JP7310506B2 - Driver installation program, primary intermediary program, secondary intermediary program and management support system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to technology for managing devices.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a mobile device management system. Mobile device management is sometimes abbreviated as "MDM" (Mobile Device Management). The MDM system is a system configured to manage mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablet terminals by directly communicating with mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablet terminals via a global network by a management device equipped with server functions. .

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-536598

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for efficient management of various devices. Devices for which management demand is expected include devices that cannot directly communicate with the management device of the MDM system. It would be convenient if the MDM system could manage such devices that cannot directly communicate with the management apparatus of the MDM system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of easily registering a device that cannot directly communicate with a management device of an MDM system as a management target of the management device of the MDM system and managing it from the management device. intended to

A driver installation program of the present invention is a program executable by a computer provided in an information processing apparatus. The information processing device is configured to be able to communicate with the management mediation system and devices. The management mediation system is configured to be able to communicate with the information processing device, the device and the management device. The management apparatus is configured to be able to manage registered devices by communicating with registered devices registered as management targets in the management apparatus via the management mediation system.

The driver installation program causes the computer to perform installation processing, request processing, target information acquisition processing, target determination processing, and transmission processing.
The installation process is a process of installing the device driver on the computer. A device driver is a program for controlling the device.

Request processing is processing for requesting target information from the management mediation system. The target information indicates target devices to be managed. The management intermediary system transmits the target information in response to a request for the target information.

The target information acquisition process is a process of acquiring target information transmitted from the management intermediation system in response to the request process.
The target determination process is a process of determining whether or not the device is included in the target devices based on the target information acquired by the target information acquisition process.

The transmission process is executed when the device is determined to be included in the target device by the target determination process. The transmission process includes a first transmission process or a second transmission process.
The first transmission process includes a process of transmitting first access information to the management mediation system. The first access information is information for accessing the device from the management mediation system.

The second transmission process includes transmitting second access information to the device. The second access information is information for accessing the management mediation system from the device.
If the transmission process includes the first transmission process, the management mediation system requests device identification information that identifies the device from the device based on the first access information received from the information processing device. The device transmits device identification information to the management mediation system in response to a request for device identification information from the management mediation system.

If the transmission process includes the second transmission process, the device transmits device identification information to the management mediation system based on the second access information received from the information processing device.
The management intermediation system is configured to be capable of transmitting a registration notification including the received device identification information to the management device in response to receiving the device identification information from the device.

The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as a management target in response to receiving the registration notification.
Therefore, when a device that cannot directly communicate with a management apparatus is to be newly registered as a management target, a driver installation program corresponding to the device can be executed by the information processing apparatus so that it can be transferred to the management apparatus via the management mediation system. Easy to register. As a result, the registered device can be managed from the management apparatus via the management mediation system.

Next, the main intermediary program of the present invention is a computer-executable program provided in the main intermediary device. The main intermediary device is configured to communicate with the management device and the managed system.

The managed system includes a device and an information processing apparatus configured to communicate with the device. The management apparatus is configured to be able to manage registered devices by communicating with registered devices in the managed system that are registered as objects of management in the management apparatus via the main intermediary apparatus.

The information processing device executes installation processing. The installation process includes installing a device driver for controlling the device in the information processing apparatus. The information processing device is configured to be able to request the target information from the main intermediary device via the managed system by executing the installation process. The target information indicates target devices to be managed.

The main mediation program causes the computer to execute request reception processing, target information transmission processing, identification information reception processing, and registration notification transmission processing.
The request reception process is a process of receiving a request for target information via the managed system.

The target information transmission process is a process of transmitting the target information to the managed system in response to the request for the target information being received by the request reception process.
The identification information reception process is a process of receiving device identification information transmitted from the managed system in accordance with the target information transmitted by the target information transmission process. Device identification information is information that identifies the device.

The registration notification transmission process is a process of transmitting a registration notification including the device identification information received by the identification information reception process to the management apparatus.
The information processing apparatus is configured to be able to determine whether the device is included in the target devices based on the target information transmitted by the target information transmission process.

The managed system is configured to be capable of transmitting the device identification information to the main intermediary apparatus when the information processing apparatus determines that the device is included in the target device.
The management apparatus is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as a management target in response to receiving the registration notification from the main intermediary apparatus.

Therefore, when a device that cannot directly communicate with the management apparatus is to be registered as a new device to be managed, the main mediation apparatus can be caused to execute the main mediation program. can do.

Specifically, the main intermediary apparatus can acquire the device identification information of the device to be registered by transmitting the target information to the information processing apparatus in response to a request from the information processing apparatus. By transmitting a registration notification including the device identification information to the management apparatus, the device can be registered with the management apparatus.

As a result, the registered device can be managed from the management apparatus via the management mediation system.
Next, the secondary intermediation program of the present invention is a computer-executable program provided in the secondary intermediary device. The sub mediation device is configured to be able to communicate with the main mediation device, the information processing device and the device.

The main mediation device is configured to communicate with each of the management device and the sub mediation device.
The management apparatus is configured to be able to manage registered devices by communicating with registered devices registered as management targets in the management apparatus through the main mediation apparatus and the sub mediation apparatus.

The information processing device executes installation processing. The installation process includes installing a device driver for controlling the device in the information processing apparatus. When the installation process is executed, the information processing apparatus requests the sub mediation device for target information indicating target devices to be managed, and acquires the target information from the sub mediation device in response to the request. That is, the sub mediating device transmits target information in response to the request, and the information processing device acquires the transmitted target information. The information processing device is configured to be capable of transmitting access information to the sub mediation device when determining that the device is included in the target device based on the target information acquired from the sub mediation device. The access information is information for the secondary mediating device to access the device.

The secondary mediation program causes the computer to perform request reception processing, request relay processing, target information reception processing, transmission relay processing, access information reception processing, identification information request processing, identification information reception processing, and identification information transmission. process.

The request reception process is a process of receiving a request for target information from the information processing device.
The request relay process is a process of requesting the target information from the main intermediation device in response to the request for the target information being received by the request reception process.

The target information reception process is a process of receiving the target information transmitted from the main intermediary device in response to the request relay process.
The transmission relay process is a process of transmitting the target information received by the target information reception process to the information processing device.

The access information reception process is a process of receiving access information transmitted from the information processing device according to the transmission relay process.
The identification information request process is a process of requesting device identification information from the device based on the access information received by the access information reception process. Device identification information is information that identifies the device.

The identification information reception process is a process of receiving device identification information transmitted from the device in response to the identification information request process.
The identification information transmission process is a process of transmitting the device identification information received by the identification information reception process to the main intermediate apparatus.

The main intermediary apparatus is configured to be capable of transmitting a registration notification including the received device identification information to the management apparatus in response to receiving the device identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission process.

The management apparatus is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as a management target in response to receiving the registration notification.
Therefore, when a device that cannot directly communicate with the management apparatus is to be newly registered as a management target, the sub mediation apparatus is caused to execute the sub mediation program so that the management apparatus cooperates with the main mediation apparatus and the information processing apparatus. can be easily registered.

Specifically, the secondary intermediation apparatus acquires access information for accessing the device to be registered from the information processing apparatus, accesses the device based on the access information, and obtains the device identification information from the device. can be obtained. By transmitting the acquired device identification information to the management apparatus via the main intermediary apparatus, the device can be registered in the management apparatus.

As a result, the registered device can be managed from the management apparatus via the management mediation system.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a main mediation database; (a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the secondary mediation database of the secondary mediation device within the first managed system, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the secondary mediation database of the secondary mediation device within the second managed system; (c) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the secondary mediation database of the secondary mediation device in the third managed system. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing processing for newly registering a device to be managed, which is executed by the device management system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing processing for newly registering a device to be managed, which is executed by the device management system according to the second embodiment; FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing processing for new registration of a device to be managed, which is executed by the device management system according to the third embodiment; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a device management system according to a fourth embodiment; FIG. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing processing for newly registering a device to be managed, which is executed by the device management system according to the fourth embodiment;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. First Embodiment]
(1-1) Overview of Device Management System The device management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a management device 5, a main intermediary device 40, and at least one managed system. Each of the managed systems has a secondary intermediary device.

In the first embodiment, the device management system 1 includes, for example, three managed systems. Specifically, the device management system 1 includes a first managed system 110, a second managed system 120, and a third managed system 130, as shown in FIG. The first managed system 110 has a secondary mediating device 10 , the second managed system 120 has a secondary mediating device 20 , and the third managed system 130 has a secondary mediating device 30 .

The first managed system 110 further comprises an information processing device 50 and devices 81 , 82 and 83 . The devices 81 to 83 can directly communicate with the information processing apparatus 50 and the secondary intermediary apparatus 10 but do not have the function of directly communicating with the management apparatus 5 .

The second managed system 120 further comprises devices 84,85. The devices 84 and 85 can directly communicate with the secondary intermediary device 20 but do not have the function of directly communicating with the management device 5 .

Third managed system 130 further comprises devices 86 , 87 , 88 . The devices 86 to 88 can directly communicate with the secondary intermediary device 30 but do not have the function of directly communicating with the management device 5 .

Devices 81-88 may be any device. The devices 81 to 88 may be, for example, small devices that are easily portable, devices that are not easy to carry, or devices that are originally intended to be used stationary. In the first embodiment, the devices 81 to 88 are all small printers that can be easily carried, for example. A printer has a function of printing an image on a recording medium (for example, recording paper).

The management device 5 and the main intermediary device 40 are connected to the global network 200 and can communicate with each other through the global network 200 . The global network 200 may be any network, and in the first embodiment it is, for example, the Internet configured to perform communication according to the so-called TCP/IP protocol.

A first managed system 110 comprises a first local network (not shown). In the first managed system 110, the secondary intermediate device 10, the information processing device 50 and the devices 81 to 83 are connected to the first local network and can communicate with each other via the first local network.

The first managed system 110 further comprises a relay device 116 . The relay device 116 is connected to the global network 200 and the first local network, and connects between the global network 200 and the first local network. Communication between devices connected to the first local network within the first managed system 110 and devices connected to the global network 200 is performed via the relay device 116 .

A second managed system 120 comprises a second local network (not shown). In the second managed system 120, the secondary intermediary device 20 and the devices 84, 85 are connected to the second local network and can communicate with each other via the second local network.

The second managed system 120 further comprises a relay device 126 . The relay device 126 is connected to the global network 200 and the second local network, and connects between the global network 200 and the second local network. Communication between the devices connected to the second local network within the second managed system 120 and the devices connected to the global network 200 is performed via the relay device 126 .

A third managed system 130 comprises a third local network (not shown). In the third managed system 130, the secondary intermediary device 30 and the devices 86-88 are connected to the third local network and can communicate with each other via the third local network.

The third managed system 130 further comprises a relay device 136 . The relay device 136 is connected to the global network 200 and the third local network, and connects between the global network 200 and the third local network. Communication between a device connected to the third local network and a device connected to the global network 200 within the third managed system 130 is performed via the relay device 136 .

Each of the first local network, the second local network, and the third local network may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a mixed wired and wireless network. good. In this embodiment, the first local network, the second local network, and the third local network communicate according to a communication protocol including, for example, the TCP/IP protocol.

Each of the relay devices 116, 126, and 136 may have the function of a so-called broadband router, or may have a firewall for restricting access from the global network 200 to the corresponding managed system. A firewall may be implemented by hardware or by software processing.

The device management system 1 includes part of a so-called mobile device management system (MDM system). That is, the management device 5 is owned by, for example, the first company that provides the service of the MDM system. On the other hand, the primary mediation device 40 and each secondary mediation device 10, 20, 30 are owned by, for example, a second company that wishes to manage the devices 81-88 using an MDM system. Each of the sub mediation devices 10, 20, 30 may be provided, for example, in one of a plurality of branches owned by the second company. That is, each managed system 110, 120, 130 may each be established at one of a plurality of branch offices.

The management device 5 can manage various mobile devices (not shown) to be managed by communicating with them in the MDM system.
The management device 5 of the first embodiment further includes devices registered as management targets in the management device 5 among the devices 81 to 88 that do not have the function of directly communicating with the management device 5 (hereinafter referred to as " registered devices") can be managed via the primary mediator 40 and corresponding secondary mediators.

In other words, the management device 5 cannot directly communicate with the devices 81 to 88, but can communicate with the registered devices connected to the local network common to the sub mediation device via the main mediation device 40 and the sub mediation device. can manage its registered devices. The main mediating device 40 and the sub mediating device mediate between the management device 5 and the registered devices so that the management device 5 can manage the registered devices that do not have the function of directly communicating with the management device 5. play a role in

In the following description, the fact that a device is registered in the management apparatus 5 may be expressed as "registered in the device management system 1". Further, when a device is registered in the management device 5, the device is basically also registered in the main mediating device 40 and the sub mediating device connected to the local network to which the device is connected. .

Each of the devices 81 to 88 can be managed by the management apparatus 5 by being registered as a management target in the management apparatus 5 . The management device 5 stores various types of management information relating to each registered device.

The administrator of the registered device can manage the registered device by accessing the management site in the management device 5 using, for example, a web browser. Specifically, the administrator can, for example, access the management site and view the management information of the registered devices. The management information may include various information in the main mediation database of FIG. 2, which will be described later. Also, for example, the administrator can instruct the registered device to add, change, or delete various setting information through the management site.

In the following description, for example, devices 81, 82, 84 to 88 are all registered devices, and device 83 is an unregistered device that has not yet been registered.
Registration of a device in the main mediation device 40 is performed by registering information about the device in a main mediation database 45 in the main mediation device 40, which will be described later. "Database" is abbreviated as "DB" hereinafter.

Registration of a device in each of the secondary mediation devices 10, 20, and 30 is performed by registering information about the device in a secondary mediation DB 15 (to be described later) in each of the secondary mediation devices 10, 20, and 30. FIG. In the first embodiment, devices 81 and 82 belonging to the corresponding first managed system 110 are registered in the secondary mediation DB 15 of the secondary mediation device 10 . Devices 84 and 85 belonging to the corresponding second managed system 120 are registered in the secondary mediation DB (not shown) of the secondary mediation device 20 . Devices 86 to 88 belonging to the corresponding third managed system 130 are registered in the secondary mediation DB (not shown) of the secondary mediation device 30 .

Note that a registered device "belongs" to the managed system means that the registered device is registered in the secondary mediation device in the managed system (and thus registered in the main mediation device 40 and the management device 5). It means that

Management device 5 manages devices 81 and 82 belonging to first managed system 110 via main mediation device 40 and sub mediation device 10 . Management device 5 manages devices 84 and 85 belonging to second managed system 120 via main mediation device 40 and sub mediation device 20 . Management device 5 manages devices 86 to 88 belonging to third managed system 130 via main mediation device 40 and sub mediation device 30 .

Any names may be used for the management device, the main mediation device, and the sub mediation device. The management device may be called, for example, a “management server”. A primary mediator may be referred to, for example, as a "conductor," a "management mediator," and the like. Secondary mediators may be referred to, for example, as "agents," "auxiliary mediators," and the like.

(1-2) Configuration of Main Intermediary Device As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, "interface" is abbreviated as "I/F".

The control unit 41 has, for example, a CPU. The storage unit 42 has, for example, semiconductor memories such as ROM, RAM, NVRAM, flash memory, and SSD. That is, the main intermediary device 40 comprises a computer including a CPU and a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 42 may include a memory different from a semiconductor memory, such as a hard disk drive. The storage unit 42 stores various programs, data, etc., including an operating system 43 , a main intermediary program 44 and a main intermediary DB 45 . Hereinafter, the “operating system” is abbreviated as “OS”.

The control unit 41 implements various functions by executing a program stored in a non-transitional substantive recording medium. In this embodiment, the storage unit 42 corresponds to a non-transitional substantive recording medium storing programs. Various functions realized by the control unit 41 are not limited to being realized by executing a program, and a part or all of them may be realized by using one or more pieces of hardware.

The main mediation DB 45 includes management information for each registered device, as illustrated in FIG. The management information includes various information such as the device ID, group ID, location information, firmware version and setting information of the corresponding device.

A device ID is a unique ID given to each device to identify the device. A device ID may be, for example, a MAC address, a private IP address, or a specific serial number. In this embodiment, the device ID is, for example, a specific serial number. In FIG. 2, device IDs “001” to “007” correspond to devices 81, 82, 84 to 88. FIG. Registering a device in the main mediation device 40 means that management information corresponding to the device is registered (that is, stored) in the main mediation DB 45 .

The group ID indicates the managed system to which the corresponding device belongs (and by extension, the secondary intermediary device within the managed system). In FIG. 2, group ID "00A" indicates first managed system 110 and secondary mediating device 10, group ID "00B" indicates second managed system 120 and secondary mediating device 20, group ID "00C" indicates A third managed system 130 and a secondary intermediary device 30 are shown.

Location information indicates where the corresponding device is located.
The firmware version indicates the firmware version installed in the corresponding device. In the firmware version shown in FIG. 2, a larger number indicates a newer version.

The setting information has a plurality of subdivided setting items such as font, font size, and density. The font indicates the font of characters printed by the corresponding device. The font size indicates the size of characters printed by the corresponding device. Density indicates the density of ink such as characters and figures printed by the corresponding device. Note that the setting information may have setting items different from the aforementioned font, font size, and density. Moreover, the number of setting items included in the setting information may be any number.

The main mediation program 44 includes various processes for mediating management of registered devices by the management apparatus 5 . The main mediation program 44 further includes a first registration auxiliary process for registering an unregistered device in the device management system 1 in cooperation with the secondary mediation program 14 and the installer 54, which will be described later. Note that each process (S401 to S407) of the main intermediary device shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later, is included in the first registration assistance process.

The main intermediation DB 45 may be generated by executing the main intermediation program 44, or may be prepared in advance separately from the main intermediation program 44 and the contents thereof may be appropriately changed according to the execution of the main intermediation program 44. . Also, the main intermediary program 44 may be provided pre-installed in the main intermediary device 40 . Further, for example, the main mediation program 44 is provided in a state stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB memory, or flash memory, and the main mediation program 44 is downloaded from the storage medium in the main mediation device 40. It may be installed on the primary intermediary device 40 by having it read. Further, for example, the main mediation program 44 may be installed in the main mediation device 40 by being downloaded to the main mediation device 40 via a communication line of the Internet.

The user I/F 46 includes an input device such as a keyboard and mouse for receiving various inputs from the administrator. The user I/F 46 further includes a display device, such as a liquid crystal panel or an LED display device, for displaying various information to the administrator.

The communication I/F 47 is an interface for communicating with the management device 5 and each of the sub mediation devices 10, 20, 30, and the like. The communication I/F 47 may be, for example, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or other various communication interfaces. The main mediating device 40 communicates with each of the sub mediating devices 10, 20, 30 through the firewall provided in the corresponding relay device.

(1-3) Configuration of Secondary Intermediary Devices In the first embodiment, each of the secondary mediation devices 10, 20, and 30 has the same configuration. Therefore, the secondary intermediary device 10 in the first managed system 110 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1 , the secondary intermediary device 10 includes a control unit 11 , a storage unit 12 , a user I/F 16 and a communication I/F 17 .

The control unit 11 has, for example, a CPU. The storage unit 12 has, for example, semiconductor memories such as ROM, RAM, NVRAM, flash memory, and SSD. That is, the sub mediation device 10 has a computer including a CPU and a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 12 may include a memory different from a semiconductor memory, such as a hard disk drive. The storage unit 12 stores various programs, data, etc. including the OS 13 , the secondary mediation program 14 and the secondary mediation DB 15 .

The control unit 11 implements various functions by executing a program stored in a non-transitional substantive recording medium. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 corresponds to a non-transitional substantive recording medium storing programs. Various functions realized by the control unit 11 are not limited to being realized by executing a program, and a part or all of them may be realized using one or more pieces of hardware.

The secondary mediation DB 15 includes part or all of the management information for each registered device belonging to the first managed system 110, as illustrated in FIG. 3(a). The secondary mediation DB (not shown) provided in the secondary mediation device 20 in the second managed system 120 stores management information for each registered device belonging to the second managed system 120, as illustrated in FIG. include. The secondary mediation DB (not shown) provided in the secondary mediation device 30 in the third managed system 130 includes management information for each registered device belonging to the third managed system 130, as illustrated in FIG. 3(c).

The secondary mediation program 14 includes various processes for mediating management of registered devices by the management apparatus 5 . The secondary mediation program 14 further includes second registration support processing for registering an unregistered device in the device management system 1 in cooperation with the main mediation program 44 and the installer 54 . Note that each process (S301 to S311) of the secondary intermediation apparatus shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later, is included in the second registration assistance process.

The secondary mediation DB 15 may be generated by executing the secondary mediation program 14, or may be prepared in advance separately from the secondary mediation program 14 and the contents thereof may be appropriately changed according to the execution of the secondary mediation program 14. . Also, the secondary mediation program 14 may be provided preinstalled in the secondary mediation device 10 . Further, for example, the secondary mediation program 14 is provided in a state stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB memory, or flash memory, and the secondary mediation program 14 is downloaded from the storage medium in the secondary mediation device 10. It may be installed in the secondary mediation device 10 by having it read. Alternatively, for example, the secondary mediation program 14 may be installed in the secondary mediation device 10 by being downloaded to the secondary mediation device 10 via a communication line of the Internet.

The user I/F 16 includes an input device such as a keyboard and mouse for receiving various inputs from the administrator. The user I/F 16 further includes a display device, such as a liquid crystal panel or an LED display device, for displaying various information to the administrator.

The communication I/F 17 is an interface for communicating with the main intermediary device 40, the information processing device 50, the devices 81 to 83, and the like. The communication I/F 17 may be, for example, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or other various communication interfaces. Secondary mediation device 10 communicates with each device connected to global network 200 , including main mediation device 40 , through the firewall provided in relay device 116 .

(1-4) Configuration of Information Processing Device The information processing device 50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 , the information processing device 50 includes a control section 51 , a storage section 52 , a user I/F 56 and a communication I/F 57 .

The control unit 51 has, for example, a CPU. The storage unit 52 has semiconductor memories such as ROM, RAM, NVRAM, flash memory, and SSD. That is, the information processing device 50 has a computer including a CPU and a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 52 may include a memory different from a semiconductor memory, such as a hard disk drive. Various programs and data including an OS 53, an installer 54 and a device driver 55 are stored in the storage unit 52. FIG.

The control unit 51 implements various functions by executing a program stored in a non-transitional substantive recording medium. In this embodiment, the storage unit 52 corresponds to a non-transitional substantive recording medium storing programs. Various functions realized by the control unit 51 are not limited to being realized by executing a program, and a part or all of them may be realized using one or more pieces of hardware.

The installer 54 is a program whose main purpose is to install the device driver 55 . The device driver 55 is a program for controlling an unregistered device 83, for example. The device driver 55 may be included in the installer 54 or provided separately from the installer 54 .

The installer 54 may be provided preinstalled in the information processing device 50 . Also, for example, the installer 54 is provided in a state stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, a flash memory, etc. By causing the information processing device 50 to read the installer 54 from the storage medium, The information processing device 50 may be put into an executable state. Alternatively, for example, the installer 54 may be made executable by the information processing device 50 by being downloaded to the information processing device 50 via a communication line of the Internet.

When the controller 51 executes the installer 54 in the information processing device 50 , the device driver 55 is installed in the information processing device 50 by the installer 54 . As a result, the device 83 can be controlled from the information processing apparatus 50, and for example, print data can be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 50 to the device 83 and printed.

The installer 54 further includes third registration auxiliary processing for registering unregistered devices in the device management system 1 . It should be noted that in the process of the installer in FIG. 4, which will be described later, the processes of S102 to S108 are included in the third registration assistance process.

The user I/F 56 includes an input device such as a keyboard and mouse for receiving various inputs from the administrator. The user I/F 56 further includes a display device, such as a liquid crystal panel or an LED display device, for displaying various information to the administrator.

Communication I/F 57 is an interface for communicating with main mediating device 40, sub mediating device 10, devices 81-83, and the like. The communication I/F 57 may be, for example, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or other various communication interfaces.

(1-5) Procedure for New Device Registration Next, a procedure for adding a registered device in the device management system 1, that is, a procedure for newly registering an unregistered device will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as an example, a procedure for registering the unregistered device 83 arranged in the first managed system 110 using the installer 54 of the information processing apparatus 50 will be described.

The installer 54 is configured to be customizable by the administrator. Customization of the installer 54 includes, for example, setting information for accessing the secondary mediation device 10 . The information for accessing the secondary mediation device 10 may be any information, for example, the IP address of the secondary mediation device 10 .

In the following description, the control unit that executes the program (more specifically, the CPU of the control unit) may be simply described by the program name or by the device name of the device having the program. For example, the statement "the installer 54" may mean "the CPU that executes the installer 54" or "the controller 51 that executes the installer 54". Further, for example, the description "the main mediation device 40" may mean "the control unit 41 of the main mediation device 40 (more specifically, the CPU of the control unit 41)".

Each process executed in each device to register the device 83 to be registered in the device management system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the installer 54 is activated in the information processing device 50 by the administrator operating the information processing device 50, the installer 54 executes installation processing (S101). The installation process is a process of installing the device driver 55 in the computer of the information processing apparatus 50 .

When the installation of the device driver 55 is completed, the installer 54 sends a target information request to the secondary mediating device 10 (S102). A target information request is a command indicating a request for target information. Target information is information indicating a target device, which is a device to be managed by the device management system 1 .

The target information may be created by an administrator, for example. The target information may be stored in the storage unit 42 of the main intermediary device 40 , for example, or may be stored in the management device 5 and be obtainable by the main intermediary device 40 from the management device 5 , for example.

The target information may have any content and any format. In the first embodiment, the target information is represented by an INI file, for example. An INI file, as is well known, is one of file formats used to describe and save software settings and the like.

The target device may be defined in any way in the target information. A target device may be defined by, for example, the model name of the device. In this case, for example, an INI file containing the text "ModelName=MF-1234, ML-6600" may be prepared as the target information. This example shows that any device with a model name of "MF-1234" or "ML-6600" is a target device.

Also for example, a target device may be defined by a device type. In this case, for example, an INI file containing the text "PrinterType=Laser" may be prepared as the target information. This example shows that all devices classified as laser printers are target devices.

Also, for example, the target device may be defined by a device-specific serial number, ie, the device ID described above. In this case, for example, an INI file containing the text "SerialNumber=001,002,003,004,005,006,007,008,021,022,023" may be prepared as the target information. This example indicates that the device whose device ID is 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 021, 022 or 023 is the target device.

When the secondary mediation device 10 receives the target information request transmitted from the installer 54 (S301), the secondary mediation device 10 transmits the received target information request to the main mediation device 40 (S302). In S302, the target information request received in S301 may be transmitted as it is, or may be transmitted after appropriately changing the format or the like.

Upon receiving the target information request transmitted from the sub mediation device 10 (S401), the main mediation device 40 transmits the target information stored in the storage unit 42 to the sub mediation device 10 (S402). Note that if the target information is stored in a device (for example, the management device 5 ) other than the main mediation device 40 , the main mediation device 40 acquires the target information from that device and sends it to the secondary mediation device 10 . Send.

When the secondary mediation device 10 receives the target information transmitted from the main mediation device 40 (S303), the secondary mediation device 10 transmits the received target information to the installer 54 (that is, to the information processing device 50) (S304). In S304, the target information received in S303 may be transmitted as it is, or may be transmitted after appropriately changing the format or the like.

When the installer 54 acquires the target information by receiving the target information transmitted from the secondary intermediate device 10 (S103), the installer 54 determines whether or not the device 83 is included in the target devices based on the target information (S103). S104).

When the installer 54 determines that the device 83 is not included in the target devices (S104: NO), the process ends without executing the processes of S105 to S108, or shifts to another different process.

When the installer 54 determines that the device 83 is included in the target devices (S104: YES), the installer 54 determines whether the device 83 has already been registered as a management target in the management apparatus 5, that is, whether the device 83 has already been registered as a registered device. It is determined whether or not there is (S105).

The determination in S105 is, for example, inquiring of the secondary mediation device 10, of the main mediation device 40 via the secondary mediation device 10, or of the management device 5 via the secondary mediation device 10 and the main mediation device 40. etc. Alternatively, for example, a list of registered devices may be included in the target information acquired in S103, and determination may be made based on the list. Further, for example, by transmitting the information of the device 83 (for example, the device ID) when transmitting the target information request in S102, the main intermediary device 40 determines whether or not the device 83 has already been registered, The determination result may be obtained from the main intermediary device 40 and the determination may be made based on the determination result.

If the device 83 has already been registered (S105: YES), the process ends without executing the processes of S105 to S108, or shifts to other different processes. If the device 83 has not yet been registered (S105: NO), device access information is transmitted to the secondary mediating apparatus 10 (S106).

The device access information is information for the secondary mediating device 10 to access the device 83 . The device access information may be any information and may include, for example, the IP address of device 83 . Note that the installer 54 acquires the IP address of the device 83 from the device 83 in the installation process of S101 and stores it in the storage unit 52 .

Upon receiving the device access information transmitted from the installer 54 (S305), the secondary mediating apparatus 10 transmits a device information request to the device 83 indicated by the device access information (S306). A device information request is a command indicating a request for device information. The device 83 stores the aforementioned device ID unique to the device 83 . Device information includes at least its device ID. The device information may contain information other than the device ID.

When the device 83 receives the device information request transmitted from the secondary mediating device 10 (S201), the device 83 transmits the device information of the device 83 to the secondary mediating device 10 (S202).
When the secondary mediating device 10 receives the device information transmitted from the device 83 (S307), the secondary mediating device 10 transmits the received device information to the main mediating device 40 (S308). In S308, the device information received in S307 may be transmitted as it is, or may be transmitted after changing the format or the like as appropriate.

Upon receiving the device information transmitted from the secondary mediating device 10 (S403), the main mediating device 40 transmits a registration notification to the management device 5 (S404). The registration notification is a notification requesting the management apparatus 5 to register the device 83 and includes at least the device ID of the device 83 . The registration notification may include registration information illustrated in FIG. 2 in addition to the device ID.

When the management device 5 receives the registration notification transmitted from the main intermediary device 40 (S501), it executes registration processing (S502). The registration processing includes processing for newly registering the device 83 indicated by the device ID included in the registration notification received in S501 as a management target. The registration process may be configured, for example, to inquire of an administrator as to whether or not the device 83 may be registered, and to register the device 83 upon receiving a response from the administrator to the effect that the registration is approved.

After completing the registration process, the management device 5 transmits an approval notification to the main intermediary device 40 (S503). The approval notification is notification indicating that the device 83 has been registered as a management target in the management apparatus 5 .

Upon receiving the approval notice transmitted from the management device 5 (S405), the main mediation device 40 transmits the approval notice to the sub mediation device 10 (S406). The main mediation device 40 further updates the main mediation DB (S407). Specifically, management information corresponding to the device 83 is newly added to the main mediation DB based on the device information received in S403. As a result, the device 83 is registered in the main intermediary device 40 as well. Note that the process of S407 may be executed prior to S406.

Upon receiving the approval notification transmitted from the main intermediary device 40 (S309), the secondary intermediary device 10 transmits a registration execution notification to the installer 54 (S310). The registration execution notification indicates that the device 83 is or has been registered as a management target. The secondary mediation device 10 further updates the secondary mediation DB (S311). Specifically, based on the device information received in S307, information corresponding to the device 83 is newly added to the secondary mediation DB. As a result, the device 83 is also registered in the secondary mediating device 10 . Note that the process of S311 may be executed prior to S310.

When the installer 54 receives the registration execution notification transmitted from the secondary intermediary device 10 (S107), the installer 54 executes notification processing (S108). The notification process notifies the user of the information processing device 50 or the device 83 via the user I/F 56 or the communication I/F 57 of the information processing device 50 that the device 83 has been registered as a management target. This is the process of notifying the administrator.

(1-6) Effects of First Embodiment According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects (1a) to (1e) are obtained.
(1a) When the administrator wishes to newly register a device 83 as a management target, the administrator causes the information processing apparatus 50 to execute the installer 54 corresponding to the device 83 , thereby enabling It can be easily registered in the management device 5 . This enables management device 5 to manage registered device 83 via main mediation device 40 and sub mediation device 10 .

(1b) By executing the main mediation program 44 , the main mediation device 40 can cooperate with the installer 54 and the sub mediation program 14 to easily register the unregistered device 83 with the management device 5 .

(1c) By executing the secondary mediation program 14 , the secondary mediation device 10 can cooperate with the installer 54 and the main mediation program 44 to easily register the unregistered device 83 with the management device 5 .

(1d) If the installer 54 determines in S104 that the device 83 is included in the target devices, it determines whether the device 83 has already been registered (S105). No further processing is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary processing from being performed on devices that have already been registered.

(1e) Upon receiving the approval notification from the management device 5 via the main mediation device 40 (S309), the secondary mediation device 10 transmits a registration execution notification to the installer 54 (S310). Thereby, the information processing is executed in the information processing device 50 (S108). Therefore, the user who executes the installer 54 in the information processing device 50 can recognize that the device 83 has been registered in the system.

Moreover, the registration execution notification is received after the registration process (S502) is completed in the management apparatus 5, that is, after the device 83 is actually registered in the management apparatus 5. FIG. Therefore, the user of the information processing apparatus 50 can reliably recognize that the device 83 has been registered with the management apparatus 5 and that the device 83 can be managed by the management apparatus 5 .

In the first embodiment, each combination of each of the secondary mediation devices 10, 20, 30 and the main mediation device 40 corresponds to an example of a management mediation system. A device ID corresponds to an example of device identification information. Device access information corresponds to an example of access information and first access information.

Also, in FIG. 4, the process of S102 corresponds to an example of the request process. The process of S103 corresponds to an example of the target information acquisition process. The processing of S104 corresponds to an example of the target determination processing. The processing of S105 corresponds to an example of registration determination processing. The process of S106 corresponds to an example of the first transmission process. The processing of S107 corresponds to an example of execution notification reception processing. The processing of S301 corresponds to an example of request reception processing. The processing of S302 corresponds to an example of request relay processing. The processing of S303 corresponds to an example of target information reception processing. The processing of S304 corresponds to an example of transmission relay processing. The processing of S305 corresponds to an example of access information reception processing. The process of S306 corresponds to an example of the identification information request process. The process of S307 corresponds to an example of the identification information reception process. The process of S308 corresponds to an example of the identification information transmission process. The processing of S309 corresponds to an example of approval notification reception processing. The process of S310 corresponds to an example of the execution notification transmission process. The processing of S401 corresponds to an example of request reception processing. The processing of S402 corresponds to an example of the target information transmission processing. The process of S403 corresponds to an example of the identification information reception process. The processing of S404 corresponds to an example of registration notification transmission processing.

[2. Second Embodiment]
A device management system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration of the device management system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the device management system 1 of the first embodiment, differences will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment indicate the same configurations, and refer to the preceding description.

The device management system of the second embodiment differs from the device management system 1 of the first embodiment in the following points.
That is, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when the installer 54 determines in S104 that the device 83 is included in the target devices, in S105 the device 83 is already registered. decided whether or not On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, if the installer 54 determines in S104 that the device 83 is included in the target device, the installer 54 does not execute the process of S105, and the device access information is transmitted to the secondary mediating device 10 (S106).

Then, when receiving the device information from the device 83 in S307, the secondary mediating apparatus 10 determines in S321 whether the device 83 has already been registered as a management target in the management apparatus 5 or not. This determination may be made, for example, by querying the main intermediation device 40, by querying the management device 5 via the main intermediation device 40, or by various other methods.

If the device 83 has already been registered (S321: YES), the secondary mediating device 10 ends the process without executing the processes of S308 to S311, or shifts to other different process. If the device 83 has not yet been registered (S321: NO), the device information is transmitted to the main intermediary device 40 in S308. Note that the process of S321 corresponds to an example of the registration determination process.

Also in the second embodiment configured in this way, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.
[3. Third Embodiment]
A device management system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The basic configuration of the device management system of the third embodiment is the same as the device management system 1 of the first embodiment and the device management system of the second embodiment, so differences will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment indicate the same configurations, and refer to the preceding description.

In the third embodiment, the processes of the installer 54 and the device 83 are the same as in the second embodiment, and the processes of the secondary intermediary device 10 are the same as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the processing of the main intermediary device 40 is partly different from those of the first and second embodiments.

That is, in the third embodiment, when the device information is received from the secondary mediation device 10 in S403, the main mediation device 40 determines in S421 whether or not the device 83 has already been registered as a management target in the management device 5. FIG. This determination may be made, for example, by querying the management device 5 or by various other methods.

If the device 83 has already been registered (S421: YES), the main intermediary device 40 ends the process without executing the processes of S404 to S407, or shifts to other different process. If the device 83 has not yet been registered (S421: NO), a registration notification is transmitted to the management device 5 in S404. Note that the process of S421 corresponds to an example of the registration determination process.

Also in the third embodiment configured in this way, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.
[4. Fourth Embodiment]
A device management system 140 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. Since the device management system 140 of the fourth embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment, differences will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment indicate the same configurations, and refer to the preceding description.

The main difference between the device management system 140 of the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that each managed system 160, 170, 180 does not have a secondary intermediary device. In the first managed system 160 , the information processing device 210 and the devices 81 - 83 can communicate with the main intermediary device 150 via the global network 200 .

In the second managed system 170, the devices 84, 85 can also communicate with the main intermediary device 150 via the global network 200, and in the third managed system 180, the devices 86-88 can communicate via the global network 200. It can communicate with the main intermediary device 150 .

Also, the main intermediation device 150 differs from the main intermediation device 40 of the first embodiment in the first registration assistance processing in the main intermediation program 151 and the main intermediation DB 152 . The main mediation DB 152 does not contain group IDs, for example, compared to the main mediation DB 45 shown in FIG. The first registration assistance processing in the main mediation program 151 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Further, the information processing apparatus 210 differs from the information processing apparatus 50 of the first embodiment in the third registration assistance processing in the installer 211 . The third registration assistance processing in the installer 211 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Each processing executed in each device for registering the device 83 to be registered in the device management system 140 of the fourth embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the installation in S101 is completed, the installer 211 transmits a target information request to the main intermediary device 150 (S152).
Upon receiving the target information request from the installer 211 (S451), the main intermediary device 150 transmits the target information to the information processing device 210 (S452).

The installer 211 receives the target information transmitted from the main intermediary device 150 (S153), and shifts to S104. If the installer 211 determines in S105 that the device 83 has not yet been registered, the installer 211 transmits mediation device access information to the device 83 (S156).

The mediation device access information is information for the device 83 to access the main mediation device 150 (more specifically, to transmit device information). Intermediary device access information may be any information that allows device 83 to access primary intermediary device 150 . The intermediary device access information may include, for example, the IP address and port number of the primary intermediary device 150 .

Note that the installer 211 may have a customization function that allows the administrator to arbitrarily set the intermediary device access information in the installer 211 . In this case, the installer 211 may transmit intermediate device access information preset by the administrator in S156.

When the device 83 receives the mediation device access information transmitted from the installer 211 (S251), the device 83 transmits device information to the main mediation device 150 indicated by the received mediation device access information (S252). Upon receiving the device information from the device 83 (S453), the main mediation apparatus 150 transmits a registration notification to the management apparatus 5 (S404).

Upon receiving the approval notification from the management apparatus 5 (S405), the main intermediary apparatus 150 transmits a registration execution notification to the installer 211 (S456).
When the installer 211 receives the registration execution notification from the main intermediary device 150 (S157), the installer 211 executes notification processing (S108).

According to the fourth embodiment described in detail above, when the administrator wishes to newly register the device 83 as a management target, the administrator causes the information processing apparatus 210 to execute the installer 211 corresponding to the device 83 so that the main intermediary apparatus 150 can be easily registered in the management device 5 . This enables the management device 5 to manage the registered device 83 via the main intermediary device 150 .

In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the intermediary device access information corresponds to an example of the second access information. Also, in the process of FIG. 8, the process of S156 corresponds to an example of the second transmission process.
[5. Other embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

(5-1) In the first embodiment, the third registration auxiliary processing (S102 to S108) by the installer 54 may be executed prior to the installation processing of S101, or may be executed during the installation processing of S101. It may be executed as a multitask along with the processing. The same applies to each embodiment other than the first embodiment.

(5-2) In the first embodiment, the secondary mediating device 10 may perform the processes of S310 and S311 at any timing after the process of S305. Also, the main mediating device 40 may perform the process of S407 at any timing after the process of S403 is performed.

Also in the fourth embodiment, the main intermediary device 150 may perform each process of S456 and S407 at any timing after execution of the process of S453.
(5-3) In the first embodiment, the device management system 1 includes three managed systems 110, 120, and 130, but the device management system 1 may include two or less managed systems. It may have four or more managed systems. The same applies to each of the other embodiments.

In one managed system, the number of devices that can be connected to the local network within the managed system, that is, the number of devices that can be registered with the secondary intermediary device within the managed system can be any number.

(5-4) In the first embodiment, the procedure for registering a new device in the first managed system 110 was described as an example. , the device can be newly registered in the same manner as the first managed system 110 . For example, when it is desired to newly register a device in the second managed system 120 , the recording device and the information processing apparatus are connected to the second local network within the second managed system 120 . Then, by causing the information processing apparatus to execute the installer corresponding to the device, the device is newly registered in the second managed system 120 in the same procedure as when the installer 54 is executed in the first managed system 110. be able to. The same applies to other embodiments.

(5-5) It is not essential that each relay device 116, 126, 136 has a firewall.
(5-6) In the first to third embodiments, the secondary intermediation device 10 may be connectable to the global network 200 without the relay device 116 intervening. In this case, the secondary intermediary device 10 may incorporate a firewall and be able to communicate with the global network 200 through the firewall. The same applies to each of the other secondary intermediation devices 20 and 30.

In the fourth embodiment, the information processing device 210 may be connectable to the global network 200 without going through the relay device 116 . In this case, the information processing device 210 may incorporate a firewall and be able to communicate with the global network 200 via the firewall.

(5-7) A plurality of functions possessed by one component in the above embodiment may be realized by a plurality of components, or a function possessed by one component may be realized by a plurality of components. good too. Also, a plurality of functions possessed by a plurality of components may be realized by a single component, or a function realized by a plurality of components may be realized by a single component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Moreover, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added or replaced with respect to the configuration of the other above embodiment. In addition, every aspect included in the technical idea specified from the wording described in the claim is an embodiment of the present invention.

1, 140... Device management system 5... Management apparatus 10, 20, 30... Secondary intermediary apparatus 11, 41, 51... Control unit 12, 42, 52... Storage unit 14... Secondary intermediation program 15... Secondary Intermediation DB, 16, 46, 56... User I/F, 17, 47, 57... Communication I/F, 40, 150... Main intermediation device, 44, 151... Main intermediation program, 45, 152... Main intermediation DB, 50 , 210... information processing apparatus, 54, 211... installer, 55... device driver, 81 to 88... device, 110, 160... first managed system, 116, 126, 136... relay device, 120, 170... second managed system Management system 130, 180... Third managed system 160... Managed system 200... Global network.

Claims (17)

A computer-executable driver installation program provided in an information processing apparatus configured to communicate with a management mediation system and a device,
The management mediation system is configured to be able to communicate with the information processing device, the device and the management device,
The management device is configured to be able to manage the registered device by communicating with the registered device registered as a management target in the management device via the management mediation system,
The driver installation program causes the computer to:
an installation process of installing a device driver, which is a program for controlling the device, on the computer;
request processing for requesting target information indicating the target device to be managed from the management mediation system;
a target information acquisition process for acquiring the target information transmitted from the management mediation system in response to the request process;
a target determination process for determining whether or not the device is included in the target device based on the target information acquired by the target information acquisition process;
a transmission process including a first transmission process or a second transmission process, which is executed when the target determination process determines that the device is included in the target device;
and
The first transmission process includes a process of transmitting, to the management mediation system, first access information for accessing the device from the management mediation system;
the second transmission processing includes processing for transmitting second access information for accessing the management mediation system from the device to the device;
if the transmission process includes the first transmission process, the management mediation system requests device identification information for identifying the device from the device based on the first access information received from the information processing device; the device transmits the device identification information to the management mediation system in response to a request for the device identification information from the management mediation system;
if the transmission process includes the second transmission process, the device transmits the device identification information to the management mediation system based on the second access information received from the information processing device;
The management mediation system is configured to be capable of transmitting a registration notification including the received device identification information to the management apparatus in response to receiving the device identification information from the device,
The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as the management target in response to receiving the registration notification.
driver installation program. A driver installation program according to claim 1,
The driver installation program further instructs the computer whether or not the device is registered as the management target in the management apparatus when the device is determined to be included in the target device by the target determination processing. Execute registration judgment processing to judge whether
The transmission process is executed when it is not determined that the registration determination process is registered.
driver installation program. The driver installation program according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The management mediation system comprises a main mediation device and a sub mediation device,
the main mediation device is configured to communicate with each of the management device and the sub mediation device,
the secondary mediation device is configured to be communicable with each of the main mediation device, the information processing device, and the device;
the request processing includes processing for requesting the target information from the secondary mediation device;
The transmission process includes the first transmission process,
In the first transmission process, when the target determination process determines that the device is included in the target device, the first transmission process is performed to access the secondary mediation device from the secondary mediation device to the device. 1 includes a process of transmitting access information,
the secondary intermediary device requests the device identification information from the device based on the first access information received from the information processing device;
the device transmits the device identification information to the secondary mediation device in response to a request for the device identification information from the secondary mediation device;
the secondary mediation device, in response to receiving the device identification information from the device, transmits the received device identification information to the primary mediation device;
The main mediation device transmits the registration notification to the management device in response to receiving the device identification information from the secondary mediation device.
driver installation program. The driver installation program according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The management mediation system comprises a main mediation device,
The main intermediary device is configured to communicate with each of the management device, the information processing device, and the device,
the request processing includes processing for requesting the target information from the main mediation device;
The transmission process includes the second transmission process,
the second access information includes information for accessing the primary intermediary device from the device;
the device transmits the device identification information to the main mediation device based on the second access information received from the information processing device;
The main mediating device transmits the registration notification to the management device in response to receiving the device identification information from the device.
driver installation program. A driver installation program according to claim 4,
a firewall for limiting access from the main mediation device to the information processing device and the device is provided between the main mediation device and the information processing device and the device;
The information processing device is configured to be able to communicate with the main intermediary device through the firewall,
driver installation program. The driver installation program according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The management mediation system indicates to the information processing apparatus that the device is registered as the management object or that the device has been registered at a specific notification timing after the transmission processing is executed in the information processing apparatus. It is configured to be able to send registration execution notification,
The driver installation program further causes the computer to:
an execution notification reception process for receiving the registration execution notification from the management mediation system;
a notification process for notifying that the device is or has been registered as the management target in response to the reception of the registration execution notification by the execution notification reception process;
driver installation program. A computer-executable main mediation program provided in a main mediation device configured to communicate with a management device and a managed system,
The managed system includes a device and an information processing device configured to communicate with the device,
The management device is configured to be able to manage the registered device by communicating with the registered device in the managed system registered as a management target in the management device via the main intermediary device. ,
When an installation process including installing a device driver for controlling the device in the information processing apparatus is executed, the information processing apparatus transmits the target information indicating the target device to be managed to the target device. configured to be able to request the main intermediary device via a management system,
The main intermediary program causes the computer to:
a request reception process for receiving a request for the target information via the managed system;
a target information transmission process for transmitting the target information to the managed system in response to a request for the target information being received by the request reception process;
an identification information reception process for receiving device identification information specifying the device, which is transmitted from the managed system in accordance with the target information transmitted by the target information transmission process;
a registration notification transmission process for transmitting a registration notification including the device identification information received by the identification information reception process to the management apparatus;
and
The information processing apparatus is configured to be able to determine whether or not the device is included in the target device based on the target information transmitted by the target information transmission process,
The managed system is configured to be capable of transmitting the device identification information to the main intermediate device when the information processing device determines that the device is included in the target device,
The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as the management target in response to receiving the registration notification from the main intermediary device.
Main intermediary program. A main mediation program according to claim 7, comprising:
The main intermediary program further causes the computer to perform registration determination processing for determining whether or not the device indicated by the device identification information received by the identification information reception processing is registered as the management target in the management apparatus. let it run,
The registration notification transmission process is executed when it is not determined that the registration is registered by the registration determination process.
Main intermediary program. A main intermediary program according to claim 7 or claim 8,
The main intermediary program registers the device as the object of management in the computer and in the information processing apparatus at a specific notification timing after the device identification information is received by the identification information reception process. A main intermediary program for executing an execution notification transmission process for transmitting a registration execution notification indicating that the registration has been completed or registered. A main intermediary program according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A firewall is provided between the main mediating device and the managed system for restricting access from the main mediating device to the managed system,
wherein the primary intermediary device is configured to communicate with the managed system through the firewall;
Main intermediary program. A computer-executable secondary mediation program provided in a secondary mediation device configured to communicate with a main mediation device, an information processing device, and a device,
The main mediation device is configured to communicate with each of the management device and the sub mediation device,
The management device is configured to be able to manage the registered device by communicating with the registered device registered as a management target in the management device through the main mediation device and the sub mediation device,
When an installation process including installing a device driver for controlling the device in the information processing apparatus is executed, the information processing apparatus transmits the target information indicating the target device to be managed to the secondary device. request to the intermediation device, and if it is determined that the device is included in the target device based on the target information acquired from the secondary intermediary device in response to the request, to the secondary intermediary device is configured to be able to transmit access information for accessing the device,
The secondary mediation program causes the computer to:
a request reception process for receiving a request for the target information from the information processing device;
a request relay process for requesting the target information from the main intermediary device in response to the request for the target information being received by the request reception process;
a target information reception process for receiving the target information transmitted from the main intermediary device in response to the request relay process;
a transmission relay process for transmitting the target information received by the target information reception process to the information processing device;
an access information reception process for receiving the access information transmitted from the information processing device in response to the transmission relay process;
identification information request processing for requesting device identification information for identifying the device from the device based on the access information received by the access information reception processing;
an identification information reception process for receiving the device identification information transmitted from the device in response to the identification information request process;
an identification information transmission process for transmitting the device identification information received by the identification information reception process to the main intermediate device;
and
The main intermediary device is configured to be capable of transmitting a registration notification including the received device identification information to the management device in response to receiving the device identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission process,
The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as the management target in response to receiving the registration notification.
Secondary Brokerage Program. A secondary mediation program according to claim 11,
The secondary mediation program further causes the computer to perform registration determination processing for determining whether or not the device indicated by the device identification information received by the identification information reception processing is registered as the management target in the management apparatus. let it run,
The identification information transmission process is executed when it is not determined that the registration determination process is registered.
Secondary Brokerage Program. 13. A secondary mediation program according to claim 11 or claim 12,
The secondary intermediary program registers the device as the object of management in the computer and in the information processing apparatus at a specific notification timing after the device identification information is received by the identification information reception process. A secondary intermediation program for executing an execution notification transmission process for transmitting a registration execution notification indicating that the registration has been completed or registered. A secondary mediation program according to claim 13,
The management device is configured to be capable of transmitting an approval notification indicating registration to the secondary mediation device through the main mediation device when the device is registered as the management target, and
The secondary mediation program further causes the computer to execute an approval notification reception process for receiving the approval notification from the main mediation device,
the notification timing is after the approval notification is received by the approval notification reception process;
Secondary Brokerage Program. The secondary mediation program according to any one of claims 11 to 14,
A firewall is provided between the main mediation device and the sub mediation device for restricting access from the main mediation device to the sub mediation device,
The secondary mediation device is configured to communicate with the primary mediation device through the firewall,
Secondary Brokerage Program. an information processing device capable of communicating with a device and having a first control unit;
a main intermediary device capable of communicating with the device, the information processing device and the management device and having a second control unit;
A management support system comprising:
The management device is configured to be able to manage the registered device by communicating with the registered device registered as a management target in the management device via the main intermediary device,
The first control unit in the information processing device,
an installation process for installing a device driver, which is a program for the first control unit to control the device, in the first control unit;
request processing for requesting target information indicating the target device to be managed from the main mediation device;
a target information acquisition process for acquiring the target information transmitted from the main intermediary device in response to the request process;
a target determination process for determining whether or not the device is included in the target device based on the target information acquired by the target information acquisition process;
a sending process of sending access information for accessing the main intermediary apparatus from the device to the device when the target device is determined to be included in the target device by the target determination process;
and run
the device is configured to be capable of transmitting device identification information that identifies the device to the main intermediary device based on the access information in response to receiving the access information from the information processing device;
The second control unit in the main intermediary device,
a request reception process for receiving a request for the target information from the information processing device;
a target information transmission process for transmitting the target information to the information processing device in response to the request for the target information being received by the request reception process;
an identification information reception process for receiving the device identification information transmitted from the device in response to the target information transmission process;
a registration notification transmission process for transmitting a registration notification including the device identification information received by the identification information reception process to the management apparatus;
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The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as the management target in response to receiving the registration notification from the main intermediary device.
Management support system. an information processing device capable of communicating with a device and having a first control unit;
a main intermediary device communicable with the management device and having a second control unit;
a secondary mediating device that can communicate with the main mediating device, the information processing device, and the device and has a third control unit;
A management support system comprising:
The management device is configured to be able to manage the registered device by communicating with the registered device registered as a management target in the management device through the main mediation device and the sub mediation device,
The first control unit in the information processing device,
an installation process for installing a device driver, which is a program for the first control unit to control the device, in the first control unit;
request processing for requesting target information indicating the target device to be managed from the secondary mediation device;
a target information acquisition process for acquiring the target information transmitted from the secondary intermediary device in response to the request process;
a target determination process for determining whether or not the device is included in the target device based on the target information acquired by the target information acquisition process;
a transmission process of transmitting access information for accessing the device from the secondary mediation device to the secondary mediation device when the device is determined to be included in the target device by the object determination processing;
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The third control unit in the secondary mediation device,
a first request reception process for receiving a request for the target information from the information processing device;
request relay processing for requesting the target information from the main intermediary device in response to the request for the target information being received by the first request reception processing;
a target information reception process for receiving the target information transmitted from the main intermediary device in response to the request relay process;
a transmission relay process for transmitting the target information received by the target information reception process to the information processing device;
an access information reception process for receiving the access information transmitted from the information processing device in response to the transmission relay process;
identification information request processing for requesting device identification information for identifying the device from the device based on the access information received by the access information reception processing;
a first identification information reception process for receiving the device identification information transmitted from the device in response to the identification information request process;
an identification information transmission process for transmitting the device identification information received by the first identification information reception process to the main intermediate device;
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The second control unit in the main intermediary device,
a second request reception process for receiving a request for the target information from the secondary mediation device;
a target information transmission process for transmitting the target information to the secondary intermediary device in response to the request for the target information being received by the second request reception process;
a second identification information reception process for receiving the device identification information transmitted from the secondary intermediary device in response to the target information transmission process;
a registration notification transmission process for transmitting a registration notification including the device identification information received by the second identification information reception process to the management device;
and run
The management device is configured to be able to register the device indicated by the device identification information included in the registration notification as the management target in response to receiving the registration notification from the main intermediary device.
Management support system.