored in the setting / image storage unit 51. In step 102, the IP address of NAS 19 is input and stored in the setting / image storage unit 51. By saving these, the process proceeds to step 103, and the initial setting is completed.

Here, the input method in which the user directly inputs the MAC address or the IP address has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The input method may be a method of displaying a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, or the like on the screen of NAS19 and reading the code to input information necessary for communication. When reading a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, a process of converting the read code is added. As the one-dimensional code, a bar code can be mentioned, and as a two-dimensional code, a QR code (registered trademark) can be mentioned.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing at the time of starting a dedicated application executed by the PC 14. The process is started from step 200 by starting the dedicated application by tapping or clicking it. In step 201, an activation request packet is transmitted to NAS 19 on the premise of communicating with NAS 19.

When the HDD managed by the NAS 19 is not started, the NAS 19 receives a start request packet and executes a process of starting the HDD. On the other hand, NAS19 returns the time for turning off the power of the HDD when the HDD is running. That is, when the HDD is not accessed for a predetermined period, the measurement time when turning off the power of the HDD is returned to the initial value of 0.

In step 202, it is determined whether or not the time for turning off the power of the HDD set in NAS 19 has elapsed. That is, it is determined whether or not the measurement time exceeds the time for turning off the power. If it is determined that the value has been exceeded, the operation to NAS19 may still occur. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 203, and the activation request packet is transmitted. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value is not exceeded, the process proceeds to step 204.

In step 204, it is determined whether or not the dedicated application has been terminated by the user operation. The dedicated application can be terminated by pressing the operation end button or the like. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the operation end button has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has not been pressed, access to NAS19 may occur, so the process returns to step 202. On the other hand, if it is determined that the button has been pressed, access to NAS 19 does not occur, so the process proceeds to step 205 and the process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing after the start of the dedicated application executed by the PC 14. Here, the process of copying a file as a file operation will be described. Since this process is an example, any process may be used as long as it is a process for a file saved in NAS19.

The process is started from step 300, and in step 301, the file list (attribute information) in NAS 19 is acquired. Then, the acquired file list is displayed. Attribute information includes file type, creation / modification date / time, capacity, file name, and the like. In step 302, it is determined whether or not the file has been sent to NAS19 based on the user operation. If no file is sent, it is in a state of waiting for user operation, and the determination process of step 302 is repeated.

When the file is sent, the process proceeds to step 303, and communication processing with NAS 19 is performed. When the NAS 19 is accessed, the measurement time of the time for turning off the power of the HDD is returned to 0.

In step 304, the file is transmitted to NAS19. When NAS19 receives a file, it saves it in the HDD and updates the file list. In step 305, the updated file list is acquired and displayed. Then, the process proceeds to step 306 to end the process of copying the file.

A functional configuration of a control system that controls NAS 19 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The control system may be implemented in NAS 19, or may be composed of one or more devices different from NAS 19. Here, it is assumed that it is implemented in NAS19.

The control system includes a control unit 60, a communication unit 61, a measurement unit 62, and a determination unit 63 as functional units. The measurement unit 62 starts measuring the time in response to the loss of access to the HDD included in the NAS 19. The control unit 60 determines whether or not the time measured by the measurement unit 62 has elapsed, and if the time has elapsed, the power supply to the HDD is stopped.

The communication unit 61 receives a predetermined request from the PC 14. Here, the information processing apparatus will be described as PC14. However, the information processing apparatus is not limited to this, and the information processing apparatus may be any of PC15 to 17, MFP18, and terminals 21 and 22. The determination unit 63 determines whether or not the predetermined request received is an activation request. The start request is transmitted as a start request packet when the PC 14 starts a dedicated application. Further, when the workflow includes the processing of NAS19, the activation request is transmitted as an activation request packet based on the selection operation of the workflow.

The control unit 60 starts supplying power to the HDD when the predetermined request is a start request. The HDD is started by receiving power supply and can be accessed from the outside.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of ON / OFF control of the power supply of the HDD executed by NAS19. The process is started from step 400, and in step 401, it is determined whether or not the activation request packet has been received as an access from the outside. When it is received, the process proceeds to step 402, the power supply to the HDD is started, the power of the HDD is turned on, and the processing necessary for accessing the file in the HDD is performed. In step 403, processing for access is executed.

If the access is not received from the outside in step 401, the process proceeds to step 404 to determine whether or not it is the start time of the internal task. The internal task is a task preset in NAS19, for example, backing up the NAS19 file to the cloud automatically at 24:00. If it is the startup time, the process proceeds to step 405, the power of the HDD is turned on, and the processing of the internal task is executed in step 406. If it is not the start-up time in step 404, the process proceeds directly to step 407.

In step 407, it is determined whether a predetermined period has elapsed since the last access. If it has not elapsed, the process returns to step 401, and if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 408. In step 408, since there is no access until a predetermined period elapses, the power supply to the HDD is stopped and the power of the HDD is turned off. Then, the control is terminated in step 409.

When a predetermined period has elapsed from the last access, NAS19 can prevent an increase in the failure rate of the HDD by securing a time for turning off the power of the HDD and returning the HDD head to the home position for a certain period of time.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control flow from power-off to restoration of the HDD included in NAS19. Control is started from step 500, and in step 501, a predetermined request (packet) is received from PC14, MFP18, or the like. In step 502, it is determined whether or not the predetermined packet is an activation request packet. In the case of a start request packet, the process proceeds to step 503, the power of the HDD is turned on, the operation of the HDD is restarted, and the process ends in step 504. After restarting, the process can be shifted to the process of step 403 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the predetermined packet is not the activation request packet in step 502, the standby state is set and the process returns to step 501. Therefore, the processes of step 501 and step 502 are repeated until the activation request packet is received.

As described above, a start request packet can be sent to NAS19 and started by starting a dedicated application or selecting a workflow from PC14, MFP18, etc., so no intermediary device is required. Electronic devices can be started and used in a short time. In addition, since the power of the HDD is turned off after a predetermined period has elapsed from the last access and the power of the HDD is turned on at the timing when there is an access, the HDD can be rested for a certain period of time, and the failure rate of the HDD is reduced. Can be made to.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the components of the present embodiment may be changed or deleted, or the components of the present embodiment may be used. It can be changed within the range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, such as adding other components, and is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited in any of the embodiments. ..

10 ... Routers 11, 12 ... LAN
13 ... Gateway 14-17 ... PC
18 ... MFP
19 ... NAS
20 ... Network 21, 22 ... Terminal 30 ... CPU
31 ... ROM
32 ... RAM
33 ... HD
34 ... HDD controller 35 ... Display 36 ... External device connection I / F
37 ... Network I / F
38 ... Data bus 39 ... Keyboard 40 ... Pointing device 41 ... DVD-RW drive 42 ... Media I / F
43 ... DVD-RW
44 ... Recording media 50 ... Screen management unit 51 ... Setting / image storage unit 52 ... Communication management unit 53 ... Communication unit 60 ... Control unit 61 ... Communication unit 62 ... Measurement unit 63 ... Judgment unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-115737

Claims (8)

A control device that controls electronic devices connected to a network.
A control means for stopping the power supply to the electronic device when the electronic device is not accessed for a predetermined period of time.
Including a communication means for receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to the network.
When the predetermined request received by the communication means is a start request of the electronic device transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device, the control means starts power supply to the electronic device. ,Control device. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the activation request is transmitted based on the activation of a specific application implemented in the information processing apparatus. The control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the activation request is transmitted in the information processing device based on a workflow selection operation using the electronic device. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the activation request is transmitted as a Wake-on-LAN packet. Including a measuring means for measuring the time when there is no access to the electronic device.
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means returns the time measured by the measuring means to an initial value when the electronic device receives the activation request during activation. A control system that controls electronic devices connected to a network.
A control means for stopping the power supply to the electronic device when the electronic device is not accessed for a predetermined period of time.
Including a communication means for receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to the network.
When the predetermined request received by the communication means is a start request of the electronic device transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device, the control means starts power supply to the electronic device. , Control system. A method of controlling electronic devices connected to a network.
A step of stopping the power supply to the electronic device when the electronic device is not accessed for a predetermined period of time, and
A step of receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to the network, and
A control method comprising a step of initiating power supply to the electronic device when the predetermined request received is a start request of the electronic device transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device. A program that allows a computer to control electronic devices connected to a network.
A step of stopping the power supply to the electronic device when the electronic device is not accessed for a predetermined period of time, and
A step of receiving a predetermined request from an information processing device connected to the network, and
A program for executing a step of starting power supply to the electronic device when the predetermined request received is a start request of the electronic device transmitted in association with a specific operation by the information processing device.

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