JPH08227346A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily utilize a printer, a storage device, etc., by providing this network system with a means for converting a common request command into a request command for a network operating system in a requested network. CONSTITUTION: Each of respective work stations A1 to An, B1 to Bn,..., N1 to Nn is provided with a function for converting a common request command to network printers Pa1, Pa2, Pb1, Pb2,..., Pn1, Pn2 or file servers FSa, FSb,..., FSn in respective networks NetA to NetN into a request command for a network operating system in a requested network at the time of inputting the common request command. Thereby a user can easily use one of the printers Pa1 to Pn2 of the networks NetA to NetN in respectively different network operating systems by always the same request command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of workstations each having a different type of network operating system and a device such as a printer, a storage device, a facsimile device, and an image reading device which are shared by the workstations. The present invention relates to a network system having a plurality of networks connected thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of workstations each having a different type of network operating system and a printer, a storage device, and a facsimile device shared by the workstations are used for business such as company development and office work. , And a network system such as a local area network (LAN) in which a plurality of networks having devices such as an image reading device are connected to each other.

[0003]

However, the conventional network system does not always use the same network operating system for all the networks in the system, but uses different network operating systems for each network. In many cases, the method of operating a printer or storage device that is shared and used differs for each network.

Further, in the conventional network system, the network operating system is frequently upgraded (function upgrade) in order to improve the network to be the easiest to use at that time and to have better performance according to the trend in the world. Therefore, the user cannot always use the network of the same network operating system, and each time the version of the network is upgraded, the method of operating the shared printer or storage device is different.

Therefore, for example, when a user uses a network of another department in a company, the user cannot know how to use the network. Therefore, in the conventional network system, a user (especially, a workstation or a network which is not used in general) is used. There is a problem that it is very difficult for a user) to use because the operation method must be changed for each network.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points and provides a common operation interface for a network to a user so that a new operation or command can be remembered even if the type of network used by the user changes. Even so, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily use devices such as a printer and a storage device commonly used on the network.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of networks each having a plurality of workstations of different types of network operating systems and a printer shared by the workstations. In a network system in which the above-mentioned workstations are provided with command conversion means for converting a common request command input to the printer of each network into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network. Is.

Further, in a network system in which a plurality of networks each having a plurality of workstations of different types of network operating systems and a storage device shared by the workstations are connected, A command conversion unit for converting a common request command input to the storage device of each network into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network is provided.

Further, the command converting means may be means for converting the common request command into request commands of network operating systems of a plurality of types of networks.

[0010]

In the network system according to the present invention, a common request command input from each workstation to a printer of a network by a different type of network operating system is converted into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network. The user can always easily use the network printers with different network operating systems with the same request command. In addition, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use operating environment to a user who is not used to operating a network or a workstation.

Also, since a common request command input from each workstation to a network storage device of a different type of network operating system is converted into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network, the user respectively Printers on networks with different network operating systems can always be easily used with the same request command. In addition, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use operating environment to a user who is not used to operating a network or a workstation.

Further, by converting a common request command in each workstation into a request command of a network operating system for a plurality of types of networks, the type of network of a printer or a storage device to be used is frequently changed and used. In this case, it is not necessary to reload the request command conversion program for each network operating system of the network, the usability for the user can be improved, and the operating environment can be improved.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network system is, for example, a networkware (SPX / IP
X), LAN manager (NetBios), TCP / I
A plurality of networks NetA to Ne by different types of network operating systems such as P
tN is physically connected. The above networkware (SPX / IPX), LAN manager (NetBio)
s) and TCP / IP are registered trademarks.

The network NetA adopts the A network operating system, and a plurality of workstations A1 to An by the network operating system and a network printer Pa1 shared by the workstations on the network system. Pa2, a print server PSa that manages print output to the network printer Pa2, and a file server FSa that is shared and used by each workstation on this network system are connected.

Further, the network NetB adopts the B network operating system, and a plurality of workstations B1 to Bn by the operating system and a network printer Pb1 shared by the workstations on this network system. Pb2 and network printer P
Print server PSb that manages print output to b2
And a file server FSb shared and used by each workstation on this network system.

Further, the network NetN employs an N network operating system, and a plurality of workstations N1 to Nn by the operating system and a network printer Pn1 shared by the workstations on this network system. Pn2 and print server PS that manages print output to the network printer Pn2
n and the file server FSn shared by the workstations on this network system.

Each of the above workstations A1 to An,
B1 to Bn, ..., N1 to Nn, and the print server PS
a, PSb, ..., PSn and the file servers FSa, F
Sb, ..., FSn are CPU, ROM, and R, respectively.
This is an information processing device having a built-in microcomputer such as an AM.

Each of the above networks NetA to NetN
The type of each network operating system is different, and each network printer Pa1, Pa
Request commands to 2, Pb1, Pb2, ..., Pn1, Pn2 and each file server FSa, FSb, ..., FSn are different for each network.

Therefore, this network system includes the workstations A1 to An, B1 to Bn, ..., N1.
To Nn are network printers Pa1, Pa2, Pb1, Pb2, ... Of the networks NetA to NetN.
Pn1, Pn2 or file servers FSa, FSb,
.., FSn, when a common request command is input, it has a function of converting into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network and outputting it.

That is, each of the workstations A1 to A
When a common request command is input to n, B1 to Bn, ..., N1 to Nn, the common request command is input to the network printer Pa1 of the networks NetA to NetN of different types of network operating systems as well as in the same network. ，
Print requests to the Pa2, Pb1, Pb2, ..., Pn1, Pn2 and the file servers FSa, FSb ,.
It is converted into a request command for writing and reading a file to and output to the request destination.

Therefore, the user inputs a common request command from any of the workstations A1 to An, B1 to Bn, ..., N1 to Nn, and makes a request to the network printer and the file server on each network NetA to NetN. Can be done. Further, each of the workstations A1 to An, B1 to Bn, ..., N1
From Nn, a request command of the network operating system of the requested network can be input and sent as it is.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of each of the workstations A1 to An, B1 to Bn, ..., N1 to Nn shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a general workstation. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, each workstation on the network of FIG. 1 has an application shell unit 1, an operating system (OS) unit 2, a network operating system (NOS) unit 4, local resources 3, and a network protocol. It includes a unit 5, a local area network (LAN) card driver unit 6, and a command conversion unit 7.

The application shell unit 1 executes various data processing applications such as document creation,
It is determined whether a request command to a network printer or a disk (storage device) input by an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse (not shown) is for the local resource 3 or a network printer or file server connected to the network. In the case of a request for the local resource 3, the request is sent to the operating system (OS) unit 2, and in the case of a request for the network, it is sent to the command conversion unit 7.

Operating system (OS) section 2
Controls the local resource 3,
A request for the local resource 3 is executed based on the request command sent from the shell unit 1. The local resource 3 is a printer (printing device) such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer locally connected to this workstation, a hard disk device or a magneto-optical disk device, an image reading device such as a scanner, and a device such as a facsimile device.

The network operating system (NOS) unit 4 controls communication by this network, and sends the request command sent from the command conversion unit 7 to the network protocol unit 5. The network protocol unit 5 performs protocol processing on the request command sent from the NOS unit 4 and sends it to the LAN card driver unit 6. The LAN card driver unit 6 outputs the request command sent from the network protocol unit 5 on the network.

The command converter 7 has a flash memory type memory, and loads a request command conversion program corresponding to any one of the network operating systems required from among the conversion programs stored in a memory (not shown). The stored conversion program is stored and held, and the held conversion program is not erased regardless of whether the power of the main body is turned on or off. When a request command conversion program corresponding to another type of network operating system is used, the conversion program currently held is erased, and the target conversion program is newly loaded and held.

When the request command sent from the application shell unit 1 is a request command commonly used on this network system, it is converted to a request command of the requested network operating system and sent to the NOS unit 4. When the request command is a dedicated command for each network operating system of each of the networks NetA to NetN, it is sent to the NOS unit 4 as it is.

That is, the function of command converting means for the command converting unit 7 to convert a common request command input to the network printer and storage device of each network into a request command of the network operating system of the requested network. Fulfill.

Next, the request processing to the network printer and the file server in this network system will be described. Generally, the following five basic requests are made to each network printer on the network system. 1. Connect to a network printer Output print data 3. View status 4. 4. Cancel the print request. Disconnect from a network printer

An example of a shared request command to each network printer on this network system corresponding to each basic request to the network printer will be shown. 1. Connect to a network printer "NETP LINK print server name network printer name" 2. "NETP PRINT file name" for outputting print data View status "NETP STAT print server name network printer name" 4. 4. Cancel print request "NETP CANCEL file name" 5. "NETP UNLINK" to release the connection with the network printer

The following three basic requests are made to each file server on the network system. 1. Connect to a network disk (file server) 1. Release the connection with the network disk. View status

An example of a shared request command to each file server on this network system corresponding to each basic request to the file server will be shown. 1. Connect to network disk (file server) "NETD LINK drive number file server name directory name" 2. Release the connection with the network disk "NETD UNLINK drive number" 3. View status "NETD LINK STAT"

The user can perform these common request commands either by key input with a keyboard or by an icon on a graphic screen using a pointing device such as a mouse.

Next, a process when a workstation of the network system of this embodiment requests a network printer or a file server on the network will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing.

In this process, when a request command to the network is input in step (indicated by "S" in the figure) 1, the process proceeds to step 2 in which the request command is common to this network system. It is determined whether the request command is a dedicated command for each network operating system of the network.

If the request command is a dedicated request command in the determination processing of step 2, the process proceeds to step 4, and if it is a common request command, the process proceeds to step 3 and the command conversion unit requests the common request command from the requesting network operating system (NOS). Convert to a command and proceed to step 4.

In step 4, the request command is subjected to protocol processing, and the process proceeds to step 5 where the request command is output to the network printer or file server of the requested network via the LAN card driver section, and this processing is executed. finish.

The above processing will be further described. The input request command is from each network NetA ~
In the case of a dedicated request command for each network operating system of NetN, the request command is directly subjected to protocol processing, and the LAN card
Output to the requested network via the driver.

When the input request command is a common request command of this network system, the common command command of the workstation is converted into a request command of the requested network operating system (NOS) by the command conversion unit of the workstation. , A request command of a type suitable for the request destination network, protocol processing is performed, and the request command is output to the request destination network via the LAN card driver unit.

For example, when a workstation of the network NetN connects to the network printer Pa2 of the network NetA, when the workstation receives a common request command "NETP LINK print server name network printer name", it sends it to the network NetA. Network operating system request command, for example, "NET USE PRN \\ servername"
It is sent to the print server PSa after being converted into “printname”.

In this way, in the network system of this embodiment, the user can easily use the network printer and the storage device by the different network operating systems with the same request command from any workstation on the network. You can Therefore, even a user who is not accustomed to operating a network or a workstation can easily use the printer or storage device on the network.

By the way, in the workstation of the network system of the above-described embodiment, the command conversion unit 7 performs conversion of a common request command by the conversion program loaded, and every time the request destination is changed, the network operating system is changed. I tried to reload the corresponding conversion program,
The conversion programs corresponding to a plurality of network operating systems are stored in advance in the command conversion unit 7,
The conversion program to be executed may be switched according to the request destination of the input common request command.

Next, an embodiment in that case will be described. FIG. 5 shows the workstations A1 to An, B1 to Bn of the network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
, N1 to Nn are block diagrams showing the functional configurations of the main parts, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the workstation according to this embodiment, a plurality of conversion programs among the conversion programs stored in the memory of the workstation (not shown) in the command conversion unit 7'are loaded in advance and stored in the command conversion unit 7'to make them resident. ing. Further, as a new function unit, a selection unit 8 for selecting a conversion program to be executed by the command conversion unit 7'is provided.

Then, when each network operating system is started, the start-up is notified to the selecting unit 8. Then, the selecting unit 8 holds the information (for example, protocol number) until it is reset, judges the necessary conversion program on the basis of the input common request command, and sends it to the command converting unit 7 '. On the other hand, the conversion program is selected and instructed, and the command conversion unit 7'executes the selected and instructed conversion program to convert the common request command into a format suitable for the request destination.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing processing when a workstation of the network system shown in FIG. 5 makes a request to a network printer or file server on the network.

In this process, when a request command to the network is input in step (indicated by "S" in the figure) 11, the process proceeds to step 12 and the request command is common to this network system and It is determined whether the request command is a dedicated command for each network operating system of the network.

In the determination processing of step 12, if it is a dedicated request command, the process proceeds to step 15, and if it is a common request command, the process proceeds to step 13 to obtain the protocol number of the request destination of the common request command by the selecting unit, and the protocol number thereof. The network operating system of the network corresponding to is determined, and the conversion program corresponding to the network operating system is selected and designated for the command conversion unit.

Then, the process proceeds to step 14 to execute the conversion program corresponding to the network operating system selected and specified by the command converting unit by the command converting unit to send the common request command to the requesting network operating system (NO).
It is converted into the request command of S) and the process proceeds to step 15.

In step 15, the request command is subjected to protocol processing, and the process proceeds to step 16 where the request command is output to the network printer or file server of the requested network via the LAN card driver section, and this processing is executed. finish.

In the above process, when the user selects and inputs the network printer or storage device of the network to be used when the workstation is started, for example, the selection unit 8 selects the network printer or storage device of the selected network operation. The conversion program corresponding to the system may be determined, and the conversion program may be selected and instructed to the command conversion unit 7 ', and the command conversion unit 7'may be made executable.

Further, in the above-mentioned processing, when the common request command is input, the selecting section 8 judges the necessary conversion program based on the request destination and sends the conversion program to the command converting section 7 '. The command conversion unit 7'may select and instruct the conversion program instructed to convert the common request command into a format suitable for the request destination.

In this way, in the network system of this embodiment, every time the request destination is changed in each workstation, the conversion program for converting the common request command into the request command of the request-destination network operating system is reloaded. Since it is not necessary, the usability for the user can be improved and the operability can be further improved.

[0055]

As described above, according to the network system of the present invention, when a user inputs a common request command to a device such as a printer or a storage device of a different type of network, it is sent to each network. Convert to request command of network operating system.

Therefore, a common operation interface for the network is provided to the user, and even if the type of the network used by the user is changed and a new operation or command is not remembered, a common request command is used in common on the network. Devices such as printers and storage devices can be used, and the operability of the network system can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part according to the present invention of each workstation shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of a general workstation.

4 is a flowchart showing a process when a workstation of the network system shown in FIG. 1 makes a request to a network printer or a file server on the network.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of each workstation of a network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a process when a workstation of the network system shown in FIG. 5 makes a request to a network printer or a file server on the network.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Application shell part 2: Operating system (OS) part 3: Local resource 4: Network operating system (NOS)
Part 5: Network protocol part 6: LAN card driver part 7, 7 ': Command conversion part 8: Select part A1 to An, B1 to Bn, ..., N1 to Nn: Workstations Pa1, Pa2, Pb1, Pb2 ,. , Pn1, Pn:
Network printers PSa, PSb, ..., PSn: Print server FSa, FSb, ..., FSn: File server

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network system in which a plurality of networks each having a plurality of workstations of different types of network operating systems and a printer shared by the respective workstations are connected to each other, A network system characterized by comprising a command converting means for converting a common request command input to a network printer into a request command of a network operating system of a requested network. 2. A network system in which a plurality of networks each having a plurality of workstations of different types of network operating systems and a storage device shared by the workstations are connected to each of the workstations, A network system comprising command conversion means for converting a common request command input to a storage device of each network into a request command of a network operating system of a requested network. 3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the command conversion unit is a unit that converts the common request command into request commands of network operating systems of a plurality of types of networks. Network system.