JP6118969B2 - Device server connection setting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device server system, and more particularly to a connection setting method between a client and a device server that use a peripheral device via the device server.

  A technique called a peripheral device utilization system (hereinafter referred to as a device server system) that shares peripheral devices such as printers and scanners over a network is known (Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 1). The device server system is a system as shown in FIG. 1, and in an environment where a device server 102 to which a printer 103 is connected as a peripheral device and a computer such as a notebook personal computer PC101 are connected to a network as a client, the client This is a system that pursues convenience on the client side such that the printer 103 can be used from the PC 101 via the network.

  The device server system is a system that operates on the assumption that a connection between the client PC 101 and the printer 103, that is, a communication pipe exists. For this reason, in the state where the connection exists, the PC 101 is virtually connected as if the printer 103 was directly connected to itself, and can recognize the state one by one. On the other hand, if this connection is lost, the PC 101 cannot recognize the printer 103 at all.

  A technology that supports the operation of such a device server system is a capsule processing technology. FIG. 2 shows functional blocks of the PC 101 and the device server 102 in the device server system.

First, the PC 101 will be described. The device driver 201 is software for controlling the printer 103, and is normally provided from a printer vendor. Although not shown in the figure, an application such as word processing software can use the printer 103 via the device driver 201.
The first capsule processing unit 202 is an important technology that supports the device server system. This unit transmits an input / output request to the printer 103 issued by the device driver 201 over the network through the first network interface 203. In this way, I / O requests are encapsulated in network packets. On the other hand, when a network packet including a response to the input / output request is received, this response is extracted (decapsulated) from the network packet and provided to the device driver 201.

Next, the device server 102 will be described. The USB interface A 211 is an interface for connecting to the printer 103.
The USB host controller 212 manages input / output of peripheral devices connected to the device server. When an input / output request is given, it communicates with the printer 103 through the USB interface A 211 in accordance with the contents, and gives a response to the second capsule processing means 213.

  The second capsule processing unit 213 extracts (decapsulates) an input / output request from a network packet received through the second network interface 214 and supplies the input / output request to the USB host controller 212. On the other hand, in order to return the response of the USB host controller 212 to the source of the input / output request, it is a means for encapsulating the response into a network packet and giving it to the second network interface 214. The device driver 201 of the PC 101 can control the printer 103 via the network by the above-described functional configuration, in particular, the operation of the two capsule processing units.

As described above, the device server system is a system in which the first capsule processing unit 202 and the second capsule processing unit 213 are essential. In particular, the first capsule processing means is not provided by the operating system or the vendor of the printer 103, but is provided together with the device server 102. Normally, it is necessary for the user himself to install it on the client PC 101. is there.
By performing this installation, the user can benefit from being able to use the printer 103 via the network. On the other hand, the installation work is troublesome for the user. Further, in some cases, installation of software on the PC 101 may be restricted due to security problems. Of course, in this case, the device server system cannot be used. Such a problem also applies to an embedded device that cannot easily install arbitrary software.

In order to solve such a problem, the present inventor has already proposed a client device that can use a peripheral device via a network using a device server without installing dedicated software on a client PC or an embedded device. (Patent Document 2). When this client apparatus is connected to the client through a predetermined interface, the client can use the encapsulation means in the client apparatus, and the device is connected via the network through the network interface (wireless or wired interface) provided in the apparatus. The server and peripheral devices connected to the server can be used.
This client device makes it unnecessary to install dedicated software. However, in the conventional device server system, as shown in FIG. 3, a dedicated software screen is displayed on the display unit of the client PC or embedded device, and the peripheral device connected to the device server on the screen. Was specified.
However, in the case of a built-in device as a client or a general device equipped with a USB port such as a POS (Point of sale) terminal, there are cases in which a display unit and a keyboard input unit are not provided in order to achieve a low cost configuration.
In such a case, there is a problem that even if a client device is used, there is no method for selecting a connected peripheral device from the client side to the device server side.

Table 2006/082782 Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-107516

Silex Technology Co., Ltd. website <http://www.silex.jp/products/usbdeviceserver/index.html?init>

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection setting method between a client and a device server for a client-side device that does not include a display or a keyboard in a device server system.

In order to achieve the above object, the device server connection setting method of the present invention is such that a plurality of clients and a device server to which peripheral devices are connected are connected to a network, and the device server communicates between the clients and the peripheral devices. A device server connection setting method in a device server system that enables communication via a network between a client and a peripheral device by mutual conversion, and is characterized by the following 1) to 4).
1) A client is connected to a network via a virtual connection device.
2) The virtual connection device transits to a state in which the information of the peripheral device whose connection is recognized can be received from the device server by the first switch operation.
3) The device server transits to the connection waiting state of the peripheral device for a predetermined time by the second switch operation, and when the connection is recognized, broadcasts information on the connected peripheral device.
4) The virtual connection device determines that the client and the peripheral device are to communicate with each other via the network based on the received peripheral device information.

  Here, the virtual connection device means the client device described in Patent Document 2. In the present invention, by including the above 1) to 4), even if the device is a client side device that does not have a display or a keyboard, the connection setting between the client and the device server is performed. Peripheral devices connected to the device server via the server can be utilized.

Here, the client is assumed to be a device that does not include a display device such as a display or an input device such as a keyboard, but may be a device that includes a display device or an input device.
The first switch and the second switch are configured by hardware. An existing switch may also be used, and as described later, a connection / disconnection of a communication cable may be detected as a switch ON / OFF.
Broadcast communication is a concept that includes not only broadcast communication that sends the same data to all devices without specifying a partner on the network (LAN), but also multicast communication that distributes data to all specific groups simultaneously.

Here, when the connection is recognized, it is preferable that the device server repeatedly broadcasts information on the connected peripheral devices with a predetermined time interval.
The reason for repeating the process at intervals is to facilitate the connection between the virtual connection device on the client side and the device server. In general, since the sender cannot know whether or not the other party has received the data in the broadcast communication, such a redundant operation is required.

Further, the device server transits to a connection waiting state for peripheral devices for a predetermined time by the second switch operation, and when the connection is not recognized, only the network connection is performed, or the state before the second switch operation is maintained. Is preferred.
When the connection is not recognized, only the network connection is performed, or processing other than data communication between the client side and the peripheral device can be performed by maintaining the state before the second switch operation.

In the device server connection setting method of the present invention, it is preferable that the network connection is a connection by wireless communication, and the first switch and the second switch are a virtual connection device and a device server wireless setting switch, respectively. .
In connection with wireless communication, for example, the push button method of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (registered trademark) (WPS) established by Wi-Fi Alliance requires a wireless setting switch, and the existing wireless setting switch is used in the present invention. By combining the first switch or the second switch, it is possible to avoid the addition of new hardware.

In the device server connection setting method of the present invention, when the network connection is a connection using a communication cable, the first switch is preferably a switch triggered by the timing at which the communication cable is inserted into the connection port. .
By using the first switch in the virtual connection device as a trigger triggered by the timing at which the communication cable is inserted into the connection port, the addition of new hardware can be avoided, and the communication cable is inserted into the connection port. An operation can be performed by a program that processes the timing as an interrupt.

  According to the present invention, in a device server system, even if a device on the client side does not include a display or a keyboard, the connection setting between the client and the device server is performed, and the device on the client side passes through the device server There is an effect that peripheral devices connected to the device server can be utilized.

Example of configuration diagram of conventional device server system Functional block diagram of a conventional device server system Explanatory diagram of problems in the conventional device server system Configuration diagram of device server system of embodiment 1 Device server communication setting process flow chart Communication setting process flow diagram of client side virtual connection device Wireless setup start image Image of selection status of peripheral devices to be connected Wireless setting completion image Peripheral device connection start image Peripheral device connection completion image Peripheral device disconnected state image Example 1 of communication setting cancellation processing flow of virtual connection device on client side Example of communication setting process flow of virtual connection device on client side (Example 2) Example of communication setting release process flow of virtual connection device on client side (Example 2)

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples and illustrated examples, and many changes and modifications can be made.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration diagram of the device server system according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the device server system of the first embodiment, a POS terminal equipped with a USB port as a client 101 and a device server 102 to which a printer is connected as a peripheral device 103 are connected to a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) wireless network. It is the composition which is done. Then, the virtual connection device 100 is connected to the client 101 via the USB port.
The virtual connection device 100 has a function capable of communicating with the device server 102 by Wi-Fi wireless communication. Then, the data of the client 101 is transferred to the device server 102 or the data of the device server 102 is transferred to the client 101 so that communication between the client 101 and the peripheral device 103 is possible via the network. .

When the communication setting of the device server system is performed, the virtual connection device 100 and the device server 102 utilize buttons for wireless setting as follows.
The virtual connection device 100 transitions to a state in which information about the peripheral device 103 whose connection is recognized can be received from the device server 102 by the first switch operation. As shown in FIG. 4, in the first embodiment, the first switch is also used as a wireless setting button such as a WPS button.
Further, the device server 102 transits to the connection waiting state of the peripheral device 103 for a predetermined time by the second switch operation. Also in this case, as shown in the figure, in the first embodiment, the second switch is also used as a wireless setting button such as a WPS button.

With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the communication setting process flows of the device server 102 and the virtual connection apparatus 100 on the client 101 side will be described.
In addition, FIGS. 7 to 11 illustrate images of the virtual connection device on the device server 102 and the client 101 side in each state in the middle of the communication setting process flow. 7 shows an image of a wireless setting start state, FIG. 8 shows an image of a connection target peripheral device selection state, FIG. 9 shows an image of a wireless setting completion state, and FIG. 10 shows an image of a peripheral device connection start state. 11 shows an image of the connection completion state of the peripheral devices. Example 1 will be outlined with reference to these drawings (FIGS. 7 to 11).

  In FIG. 7, the second switch of the device server 102 is pressed. This switch also starts WPS operation for wireless setting. Next, when there is a peripheral device to be used, the peripheral device is connected to the device server 102 (printer 103 in FIG. 8). If the peripheral device is connected before the WPS operation is completed, the connection setting of the peripheral device is started in addition to the WPS. If the peripheral device is not connected by the time the WPS operation is completed, only WPS is performed. Thereafter, in FIG. 9, the virtual connection device 100 is connected to the client 101, and the first switch is pressed. This completes the WPS setting. On the other hand, when a peripheral device is connected, the device server 102 broadcasts or multicasts the information using the established wireless LAN. The virtual connection device 100 can receive information about the peripheral device for a predetermined time. When the virtual connection device 100 receives the information from the device server 102, the virtual connection device 100 determines to communicate the client 101 and the peripheral device via the network. . As a result, the peripheral device is virtually connected as if directly connected to the client 101 (FIGS. 10 and 11).

Next, details of the communication setting process will be described with reference to process flowcharts (FIGS. 5 and 6) of the device server 102 and the virtual connection apparatus 100, respectively.
First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the power is turned on, the device server 102 waits for the second switch (button) to be pressed (S201). When the second switch (button) is pressed, an interrupt signal is input and wireless setting is started (S202).
At this time, two waiting states occur simultaneously: a wireless setting completion waiting state (S211) and a peripheral device attachment waiting state (S221). These two waiting states (S211, S221) shift to the next state when the wireless setting is completed and the wireless setting completion waiting state is canceled first.

  In other words, if the wireless setting completion signal is generated earlier than the signal indicating completion of attachment between the peripheral device and the device server 102, bypassing the attachment of the peripheral device is the next process, “is there a connected peripheral device? Is determined (S241). On the other hand, if the signal indicating completion of attachment between the peripheral device and the device server 102 is generated earlier than the signal indicating completion of wireless setting, the next processing, “Did you detect the attached peripheral device?” (S222) ) Is performed and processing for storing peripheral device information (S223) is performed, and the process proceeds to determination processing (S241) of “is there a connected peripheral device?”. If the attached peripheral device is not detected, the process bypasses to “Is there a connected peripheral device?” (S241).

In the determination process (S241), if there is a peripheral device connected to the device server 102, the peripheral device information is broadcast (S242). The broadcast communication is repeatedly performed with a predetermined time interval (S244).
If there is a connection response from the virtual connection device 100 on the client 101 side (S243), the communication setting is terminated.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the virtual connection device 100 on the client 101 side waits for the first switch (button) to be pressed when the connection port of the virtual connection device 100 is inserted into the USB port of the client 101 and energized. (S101). When the first switch (button) is pressed, an interrupt signal is input and wireless setting is started (S102).
When the wireless setting is completed and the wireless setting completion waiting state (S103) is canceled, the device server 102 shifts to a state waiting for receiving peripheral device information (S104). It is determined whether or not the peripheral device information is received within a predetermined time (S105). When the peripheral device information is received within the predetermined time, the peripheral device 103 is connected (S106). If the peripheral device information cannot be received within a predetermined time, the communication setting is terminated without connecting to the peripheral device 103.

  FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show an image of the operation when the peripheral device 103 is disconnected, and a communication setting cancellation processing flowchart of the client-side virtual connection device 100, respectively. When canceling the communication setting, the virtual connection device 100 presses the first switch (button) again while connected to the peripheral device 103 via the device server 102 (S121). Thereby, the virtual connection device 100 releases the connection with the peripheral device 103 (S122).

The first switch in the present invention may be a switch triggered by the timing at which the communication cable is inserted into the connection port. The communication setting process flow in this case will be described with reference to FIG. First, an interrupt signal is input at the timing when a communication cable is inserted into the communication cable connection port provided in the virtual connection device 100 (S301), and wired communication setting is started (S302).
When the state of waiting for completion of setting of wired communication (S303) is resolved, the device server 102 moves to a state of waiting for reception of peripheral device information (S304). It is determined whether or not the peripheral device information is received within a predetermined time (S305). When the peripheral device information is received within the predetermined time, the peripheral device 103 is connected (S306). If the peripheral device information cannot be received within a predetermined time, the communication setting is terminated without connecting to the peripheral device 103.

  In FIG. 15, when the virtual connection apparatus 100 cancels the communication setting, the connection is disconnected from the peripheral device 103 via the device server 102 and the communication cable inserted into the connection port is disconnected (S321). The connection setting with the peripheral device 103 is canceled (S322).

100 Virtual connection device 101 Client (POS terminal)
102 device server 103 peripheral device (printer)
105 Peripheral device connection cable

Claims (5)

The client and the device server to which the peripheral device is connected are connected to the network via the virtual connection device, and the device server and the virtual connection device mutually convert communication between the client and the peripheral device, so that the client and the peripheral device are connected. A device server connection setting method in a device server system capable of communication via a network with
The virtual connection device is:
The first switch operation makes a transition to a state in which information on the peripheral device whose connection is recognized can be received from the device server,
The device server is
The second switch operation makes a transition to the peripheral device connection waiting state for a predetermined time,
If the connection is recognized, the information of the connected peripheral devices to repeatedly at a predetermined time interval that broadcasts,
The virtual connection device that received the broadcast communication
Decide to communicate the client and peripheral devices connected to the device server via the network.
A device server connection setting method comprising steps. The device server is
By the second switch operation, a transition predetermined time waiting for a connection peripherals,
If the connection is not recognized, only the network connection is made, or to maintain the second switch actuating previous state,
The device server connection setting method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step. The network connection is a wireless communication connection;
The first switch operation and the second switch operation are operations for causing the client and the peripheral device to communicate with each other via a network, and for performing wireless settings of the virtual connection device and the device server. ,
3. The device server connection setting method according to claim 1, wherein the device server connection is set. The network connection is a communication cable connection;
The first switch operation, a switching operation of the timing for inserting the communication cable to the connection port and the trigger,
3. The device server connection setting method according to claim 1, wherein the device server connection is set. It said virtual connection device, while connected to the peripheral device via the device server, by the first switch operation, or a trigger that the communication cable is plugged into its own connection opening is unplugged, the peripheral Disconnect from the device,
Device server connection setting method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a step.