JPH11175219A - Network system, its managing method and equipment managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply obtain detailed information concerning an option, etc., desired to know by displaying detailed information on a part of a network equipment in a picture corresponding to the network equipment selected by a picture selecting means. SOLUTION: An operator selects the optional place of a network equipment picture displayed on an equipment information window screen 101. When the selected part is detailed information concerning a printer, the part is displayed by a pop up window 133 on the window 101 and the window 133 namely displays detailed information concerning the printer such as the version number of a firmware, the presence/absence of an extension memory, the situation of option equipments, etc. Thereby, detailed information concerning the option, etc., desired to know is obtained to facilitate operation such as executing version up if necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network system and a method for managing the network system, for example, a network system having a utility program for managing network devices connected to a network, and a method for managing the network system. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a display example on a window screen of a display device when a utility program (network equipment management utility) for managing network equipment connected to a network in a conventional network system is operated.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 901 denotes a menu window screen of a network device management utility.
Reference numeral 902 denotes an equipment information button icon for displaying equipment information of a network device to be managed.

Conventionally, when an operator selects this equipment information button icon (for example, clicks with a mouse), an equipment information window 2001 shown in FIG. 6 is opened. The equipment information window 2001 is a window that provides detailed information on options and the like provided by the network equipment to be managed.

When a conventional network equipment management utility wants to see detailed information on options and the like equipped in a network equipment, it opens a dedicated display screen for equipment information as shown in 2001 in FIG. The detailed information such as the options equipped on the network device was confirmed based on the information provided.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since detailed information such as options is collectively displayed on a display screen dedicated to equipment information, an operator who is not familiar with the network equipment to be managed cannot display the information. However, there is a drawback in that it is difficult to know which part of the actual device corresponds to which part.

For this reason, for example, it has been difficult to specify an optional device, check the version number of the program of the optional device, and upgrade the program if the version is old.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has, for example, the following arrangement as one means for achieving the above objects.

That is, in a network device connected to a network, or in a device equipped with a plurality of devices for realizing a plurality of different functions, an image display means for displaying an image corresponding to the device, and the image display means. Image selecting means for selecting a part of the image corresponding to the device displayed by the device, and details for displaying detailed information of the part of the device corresponding to the image corresponding to the device selected by the image selecting means Information display means.

For example, there is provided a selected image display means for displaying an image part corresponding to the device selected by the image selection means from the display images of the image display means so as to be distinguishable from other image parts. Features.

Further, for example, the selected image display means is characterized in that the selected image can be distinguished from other image portions by displaying the selected image in reverse video. Alternatively, the selected image display means is characterized in that the selected image is displayed in a different color to be distinguishable from other image portions.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A system in which a plurality of digital copying machines as network connection devices are connected ( Double-link system).

In FIG. 1, 1001, 1002, 10
Reference numerals 03 and 1004 denote a set of digital copying machines (hereinafter, this set is referred to as a “station”).
Each has a system address. 1005
Reference numerals 1006 and 1007 denote cables for connection to a cascade system, and reference numeral 1008 denotes an interface device for connecting these digital copying machines to a general computer 1009.

A schematic configuration of each station will be described. The digital copier constituting each station includes a reader unit 200, a printer unit 100, an interface unit 30.
0.

The reader unit 200 optically reads a document with a CCD sensor, performs electrical processing in an image processing unit, and transmits a signal to a printer unit.

In the image processing section, for example, an original image is read by a CCD provided with RGB three color filters,
The D converter converts the image data into corresponding digital data. The digital data is subjected to image data correction processing by a shading correction unit, an input masking unit, and the like. Then, as required (at the time of the scaling operation), the scaling unit performs scaling processing.

Thereafter, the conversion unit converts the RGB data into CMY data.
To the data. This converted CMY data is
The data is compressed and encoded by an encoder or the like.
For this data compression, it is desirable to use, for example, a vector quantization compression method or an orthogonal transform coding method. The encoded data is temporarily stored in, for example, a memory unit, read out at a read timing synchronized with each color of CMY, decoded by a decoding unit, masked by a masking unit, and then subjected to γ correction and the like. To the printer 100, and the image is recorded on the recording paper by the printer 100.

The printer unit 100 includes, for example, magenta,
It is possible to form a four-color full-color image using four color toners of cyan, yellow, and black. After the photosensitive drums are uniformly charged on the surface, an image corresponding to each color is exposed on the photosensitive drums by laser scanning based on laser optical system delivery date input image information to form an electrostatic latent image. . A latent image corresponding to each color image information is developed into a toner image by a developing device having magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toners, and is transferred to a transfer medium on which the toner image has been transported.

Each of the above stations is provided with a CPU which controls each component and also controls the entire system. The RO stores various programs such as a network device management utility program of the CPU which will be described later.
M, a RAM as a work memory, and the like.

The detailed configuration of only the station A 1001 is shown. In the station A 1001, 101
0 is a CPU, 1020 is a ROM, and 1030 is a RAM.

Each of the stations has a display panel on the upper side of which display control can be performed by the CPU, and various kinds of guidance by window display can be displayed via the display panel. Then, in the present embodiment, a utility program for managing the station is configured to be executable in the station connected to the network.

A management method using a utility program for managing stations in the network system having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an equipment information window screen of the network equipment management utility displayed on the display panel of the copying machine of the station in the embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes an equipment information window screen for graphically displaying equipment information of a copier, which is a network equipment, 100 denotes a printer, 103 denotes a paper cassette optionally mounted on the printer 100, and 105 denotes a paper cassette. This is a paper tray that is optionally mounted on the printer 100.

Further, 200 is a reader, 201 is a reader 2
00 is an automatic paper feeder that is optionally installed. Reference numeral 106 denotes a button icon for returning to the menu window screen.

In the present embodiment, the operator obtains detailed information on the selected portion by selecting (clicking with a mouse) an arbitrary place of the network device image displayed on the equipment information window screen 101. Can be. This procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the network device management utility according to the embodiment.

The network device management utility program is stored in the above-described ROM (1020 or the like). Note that this program is not stored in the ROM, but is installed in a magnetic disk device or a CD-R.
When an OM device is provided, the OM device may be stored in a storage medium readable by the device, and may be configured to be read and executed by the CPU.

When the utility is started in step 201, first, in step 202, a menu window is displayed on a computer screen (CRT). Then, the system is in a state of waiting for a menu selection input from the operator, and in a subsequent step 203, a state of waiting for the menu selection input from the operator.

When it is detected that the operator has made a menu selection input while waiting for input, the process proceeds from step 203 to step 204, where the utility program determines whether the selection input is related to equipment information.
If the menu selected by the operator is not equipment information, a process corresponding to the selection result is executed. For example, it is determined whether or not an instruction has been input for another menu in the same manner, and processing is performed on the menu for which the instruction has been input. The description of these menu processes is omitted.

In step 204, if the menu selected by the operator is the equipment information, the flow advances to step 205 to display the equipment information window screen 101 shown in FIG. Then, in a subsequent step 206, an image selection input waiting state from the operator is set. The operator selects (clicks with a mouse) a part for which detailed information is to be obtained from the images displayed on the equipment information window screen 101.

The utility program is executed in step 2
If an image is selected by the operator while waiting for the input of step 06, this is detected, and it is checked whether or not the portion selected in step 207 is the printer 100. Printer 100
Is selected, the process proceeds to step 208, where the detailed information on the printer 100 (for example, the firmware version number and the presence or absence of the additional memory) is displayed in a pop-up window (a window is displayed over the current window). The state shifts to a state of waiting for a selection input next to 206.

FIG. 4 shows the printer 1 in step 208.
Printer 1 when 00 is selected by the operator
It is an example of a display of detailed information about 00.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 132 denotes an example in which the selected portion of the printer 100 is highlighted so as to be easily understood by the operator. In order to make the selected part easy for the operator to understand, there is a method of changing the color of the image from the non-selected state, in addition to the reverse display shown in the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 133 denotes a printer 100 by an operator.
This is an example in which detailed information on the printer 100 displayed after selection is displayed in a pop-up window. The pop-up window 133 is the equipment information display window 10
1 is displayed on top of the firmware version number,
Printer 1 with or without additional memory, optional equipment status, etc.
00 is displayed.

On the other hand, if the menu selection input from the operator is not a printer selection in step 207, the process proceeds to step 209, and the utility program checks whether or not the selected portion is the paper cassette 103. If the selected portion is the paper cassette 103, the process proceeds to step 210, where detailed information on the paper cassette 103, such as the firmware version number, the number of installed paper cassettes, size information, the number of paper feeds, The status of the paper cassette, such as the amount, is displayed in a pop-up window (a window is displayed over the current window), and the process proceeds to a state of waiting for the next selection input in step 206.

On the other hand, if the menu selection input from the operator is not the paper cassette selection at step 209, the process proceeds to step 211, where the utility program executes
It is checked whether the selected portion is the auto paper feeder 201 or not. The selected part is the auto paper feeder 20
If it is 1, the process proceeds to step 212, where detailed information on the auto paper feeder 201, such as the firmware version number and the current setting state, is displayed in a pop-up window (a window is displayed over the current window). The state shifts to a state of waiting for the next selection input in step 206.

On the other hand, if the menu selection input from the operator is not the automatic paper feeder in step 211, the process proceeds to step 213, and the utility program checks whether the selected portion is the paper tray 105. If it is the selected partial paper tray 105, the process proceeds to step 214, where detailed information on the paper tray 105, such as the firmware version number, the number of bins that can be sorted, whether or not the staple sort function is provided, Whether or not operation is possible is displayed in a pop-up window (a window is displayed over the current window), and the process shifts to a state of waiting for the next selection input in step 206.

If the menu selection input from the operator is not the paper tray in step 213, the process proceeds to step 215, and the utility program determines whether the selected portion is the button icon 106 for returning to the menu window screen. Check whether or not. If the selected button icon 106 is for returning to the menu window screen, the process proceeds to step 202 and returns to the menu window display.

Further, if the portion selected by the operator is not the button icon 106 for returning to the menu window screen in step 215, the utility program determines that the selected portion is at an incorrect position, and Without returning to step 206, the process returns to the state of waiting for an image selection input from the operator.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by selecting an image display panel for displaying an image of a network device and a part of the image displayed on the display panel, the selected image is displayed. Since the corresponding detailed information can be displayed, the operator simply selects and inputs a portion of the image displayed on the display panel for which the user wants to know the detailed information. Information can be displayed, and even if the operator is not familiar with the network equipment to be managed, equipment information such as options can be correctly obtained.

As a result, for example, an operation for matching the firmware version required for normal operation of the entire network can be easily performed. Further, it is possible to easily confirm the version information of the device for which processing is requested.

[0042]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.). That is, the equipment status of the own device can be easily confirmed even as a single device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above in the storage medium.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator can easily obtain detailed information of a specific portion by confirming a portion for which detailed information is desired by using an image and selecting the image. become.

Therefore, even if the user is not familiar with the network device to be managed, it is possible to easily obtain detailed information on an option or the like that he or she wants to know.

As a result, for example, it is possible to easily check the version number of the firmware of a specific option, and if necessary, upgrade the version.

[0052]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device information window screen of a network device management utility according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a network device management utility according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed information display screen when a printer is selected in the equipment information window shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a menu screen of a conventional network device management utility.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional equipment information window screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Printer 101 Equipment information window screen 103 Paper cassette 105 Paper tray 200 Scanner 201 Auto paper feeder 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 Station 1005, 1006, 1007 Cable 1008 Interface device

Claims (14)

[Claims] An image display means for displaying an image corresponding to the device on a network device connected to the network, and a part of the image corresponding to the device displayed by the image display means can be selected. A network system comprising: an image selection unit; and a detailed information display unit that displays detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the device selected by the image selection unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selected image display unit that displays an image portion corresponding to the device selected by the image selection unit from the display images of the image display unit so as to be distinguishable from other image portions. The network system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the selected image display means is capable of distinguishing the selected image from other image portions by displaying the selected image in reverse video. 4. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the selected image display means changes the color of the selected image and displays the selected image so as to be distinguishable from other image portions. 5. An image corresponding to the selected device in a network device connected to the network, wherein an image corresponding to the device is displayed, and a part of the displayed image corresponding to the device can be selected. A method for managing a network system, comprising: controlling to display detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to (i). 6. Displaying detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and displaying an image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 6. The network system management method according to claim 5, wherein the information is displayed so as to be distinguishable from the image part. 7. Displaying detailed information of a portion of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and inverting an image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 7. The management method for a network system according to claim 6, wherein the display is performed so as to be distinguishable from other image portions. 8. Displaying detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and displaying a color of an image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 7. The network system management method according to claim 6, wherein the image is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other image portions by changing the image and highlighting the image. 9. A device management method for a device provided with a plurality of devices for realizing a plurality of different functions, comprising displaying an image corresponding to the device and selecting a part of the displayed image corresponding to the device. A device management method, characterized in that control is performed so that detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device is displayed as possible. 10. Displaying detailed information of a portion of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and displaying another image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 10. The device management method according to claim 9, wherein the information is displayed so as to be distinguishable from the image portion. 11. Displaying detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and inverting an image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 11. The image display device according to claim 10, wherein the image is displayed so as to be distinguishable from another image portion.
Device management method described. 12. Displaying detailed information of a part of the device corresponding to an image corresponding to the selected device, and displaying a color of an image portion corresponding to the selected device among display images corresponding to the device. 11. The device management method according to claim 10, wherein the image is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other image portions by changing the image and highlighting the image. 13. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a control procedure for realizing the function according to claim 1. Description: 14. A computer program sequence for realizing the function according to claim 1. Description: