JPH11341065A - System and method for setting network communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to automatically set communication equipment, execute a command and eliminate troublesome communication setting by selecting desired equipment out of communicable equipment and allowing the command to be executed. SOLUTION: After a user's command such as a printing is received, equipment attribute of a communicated party needed for its execution is judged. An equipment attribute inquiry packet as its result is transmitted to other equipment by way of a network. Each equipment on a response side which receives this transmits the equipment attribute response packet to inquiry side equipment when the equipment attribute is matched with the attribute of its own equipment, stores its contents in a storage device 32 and presents stored equipment attribute response packet contents to the user by way of an output device 26 after a specified time. The user selects equipment out of them and gives an execution allowance for executing the command. Then, the obtained processing data are made to automatically perform communication setting such as property setting including register of the communicated party and communication processing such as execution of a printing command.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device setting system and device setting method for network communication, and more particularly to a device setting system and device setting for network communication used, for example, in a network environment in which the connection state of devices dynamically changes. About the method.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a home appliance, an information device, or a network environment in which these devices are mixed, communication between devices in any combination is not always possible.
For example, when printing, the other party is limited to a printer or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a network composed of a personal computer or the like, a driver for a device to be communicated such as a printer is installed in the personal computer in advance, and the location (IP
Set properties such as address) and output format (for printer), and statically configure communication settings. This applies not only to printers, but also to communication settings with devices such as scanners, gateways for connection to external networks and the Internet, Proxy servers, and facsimile machines.

[0003]

As described above, conventionally,
For devices included in the network, it is necessary to perform complicated communication settings such as setting properties such as registration of communication partners using a personal computer, especially in a network environment where devices connected to the network change dynamically. There was a problem that it was troublesome.

[0004] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a device setting system and a device setting method for network communication that can be easily set for communication and are effective in a dynamically changing network environment.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a device setting system for network communication according to claim 1, wherein the device setting system for network communication performs communication between a plurality of devices connected to a network. And
Each device has storage means for storing its own device attributes and processing data for communication processing, determining means for determining device attributes of a communication partner necessary for executing a command issued by a user, and other devices included in the network. Inquiring means for inquiring as to whether or not the device attribute matches the device attribute determined by the determining means. If the device attribute matches the inquired device attribute, the device transmits its own device attribute and processing data to the inquiring device. A response unit, an output unit that outputs a communicable device based on a response result from another device, an execution permission unit that selects a desired device from the communicable devices output from the output unit and permits command execution, And communication processing means for performing communication processing in accordance with the processing data of the device selected by the execution permission means.

A device setting system for network communication according to a second aspect of the present invention is a device setting system for network communication for performing communication between a plurality of devices and a device search server connected to a network. Storage means for storing device attributes for each device and processing data for communication processing, and, in response to an inquiry from any device, the device attribute and processing data of the device that matches the inquired device attribute on the query side. A response unit for transmitting to the device, each device determines a device attribute of a communication partner necessary for executing a command issued by a user, and a device attribute determined by the determination unit to a device search server. Inquiring means for inquiring about a device that matches, and selecting a device that can communicate based on the response Output means for inputting, execution permitting means for selecting a desired device from among the communicable devices output from the output means and permitting command execution, and communication for performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected by the execution permitting device Processing means;

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network communication device setting system, each device communicates with its own device attribute in response to an inquiry from a device search server. Further comprising a response unit for transmitting processing data for processing;
The device search server further includes an inquiry unit for inquiring each device for device attributes and processing data, and an updating unit for updating the device attributes and processing data of each device stored in the storage unit according to a response result from each device. It is a thing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the device setting system for network communication according to any one of the first to third aspects, the output means includes a display means for displaying a communicable device. Including.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the device setting system for network communication according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the processing data includes a communication procedure and a property.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network communication device setting method for performing communication between a plurality of devices connected to a network and each having its own device attribute and processing data for communication processing. A setting method, comprising: a first step of determining a device attribute of a communication partner required for executing a command issued by a user in an arbitrary device included in a network; A second step of inquiring whether or not the device attribute matches the device attribute determined in the step; a second step of transmitting the own device attribute and the processing data to the inquiring device if another device matches the inquired device attribute. 3 steps, outputting a communicable device from the output unit based on a response result from another device, 4th step, output from the output unit Comprising a fifth step, and a sixth step of performing a communication process according to the processing data of the selected device by the fifth step of the communication apparatus capable to select the desired device to allow command execution.

A device setting method for network communication according to a seventh aspect is a device setting method for network communication for performing communication between a device search server connected to a network and a plurality of devices, and includes an arbitrary device included in the network. A first step of determining a device attribute of a communication partner necessary for executing a command issued by a user in a device, from an arbitrary device to a device search server having device attributes of each device and processing data for communication processing; On the other hand, in a second step of inquiring about a device that matches the device attribute determined in the first step, in response to an inquiry from an arbitrary device, a device search is performed for the device attribute and processing data of the device that matches the inquired device attribute. The third step of sending from the server to the inquiring device, communication is possible based on the response result from the device search server 4 that outputs a device from the output means
Step, a fifth step of selecting a desired device from among the communicable devices output from the output means and permitting command execution, and a sixth step of performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected in the fifth step. Prepare.

In the device setting system for network communication according to the first aspect, a device which has issued a command by a user determines a device attribute of a communication partner required for executing the command, and determines a device attribute of another device on the network. An inquiry is made. When there is a response from the other device to the inquiring device regarding the device attribute and the processing data, the inquiring device outputs a communicable device from the output unit based on the response result. When the device is selected and execution of the command is permitted, communication processing such as communication setting and command execution is performed according to the processing data of the selected device. Therefore, complicated communication settings such as setting properties such as registration of a communication partner during communication processing become unnecessary, and communication settings do not become complicated even when the network environment changes dynamically.

The same applies to the device setting method for network communication according to the sixth aspect.

In the device setting system for network communication according to the present invention, when a device that has issued a command from a user wants to search a device on the network for a device that can execute the command, the device search server sends the command to the device search server. An inquiry is made. When the device search server responds to the inquiring device with respect to the device attribute and the processing data, the inquiring device outputs a communicable device from the output unit based on the response result. When the device is selected and execution of the command is permitted, communication processing such as communication setting and command execution is performed according to the processing data of the selected device. Therefore, similarly to the first aspect, complicated communication settings such as setting properties such as registration of a communication partner during communication processing become unnecessary, and communication settings become complicated even when the network environment changes dynamically. Never.

The same applies to the device setting method for network communication according to the seventh aspect.

In the device setting system for network communication according to the third aspect, the device search server updates the device attributes and processing data of each device and stores the latest device attributes and processing data in the storage means. Even if it changes dynamically, each device can accurately grasp device attributes and processing data of other devices.

In the device setting system for network communication according to the fourth aspect, the communicable devices are displayed on the display means, so that the user can easily select a desired device from them.

As described in claim 5, the processing data includes communication procedures and properties required for communication.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a device setting system (hereinafter simply referred to as a "device setting system") 10 for network communication in an embodiment not using a device search server.

In the device setting system 10, devices such as a digital still camera 14, a personal computer 16, a printer 18, and a gateway 20 for connection to an external network or the Internet are connected to the network 12.

Each of these devices has built-in hardware as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, each device includes a keyboard,
The input device 22 includes a mouse, buttons, and the like, and is used to input commands from the user. The input control unit 24 controls input from the input device 22, and a list of communicable devices including a monitor and an LCD is output. Output device 26,
An output control unit 28 for controlling the output from the output device 26, a RAM 30 for storing programs and data to be handled, properties including an IP address indicating the location of the device on the network 12, and procedures necessary for communication of the device. A storage device 32 that holds processing data, device attributes of the device, and device attributes and process data sent from other devices, a network control unit 34 that controls input and output to and from the network 12, and other devices. A timer 36 for managing a timeout from transmission of a request packet to reception of a response packet, and control units 24, 28, and 3
4, a CPU 38 for controlling the RAM 30 and the timer 36. Then, communication packets such as a device attribute inquiry packet and a device attribute response packet are transmitted and received via the network control unit 34 of each device.

The device attribute inquiry packet is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the information includes a transfer destination, a transfer source, a packet code, a device attribute code, and the like.

As the transfer destination, a broadcast to be transferred to all other devices or a device search server 40 (in the case of an embodiment shown in FIG. 7 described later) is set. The device on the inquiry side is set as the transfer source. As the packet code, a device attribute request “this is a request from the inquiry side” is set. Device attribute codes include, for example, print, gateway, facsimile,
.., etc., indicating what device attributes are requested. Such a device attribute inquiry packet is sent from the device on the inquiry side to all other devices on the network 12 or the device search server 40 (in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, the device attribute response packet includes a transfer destination, a transfer source, a packet code, a device attribute code, processing data, and the like.

An inquiry side is set as the transfer destination. As the transfer source, the responder or the device search server 40
(In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7). As a packet code, "This is a response to the inquiry"
Is set. The device attribute code is
For example, it is information indicating the attribute of a device on the response side such as printing, gateway, facsimile, scanner,. The processing data is device-specific information required for communication, such as communication procedures and properties.

For example, in the case of printing, the communication procedure includes a data transfer sequence, and the properties include data format type (PS, ESC / P, etc.), printing speed, resolution, and color / monochrome printer performance. , An IP address serving as its own location information.

In the case of a gateway, there is no communication procedure, and the properties include an IP address, a network address to be relayed, and an IP address as its own location information.

The device attribute response packet described above is a device matching the device attribute requested by the device on the inquiry side, or the device search server 40 (in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7).
Is sent to the device on the inquiry side.

The operation of the device setting system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. As a premise, each device needs to set its own IP address after being connected to the network 12. The same applies to a device setting system 10a to be described later.

Referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the device on the inquiry side will be described.

First, when a command (for example, printing) is received from a user (step S1), a device attribute of a communication partner required for executing the command is determined (step S1).
3) Inquiring of the network 12 about the device attribute as a result of the determination. That is, a device attribute inquiry packet is generated based on the determination result, and the device attribute inquiry packet is given to another device via the network 12 (step S5).

Then, the timer 36 is started to wait for a response to the inquiry (step S7), and it is determined whether or not a device attribute response packet has been received (step S9). When the device attribute response packet is received, the contents of the device attribute response packet are stored in the storage device 32 (step S11), and it is determined whether the timer time has elapsed (step S13). If the timer time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S9.

If it is determined in step S9 that no device attribute response packet has been received, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, if the timer time has elapsed, a device capable of communication is output from the output device 26 based on the content of the stored device attribute response packet,
It is presented to the user (step S15). The user can select a desired device from the presented devices and permit execution of the command.

Then, it is determined whether the user has permission to execute the command (step S17), and the process waits until the command execution is permitted. If you have command execution permission,
According to the acquired processing data, communication settings such as property setting including registration of a communication partner and communication processing such as execution of a command (for example, execution of printing for printing) are automatically performed (step S19), and the process ends. .

Next, the operation of the responding device will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined whether a device attribute inquiry packet has been received (step S21), and the process waits until a device attribute inquiry packet is received. If a device attribute inquiry packet is received, each responding device
The device attribute of the own device and the processing data are read from the storage device 32, and if the device attribute of the inquiry matches the own device attribute, a device attribute response packet is generated (step S23), and the device attribute response packet is generated. Is transmitted to the inquiry-side device (step S25), and the process ends.

A specific operation example of the device setting system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a case will be described in which all other devices, that is, the personal computer 16, the printer 18, and the gateway 20, are inquired in order to execute printing from the digital still camera 14.

In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 6A, the user selects "print" from a menu displayed on the monitor of the digital still camera 12, and issues a command.

Then, the digital still camera 12 sets the device attribute code to “print”, gives a device attribute inquiry packet to another device, and makes an inquiry. During the inquiry, as shown in FIG. 6B, a message such as “Searching for a device ...” is displayed on the digital still camera 1.
2 is displayed on a monitor or the like.

A device attribute response packet is transmitted from the device having the same device attribute to the digital still camera 12, and when the search is completed, the response result is displayed on the monitor of the digital still camera 12, as shown in FIG. A list of printers that can print as is displayed. When the user selects a desired printer from the displayed printers and permits execution of the command, communication settings and printing are automatically executed.

According to such a device setting system 10, when a user communicates between a certain device on the network 12 and another device, the device attribute of the communication partner is determined based on the user's operation and instruction. Then, a communicable device on the network is searched, and the communicable device can be presented to the user. Therefore, the user can easily select a desired device.

In addition, not only the device attributes but also processing data such as communication procedures and properties are included in the response content of the device search and provided to the inquiry device, so that the user can select a desired device from the presented devices. The communication setting and the command execution can be performed automatically only by selecting and executing the command. Therefore, it is not necessary to set properties such as registration of a communication partner, and communication settings are not required. Data can be easily transferred without making the user aware of the difference in the protocol of the network 12. In particular, the present invention is effective in an environment such as a home network where the connection state of each device dynamically changes.

FIG. 7 shows a device setting system 10a of another embodiment using a device search server.

The device setting system 10a connects the digital still camera 14, the personal computer 16, the printer 18, and the gateway 20 to the network 12 in the same manner as the device setting system 10, and further centrally manages device attributes and processing data. The device search server 40 to be connected is connected.

The hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 is also built in the device search server 40. At this time, the storage device 32
Information such as attributes and processing data of each device on the network 12 is stored. Further, the device search server 40 includes a timer (not shown) for periodically calling the device attribute investigation handler, and based on the count of this timer, the device search server 40 The device attributes and the processing data can be periodically inquired, and the device attributes and the processing data to be centrally managed can be updated and stored in the storage device 32.

The operation of the device setting system 10a will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 8, the operation of the device on the inquiry side will be described.

First, when a command is received from the user (step S31), the device attribute of the communication partner required for executing the command is determined (step S33), and the device attribute of the determination result is inquired to the device search server 40.
At this time, a device attribute inquiry packet is provided to the device search server 40 (step S35).

Then, it is determined whether or not the device attribute response packet issued from the device search server 40 has been received (step S37), and the process waits until it is received.

When the device attribute response packet is received, a device that can communicate based on the device attribute response packet is output from the output device 26 and presented to the user (step S3).
9). The user can select a desired device from the presented devices and permit execution of the command.

It is determined whether or not the user has permission to execute a command (step S41), and the process waits until the command execution is permitted. If the command execution is permitted, communication processing such as communication setting and command execution is automatically performed according to the acquired processing data (step S43), and the process ends.

Next, the operation of the device search server 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a timer is set so that the device attribute investigation handler is called periodically (step S5).
1) It is determined whether a device attribute inquiry packet has been received from any device (step S53).
The apparatus waits until the device attribute inquiry packet is received. If the device attribute inquiry packet is received, the corresponding device is searched from the storage device 32 serving as the device attribute database (step S55). It is returned to the inquiry-side device as a device attribute response packet (step S57), and the process returns to step S53.

Referring to FIG. 10, the operation of the device search server 40 when the device attribute investigation handler is activated will be described.

When the device attribute investigation handler is activated, all the devices are given a device attribute inquiry packet via the network 12 to inquire about the device attributes (step S61). The timer 36 is started to wait (step S63).

Then, it is determined whether or not a device attribute response packet has been received (step S65). If the device attribute response packet has been received, the contents of the device attribute response packet are registered in the storage device 32 (step S67). It is determined whether the timer time has elapsed (step S69).
If the timer time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S65.

If it is determined in step S65 that the device attribute response packet has not been received, the process proceeds to step S69.

If it is determined in step S69 that the timer time has elapsed, the process ends.

According to such a device setting system 10a, when a user who has issued a command wants to know a device that can execute the command, the device setting system 10a makes an inquiry to the device search server 40 so that the device search server 40
, The response result to the inquiry is given to the inquiry-side device, and the same effect as the device setting system 10 can be obtained.

The device search server 40 can periodically inquire of all devices for device attributes and processing data and obtain the latest device attributes and processing data, so that the network environment changes dynamically. Can correspond to this, and the communication setting does not become complicated.

[0064]

According to the present invention, communication setting and command execution can be performed automatically by selecting a desired device from among communicable devices and permitting execution of the command. A complicated communication setting can be omitted, and communication becomes easy.

Further, the communication setting does not become complicated even in a dynamically changing network environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration included in each device.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a configuration of a communication packet;
(A) shows a device attribute inquiry packet, and (b) shows a device attribute response packet.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a device on the inquiry side in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (when there is no device search server);

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the responding device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (when there is no device search server).

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing a specific example of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a step in which a user issues a command,
(B) outputting an inquiry message;
(C) shows the step of selecting a printer and permitting execution.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a device on the inquiry side in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (when there is a device search server).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the device search server in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (when there is a device search server).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when a device attribute investigation handler is activated in the operation shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10a Network communication device setting system 12 Network 14 Digital still camera 16 Personal computer 18 Printer 20 Gateway 22 Input device 26 Output device 32 Storage device 34 Network control unit 36 Timer 38 CPU 40 Device search server

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A network communication device setting system for performing communication between a plurality of devices connected to a network, wherein each of the devices stores its own device attribute and processing data for communication processing. Means for determining a device attribute of a communication partner necessary for executing a command issued by a user; determining whether another device included in the network matches the device attribute determined by the determination means. Inquiry means for inquiring whether or not, if it matches the inquired device attribute, response means for transmitting its own device attribute and processing data to the inquiring device, and output a device that can communicate based on the response result from other devices Output means for executing, execution permission means for selecting a desired device from the communicable devices output from the output means and permitting command execution,
And communication processing means for performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected by the execution permission means,
Network communication device setting system. 2. A device setting system for network communication that performs communication between a device search server connected to a network and a plurality of devices, wherein the device search server includes a device attribute and a communication process for each of the plurality of devices. Storage means for storing processing data for, and, in response to an inquiry from any device, a response means for transmitting the device attribute and processing data of the device that matches the queried device attribute to the device on the inquiry side, A determination unit for determining a device attribute of a communication partner required for executing a command issued by a user; an inquiry for inquiring the device search server about a device that matches the device attribute determined by the determination unit; Output means for outputting a communicable device based on a response result from the device search server; Execution permission means for selecting a desired device from the communicable device output from the means permitting command execution,
And communication processing means for performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected by the execution permission means,
Network communication device setting system. 3. Each of the devices further includes a response unit that transmits its own device attribute and processing data for communication processing in response to an inquiry from the device search server. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an inquiry unit that inquires of the device about the device attribute and the processing data; and an updating unit that updates the device attribute and the processing data of the device stored in the storage unit according to a response result from the device. 3. The device setting system for network communication according to item 2. 4. The network communication device setting system according to claim 1, wherein said output unit includes a display unit for displaying said communicable device. 5. The network communication device setting system according to claim 1, wherein the processing data includes a communication procedure and a property. 6. A device setting method for network communication for performing communication between a plurality of devices connected to a network and each having its own device attribute and processing data for communication processing, the device setting method comprising: A first step of determining a device attribute of a communication partner necessary for executing a command issued by a user in the first device, matching the device attribute determined in the first step from the arbitrary device to another device A second step of inquiring whether or not to perform, if the other device matches the inquired device attribute, a third step of transmitting its own device attribute and processing data to the inquiring device, from the other device A fourth step of outputting a communicable device from the output means based on the response result of the step (b), from the communicable device output from the output means. The fifth step to allow command execution by selecting the equipment,
And a sixth step of performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected in the fifth step,
Device setting method of network communication. 7. A device setting method for network communication for performing communication between a device search server and a plurality of devices connected to a network, the method comprising: executing an command issued by a user on an arbitrary device included in the network. A first step of determining a device attribute of a necessary communication partner; the first step from the arbitrary device to the device search server having device attributes of each device and processing data for communication processing; A second step of inquiring about a device that matches the determined device attribute, in response to an inquiry from the arbitrary device, the device attribute of the device that matches the inquired device attribute and processing data from the device search server on the inquiry side A third step of transmitting to a device, outputting a communicable device based on a response result from the device search server Fourth step, a fifth step of selecting a desired device from the communicable device outputted from said output means to allow a command execution to be output from the stage,
And a sixth step of performing communication processing according to the processing data of the device selected in the fifth step,
Device setting method of network communication.