JP7067442B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, there is a device having a plurality of communication interfaces so as to be able to connect to a plurality of wired LANs and having a function of simultaneously communicating using the plurality of communication interfaces. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus including a first network card and a second network card.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-240129

However, since a conventional device can have only one valid router address even if it has a plurality of communication interfaces, only one of the plurality of communication interfaces communicates beyond the router. Is possible.

Therefore, if a PC (Personal Computer) connected to the communication interface side that cannot communicate beyond the router has a router between the device and the PC, network printing (hereinafter referred to as PCPrint) is performed from the PC. There was a problem that it was not possible to do).

Therefore, one or a plurality of aspects of the present invention are aimed at enabling an image forming apparatus including a plurality of communication units to receive print data across a router by using each of the plurality of communication units. And.

The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has a second communication unit that communicates with a first network to which a first router is connected and a second communication unit that communicates with a second network to which a second router is connected. The first, referring to the communication unit, the image forming unit that forms an image on the medium, the storage unit that stores the network route information including the route information indicating the route for transmitting data to the destination, and the network route information. An image forming apparatus including a communication unit or a control unit that controls transmission of data via the second communication unit, and the network route information is used when data is transmitted to an omitted destination. The route includes route information indicating a route transmitted to the first router via the first communication unit, and the control unit is from a device that communicates with the second network via the second router. When the second communication unit receives a registration request for route information including the destination of the device, the second communication unit serves as a route for transmitting data to the destination of the device in the network route information. By adding new route information indicating a route for transmitting data to the second router via the device, it is possible to receive image formation data for forming the image in the image forming unit from the apparatus. It is characterized by that.

According to one or a plurality of aspects of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a plurality of communication units, print data can be received across a router by using each of the plurality of communication units.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the MFP which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 1st example of the network route information. (A) and (B) are block diagrams showing a hardware configuration example. It is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of the printing system including the MFP which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC schematicly. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation which PC registers the route information in the MFP and performs printing in a printing system. It is a flowchart which shows the process of registering a route information in a PC. It is a flowchart which shows the process of updating the network route information in the MFP. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd example of the network route information. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the case where the MFP prints according to the PCPrint from the PC.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 100 as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.
The MFP 100 includes an image reading unit 101, a printing unit 102, a first communication unit 103, a second communication unit 104, a display unit 105, an operation unit 106, a storage unit 107, and a control unit 110.

The image reading unit 101 reads the image data of the set original. The image reading unit 101 can be realized by, for example, a scanner provided in the MFP 100.
The printing unit 102 is an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium based on print data (image forming data). Specifically, the printing unit 102 interprets the print data described in the page description language and prints (image formation) using toner. For example, the print data is Postscript format data.

The first communication unit 103 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data.
The second communication unit 104 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the first communication unit 103 and the second communication unit 104 are wired communication interfaces and are connected to different wired LANs (Local Area Networks).
Further, in the present embodiment, both the first communication unit 103 and the second communication unit 104 can be realized by a NIC (Network Interface Card).

The display unit 105 displays various screen images. For example, the display unit 105 displays a screen image showing the status of the MFP 100 or the information of the menu, and provides the user with the status of the MFP 100.
The operation unit 106 receives an operation input from the user. For example, the operation unit 106 accepts an operation request such as changing the setting of the MFP 100 or executing a function.
In the present embodiment, the display unit 105 and the operation unit 106 can be realized by, for example, a touch panel.

The storage unit 107 stores information necessary for processing by the MFP 100.
For example, the storage unit 107 stores the setting information 108 and the network route information 109.
The storage unit 107 can be realized by, for example, a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.

The setting information 108 indicates a setting necessary for the MFP 100 to operate. For example, the configuration information 108 includes the configuration of a valid router. A valid router setting is to send data to a destination (hereinafter, other unknown destination) where the MFP100 cannot determine which terminal to send directly to, such as an IP address beyond the router. In this case, it is a setting that determines to which router the data is sent directly. The setting of this valid router can be changed by the user, for example, according to the network environment to which the MFP 100 is connected. Here, the initial value of the valid router setting is the first communication unit 103, and when transmitting data to another unknown destination, the router of the network connected to the first communication unit 103. Data shall be sent directly to. If the valid router setting is changed to the second communication unit 104, the data is directly transmitted to the router of the network to which the second communication unit 104 is connected.

The network route information 109 includes route information indicating a route for transmitting data to the destination. Specifically, the network route information 109 is a routing table for determining a direct destination for transmitting data to the final destination.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of network route information 109.
The network route information 109 includes a destination row 109a, a next hop row 109b, and an interface row 109c. The route information is stored in the record corresponding to each row.

The destination column 109a stores the destination. The line 109d in which the "default" is stored omits the destination corresponding to the destination of the data to be transmitted, and when it is not stored in another line, a route indicating a route for transmitting such data. Information (default gateway) is stored. In other words, the line 109d stores route information indicating a route used when transmitting data to the other unknown destination described above. Here, "default" indicates all destinations, and the line 109d stores route information indicating a route through which data can be transmitted to all destinations.

The next hop column 109b indicates a delivery destination in which the data is delivered in the network to which the MFP 100 is connected when the data is sent to the destination in the same row. Here, the line in which "direct" is stored indicates that the destination of the data exists in the network to which the MFP 100 is connected.

The interface column 109c shows an interface that outputs the data when the data is transmitted to the destination in the same row. Here, since the MFP 100 includes a first communication unit 103 and a second communication unit 104, any one of these identification information is stored.

Returning to FIG. 1, the control unit 110 controls the processing in the MFP 100.
For example, the control unit 110 controls to transmit data via the first communication unit 103 or the second communication unit 104 with reference to the network route information 109.
The control unit 110 includes a print control unit 111, an information management unit 112, and a communication protocol control unit 113.

The print control unit 111 is an image formation control unit that controls the print process (image formation process) in the MFP 100. For example, the print control unit 111 controls the image reading unit 101 to read image data. Further, the print control unit 111 controls the print unit 102 based on the image data read by the image reading unit 101 or the print data acquired via the first communication unit 103 or the second communication unit 104. And print.

The information management unit 112 manages the information in the MFP 100. For example, the information management unit 112 updates the setting information 108 in response to a request from the user to input or change the setting via the display unit 105 and the operation unit 106. Further, as will be described later, the information management unit 112 adds necessary route information to the network route information 109 in accordance with a route information registration request from another device, and responds to the device for registration.

The communication protocol control unit 113 controls transmission / reception of data via the first communication unit 103 or the second communication unit 104 according to the communication protocol. For example, when receiving print data, the communication protocol control unit 113 processes LPR (Line Printer daemon protocol), Port9100, IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), and SMP (Simple Network Manage Protocol) as a server.

As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, a part or all of the control unit 110 described above includes a memory 10 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program stored in the memory 10. ) And the like. Such a program may be provided through a network, or may be recorded and provided on a recording medium. That is, such a program may be provided, for example, as a program product.

Further, a part or all of the control unit 110 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuitd). It can also be configured by a processing circuit 12 such as Circuits) or FPGA (Field Processor Metal Gate Array).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printing system 120, which is an image forming system including the MFP 100 according to the embodiment.
The printing system 120 includes an MFP 100, a router 130A, a router 130B, a PC 140A, and a PC 140B.

The MFP 100 is connected to the network 121, which is a wired LAN, via the first communication unit 103, and the first communication unit 103 communicates with the network 121. A router 130A is connected to the network 121, and the MFP 100 can communicate with the PC 140A connected to the network 122 via the router 130A in accordance with TCP (Transmission Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol). be.

Further, the MFP 100 is connected to the network 123, which is a wired LAN, via the second communication unit 104, and the second communication unit 104 communicates with the network 123. A router 130B is connected to the network 123. The router 130B and the PC 140B are connected to the network 124.

Here, the MFP 100 is connected to the network 121 and the network 123, but in the setting information 108, the effective router setting is the first communication unit 103. Therefore, in the network route information 109 shown in FIG. 2, in the row 109d in which the route information indicating the “defalt” route is stored, the next hop column 109b is the IP address on the network 121 side of the router 130A. Is stored. Therefore, communication cannot be performed according to TCP / IP from the MFP 100 to the PC 140B beyond the router 130B. It should be noted that the PC 140B can communicate with the MFP 100 via the router 130B according to TCP / IP.

Further, it is assumed that the network 121 and the network 123 are independent wired LANs, the MFP 100 does not have a routing function, and communication between the network 121 and the network 123 cannot be performed via the MFP 100. The network address of the network 121 is "192.168.1.0/24" as shown in FIG. 2, and the network address of the network 123 is "192" as shown in FIG. .168.2.0 / 24 ". That is, the network 121 and the network 123 are networks that use different IP addresses.

The PC140A has client functions of LPR, port9100, IPP, and SNMP, and can give a print instruction (image formation instruction) to the MFP100 by using these protocols.

Like the PC140A, the PC140B also has LPR, port9100, IPP, and SNMP client functions.
Here, the print protocols such as LPR, Port9100 and IPP are TCP protocols, and in order to give a print instruction to the MFP100, it is first necessary to establish a connection with the MFP100 by a three-way handshake.
However, as described above, the IP packet from the PC 140B to the MFP 100 reaches the MFP 100, but the IP packet from the MFP 100 to the PC 140B does not reach the PC 140B, so that the connection cannot be established. Therefore, the PC 140B cannot give a print instruction to the MFP 100 by the above protocol.

In the description of FIG. 4, the printing system 120 is entirely configured by a wired LAN, but a part or all of the printing system 120 may be configured by a wireless LAN.
Further, when it is not necessary to distinguish between PC140A and PC140B, it is referred to as PC140. The PC 140 is an information processing device.
The router 130A and the router 130B each have an IP routing function between the networks to which they are connected.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the PC 140.
The PC 140 includes a communication unit 141, a display unit 142, an operation unit 143, a storage unit 144, and a control unit 145.

The communication unit 141 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data.
In the present embodiment, the communication unit 141 can be realized by the NIC.

The display unit 142 displays various screen images. The display unit 142 can be realized by, for example, a display.
The operation unit 143 receives an input of an instruction from the user. The operation unit 143 can be realized by, for example, an input device such as a key device and a mouse.
The storage unit 144 stores information necessary for processing on the PC 140. The storage unit 144 can be realized by, for example, a recording device such as a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

The control unit 145 controls the processing in the PC 140.
The control unit 145 includes a registration processing unit 146, a communication protocol control unit 147, and a print processing unit 148.

The registration processing unit 146 registers various functions in the PC 140.
For example, the PC 140 needs to install a printer driver (image forming driver) for the MFP 100 in advance in order to perform PC printing using printing protocols such as LPR, Port9100 and IPP. The registration processing unit 146 installs the printer driver.

When installing the printer driver, the registration processing unit 146 receives input of the IP address of the MFP 100 from the user via the display unit 142 and the operation unit 143. Then, the registration processing unit 146 gives the input IP address of the MFP 100 and the IP address of the own device to the communication protocol control unit 147, and causes the MFP 100 to register the route information of the own device.

The communication protocol control unit 147 controls transmission / reception of data via the communication unit 141 according to the communication protocol. For example, when transmitting print data, the communication protocol control unit 147 processes as a client of LPR, Port9100, IPP, and SNMP.

Further, when the communication protocol control unit 147 receives the IP address of the MFP 100 and the IP address of its own device from the registration processing unit 146, the communication protocol control unit 147 generates an SNMP Set Request command, which is a registration request for route information including them. By sending a command to the MFP 100 via the communication unit 141, the route information of the own device is registered in the network route information 109 of the MFP 100.

The print processing unit 148 is an image forming processing unit that performs PC printing using printing protocols such as LPR, Port9100, and IPP, which is a function that becomes effective when the registration processing unit 146 installs a printer driver.

A part or all of the control unit 145 described above includes, for example, a memory 10 and a processor 11 such as a CPU that executes a program stored in the memory 10, as shown in FIG. 3A. It can be configured by. Such a program may be provided through a network, or may be recorded and provided on a recording medium. That is, such a program may be provided, for example, as a program product.

Further, a part or all of the control unit 145 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or the like, as shown in FIG. 3 (B). It can also be configured by the processing circuit 12.

Next, the operation in the printing system 120 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in which the PC 140B registers route information in the MFP 100 and performs printing in the printing system 120.
As described above, since the PC 140B is connected to the router 130B connected to the network 123 to which the second communication unit 104, which is not set as a valid router, is connected, the route before printing is executed. It is assumed that the information needs to be registered in the MPF100.

First, in the PC140B, the printer driver of the MFP100 is installed according to the instruction from the user (S10).
When installing the printer driver for the MFP100, the PC140B accepts the input of the IP address of the MFP100 from the user and includes it in the Set Request command of SNMP together with its own IP address to generate a registration request for route information. , Sent to the MFP100 (S11).

Upon receiving the route information registration request, the MFP 100 registers the corresponding route information in the network route information 109 (S12).
Then, when the registration of the route information is successful, the MFP 100 transmits the Get Response command of SNMP to the PC 140B (S13).
As a result, since the route information is registered, the PC 140B can perform PC Print using the MFP 100.

Then, when the PC 140B receives a print instruction from the user (S14), the PC 140B establishes a TCP connection with the MFP 100 (S15) and transmits print data (S16).
As a result, the MFP 100 prints based on the print data (S17).

As described above, the PC 140B can register its own route information in the MFP 100 and print it on the MFP 100 via the network.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of registering route information in the PC 140B.
First, when the registration processing unit 146 of the PC 140B receives an instruction from the user to install the printer driver of the MFP 100 via the operation unit 143 in order to perform PCPrint on the MFP 100, the registration processing unit 146 receives the printer of the MFP 100. Install the driver (S20). As a result, the print processing unit 148 is added to the control unit 145.

When the registration processing unit 146 installs the printer driver, the IP address of the second communication unit 104, which is not set as a valid router of the MFP 100, is "192.168.2.100" via the operation unit 143. (S21).

Upon receiving the input of the IP address of the second communication unit 104, the registration processing unit 146 acquires "10.0.2.1", which is the IP address of the PC 140B stored in the storage unit 144, and obtains them. The IP address is given to the communication protocol control unit 147. The communication protocol control unit 147 generates a Set Request command including those IP addresses according to SNMP. Then, the communication protocol control unit 147 sends the Set Request command to the MFP 100 as a registration request for route information via the communication unit 141 (S22).

Since SNMP uses connectionless UDP, there is no need to establish a connection. Therefore, the MFP 100 can receive such a Set Request command. The IP address of the MFP 100 is acquired by, for example, the user asking the administrator of the MFP 100 in advance or displaying a setting menu on the display unit 105 of the MFP 100 to confirm it.

Then, the registration processing unit 146 determines whether or not the Get Response command has been received as a registration response, which is a successful response to the registration request, via the communication unit 141 and the communication protocol control unit 147 (S23). Then, when the Get Response command is received (Yes in S23), the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of updating the network route information 109 in the MFP 100.
First, the second communication unit 104 of the MFP 100 receives the IP packet in which the Set Request command from the PC 140B is stored (S30). The communication protocol control unit 113 uses SNMP to acquire a Set Request command from the PC 140B, and gives the information management unit 112 route information for registration in the network route information 109.

The information management unit 112 registers the route information given by the communication protocol control unit 113 in the network route information 109 stored in the storage unit 107 (S31).

Here, it is assumed that the route information is stored in the line 109e of the network route information 109 # shown in FIG.
Specifically, in row 109e, the destination column 109a contains "10.0.2.0/24" including the IP address "10.0.2.1" of the PC140B included in the Set Request command. It is stored, and the identification information of the second communication unit 104 is stored in the interface column 109c. Then, in the next hop column 109b, the IP address of the router 130B on the network 123 side to which the second communication unit 104 is connected is stored.
In the present embodiment, the destination column 109a is not a single "10.0.2.1" which is the IP address of the PC140B, but a network address indicating the entire IP address of the network 124 to which the PC140B belongs, for example. A certain "10.0.2.0/24" is registered.

Then, when the registration of the route information in the network route information 109 is completed, the information management unit 112 notifies the communication protocol control unit 113 to that effect, and the communication protocol control unit 113 receives the registration response of the route information of the SNMP. A Get Response command is generated, and the command is sent to "10.0.2.1", which is the IP address of the PC140B, via the second communication unit 104 (S32). Here, as shown in FIG. 9, since the network route information 109 of the MFP 100 is updated, the IP packet from the MFP 100 to the PC 140B can be transmitted to the PC 140B by the correct route.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process when the MFP 100 performs printing according to the PC Print from the PC 140B.
When the print processing unit 148 of the PC 140B receives an input of a print instruction from the user via the operation unit 143, the print processing unit 148 instructs the communication protocol control unit 147, so that the communication protocol control unit 147 makes a TCP connection establishment request. The indicated IP packet is transmitted to the MFP 100.

In the MFP 100, when the second communication unit 104 receives an IP packet indicating a TCP connection establishment request, the communication protocol control unit 113 determines that the received IP packet is an IP packet indicating a TCP connection establishment request, and determines that the IP packet is an IP packet indicating a TCP connection establishment request. A TCP connection is established by a 3-way handshake (S40). The communication protocol control unit 113 can transmit the IP packet from the MFP 100 to the PC 140B to the PC 140B by the correct route by referring to the network route information 109 stored in the storage unit 107 when performing the 3-way handshake. Therefore, a connection can be established.

When the TCP connection is established, the communication protocol control unit 113 causes the second communication unit 104 to receive the print data transmitted by the PC 140B from the network 123 by using the Port 9100 (S41).

The print control unit 111 acquires print data from the communication protocol control unit 113, and causes the print unit 102 to print based on the print data (S42).

As described above, when the control unit 110 of the MFP 100 receives a registration request for route information including the destination of the PC 140B from the PC 140B which is a device that communicates with the network 124 via the router 130B. , New route information indicating a route for transmitting data to the router 130B via the second communication unit 104 is added to the network route information 109 as a route for transmitting data to the destination of the PC 140B. Therefore, even if the route to be communicated via the first communication unit 103 and the router 130A is registered in the network route information 109 as the default route, the MFP 100 can communicate from the PC 140B which cannot communicate with the default route. You will be able to receive print data.

In the above embodiment, the registration request of the route information is performed from the PC 140B to the MFP 100 at the time of installing the printer driver, but the embodiment is not limited to the above example. For example, immediately before the print processing unit 148 of the PC 140B sends print data to the MFP 100, the registration processing unit 146 may request registration of route information via the communication protocol control unit 147. Further, the registration request of the route information may be made at other times such as when there is an instruction from the user or when the processing by the print processing unit 148 is started.

Further, although the request for registering the route information from the PC 140A connected to the network 121 side to the MFP 100 is not particularly described, for example, the first communication unit 103 in which a valid router is set is used. When the route information registration request is received, an operation may be added to restrict the communication protocol control unit 113 or the information management unit 112 from registering such route information in the network route information 109.

Further, in the above embodiment, SNMP is used to register the route information from the PC 140B to the MFP 100, but another UDP protocol may be used instead of the SNMP. Further, although Port9100 is used as a printing protocol when PCPrinting is performed from the PC140B to the MFP100, another printing protocol such as LPR or IPP may be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a PC connected to the network of the communication interface on the side that cannot cross the router, even if there is a router between the device and the PC, PCPrint can be performed. It becomes possible and the convenience of the user can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the MFP 100 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment may be a printer, a multifunction device, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like.

100 MFP, 101 Image reader, 102 Printing unit, 103 First communication unit, 104 Second communication unit, 105 Display unit, 106 Operation unit, 107 Storage unit, 108 Setting information, 109 Network route information, 110 Control unit, 111 Print control unit, 112 information management unit, 113 communication protocol control unit, 120 printing system, 121, 122, 123, 124 network, 130A, router 130B router, 140A, 140B PC, 141 communication unit, 142 display unit, 143 operation unit , 144 storage unit, 145 control unit, 146 registration processing unit, 147 communication protocol control unit, 148 print processing unit.

Claims (4)

The first communication unit that communicates with the first network to which the first router is connected,
The second communication unit that communicates with the second network to which the second router is connected,
An image forming part that forms an image on a medium,
A storage unit that stores network route information including route information indicating the route for transmitting data to the destination, and a storage unit.
An image forming apparatus including a control unit that controls transmission of data via the first communication unit or the second communication unit with reference to the network route information.
The network route information includes route information indicating a route to be transmitted to the first router via the first communication unit as a route used when transmitting data to the omitted destination.
The control unit receives the network route information from a device that communicates with the second network via the second router when the second communication unit receives a registration request for route information including a destination of the device. By adding new route information indicating a route for transmitting data to the second router via the second communication unit as a route for transmitting data to the destination of the apparatus, the apparatus can be used. , An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the image forming unit can receive image forming data for forming the image. The control unit establishes a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection with the device via the second communication unit by referring to the new route information, and receives the image formation data from the device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The registration request includes the IP address of the device.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adds the new route information indicating the network address including the IP address as the destination to the network route information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the registration request is a Set Request command of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

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