JP5321170B2 - Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, a control method, and an image forming system, capable of flexibly coping with the distribution of processing executed in respective controllers according to a network configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a first controller and a second controlle, capable of providing at least one service to an external device connected through a network, respectively, and executing at least a series of processing relating to image formation in linkage. The first controller includes a first external communication means capable of communicating with the external device through the network, a first table management means for managing a transfer table wherein ports corresponding to the respective services provided by the first controller and the second controller are associated with the controller to be the transfer destination of the communication addressed to the ports, and a transfer means for transferring the communication from the external device to the controller corresponding to the port that receives access from the external device on the basis of the transfer table. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

  The current image forming apparatus is equipped with various functions (for example, an operation panel, a setting function by WEB, user management, a printing function via a network, a security function, etc.). The image forming apparatus is generally provided with a controller (hereinafter referred to as a general-purpose controller) for managing the functions, states, and settings of devices realized by hardware or software. A normal image forming apparatus is centrally managed by a single general-purpose controller. In this case, all processing is performed by a single controller. Therefore, although there is a concern about the shortage of speed and resources, there is little problem in the range of general applications such as offices.

  On the other hand, in the field where higher printing speed is required such as production printing, the above-mentioned speed and lack of resources become a problem. For high-speed printing, it is necessary to increase the speed of the print engine and to increase the speed of image processing by the controller. In this case, the necessary speed may not be obtained by the unified processing by the general-purpose controller. In order to cope with such a shortage of speed, a dedicated controller for image processing is separately installed to expand the functions related to image processing, and image processing for printing is performed using this dedicated controller, realizing faster printing processing. There is an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a control method when an expansion controller for function expansion is connected to an image processing apparatus has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-function device (MFD) and a plurality of expansion controllers. Among the functions possessed by (EC), a technique is disclosed in which processing is distributed so that one of the apparatuses executes an overlapping function.

  Incidentally, in an image forming apparatus in which a general-purpose controller and a dedicated controller are connected, connection to a network such as a LAN is not necessarily performed on the general-purpose controller side, and various forms are assumed. Specifically, there are a form in which only the dedicated controller is connected to the network, and a form in which both the general-purpose controller and the dedicated controller are connected to the network. For this reason, there is a demand for a technique that can flexibly distribute the processing in each controller in various network configurations. In the technique of Patent Document 1, it is possible to assign duplicate functions, but there is a problem that fine control cannot be performed for the distribution of services that each controller independently provides.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of flexibly dealing with distribution of processing executed by each controller according to a network configuration The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides one or a plurality of services to external devices connected via a network, and links at least a series of processes related to image formation. A first controller and a second controller that can be executed, and an internal communication means for communicatively connecting the first controller and the second controller, wherein the first controller Via a first external communication means capable of communicating with the external device, a port corresponding to each service provided by the first controller and the second controller, and a controller serving as a transfer destination of communication addressed to the port. First table management means for managing the associated transfer table, and accepting access from the external device based on the transfer table Transfer means for transferring the communication from the external device to the addressed controller support port, wherein the second controller includes a second external communication unit capable of communicating with the external apparatus via the network, Detecting means for detecting a change in a connection state of the second external communication means to the network and notifying the first controller, wherein the first table managing means is configured such that the detecting means includes the second controller. When it is detected that communication with the external device by the external communication means is disconnected, each of the first controller and the second controller and each service provided by the first controller and the second controller are supported. A first transfer table in which transfer between the port and the port is enabled is set as a reference destination of the transfer unit, and the detection unit sets the second external communication unit When it is detected that the communication with the external device is in a connected state, the transfer is enabled between the first controller and the port corresponding to the service provided by the first controller. A transfer table is set as a reference destination of the transfer means .

The present invention also provides a first controller and a second controller that can each provide one or a plurality of services to an external device connected via a network, and can execute at least a series of processes related to image formation in cooperation with each other. an information processing method executed by the controller, the network control means, a reception step of receiving an access from an external apparatus via a network, detection means, a change in the connection state to the second controller of the network A detection step of detecting and notifying the first controller, and the first table management means, when the detection means detects that the communication with the external device of the second controller has been disconnected. 1 controller and each of the second controllers, and each service provided by the first controller and the second controller. The first transfer table in which transfer between the port and the second port is enabled is set as a reference destination of the transfer unit, and the detection unit is in communication with the external device of the second controller. Is detected, the second transfer table in which transfer between the first controller and the port corresponding to the service provided by the first controller is enabled is set as the reference destination of the transfer means. comprising a table change process, the transfer means, on the basis of the forwarding table, and a transfer step for transferring the communication from the external device to the addressed controller corresponding to the port that has received the access in the reception step.

The present invention also provides a first controller and a second controller that can each provide one or a plurality of services to an external device connected via a network, and can execute at least a series of processes related to image formation in cooperation with each other. the controller of the computer, and accepting means for accepting an access from an external apparatus via a network, and detecting means for detecting a change in the connection state to the second controller of the network, notifying the first controller, the detection When the means detects that the communication with the external device of the second controller is disconnected, each of the first controller and the second controller and each of the first controller and the second controller provided The first transfer table in which transfer between the port corresponding to the service and the transfer is enabled is referred to by the transfer means. And when the detection means detects that the communication with the external device of the second controller is in a connected state, the first controller and a port corresponding to a service provided by the first controller a first table management means for setting a second forwarding table to reference destination of the transfer means the transfer is enabled between, based on the forwarding table, the port that has received the access in the reception step It functions as a transfer means for transferring communication from the external device to the corresponding controller.

  According to the first, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, processing requested from an external device can be distributed to each controller in units of ports corresponding to services provided by the first controller and the second controller. It is possible to finely control the distribution of processing executed in. In addition, since each service provided by both controllers can be provided to an external device simply by connecting only the first controller to the network, the distribution of processing executed by each controller can be flexibly performed according to the network configuration. Can respond.

  According to the second and third aspects of the invention, when both the first controller and the second controller are connected to the network, each can independently communicate with an external device, and the second controller is connected to the network. When disconnected, communication from an external device can be transferred to the second controller via the first controller, so that the processing performed by each controller can be flexibly handled according to the network configuration. . In addition, communication redundancy with respect to the second controller can be improved.

  In addition, according to the fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects of the invention, the user operating the external device can acquire the device setting information of the first controller and the second controller by accessing the second controller. , User convenience can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a port forwarding table managed by the table management unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow when an access is made from the external device to the LPR or TCP IP raw port of the sub controller. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing when an access is made from an external device to the FAX port of the sub controller. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between SNMP agents of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a port forwarding table that is validated when the external I / F of the main controller is a link UP. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the table management unit and the network configuration detection unit. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between SNMP agents of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sub-agent of the main controller shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an information table managed by the information table management unit shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a port forwarding table managed by the table management unit. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow when an access to an HTTP or HTTPS port is performed from an external device. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to each embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sub-controller 10 (controller 1), a main controller 20 (controller 2), and engine hardware 30. Here, the controller 1 and the controller 2 are names for identifying the sub-controller 10 (60) and the main controller 20 (70, 80), and are commonly used in each embodiment.

  The sub-controller 10 is a controller dedicated to image processing having a function of converting image data transmitted from the external apparatus 500 into printable data. The main controller 20 is a general-purpose controller for realizing a copy function, a scanner function, a FAX function, and the like. Note that the main controller 20 and the engine hardware 30 can also operate as an image processing apparatus with a single controller, and in order to realize high-speed printing, the sub-controller 10 specialized for image processing for printing and the like. Is added. Therefore, the engine hardware 30 is connected to the main controller 20 via the connection line N3.

  The sub controller 10 and the main controller 20 are connected by a connection line N1 conforming to the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard, and configured to perform communication by TCP / IP. If communication between the controllers is possible, a communication standard other than Ethernet (registered trademark) or a communication method other than TCP / IP (for example, a dedicated protocol) may be used.

  The sub-controller 10 is connected to a network N2 such as a WAN or a LAN, and is configured to perform TCP / IP communication with an external device 500 connected to the network N2. It is assumed that the network address used in connection line N1 is different from the network address used in network N2.

  Hereinafter, each unit constituting the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The sub-controller 10 includes an OS / middleware unit 11 and an application unit 12 in cooperation with a control unit 101 (to be described later), an OS (operating system) such as UNIX (registered trademark) and various programs stored in the storage unit 104. And as a functional part.

  Here, the OS / middleware unit 11 is realized by an OS of the sub-controller 10 and middleware that controls intermediate processing / operation between the OS and the application unit 12. The OS / middleware unit 11 further includes a network control unit 111, a table management unit 112, and a port transfer unit 113.

  The network control unit 111 is a functional unit that controls operations of an internal I / F 105 and an external I / F 106, which will be described later, and uses a communication protocol compliant with TCP / IP to communicate with the main controller 20 and external devices. Send and receive data. Further, the network control unit 111 sets (releases) a port (port number) corresponding to an application executed by the sub-controller 10 and the main controller 20 so as to be accessible from the external device 500 on the network N2.

  The table management unit 112 manages a port forwarding table that defines a port opened by the network control unit 111 and a transfer destination (forwarding destination) of communication addressed to this port. It is assumed that the port forwarding table is held in advance in a storage medium such as the storage unit 104 described later included in the sub-controller 10.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a port forwarding table managed by the table management unit 112. As shown in the figure, in the port forwarding table, a port (port number) and a controller (controller 1, controller 2) as a transfer destination of communication addressed to this port are registered in association with each other.

  Here, each of the ports associated with the controller 1 corresponds to a listen port for each service provided by the application unit 12 of the sub-controller 10. Each port associated with the controller 2 corresponds to a listen port for each service provided by an application unit 22 (to be described later) of the main controller 20. As described above, in the port forwarding table, the ports corresponding to the applications executed by the controllers are defined in association with each of the sub controller 10 and the main controller 20.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the port transfer unit 113 refers to the port forwarding table managed by the table management unit 112 and, based on the relationship between the port and the transfer destination defined in this table, the specific transfer received from the external device 500. Transfer the communication addressed to the port to the destination controller. Here, the port transfer unit 113 performs network address conversion (NAT) from the network address on the network N2 to the network address on the connection line N1. In the present embodiment, each port that the main controller 20 waits on the network of the connection line N1 has the same value as each port of the main controller 20 (controller 2) shown in FIG. 2, but a different value is set. It is good also as a form.

  For example, assuming that communication addressed to the LPR (515) port is received from the external device 500, the port transfer unit 113 sets its own sub-controller 10 (controller 1) as a transfer destination based on the port forwarding table shown in FIG. Determine and forward this communication to the local host (127.0.0.1). If the communication addressed to the FTP (21 or 10021) port is received from the external apparatus 500, the port transfer unit 113 determines the main controller 20 as the transfer destination based on the port forwarding table shown in FIG. This communication is transferred to the FTP (21 or 10021) port of the main controller 20 via the line N1.

  The application unit 12 is a functional unit realized by the cooperation of a control unit 101 (to be described later) and a program stored in the storage unit 104, and operates on the OS of the sub-controller 10. The application unit 12 includes a printer application 121, a Web application 122, and an SNMP application 123.

  The printer application 121 is a functional unit for performing image processing for printing (image processing for printing) on image data to be printed, and provides an image forming service based on LPR (515) or TCP IP raw (9100). Provided to the external device 500. Specifically, when the communication addressed to the LPR (515) or TCP IP raw (9100) port is transferred from the port transfer unit 113, the printer application 121 performs image processing for printing on the image data to be printed included in this communication. Is transmitted to the main controller 20 via the connection line N1.

  The web application 122 is a functional unit for realizing a web server and a web application function, and provides an image forming service based on IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to the external apparatus 500. Specifically, when a print request addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is transferred from the port transfer unit 113, the Web application 122 delivers the image data included in this communication to the printer application 121. The printer application 121 is caused to execute image processing for printing.

  The SNMP application 123 is a functional unit for realizing an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent function, and provides an SNMP service to the external apparatus 500. Specifically, when the communication addressed to the SNMP (161) port is transferred from the port transfer unit 113, the SNMP application 123 provides an MIB (Management Information Base) managed by the master agent 41 described later to the external apparatus 500. Details of the SNMP application 123 will be described later.

  Next, the main controller 20 will be described. The main controller 20 uses the OS / middleware unit 21 and the application unit 22 as functional units in cooperation with an OS and various programs such as UNIX (registered trademark) stored in the control unit 201 and the storage unit 204 described later. Prepare.

  The OS / middleware unit 21 is realized by an OS of the main controller 20 and middleware for controlling intermediate processing / operation between the OS and the application unit 22. When the OS / middleware unit 21 receives image data on which image processing for printing has been performed from the printer application 121, the OS / middleware unit 21 controls the printer engine 31 to print the image data. The OS / middleware unit 21 includes a network control unit 211.

  The network control unit 211 is a functional unit for controlling the operation of the internal I / F 206 described later, and exchanges data with the sub-controller 10 using a communication protocol compliant with TCP / IP. Further, the network control unit 211 sets (releases) a port corresponding to an application executed on the main controller 20 so that it can be accessed from the sub-controller 10 connected via the connection line N1. As described above, the network control unit 211 opens each port of the main controller 20 (controller 2) shown in FIG.

  The application unit 22 is a functional unit realized by cooperation of a control unit 201 (to be described later) and various programs stored in the storage unit 204, and operates on the OS of the main controller 20. The application unit 22 includes a scanner application 221, a copy application 222, a FAX application 223, a Web application 224, an FTP application 225, an SSH application 226, a TELNET application 227, and an SNMP application 228.

  The scanner application 221 is a functional unit for realizing a scanner function. Specifically, the scanner application 221 acquires image data of a document placed on a document placement table (not shown) by controlling the scanner engine 32.

  The copy application 222 is a functional unit for realizing a copy function for generating a copy of a document. Specifically, the copy application 222 acquires image data of a document placed on a document placement table (not shown) by controlling the scanner engine 32, and outputs the image data to the printer engine 31 to copy the document. Is generated.

  The FAX application 223 is an application for realizing a FAX function, and provides a FAX service to the external apparatus 500. More specifically, when the FAX application 223 controls the scanner engine 32 and acquires image data of a document placed on a document placement table (not shown), the image data is subjected to FAX image processing (FAX image processing). Then, the image data is faxed to the instructed destination using the fax engine 33.

  In addition, when a communication addressed to the FAX (49152) port is transferred from the sub-controller 10, the FAX application 223 performs image processing for FAX on the image data included in the communication, and then the image data is transmitted by the communication. The FAX engine 33 is used for FAX transmission to the instructed destination.

  The Web application 224 is a functional unit for realizing a Web server and a Web application function, and provides an information disclosure service for publishing device setting information indicating various setting contents related to the main controller 20 to the external device 500. To do. Specifically, the Web application 224 is configured to display a GUI (hereinafter referred to as a device that can refer to and change device setting information of the main controller 20 when communication addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is transferred from the sub-controller 10. A setting screen) is generated and provided to the external device 500 via the sub-controller 10.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the port forwarding table of FIG. 2, it is defined that communication addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is transferred to the sub-controller 10. Therefore, the communication to the Web application 224 is not transferred. In order to acquire the device setting screen of the main controller 20, it is necessary to change the transfer destination of HTTP (80) and HTTPS (443) shown in the port forwarding table of FIG.

  The FTP application 225 is a functional unit for realizing an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server function, and provides an FTP service to the external apparatus 500. Specifically, when the communication addressed to the FTP (21 or 10021) port is transferred from the sub controller 10 to the FTP application 225, the FTP application 225 provides a file transfer service to the main controller 20 via the sub controller 10 via the external device 500. To provide.

  The SSH application 226 is a functional unit for realizing an SSH (Secure SHell) server function, and provides an SSH service to the external device 500. Specifically, when the communication addressed to the SSH / SFTP (22) port is transferred from the sub-controller 10, the SSH application 226 provides services for remote operation and file transfer to the main controller 20 via the sub-controller 10. Provided to the external device 500.

  The TELNET application 227 is a functional unit for realizing a TELNET server function, and provides a TELNET service to the external device 500. Specifically, when communication addressed to the TELNET (23) port is transferred from the sub-controller 10, the TELNET application 227 provides a service for remotely operating the main controller 20 to the external device via the sub-controller 10. .

  The SNMP application 228 is a functional unit for realizing the SNMP agent function, and provides an SNMP service to the external device 500. Further, the SNMP application 228 cooperates with the SNMP application 123 of the sub controller 10 to manage the MIB of the main controller 20 and the engine hardware 30 under the control of the main controller 20. Transfer to the SNMP application 123. Details of the SNMP application 228 will be described later.

  The engine hardware 30 is a printer engine, a scanner engine, or the like that can be connected to the main controller 20. In the present embodiment, the engine hardware 30 includes a printer engine 31, a scanner engine 32, and a FAX engine 33.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow when an access is made from the external device 500 to the LPR or TCP IP raw port of the sub-controller 10.

  First, when an access is made from the external device 500 to the LPR or TCP IP raw port of the sub-controller 10 (step S11), the port transfer unit 113 performs this communication based on the port forwarding table in its own sub-controller 10 (local (Step S12).

  Upon receiving the communication transfer from the port transfer unit 113, the printer application 121 performs image processing for printing on the image data to be printed included in the communication (step S13), and then the main controller via the connection line N1. 20 (step S14).

  On the other hand, when the main controller 20 receives the communication transmitted from the sub-controller 10 (printer application 121), the OS / middleware unit 21 sends the image data included in the communication together with instruction information for instructing printing. By outputting to the printer engine 31, the printer engine 31 is caused to execute printing of the image data (step S15), and the process is terminated.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the case where the external device 500 accesses the LPR or TCP IP raw port has been described. However, the access to the HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), or SNMP (161) port is performed. Even when it is accepted, it is transferred to the sub-controller 10 (local host) based on the port forwarding table shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow when an access is made from the external apparatus 500 to the FAX (49152) port of the sub-controller 10.

  First, when an access is made from the external device 500 to the FAX port of the sub controller 10 (step S21), the port transfer unit 113 transmits this communication to the FAX of the main controller 20 via the connection line N1 based on the port forwarding table. (49152) Transfer to the port (step S22).

  On the other hand, when the main controller 20 receives the communication transmitted from the sub-controller 10 (port transfer unit 113), the FAX application 223 performs image processing for FAX on the image data included in the communication (step S23). ) And output to the FAX engine 33 together with the destination information indicating the destination specified in this communication (step S24). In accordance with an instruction from the FAX application 223, the FAX engine 33 transmits the image data by FAX to the designated transmission destination (Step S25), and ends the process.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the case where an access is made to the FAX from the external apparatus 500 has been described, but FTP (21, 10021), SSH / SFTP (22), TELNET (23), HTTP (8080), Even when an access is made to the HTTPS (8431) port, it is transferred to the main controller 20.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, processing requested from the external device 500 can be distributed to each controller in units of ports corresponding to services provided by the sub-controller 10 and the main controller 20. The distribution of processing executed by each controller can be finely controlled. Also, by connecting only the sub-controller 10 to the network N2, each service provided by both controllers can be provided to the external device 500. Therefore, the distribution of processing executed by each controller can be performed according to the network configuration. It can respond flexibly.

  Next, the relationship between SNMP applications in the sub controller 10 and the main controller 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the SNMP agents by the SNMP application 123 and the SNMP application 228. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the external device 500 is an SNMP manager.

  The SNMP application 123 of the sub controller 10 is divided into a master agent 41 and a sub agent 42 according to the function. Similarly, the SNMP application 228 of the main controller 20 is also divided into a master agent 51 and a subagent 52 according to the function.

  In the sub controller 10 and the main controller 20, the master agent and the sub agent communicate with each other using the SNMP AgentX protocol. The master agent 41 of the sub-controller 10 and the sub-agent 52 of the main controller 20 can communicate with each other using the SNMP AgentX protocol via the connection line N1.

  The master agents 41 and 51 register and manage status information indicating the status of their controllers called MIB collected by the subagents 42 and 52 in the MIB management files 411 and 511, respectively, and manage the external device 500 ( Provided in response to a request from the SNMP manager. As shown in FIG. 5, in the MIB management files 411 and 511, MIBs collected by the subagents and their priorities are registered in association with each other. In the present embodiment, the MIB registered in the MIB management file 511 of the master agent 51 is null.

  The subagent 42 collects MIB from its own controller and each device placed under the control of its own controller, and registers it in the MIB management file 411 of the master agent 41 using the AgentX protocol. Specifically, the subagent 42 acquires a printer MIB 421 including the printer MIB1 as an MIB related to the subcontroller 10, and registers it in the MIB management file 411 using the AgentX protocol.

  On the other hand, the subagent 52 collects, as MIBs of the main controller 20, a private MIB 521 including private MIB1 and MIB2 and a printer MIB 522 including the printer MIB1 ′ and MIB2 related to the printer engine 31. Here, the private MIB 521 includes individual identification information (for example, a MAC address or serial number of an external I / F 208 described later) for identifying the main controller 20 itself, and information indicating a state such as specifications and operations. Yes. In other words, the private MIB 521 can be used as information for uniquely specifying the management target (image forming apparatus 100).

  In the example of FIG. 5, only the printer MIB 522 related to the printer engine 31 is illustrated for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the MIB is similarly acquired for the scanner engine 32, the FAX engine 33, and the like.

  Further, the sub agent 52 detects the connection state with the sub controller 10 by referring to the MIB of the internal I / F 206 to be described later or by communicating with the master agent 41 of the sub controller 10 via the connection line N1. If it is determined that they are connected, the private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 are registered in the MIB management file 411 managed by the master agent 41 on the sub-controller 10 side.

  Priorities for MIB registration using the AgentX protocol can be specified from 1 to 255, and the lower the value, the higher the priority. It is assumed that an arbitrary value can be set for this priority order. In this embodiment, the default value “127” is designated as the priority order when registering from the subagent 52 to the master agent 41.

  Here, referring to FIG. 5, in the MIB management file 411, printer MIBs 1 'and 2 and private MIBs 1 and 2 are registered with the default priority 127, but the sub-agent 42 assigns the printer MIB 1 with priority 1. Registered. Therefore, the printer MIB1 with the priority order 1 is wired, and the external device 500 (SNMP manager) acquires the printer MIB1, the printer MIB2, the private MIB1, and the private MIB2 from the master agent 41. Since the value of the private MIB1 on the sub-controller 10 side is set to 128 or more, the printer MIB1 ′ on the main controller 20 side can be preferentially provided, and can be appropriately adjusted according to the use environment. preferable.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, even when only the sub controller 10 is connected to the network N2, the MIB collected by the sub agent 52 on the main controller 20 side is collected on the sub controller 10 side. By being under the management of the master agent 41, the MIB related to the main controller 20 can be provided from the master agent 41 of the sub-controller 10.

  In the present embodiment, the network N2 is connected only to the sub-controller 10, but the network N2 may be connected only to the main controller 20. In this case, it is preferable to perform transfer control on the main controller 20 side. Specifically, the middleware unit 21 of the main controller 20 includes the network control unit 111, the table management unit 112, and the port transfer unit 113 described above. Thus, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, of the controller 1 and controller 2 included in the image processing apparatus, only the controller 1 side is connected to the network N2. However, since the functional units (applications) included in the controller 2 can be used independently, it is preferable that the controller 2 be directly accessible. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a description will be given of a mode in which both the controllers 1 and 2 are connected to the network N2, and each controller can be directly accessed from the external device 500. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code | symbol.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a sub-controller 60 (controller 1), a main controller 70 (controller 2), and engine hardware 30.

  The sub-controller 60 is a controller dedicated to image processing having a function of converting image data transmitted from the external device 500 into printable data, and includes an OS stored in the control unit 101 and the storage unit 104 described later, An OS / middleware unit 13 and an application unit 12 are provided as functional units in cooperation with various programs. Further, the main controller 70 is a general-purpose controller, and the OS / middleware unit 23 and the application unit 24 are used as functional units in cooperation with an OS and various programs stored in the control unit 201 and the storage unit 204 described later. Prepare.

  The OS / middleware unit 13 on the sub-controller 60 side includes a network control unit 111, a table management unit 131, and a port transfer unit 113.

  On the other hand, the OS / middleware unit 23 on the main controller 70 side includes a network control unit 211 and a network configuration detection unit 231. The application unit 24 has an SNMP application 241 instead of the SNMP application 228 described above.

  The network configuration detection unit 231 is a functional unit that detects the state of an internal I / F 206 and an external I / F 208 (described later) included in the main controller 70. Specifically, the network configuration detection unit 231 detects UP / DOWN of the link of the external I / F 208 connected to the network N2, and notifies the table management unit 131 of the sub-controller 60 of detection information indicating the detection result. This notification is made via a connection line N1 that connects the sub controller 60 and the main controller 70. The network configuration detection unit 231 detects UP / DOWN of the link of the internal I / F 206 connected to the connection line N1.

  On the other hand, the table management unit 131 of the sub-controller 60 switches the port forwarding table referred to by the port transfer unit 113 according to the detection information notified from the network configuration detection unit 231 of the main controller 70.

  Specifically, when the detection information notified from the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates the link UP, the table management unit 131 sets the port forwarding table illustrated in FIG. 7 as the reference destination of the port transfer unit 113. .

  Here, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a port forwarding table that is validated when the external I / F 208 of the main controller 70 is a link UP. As shown in the figure, only the ports (LPR, TCP IP raw, SNMP) corresponding to each application executed by the application unit 12 of the sub controller 60 (controller 1) are enabled, The forwarding destination is set. Further, the ports related to the respective applications executed by the application unit 24 of the main controller 70 (controller 2) are set so that the transfer destination becomes invalid.

  When the external I / F 208 of the main controller 70 is a link UP, the main controller 70 can accept direct access from the external device 500 and can perform processing independently according to the accessed port. In this case, it is not necessary to transfer a processing request to the main controller 70 on the sub controller 60 side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the table management unit 131 uses the port forwarding table 113 to refer to the port forwarding table that is defined to transfer only the communication that needs to be executed by the sub-controller 60 to the local host. Set to. When the forwarding destination is “error display”, this means that information indicating an error is returned to the external device 500 that has accessed the port. Note that when communication with the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is performed from the external device 500 to the main controller 70, the device setting screen for the main controller 20 is displayed on the external device 500 by the Web application 224. Provided to.

  Further, when the detection information notified from the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates the link DOWN, the table management unit 131 sets the port forwarding table described with reference to FIG. Thereby, even when the main controller 70 and the network N2 are disconnected, a processing request addressed to the main controller 70 can be notified via the sub-controller 60.

  In the embodiment, the network control unit 211 of the main controller 70 sets a port corresponding to a service provided by each application of the application unit 22 to a network to which an internal I / F 206 and an external I / F 208 described later are connected. Set to be accessible (open). Each application of the application unit 22 provides a predetermined service to the external device 500 that directly accesses an external I / F 208 described later, in addition to the external device 500 that is accessed via the sub-controller 60.

  Hereinafter, operations of the table management unit 131 and the network configuration detection unit 231 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the table management unit 131 and the network configuration detection unit 231.

  First, the network configuration detection unit 231 of the main controller 70 monitors the link state of an external I / F 208 (described later) connected to the network N2 constantly or every predetermined period (step S31; No). Here, when detecting the link UP or link DOWN of the external I / F 208 (step S31; Yes), the network configuration detection unit 231 transmits detection information representing the link state to the table management unit 131 (step S32). Return to step S31 again.

  On the other hand, when receiving the detection information from the network configuration detection unit 231, the table management unit 131 of the sub-controller 60 determines whether or not this detection information indicates a link UP (step S <b> 41). If it is determined that the link is UP (step S41; Yes), the table management unit 131 sets the reference destination of the port transfer unit 113 as a port forwarding table in which only transfer to the own sub-controller 60 is enabled (see FIG. 7). ) Is set as the reference destination of the port transfer unit 113 (step S42), and the process returns to step S41.

  If it is determined in step S41 that the link is DOWN (step S41; No), the table management unit 131 uses the port transfer unit 113 as a reference destination for which transfer to both the sub controller 60 and the main controller 70 is enabled. The forwarding table (see FIG. 2) is set as a reference destination of the port transfer unit 113 (step S43), and the process returns to step S41 again.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the port forwarding table for controlling the validity / invalidity of the transfer to the main controller 70 can be switched according to the connection state of the main controller 70 to the network N2. it can. Thereby, access from the external device 500 can be accepted and the controller for processing can be automatically switched, so that convenience can be improved.

  When both the sub controller 60 and the main controller 70 are connected to the network N2, each can independently communicate with the external device 500, and when the main controller 70 is disconnected from the network N2, Since communication from the external device 500 can be transferred to the main controller 70 via the controller 60, the distribution of processing executed by each controller can be flexibly handled according to the network configuration. In addition, communication redundancy with respect to the main controller 70 can be improved.

  Next, the relationship between SNMP applications in the sub controller 60 and the main controller 70 will be described. Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between SNMP agents by the SNMP application 123 and the SNMP application 241. In FIG. 9, it is assumed that the external device 500 is an SNMP manager.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the SNMP application 123 of the sub controller 60 is divided into a master agent 41 and a sub agent 42 according to the function. The SNMP application 241 of the main controller 70 is also divided into a master agent 51 and a subagent 53 according to the function.

  Here, as with the subagent 52 described above, the subagent 53 on the main controller 70 side includes, as the MIB of the main controller 70, the private MIB 521 that includes the private MIB1 and MIB2 and the printer MIB1 ′ and MIB2 related to the printer engine 31. Printer MIB 522 as an element is collected.

  Further, the subagent 53 sends the MIB related to the main controller 70 to the master agent on the controller side connected to the network N2 according to the link state of the internal I / F 206 and the external I / F 208 detected by the network configuration detection unit 231. Register part or all of.

  Specifically, when the detection result by the network configuration detection unit 231 is that only the internal I / F 206 is a link UP, the subagent 53, as shown in FIG. 5, all the MIBs (private MIBs 1, 2,. The printer MIB 1 ′, 2) is registered in the MIB management file 411 of the master agent 41.

  As a result, the MIB of the image forming apparatus 200 (sub-controller 60 + main controller 70) can be provided from the master agent 41 to the external apparatus. In this case, if the MIB related to the main controller 70 is registered in the MIB management file 511, it may be deleted from the MIB management file 511 as shown in FIG.

  Further, when the detection result by the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates that only the external I / F 208 is a link UP, the subagent 53, as shown in FIG. 9, performs all the MIBs (private MIBs 1 and 2, printer MIB1) related to the main controller 70. '2) is registered in the MIB management file 511.

  As a result, the MIB of the main controller 70 can be provided directly from the master agent 51 to the external device.

  Further, the subagent 53 registers the printer MIB 522 in the MIB management file 511 of the master agent 51 when the detection result by the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates that the internal I / F 206 and the external I / F 208 are link UP. The private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 are registered in the MIB management file 411.

  As a result, the printer MIB 522 mounted on the main controller 70 side can be used on the sub controller 60 side, and the number of steps for mounting the printer MIB 522 on the sub controller 60 side can be reduced. In addition, the private MIB 521 including the individual identification information can be provided directly from the master agent 51 to the external device.

  In addition, the subagent 53 determines that the master agent 51 determines that the detection result of the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates that only the internal I / F 206 is in the link UP state, and the internal I / F 206 and the external I / F 208 are in the link UP state. The private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 are registered in the MIB management file 511, and the private MIB 521 is deleted from the MIB management file 411 of the master agent 41.

  In addition, the subagent 53 determines that the master agent 51 detects that the detection result of the network configuration detection unit 231 indicates that the internal I / F 206 and the external I / F 208 are switched from the link UP state to the link UP state only in the internal I / F 206. The private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 registered in the MIB management file 511 are deleted, and the private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 are registered in the MIB management file 411 of the master agent 41.

  Thereby, even if the connection form between the sub controller 60 and the main controller 70 is dynamically changed, the private MIB 521 can be provided from any master agent.

  When both the external I / F 208 and the internal I / F 206 are link DOWN, the main controller 20 has a stand-alone configuration. However, in this embodiment, the state of the MIB management file 511 until immediately before the link DOWN is maintained. To do.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the SNMP application 241 of the main controller 70 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the subagent 53.

  The subagent 53 monitors the detection result of the network configuration detection unit 231 (step S51; No), and determines that the link state of the external I / F 208 and / or the internal I / F 206 has changed (step S51; Yes). ), It is determined whether or not the detection result indicates a link UP of the external I / F 208 (step S52).

  If it is determined in step S52 that the link is DOWN of the external I / F 208 (step S52; No), the subagent 53 determines whether or not the link state of the internal I / F 206 indicates link UP (step S53). . If it is determined that the link is DOWN of the internal I / F 206 (step S53; No), the process returns to step S51 again.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the link of the internal I / F 206 is UP (step S53; Yes), the subagent 53 registers all MIBs related to the main controller 70 in the MIB management file 411 of the subcontroller 60 ( Step S54), the process returns to step S51 again. If the private MIB 521 and the printer MIB 522 are registered in the MIB management file 511, these MIBs are deleted from the MIB management file 511.

  If it is determined in step S52 that the link of the external I / F 208 is UP (step S52; Yes), the subagent 53 further determines whether or not the link state of the internal I / F 206 indicates link UP (step S52). Step S55). If it is determined that the link is DOWN of the internal I / F 206 (step S55; No), the subagent 53 registers all the MIBs related to the main controller 70 in the MIB management file 511 (step S56), and then step S51. Return to the process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S55 that the link of the internal I / F 206 is UP (step S55; Yes), the subagent 53 registers the printer MIB 522 in the MIB management file 511 of the master agent 51 and also the MIB of the master agent 41. The private MIB 521 and printer MIB 522 are registered in the management file 411 (step S57), and the process returns to step S51 again. If the private MIB 521 is registered in the MIB management file 411 of the master agent 41, the private MIB 521 is deleted from the MIB management file 411.

  Through the above processing, even when the external I / F 208 on the main controller 20 side is disconnected from the network N2, the external device can acquire the private MIB of the main controller 20 from the master agent 41 on the sub controller 10 side. It becomes possible. Even when the link with the sub-controller 10 is broken, if the external I / F 208 on the main controller 20 side is connected to the network N2, the external device transfers the private MIB of the main controller 20 to the main controller 20 It can be acquired from the controller 20.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, depending on the connection state of the main controller 70 to the network N2, a part or all of the MIB related to the main controller 70 is transferred to the master agent on the controller side connected to the network N2. Since registration is possible, the MIB providing method can be flexibly switched according to the network configuration.

  In this embodiment, the subagent 53 detects the state change of the external I / F 208 and the internal I / F 206 via the network configuration detection unit 231. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the subagent 53 collects. It is good also as a form which detects the state change of link UP / DOWN from MIB regarding external I / F208 and internal I / F206.

  In this embodiment, the state change of the external I / F 208 is detected on the main controller 70 side, and the transfer control is performed on the sub controller 60 side. However, the state change of the external I / F 206 is detected on the sub controller 60 side. It may be configured to detect and perform transfer control by the main controller 70. Specifically, the OS / middleware unit 13 of the sub-controller 60 includes the network configuration detection unit 231, and the OS / middleware unit 23 of the main controller 70 includes the table management unit 131 and the port transfer unit 113. The effect of can be produced.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. As described in the first and second embodiments, when one image forming apparatus includes a plurality of controllers, it is necessary to change the setting for each controller. In this case, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated and lacks convenience. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a mode will be described in which it is possible to perform function setting of the other controller by accessing one controller. In addition, the same code | symbol is provided about the component similar to 1st, 2nd embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 300 includes a sub-controller 60 (controller 1), a main controller 80 (controller 2), and engine hardware 30.

  The main controller 80 is a general-purpose controller similar to the main controller 20, and in cooperation with an OS and various programs stored in the control unit 201 and the storage unit 204 described later, the OS / middleware unit 23 and the application unit 25. Are provided as functional units.

  Here, the application unit 25 includes a Web application 251 instead of the Web application 224 described above. In addition to the functions of the Web application 224 described above, the Web application 251 includes an information table management unit 2511 that manages an information table in which device setting information indicating each setting of the image forming apparatus 300 and an acquisition location thereof are associated with each other. A device setting management unit 2512 that acquires and updates device setting information based on the table;

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information table managed by the information table management unit 2511. As shown in the figure, in the information table, various device setting information regarding the image forming apparatus 300 and a controller name (controller 1 or controller 2) are registered in association with each other. It is assumed that the information table is stored in advance in the storage unit 204 described later.

  When the device setting management unit 2512 receives a communication requesting device setting information from the external apparatus 500 via the external I / F 208 or the internal I / F 206 described later, that is, a communication addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port. Based on the information table managed by the information table management unit 2511, device setting information is acquired from each acquisition location.

  For example, the device setting management unit 2512 acquires the print counter of the image forming apparatus 300 from the sub-controller 60 (controller 1). In addition, the device setting management unit 2512 acquires the address book from the main controller 80 (controller 2). The method for acquiring / changing the device setting information is not particularly limited. For example, in cooperation with the SNMP application 123 and the SNMP application 228, MIB (state information) obtained from the master agent may be used as the device setting information. In addition, the device setting information can be changed by instructing the master agent to change the setting (for example, SetRequest) in cooperation with the SNMP application 123 and the SNMP application 228.

  Based on the device setting information acquired by the device setting management unit 2512, the Web application 251 generates a device setting screen that can refer to and change the setting of each device setting information, and provides it to the external device 500 that is the access source. To do.

  Note that the port forwarding table managed by the table management unit 131 is the same as the table shown in FIG. 7 (when the external I / F 208 is linked up) according to the state of the external I / F 208 of the main controller 80, and FIG. It is assumed that the table (when the link of the external I / F 208 is DOWN) is switched.

  Here, FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a port forwarding table managed by the table management unit 131. In the figure, communication addressed to the HTTP (80) and HTTPS (443) ports is set to be transferred to the main controller 80. That is, when the external I / F 208 is linked up and the sub-controller 60 is accessed for the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port, the Web application 122 provides an image forming service based on IPP. Further, when access to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is made to the sub-controller 60 at the time of link DOWN of the external I / F 208, this communication is transferred to the main controller 80.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing when an access to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port instructing a request for device setting information from the external apparatus 500 is performed.

  First, a packet addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port that instructs a request for device setting information of the image forming apparatus 300 is transmitted from the external apparatus 500. At this time, assuming that the external I / F 208 of the main controller 80 is a link DOWN, communication from the external device 500 is controlled by the table management unit 131 and the port transfer unit 113 via the sub-controller 60. The Web application 251 is reached (steps S61 and S62). In addition, when the external I / F 208 of the main controller 80 is a link UP, the external device 500 can directly access the main controller 80, so that the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is connected to the Web application 251. The addressed packet arrives (step S63).

  In the main controller 80, when communication addressed to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port is received, the Web application 251 starts generating a device setting screen, and acquires device setting information to the device setting management unit 2512. An instruction is given (step S64). Here, device setting information to be acquired may be designated.

  The device setting management unit 2512 sequentially acquires various device setting information based on the information table managed by the information table management unit 2511. Here, when the acquisition location of the device setting information is the sub controller 60, the device setting management unit 2512 cooperates with the SNMP application 123 via the internal I / F 206, thereby corresponding device setting information from the sub controller 60. Is acquired (step S65). If the acquisition location of the device setting information is the main controller 80, the device setting management unit 2512 acquires the device setting information from its own controller (step S66). Note that the processing of steps S65 and S66 is repeatedly executed until all device setting information is acquired.

  Subsequently, when the web application 251 generates a device setting screen using the device setting information acquired in steps S65 and S66 (step S67), the web application 251 provides the external device via the sub controller 10 and ends this processing. To do. Here, when the external I / F 208 of the main controller 80 is link DOWN, a device setting screen is provided via the sub-controller 60 (steps S68 and S69). If the external I / F 208 of the main controller 80 is a link UP, a device setting screen is directly provided from the main controller 80 to the external device 500 (step S70).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user who operates the external device can acquire the device setting information of the sub controller 60 and the main controller 80 by accessing the main controller 80. Convenience can be improved. In addition, even when the main controller 80 is disconnected from the network N2, by accessing the sub controller 60, the device setting information of the sub controller 60 and the main controller 80 can be acquired. Can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the device setting screen is generated on the main controller 80 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the device setting screen may be generated on the sub controller 60 side. Specifically, when the sub controller 60 includes the Web application 251 instead of the Web application 122, the sub controller 60 can be accessed from the external device 500 to the HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) port of the sub controller 60. 60 and device setting information of the main controller 80 can be acquired. When the main controller 80 is disconnected from the network N2, it is preferable to switch the port forwarding table shown in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus (image forming apparatuses 100, 200, and 300) according to the above-described embodiments. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus includes a controller 1 (sub-controllers 10 and 60), a controller 2 (main controllers 20, 70 and 80), and engine hardware 30.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15, the controller 1 includes a control unit 101 configured by a CPU, a GPU, and the like, a ROM 102 and a RAM 103 connected to the control unit 101 via a system bus, and a storage unit such as an HDD that stores an OS and various programs. 104, an internal I / F 105 for communicating with the controller 2 via the connection line N1, an external I / F 106 for communicating with the external device 500 connected to the network N2, and the like.

  Here, the control unit 101 uses the predetermined area of the RAM 103 as a work area, executes various processes in cooperation with various programs stored in advance in the ROM 102 and the storage unit 104, and performs operations of the respective units constituting the sub-controller 10. Control all over. In addition, the control unit 101 realizes each functional unit described above in cooperation with various programs stored in advance in the ROM 102 or the storage unit 104.

  The controller 2 includes a control unit 201 such as a CPU and a GPU, a ROM 202 and a RAM 203 connected to the control unit 201 via a system bus, a storage unit 204 such as an HDD storing an OS and various programs, and an engine hardware via a connection line N3. 30, an engine I / F 205 for connecting to the controller 30, an internal I / F 206 for communicating with the sub-controller 10 via the connection line N1, an operation panel 207 for operating the controller 2, and an external device 500 connected to the network N2. An external I / F 208 for communicating with the user.

  Here, the control unit 201 uses the predetermined area of the RAM 203 as a work area, executes various processes in cooperation with various programs stored in advance in the ROM 202 and the storage unit 204, and performs operations of the respective units constituting the main controller 20. Control all over. In addition, the control unit 201 implements the above-described functional units in cooperation with various programs stored in advance in the ROM 202 or the storage unit 204. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment described above corresponds to a state in which the external I / F 208 does not exist or is linked DOWN.

  The embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, and the like are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, it is possible to provide a program according to the processing of the above embodiment as a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. For example, the storage format may be any form.

  Further, the program according to the above-described embodiment may be configured to be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network.

  In the above embodiment, the controller 1 and the controller 2 (engine hardware 30) have been described as a single image forming apparatus. However, the system configuration (image formation) can be achieved by arranging the controller 1 and the controller 2 in different locations. In this case, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus, the information processing method, and the program according to the present invention are useful for an apparatus including two controllers, and are particularly suitable for distribution of processing executed by each controller.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 200 Image forming apparatus 300 Image forming apparatus 500 External apparatus 10 Subcontroller 11 OS middleware part 111 Network control part 112 Table management part 113 Port transfer part 12 Application part 121 Printer application 122 Web application 123 SNMP application 13 OS * Middleware section 131 Table management section 20 Main controller 21 OS / middleware section 211 Network control section 22 Application section 221 Scanner application 222 Copy application 223 FAX application 224 Web application 225 FTP application 226 SSH application 227 TELNET application 228 NMP Application 23 OS · middleware unit 231 the network configuration detecting unit 30 engine hardware 31 printer engine 32 scanner engine 33 FAX engine 41 master agent 411 MIB management file 42 subagent 421 printer MIB
51 Master Agent 511 MIB Management File 52 Subagent 521 Private MIB
522 Printer MIB
60 Sub-controller 70 Main controller 80 Main controller 101 Control unit 102 ROM
103 RAM
104 Storage unit 105 Internal I / F
106 External I / F
201 Control unit 202 ROM
203 RAM
204 Storage unit 205 Engine I / F
206 Internal I / F
207 Operation panel 208 External I / F

JP 2006-094049 A

Claims (7)

A first controller and a second controller that respectively provide one or a plurality of services to external devices connected via a network and that can execute at least a series of processes related to image formation in cooperation with each other;
Internal communication means for communicably connecting the first controller and the second controller;
With
The first controller includes:
First external communication means capable of communicating with the external device via the network;
First table management means for managing a transfer table in which a port corresponding to each service provided by the first controller and the second controller is associated with a controller that is a transfer destination of communication addressed to the port;
Transfer means for transferring communication from the external device to the controller corresponding to the port that has received access from the external device, based on the transfer table;
With
The second controller is
Second external communication means capable of communicating with the external device via the network;
Detecting means for detecting a change in a connection state of the second external communication means to the network and notifying the first controller;
Further comprising
The first table management means, when the detection means detects that the communication of the second external communication means with the external device has been disconnected, each of the first controller and the second controller; The first transfer table in which transfer between the ports corresponding to each service provided by the first controller and the second controller is enabled is set as a reference destination of the transfer unit, and the detection unit includes the detection unit When it is detected that communication with the external device of the second external communication means is in a connected state, transfer between the first controller and a port corresponding to a service provided by the first controller is performed. The validated second transfer table is set as the reference destination of the transfer means.
An image forming apparatus. The second controller obtains device setting information indicating a setting state of each controller from the first controller and the second controller, and a publishing unit for providing a service for publishing the function setting information to the external device. And further comprising
Wherein the first forwarding table, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the port corresponding to the service the public means is provided that said second controller is registered in association. The second controller further includes a second table management means for managing an information table in which a controller as an acquisition destination is associated for each type of the device setting information.
It said acquisition means, on the basis of the said information table second table managing means, an image according to claim 2, the device setting information and acquires from the first controller or the second controller Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires the function setting information from the first controller using the internal communication unit. The first controller is a sub-controller that performs image processing on image data to be printed, and the second controller is a main controller that prints image data subjected to the image processing. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . One or more services to the external device connected via a network respectively provided, is performed by the first controller and the second controller capable of executing in conjunction with a series of processing relating to at least the image forming An information processing method,
An accepting step in which the network control means accepts access from an external device via the network;
A detecting step for detecting a change in a connection state of the second controller to the network and notifying the first controller;
When the first table management means detects that the communication with the external device of the second controller is disconnected, the first table management means and each of the first controller and the second controller, A first transfer table in which transfer between the controller and the port corresponding to each service provided by the second controller is enabled is set as a reference destination of the transfer unit, and the detection unit includes the second controller When it is detected that the communication with the external device is in a connected state, the transfer is enabled between the first controller and the port corresponding to the service provided by the first controller. A table changing step for setting a transfer table as a reference destination of the transfer means;
Transfer means, a transfer step on the basis of the forwarding table, forwards the communication from the external device to the addressed controller corresponding to the port that has received the access in the reception step,
An information processing method comprising: One or more services to the external device connected via the network each providing a series of first controller process linked to the capable of executing and the second controller of a computer according to at least the image forming,
Accepting means for accepting access from an external device via a network;
Detecting means for detecting a change in a connection state of the second controller to the network and notifying the first controller;
Provided by each of the first controller and the second controller, and the first controller and the second controller, when the detecting means detects that the communication with the external device of the second controller is disconnected. The first transfer table in which transfer between the ports corresponding to each service to be enabled is set as a reference destination of the transfer means, and the detection means communicates with the external device of the second controller. When it is detected that the connection state is established, a second transfer table in which transfer between the first controller and a port corresponding to a service provided by the first controller is enabled is stored in the transfer means. First table management means to be set as a reference destination;
Transfer means based on the forwarding table, forwards the communication from the external device to the addressed controller corresponding to the port that has received the access in the reception step,
Program to make it function.

Images