JP5526671B2 - Program, information processing apparatus and communication system - Google Patents

Description

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

  A management system that sends commands to a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected via an electric communication line such as the Internet and manages these information processing apparatuses is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the image forming apparatus management system described in Patent Document 1, a command is sent from the image forming apparatus to the management apparatus in order to give a command to the image forming apparatus placed under the customer via a firewall between the telecommunication line. Transmission for confirmation is performed, and command information to the image forming apparatus is sent as a reply to the transmission.

JP 2003-330823 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the program, information processing apparatus, and communication system which can request | require a process with respect to information processing apparatuses other than the information processing apparatus which transmitted the inquiry signal.

[1] receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
Determining the presence or absence of command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices when receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
A signal transmitted to one of the first and second information processing devices as a reply to the inquiry signal received in the receiving step when it is determined that there is command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices. And a transmission step of adding a request signal for requesting the other of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus to transmit an inquiry signal and transmitting the request signal.

[ 2 ] The first and second information processing apparatuses permit transmission from an internal communication network to an external communication network, and a reply to the transmission, and pass through the external communication network other than the reply. Transmission to an internal communication network is connected to the internal communication network of a communication control device that prohibits passage, and reception by the reception step and transmission by the transmission step are performed via the communication control device [1 ]. the program according to.

[ 3 ] means for receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
Means for determining the presence or absence of command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices when an inquiry signal is received from one of the first and second information processing devices;
When it is determined that there is command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices, a response to the inquiry signal received by the receiving means is transmitted to one of the first and second information processing devices. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to add a request signal for requesting the other of the first and second information processing apparatuses to transmit an inquiry signal to the signal to be transmitted .

[4] Receive inquiry signals from the first and second information processing apparatuses and the first and second information processing apparatuses, and process the first and second information processing apparatuses as a reply to the inquiry signals. A communication system comprising a third information processing device for transmitting a requested signal;
Said third information processing apparatus, a signal to be transmitted as a reply to the inquiry signal received from one of the first and second information processing apparatus, to the other of the first and second information processing apparatus Send with a request signal requesting to send an inquiry signal ,
When one of the first or second information processing apparatus includes the request signal in a signal received as a reply from the third information processing apparatus, the first or second information processing apparatus A communication system for transmitting a signal for causing the other of the devices to execute the processing.

[5] Transmission from the internal communication network to which the first and second information processing apparatuses are connected to the external communication network to which the third information processing apparatus is connected, and a reply to the transmission are permitted to pass And a communication control device for prohibiting transmission from the external communication network other than the reply to the internal communication network,
The first and second information processing devices transmit information indicating a configuration of the internal communication network to the third information processing device,
The said 3rd information processing apparatus as described in said [ 4 ] which adds the said request signal based on the information which shows the structure of the said internal communication network transmitted from the said 1st and 2nd information processing apparatus. Communications system.

According to the first, third, and fourth aspects of the invention, it is possible to request processing to an information processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry signal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to request processing from an information processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus that has transmitted the inquiry signal while restricting communication by the communication control apparatus.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a change in the configuration of the internal communication network, a signal for requesting processing is sent to an information processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus that transmitted the inquiry signal. be able to.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit of the management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit of the management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing a processing procedure of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 100 includes a firewall 10 as an example of a communication control device, a local area network 2 as an example of an internal communication network provided inside the firewall 10, and a first and a second connected to the local area network 2. A management server 30 as an example of a third information processing apparatus connected between the plurality of multifunction peripherals 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ as an example of the second information processing apparatus and the firewall 10 via the external network 1; It is configured with.

The multifunction peripherals 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ are devices having a plurality of image forming functions such as a copying function and a fax transmission function.

  The external network 1 is a telecommunication line capable of bidirectional communication, and for example, the Internet is used.

  The firewall 10 permits or prohibits communication performed via the firewall 10 based on preset filtering rules. The firewall 10 permits outbound transmission from the local area network 2 side as an internal communication network to the external network 1 as an external communication network and inbound replies to the outbound transmission, and allows outbound transmission. Dynamic filtering rules that prohibit passage of inbound transmissions that are not replies to are applied.

(Configuration of the MFP 20 ₁₎
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the multifunction machine 20 _1.

MFP 20 ₁ includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22 for storing data necessary for processing by the control unit 21, a user interface unit 23, an image reading unit 24, an image forming unit 25, facsimile transmission unit 26 And a communication unit 27 that performs communication via the local area network 2. Incidentally, the MFP 20 ₂ also has the same arrangement as the MFP 20 _1.

The user interface unit 23 receives the button operation or the like the content of processing regarding image formation performed by the MFP 20 ₁ from the user. The image reading unit 24 reads the user's document and generates image data. The image forming unit 25 performs printing on a recording medium such as printing paper based on the image data generated by the image reading unit 24. The fax transmission unit 26 transmits the image data generated by the image reading unit 24 to a designated destination via the public telephone network.

(Configuration of control unit 21)
The control unit 21 causes the CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program 220 including the processing shown in FIG. 4 stored in the storage unit 22, so that the control unit 210, the transmission unit 211, the reception unit 212, It functions as an instruction processing unit 213, a transfer unit 214, a network setting information transmission unit 215, and the like.

  The control unit 210 receives a user's processing instruction regarding image formation from the user interface unit 23 and controls the image reading unit 24, the image forming unit 25, and the fax transmission unit 26 according to the instruction.

Transmitting means 211, via the firewall 10, polling and transmitted to the management server 30 whether the instruction for the MFP 20 _1, and the query signal inquiring contents of the instruction. The transmission unit 211 performs polling to the management server 30, for example, once a day at the time stored in the setting information 222 of the storage unit 22.

  The receiving unit 212 receives a reply to the polling by the transmitting unit 211 from the management server 30.

Instruction processing means 213, if the reply from the management server 30 received by the receiving means 212 containing information instruction to the MFP 20 ₁ executes a process corresponding to the instruction.

In the reply from the management server 30 received by the receiving unit 212, the transfer unit 214 includes information on an instruction for another multifunction device (for example, the multifunction device 20 ₂ ) connected to the local area network 2. If so, the contents of the instruction are transferred to the target MFP. In addition, when the transfer unit 214 receives an instruction transfer from the management server 30 from another multi-function peripheral connected to the local area network 2, the transfer unit 214 receives the instruction.

  The network setting information transmission unit 215 collects information regarding the configuration of the local area network 2 from the information received via the local area network 2 and transmits the information to the management server 30. If there is a change in the configuration of the local area network 2, the information is transmitted to the management server 30.

(Memory part)
The storage unit 22 includes a memory element such as a RAM and a ROM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 22 stores a program 220, setting information 221, history information 222 and the like necessary for executing the processing of the control unit 21.

The program 220, in order to perform the image forming process of the MFP 20 _1, to communicate with the control program the control unit 210 executes, and the management server 30 or the like, the transmitting means 211, receiving means 212, transfer means A communication program executed by 214 is included.

History information 221 is information showing the control unit 211 the content and processing number of times information of the processing performed, and the contents and the like of the fault occurring in the MFP 20 _1.

Setting information 222, and information of the transmission time of polling performed by the transmitting means 211 described above, depending on the level of severity of the disorder that may occur failure to the multifunction machine 20 _1, the management server 30 generates information of the disorder This is information such as setting information indicating whether or not to transmit.

(Configuration of the management server 30)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the management server 30.

  The management server 30 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32 that stores data necessary for processing by the control unit 31, an interface unit 33, and a communication unit 34.

  The interface unit 33 transmits and receives signals between the control unit 31, the display device 41, and the input device 42. The communication unit 34 transmits and receives signals from the control unit 31 via the external network 1.

(Configuration of control unit 31)
The control unit 31 executes a program 320 stored in the storage unit 32 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) so that a command generation unit 311, a polling reception unit 312, a command transmission Means 313, response processing means 314, network setting information receiving means 315, etc.

The command generation means 311 is command information indicating the contents of an instruction to be executed by the multifunction peripherals 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ ... According to an instruction of an administrator who has authority to operate the management server 30 and is input from the input device 42. And is stored in the command information 321 of the storage unit 32 in association with the identification information for identifying the target MFP.

The polling receiving unit 312 detects that polling has been received from the multifunction peripherals 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ ..., And refers to the office information 322 and the network setting information 323 based on the received information, and transmits the polling source. The identification information for identifying the MFP is acquired.

  The business office information 322 stores information on multifunction peripherals connected to local area networks of a plurality of business offices connected to the external network 1. The network setting information 322 stores information such as an address for identifying each multi-function peripheral in the local area network of each office.

  Based on the identification information acquired by the polling reception unit 312, the command transmission unit 313 searches the command information 321 in the storage unit 32 for command information to the MFP that has polled, and if there is corresponding command information, Command information is sent as a reply to polling to the MFP that is the polling sender.

  In addition, the command transmission unit 313 extracts another multifunction device connected to the same local area network as the multifunction device that has transmitted polling with reference to the office information 322 and the network setting information 323, and extracts the extracted multifunction device. The command information to the machine is searched from the command information 321 in the storage unit 32, and if there is corresponding command information, it is added to the command information to the MFP as the polling transmission source and transmitted.

  The response processing unit 314 receives a response to the command information transmitted by the processing of the command transmission unit 313, and outputs the information indicated in the response by displaying it on the display 41.

Network setting information receiving section 315, from the MFP 20 ₁ or MFP 20 _2, it receives and stores the configuration information of the local area network 2 to the network setting information 323.

(Operation of control means 210)
MFP 20 _first control means 210 receives the user's instruction from the user interface unit 23. If the user's instruction is “copy”, the image reading unit 24 is controlled to read image data from the user's original, and the image forming unit 25 is controlled based on the read image data to record a recording medium such as printing paper. An image is formed on.

  If the user's instruction is “fax transmission”, the control unit 210 controls the image reading unit 24 to read image data from the user's original, and controls the fax transmission unit 26 to read the read image data. The fax number received from the user via the user interface unit 23 is transmitted to the other party.

  Further, after executing the instruction received from the user, the control unit 210 stores information such as the contents of processing performed by the image reading unit 24, the image forming unit 25, and the fax transmission unit 26 and the number of processings in the history of the storage unit 22. The information 221 is stored.

Further, the control unit 210, when the MFP 20 ₁ fails, stores the contents in the history information 221, based on the information set in the setting information 222 described above, generation information of the disorder Is transmitted to the management server 30, and if it is determined to be transmitted, it is transmitted to the management server 30.

(Operations of transmission unit 211, reception unit 212, instruction processing unit 213, transfer unit 214)
4, the transmission device 211 of the MFP 20 _1, receiving means 212, instruction processing unit 213 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow which transfer means 214 performs. The processing shown in this flowchart is started at a predetermined time interval (for example, once per minute) by, for example, a timer interrupt.

  The transmission unit 211 acquires information on the current time (S10), determines whether the current time corresponds to the polling time stored in the setting information 222 (S11), and if not (S11; No) The process ends. If applicable, the management server 30 is polled (S12).

Then, the receiving unit 212 waits for a reply from the management server 30 to the polling (S13), if there is a reply (S13; Yes), information requesting processing to the MFP 20 ₁ in the received signal It is determined whether there is any (S14).

If there is information for requesting processing to the MFP 20 ₁ (S14; Yes), an instruction processing unit 213 executes the requested processing, and transmits the execution result to the management server 30 (S15). This process is, for example, a process of transmitting information stored in the history information 221 to the management server 30 or a process of changing the setting information stored in the setting information 222.

Next, the transfer unit 214 sends the signal received from the management server 30 by the reception unit 212 to the management server 30 for another multifunction device (for example, the multifunction device 20 ₂ ) connected to the local area network 2. It is determined whether or not a signal for requesting polling is included (S16), and if it is included (S16; Yes), the information is transferred to the corresponding other MFP (S17).

  Note that the transfer processing performed in step S17 includes not only transferring part or all of the signal received from the management server 30 as it is, but also a polling transmission request determined in advance with another multifunction device. You may carry out by transmitting the information which shows.

(Operation of command generation means 311)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of processing executed by the command generation unit 311 of the management server 30.

  The command generation unit 311 receives an instruction from an administrator who has authority to operate the management server 30 from the input device 42 connected via the interface 23 (S20). This instruction is, for example, an instruction to change the setting content stored in the setting information 222 of a specific multifunction peripheral.

  Next, the command generation unit 311 generates command information indicating the content of the processing request to the target multifunction peripheral corresponding to the instruction received from the administrator in step S20 (S21).

  Next, the command generation unit 311 stores the command information generated in step S21 in the command information 321 of the storage unit 32 together with the identification information for identifying the target multifunction peripheral (S22).

(Operations of polling receiving means 312, command transmitting means 313, response processing means 314)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of processing executed by the polling reception unit 312, the command transmission unit 313, and the response processing unit 314 of the management server 30.

The polling receiving unit 312 detects that polling has been received from the multifunction peripherals 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ ..., And based on the information specifying the transmission source multifunction peripheral included in the received information, the establishment information 322 and With reference to the network setting information 323, identification information for identifying the MFP as the polling transmission source is acquired (S30).

  Next, the command transmission unit 313 searches the command information 321 for command information targeted for the polling transmission source multifunction device based on the identification information of the polling transmission source acquired in step S30 (S31). If there is corresponding command information as a result of the search in step S31 (S32; Yes), the command information is read from the command information 321 and added to the reply data returned to the polling transmission source MFP (S33).

  Next, the command transmission unit 313 refers to the office information 322 and the network setting information 323, and extracts identification information of other multifunction peripherals connected to the same local area network as the multifunction peripheral that is the source of polling (S34). ).

  Next, the command transmission unit 313 searches the command information 321 for command information targeted for the MFP having the identification information extracted in step S34 (S35). If there is command information as a result of the search in step S35 (S36; Yes), the management server 30 is polled for the target multifunction device of the command information in response data to be sent back to the polling transmission source multifunction device. A request signal for requesting is added (S37).

  Next, the command transmission means 313 transmits the reply data to the polling transmission source MFP (S38).

  Next, the response processing unit 314 determines whether or not the reply data transmitted to the polling transmission source multifunction device includes command information for the multifunction device (S39). ; Yes), waiting for a reply from the multifunction machine (S40). If there is a reply (S40; Yes), the information included in the reply is displayed on the display device 41 via the interface unit 33 and output (S41). This information indicates, for example, that the process of changing the setting information stored in the setting information 222 has been completed normally.

(Operations of network setting information transmitting means 215 and network setting information receiving means 315)
Network setting information transmitting unit 215 of the multifunction machine 20 ₁ on the basis of the transmission and reception signals of the other MFP flowing through the local area network 2, to collect configuration information of the local area network 2. This configuration information includes information such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address for identifying a multi-function peripheral connected to the local area network 2.

  The network setting information transmission unit 215 transmits the configuration information of the local area network 2 to the management server 30 periodically or when there is a change in the configuration information of the local area network 2.

  The network setting information receiving unit 315 of the management server 30 stores the configuration information of the local area network 2 transmitted by the network setting information transmitting unit 215 in the network setting information 323.

(Operation example of communication system 100)
FIG. 7 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a communication procedure performed in the communication system 100.

MFP 20 ₁ performs polling to the management server 30 (S100). The management server 30 performs a reply to the polling to the multifunction device 20 ₁ (S101). This reply includes a polling request signal for requesting the polling to the management server 30 commands the information for the MFP 20 _1, and the MFP 20 ₁ and complex machines connected to the same network 20 ₂ .

MFP 20 ₁ receives a reply from the management server 30 performs a process corresponding to the instruction contents of the command information, and transmits the response to the management server 30 (S102). Further, the MFP 20 ₁ transfers the polling request signal to the MFP 20 ₂ (S103).

MFP 20 ₂ receives the transfer of the polling request signals, performs polling to the management server 30 (S104). The management server 30 as a reply to the polling from the MFP 20 ₂ sends a command information for the MFP 20 ₂ (S105). MFP 20 ₂ processes the command information and sends the response to the management server 30 (S106).

[Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. In addition, the constituent elements of the above-described embodiment can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the gist of the invention, or some constituent elements can be omitted or simplified.

For example, in the above embodiment, the process was to forward a polling request signal requesting to make the polling to the management server 30 to the MFP 20 _2, to request from the management server 30 to the MFP 20 ₂ not limited thereto, and may be a process of changing the contents, for example set in the setting information 222 of the MFP 20 _2.

  Part or all of the program used in the above embodiment may be configured by hardware. The program used in the above embodiment may be downloaded from a network to a storage unit in the information processing apparatus, or may be taken into a storage unit in the information processing apparatus from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

1 ... external network, 2 ... local area _network, 20 1, ₂₀ 2 ... MFP 30 ... management server, 10 ... firewall, 21 ... controller, 22 ... Storage unit, 23... User interface unit, 24... Image reading unit, 25... Image forming unit, 26. ... Management server, 31 ... Control unit, 31 ... Command generation unit, 32 ... Storage unit, 33 ... Interface unit, 34 ... Communication unit, 41 ... Display device, 42 ... Input device 100 ... Communication system 210 ... Control means 211 Transmission means 211 ... Control means 211 ... Transmission means 212 ... Reception means 213 ... Instruction Processing means, 214... Transfer means, 220 ... Program, 221 ... Setting information, 221 ... History information, 222 ... Setting information, 311 ... Command generation means, 312 ... Polling reception means, 313 ... Command transmission means 314: Response processing means, 320: Program, 321: Command information, 322: Office information, 322: Network setting information

Claims (5)

Receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
Determining the presence or absence of command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices when receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
A signal transmitted to one of the first and second information processing devices as a reply to the inquiry signal received in the receiving step when it is determined that there is command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices. And a transmission step of adding a request signal for requesting the other of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus to transmit an inquiry signal and transmitting the request signal. The first and second information processing devices permit transmission from an internal communication network to an external communication network, and a reply to the transmission, and allow the internal communication from the external communication network other than the reply. The program according to claim 1 , wherein transmission to a network is connected to the internal communication network of a communication control device that prohibits passage, and reception by the reception step and transmission by the transmission step are performed via the communication control device. . Means for receiving an inquiry signal from one of the first and second information processing devices;
Means for determining the presence or absence of command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices when an inquiry signal is received from one of the first and second information processing devices;
When it is determined that there is command information for the other of the first and second information processing devices, a response to the inquiry signal received by the receiving means is transmitted to one of the first and second information processing devices. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to add a request signal for requesting the other of the first and second information processing apparatuses to transmit an inquiry signal to the signal to be transmitted . Signals that receive inquiry signals from the first and second information processing devices and the first and second information processing devices, and request processing from the first and second information processing devices as replies to the inquiry signals And a third information processing device that transmits
Said third information processing apparatus, a signal to be transmitted as a reply to the inquiry signal received from one of the first and second information processing apparatus, to the other of the first and second information processing apparatus Send with a request signal requesting to send an inquiry signal ,
When one of the first or second information processing apparatus includes the request signal in a signal received as a reply from the third information processing apparatus, the first or second information processing apparatus A communication system for transmitting a signal for causing the other of the devices to execute the processing. The transmission from the internal communication network to which the first and second information processing devices are connected to the external communication network to which the third information processing device is connected, and the reply to the transmission are allowed to pass, A transmission control device that prohibits transmission from the external communication network other than a reply to the internal communication network,
The first and second information processing devices transmit information indicating a configuration of the internal communication network to the third information processing device,
The communication according to claim 4 , wherein the third information processing apparatus adds the request signal based on information indicating a configuration of the internal communication network transmitted from the first and second information processing apparatuses. system.

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