JP4096714B2 - Communication confirmation system, managed device, management server, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication confirmation system, a management target device, a management server, and a program in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of management target devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in a so-called intranet environment, various devices such as copiers, printers, and scanners are connected to a network such as a LAN, and further connected to an external management server via the Internet. A network system to perform is being studied.
[0003]
In such a network system, for example, various kinds of management information such as a paper jam of a copying machine, usage frequency, consumables information (toner exhaustion, etc.) are transmitted to the management server, and are collectively managed by the management server. For example, it is expected to provide a more appropriate service to the user of the device, for example, by detecting in advance a device with a high level of service or by efficiently performing a business trip business by a service person.
[0004]
When various management information is transmitted from various devices to the management server, for example, a protocol such as HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) can be used. As a method of confirming whether or not information is properly transmitted to the management server using such a protocol, a test transmission from each device to the management server or a test transmission from the management server to each device is considered. It is done.
[0005]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Mizuno, Abe, Asano, “Digital MFP (MFP) Software”, Sharp Technical Journal, April 2000, No. 76, p. 63-68
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, in the intranet environment as described above, new devices are frequently added and connected, for example, by newly introducing a printer. In such a case, when communication confirmation is performed from a new device, it is preferable to perform test transmission from the newly connected device (hereinafter simply referred to as “new device”) to the management server.
[0007]
However, if the management information is sent by sending an e-mail using the SMTP protocol, or if the e-mail address is set incorrectly on the new device side, the information is appropriately stored on the new device side. The management server side cannot receive the management information even though it is recognized as being transmitted, and has a problem that it cannot be recognized that a new device is connected.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a communication confirmation system and program that can easily detect a device in which a problem occurs in the communication state with the management server. It is intended to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a communication confirmation system according to the present invention is a communication confirmation system in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network. The managed device includes a managed device detection unit that detects other managed devices and the management server. Communication confirmation instruction to send a communication confirmation command to instruct other managed devices to confirm communication When the command is received, for other managed devices Confirm communication A communication confirmation command transmitting means for transmitting a command, and the other management target device Communication check Communication confirmation means for confirming communication to the management server when receiving a command, the management server for one of the managed devices, Communication confirmation instruction indicating that a communication confirmation instruction for instructing other managed devices to confirm communication should be sent A communication confirmation instruction command transmission means for transmitting an instruction, and a communication confirmation success device detection means for detecting a device in which communication confirmation has succeeded among the other devices to be managed, the communication confirmation system further comprising: It includes a comparison means for comparing the list of devices detected by the management target device detection means with the list of devices detected by the communication confirmation success device detection means.
[0010]
In this configuration, it is possible to obtain a list of the management target devices that can be detected by the management target device detection unit, and for the detected management target devices. Communication check The order is sent Communication check The managed device that has received the command confirms communication with the management server. On the management server side, it is possible to obtain a list of devices that have been successfully confirmed for communication, so by comparing with the list of managed devices, devices that have not been successfully confirmed for communication among the managed devices. Can be easily detected. The comparison unit may be provided in the management server or may be provided in the management target device. This is because the comparison can be performed on either side if the device lists are transmitted and received with each other.
[0011]
The communication confirmation unit preferably performs communication confirmation using the same protocol as that used when transmitting information to the management server when using the normal network system. This is because it can be confirmed more reliably whether or not the managed device is in a state in which information can be appropriately transmitted to the management server.
[0012]
The managed device according to the present invention is a managed device in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network. When a managed device detection unit for detecting a managed device and a communication confirmation instruction command indicating that a communication confirmation command for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation should be transmitted from the management server A communication confirmation command transmitting means for transmitting the communication confirmation command to another managed device, and when the communication confirmation command is received from another managed device. ,in front A communication confirmation means for confirming communication with the management server; A comparison unit that compares the list of devices detected by the managed device detection unit with the list of devices that have been successfully confirmed when receiving the list of devices that have been successfully confirmed from the management server. And output means for outputting a comparison result by the comparison means; It is characterized by having.
[0013]
Ma The management server according to the present invention is a management server in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of management target devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network. A communication confirmation instruction command transmitting means for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command indicating that a communication confirmation instruction for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation is transmitted to one of the devices, and the communication confirmation instruction command Communication confirmation receiving means for receiving a communication confirmation transmitted from the other managed device, and a communication confirmation among the other managed devices from the result received by the communication confirmation receiving means. A communication confirmation success device detecting means for detecting a device that succeeds, and Received a communication confirmation instruction command One of the managed devices Generated and sent by executing the managed device detection process that detects other managed devices Comparing means for comparing the list of devices to be managed with the list of devices detected by the successful communication confirmation device detecting means is provided.
[0014]
Ma The program according to the present invention is a program that operates on a management server in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network, A communication confirmation instruction command transmission process for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command to the effect that one of the management target devices should transmit a communication confirmation command to instruct other devices to perform communication confirmation; As a result of transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command, a communication confirmation succeeding in detecting a device in which communication confirmation has succeeded among the other managed devices from the result of receiving a communication confirmation transmitted from the other managed device Device detection processing, and Received a communication confirmation instruction command One of the managed devices Generated and sent by executing the managed device detection process that detects other managed devices The management server is caused to execute a process including a list of managed devices and a comparison process for comparing the list of devices detected by the communication confirmation success device detection process.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a communication confirmation system and the like according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) Overall configuration of network system
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a network system in which a communication confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention operates.
[0016]
As shown in the figure, the network system includes a service center 200 provided with a management server 210 and the like, and a user site 300 in which various devices such as the device A 310 are connected to the LAN 400 and used via the Internet 100. Connected.
The service center 200 is further provided with a firewall 220 and a mail server 230, and the user site 300 is also provided with a firewall 360 and a mail server 370. Specific examples of each device provided in the user site 300 include devices such as image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, image readers, and fax machines. In the present embodiment, devices A310 to D340 are devices that are managed in the network system of the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “managed devices”), and device E350 is managed. The description will be made assuming that the device is not a target (hereinafter, referred to as “unmanaged device”). In the drawing, devices such as routers and hubs that are naturally provided in a network system that performs communication via the Internet are not specifically shown.
[0017]
In the present embodiment, in a normal state, various management information (such as SMTP, POP3, etc.) is used from each device provided in the user site 300 using the above-described protocol such as HTTP, FTP, or e-mail, that is, SMTP, POP3. Accounting information, count information, status information, consumable information, etc.) can be transmitted to the management server 210. The transmitted management information can be referred to by an operator of the service center 200, or distributed to other departments, and can be used for services to users.
[0018]
(2) Configuration of managed devices
Next, the configuration of the management target device provided in the user site 300 will be described. In the network system of the present embodiment, it is possible to manage devices for a plurality of user sites. Here, the user site 300 will be described as an example, and the device A (this embodiment) will be described as a management target device. In this embodiment, it is assumed that it is a copying machine.) 310 will be described as an example. In the following description, a configuration for realizing the communication confirmation system according to the present embodiment will be described in particular, and detailed description of, for example, an image forming unit and an image reading unit provided in the copying machine will be omitted. That is, the communication confirmation system according to the present embodiment can be applied to various devices such as other printers and scanners by providing the same configuration as that described below.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a part related to the present embodiment in the device A310. As shown in the figure, the device A 310 includes a communication IF (interface) unit 311 and a control unit 312. The communication IF unit 311 is an interface part for communicating with the outside via the LAN 400, and specifically, a NIC (network interface card) can be used. The control unit 312 is configured mainly with a CPU, and although not particularly illustrated, when a nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM in which a program (so-called firmware) operating on the CPU is stored, firmware is actually executed. In addition to loading, a storage device such as SRAM used as a work area is connected.
[0020]
Functionally, the control unit 312 of the present embodiment functionally includes a signal analysis unit 3121, a transmission control unit 3122, a device detection control unit 3123, a device detection unit 3124, a private MIB 3125, a communication confirmation unit 3125, a device comparison unit 3126, and an output. Part 3127 is provided.
The signal analysis unit 3121 analyzes the content of a signal transmitted from the outside via the LAN 400 as necessary. The transmission control unit 3122 performs transmission control to the outside via the communication IF unit 311.
[0021]
In the present embodiment, the device detection control unit 3123 transmits a command (hereinafter referred to as “communication confirmation command”) for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation from the management server 210. Is transmitted (hereinafter referred to as “communication confirmation instruction command”), a command for detecting another device to be managed (hereinafter referred to as “device detection command”) is transmitted. On the other hand, when the device detection command is transmitted from another managed device, an identifier (MAC address, IP address, etc.) of the managed device may be used in response to the command. Send.
[0022]
The identifier as the management target device can be stored in the private MIB 3125. In this case, an SNMP Get-Request command described later can be used as the device detection command. Note that the private MIB 3125 also stores information indicating whether or not the device is a management target. If the information indicates that the device is a management target, the private MIB 3125 is managed. A process for obtaining the identifier of the target device can be considered. However, when the identifier is not stored in the private MIB, it is also possible to acquire the MAC address as an identifier from the item “IfPhysAddress” defined in MIB2 defined in RFC (Request For Comment) 1213, for example.
[0023]
When the identifier as a response to the device detection command as described above is transmitted, the device detection unit 3124 sequentially transmits the detected management target device identifier to the device comparison unit 3127.
The private MIB 3125 stores information indicating whether the device is a management target, information indicating whether communication confirmation should be performed, an identifier of the management target device, and the like. MIB means management information base and refers to an area in which information that can be referred to by other devices using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is stored. In this embodiment, a private MIB is used, but other areas can also be used.
[0024]
The communication confirmation unit 3126 confirms communication with the management server 210 when a communication confirmation command is transmitted from another managed device. Details of the communication confirmation will be described later. The device comparison unit 3127 includes storage means such as a memory (not shown). The device comparison unit 3127 transmits a management target device identifier transmitted from the device detection unit 31232 (hereinafter, a list of management target devices detected in this manner is “managed”. When a communication confirmation successful device list (to be described later) is transmitted from the management server 210, the management target device list is compared with the communication confirmation successful device list. The communication confirmation successful device list includes identifiers of devices that have been successfully confirmed for communication with the management server 210 among the management target devices connected to the LAN 400. Among these devices, devices that have not been successfully confirmed for communication (devices that are not properly communicated with the management server 210) can be easily detected.
[0025]
(3) Configuration of the management server 210
Next, the configuration of the management server 210 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the management server 210. As shown in the figure, the management server also includes a communication IF unit 211 and a control unit 212. Since the communication IF unit 211 is the same as the communication IF unit 311 of the device A 320, description thereof is omitted. The control unit 212 is configured with a CPU at the center, and includes an HDD (hard disk drive) in which application programs for realizing the functions of the management server 210 of the present embodiment are stored, various storage devices (not shown) such as a memory, and the like. Is connected.
[0026]
Functionally, the control unit 212 includes a signal analysis unit 2121, a transmission control unit 2122, a mode switching unit 2123, a communication confirmation command transmission unit 2124, a test success device detection unit 2125, and a device detection control unit 2126.
The signal analysis unit 2121 analyzes the content of the signal transmitted from the outside via the Internet 100 as necessary, and sends it to the communication confirmation command transmission unit 2124 and the test success device detection unit 2125. The transmission control unit 2122 performs transmission control to the outside via the communication IF unit 211.
[0027]
The mode switching unit 2123 switches from the normal mode to a “communication confirmation mode” to be described later. The communication confirmation instruction command transmission unit 2124 transmits the communication confirmation instruction command to the device when there is an access from an external management target device when the mode switching unit 2123 is in the communication confirmation mode. .
The successful test device detection unit 2125 appropriately detects the identifier of the device that has received the communication confirmation when there is a communication confirmation from an external management target device as a result of transmitting the communication confirmation instruction command. More specifically, when a communication confirmation is received from the managed device between the time when the communication confirmation instruction command is transmitted and the time measurement by the timer 2127 ends, the identifiers of the managed devices are sequentially stored. . As a result, the communication confirmation success device list can be acquired, and the communication confirmation success device list is sent to the device list transmission unit 2126.
[0028]
The device list transmission unit 2126 transmits the communication confirmation successful device list to the management target device that has transmitted the communication confirmation instruction command before the time measurement is completed by the timer 2127.
(4) Operation of communication confirmation system
Next, operations of the management server 210 and the management target device in the communication confirmation system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 illustrates a specific operation in the case of performing processing for confirming whether communication is properly performed between the management server 210 and each managed device (hereinafter referred to as “communication confirmation processing”). FIG.
[0029]
The communication confirmation process described below is executed when the state of the management server 210 is “communication confirmation mode”. The “communication confirmation mode” in the present embodiment refers to an access (specifically, transmission of management information) to the management server 210 from one of the managed devices connected to the LAN 400, for example. In this case, a communication confirmation instruction command is transmitted from the management server 210 to the device.
[0030]
The timing at which the management server 210 is set to the “communication confirmation execution mode” can be arbitrarily defined according to the operation of the system. For example, it is possible to change the mode on a regular basis every morning or change the mode once a month. In addition to the general timing, various settings such as switching by an operator's operation and automatic switching when there is a transmission from a device within a predetermined time range are possible. An operator can switch over the unit 2123. When not in the communication confirmation mode, the management server 210 does not perform processing other than processing that should normally be performed, such as reception of management information, even when there is an access from a management target device.
[0031]
In the following description, a case where management information is first transmitted from the device A 310 to the management server 210 after the management server 210 enters the communication confirmation execution mode will be described as an example. That is, if management information is transmitted from the device A310 to the management server 210 (C01), the management server 210 transmits the communication confirmation instruction command to the device A310 (C02). In this case, at least the device A 310 needs to be able to communicate with the management server 210 appropriately. However, the management server 210 holds the IP address of at least one device (for example, device A 310), and transmits a communication confirmation instruction command to the device from the management server 210 side. Therefore, the communication process of C01 is not essential.
[0032]
Upon receiving the communication confirmation instruction command, the device A 310 transmits the device detection command to other devices connected to the LAN 400 (C03). Hereinafter, a generic term of “device B etc. 390” is used as a general term for other devices connected to the LAN 400 (in this case, the device E350 is also a non-management target device in addition to the management target devices such as the device B320 and the device C330). This inquiry can be made by broadcasting an SNMP datagram from the device A 310 to the device B 390, etc., but the specific method is not limited to this.
[0033]
As described above, a device that is a management target of the communication confirmation system according to the present embodiment holds information indicating whether or not the device is a management target in the internal private MIB 3125. The device detection command in the form is performed by inquiring whether or not the device is a management target by using an SNMP Get-Request command.
[0034]
The management target device responds to the inquiry from the device A 310 that it is the management target (C04). The device E, which is a non-management target device, makes a response indicating that it is not a management target or does not respond.
In the form of a non-managed device, the MIB indicating that it is a management target is not held, the setting is made that the MIB is held but not managed, or the SNMP agent It may not have a function. If the SNMP agent function is not provided, SNMP communication does not succeed and a timeout occurs (no response). If the MIB is not held, a response that “the designated MIB does not exist” is returned. The side that has received the response can determine that it is not a management target. If the setting is made that the MIB is held but not managed, a response to that effect is sent.
[0035]
The device A 310 that has received a response from each managed device can acquire a list of managed devices among the devices connected to the LAN 400.
Next, the device A 310 transmits a communication confirmation command to the device B 390 (C05). In this embodiment, the communication confirmation command is configured to change the setting of the private MIB 3125 provided in each managed device using the SNMP set-request command (for example, initially set to “0”). The value of the predetermined area of the MIB is changed to “1”). When the program running on each device detects this MIB setting change, communication confirmation to the management server 210 can be executed.
[0036]
In this embodiment, since the SNMP datagram is broadcasted from the device A 310 as the communication confirmation command, the communication confirmation execution command is also transmitted to the device E which is not subject to management in terms of form. The response of the target device is the same as described above. It is also possible to acquire the IP address of the management target device when acquiring the previous device list, and to transmit a communication confirmation execution command only to the management target device here.
[0037]
Note that the communication confirmation of the present embodiment is performed using the same protocol as that used for transmission of normal management information. In other words, a device that normally performs management information by e-mail also performs communication confirmation using e-mail. A device using HTTP performs communication confirmation using HTTP. This is because the communication confirmation according to the present embodiment focuses on confirming whether the management information can be properly transmitted. However, if the communication confirmation is performed using an arbitrary protocol and the communication confirmation is successful, it is possible to perform setting so that the management information is transmitted using the protocol for which the communication has been confirmed.
[0038]
The information transmitted as the communication confirmation includes information indicating that it is connected to the same environment as the device A310, for example, the identifier of the device A310 (the method of including the identifier of the device A310 in this way (It is also possible to use the network information such as the IP address and the subnet mask, or to allocate them separately and store them in an area such as MIB in advance.) The management server 210 that has received the communication confirmation (C06) from each device can acquire a communication confirmation successful device list. In the present embodiment, a communication confirmation success device list is transmitted from the management server 210 to the device A 320 (C07). At this time, the device A 320 acquires both the management target device list and the communication confirmation success device list, and by comparing both, it is possible to easily detect a device that is not properly communicating. it can.
[0039]
(5) Management server processing
Next, processing contents of a program installed on the management server 210 side in the communication confirmation system of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a program (subroutine related to the present embodiment) executed by the management server 210. Note that the example shown in the figure is a portion related to the present embodiment in the processing executed in the management server 210, and description of other processing is omitted.
[0040]
The communication confirmation instruction command transmission process shown in FIG. 5 starts when the management server 210 enters the communication confirmation mode. When this routine starts, the management server 210 waits for management information transmission from the management target device (S101). When the management information is received (S101: Yes), a communication confirmation instruction command is transmitted to the management target device that has transmitted the management information (S102). When the communication confirmation instruction command is transmitted as described above, communication confirmation is performed from each managed device. Therefore, when the communication confirmation is received (S103: Yes), the identifier of the device included in the communication confirmation is changed. The data are sequentially stored (S104), they are performed until a predetermined time elapses, and the actual communication confirmation process is terminated (S105: Yes). A list of successful communication confirmation devices is transmitted to the management target device that first transmitted the management information after a predetermined time has elapsed (S106), and the process returns to the main routine (not shown).
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the communication confirmation successful device list is transmitted after a certain period of time, but the communication confirmation mode state is ended by the operation of the operator of the service center 200 and the communication confirmation successful device list is transmitted. May be.
(6) Process contents of managed device
Next, processing contents of a program that operates on the management target device side in the communication confirmation system according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0042]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the communication confirmation process executed in the management target device. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 6 is a single flowchart for convenience of explanation, but it is needless to say that it can be divided into a plurality of modules. That is, the process can be divided into a module that performs transmission processing of a communication confirmation command using reception of a communication confirmation instruction command as a trigger, a module that performs communication confirmation using reception of a communication confirmation command as a trigger, and the like. .
[0043]
This routine is called periodically from a main routine (not shown). First, it is determined whether or not a communication confirmation instruction command is first received (S201). If not received (S201: No), the process proceeds to step S204. If it has been received (S201: Yes), the process proceeds to the subsequent processing, and in this embodiment, a list of managed devices connected to the LAN 400 is acquired (S202). Then, a communication confirmation command is transmitted (S203).
[0044]
On the other hand, since this device may be a side that receives a communication confirmation command, it is next determined whether or not a communication confirmation command has been received (S204), and if received (S204: Yes), the management server A communication confirmation is transmitted to 210 (S205). Further, when the communication confirmation successful device list is transmitted (S206: Yes), in this embodiment, the communication confirmation instruction command is received, and the managed device list is held. Then, a comparison with the communication confirmation success device list is performed (S207), and the comparison result is output (S208). The output of this result may be shown on a display screen, for example, or various methods such as printing or sending by e-mail are possible. From the output information, it is possible to easily determine a device for which communication settings are not properly performed.
[0045]
The program for realizing the communication confirmation system according to the present invention includes, for example, a magnetic disk such as a magnetic tape and a flexible disk, an optical recording medium such as a DVD, CD-ROM, CD-R, MO, and PD, and Smart Media (registered trademark). ), And can be recorded on various computer-readable recording media such as a flash memory recording medium such as COMPACTFLASH (registered trademark), and may be produced, transferred, etc. in the form of the recording medium. The program may be transmitted and supplied via various wired and wireless networks including the Internet, broadcasting, telecommunication lines, satellite communications, etc. in the form of programs.
[0046]
In addition, the program according to the present invention does not need to include all modules for causing the computer to execute the processing described above. For example, a communication program, a program included in an operating system (OS), and the like are separately provided. You may make it make a computer perform each process of this invention using the various general purpose programs which can be installed in various devices, such as a processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is not always necessary to record all the modules on the recording medium of the present invention, and it is not always necessary to transmit all the modules. Further, there are cases where predetermined processing can be executed using dedicated hardware.
[0047]
<Modification>
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the content of the present invention is not limited to the specific examples shown in the above embodiments. For example, the following modifications are possible. Can think.
(1) In other words, in the above embodiment, the management server 210 transmits a communication confirmation successful device list to the device A 320 and compares it on the device A 320 side. The comparison with the device list may be performed on the management server 210 side. That is, the management target device side may transmit the management target device list to the management server 210, and the management server 210 side may perform comparison with the communication confirmation successful device list. The result of the comparison may be used in the service center 200, or may be transmitted to the management target device, and for example, a warning may be output on the user site side.
[0048]
(2) In the above embodiment, when the management target device receives the communication confirmation instruction command from the management server 210, the management target device connected to the LAN 400 is detected (C03 in FIG. 4). The device list can be acquired periodically, for example, regardless of the transmission of the command from the management server 210 or the like.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the communication confirmation system according to the present invention, since it includes means for comparing the management target device list with the communication confirmation success device list, for example, new devices are frequently connected to the intranet. Even in this case, it is possible to easily detect a device that is not properly communicating with the management server.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a portion related to the present embodiment in a management target device.
3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a management server 210. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a specific operation when communication confirmation processing is performed between the management server 210 and each management target device.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing contents of a program executed by the management server 210;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a communication confirmation process executed in the management target device.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Internet
200 Service Center
210 Management server
220 Firewall
230 Mail server
300 user sites
310 Device A
320 Device B
330 Device C
340 Device D
350 Device E
360 firewall
360 mail server
400 LAN

Claims (11)

A communication confirmation system in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network,
The managed device is:
Managed device detection means for detecting other managed devices;
When receiving a communication confirmation instruction command indicating that a communication confirmation instruction for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation is received from the management server, the communication to the other managed devices is performed. A communication confirmation command transmission means for transmitting a confirmation command;
Communication confirmation means for confirming communication to the management server when the communication confirmation command is received from another managed device;
The management server
A communication confirmation instruction command transmission means for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command to the effect that one of the management target devices should be transmitted to another management target device to instruct communication confirmation;
A communication confirmation success device detecting means for detecting a device in which communication confirmation is successful among the other managed devices;
The communication confirmation system further includes:
A communication confirmation system, comprising: a comparison unit that compares a list of devices detected by the management target device detection unit with a list of devices detected by the communication confirmation success device detection unit. The communication confirmation means includes
The communication confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein communication confirmation is performed using the same protocol as that used when transmitting information to the management server when using the normal network system. The comparison means is provided in the managed device,
The managed device further includes:
The communication confirmation system according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting a comparison result by the comparison means. The communication confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the comparison unit is provided in the management server. A managed device in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network,
Managed device detection means for detecting other managed devices;
When receiving a communication confirmation instruction command indicating that a communication confirmation instruction for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation is received from the management server, the communication to the other managed devices is performed. A communication confirmation command transmission means for transmitting a confirmation command;
Communication confirmation means for confirming communication to the management server when the communication confirmation command is received from another managed device;
Comparing means for comparing a list of devices detected by the managed device detecting means with a list of devices for which the communication confirmation was successful when receiving a list of devices for which the communication confirmation was successful from the management server; ,
An output unit that outputs a comparison result by the comparison unit. The communication confirmation means includes
6. The management target according to claim 5, wherein the communication confirmation to the management server is performed using the same protocol as that used when transmitting information to the management server during normal use of the network system. device. A management server in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network,
A communication confirmation instruction command transmission means for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command to the effect that one of the management target devices should be transmitted to another management target device to instruct communication confirmation;
As a result of transmitting the communication confirmation instruction command, communication confirmation receiving means for receiving a communication confirmation transmitted from the other managed device;
From the result received by the communication confirmation receiving means, among the other managed devices, a communication confirmation successful device detection means for detecting a device for which communication confirmation has succeeded;
A list of managed devices generated and transmitted by executing a managed device detection process for detecting another managed device by one of the managed devices that received the communication confirmation instruction command, and the communication confirmation A management server comprising comparison means for comparing the list of devices detected by the successful device detection means. A program that operates on a management server in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network,
A communication confirmation instruction command transmission process for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command to the effect that one of the management target devices should transmit a communication confirmation command to instruct other managed devices to perform communication confirmation;
As a result of transmitting the communication confirmation instruction command, a communication confirmation for detecting a device in which the communication confirmation is successful among the other managed devices from the result of receiving the communication confirmation transmitted from the other managed device. Successful device detection process,
A list of managed devices generated and transmitted by executing a managed device detection process for detecting another managed device by one of the managed devices that received the communication confirmation instruction command, and the communication confirmation A program that causes the management server to execute a process including a comparison process that compares a list of devices detected by a successful device detection process. A communication confirmation method executed in a network system in which a management server and a plurality of managed devices that transmit information to the management server are connected via a network,
Depending on the managed device,
A managed device detection step for detecting other managed devices;
When receiving a communication confirmation instruction command indicating that a communication confirmation instruction for instructing other managed devices to perform communication confirmation is received from the management server, the communication to the other managed devices is performed. A communication confirmation command sending step for sending a confirmation command;
When receiving the communication confirmation command from another managed device, execute a communication confirmation step for confirming communication to the management server,
By the management server,
A communication confirmation instruction command transmission step for transmitting a communication confirmation instruction command to the effect that one of the management target devices should transmit a communication confirmation instruction to instruct other devices to perform communication confirmation;
A communication confirmation success device detection step for detecting a device in which communication confirmation is successful among the other managed devices ,
Performing a device list transmission step of transmitting a list of devices detected by the communication confirmation success device detection step to the management target device ;
Depending on the managed device,
A communication confirmation method, comprising: performing a comparison step of comparing a list of devices detected by the management target device detection step with a list of devices transmitted from the management server by the device list transmission step . In the communication confirmation step,
The communication confirmation according to claim 9, wherein the communication confirmation is performed using the same protocol as that used when the managed device transmits information to the management server during normal use of the network system. Method. Depending on the managed device,
The communication confirmation method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein an output step of outputting a comparison result in the comparison step is executed.

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