JPH07121467A - Electronic computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unitarily manage the use authority of each output device by automatically setting information on output devices even for the changes of set environments such as the increase and decrease of output device and enabling the outputs for the output devices, without being conscious of information such as the names of output devices and the names of servers. CONSTITUTION:A control server device 2 is provided in an electronic computer system 1 where a server 5 having an output device 4 and a client 3 are made into a network. The control server device has a holding means and a processing means for holding and providing the set information of the output device. The client has a transmission means requesting the set information and a storage and control means performing a reception and a storage. The holding means has permission set information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a networked computer system, and more particularly to a system for utilizing an output device such as a printer or a facsimile connected to one terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers have become networked and can output to an output device (for example, a printer device) connected to another device on the network. A method of setting output device information will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking the above-described conventional configuration as an example.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration for explaining a conventional output device information setting method. The output device information storage units 81 and 82 have output device identifiers 811 and 821.
And a pair of server identifiers 812 and 822 and output device identifiers 813 and 823 in the server are held as a pair.
In the UNIX operating system, such information is stored in the file / etc / printcap.

Regarding the conventional example configured as described above,
The case where the output device prl83 is newly connected to the server king84 will be described below. Client alp
To use the output device prl83 on the ha85,
The information of the server name (king) and the output device identifier (prl) on the server is obtained, the name of prl in the client alpha is determined (xxx), and the output device information storage unit 81 holds / etc / printcap
Register information in.

The output device identifier representing an output device may be different in each client. For example,
In the client alpha85, the output device identifier representing the output device prl83 is xxx811, but in the client beta86, the output device identifier is aaa821. Further, it is possible to register a plurality of output device identifiers for one output device in the client.

The arrow in FIG. 12 indicates the flow of processing when an output request is made to the output device 83.

[0007]

However, in the above conventional example, information such as the name of the server to which the output device is connected and the name of the output device on the server is stored in each output device information storage unit of each client. When the network environment is changed, such as when the number of output devices is increased or when the number of clients is increased, the administrator obtains information such as output device names and server names, and the contents of the output device information storage section of each client Had a problem that it was necessary to set.

In view of the above problems, the present invention can set output device information in a client when a new client is connected or when the client moves, without being aware of the information such as the output device name and the control device name. A first object of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer system capable of automatically updating setting information in response to changes in the setting environment such as increase or decrease of output devices.

A second object of the present invention is to provide information such as a constant output device name to some clients when it is desired to prohibit the use of some output devices from the viewpoint of maintenance management of an electronic computer system. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer system that is suitable for those who do not want to.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention of claim 1, one or more servers having an output device and a client are networked, and processing data is transmitted from the client via the server. In the electronic computer system for outputting to the output device by means of a management server, the management server device is a holding means having a correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between all servers connected to the network and the output devices connected thereto. When the client requests the sending of the information stored in the holding means, there is a first processing means for reading the information from the holding means and sending it to the client, and a request for changing the information stored in the holding means. In this case, the second processing procedure for changing the setting information of the holding means according to the request and communicating the changed result to all the clients. On the other hand, when the client receives the setting information from the management server device and the transmission device that requests the management server device to transmit the information stored in the holding device, the client stores the received content in the storage unit. The electronic computer system is characterized by having storage control means for storing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic computer system according to the first aspect, the setting information holding means describes an identifier for identifying one output device and whether the output device is available to the client. The first processing means reads the contents of the access authority information when the holding means holds the access authority information, and is permitted to use the output device identified by the identifier for specifying the output device. A first permitted client transmitting unit for transmitting setting information to the client, and the second processing unit holds the access authority information when there is a request for changing the information stored in the holding unit. Read the contents, change the information according to the access authority information, store the changed content in the holding means, and set the relevant setting information to the access authority information. The second to be sent to follow the client
The computer system is characterized by having a permitted client transmission unit.

[0012]

With the above structure, in the invention of claim 1,
When the sending means of the client requests the management server device to send out information regarding the correspondence between all the servers stored in the holding means of the management server device and the output devices connected thereto, the first of the management server devices The processing means reads the information from the holding means and sends it to the client. The storage control unit of the client stores the received content in the storage unit.

Further, when there is a request for changing the information stored in the holding means of the management server device, the second processing means changes the setting information of the holding means in response to the request, and the changed contents are shared by all the clients. Broadcast. The storage control unit of the client stores the received content in the storage unit. Claim 2
In the invention, the first processing means of the management server device is
The access authority information stored in the holding means is read out, and the setting information regarding the output device that can be used by the client who has requested the setting information of the output device is extracted and transmitted.

The second processing means of the management server device reads out the access right information stored in the holding means, and when a request for changing the information stored in the holding means is made, the setting information is changed according to the access right information. The changed contents are stored in the holding means and the setting information is transmitted to the available clients.

[0015]

1 is a block diagram showing the outline of an electronic computer system according to the present invention. The electronic computer system 1 has a configuration in which a management server device 2, a group of clients 3, an output device 4 and a server 5 that manages output to the output device are connected via a network 6.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the management server device 2 in the embodiment of the present invention. The management server device 2 includes a request processing unit 11, an information acquisition unit 12, a change processing unit 13, a setting information storage unit 14, and a transmission unit 15. The request information unit 11 receives an information request and a change request from the client 3 or the operator.

The information request 101 is composed of a request identifier 102 and a transmission source identifier 112, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows a data format which is an example of the information request 101. The request identifier 102 is
It represents the type of request, and the transmission source identifier 112 (for example, an IP address, a machine name, etc .; here, “host1”) identifies the client of the information requesting source. Figure 3
The data of (A) is identified as the client 3 shown in FIG.

Further, the change request 107 is composed of a request identifier 102, a change command 108, an output device type identifier 109, a server identifier 110, and an output device identifier 111, as shown in FIG. 3 (B). Change request 1 in FIG.
7 illustrates a data format that is an example of 07. The request identifier 102 represents the type of request. Change instruction 108
Represents the content of the change process. Output device type identifier 109
Indicates the type of output device, for example, printer or facsimile. The server identifier 110 identifies the server connected to the output device to control the output device. The output device type identifier 109 shown in FIG.
The output device 4 of FIG. 1 is specified from the data of the server identifier 110 and the output device identifier 111.

The request processing unit 11 determines whether the request is the information request 101 or the change request 107 based on the request identifier 102. When it is determined that the request is the information request 101,
The information request 101 is output to the information acquisition unit 12. Since the information request 101 includes the transmission source identifier 112, the client for which the information request has been made is specified.

When the change request 107 is determined, the change request 107 is output to the change processing unit 13. When receiving the information request 101 from the request processing unit 11, the information acquisition unit 12 displays the setting information correspondence table 103 in the setting information storage unit 1.
4, the setting information correspondence table 103 and the information request 10
1 and are output to the transmission unit 15.

The setting information storage unit 14 stores the type of each output device and information (server identifier 1) to be output to each output device.
05 and the output device identifier 106) (setting information correspondence table 103). This setting information correspondence table 103
Is composed of output device type identifier 104, server identifier 105, and output device identifier 106, as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an example of the setting information correspondence table 103. .

The setting information correspondence table 103 represents an output device type identifier 104 representing the type of the output device, a server identifier 105 representing the device to which the output device is connected and which controls output to the output device, and the output device. Output device identifier 1
06 is a set of data. Note that if the output destination can be specified, data in which the server identifier 105 is blank in the setting information correspondence table 103 is also allowed.

When the change request unit 107 receives the change request 107, the change processing unit 13 obtains the setting information correspondence table 103 (FIG. 4) held in the setting information storage unit 14 and follows the setting instruction 108 of the change request 107. It is determined whether the contents of the correspondence table 103 can be changed. Change request 1 shown in FIG.
In 07, the output device type identifier 109, the server identifier 110, and the output device identifier 111 are respectively “print”.
It is searched whether or not the data “er”, “king”, and “prA” are present in agreement with the data in the setting information correspondence table 103. When the matching data exists in the setting information correspondence table 103, the change command 108 is “delete”, so the corresponding data is deleted from the setting information correspondence table 103 and stored in the setting information storage unit 14, and the changed setting is made. The information correspondence table 103 is sent to the transmitting unit 15. When there is no corresponding data in the setting information correspondence table 103, the operator is notified of the change processing failure.

Although the example in which the change request command 108 is “delete” (FIG. 3B) has been described above, the change command 1
The case where 08 is "addition" will be described below. The change processing unit 13 inputs the change request 107, obtains the setting information correspondence table 103 from the setting information storage unit 14, and outputs the data of the output device type identifier 109, the server identifier 110, and the output device identifier 111 in the change request 107. Is searched for in accordance with the data in the setting information correspondence table 103. If the matching data exists in the setting information correspondence table 103, the modification command 108 of the modification request 107 is “add”, so that the corresponding data exists, and the modification process failure is notified to the operator. When there is no matching data in the setting information correspondence table 103, the setting information correspondence table 103
Is stored in the setting information storage unit 14 by adding data including the output device type identifier 109, the server identifier 110, and the output device identifier 111 in the change request 107, and the changed setting information correspondence table 103 is sent to the transmission unit 15. .

When the information request 101 and the setting information correspondence table 103 are input from the information acquisition unit 12, the transmission unit 15 is a client identified from the data (“host1” in this case) of the transmission source identifier 112 of the information request 101. 3 transmits the setting information correspondence table 103. When the transmission unit 15 inputs the setting information correspondence table 103 from the change processing unit 13,
This changed setting information correspondence table 103 is used by the client 3
Broadcast to group. At this time, since there is no data of the transmission source identifier 112, it is determined that the data should be broadcast to each client 3 group.

With the above configuration, the client 3
Can obtain the output device information by sending the information request 101 of the management server device 2. When the output device environment is changed, the operator requests a change 10
By inputting 7, it is possible to provide the output device information to the group of clients 3. In addition, setting information correspondence table 1
When updating 03, in the present embodiment, the change request 107 is input from the operator, but means for automatically detecting a change in the connection status of the output device such as receiving a signal from the output device 4 or the server 5 when the output device is connected. By providing the above, it is possible to always hold and provide the latest output device setting information without requiring a change request from the operator.

Further, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, one management server device 2 is provided in the electronic computer system 1, but a plurality of management server devices can be provided. In this case, a management server device identifier for identifying each management server device is given. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client 3. The client 3 includes a request processing unit 31, a communication unit 32, a setting unit 33, and an output device information storage unit 34.

The request processing unit 31 receives the setting request 301 from the operator of the client 3 and sends it to the communication unit 32. The setting request 301 has a data structure as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the data format of the setting request 301. The setting request 301 includes a management server device identifier 302 (for example, IP address or machine name)
including.

When the communication unit 32 receives the setting request 301 from the request processing unit 31, the management server device 2 (here, "132.182.10.10") specified by the management server device identifier 302 written in the setting request 301 is received. ) Request information 1
Send 01. The communication unit 32 sets the timer time at the same time as the information request 101 is transmitted. This time setting is
A sufficient time is set for the time until the setting information correspondence table 103 is transmitted from the management server device 2 in response to the information request 101. The communication unit 32 waits for reception of the setting information correspondence table 103 in response to the information request 101 from the management server device 2. The setting information correspondence table 103 within the set time
If the message cannot be received, the operator is notified of the error.

The communication unit 32 receives the setting information correspondence table 103 in response to the information request 101 from the management server device 2. Further, the communication unit 32 receives the setting information correspondence table 103 together with a client group (not shown) in FIG. 5 from the management server device 2 as a broadcast transmission. The communication unit 32 outputs the received setting information correspondence table 103 to the setting unit 33. The setting unit 33
The setting information correspondence table 103 is input from the communication unit 32 and output to the output device information storage unit 34.

The output device information storage unit 34 holds information for using the output device in the client 3.
Note that the solid arrow in FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing when an information request is received from the client 3, and the dotted arrow shows the flow of processing when a change request from an operator is received. The solid arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the flow of processing when the setting information correspondence table 103 is received from the management server device 2.
The dotted arrows indicate the flow of processing when the setting request 301 from the operator is received.

In addition to this, the client 3 to the output device 4
Although various configurations for outputting to are required, it is omitted because it is not the main point of the present invention. When outputting from the client 3 to the output device, the contents of the setting information correspondence table 103 held in the output device information storage unit 34 are referred to and output is performed. For example, when outputting to a printer, the output device type identifier 104 is set to "p" by referring to the setting information correspondence table 103.
The entry that is “printer” is searched and output to the server identifier 105 “king” and the output device identifier 106 “prA” of the corresponding entry. The operation of the electronic computer system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

Information request 101 from the client 3 (see FIG.
(A)) will be described. Client 3
If the request processing unit 31 has a setting request 301 from the operator (S41), the communication unit 32 sends the information request 101 to the management server device 2 (S43), and at the same time, the timer is set (S44). It waits for the transmission of the setting information correspondence table 103 from the management server device 2 during the timer setting time (S46).

On the other hand, the request processing unit 11 of the management server device 2 which has received the information request 101 judges the request (S2
1) The information request 101 is output to the information processing unit 12. The information acquisition unit 12 that has input the information request 101 acquires the setting information correspondence table 103 held in the setting information storage unit 14 (S22) and outputs it to the transmission unit 15 (S23). The transmission unit identifies the client 3 who has made the information request 101 in the setting information correspondence table 103 by the transmission source identifier 112 and transmits it to the communication unit 32 of the client 3.

When the communication unit 32 of the client 3 receives the setting information correspondence table 103 (S46), it outputs the setting information correspondence table 103 to the setting unit 33 (S47). Setting unit 33
Stores the setting information correspondence table 103 in the output device information storage unit 34 (S48). When the communication unit 32 of the client does not receive the setting information correspondence table 103 (S45),
The operator is notified that the setting request 301 has failed (S49), and the process returns to S41.

Next, the case where the change request 107 (FIG. 3B) is input from the operator of the management server device 2 will be described. Upon receiving the change request 107 (S21), the request processing unit 11 outputs the change request 107 to the change processing unit 13. The change processing unit 13 obtains the setting information correspondence table 103 from the setting information storage unit 14 (S24), and the change request 107
It is determined whether the setting information correspondence table 103 can be changed according to the change content described in (S25). If it is determined that the setting information can be changed, the setting information correspondence table 103 is changed and stored in the setting information storage unit 14 (S26), and the changed setting information correspondence table 10
3 is output to the transmitter 15.

The transmitting unit 15 receives the received setting information correspondence table 1
03 is broadcast to the client group 3 (S27), and S2
Return to 1. On the other hand, when the communication unit 32 of the client 3 receives the setting information correspondence table 103 transmitted by broadcast from the transmission unit 15 (S42), the setting information correspondence table 103 is set in the setting unit 33.
(S47). The setting unit 33 stores the input setting information correspondence table 103 in the output device information storage unit 34 (S48).

When it is determined that the setting information correspondence table 103 cannot be changed (S27), the operator is notified of the change processing failure (S28), and the process returns to S21. By sending the setting request in the above procedure, the output device setting information can be easily set. Further, by receiving the setting information from the management server device 2 as needed, changes in the output device setting information can be dynamically reflected.

In S43, the communication unit 32 sends the information request 101 to the management server device 2. However, by providing a means for obtaining the management server device identifier, or by broadcasting to the plurality of management server devices. The output device information of the client 3 can be updated without knowing the IP address or the like of the management server device. Although the setting request is input from the operator, by providing means for automatically detecting a change in the output device connection environment due to a change in the network address of the client 3 or the like, output device information can be obtained without requiring a setting request from a person. Can be updated automatically.

In S49, if the communication unit 32 does not receive the setting information correspondence table 103 from the management server device 2 within a certain period of time, it notifies the operator of the setting request source of an error and terminates the process. A method of repeatedly performing a process of transmitting the information request to the management server device 2 a certain number of times after waiting for a time may be considered. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server device 20 according to the second embodiment of the invention. The management server device 20 is
It includes a request processing unit 11, an information acquisition unit 12, a change processing unit 13, an access control type setting information storage unit 51, and an access control type transmission unit 52.

The request processing unit 11, the information acquisition unit 12, and the change processing unit 13 have the same configurations as those described in the above embodiment. The access control type setting information storage unit 51 holds a permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 in which the permission information for the output device is added to the contents held in the setting information storage unit 14 described in the above embodiment.

The setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information is shown in FIG.
0 (A), the output device type identifier 104,
It includes a server identifier 105, an output device identifier 106, and permission information 502. FIG. 10A is an example of the data of the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information. Although the data of the server identifier 105 is written in this example,
As long as the output destination can be specified, data in which the server identifier 105 is blank in the permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 is also permitted, as in the above-described embodiment. Permission information 50
2 is an output device type identifier 104 and a server identifier 10
5, data for specifying the client permitted to output to the output device specified by the output device identifier 106.

In the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information shown in FIG. 10A, the transmission source identifier 112 "host1"
The output device permitted to output (see FIG. 3A) is the output device type identifier 104 “printe”.
r ”, the server identifier 105“ king ”, and the output device identifier 106“ prA ”. When the request processing unit 11 receives the information request 101 from the client 3 or the change request 503 from the operator, the request processing unit 11 determines whether the request is the information request 101 or the change request 503 based on the request identifier 102, The change request 503 is output to the acquisition unit 12, and the change request 503 is output to the change processing unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the change request 503 is composed of a request identifier 102, a change command 108, an output device type identifier 109, a server identifier 110, an output device identifier 111, and permission information 504. . Figure 1
0 (B) is an example of the data of the change request 503.
Similar to the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information, if the output destination can be specified, data in which the server identifier 110 is blank is also permitted.

The information acquisition unit 12 outputs the information request 101 input from the request processing unit 11 and the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information acquired from the access control type setting information storage unit 51 to the access control type transmission unit 52. . Change processing unit 13
Receives the change request 503 from the request processing unit 11,
The setting information correspondence table 501 with the permission information held in the access control type setting information storage unit 51 is acquired, and the change request 50
It is determined whether or not the setting information correspondence table with permission information 501 can be changed according to the change contents shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 showing an example of the change request 503.
Referring to FIG. 10A, which is an example of the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information and FIG. 10A, the output device type identifier in the change request 503 in the correspondence table 501 with permission information and setting information is described. It is searched whether or not there is data that matches the 109, the server identifier 110, and the output device identifier 111. Since the change command is 108 “delete”, when the corresponding data exists, it is further checked whether the permission information 502 of the corresponding data and the permission information 504 in the change request 503 match, and when they match, the setting with permission information is set. The corresponding data is deleted from the information correspondence table 501, stored in the access control type setting information storage unit 51, and the changed setting information correspondence table with permission information 50
1 and the change request 503 are output to the access control type transmission unit 52. If the corresponding data does not exist or the permission information does not match, the operator is notified of the change processing failure.

The case where the change command is "delete" has been described above with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.
A case where 08 is “addition” will be described. When the change processing unit 13 inputs the change request 503, the change processing unit 13 obtains the permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 held in the access control type setting information storage unit 51, and acquires the permission information added setting information correspondence table 5
01, the output type identifier 109 in the change request 503,
It searches for the data that matches the server identifier 110 and the output device identifier 111, and the change command 108 is “add”. Therefore, if the corresponding data exists, the operator is notified of the change processing failure. If there is no corresponding data, the change request 50 is added to the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information.
Output device type identifier 109 and server identifier 11 in 3
0, the output device identifier 111, and the permission information 504 are added and stored in the access control type setting information storage unit 51. The changed permission information-added setting information correspondence table 501 and the change request 503 are output to the access control type transmission unit 52.

The access control type transmission unit 52 uses the information request 1
01 and the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information are input, the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information (FIG. 10A)
The data of the permission information 502 and the data “host1” of the transmission source identifier 112 described in the information request 101 (see FIG. 3).
If (A)) matches, the corresponding data is extracted and each data of the output device type identifier 104, the server identifier 105, and the output device identifier 106 (here, "printer",
Setting information correspondence table 1 consisting of "king" and "prA")
Create 03. The access control type transmission unit 52 transmits the created setting information correspondence table 103 to the data “host1” of the transmission source identifier 112 included in the information request 101.
“Host1” is the client 3 in FIG. If the data of the permission information 502 and the data of the transmission source identifier 112 do not match, the information request source is notified of the information request failure (there is no output-permitted device).

When the access information type setting information correspondence table 501 and the change request 503 are input, the access control type transmission unit 52 determines that the change request 503 is to be transmitted to a plurality of clients, and the permission information in the change request 503 is received. Fifty
Client “host1, host2 included in 4
... ", the setting information correspondence table 103 obtained by removing the permission information 502 from the setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information is broadcasted.

The solid arrow in FIG. 9 indicates the processing flow when the information request is received from the client, and the dotted arrow indicates the processing flow when the change request from the operator is received. The operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the information request 101 from the client 3 or the change request 503 from the operator is input,
The request processing unit 11 determines the received request content (S6
1), information request 10 when information request 101 is input
1 is output to the information acquisition unit 12 and the change request 503 is sent to S62.
If is input, the change request 503 is output to the change processing unit 13 and the process proceeds to S66.

The information acquisition unit 12 that has input the information request 101
Outputs the permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 and the information request 101 held in the access control type setting information storage unit 51 to the access control type transmitting unit 52 (S62). The access control type transmission unit 52, which has input the information request 101 and the permission information-added setting information correspondence table 501, refers to the permission information 502 of the permission information-added setting information correspondence table 501 and refers to the information request source client described in the information request 101. The information corresponding to No. 3 is extracted (S63), the setting information correspondence table 103 obtained by removing the permission information from the corresponding information is transmitted to the information request source client 3 (S65), and the process returns to S61. If the corresponding output device information does not exist, the information request source client 3 is notified that there is no output-permitted device (S64), and the process returns to S61.

When the change request 503 is input, the change processing unit 13 that has input the change request obtains the permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 held in the access control type setting information storage unit 51 (S66). Then, it is determined whether or not the permission information-added setting information correspondence table 501 can be changed according to the change content described in the change request 503 (S67), and when it is determined that the change is possible, the permission information-added setting is reflected to reflect the change content. The access control type setting information storage unit 51 by changing the information correspondence table
(S68), and sends the changed setting information correspondence table 501 and the change request 503 to the access control type transmission unit 52.
If it is determined that the change is impossible, the operator is notified of the change process failure (S70), and the process returns to S61.

Setting information correspondence table 501 with changed permission information
And the access control type transmission unit 52 that received the change request 503
Refers to the permission information 502 of the post-change permission information added setting information correspondence table 501 for each client described in the permission information 504 of the change request 503, extracts the output device information to which permission is given, and applies the corresponding information. The setting information correspondence table 103 excluding the permission information is transmitted to each client (S69), and the process returns to S61.

Although it is assumed here that there are two commands for adding and deleting setting information, by adding a command for changing only permission information (addition of permission information or deletion of permission information), the operator at the time of changing permission information It is possible to reduce the burden on the user and suppress the generation of useless traffic. It is assumed that the change request includes the permission information. However, when the change command is “delete”, a means for receiving the change request in which the permission information is blank,
The client destination to which the output device information is transmitted is not obtained from the permission information 504 in the change request 503 as described above, but is changed in the permission information added setting information correspondence table 501.
Output device type identifier 109 and server identifier 11 in 3
0, by providing a means for obtaining the destination by referring to the permission information 502 of the record that matches the output device identifier 111, it is possible to specify a change request in which the permission information is blank when the change request is “delete”. It is possible to reduce the burden on the operator.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the client can obtain the output device setting information by sending the information request to the management server device. In addition, when the output device setting information stored in the management server device is changed, the client can automatically obtain the changed information. By sending the setting request from the client to the management server device, the client can easily set the output device setting information. Further, by receiving the setting information from the management server device at any time, it is possible to dynamically reflect the change in the output device setting information. As a result, it is possible to perform output to the output device in the client without directly setting the output device setting information by the administrator as described in the conventional example. Further, in the management server device, when the information request or change request is made, the permission correspondence table is referred to and the destination to which the output device setting information is transmitted is restricted, whereby the use authority of each output device can be centrally managed. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electronic computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 (A) Information request 1 input to request processing unit 11
This is an example of a 01 data format. (B) An example of the data format of the change request 107 input to the request processing unit 11.

FIG. 4 is an example of a setting information correspondence table 103 held in a setting information storage unit 14.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a data format of a setting request 301 input to a request processing unit 31.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a management server device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is an example of a setting information correspondence table 501 with permission information held in the access control type setting information storage unit 51. (B) An example of the data format of the change request 503 input to the request processing unit 11.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the management server device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional output device information setting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic computer system 2 management server device 3 client 4 output device 5 server 6 network 11 request processing unit 12 information acquisition unit 13 change processing unit 14 setting information storage unit 15 transmission unit 20 management server device 31 request processing unit 32 communication unit 33 setting Unit 34 Output device information storage unit 51 Access control type setting information storage unit 52 Access control type transmission unit 101 Information request 102 Request identifier 103 Setting information correspondence table 104 Output device type identifier 105 Server identifier 106 Output device identifier 107 Change request 108 Change command 109 Output Device Type Identifier 110 Server Identifier 111 Output Device Identifier 112 Source Identifier 301 Setting Request 302 Management Server Device Identifier 501 Setting Information Correspondence Table with Permission Information 502 Permission Information 503 Change Request 504 Permission Information

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic computer system in which one or more servers having an output device and a client are networked, and processing data is output from the client to the output device via the server, and a management server is provided. The device is a holding unit having a correspondence table showing a correspondence relationship between all the servers connected to the network and the output devices connected to the server, and when the client requests transmission of the information stored in the holding unit, When there is a request to change the information stored in the holding unit by reading out the information from the holding unit and sending it to the client, the setting information of the holding unit is changed according to the request, and the changed result is displayed. Second processing means for communicating with all clients is provided. An electronic computer system comprising: a transmission unit that requests transmission of information stored in the storage unit; and a storage control unit that stores the received content in a storage unit when the setting information is received from the management server device. . 2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the setting information holding means includes an identifier that identifies one output device and access authority information that describes whether the output device is available to the client. Including the access authority information, the first processing means reads the content when the holding means holds the access right information, and sets it to the client permitted to use the output device identified by the identifier for specifying the output device. When the second processing unit requests to change the information stored in the holding unit, when the holding unit holds the access right information, the contents are transmitted to the second processing unit. Read out, change information according to access authority information, store the changes in the holding means,
An electronic computer system comprising: a second permitted client transmission unit for transmitting the setting information to the client according to the access authority information.