JP5987947B2 - Device management system, device, device management method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management system, a device, a device management method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device management system is known that includes devices such as printers and scanners owned by a user and a management device that manages the devices. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a device management system including a device such as a printer and a management device that manages the device.

  Here, when the user newly purchases a device such as a scanner and causes the management device to manage the purchased device, information (address) for specifying the management device when performing initial setting of the device. Must be manually entered into the device. Further, when performing the input work, the user needs to proceed while referring to a manual attached to the purchased device, a CD-ROM, or the like. For this reason, there is a problem that the burden on the user in the initial setting of the device is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device management system, a device, a device management method, and a program that can reduce the burden on the user in the initial setting of the device managed by the management device. And

To solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises a first management apparatus that performs communication via a single equipment and a network even without low, a second control apparatus, the apparatus is the and issuing device for issuing a certificate information for communicating with the first management apparatus, a device management system comprising, the device includes a first storage unit for storing an address of the second management device, before A first transmission unit for transmitting a specific information request including device identification information for identifying its own device that requests specific information specifying the first management device to the second management device whose destination is specified by the address; A first receiving unit that receives the specific information as a response to the specific information request from the second management device, and the second management device includes the device identification information that identifies the device, Correlate with specific information To a second storage unit, a second receiving unit that receives the identification information request from the device, the identification information of the first specified based on the identification information corresponding to the device identification information included in the request A second transmitter for transmitting to the issuing device an issuance request for issuing the certificate information for performing communication between the management device and the device that has transmitted the specific information request; A third transmission unit that transmits the specific information as a response and the certificate information received from the issuing device as a response to the issue request to the device .

  In addition, the present invention is an apparatus in an apparatus management system including a plurality of apparatuses, a plurality of first management apparatuses each managing at least one of the apparatuses, a second management apparatus, and a third management apparatus. Each of the plurality of devices includes a first storage unit that stores an address of the third management device, and a specific information request for requesting specific information for specifying the first management device that should manage the device. A first transmission unit that transmits to the third management device whose destination is specified by the address; and a first reception unit that receives the specific information as a response to the specific information request from the third management device. A second receiving unit that receives the specific information request from the device; and a second transmitting unit that transmits the specific information request received by the second receiving unit to the second management device. And said A third receiving unit that receives the specific information as a response to the constant information request from the second management device, and the specific information received by the third receiving unit is transmitted to the device that has transmitted the specific information request. A second transmission unit, and a second storage unit that stores the device identification information for identifying the device and the specific information in association with each other, and the third management unit from the third management unit A fourth receiving unit that receives the specific information request; and the specific information corresponding to the identification information of the device that has transmitted the specific information request when the specific information request is received by the fourth receiving unit. A reading unit that reads from the second storage unit, and a fourth transmission unit that transmits the specific information read by the reading unit to the third management device as a response to the specific information request. Features.

  The present invention is executed by a device management system including a plurality of devices, a plurality of first management devices each managing at least one device, a second management device, and a third management device. A device management method, wherein each of the plurality of devices reads an address of the third management device stored in advance in a first storage unit, and identifies the first management device that should manage the device A first step of transmitting a specific information request for requesting information to the third management device whose destination is specified by the address; and receiving the specific information from the third management device as a response to the specific information request A second step, wherein the third management device receives the specific information request received from the device, and the third step receives the specific information request from the device. A fourth step for transmitting to the two management devices, a fifth step for receiving the specific information as a response to the specific information request from the second management device, and the specific information received in the fifth step. A sixth step of transmitting the information request to the device that has transmitted the request, wherein the second management device receives the specific information request from the third management device in the seventh step and the seventh step. The device of the device that has transmitted the specific information request from the second storage unit in which the device identification information for identifying the device and the specific information are stored in association with each other when the specific information request is received An eighth step of reading the specific information corresponding to the identification information; and the specific information read in the eighth step as the response to the specific information request. Characterized in that it comprises a ninth step of transmitting to. Furthermore, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the device management method described above.

  According to the present invention, in the initial setting of the device, the user need not perform an operation of inputting specific information for specifying the first management device that manages the device while referring to a manual or the like. There is an advantageous effect that the burden on the user in the initial setting of the device can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the first management apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the first management apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the second management apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the issuing device. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a purchase contract flow in the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an initial setting flow of a newly purchased image forming apparatus. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the first management apparatus according to the modification of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the second management apparatus according to the modified example of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation flow of the device management system when a contract number management request is received. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit in a stage before the second management apparatus receives the contract number management request. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit after the second management apparatus that has received the contract number management request has updated the second storage unit. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of management information. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation flow of the device management system when a designated device collective management request is received. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit at a stage before the second management apparatus receives the designated device collective management request. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit after the second management apparatus that has received the designated device collective management request has updated the second storage unit. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of management information.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a device management system, a device, a device management method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<A: Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a device management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first management device 10, a second management device 20, an issuing device 30, and a plurality of image forming devices 40.

  The first management apparatus 10 is means for managing at least one image forming apparatus 40 and is connected to the image forming apparatus 40 managed by the first management apparatus 10 via a network 50 such as the Internet. For convenience of explanation, only one first management apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, but actually, the device management system 1 includes a plurality of first management apparatuses 10. Each first management apparatus 10 manages at least one image forming apparatus 40 to be managed by the first management apparatus 10. In FIG. 1, a configuration in which one first management apparatus 10 is connected to three image forming apparatuses 40 is illustrated, but the number of image forming apparatuses 40 managed by one first management apparatus 10 is shown here. It is not limited. In the present embodiment, all of the image forming apparatuses 40 can access one first management apparatus 10 among the plurality of first management apparatuses 10. This is referred to as “common first management apparatus 10”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a firewall 60 is provided between the network 50 and the image forming apparatus 40. The firewall 60 is a means for preventing unauthorized access to the image forming apparatus 40 through the network 50 such as the Internet.

  The second management device 20 is a means for managing each first management device 10 and is connected to be able to communicate with each first management device 10. The issuing device 30 is a means for issuing certificate information for each image forming device 40 to communicate with the first management device 10 that manages the image forming device 40.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the first management apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the first management device 10 includes an interface device 11, an input device 12, a display device 13, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 15, and a RAM (Random). Access Memory) 16 and CPU 17 are connected to each other via a bus B1.

  The interface device 11 is means for connecting the first management device 10 to the network 50. The input device 12 is means for inputting various operation signals to the first management device 10, and is configured by a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The display device 13 is a means for displaying a processing result or the like by the first management device 10 and includes a display.

  The ROM 14 and the HDD 15 are nonvolatile semiconductor memories that can retain internal data even when the power is turned off, and store various programs executed by the first management apparatus 10. The RAM 16 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily holds various data when executing various programs stored in the ROM 14 or the HDD 15. The CPU 17 controls the entire first management apparatus 10 by executing various programs read out on the RAM 16. The hardware configuration of the first management device 10 has been described above. In the present embodiment, the hardware configurations of the second management device 20 and the issuing device 30 are the same as those in FIG. The first management device 10, the second management device 20, and the issuing device 30 are not limited to the configuration in FIG. 4, and may have a configuration that does not include the input device 12 or the display device 13, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a nonvolatile memory 44, a communication I / F 45, a display panel 46, and an engine unit 47, each of which includes a bus B2. Are connected to each other. The ROM 42 and the nonvolatile memory 44 are nonvolatile semiconductor memories, and store various programs executed by the image forming apparatus 40 and various data (for example, a certificate used for communication with the first management apparatus 10). . The RAM 43 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily holds various data when executing various programs stored in the ROM 42 and the nonvolatile memory 44. The CPU 41 controls the entire image forming apparatus 40 by executing various programs read out on the RAM 43.

  The communication I / F 45 is means for connecting the image forming apparatus 40 to the network 50. The display panel 46 is a means for displaying an operation state, a message, and the like of the image forming apparatus 40, and includes a liquid crystal panel (LCD), a liquid crystal panel including a light emitting diode (LED), and the like. The engine unit 47 is a unit that performs an image forming operation, and includes an electrophotographic print engine that forms an image on recording paper, a scanner engine that reads image data of a document, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 40. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 40 includes an initial setting request acquisition unit 401, a first storage unit 402, a first transmission unit 403, and a first reception unit 404. The initial setting request acquisition unit 401 acquires an initial setting request for requesting the initial setting of the image forming apparatus 40 from the user of the image forming apparatus 40. The first storage unit 402 stores the address of the aforementioned “common first management apparatus 10” as an initial value. Hereinafter, the address of the common first management apparatus 10 is referred to as “common address”. The ROM 42 and the nonvolatile memory 44 in FIG. 3 correspond to the first storage unit 402. When the initial setting request acquisition unit 401 acquires the initial setting request, the first transmission unit 403 shares a specific information request for requesting specific information for specifying the first management device 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40. It transmits to the common 1st management apparatus 10 to which the destination was designated by the address. In the present embodiment, the address (URL) of the first management device 10 is adopted as the specific information. The first receiving unit 404 receives specific information (address of the first management apparatus 10) as a response to the specific information request from the common first management apparatus 10. In this example, the functions of the first transmission unit 403 and the first reception unit 404 are realized by the CPU 41 and the communication I / F 45.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the first management apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the first management device 10 includes a second receiver 101, a second transmitter 102, a third receiver 103, a third transmitter 104, an issue request generator 105, A fifth transmission unit 106; a fifth reception unit 107; a sixth transmission unit 108; and a management target device information management unit 109. In this example, the functions of the second receiver 101, the second transmitter 102, the third receiver 103, the third transmitter 104, the fifth transmitter 106, the fifth receiver 107, and the sixth transmitter 108 are as follows. This is realized by the CPU 17 and the interface device 11.

  The second receiver 101, the second transmitter 102, the third receiver 103, the third transmitter 104, the issue request generator 105, the fifth transmitter 106, the fifth receiver 107, and the sixth transmitter 108 are common. The first management apparatus 10 has other functions, and the other first management apparatuses 10 may not have these functions.

  The second receiving unit 101 receives a specific information request from each image forming apparatus 40. The second transmission unit 102 transmits the specific information request received by the second reception unit 101 to the second management apparatus 20. The third receiving unit 103 receives the address (specific information) of the first management device 10 as a response to the specific information request transmitted by the second transmission unit 102 from the second management device 20. The third transmission unit 104 transmits the address received by the third reception unit 103 to the image forming apparatus 40 that requested the address.

  When the third reception unit 103 receives the address, the issuance request generation unit 105 proves to perform communication between the first management apparatus 10 specified by the address and the image forming apparatus 40 that has requested the address. An issuance request for requesting issuance of certificate information is generated. In the present embodiment, communication by encryption is performed between the first management apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 40. The certificate information is information for encrypting communication data between the first management apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 40. The fifth transmission unit 106 transmits the issue request generated by the issue request generation unit 105 to the issuing device 30. The fifth receiving unit 107 receives certificate information from the issuing device 30 as a response to the issue request. The sixth transmission unit 108 transmits the certificate information received by the fifth reception unit 107 to the image forming apparatus 40.

  The managed device information management unit 109 is a function that all the first management devices 10 have. The managed device information management unit 109 manages various data of the image forming apparatus 40 managed by the first management apparatus 10. The common first management apparatus 10 may not be configured to manage a specific image forming apparatus 40 and may not include the management target device information management unit 109.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the second management apparatus 20. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second management device 10 includes a second storage unit 201, a contract information registration unit 202, a fourth reception unit 203, a reading unit 204, and a fourth transmission unit 205. In this example, the functions of the fourth receiving unit 203 and the fourth transmitting unit 205 are realized by the CPU 17 and the interface device 11.

  The second storage unit 201 associates a device ID that is device identification information for identifying each image forming device 40 with an address of the first management device 10 that should manage the image forming device 40 identified by the device ID. Remember. The ROM 14 and HDD 15 in FIG. 2 correspond to the second storage unit 201.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the second storage unit 201. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the second storage unit 201 purchases a device ID, a contract number (described later) of the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID, and the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID. The first management device that manages the user information indicating information such as the user's name, address, and telephone number, the user ID for uniquely identifying the user, and the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID 10 addresses are stored in association with each other. In the present embodiment, one first management apparatus 10 that manages at least one image forming apparatus 40 owned by the user is assigned to each user. For example, in FIG. 7, five image forming apparatuses 40 (“3A88-12001” to “3A88-12005”) owned by the user identified by the user ID “CUS001” have addresses “test1.xxx.co.jp”. It is managed by one first management device 10 specified by

  Returning to FIG. 6 again, the description will be continued. Each time a purchase contract for the image forming apparatus 40 is established between the manufacturer who sells the image forming apparatus 40 and the user, the contract information registration unit 201 purchases the contract number for identifying the purchase contract and the purchase contract. And the user ID of the user who purchased the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the apparatus ID, and the user ID of the user who purchased the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the apparatus ID. The address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 owned by the user identified by the user ID is acquired, and the acquired information (contract information) is registered in the second storage unit 201.

  The fourth receiving unit 203 receives a specific information request from the common first management apparatus 10. When the fourth receiving unit 203 receives the specific information request, the reading unit 204 receives the address of the first management device 10 that should manage the image forming apparatus 40 that has transmitted the received specific information request from the second storage unit 201. read out. The fourth transmission unit 205 transmits the address of the first management device 10 read by the reading unit 204 to the common first management device 10 as a response to the specific information request.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the issuing device 30. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the issuing device 30 includes a sixth receiving unit 301, an issuing unit 302, and a seventh transmitting unit 303. The sixth reception unit 301 receives an issue request from the common first management apparatus 10. When the sixth receiving unit 301 receives the issue request, the issuing unit 302 issues certificate information corresponding to the received issue request. The seventh transmission unit 303 transmits certificate information as a response to the issue request to the common first management apparatus 10. In this example, the functions of the sixth receiver 301 and the seventh transmitter 303 are realized by the CPU 17 and the interface device 11.

  Next, the flow of a purchase contract in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the flow of a purchase contract. In FIG. 9, first, when a purchase contract for the image forming apparatus 40 is established between a sales representative of a manufacturer who sells the image forming apparatus 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as “sales”) and the user, The user information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) of the user is notified (step S101). The business that has received the notification of the user information inputs the user information and the device ID of the image forming apparatus 40 determined to be purchased by the user specified by the user information to the second management apparatus 20 (step S102). ). In addition, the method by which a sales person inputs user information and apparatus ID into the 2nd management apparatus 20 is arbitrary. For example, the configuration may be such that user information and device ID are input to the second management device 20 by operating a predetermined operation unit provided in the second management device 20. In addition, the business may be configured to transmit user information and device ID to the second management device 20 using a terminal device such as a PC.

  Receiving the user information and the device ID notification from the sales, the second management device 20 registers predetermined contract information in the second storage unit 201 (step S103). More specifically, it is as follows. First, the second management apparatus 20 that has received the notification of the user information and the device ID issues a contract number that identifies a purchase contract for the notified device ID. In this embodiment, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 are purchased with one purchase contract, the contract numbers corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 purchased at that time are common contract numbers. Further, the second management device 20 determines whether the user information notified from the sales is already registered in the second storage unit 201. When the second management device 20 determines that the user information notified from the sales is not registered in the second storage unit 201 (in the case of a new user), the user ID of the user specified by the user information is newly set. The first management apparatus 10 that should manage the image forming apparatus 40 owned by the user is determined. Then, the second management device 20 newly issues the address of the determined first management device 10, the device ID notified from the sales, the newly issued contract number, the user information notified from the sales, and the newly issued The registered user ID is registered in the second storage unit 201 in association with the user ID.

  On the other hand, if the second management device 20 determines that the user information notified from the sales is already registered in the second storage unit 201, the second management device 20 is identified by the user ID corresponding to the user information and the user ID. The address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 owned by the user is read from the second storage unit 201, the read user ID and the address of the first management apparatus 10, and the user notified from the sales The information and the device ID are registered in the second storage unit 201 in association with the newly issued contract number.

  Next, the second management device 20 notifies the business of the address of the first management device 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID notified from the business (step S104). The method in which the second management device 20 notifies the business of the address of the first management device 10 is arbitrary. For example, the 2nd management apparatus 20 may be the structure which transmits the address of the 1st management apparatus 10 with respect to terminal devices, such as PC which sales have. Further, for example, the second management device 20 may be configured to display the address of the first management device 10 on the display device 13 (see FIG. 2) that the second management device 20 has. Then, the sales department notifies the user of the address of the first management apparatus 10 notified from the second management apparatus 20 (step S105). As a result, the user can know the address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the newly purchased image forming apparatus 40. The existing user already knows the address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the newly purchased image forming apparatus 40.

  Next, an initial setting of the newly purchased image forming apparatus 40 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an initial setting flow of a newly purchased image forming apparatus 40. In FIG. 10, the user first inputs an initial setting request for requesting the initial setting to the image forming apparatus 40 newly purchased by the user (step S201). Note that the method for inputting the initial setting request to the image forming apparatus 40 is arbitrary. For example, an initial setting request may be input to the image forming apparatus 40 by a user operating a predetermined operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus 40. The user has a terminal device such as a PC that is communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 40 via the network 50, and transmits an initial setting request from the terminal device to the image forming apparatus 40. May be.

  When acquiring the initial setting request from the user, the image forming apparatus 40 reads the common address stored as the initial value in the first storage unit 402. Then, using the read common address, the image forming apparatus 40 transmits an address request for requesting the address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 to the common first management apparatus 10 (step). S202). In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 40 that has acquired the initial setting request transmits the device ID of the image forming apparatus 40 to the common first management apparatus 10 as an address request.

  When the common first management apparatus 10 receives the address request (device ID) from the image forming apparatus 40, the common first management apparatus 10 transmits the received address request to the second management apparatus 20 (step S203). When the second management apparatus 20 receives the device ID as the address request from the common first management apparatus 10, the second management apparatus 20 identifies the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the received apparatus ID (the image forming apparatus 40 that transmitted the address request). The address of the first management device 10 to be managed is read from the second storage unit 201 (step S204). Then, the second management device 20 transmits the read address to the common first management device 10 as a response to the address request (step S205).

  When the common first management apparatus 10 receives an address as a response to the address request from the second management apparatus 20, the first management apparatus 10 specified by the received address and the image forming apparatus 40 that has requested the address. An issuance request for requesting issuance of certificate information for communicating with the issuance apparatus 30 is transmitted to the issuance apparatus 30 (step S206).

  When receiving the issuance request from the common first management apparatus 10, the issuing device 30 issues certificate information corresponding to the received issuance request. Then, the issuing device 30 transmits certificate information as a response to the issue request to the common first management device 10 (step S207).

  When the common first management apparatus 10 receives the certificate information as a response to the issuance request from the issuance apparatus 30, the common first management apparatus 10 transmits the received certificate information and the address as a response to the address request. The image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 40 (step S208). Then, the image forming apparatus 40 that has received the certificate information and the address as a response to the address request uses the received certificate information and address, and the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40. Communication can be performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the initial setting of a newly purchased image forming apparatus 40, the image forming apparatus 40 manages the device using a common address previously held by itself. An address request for requesting the address of the first management apparatus is transmitted to the common first management apparatus 10. Then, the image forming apparatus 40 receives an address from the common first management apparatus 10 as a response to the address request transmitted by itself. That is, according to the present embodiment, in the initial setting of a newly purchased image forming apparatus 40, the user sets the address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 while referring to a manual or the like. Since there is no need to perform an input operation to the image forming apparatus 40, there is an advantageous effect that the burden on the user in the initial setting of the image forming apparatus 40 can be reduced.

<B: Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. Also, two or more of the modifications shown below can be combined.

(1) Modification 1
In the above-described embodiment, an image forming apparatus is cited as an example of equipment managed by the first management apparatus 10, but the invention is not limited thereto, and the type of equipment managed by the first management apparatus 10 is arbitrary. .

(2) Modification 2
In the above-described embodiment, one first management device 10 among the plurality of first management devices 10 plays a role as a “common first management device 10”. A management device (third management device) serving as the “1 management device 10” may be provided separately from the first management device 10.

(3) Modification 3
In the above-described embodiment, one first management apparatus 10 is assigned to each user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the user owns a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40, the user's request Accordingly, the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 owned by the user are classified into a plurality of groups, and for each classified group, a first management apparatus that manages at least one image forming apparatus 40 belonging to the group. 10 may be assigned one by one. Hereinafter, although the specific content of the modification 3 is demonstrated, description is abbreviate | omitted suitably about the part which overlaps with the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the first management apparatus 10 according to the modification. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the first management apparatus 10 according to the modification includes the functions described above (the second reception unit 101, the second transmission unit 102, the third reception unit 103, the third transmission unit 104, and the issue request generation unit). 105, fifth transmission unit 106, fifth reception unit 107, sixth transmission unit 108 and managed device information management unit 109), classification management request acquisition unit 110, eighth transmission unit 111, and seventh reception Unit 112 and management information management unit 113. In this example, the functions of the eighth transmitter 111 and the seventh receiver 112 are realized by the CPU 17 and the interface device 11.

  The classification management request acquisition unit 110 sends a classification management request for requesting the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 managed by the first management apparatus 10 to be classified and managed into a plurality of groups. Get from user. The eighth transmission unit 111 transmits the classification management request acquired by the classification management request acquisition unit 110 to the second management apparatus 20. As a response to the classification management request, the seventh receiving unit 112 performs first management for managing the device IDs of the image forming apparatuses 40 belonging to each of the plurality of classified groups and the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID. Management information associated with the address of the device 10 is received from the second management device 20. The management information management unit 113 manages the management information received from the second management device 20.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the second management apparatus 20 according to the modification. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the second management apparatus 20 according to the modification includes the above-described functions (second storage unit 201, contract information registration unit 202, fourth reception unit 203, reading unit 204, and fourth transmission unit 205). In addition, an eighth reception unit 206, a classification unit 207, an allocation unit 208, an update unit 209, and a ninth transmission unit 210 are included. In this example, the functions of the eighth receiving unit 206 and the ninth receiving unit 210 are realized by the CPU 17 and the interface device 11.

  The eighth receiving unit 206 receives the above-described classification management request from the first management device 10. When the eighth receiving unit 206 receives the classification management request, the classification unit 207 classifies the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 managed by the first management apparatus 10 that has transmitted the received classification management request into a plurality of groups. For each group classified by the classification unit 207, the assigning unit 208 assigns one first management device 10 that manages at least one image forming apparatus 40 belonging to the group. The update unit 209 includes the device ID of the image forming apparatus 40 belonging to each of the plurality of groups classified by the classifying unit 207 and the address of the first management apparatus 10 that manages the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID. The contents of the second storage unit 201 are updated so that and are stored in association with each other. The ninth transmission unit 210 reads management information as a response to the classification management request from the second storage unit 201 updated by the update unit 209 and transmits the management information to the first management apparatus 10. The functional configurations of the issuing device 30 and the image forming device 40 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

  Next, the classification management of the content that requires the user who owns the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 to classify and manage the plurality of image forming apparatuses owned by the user into groups for each contract number. The operation of the device management system 1 when receiving a request (hereinafter referred to as “contract number management request”) will be described. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the device management system 1 when the above-described contract number management request is received. First, the user uses a terminal device such as a PC to make a contract number management request to the first management device 10 that designates a destination at the address notified from the business at the time of the purchase contract (see step S105 in FIG. 9). Is transmitted (step S301).

  When receiving the contract number management request from the user, the first management apparatus 10 transmits the address of the first management apparatus 10 to the second management apparatus 20 as a contract number management request (step S302). When receiving the address as the contract number management request, the second management device 20 updates the contents of the second storage unit 201 (step S303). More specifically, it is as follows. First, the second management apparatus 20 that has received an address as a contract number management request, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 managed by the first management apparatus 10 specified by the received address, and the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40. Are read from the second storage unit 201. Then, the second management apparatus 20 classifies the read image forming apparatuses 40 into groups for each contract number, and first management for managing the image forming apparatuses 40 belonging to the group for each classified group. One device 10 is allocated one by one. Subsequently, the second management device 20 includes the device ID of the image forming device 40 belonging to each of the classified groups, and the address of the first management device 10 that manages the image forming device 40 identified by the device ID. The content of the second storage unit 201 is updated so that is stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of data stored in the second storage unit 201 at a stage before the second management apparatus 20 receives the above-described contract number management request. Here, it is assumed that the first management apparatus 10 that has transmitted the above-described contract number management request is the first management apparatus 10 identified by the address “test1.xxx.co.jp”. FIG. 15 shows an example of data stored in the second storage unit 201 after the second management device 20 that has received the above-described contract number management request updates the second storage unit 201. . Here, five image forming apparatuses 40 (“3A88-12001” to “3A88-123055” that should be managed by the first management apparatus 10 identified by the address “test1.xxx.co.jp” in FIG. ”) Is classified into groups (G1, G2) for each contract number, and one new first management apparatus 10 that is to manage the group is assigned to each group. As can be understood from FIG. 15, each of the two image forming apparatuses (“3A88-12001” and “3A88-12002”) belonging to the group G1 with the contract number 0001 has an address “test_1.xxx.co.jp”. Each of the three image forming apparatuses (3A88-122003, 3A88-122004, 3A88-122005) managed by the first management apparatus 10 identified by “1” and belonging to the group G2 of the contract number 0002 has an address “test_2.xxx It is managed by the first management apparatus 10 specified by “.co.jp”.

  In the above-described example, the first management apparatus 10 (the first management apparatus 10 identified by the address “test1.xxx.co.jp” that has transmitted the contract number management request is sent to either of the groups G1 and G2. The first management device 10 different from () is newly assigned, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, for any one of the groups G1 and G2, the first management device 10 that has transmitted the contract number management request is provided. The configuration may be such that it is continuously assigned.

  Returning to FIG. 13 again, the description will be continued. After updating the second storage unit 201, the second management device 20 manages the device IDs of the image forming devices 40 belonging to each of the plurality of classified groups and the image forming device 40 identified by the device ID. The management information associated with the address of the first management apparatus 10 to be read is read from the updated second storage unit 201, and the read management information is transmitted to the first management apparatus 10 as a response to the classification management request. (Step S304). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of management information, and the first management for managing the device IDs of the image forming apparatuses 40 belonging to each of the above-described groups G1 and G2 and the image forming apparatuses 40 identified by the device IDs. The address of the device 10 is associated.

  Returning to FIG. The first management apparatus 10 that has received the management information as a response to the classification management request, from the content of the received management information, the image managed by the first management apparatus 10 before the classification management request is transmitted. When it is detected that the management destination of the forming apparatus 40 has been changed to another first management apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 40 whose management destination has been changed becomes a new management destination of the image forming apparatus 40. The address of the first management apparatus 10 is notified (step S305). As a result, the image forming apparatus 40 whose management destination has been changed can acquire the address of the first management apparatus 10 as a new management destination.

  Next, from the user who owns the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40, the image forming apparatus 40 designated by the user among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 owned by the user is collectively managed. The operation of the device management system 1 when a designated device collective management request for requesting is received will be described. This designated device collective management request refers to an image forming apparatus 40 that does not have to manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 owned by a user and a group to which the image forming apparatuses 40 to be managed collectively belong. In other words, it is a classification management request that requires classification into a group to which the group belongs.

  FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation flow of the device management system 1 when the above-mentioned designated device collective management request is received. First, the user uses a terminal device such as a PC to perform designated device collective management to the first management device 10 that designates a destination at the address notified by the sales at the time of the purchase contract (see step S105 in FIG. 9). A request is transmitted (step S401). Here, the user transmits the device ID of the image forming apparatus 40 that the user wants to collectively manage among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 owned by the user to the first management apparatus 10 as a designated apparatus collective management request.

  When receiving the designated device batch management request from the user, the first management device 10 transmits a device ID as the designated device batch management request to the second management device 20 (step S402). When receiving the device ID as the designated device collective management request, the second management device 20 updates the contents of the second storage unit 201 (step S403). More specifically, it is as follows. First, the second management device 20 that has received the device ID as the designated device collective management request reads the plurality of image forming devices 40 managed by the first management device 10 that has transmitted the device ID from the second storage unit 201. The second management apparatus 20 classifies the read image forming apparatuses 40 into a group for which collective management is designated and a group for which collective management is not designated, and for each classified group, One first management apparatus 10 that manages at least one image forming apparatus 40 belonging to the group is allocated one by one. Subsequently, the second management device 20 includes a device ID of the image forming device 40 belonging to each of the two classified groups, and an address of the first management device 10 that manages the image forming device 40 identified by the device ID. The content of the second storage unit 201 is updated so that is stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of data stored in the second storage unit 201 at a stage before the second management apparatus 20 receives the above-mentioned designated device collective management request. Here, it is assumed that the first management apparatus 10 that has transmitted the above-mentioned designated device collective management request is the first management apparatus 10 identified by the address “test1.xxx.co.jp”. FIG. 19 shows an example of data stored in the second storage unit 201 after the second management device 20 that has received the above-mentioned designated device collective management request has updated the second storage unit 201. is there. Here, the five image forming apparatuses 40 ("3A88-12001" to "3A88-123005" which should be managed by the first management apparatus 10 identified by the address "test1.xxx.co.jp" in FIG. ") Is classified into a first group G11 for which collective management is designated by the user and a second group G22 for which collective management is not designated, and the first group G11 is a new group that should be managed by the first group G11. A first management apparatus 10 is assigned. As can be understood from FIG. 19, each of the two image forming apparatuses 40 (3A88-123022, 3A88-12003) belonging to the first group G11 is specified by an address “test_A.xxx.co.jp”. Each of the three image forming apparatuses 40 (3A88-122001, 3A88-122004, 3A88-122005) managed by the first management apparatus 10 and belonging to the group G22 is identified by the address “test1.xxx.co.jp”. It is managed by the 1st management apparatus 10 to be performed.

  Returning to FIG. 17 again, the description will be continued. After updating the second storage unit 201, the second management device 20 manages the device ID of the image forming device 40 belonging to each of the two classified groups and the image forming device 40 identified by the device ID. The management information associated with the address of the first management device 10 to be read is read from the updated second storage unit 201, and the read management information is sent as a response to the designated device collective management request (classification management request). 1 It transmits to the management apparatus 10 (step S404). FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the management information. The device ID of the image forming apparatus 40 belonging to each of the first group G11 and the second group G22 described above, and the image forming apparatus 40 identified by the device ID are shown. The address of the first management device 10 to be managed is associated.

  Returning to FIG. 17, the description will be continued. The first management device 10 that has received the management information as a response to the designated device collective management request manages the first management device 10 from the content of the received management information at a stage before transmitting the designated device collective management request. When it is detected that the management destination of the image forming apparatus 40 that should have been changed to another first management apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 40 of the image forming apparatus 40 whose management destination has been changed is detected. The address of the first management apparatus 10 as a new management destination is notified (step S405). As a result, the image forming apparatus 40 whose management destination has been changed can acquire the address of the first management apparatus 10 as a new management destination.

  Various programs executed by the image forming apparatus 40, the first management apparatus 10 (including the common first management apparatus 10), the second management apparatus 20 and the issuing apparatus 30 according to the embodiment and the modification described above are installed. Recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. It may be configured to be provided, or may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

1 device management system 10 first management device 11 interface device 12 input device 13 display device 14 ROM
15 HDD
16 RAM
17 CPU
20 Second management device 30 Issuing device 40 Image forming device 41 CPU
42 ROM
43 RAM
44 Non-volatile memory 45 Communication I / F
46 display panel 47 engine unit 50 network 60 firewall 101 second receiving unit 102 second transmitting unit 103 third receiving unit 104 third transmitting unit 105 issue request generating unit 106 younger brother 5 transmitting unit 107 fifth receiving unit 108 sixth transmitting unit 109 Managed Device Information Management Unit 201 Second Storage Unit 202 Contract Information Registration Unit 203 Fourth Reception Unit 204 Reading Unit 205 Fourth Transmission Unit 301 Sixth Reception Unit 302 Issuing Unit 303 Seventh Transmission Unit 401 Initial Setting Request Acquisition Unit 402 First storage unit 403 First transmission unit 404 First reception unit

JP 2005-189944 A

Claims (5)

A first management device that communicates with at least one device via a network;
A second management device;
An issuance apparatus that issues certificate information for the apparatus to communicate with the first management apparatus;
The equipment is
A first storage unit for storing an address of the second management device;
A first transmission unit for transmitting a specific information request including device identification information for identifying the device requesting the specific information specifying the first management device to the second management device whose destination is specified by the address; ,
A first receiving unit that receives the specific information as a response to the specific information request from the second management device;
The first management device includes:
A fourth transmission unit that transmits to the second management device a classification management request that requests to classify and manage the plurality of devices managed by the first management device;
In response to the classification management request, the device identification information of the devices belonging to each of a plurality of classified groups, and the specific information of the first management device that manages the devices identified by the device identification information A third receiving unit that receives management information associated with the second management device,
The second management device is
A second storage unit that stores the device identification information for identifying the device and the specific information in association with each other;
A second receiving unit for receiving the specific information request from the device;
The proof for communication between the first management device specified based on the specific information corresponding to the device identification information included in the specific information request and the device that has transmitted the specific information request A second transmission unit for transmitting an issue request for requesting issuance of document information to the issuing device;
As a response to the specific information request, a third transmitter that transmits the specific information and the certificate information received from the issuing device as a response to the issue request to the device;
A fourth receiver for receiving the classification management request from the first management device;
When the fourth receiving unit receives the classification management request, each of the plurality of devices managed by the first management apparatus that has transmitted the received classification management request belongs to one of a plurality of groups. A classification part for classifying
For each group classified by the classification unit, an allocating unit that allocates the first management device that manages at least one device belonging to the group one by one;
The device identification information of the devices belonging to each of the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit is associated with the specific information of the first management device that manages the devices identified by the device identification information. An update unit for updating the contents of the second storage unit,
A fifth transmission unit that reads the management information as a response to the classification management request from the second storage unit updated by the update unit and transmits the read information to the first management device ;
A device management system characterized by that. The classification unit receives the contract number management request that requests the plurality of devices to be classified and managed in a group for each contract number that identifies a purchase contract of the device as the classification management request. Classifying the plurality of devices managed by the first management apparatus that has transmitted the contract number management request so that each of them belongs to one of the groups for each contract number;
The device management system according to claim 1 . The classification unit, when receiving the device identification information of the devices to be managed collectively as the classification management request, a plurality of the devices managed by the first management device that has transmitted the received device identification information Classifying the device identified by the received device identification information into the first group, and classifying the other devices into the second group,
The device management system according to claim 2. A first management device that communicates with at least one device via a network; a second management device; and an issuing device that issues certificate information for the device to communicate with the first management device. A device management method executed by a device management system,
The equipment is
The address of the second management device stored in advance in the first storage unit is read, and the specific information request including device identification information for identifying the own device that requests the specific information for specifying the first management device, A first transmission step of transmitting to the second management device whose destination is specified by an address;
A first receiving step of receiving the specific information as a response to the specific information request from the second management device;
The first management device includes:
A fourth transmission step of transmitting, to the second management device, a classification management request for requesting that the plurality of devices managed by the first management device be classified and managed into a plurality of groups;
In response to the classification management request, the device identification information of the devices belonging to each of a plurality of classified groups, and the specific information of the first management device that manages the devices identified by the device identification information A third receiving step of receiving management information associated with the second management device from the second management device,
The second management device is
A second receiving step of receiving the specific information request from the device;
The specific information corresponding to the device identification information included in the specific information request is determined using a second storage unit that stores the device identification information for identifying the device in association with the specific information. An issue request for requesting the issuance of the certificate information for performing communication between the first management device specified based on the determined specific information and the device that has transmitted the specific information request. A second transmission step of transmitting to the issuing device;
A third transmission step of transmitting to the device the specific information as a response to the specific information request and the certificate information received from the issuing device as a response to the issue request;
A fourth receiving step of receiving the classification management request from the first management device;
When receiving the classification management request in the fourth receiving step, each of the plurality of devices managed by the first management apparatus that has transmitted the received classification management request belongs to one of a plurality of groups. A classification step to classify
An allocating step of allocating one first management device for managing at least one device belonging to the group for each group classified in the classification step;
The device identification information of the devices belonging to each of the plurality of groups classified in the classification step is associated with the specific information of the first management device that manages the devices identified by the device identification information. An update step of updating the contents of the second storage unit so as to be stored
A fifth transmission step of reading out the management information as a response to the classification management request from the second storage unit updated by the updating step and transmitting it to the first management device ;
A device management method characterized by the above. A program for causing a computer to execute the device management method according to claim 4 .

Images