JP6559539B2 - Communication server, communication system, communication control method, and communication control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication server, a communication system, a communication control method, and a communication control program that transmit update information to a plurality of devices connected via a network.

  In recent years, devices using firmware are increasing in devices used in offices and homes. In such a device, it is necessary to update the firmware as appropriate, and the firmware is distributed via the network. Regarding the distribution of firmware, the device checks whether or not the firmware has been updated, and in general, an inquiry is made to a server connected via a network. The firmware check is periodically performed at a predetermined time. However, when inquiries from a plurality of devices to the server are concentrated in a short period of time, there is a concern that the load on the server increases. For example, when the devices are turned off at night and there are many devices that are turned on at the morning work start time, the server may be accessed all at once in the morning time zone. Concerns about such servers are not limited to firmware updates, but are also the same for data transfer, and a method of distributing access to servers has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, data communication may be interrupted in the middle, and countermeasures against such a situation have been studied (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-200355 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-85647

  In the information processing system described in Patent Document 1, a data transfer request is made from a client to a server, and data is transmitted from the server to the client in response to the data transfer request. The server sets the access time so that it does not conflict with requests from other clients, and notifies the client of the access time. The client accesses the server at the access time notified from the server. In this way, the server distributes access to the server by distributing the access times of the clients so as not to compete. In the information processing system described above, since the access time of the accessed client is only set, it is necessary to secure an access time that is not set for any client. When the number of clients increases, the access time management There is a problem that becomes complicated.

  When the network electronic device described in Patent Literature 2 receives a notification from the server that it cannot process the request from the electronic device, the network electronic device accesses again at the time designated by the server. In the network electronic device described above, access is repeated at different times, so there is a possibility that accesses from a plurality of electronic devices may be concentrated.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and prevents communication time zones of a plurality of devices from overlapping, and a communication server, a communication system, and a communication system capable of distributing the access amount to the communication server, It is an object to provide a communication control method and a communication control program.

  The communication server according to the present invention is a communication server that transmits update information to a plurality of devices connected via a network, the server communication unit communicating with the plurality of devices, and the server communication unit On the other hand, an access storage unit that stores time zones accessed by the plurality of devices as access time zones, and a list of preset allocation time zones for each of the plurality of devices is stored as allocation information. An allocation information storage unit; a time zone collation unit that collates the access time zone and the allocation time zone; and an allocation information update unit that updates the allocation information based on a collation result of the time zone collation unit. The access device is the device that has accessed the server communication unit among the plurality of devices, and the assigned time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set. When the access device is the target device, and the access time zone and the assigned time zone in the access device do not match, the assignment information update unit calculates the assigned time zone of the access device and the assigned time zone of the target device. It is characterized by replacing.

  The communication server according to the present invention includes an allocation time zone notification unit that notifies an allocation time zone corresponding to the device, and the allocation time zone notification unit changes the corresponding allocation time zone when the device accesses. If it is, the device may be notified of the allocated time zone.

  The communication server according to the present invention includes an update determination unit that determines that the update is completed when transmission of update information to the device is completed, and the access storage unit is configured to update when the update determination unit determines that the update is complete. The access time zone may be stored.

  In the communication server according to the present invention, the allocation information is associated with a plurality of devices and priorities when overlapping allocation time zones are set for the plurality of devices, and the allocation information update unit includes: The allocation information may be updated based on the priority order.

  A communication system according to the present invention is a communication system including the communication server according to the present invention and a plurality of devices connected to the communication server via a network, the device being connected to the communication server. A device communication unit that performs communication between the communication server and an access execution unit that performs access to the communication server during a preset time period, and the access execution unit is configured to be in an assigned time period notified from the communication server. It is characterized by performing access.

  A communication control method according to the present invention is a communication control method for a communication server that transmits update information to a plurality of devices connected via a network, and communicates with the plurality of devices to a server communication unit. A server communication step to be performed; an access storage unit that causes the server communication unit to store a time zone accessed by the plurality of devices as an access time zone; and For each device, an allocation information storage step for storing a list of preset allocation time zones as allocation information, and a time zone verification for causing the time zone verification unit to match the access time zone and the assigned time zone. And an allocation information update step for causing the allocation information update unit to update the allocation information based on a collation result of the time zone collation unit, Among the devices, when the device that has accessed the server communication unit is the access device, and the device in which the assigned time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set as the target device, the access device If the access time zone does not match the assigned time zone, the allocation information updating step switches the access device's assigned time zone and the target device's assigned time zone.

  A communication control program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute each step of the communication control method according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the access time zones of a plurality of devices from overlapping by changing the access time zones, and to distribute the access amount to the communication server. In other words, by distributing the allocated time zones set for each device and regulating the number of devices accessed for each time zone, the access from the devices is concentrated and the load on the communication server increases. It can be avoided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the communication server which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st allocation information which is an example of allocation information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd allocation information which is an example of allocation information. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow in the communication system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow in the communication system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd allocation information which is an example of allocation information.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a communication system and a communication server according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a communication server 10 and a plurality of devices 30, and the communication server 10 and the plurality of devices 30 are connected via a network 20.

  The communication server 10 transmits update information to a plurality of devices 30 connected via the network 20, and communicates with the plurality of devices 30 by the server communication unit 11. That is, the update information and notification for the device 30 are transmitted via the server communication unit 11.

  The device 30 is an electronic device that operates by firmware, and is, for example, an image forming apparatus. Specifically, the device 30 includes a device communication unit 31 that performs communication with the communication server 10 and an access execution unit 32 that performs access to the communication server 10 during a preset time period. The firmware is updated according to the update information transmitted from the communication server 10. The device 30 is adjusted so as to perform an optimum operation by appropriately updating the firmware.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The communication server 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a server communication unit 11, a control unit 12, an access storage unit 13, an allocation information storage unit 14, a time zone verification unit 15, an allocation information update unit 16, and an allocation time zone notification. The unit 17 and the update determination unit 18 are included.

  The server communication unit 11 communicates with a plurality of devices 30. That is, the update information and notification for the device 30 are transmitted via the server communication unit 11.

  The control unit 12 is a central processing unit (CPU) and controls the operation of the communication server 10. Specifically, the control unit 21 reads and executes a program stored in the communication server 10. Further, a clock or the like may be provided as a part of the program so that the time zone can be grasped.

  The access storage unit 13 stores a time zone in which the plurality of devices 30 have accessed the server communication unit 11 as an access time zone. Specifically, the access storage unit 13 associates the access time zone with the accessed device 30 and stores it as access information AD.

  The allocation information storage unit 14 stores a list of preset allocation time zones as allocation information WD for each of the plurality of devices 30. The allocation information WD will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B described later.

  The time zone collating unit 15 collates the access time zone and the allocated time zone. The allocation information update unit 16 updates the allocation information WD based on the collation result of the time zone collation unit 15. The allocated time zone notifying unit 17 notifies the allocated time zone corresponding to the device 30. The update determination unit 18 determines that the update is complete when transmission of the update information to the device 30 is completed. Note that specific processing of the time zone matching unit 15, the allocation information update unit 16, and the allocation time zone notification unit 17 will be described in detail together with a processing flow described later. Further, the update determination unit 18 is related to the second embodiment described later, and in the first embodiment, the update determination unit 18 may be omitted.

  FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram illustrating first allocation information that is an example of allocation information.

  The first allocation information WD1 (allocation information WD) is a list in which devices 30 (registered devices) registered in the communication server 10 and allocation time zones corresponding to the respective devices 30 are associated with each other. Hereinafter, in order to distinguish a plurality of devices 30 and time zones, they are referred to as “device K1”, “device K2”, “device K3”,..., “Device Kn”, “time zone T1”, “time zone” Sometimes referred to as “T2”, “time zone T3”,... “Time zone Tn”.

  In the first assignment information WD1, “time zone T1” is assigned to “device K1”, “time zone T2” is assigned to “device K2”, and “time zone T3” is assigned to “device K3”. .

  The time zone matching unit 15 refers to the access information AD and the allocation information WD, and refers to the time zone (access time zone) accessed by the device 30 (access device) that has accessed the communication server 10, and the corresponding assigned time zone. To see if matches. In addition, the allocation time zone notification unit 17 refers to the allocation information WD and determines an allocation time zone to be notified to the device 30.

  When setting the allocated time zone corresponding to the device 30, for example, it may be set according to the serial number for each device 30. Specifically, the time zone (0 to 23:00) corresponding to the remaining number (0 to 23) obtained by dividing the serial number of the device 30 by “24” may be set. By evenly assigning to all time zones, access to the communication server 10 can be distributed in the factory shipment state, and the communication server 10 can easily grasp the relationship between the serial number and the access time zone.

  FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating second allocation information which is an example of allocation information.

  The second allocation information WD2 is different from the first allocation information WD1 in the time zone allocated to the device 30. Specifically, in the second allocation information WD2, “time zone T2” is assigned to “device K1”, “time zone T1” is assigned to “device K2”, and “time zone T3” is assigned to “device K3”. Assigned.

  The allocation information WD is updated by the allocation information update unit 16, whereby the allocation time zone corresponding to the device 30 is changed. For example, when the first allocation information WD1 is updated to the second allocation information WD2, the allocation time zones are switched between “device K1” and “device K2”.

  Next, the processing flow of the communication control method in the communication system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 101, the server communication unit 11 determines whether there is an access from the device 30. As a result, when there is an access from the device 30 (step S101: Yes), the process proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when there is no access from the device 30 (step S101: No), it waits until it is accessed.

  In step S102, the access storage unit 13 sets the time zone accessed by the device 30 as the access time zone. That is, the access storage unit 13 confirms the accessed device 30 (access device) and the time zone, and stores the access information AD.

  In step S103, the access time zone and the allocated time zone are collated by the time zone collation unit 15.

  In step S104, the time zone matching unit 15 determines whether or not the access time zone and the assigned time zone match. As a result, when the access time zone and the allocated time zone coincide with each other (step S104: Yes), the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, if the access time zone does not match the assigned time zone (step S104: No), the process proceeds to step S106.

  In step S105, the server communication unit 11 transmits update information to the access device, and the process ends.

  In step S106, the allocation information update unit 16 switches the allocation time zone between the access device and the corresponding device (target device), and updates the allocation information WD. Here, the target device corresponds to a device in which an assigned time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set. In addition, the process which replaces an allocation time slot | zone is later mentioned along the specific example which shows a series of operation | movement which combined FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

  In step S107, the server communication unit 11 transmits update information to the access device.

  In step S108, the allocation time zone notification unit 17 notifies the access device of the change of the allocation time zone, and the process is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described processing is performed. Hereinafter, as a specific example, an allocation time zone based on the first allocation information WD1 illustrated in FIG. 3A is set, and “device K1” is set to “time zone T1” and Each case of accessing “time zone T2” will be described.

  When the “time zone T1” is accessed, the access time zone is set to “time zone T1” and the assigned time zone is set to “time zone T1” in step S104. That is, when access is made to an allocation time zone set in advance in the device 30, the allocation information WD is not updated.

  When “time zone T2” is accessed, it is determined in step S104 that the access time zone is “time zone T2” and therefore does not match the assigned time zone. As a result, in step S106, the allocation time zone is switched. Here, since “device K2” is set in the device 30 corresponding to “time zone T2”, “device K2” becomes the target device. Then, the assigned time zone is switched between “device K1” (access device) and “device K2” (target device), the assigned time zone of “device K1” is set to “time zone T2”, and “device K2” Is assigned to “time zone T1”. That is, the allocation information update unit 16 updates the first allocation information WD1 to the second allocation information WD2 illustrated in FIG. 3B. After that, in step S108, the “device K1” is notified that the assigned time zone has been changed to the “time zone T2”.

  As described above, when the device 30 is accessed in a time zone different from the preset assigned time zone, the access time zones of the plurality of devices 30 are changed by switching the access time zones between the corresponding devices 30. Can be prevented and the amount of access to the communication server 10 can be distributed. That is, by distributing the allocated time zones set for each device 30 and restricting the number of devices 30 to be accessed for each time zone, accesses from the devices 30 are concentrated and the load on the communication server 10 is reduced. The increase can be avoided.

  The communication control method according to the present invention is a communication control method of the communication server 10 that transmits update information to a plurality of devices 30 connected via the network 20, and the server communication unit 11 communicates with the plurality of devices 30. Server communication step for performing communication between them, an access storage step for causing the access storage unit 13 to store a time zone accessed by the plurality of devices 30 for the server communication unit 11 as an access time zone, and an allocation information storage unit 14, an allocation information storage step for storing a list of preset allocation time zones as allocation information WD for each of the plurality of devices 30, and an access time zone and an allocation time zone in the time zone verification unit 15. And the allocation information update unit 16 for updating the allocation information WD based on the verification result of the time zone verification unit 15. And a step. Among the plurality of devices 30, when the device 30 that has accessed the server communication unit 11 is an access device and the device 30 in which an assigned time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set as a target device, When the access time zone and the allocation time zone in the access device do not match, the allocation information update step switches the allocation time zone of the access device and the allocation time zone of the target device.

  In addition, the allocated time zone notifying unit 17 is configured to notify the device 30 of the allocated time zone when the corresponding allocated time zone is changed when the device 30 accesses. Therefore, since the allocated time zone is notified only to the device 30 that has accessed the communication server 10, it is only necessary to establish a communication connection in conjunction with the transmission of the update information, making a new communication connection unnecessary and reducing the amount of communication. be able to.

  Further, in the device 30, the access execution unit 32 may be configured to perform access in the allocated time zone notified from the communication server 10. Therefore, since the access from the device 30 is performed in the allocated time zone in response to the notification from the communication server 10, it is possible to construct a system in which the access amount to the communication server 10 is appropriately distributed.

  Note that the access timing from the device 30 can be set as appropriate, and the access may be made during a time zone instructed by the user. Further, when the access time zone has passed when the power of the device 30 is turned off, the device 30 may be accessed when the power is turned on.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a communication system and a communication server according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, the schematic configuration diagram and the like are omitted, and the components having substantially the same functions as those of the first embodiment are as follows. The same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the access time zone of the device 30 is determined when transmission of update information is completed. Specifically, the access storage unit 13 stores the access time zone when the update determining unit 18 determines that the update is complete. Therefore, since the time zone in which the update is completed is stored as the access time zone, it is possible to grasp the time zone during which each device 30 can be reliably updated. As a result, time zones can be assigned so that each device 30 accesses an appropriate time zone.

  In step S201, the access from the device 30 is awaited as in step S101.

  In step S202, the server communication unit 11 transmits update information to the access device.

  In step S203, the update determining unit 18 determines whether or not the transmission of update information is completed. As a result, when transmission of the update information is completed (step S203: Yes), the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, when the transmission of the update information has not been completed (step S203: No), the process ends. That is, when it is not determined that the update is completed due to disconnection of communication or the like, it waits for access from the device 30 again.

  Since the processing from step S204 to step S206 is the same as that from step S102 to step S104 described above, description thereof will be omitted. In step S206, when the access time zone and the allocated time zone coincide with each other (step S206: Yes), since the transmission of the update information has already been completed, the process ends.

  Since the processing in step S207 and step S208 is the same as that in step S106 and step S108 described above, description thereof will be omitted. In step S206, even when the access time zone and the allocated time zone do not match (step S206: No), the process ends without transmitting update information.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a communication system and a communication server according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the schematic configuration diagram and the like are omitted, and the functions of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are omitted. Components that are substantially equal to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating third allocation information which is an example of allocation information.

  The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that priority is set when the allocated time zone is switched. Specifically, in the third allocation information WD3 (allocation information WD), when overlapping allocation time zones are set for the plurality of devices 30, the plurality of devices 30 and the priority order are associated with each other. The allocation information update unit 16 is configured to update the allocation information WD based on the priority order. Therefore, by assigning priorities, the assigned time zones can be switched appropriately. For example, when the priority order is set based on the number of times the time zone is changed, it is possible to avoid the situation where the time zone of the same device 30 is repeatedly changed by giving priority to the device 30 with the lower number of times of replacement. .

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, “device K1” and “device K2” are assigned the same time zone “time zone T1”, and priority is given to “device K1”. The order is “1”, and the priority of “device K2” is “2”. In such a case, for example, when “device K3” is accessed in “time zone T1”, “device K1” having a priority “1” may be designated as the target device. In other words, in the present embodiment, the device 30 whose allocation time zone is switched is determined according to the priority order. In addition, the reference | standard which sets a priority can be changed suitably, for example, is good also as the time slot | zone which the apparatus 30 accessed previously. In the allocation information WD, a matter to be associated with the device 30 may be set according to a criterion for setting the priority order.

  Further, the matter associated with the device 30 is not limited to the above-described priority order. For example, from the time when the allocation information WD is updated, it may be associated with the device 30 with a preset period as a grace period. The allocation information update part 16 is good also as a structure which excludes the apparatus 30 in a grace period from the object of replacement of an allocation time slot | zone. That is, excessive replacement can be avoided by checking off the replacement of the device 30 whose allocation time period is changed during the grace period.

  It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and does not serve as a basis for limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted only by the above-described embodiment, but is defined based on the description of the scope of claims. Moreover, all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to a claim are included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication system 10 Communication server 11 Server communication part 12 Control part 13 Access memory | storage part 14 Allocation information memory | storage part 15 Time zone collation part 16 Allocation information update part 17 Allocation time zone notification part 18 Update judgment part 20 Network 30 Equipment 31 Equipment communication part 32 Access Implementation Department AD Access Information WD Allocation Information

Claims (7)

A communication server that transmits update information to a plurality of devices connected via a network,
A server communication unit for communicating with the plurality of devices;
For the server communication unit, an access storage unit that stores a time zone accessed by the plurality of devices as an access time zone;
An allocation information storage unit for storing a list of preset allocation time zones as allocation information for each of the plurality of devices;
A time zone matching unit for matching the access time zone and the allocated time zone;
An allocation information update unit that updates the allocation information based on a verification result of the time zone verification unit;
Among the plurality of devices, when the device that accessed the server communication unit is an access device, and a device in which an allocated time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set as a target device, When the access time zone and the allocation time zone in the access device do not match, the allocation information update unit switches the allocation time zone of the access device and the allocation time zone of the target device. The communication server according to claim 1,
An allocation time zone notification unit for notifying an allocation time zone corresponding to the device;
The said allocation time slot | zone notification part notifies the said allocation time slot | zone to this apparatus, when the corresponding allocation time slot | zone is changed when the said apparatus accesses. The communication server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
An update determination unit that determines that the update is complete when transmission of update information to the device is completed;
The access storage unit stores the access time zone when the update determination unit determines that the update is completed. A communication server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
In the allocation information, when overlapping allocation time zones are set for a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices are associated with priority levels,
The allocation information updating unit updates the allocation information based on the priority order. A communication system comprising the communication server according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a plurality of devices connected to the communication server via a network,
The device is a device communication unit that communicates with the communication server;
An access execution unit that performs access to the communication server in a preset time zone,
The access execution unit performs an access during an allocated time period notified from the communication server. A communication control method of a communication server that transmits update information to a plurality of devices connected via a network,
A server communication step for causing a server communication unit to communicate with the plurality of devices;
An access storage step of causing the access storage unit to store the time zone accessed by the plurality of devices as the access time zone for the server communication unit;
An allocation information storage step of storing, in the allocation information storage unit, a list of preset allocation time zones as allocation information for each of the plurality of devices;
A time zone matching step for causing a time zone matching unit to match the access time zone and the allocated time zone;
An allocation information update step of causing the allocation information update unit to update the allocation information based on the collation result of the time zone collation unit;
Among the plurality of devices, when the device that accessed the server communication unit is an access device, and a device in which an allocated time zone that matches the access time zone of the access device is set as a target device, If the access time zone and the allocation time zone in the access device do not match, the allocation information update step switches the allocation time zone of the access device and the allocation time zone of the target device. .   A communication control program for causing a computer to execute each step according to claim 6.

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