JP4962595B2 - Information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication system that can control one network printer from a plurality of client terminals by connecting a network printer and a plurality of client terminals via a network has been used.

  In such a communication system, in order for a client terminal to use a network printer, it is necessary to install a network printer driver on the client terminal. When this driver is installed, various network settings such as the IP address of the network printer are manually input to the client terminal. That is, each client terminal stores the network settings of the network printer.

  Therefore, when the IP address of the network printer is changed for some reason while the use is continued, in addition to changing the setting of the IP address in the network printer, each client terminal also stores it in each client terminal. It is necessary to change the network settings of the network printer. Such an IP address changing operation has been manually performed by, for example, a network administrator. Therefore, the larger the number of client terminals, the greater the work load on the network administrator.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a mail address of each client terminal is registered in advance in a network printer, and a system configured to transmit setting information regarding a print protocol by e-mail from the network printer to each client terminal. Is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-280212

  However, in the above-described technology, for each of a plurality of client PCs connected to the network, a mail address has to be registered in the network printer, and when the number of client PCs is large, the effort is great. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system and device that can reduce the operation time of a user or a network administrator.

In order to achieve this object, the program according to claim 1 is present on the network, the first storage means for identifying the device itself on the network and storing unique information for performing communication on the network. Second storage means for storing one network setting assigned to one device and an executable application in association with each other, and unique information identical to the unique information stored in the first storage means Receiving means for receiving information transmitted on the network from another apparatus on the network by the used communication; and the receiving means for receiving update information including reassignment of the network setting and network setting of the one device. If received, one network stored in the second storage means in association with the application An information processing program that can be read and executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus, comprising: an update unit that is a unit that updates a network setting of the one device included in the update information, the first storage unit and specific information but which stores, and a self information identifying the own device to a different information from the unique information of the first memory means stores said second storage means stores a unique information transmission processing execution means for executing the specific information transmission process of transmitting on the network by communication using an network configuration that, the unique information transmission process by specific information and its own transmitted on said network First storage control means for associating device information with one network setting used for the unique information transmission processing and storing it in a third storage means; After the unique information is stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means is compared with the unique information stored in the third storage means, and the first information is stored in the first storage means. If the unique information stored in the storage means is different from the unique information stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means Second unique information transmission that transmits to the network by communication using one network setting stored in the third storage means and the own device information stored in the third storage means Used for the second unique information transmission processing execution means, the unique information transmitted on the network by the second unique information transmission process, and the own device information and the second unique information transmission process. One network setting It is an information processing program that causes the computer to function as second storage control means to be added and stored in the third storage means .

  According to the program of claim 1, on the condition that the network setting of the device is changed, change information for reflecting the change in the network setting stored in the information processing apparatus is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. . Therefore, on the information processing apparatus side, the change information can be used to follow the change of the network setting of the device.

  Here, the “network setting” associated with the device is a setting used for communication with the device. As a specific example, for example, an IP address or a node name assigned to the device, a URL (Uniform) resource locator). The MAC address is also included in an example of “network setting”. When the network interface provided in the device is exchanged, the MAC address assigned to the device is changed, so that the present invention can be applied.

  As a further specific example of the “network setting” associated with the device, for example, an encryption key used for encrypting communication between the device and the information processing apparatus can be cited.

  Further, when the first transmission means attaches the change information to the e-mail and transmits it to the e-mail address included in the identification information, the information processing apparatus is temporarily turned off, such as being powered off or offline. Even when the communication is impossible, the information processing apparatus can reliably receive the change information.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment which is an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 includes a plurality of personal computers 10 (hereinafter referred to as PCs 10) and a multi-function peripheral device 30 (hereinafter referred to as MFP 30) as a local area network 50 (hereinafter referred to as LAN 50). It is configured by being connected via a).

  In particular, the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the e-mail address and computer name of the PC 10 are registered in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30 on the condition that the driver for controlling the MFP 30 is installed in the PC 10. It is a system that can reduce the time and effort of the user and the network administrator.

In the information processing system 1, an electronic mail address (hereinafter referred to as a mail address) is set for each PC 10. On the other hand, the MFP 30 is assigned (associated) with network settings for specifying the device, such as an IP address and a node name. A driver 142 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the MFP 30 is installed in the PC 10, and a network setting 142a (see FIG. 2) of the MFP 30 is stored as the setting of the driver 142. Then, the PC 10 establishes communication with the MFP 30 using the network setting 142a, and controls the MFP 30 from the PC 10. On the other hand, the MFP 30 executes various functions such as print execution and image reading according to control from the PC 10.

  That is, the network setting assigned to the MFP 30 is stored in the MFP 30 itself and also in the PC 10 in which the driver 142 is installed. In the following description, in order to distinguish the two in an easy-to-understand manner. The network settings stored in the MFP 30 itself are referred to as “network settings of the MFP 30”, and the network settings of the MFP 30 stored in the PC 10 are referred to as “network settings of the driver 142”.

  FIG. 1A is a diagram schematically illustrating the information processing system 1 and is a diagram illustrating a state in which the installer 151 is inserted into one CD drive of the PC 10 constituting the information processing system 1. is there. The installer 151 is an installer CD for installing the driver 142 for controlling the MFP 30 in the PC 10. It is assumed that the control driver 142 for the MFP 30 has already been installed in the other four PCs 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, in the information processing system 1 of this embodiment, when the installer CD 151 is inserted into the CD drive of the PC 10 and the control driver 142 of the MFP 30 is installed, the PC 10 The address ("bro5@abc.co.jp" in FIG. 1 (a)), computer name (not shown), sent to the MFP 30, and the mail address and computer name are added to the registration list 341 provided in the MFP 30 Let me register. FIG. 1A shows a state where the mail address “bro5@abc.co.jp” of the PC 10 is newly registered in the registration list 341. Therefore, among the PCs 10 connected to the information processing system 1, for the PC 10 in which the driver 142 is installed, that is, the PC 10 that may control the MFP 30, the mail address and the computer name are stored in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30. Is done.

  Next, a case where the network setting assigned to the MFP 30 is changed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1B shows processing when the network setting assigned to the MFP 30 is changed after the mail address “bro5@abc.co.jp” shown in FIG. 1A is additionally registered in the registration list 341. It is a figure which shows a flow.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when the network setting assigned to the MFP 30 is changed, the MFP 30 creates a setting change program 51 for reflecting the change in the network setting of the driver 142 in each PC 10. Then, the setting change program 51 is attached to an electronic mail 52 (hereinafter referred to as mail 52) and transmitted to all mail addresses registered in the registration list 341.

  As a result, according to the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the network administrator or the user of the PC 10 executes the setting change program 51 attached to the received mail 52 in each PC 10 that has received the mail. By performing the operation, the network setting of the driver 142 stored in the PC 10 can be changed following the change of the network setting on the MFP 30 side.

Furthermore, according to the information processing system 1 of this embodiment, the mail address of the PC 10 is additionally registered in the registration list 341 on the condition that the control driver 142 of the MFP 30 is installed in the PC 10, so that the MFP 30 is controlled. Compared to the case where the user manually registers the email address and computer name of each of the possible PCs 10, the user and the network administrator can save time and effort.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which five PCs 10 are connected to the LAN 50, the characteristic configuration of each PC 10 is common, and therefore, only one PC 10 is illustrated in FIG. The illustration and description of other PCs 10 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD 14, a CD drive 15, an input device 16, a display device 17, and a network interface 18 (network I / F 18). Yes.

  The CPU 11 is a central processing that controls the PC 10 in an overall manner, and executes various programs such as a program that executes processing shown in a flowchart described later.

  The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 11 and data necessary for executing the control programs by the CPU 11.

  The RAM 13 is a memory for temporarily storing data and programs necessary for various processes executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 stores an installer 131 (an example of an information processing program described in claims) read from the installer CD 151 (see FIG. 1). By executing the installer 131, a driver 142 for controlling the MFP 30 and a resident application 143 described later are installed in the PC 10, and a registration request process described later with reference to FIG.

  The HDD 14 is a hard disk drive and stores mail software 141, a driver 142, a network setting 142a, a resident application 143, and an MFP registration data memory 144 in addition to an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) not shown. . The mail software 141 is an application for creating and sending / receiving mail using the mail address set by the user.

  The driver 142 is an application for controlling the MFP 30. When the driver 142 is installed, a file describing the network setting 142 a of the MFP 30 (hereinafter referred to as the driver network setting 142 a) is created and stored in the HDD 14. The network setting 142 of the driver is changed (updated) following the change of the network setting of the MFP 30, and details will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

  The resident application 143 is an application that is read from the installer CD 151 together with the driver 142 and installed in the PC 10. With this resident application, a setting change process (S48) described later with reference to FIG. 4B and a mail address monitoring process (S60) described later with reference to FIG. 6 are executed.

  The MFP registration data memory 144 is a memory that stores the registered mail address and computer name when the mail address or computer name of the PC 10 is registered in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30.

The CD drive 15 reads various CD media including the installer CD 151 storing the installer 131, the driver 142, and the resident application 143 described above. The input device 16 is used to input data or commands to the PC 10 and includes a keyboard and a mouse. The display device 17 displays characters, images, and the like in order to visually confirm the processing content executed by the PC 10 and input data, and is configured by, for example, a CRT display or a liquid crystal display. Yes. The network I / F 18 is a circuit that connects the PC 31 to the LAN 50.

  The MFP 30 includes a CPU 31 that is an arithmetic device, a ROM 32 that stores various control programs and data executed by the CPU 31, and a memory that stores print data and control signals input from the PC 10 connected to the MFP 30. RAM 33 and a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and a flash memory 34 for storing various information set for itself. The CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, and flash memory 34 are connected to each other via a bus line 43, and the bus line 43 is connected to an input / output port 42.

  The flash memory 34 stores a registration list 341 (see FIG. 1) and a network setting 342. As described above, the registration list 341 is a list in which the computer name or mail address that identifies the PC 10 is registered for each PC 10 that controls the MFP 30.

  The network setting 342 is a setting including an IP address and a node name assigned to the MFP 30 and can be changed in accordance with a user instruction input from the operation panel 36 of the MFP 30 or the PC 10, for example.

  The input / output port 42 is connected to the network interface 35 (network I / F 35) and the operation panel 36. The network I / F 35 is a circuit for connecting the MFP 30 to the network. The operation panel 36 is provided with operation keys and an operation panel (not shown).

  The input / output port 42 is connected to the scanner 38, the printer 39, and the modem 40. As a result, a scanner function for driving the scanner 38 by the CPU 31 to read the original image, a printer function for driving the printer 39 by the CPU 31 and printing on printing paper, and the other side facsimile apparatus by modulating the image data by the modem 40. A facsimile transmission / reception function for demodulating the image data transmitted to or received from the counterpart facsimile machine can be executed.

  Processing executed in the information processing system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing a registration request process (S30) executed by the PC 10. This registration request process (S30) is a process executed on condition that the driver 142 (see FIG. 2) related to the control of the MFP 30 is installed in the PC 10, and the e-mail address or computer name of the PC 10 is registered in the MFP 30. This is a process for registering in the list 341 (see FIG. 2).

This registration request process (S30) is a process executed after the installer CD 151 (FIG. 1) is inserted into the CD drive 15 of the PC 10 and the driver 142 is installed in the PC 10. In addition, although this process is demonstrated as what is performed according to the installer 131, for example, this process may be configured to be executed by the resident application 143 installed together with the driver 142. In addition, this process may be executed by the installer 131 after the driver 142 is installed and before the resident application 143 is installed.

  First, the mail address set in the mail software 141 and the computer name registered in the OS (not shown) of the PC 10 are acquired. Here, each of the mail address and the computer name corresponds to an example of identification information described in the claims. Note that the installer 131 stores in advance a procedure for obtaining a set mail address for general mail software expected to be used in the PC 10. Therefore, the mail address set in the mail software 141 is acquired according to the previously stored acquisition procedure.

  Next, it is determined whether the e-mail address has been successfully acquired (S32). When acquisition of the mail address is successful (S32: Yes), the port name of the MFP 30 (or the IP address of the MFP 30) is acquired (S33). Since this port name (or IP address) is set when the driver 142 is executed prior to the registration request process (S30), the value is acquired.

  Then, the acquired port name (or IP address) is designated to establish communication with the MFP 30, and an identification information notification including the mail address and computer name acquired in S 31 is created and notified to the MFP 30. That is, the MFP 30 is requested to register the mail address and computer name of the PC 10. At the same time, the mail address and computer name notified to the MFP 30 are stored in the MFP registration data memory 144 (see FIG. 2) (S34).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the acquisition of the mail address has failed (S32: No), for example, when the setting mail address acquisition procedure of the mail software 141 used in the PC 10 is unknown, or the mail address used by the mail software 141 is If not set, acquisition of the mail address fails, and the determination in S32 is denied.

  In that case, a dialog requesting to manually input the mail address is displayed on the display device 17 of the PC 10 (S35). If acquisition of the e-mail address by manual input is successful (S36: Yes), the process proceeds to S33, and an identification information notification including the acquired e-mail address and the computer name acquired in the process of S31 is transmitted to the MFP 30. (S34).

  On the other hand, if acquisition of the e-mail address by manual input has failed (S36: No), the port name (or IP address) of the MFP 30 is acquired (S37) in the same manner as in S33. Then, the acquired port name (or IP address) is specified, communication with the MFP 30 is established, and the registration is requested by notifying the MFP 30 of the identification information notification including the computer name acquired in the process of S31. The notified computer name is stored in the MFP registration data memory 144 (see FIG. 2) (S38). As described above, the identification information notification is transmitted from the PC 10 to the MFP 30 on condition that the driver 142 is installed.

  FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing the registration process (S41) executed by the MFP 30. This registration process (S41) is a process executed when the MFP 30 receives the identification information notification transmitted from the PC 10, and the computer name or the mail address included in the received identification information notification is registered in the registration list 341. Register with.

  In this registration process (S41), first, it is determined whether or not the computer name included in the received identification information notification is already registered in the registration list 341 (S42). If the determination in S42 is affirmative (S42: Yes), this registration process (S41) is terminated.

On the other hand, if the determination in S42 is negative (S42: No), the computer name included in the received identification information notification is additionally registered in the registration list 341, and if the identification information notification includes an email address, The mail address is associated with the computer name and additionally registered in the registration list 341 (S43), and the process ends.

  By executing the registration request process (S30) described with reference to FIG. 3A and the registration process (S41) described with reference to FIG. 3B, the PC 10 in which the driver 142 is installed, that is, the MFP 30 is processed. The computer name of each controllable PC 10 and the mail address of the PC 10 when it is acquired are automatically registered in the registration list 341.

  FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a setting change notification process executed by the MFP 30. This setting change notification process is executed on condition that the network setting 342 assigned to the MFP 30 is changed. A setting change program for reflecting the change of the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 in the PC 10 is created. , A process of transmitting to the PC 10.

  First, the setting change program 51 (see FIG. 1B) is created (S45). The setting change program 51 is a program for reflecting the change in the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 in the driver network setting 142 a stored in the PC 10.

  Next, the created setting change program 51 is attached to the mail 52 and transmitted to each of the mail addresses registered in the registration list 341 (S46). That is, the setting change program 51 is transmitted to all the PCs 10 whose mail addresses are registered in the registration list 341.

  Next, a setting change notification is transmitted to a PC whose e-mail address is not registered in the registration list 341, that is, the PC 10 in which only the computer name is registered (S47), and the process ends. The processing of the PC 10 that has received the setting change notification will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the user of the PC 10 or the network administrator receives the mail 52 at the PC 10, the user can follow the change of the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 with a simple operation of executing the setting change program 51 attached to the mail 52. The network setting 142a of the driver stored in the PC 10 can be changed.

  Furthermore, according to the setting change notification process (S44), since the mail 52 with the setting change program 51 attached is transmitted to the PC 10 whose mail address is registered in the registration list 341, the power is turned off. Even if the PC 10 is temporarily in an incommunicable state, such as in an offline state, the setting change program 51 can be reliably received.

  Next, processing executed by the PC 10 that has received the setting change notification will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the setting change process (S48) executed by the PC 10. This setting change process (S48) is executed according to the resident application 143. The resident application 143 constantly monitors communication between the MFP 30 and the PC 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the PC 10 receives the setting change notification transmitted from the MFP 30 (S49), the PC 10 sends to the PC 10 according to the network setting 342 after the change of the MFP 30 notified by the setting change notification. The stored driver network setting 142a is changed (S50).

  According to the setting change process (S48), even in the PC 10 whose mail address is not registered in the registration list 341, the driver network setting 142a is automatically changed, and the work load on the user and the network administrator is reduced.

  FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing the release request process (S51) executed by the PC 10. This cancellation request process (S51) requests the PC 10 to cancel the registration of its own computer name and mail address registered in the registration list 341 on the condition that an instruction to uninstall the driver 142 is input from the user or the like. It is processing to do. The cancellation request process (S51) is described as being executed according to the resident application 143, but may be executed according to another program such as an uninstaller for executing uninstallation.

  First, the computer name stored in the MFP registration data memory 144 is acquired (S52). Next, a registration cancellation command including the computer name is transmitted to the MFP 30 (S53), and the process ends.

  FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing the release process (S55) executed by the MFP 30. This cancellation process (S55) is a process executed when the MFP 30 receives the registration cancellation command from the PC 10, and registers the computer name of the PC 10 and the mail address (if registered). It is a process to cancel.

  In the cancellation process (S55), first, it is determined whether or not the computer name included in the received registration cancellation command is registered in the registration list 341 (S56). If the determination in S56 is negative (S56: No), the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the determination in S56 is affirmative (S56: Yes), the computer name included in the deregistration command is deleted from the registration list 341, and the e-mail address corresponding to the computer name is registered together. The mail address is deleted (S57), and the process is terminated.

  According to the release request process (S51) and the release process (S55) shown in FIG. 5, when the driver 142 is uninstalled in a certain PC 10, the computer name and mail address of the PC 10 are deleted from the registration list 341. The unnecessary setting change program 51 and setting change notification are not transmitted to the PC 10 from which the driver 142 has been uninstalled, that is, the PC 10 that is extremely unlikely to communicate with the MFP 30 in the future.

  In the cancellation request process (S51) described with reference to FIG. 5A, it has been described that the registration cancellation command includes the computer name and does not include the mail address. The mail address stored in the memory 144 may be included. In that case, in the process of S56 in the cancellation process (see FIG. 5B), the mail address included in the registration cancellation command and the mail address stored in the registration list 341 are collated and included in the registration cancellation command. A mail address that matches the mail address and the computer name corresponding to the mail address may be deleted from the registration list 341. Further, when a combination that completely matches the combination of the computer name and the mail address included in the deregistration instruction is registered in the registration list 341, the computer name and the mail address are deleted from the registration list 341. It may be configured.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the mail address monitoring process (S60) executed by the PC 10. This e-mail address monitoring process (S60) is a process for monitoring the e-mail address used by the own device and notifying the MFP 30 of the changed e-mail address on condition that the e-mail address change is detected. . In the present embodiment, the mail address monitoring process (S60) is a process executed by the resident application 143 (see FIG. 2), and is described as being executed when the power of the PC 10 is turned on. It may be performed regularly.

  First, the mail address registered in the registration list 341 (see FIG. 2) of the MFP 30, that is, the mail address stored in the MFP registration data memory 144 (see FIG. 2) is acquired (S61). Next, the e-mail address used in the PC 10 is acquired at the present time (S62). This mail address can be acquired from the OS or mail software.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the mail address acquired in the process of S61 is the same as the mail address acquired in the process of S62 (S63). If the determination in S63 is affirmative (S63: Yes), that is, if the e-mail address registered in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30 matches the e-mail address currently used in the PC 10, the process returns to S62 and is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the determination in S63 is negative (S63: No), that is, if a change in the mail address used in the PC 10 is detected, a registration change notification is transmitted to the MFP 30 (S64). This registration change notification is a notification for updating the mail address registered in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30 to the latest mail address by notifying the MFP 30 of the change of the mail address used in the PC 10. Contains the latest email address obtained in the process.

  Next, the mail address stored in the MFP registration data memory 144 (see FIG. 2) is rewritten with the latest mail address acquired in the process of S62 (S65). Then, the process returns to S61.

  According to the mail address monitoring process (S60), when the mail address used in the PC 10 is changed, the change is notified to the MFP 30. Although detailed description is omitted, the MFP 30 updates the old mail address registered in the registration list 341 with the latest mail address included in the received registration change notification. Therefore, the setting change program 51 can be reliably received even for the PC 10 whose e-mail address to be used is changed after the driver 142 is installed.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the information processing system 200 according to the second embodiment, which is one embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the information processing system 200 of the second embodiment is different from the information processing system 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that a driver setting change program 145 is stored in the HDD 14 of the PC 10. .

Also, the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 has a setting change program 51 (FIG. 1) for reflecting changes in the network settings of the MFP 30 in the network settings of the driver in the PC 10. (See (b)) is transmitted from the MFP 30 to the PC 10 attached to the mail. Instead, according to the information processing system 200 of the second embodiment, a setting change file to be read by the above-described driver setting change program 145 is created in the MFP 30 instead of the program itself, and is attached to the mail and attached to the MFP 30. To the PC 10.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the registration request process (S30) of the second embodiment executed by the PC 10, and is a flowchart replacing FIG. 3A in the first embodiment. In the registration request process according to the second embodiment, the driver setting change program 145 is installed (S81) after the process (S34) of transmitting the identification information notification including the computer name and mail address of the PC 10 from the PC 10 to the MFP 30. Is different from the registration request processing (S30) of the first embodiment in the other points. The driver setting change program 145 installed in step S81 will be described as being stored in the installer CD 151 together with the driver 142 and the like.

  That is, according to the registration request process (S30) of the second embodiment, the driver setting change program 145 is installed in the PC 10 on the condition that the mail address is registered in the MFP 30.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the setting change notification process (S90) executed in the MFP 30, and is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. This setting change notification process (S90) is executed on condition that the network setting 342 assigned to the MFP 30 is changed, similarly to the setting change process (S44) described with reference to FIG. This is a process for reflecting the change in the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 on the PC 10.

  First, a setting change file is created (S91). This setting change file is a file for reflecting the change in the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 in the driver network setting 142 a stored in the PC 10.

  Next, the created setting change file is attached to the e-mail and transmitted to each e-mail address registered in the registration list 341 (S92). In this way, the setting change file is transmitted to all the PCs 10 whose mail addresses are registered in the registration list 341.

  Next, a setting change notification is sent to a PC whose e-mail address is not registered in the registration list 341, that is, a PC 10 in which only the computer name is registered, specifying the computer name (S93), and the process is terminated. To do.

  A user of the PC 10 or a network administrator can follow the change of the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 by a simple operation of receiving a mail at the PC 10 and causing the driver setting change program 145 to read the setting change file attached to the mail. Then, the network setting 142a of the driver stored in the PC 10 can be changed. Note that the process executed by the PC 10 that has received the setting change notification is the same as the process described with reference to FIG.

  According to the setting change notification process (S90), as in the setting change notification process (S44) of the first embodiment, the PC 10 is temporarily unable to communicate, such as being powered off or in an offline state. Even in the state, it is possible to reliably receive the data for setting change (in the second embodiment, the setting change file).

  Furthermore, since the setting change file is only information to be read by the program and not the program itself, it is not easily blocked by the security function of antivirus software or mail software, and can be reliably received by the PC 10.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of processing in the information processing system 300 according to the third embodiment which is an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the information processing system 1 of the first embodiment, the information processing system 300 of the third embodiment uses the setting change program 51 (see FIG. 1) on condition that the network setting 342 assigned to the MFP 30 is changed. create.

  Here, in the information processing system 1 of the first embodiment, the created setting change program 51 is attached to the mail 52 and transmitted to the PC 10. In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the information processing system 300 according to the third embodiment stores the created setting change program 51 in the storage device 60 (an example of a storage unit) and stores the setting change program 51 in the storage device 60. A URL (an example of designation information) for accessing the setting change program 51 is described in the mail 61 and transmitted to each PC 10. In the third embodiment, the storage device 60 is described as a Web server accessible from the PC 10 and the MFP 30 via the Internet. However, the storage device 60 can be accessed from the PC 10 and the MFP 30. The storage device is not limited to the Web server, and may be a storage device built in the MFP 30, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the PC 10 side can receive the mail 61 and access the setting change program 51 using the URL described in the mail 61. Then, the driver network setting 142 a stored in the PC 10 can be changed following the change of the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 by a simple operation of downloading and executing the setting change program 51.

  According to the information processing system 300 of the third embodiment, since the URL described in the mail 61 is not the program itself, the mail 61 is not easily blocked by the security function of the antivirus software or the mail software, and is surely sent to the PC 10. Sent. According to the information processing system 300 of the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the e-mail address and computer name are registered when the driver 142 is installed in the PC 10. Although registered in the list 341, the details of the registration process are the same as the registration request process (see FIG. 3A) and the registration process (see FIG. 3B) of the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the description is omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the setting change notification process (S110) of the third embodiment executed by the PC 10, and is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. This setting change notification process (S110) is executed on condition that the network setting 342 assigned to the MFP 30 is changed, similarly to the setting change process (S44) described with reference to FIG. This is a process for reflecting the change in the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 on the PC 10.

  First, the setting change program 51 is created (S111). Next, the created setting change program 51 is stored in the Web server which is the storage device 60 (S112). Then, the URL for accessing the setting change program 51 is described in the mail 61 and transmitted to each of the mail addresses registered in the registration list 341 (S113).

  Next, a setting change notification is transmitted to the PC 10 whose e-mail address is not registered in the registration list 341, that is, the PC 10 in which only the computer name is registered, specifying the computer name (S114), and the process is terminated. To do. Note that the process executed by the PC 10 that has received the setting change notification is the same as the process described with reference to FIG.

According to this setting change notification process (S110), as in the setting change notification processes (S44, S90) of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the PC 10 is turned off or in an offline state. Even when the communication is temporarily impossible, the data for changing the setting (in the third embodiment, the URL for accessing the setting changing program 51) can be reliably received.

  Note that, in the information processing system 300 of the third embodiment, similarly to the information processing system 200 of the second embodiment, a setting change file is created, the setting change file is stored in the storage device 60, and the setting change is performed. It is also possible to configure the URL for accessing the file to be described in the mail.

  Also, in each of the information processing system 200 of the second embodiment and the information processing system 300 of the third embodiment, similarly to the information processing system 1 of the first embodiment, the release request process (S51) and the release process (S55). ), A mail address monitoring process (S60) may be executed.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, the setting change notification processing (FIG. 4A, FIG. 9, FIG. 11) of the first to third embodiments described above has been described as being executed by the MFP 30, but the setting change notification processing is performed by the PC 10. It may be configured to be executed. That is, it may be configured to notify the change of the network setting of the MFP 30 from one PC to another PC 10.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the setting change notification process (S120) of the first modification. The setting change notification process (S120) of this modification is a process executed in place of the setting change notification process (FIG. 4A) of the first embodiment.

  In the first modification, when the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 is changed, the MFP 30 notifies the PC 10 of the changed network setting as a setting change event. On the other hand, when the OS of the PC 10 receives a setting change event from the MFP 30, the OS activates a setting change notification application (not shown) installed in advance on the PC 10. Then, according to the setting change notification application, the setting change notification process (S120) of the modification shown in FIG. 12 is executed.

  In the setting change notification process of the modified example, first, the mail address registered in the registration list 341 of the MFP 30 is read (S121). Next, the setting change program 51 (see FIG. 1B) is created (S122). Next, the created setting change program 51 is attached to the mail and transmitted to each of the mail addresses acquired in the process of S121 (S123).

  According to the setting change notification process (S120) of the first modified example, the MFP 30 transmits a setting change event to the PC 10, thereby starting the setting change notification application in the PC 10, and creating and transmitting a setting change program. Since the operation is performed by the PC 10, the same operational effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained, and the processing load of the MFP 30 can be reduced.

Next, a second modification will be described. In the setting change notification process (FIGS. 4A, 9, and 11) of the first to third embodiments, the mail address is registered regardless of whether each PC 10 is connected to the LAN 50 or not. An e-mail is transmitted to the PC 10 being set, and a setting change notification process is transmitted to the other PCs 10. Instead of this, the transmission contents may be changed depending on whether or not each PC 10 is connected to the LAN 50.

  FIG. 13A is a flowchart showing the setting change notification process (S130) of the second modification. This setting change notification process (S130) is executed in the MFP 30 instead of the setting change notification process (FIG. 4A). Of the processes included in the setting change notification process (S130) of this modified example, the same parts as those in the setting change notification process (FIG. 4A) of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, in the setting change notification process (S130) of the modification, first, the PC 10 connected to the LAN 50 is checked (S131). Then, among the PCs 10 whose computer names or mail addresses are registered in the registration list 341, the PC 10 connected to the LAN 50 is designated with a computer name and a setting change notification is transmitted (S132).

  Next, a setting change program 51 (see FIG. 1B) is created (S45) and attached to the mail 52 in the same manner as the setting change notification process (S44) described with reference to FIG. Transmit (S46), and the process ends.

  According to the setting change notification process (S44) of the second modification, the same effect as the setting change notification process (S44) of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the PC 10 connected to the LAN 50, rewriting of the network settings of the driver 142 is automatically performed, and it is possible to further reduce the labor of the user and the network administrator.

  In the setting change notification process (S120) of the first modification shown in FIG. 12 and the setting change notification process (S130) of the second modification shown in FIG. 13A, a setting change program is created and attached to the mail. Instead, if a setting change file is created and an e-mail is attached, it can be applied to the information processing system 200 of the second embodiment. Similarly, instead of creating a setting change program and attaching it to an e-mail, the setting change program or setting change file is stored in the storage device 60, and the URL for accessing the setting change program or setting change file is sent to the e-mail. If it describes, the setting change process (S120 or S130) of these modifications is applicable to the information processing system 300 of 3rd Embodiment.

  Next, a third modification will be described. In the above-described embodiment, when the setting change notification is transmitted from the MFP 30 to the PC 10, the PC 10 receives the setting change notification by the resident application 143, and the resident application 143 changes the network setting of the driver 142. . Instead, the OS installed in the PC 10 may be configured to receive a setting change notification.

  FIG. 13B is a flowchart showing the setting change process (S135) of the third modification. This setting change process (S135) is a process executed in place of the setting change process (S48) described with reference to FIG. When the OS of the PC 10 receives the setting change notification transmitted from the MFP 30, the network setting 142a of the driver stored in the PC 10 is changed following the changed network setting 342 of the MFP 30 included in the setting change notification. To do.

  Note that in order to execute the setting change process (S135) of this modification, the event that the driver setting change program for rewriting the driver network setting 142a is installed in the PC 10 in advance and the setting change notification is issued to the OS. Is received, the correspondence between the event type and the driver setting change program is registered in the OS so that the driver setting change program is started.

  First, when the OS of the PC 10 receives an event of setting change notification transmitted from the MFP 30, the OS activates a driver setting changing program (S136). Next, the driver setting change program changes the driver network setting 142a in accordance with the changed network setting 342 of the MFP 30 included in the setting change notification (S137).

  In this way, the same effect as the setting change process (S48) described in the embodiment can be obtained by the setting change process (S135) of the modified example.

  In the above-described embodiment, the registration list 341 is described as being provided in the MFP 30. However, for example, the registration list 341 is stored in a storage medium provided outside the MFP 30 such as a PC locally connected to the MFP 30. It may be a thing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 30 is described as an example of a device. However, the device is not limited to this, and is connected to a network such as a scanner, a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a hard disk drive, and the like. Any device can be used as long as it is associated with network information such as an address, or a device associated with network settings used for communication such as an encryption key.

  In the above-described embodiment, the change in the network setting 342 of the MFP 30 is described as being reflected in the network setting 142a of the driver. However, when a plurality of types of applications related to the control of the MFP 30 are installed in the PC 10, The network settings of all the applications may be changed in accordance with the change of the network settings of the MFP 30. For example, when the network settings are individually stored for the resident application 143 (see FIG. 2) and the driver setting program 145 (see FIG. 7), the setting change program or setting is changed so that the network settings are also changed. A change file is created.

  In the above-described embodiment, the installer CD 151 is used to explain that various programs such as the driver 142 are installed. However, the various programs such as the driver 142 are downloaded and installed on the PC 10 via the Internet, for example. It may be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the installer 131, the driver 142, the resident application 143, and the driver setting change program 145 have been described as separate programs. However, all or some of these combinations are integrated. Each process described above may be executed by a program.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the whole information processing system composition of a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the information processing system shown in FIG. (A) is a flowchart showing a registration request process executed by the PC, and (b) is a flowchart showing a registration process executed by the MFP. (A) is a flowchart showing a setting change notification process executed by the MFP, and (b) is a flowchart showing a setting change process executed by the PC. (A) is a flowchart showing a release request process executed by the PC, and (b) is a flowchart showing a release process executed by the MFP. It is a flowchart which shows the mail address monitoring process performed with PC. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the information processing system of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the registration request process of 2nd Embodiment, and is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the setting change notification process of 2nd Embodiment, and is a flowchart equivalent to Fig.4 (a). It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of a process in the information processing system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the setting change notification process of 3rd Embodiment, and is a flowchart equivalent to Fig.4 (a). It is a flowchart which shows the setting change notification process of a 1st modification. (A) is a flowchart which shows the setting change notification process of a 2nd modification, (b) is a flowchart which shows the setting change process of a 3rd modification.

1,200,300 Information processing system 10 PC (an example of information processing apparatus)
30 MFP (an example of a device)
60 Storage device (an example of storage means)
131 Installer (an example of information processing program)
142 Driver (an example of an application related to device control) 144 MFP registration data memory (an example of an identification information storage unit)
341 Registration list (an example of registration means)
S34 An example of addition request means S38 An example of addition request means S43 An example of addition means S45, S91, S111 An example of change information creation means S46, S92 An example of first transmission means S51 An example of release request means S64 An example of change notification means S113 Example of second transmission means

Claims (3)

First storage means for identifying the device itself on the network and storing unique information for performing communication on the network;
Second storage means for storing one network setting assigned to one device existing on the network in association with an executable application;
Receiving means for receiving information transmitted on the network from another device on the network by communication using the same unique information as the unique information stored in the first storage means ;
One network setting stored in the second storage unit in association with the application when the reception unit receives the update information including the network setting of the one device and the reassignment of the network setting. An information processing program that can be read and executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus comprising an update unit that is a unit that updates a network setting of the one device included in the update information
The unique information stored in the first storage means and the own apparatus information that is different from the unique information stored in the first storage means and identifies the own apparatus . a unique information transmission processing execution means for executing the specific information transmission processing through communication with one network configuration in which two of the storage means is storing transmission over the network,
First storage for storing the unique information and the own device information transmitted on the network by the unique information transmission process and the one network setting used for the unique information transmission process in association with each other in the third storage unit Control means;
After the unique information is stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means is compared with the unique information stored in the third storage means, and the first information is stored in the first storage means. If the unique information stored in the storage means is different from the unique information stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means Second unique information transmission that transmits to the network by communication using one network setting stored in the third storage means and the own device information stored in the third storage means Second unique information transmission processing execution means for executing processing;
The third storage means associates the unique information and its own device information transmitted on the network by the second unique information transmission process with one network setting used for the second unique information transmission process. Second storage control means for storing,
An information processing program for causing the computer to function as: First storage means for identifying the device itself on the network and storing unique information for performing communication on the network;
Second storage means for storing one network setting assigned to one device existing on the network in association with an executable application;
Receiving means for receiving information transmitted on the network from another device on the network by communication using the same unique information as the unique information stored in the first storage means ;
One network setting stored in the second storage unit in association with the application when the reception unit receives the update information including the network setting of the one device and the reassignment of the network setting. Updating means for updating the network setting of the one device included in the update information;
The unique information stored in the first storage means and the own apparatus information that is different from the unique information stored in the first storage means and identifies the own apparatus . a unique information transmission processing execution means for executing the specific information transmission processing through communication with one network configuration in which two of the storage means is storing transmission over the network,
First storage for storing the unique information and the own device information transmitted on the network by the unique information transmission process and the one network setting used for the unique information transmission process in association with each other in the third storage unit Control means;
After the unique information is stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means is compared with the unique information stored in the third storage means, and the first information is stored in the first storage means. If the unique information stored in the storage means is different from the unique information stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means Second unique information transmission that transmits to the network by communication using one network setting stored in the third storage means and the own device information stored in the third storage means Second unique information transmission processing execution means for executing processing;
The third storage means associates the unique information and its own device information transmitted on the network by the second unique information transmission process with one network setting used for the second unique information transmission process. Second storage control means for storing;
An information processing apparatus comprising: An information processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus connected to a network and a device connected to the network, or a second information processing apparatus that detects that a network setting has been reassigned to the device;
The first information processing apparatus includes:
A computer,
First storage means for identifying the device itself on the network and storing unique information for performing communication on the network;
Second storage means for storing one network setting assigned to one device existing on the network in association with an executable application;
Receiving means for receiving information transmitted on the network from another device on the network by communication using the same unique information as the unique information stored in the first storage means ;
One network setting stored in the second storage unit in association with the application when the reception unit receives the update information including the network setting of the one device and the reassignment of the network setting. Updating means for updating the network setting of the one device included in the update information;
And the unique information of the first memory means stores, and a self information identifying the own device to a different information from the unique information of the first memory means has stored, the a unique information transmission processing execution means for executing the specific information transmission process of transmitting on the network by communication using one network configuration in which the second memory means stores,
First storage for storing the unique information and the own device information transmitted on the network by the unique information transmission process and the one network setting used for the unique information transmission process in association with each other in the third storage unit Control means;
After the unique information is stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means is compared with the unique information stored in the third storage means, and the first information is stored in the first storage means. If the unique information stored in the storage means is different from the unique information stored in the third storage means, the unique information stored in the first storage means Second unique information transmission that transmits to the network by communication using one network setting stored in the third storage means and the own device information stored in the third storage means Second unique information transmission processing execution means for executing processing;
The third storage means associates the unique information and its own device information transmitted on the network by the second unique information transmission process with one network setting used for the second unique information transmission process. Second storage control means for storing;
With
The second information processing apparatus that detects that the network setting has been reassigned to the one device or the one device,
A unique information obtaining unit that the inherent information transmission processing executing means, the communication using the one network configuration, to obtain the unique information and the own device information transmitted on said network,
When the unique information acquired by the unique information acquisition unit and the own device information are not stored in the fourth storage unit, the unique information acquired by the unique information acquisition unit and the own device information are associated with each other. Third storage control means for additionally storing in the storage means;
When the unique information acquired by the unique information acquisition means and the own device information are stored in the fourth storage means, the unique information acquisition means acquires the unique information stored in the fourth storage means. Fourth storage control means for updating to the unique information,
Update information transmitting means for transmitting the update information to the network by communication using the unique information stored in the fourth storage means when the network setting is reassigned to the one device;
An information processing system comprising:

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