JP4821441B2 - Management device, management method, and computer program for managing device monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a management technique for a device monitoring apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for performing a predetermined process with a monitoring function stop of the monitoring apparatus on the monitoring apparatus.

  A network device, such as a network printer, used by connecting to a network such as a local area network is monitored using a monitoring device on the network. The network device transmits attribute information such as the operation state of the network device to the monitoring device either spontaneously or in response to a request from the monitoring device.

  In such a case, for example, in order to prevent the monitoring of the network device from being interrupted when a failure occurs in the monitoring device, a so-called redundant monitoring in which a plurality of monitoring devices are introduced into the network system including the network device. A system for performing the above is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-330132 A JP 2003-51822 A

  In such a network system, there is a case where it is desired to upgrade the version of the monitoring program installed in the monitoring device. During the upgrade process, the monitoring function of the monitoring device stops. Therefore, if multiple monitoring devices are upgraded at the same time, the network device is not monitored at all. there were. On the other hand, if a plurality of monitoring devices are upgraded one by one, the efficiency may deteriorate.

  Note that such a problem is not limited to the upgrade of the monitoring program, and is a problem common to a case where a predetermined process involving the stop of the monitoring function is performed on the monitoring apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently perform a predetermined process with a stop of a monitoring function on a plurality of monitoring devices while suppressing monitoring omissions. .

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a management apparatus that manages a plurality of monitoring apparatuses that perform redundant monitoring on one or a plurality of devices. The management apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a management processing unit, an acquisition unit, and a determination unit. The management processing unit is configured to perform management processing for performing a predetermined process with a stop of a monitoring function of the monitoring device on each of the plurality of monitoring devices, and to set at least one of the monitoring devices as a target of the predetermined processing Run in multiple periods. The acquisition unit acquires, for each device and each monitoring device, a combination of the monitored device and the monitoring device to be monitored. The determination unit determines the number of the plurality of periods and the monitoring device to be a target in each period in consideration of the acquired combination.

  According to the management device according to the first aspect, prior to the management processing, the number of the plurality of periods and the monitoring device to be monitored in each period are considered in combination with the device to be monitored and the monitoring device to be monitored. To decide. Therefore, when the management process is executed in a plurality of periods, it is possible to determine the optimum number of periods and the monitoring device that is the target in that period. As a result, monitoring omission can be suppressed and efficient management processing can be realized.

  In the management apparatus according to the first aspect, when the management process is being performed, the determination may be performed on the first condition that the device that is not monitored by any monitoring apparatus does not occur. By so doing, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of monitoring omissions associated with management processing.

  In the management device according to the first aspect, the determination unit may perform the determination so as to reduce the number of the plurality of periods while satisfying the first condition. By so doing, it is possible to efficiently perform management processing while suppressing the occurrence of monitoring omissions.

  In the management apparatus according to the first aspect, the determination unit determines whether the number of devices monitored by the monitoring apparatus that has completed the predetermined process in the course of the management process while satisfying the first condition. The determination may be made so as to increase at an early stage. In this way, the effectiveness of a predetermined process can be reflected in monitoring of many devices at an early stage.

  In the management device according to the first aspect, the predetermined process may be to upgrade a program that is installed in the monitoring device and realizes at least a part of the functions of the monitoring device. In this way, it is possible to realize monitoring management suppression and efficient management processing in the process of upgrading the version of the program that implements the function of the monitoring device.

  In the management apparatus according to the first aspect, the device may be a printer.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes, for example, as a system including a plurality of monitoring devices and a management device. Furthermore, the present invention can be realized as a method invention such as a management method for managing a plurality of monitoring apparatuses that perform redundant monitoring on one or a plurality of devices. Alternatively, it can be realized in the form of a computer program for constructing such an apparatus, system or method, a recording medium recording the computer program, a data signal including the computer program and embodied in a carrier wave, and the like.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings.

A. Example:
-Network system configuration:
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 1000 includes computers (hereinafter simply referred to as clients) CL1 to CL3 as clients, computers AG1 to AG4 (hereinafter simply referred to as monitoring devices) as monitoring devices, and network devices. Printers PRT1 to PRT8 and a server SV. The clients CL1 to CL3, the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4, and the printers PRT1 to PRT8 are connected to each other via the local area network LAN1. On the other hand, the server SV is connected to another local area network LAN2. The local area network LAN1 is connected to the Internet INT via a firewall FW. The server SV is connected to the local area network LAN2, and the local area network LAN2 is connected to the Internet INT. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the clients CL1 to CL3, the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4, and the printers PRT1 to PRT8, the numerals at the end of the reference numerals are omitted, and the clients CL And a monitoring device AG and a printer PRT.

  The firewall FW is set to discard a connection request to these devices received via the Internet INT in order to prevent devices connected to the local area network LAN1 from being accessed illegally via the Internet INT. .

  The client CL is a known computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage device (ROM, RAM, etc.). The user of the client CL can cause the printer PRT on the local area network LAN1 to execute printing by transmitting a print job from the client CL via the local area network LAN1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the server. The server SV is a known computer and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 210, an internal storage device 220 such as a ROM and a RAM, and an external storage device 280 such as a hard disk, as shown in FIG. . The server SV further includes a display unit 260, an operation unit 270 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a communication interface unit (I / F unit) 290. The communication I / F unit 290 is connected to the local area network LAN 2 and executes communication with other devices on the network, for example, the monitoring device AG via the INT or the like.

  The server SV functions as a management server that manages the operating status of the printers PRT1 to PRT8 connected to the local area network LAN1. The server SV manages the printers PRT1 to PRT8 by receiving the attribute information of the printers PRT1 to PRT8 from the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 connected to the local area network LAN1. The server SV functions as a management server that manages the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4. The management of the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 includes, for example, upgrading a program installed in the monitoring device and realizing at least a part of the functions of the monitoring device.

  Various programs and data are stored in the internal storage device 220 of the server SV. In FIG. 2, the configuration necessary for the processing in this embodiment is selectively illustrated and illustrated in the present specification. The configuration will be described. The internal storage device 220 stores a server program 230 and a configuration record file 250. When the server program 230 is executed by the CPU 210, a function as a management server of the server SV is realized.

  The server program 230 includes a version upgrade processing unit 232, a configuration acquisition unit 234, a version upgrade target determination unit 236, and a monitoring device communication unit 238. The version upgrade processing unit 232 executes version upgrade processing for performing upgrade of the monitoring program of the monitoring device AG on the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4, respectively. The configuration acquisition unit 234 acquires, for each printer PRT and each monitoring device AG, a combination of the monitored printer PRT and the monitoring device to be monitored prior to the upgrade process. Prior to the upgrade process, the upgrade target determination unit 236 executes an upgrade target determination process that determines the order of the upgrade process. The monitoring device communication unit 238 executes communication with the monitoring device AG. The configuration record file 250 records a combination of the above-described monitored printer PRT and the monitored monitoring device.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the monitoring apparatus. The monitoring device AG is a well-known computer, and includes a CPU 110, an internal storage device 120 such as a ROM or a RAM, and an external storage device 180 such as a hard disk, as shown in FIG. The monitoring device AG further includes a display unit 160, an operation unit 170 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a communication interface unit (I / F unit) 190. The communication I / F unit 190 is connected to the local area network LAN1 and executes communication with other devices on the network, for example, the server SV and the printer PRT.

  Various programs and data are stored in the internal storage device 120 of the monitoring device AG. In FIG. 3, the configuration necessary for the processing in this embodiment is selectively illustrated. The structure made will be described. The internal storage device 120 stores a monitoring program 132, a server communication program 134, a monitoring setting file 150, and a collection information file 140.

  By executing the monitoring program 132 by the CPU 110, a printer monitoring function for collecting attribute information from the printer PRT is realized in the monitoring device AG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the monitoring setting file. The monitoring setting file 150 is a file in which information to be referred to when the monitoring program 132 of the monitoring device AG collects attribute information from the printer to be monitored is set. In the monitoring setting file 150, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer ID of the printer to be monitored by the monitoring device AG is recorded in association with the IP address. The monitoring setting file 150 shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the monitoring device AG1, and it can be seen that the monitoring device AG1 monitors the printers PRT1 to PRT5 among the eight printers PRT. Here, each of the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 does not necessarily need to monitor all the printers PRT1 to PRT8, but each of the printers PRT1 to PRT8 is monitored from two or more monitoring devices among the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4. It is preferable that By doing so, redundant monitoring is performed for each of the printers PRT1 to PRT8, and even if any of the monitoring devices fails, it is possible to prevent or suppress monitoring omissions.

  The monitoring program 132 collects attribute information from a printer to be monitored by inquiring the printer's attribute information with a certain periodicity. The inquiry of attribute information is executed in accordance with, for example, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). The monitoring program 132 stores the collected attribute information in the collected information file 140. The collected attribute information includes, for example, consumable information such as the toner remaining amount of the printer, error information indicating a printer error state such as a paper jam, and record information indicating the printer print record such as the number of prints.

  The server communication program 134 executes communication with the server SV. As described above, the firewall FW is installed between the local area network LAN1 to which the monitoring device AG is connected and the Internet INT. For this reason, in order to perform communication between the monitoring device AG and the server SV, it is necessary to establish a connection with the server SV by sending a connection request from the monitoring device AG to the server SV. The communication between the monitoring device AG and the server SV is executed according to, for example, HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing periodic communication between the server and the monitoring device at normal times. This regular communication is performed between each of the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 and the server SV. In FIG. 5, however, in order to avoid complication of the drawing, the communication between the monitoring device AG1 and the server SV, and the monitoring device. The communication between AG2 and server SV is selectively illustrated. As shown in FIG. 5, the server communication program 134 of each monitoring device AG performs regular communication with the server SV at a constant cycle Tc (FIG. 5: a1 and b1). The monitoring device communication unit 238 of the server SV makes a response (periodic response) to the regular communication (FIG. 5: a2 and b2). In regular communication, mainly, attribute information (collected information file 140) collected from the printer PRT by the monitoring device AG is transmitted. Thereby, the server SV can manage each printer PRT as described above. The periodic response is mainly performed in order to confirm that the server SV has received the attribute information from the monitoring device AG.

  The configuration acquisition unit 234 of the server SV recognizes which monitoring device AG is monitoring which printer PRT by the information transmitted from the monitoring device AG, for example, the collected information file 140 or the monitoring setting file 150. it can. That is, the configuration acquisition unit 234 can acquire a combination of the monitored printer PRT and the monitoring device AG to be monitored. The configuration acquisition unit 234 records a combination (monitored-monitored combination) of the monitored printer PRT and the monitored monitoring device AG in the configuration record file 250.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration record file 250. FIG. 6A schematically shows a monitoring-monitored combination. The printer PRT and the monitoring device AG connected by a solid line constitute a monitoring-monitored combination. In FIG. 6A, it can be seen that each printer PRT is redundantly monitored by two monitoring devices AG. FIG. 6B is an example of the configuration record file 250 in which the monitored-monitored combination shown in FIG.

・ Version upgrade process:
A process in which the server SV upgrades the monitoring program 132 installed in each monitoring device AG will be described. First, the administrator of the server SV stores a new version of the monitoring program 132 in the internal storage device 220 or the external storage device 280 of the server SV and instructs execution of the upgrade process. Then, the upgrade target determination process is executed prior to the upgrade process in the server SV.

  The upgrade target determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the upgrade target determination process. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a combination pattern in which the version upgrade is divided into a plurality of periods. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the number of monitoring omissions for each combination pattern. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the number of printers monitored by the monitoring apparatus after the upgrade. The version upgrade process is executed in a plurality of periods. Each of the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 is a target for version upgrade in any of a plurality of periods. The upgrade target determination process is a process for determining the number of a plurality of periods and the monitoring device AG to be a target in each period in consideration of the above-described monitoring-monitored combination.

  When the upgrade target determination process is started, the upgrade target determination unit 236 of the server program 230 first generates a combination pattern that divides the upgrade process into a plurality of periods (step S102). The reason why the upgrade process is performed in a plurality of periods is that when all the monitoring devices AG are upgraded at the same time, the network device is not monitored at all. This is because the printer monitoring function of the monitoring device AG is completely stopped while the version of the monitoring device AG is being upgraded. On the other hand, if the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 are upgraded one by one in four periods, there is no possibility of monitoring omission of each printer PRT, but until all the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 are upgraded. Takes too much time and is inefficient. For this reason, the upgrade target determination unit 236 generates a combination pattern for performing the upgrade in two periods or in three periods.

  The pattern for upgrading four monitoring devices AG divided into two periods includes a pattern A for upgrading three monitoring devices AG in the first period, and one monitoring device AG in the second period, and the first There is a pattern B in which two monitoring devices AG are upgraded in each of the period and the second period. The pattern for upgrading four monitoring devices AG divided into three periods is a pattern in which two monitoring devices AG are upgraded in the first period, and one monitoring device AG is upgraded in the second period and the third period. There is C. At this stage, the execution order of each period is not considered.

  As shown in FIG. 8, four combination patterns A-1 to A-4 can be considered as the combination patterns belonging to the pattern A, and three combination patterns B-1 to B-3 are considered as the combination patterns belonging to the pattern B. The combination patterns belonging to the pattern C are considered to be six combination patterns C-1 to C-6. The upgrade target determination unit 236 generates all these combination patterns.

  Next, the upgrade target determination unit 236 calculates the number of monitoring omissions that occur in each period for each of the generated combination patterns (step S104). FIG. 9 shows the calculation result. For example, in the combination pattern A-1, since the three monitoring devices AG1 to AG3 are subject to version upgrade in the first period, only the remaining monitoring device AG4 can continue monitoring in the first period. Become. Then, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the three printers PRT1 to PRT3 that are not monitored by the monitoring device AG4 are not monitored. On the other hand, in the combination pattern A-1, since one monitoring device AG4 is subject to version upgrade in the second period, the remaining three monitoring devices AG1 to AG3 continue monitoring in the second period. Will do. Then, as will be understood from FIG. 6, since there is no printer PRT that is not monitored by any of the monitoring devices AG1 to AG3, there is no monitoring omission. Therefore, the number of monitoring omissions in the first period of the combination pattern A-1 is 3, and the number of omissions in the second period of the combination pattern A-1 is 0. In this way, the upgrade target determination unit 236 calculates the number of monitoring omissions for all generated combination patterns.

  Next, the upgrade target determination unit 236 determines one combination pattern to be actually used from among the combination patterns generated in step S102 (step S106). Here, the condition for determining one combination pattern is that no monitoring omission occurs. As can be seen from FIG. 9, in the combination pattern C-4, no monitoring omission occurs, so the upgrade target determination unit 236 determines the combination pattern C-4 as the combination pattern to be actually used.

  When the combination pattern to be used is determined, the upgrade target determination unit 236 generates all execution order patterns for the determined combination pattern (step S108). For example, the combination pattern C-4 includes six order patterns C-4-1 to C-4 as shown on the right side of FIG. 10 depending on the order in which the first to third periods are executed. There is -6. The upgrade target determination unit 236 generates all the order patterns.

  Next, the upgrade target determination unit 236 calculates the number of printers PRT monitored by the upgraded monitoring device AG at each stage for all the generated order patterns (step S110). As shown in FIG. 10, for example, a period in which a version upgrade is performed first is period A, a period in which a second version upgrade is performed is period B, and a period in which a version upgrade is performed last is period C. For example, in the order pattern C-4-1, the two monitoring devices AG2 and AG3 are upgraded in the period A. Therefore, the number of printers PRT monitored by the monitoring devices AG2 and AG3 is the number of printers PRT monitored by the upgraded monitoring device AG at the end of period A. In this example, the printers PRT1 to PRT3 and PRT6 to PRT8 among the eight printers PRT are monitored by the monitoring devices AG2 and AG3. Accordingly, in the order pattern C-4-1, the number of printers PRT monitored by the upgraded monitoring device AG at the end stage of the period A is six. In this way, the upgrade target determination unit 236 calculates the number of printers PRT monitored by the upgraded monitoring device AG for all the order patterns.

  Next, the upgrade target determination unit 236 determines one order pattern to be actually used from the order patterns generated in Step S108 (Step S112). Here, the condition for determining one order pattern is that the number of printers PRT monitored by the monitoring device AG that has been upgraded is increased as early as possible. In the example shown in FIG. 10, in the order pattern C-4-1 or C-4-2, when the period A ends, the six printers PRT1 to PRT3 and PRT6 to PRT8, which are more than other order patterns, are upgraded. Is monitored by the monitoring device AG that has been terminated. Therefore, in this example, the upgrade target determination unit 236 determines, in this step, either the order pattern C-4-1 or C-4-2 as the order pattern to be used. When the order pattern to be used is determined, the upgrade target determination unit 236 ends the upgrade target determination process.

  When the order pattern to be used is determined, the upgrade processing unit 232 of the server program 230 executes the upgrade process according to the determined order pattern. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing sequence of the upgrade process. Here, the upgrade process according to the order pattern C-4-1 in FIG. 10 will be described. The order pattern C-4-1 upgrades two monitoring devices AG2 and AG3 in the period A, upgrades one monitoring device AG1 in the period B, and monitors one monitoring device in the period C. This is a pattern for upgrading the version of AG4. In FIG. 11, communication between the monitoring device AG1 and the server SV and communication between the monitoring device AG2 and the server SV are selectively illustrated in order to avoid the complexity of the drawing.

  First, the version upgrade processing unit 232 of the server program 230 starts version upgrade in period A. The upgrade processing unit 232 waits for the regular communication described above from the monitoring device AG2 or the monitoring device AG3 that is the upgrade target in the period A. This is because it is impossible to actively communicate with the monitoring device AG2 or the monitoring device AG3 from the version upgrade processing unit 232 because of the firewall FW between the Internet INT and the local area network LAN1 as described above. .

  When there is periodic communication (for example, FIG. 11: a1) from the monitoring device AG that is the upgrade target in the period A, the upgrade processing unit 232 updates the periodic response to the periodic communication with a version upgrade request (abbreviated as VU request). (For example, FIG. 11: a2). On the other hand, even if there is regular communication (for example, FIG. 11: b01) from the monitoring device AG that is not the upgrade target in the period A, the upgrade processing unit 232 does not include the VU request in the periodic response to the regular communication, A regular response is performed as usual (for example, FIG. 11: b02).

  When the server communication program 134 of the monitoring device AG receives the periodic response including the VU request, the server communication program 134 transmits a download request for requesting the download of the new version of the monitoring program 132 to the server SV (for example, FIG. 11: a3 ). Upon receiving the download request from the monitoring device AG, the upgrade processing unit 232 of the server SV downloads a new version of the monitoring program 132 to the monitoring device AG in response to the download request (for example, FIG. 11: a4). For example, the new version of the monitoring program 132 is downloaded together with the installer as a compressed file according to the ZIP format or the like.

  Receiving the new version of the monitoring program file, the monitoring device AG uses the received file to upgrade the monitoring program 132 (for example, FIG. 11: a5). Execution of version upgrade includes decompression of a program file and installation of a new version of the monitoring program 132. When the upgrade of the monitoring program 132 is completed, the server communication program 134 of the monitoring device AG notifies the server SV of the completion of the upgrade (for example, FIG. 11: a6).

  In this way, when all of the monitoring devices AG that are the upgrade targets in the period A, in the case of the above-described order pattern C-4-1, the upgrade completion notification is received from the monitoring devices AG2 and AG3, The version upgrade processing unit 232 of the server SV ends the period A and starts the period B.

  In the period B, when there is a periodic communication (for example, FIG. 11: b1) from the monitoring device AG that is the upgrade target in the period B, the upgrade processing unit 232 performs a periodic response to the periodic communication. Includes an upgrade request (abbreviated as VU request) (for example, FIG. 11: b2). On the other hand, even if there is regular communication (for example, FIG. 11: a01) from the monitoring device AG that is not the upgrade target in the period B, the upgrade processing unit 232 does not include the VU request in the periodic response to the regular communication, A regular response is performed as usual (for example, FIG. 11: a02).

  Thereafter, the upgrade processing unit 232, the monitoring device AG that is the upgrade target in the period B, and the monitoring device AG1 in the case of the above-described order pattern C-3-1 are similar to those in FIG. 11: a3 to a6 described above. A process (for example, FIG. 11: b3-b6) is performed. As a result, in the monitoring device AG that is the upgrade target in the period B, the upgrade of the monitoring program 132 is executed.

  When the period B ends, the version upgrade processing unit 232 starts the period C. For the monitoring device AG that is the upgrade target in the period C, the monitoring device AG4 in the case of the above-described order pattern C-4-1 The above-described processing is performed in the same manner. The upgrade processing unit 232 ends the upgrade process when the upgrade of the monitoring programs 132 of all the monitoring devices AG1 to AG4 is completed.

  According to the server SV as the management device in the present embodiment described above, a combination pattern without monitoring omission is selected, so that it is possible to suppress occurrence of monitoring omission due to the version upgrade process.

  Further, according to the server SV, if there is no monitoring omission, a plurality of monitoring devices AG are upgraded in the same period. For example, in the above-described example, the monitoring device AG2 and the monitoring device AG3 are upgraded in the same period A. Therefore, the number of periods can be reduced, and the upgrade of all the monitoring devices AG can be completed promptly.

  Further, according to the server SV, the order pattern is selected so that the number of printers PRT monitored by the monitoring device AG that has been upgraded is increased as early as possible. Therefore, the monitoring by the new version of the monitoring program 132 can be performed on many printers PRT as early as possible.

B. Variations:
・ First modification:
In step S104 in the version upgrade target determination process of the above-described embodiment, when there are a plurality of combination patterns with no monitoring omission, it is preferable to select the one with the smaller number of periods. By doing so, the upgrade of all the monitoring devices AG can be completed more quickly. In addition, when there are a plurality of combination patterns with the same number of periods and no monitoring omissions, all the order patterns are generated for each of the plurality of combination patterns (step S108), and the versions for all the order patterns It is preferable to calculate the number of printers PRT monitored by the monitoring device AG that has been uploaded (step S110). In this way, a more optimal order pattern can be determined.
・ Second modification:
In step S104 in the version upgrade target determination process of the above embodiment, if there is no combination pattern without omission of monitoring, the monitoring device AG may be upgraded one by one. Alternatively, up to n units (for example, 2 units) can be allowed to be monitored, and if more than n units need to be monitored, the monitoring device AG can be upgraded one by one. good.
・ Third modification:
In the above embodiment, the process of upgrading the monitoring program 132 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The process is a process for the monitoring apparatus and may be a process that involves stopping the monitoring function of the monitoring apparatus during the process. For example, the process is applied to version upgrade of the server communication program 134 or initialization process of the monitoring apparatus. Can do.

-Fourth modification:
In the above embodiment, the printer PRT is used as the monitored device, but other types of devices may be used. For example, a scanner, a multifunction machine, a facsimile machine, or a copier may be used as the monitored device. Alternatively, network relay devices such as routers and switches may be used as monitored devices.

-5th modification:
In the above embodiment, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example and the modification, Embodiment mentioned above is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and does not limit this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

The schematic block diagram of the network system in an Example. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of a server. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of a monitoring apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of a monitoring setting file. The sequence diagram which shows the regular communication of the server and monitoring apparatus in normal time. The conceptual diagram explaining a structure recording file. The flowchart which shows the process routine of the upgrade object determination process. The figure which shows the combination pattern which divides upgrade into a several period. The figure which shows the number of monitoring omissions for every combination pattern. The figure which shows the number of the printers monitored by the monitoring apparatus after upgrade. The sequence diagram which shows the processing sequence of version upgrade processing.

Explanation of symbols

110 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Internal storage device 132 ... Monitoring program 134 ... Server communication program 140 ... Collected information file 150 ... Monitoring setting file 160 ... Display part 170 ... Operation part 180 ... External storage device 190 ... Communication I / F part 210 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 220 ... Internal storage device 230 ... Server program 232 ... Version upgrade process part 234 ... Configuration acquisition part 236 ... Version upgrade object determination part 238 ... Monitoring apparatus communication part 250 ... Configuration record file 260 ... Display part 270 ... Operation part 280 ... External storage Device 290 ... Communication I / F unit 1000 ... Network system PRT1-PRT8 ... Printer CL1-CL3 ... Client SV ... Server AG1-AG4 ... Monitoring device

Claims (7)

A management device that manages a plurality of monitoring devices configured such that two or more monitoring devices monitor each of m devices (m is an integer of 1 or more) ,
A management process for performing a predetermined process for stopping the monitoring function of the monitoring apparatus for each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses is divided into a plurality of periods in which at least one of the monitoring apparatuses is a target of the predetermined process. A management processing unit to be executed;
For each device and each monitoring device, an acquisition unit that acquires a combination of the monitored device and the monitoring device to be monitored;
A determination unit that determines the number of the plurality of periods and the monitoring device that is a target in each period in consideration of the acquired combination;
Equipped with a,
The determining unit is configured such that, when the management process is being performed, the number of the devices that are not monitored by any of the monitoring devices is n (n is an integer of 0 or more and (m−1) or less), and A management apparatus that performs the determination so as to reduce the number of the plurality of periods . The management device according to claim 1,
The determination unit is a management apparatus that performs the determination so that the device that is not monitored by any monitoring apparatus does not occur when the management process is performed. The management device according to claim 2,
The determination unit in the course of pre-Symbol management processing, the as the number of the devices to be monitored to a predetermined processing completion surveillance device is increased at an early stage, the management apparatus performs the determination. In the management apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The predetermined device is a management device that is installed in the monitoring device and upgrades a program that realizes at least a part of the functions of the monitoring device. In the management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The management device is a printer. A management method for managing a plurality of monitoring devices configured such that two or more monitoring devices monitor each of m devices (m is an integer of 1 or more) ,
A management process for performing a predetermined process for stopping the monitoring function of the monitoring apparatus for each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses is divided into a plurality of periods in which at least one of the monitoring apparatuses is a target of the predetermined process. Run,
Prior to the management process, for each device and each monitoring device, obtain a combination of the monitored device and the monitoring device to be monitored,
Prior to the management process, the number of the plurality of periods and the monitoring device to be targeted in each period are determined in consideration of the acquired combination ,
In the determination, when the management process is performed, the number of devices that are not monitored by any monitoring device is n (n is an integer of 0 to (m−1)), and A management method performed to reduce the number of the plurality of periods . A computer program for managing a plurality of monitoring devices configured such that two or more monitoring devices monitor each of m devices (m is an integer of 1 or more) ,
A management process for performing a predetermined process for stopping the monitoring function of the monitoring apparatus for each of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses is divided into a plurality of periods in which at least one of the monitoring apparatuses is a target of the predetermined process. A first function to perform;
Prior to the management process, for each device and each monitoring device, a second function for acquiring a combination of a monitored device and a monitoring device to be monitored;
Prior to the management process, a third function of determining the number of the plurality of periods and the monitoring device to be targeted in each period in consideration of the acquired combination;
Is realized on a computer ,
In the third function, when the management process is performed, the number of the devices that are not monitored by any of the monitoring devices is n (n is an integer of 0 to (m−1)). And the computer program which is a function determined so that the number of these several periods may be reduced .

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