JP2002023983A - Network terminal device and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network terminal device and a network system with which a user can set network information even without going to a place where the network terminal device is located when the user newly sets and resets the network information of the network terminal device. SOLUTION: When a network information acquisition requesting means 21 transmits an acquisition request for the network information, a network information acquisition request receiving means 12 receives the acquisition request and a network information transmitting means 13 transmits network information held by a network information holding means 11. A network information receiving means 23 receives the network information transmitted by the means 13, a network information setting means 22 sets the network information in the network terminal device 2 and the processing is finished in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a network terminal device connected to a network, and more particularly to a network terminal device having a network address and capable of communicating on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, business printers, in particular, have become capable of receiving data from a plurality of host computers and printing by being connected to a network. It is becoming. In addition, price reduction, compactness, high speed, and colorization are also progressing.

[0003] In particular, large clients such as large corporations or government offices often use printers in the above-mentioned usage form, and to avoid confusion after purchase and to facilitate maintenance. As a result, it is becoming increasingly common to purchase products of the same manufacturer at once.

[0004]

However, even if a printer of the same maker is purchased, settings relating to information necessary for the printer to be used in the network, such as a network address, are not set.
I had to set that information for each of the printers I purchased.

In this case, the setting method is to set from the operation panel of the printer or to use a setting utility attached to each manufacturer. Since both of them are set one by one, If the number of purchases is several tens, if the user makes the setting, it will take a lot of trouble and time for the user, and even if it asks the purchase manufacturer, the problem is that the cost is high was there.

As a conventional technique similar to the present invention in terms of automatic setting, there is a technique relating to a print control apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-203806. This technique is to acquire corresponding identification information from a host computer connected to a network, automatically select a printing environment registered in advance in a print control device, and set it.

However, the above-mentioned prior art relates to setting of printing conditions and the like of a printer already connected to a network, and does not relate to setting of network information such as a printer address on the network.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and relates to not only a printer but also all network terminal devices connected to a network, and relates to a network terminal device newly connected to a network or network information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network terminal device and a network system that can set network information of a network terminal device that requires resetting, even if the network terminal device is away from the network terminal device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a network terminal device connected to a network, wherein another network terminal device connected to the network is connected to another network terminal device. Address acquisition request accepting means for accepting an address acquisition request in the network of the network terminal device; network information holding means for holding network information used by another network terminal device; and network information held by the network information holding means. One is characterized by having network information transmission means for transmitting to a terminal device connected to the network in response to a network information acquisition request.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network terminal device connected to a network, wherein an address acquisition request transmission for transmitting an address acquisition request in its own network to another network terminal device connected to the network. Means, network information receiving means for receiving the network information transmitted based on the network information acquisition request, and network information setting means for setting the received network information in the network terminal device.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising the network terminal device according to the first aspect and the network terminal device according to the second aspect.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a network terminal device and a network system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 12 show:
1 shows an embodiment of a network terminal device and a network system according to the present invention.

Although the present invention relates to a network terminal device, the embodiment is applied to a network printer as an example. Note that the protocol used in the present embodiment is the TCP / IP protocol.

In the present embodiment, a network address means a so-called IP address used on the Internet. In this embodiment, a network printer refers to a printer connected to a network, and network information refers to information necessary for the network printer to operate on the network. That is, it means a network address, a subnet mask address, and a gateway address.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the concept of the configuration of a network terminal device and a network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a network environment in which a network printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. The configuration is a single master printer and another network printer that is newly connected or requests acquisition of reset information. Both the master printer and the network printer have the same functions, but function as master printers by setting the startup mode to “master printer mode”.

Hereinafter, the case where a newly connected network printer acquires network information will be described. In this case, the setting values of the newly connected printer are in the initial state. An example is shown in FIG. Since the present embodiment is the TCP / IP protocol, the items are IP
In addition to the address, a subnet mask and a default gateway are displayed, and all the set values are in a default state, that is, an initial value state.

FIG. 8 shows a setting example when the setting is made. In order for a network printer to operate on a network, these settings are required at least.

Next, the setting of the master printer will be described. This setting is performed from the panel. FIG. 9 shows an example of a setting display displayed on the panel. Display the display setting and select the system setting.

When the system setting is selected,
1. 1. Cow tray The items such as the jusin buffer are displayed, and the child mode is selected. Then, "Normal", "Master printer" and the like are displayed. When "Master printer" is selected, the printer functions as a master printer. In the key mode display, a key mode having the above-described functions is added to a conventional system setting item.

As a master printer, the printer can perform the following two functions on a network. 1) Register or hold a plurality of network addresses that can be used on the network. 2) If another network printer requests to transmit a usable network address, the information is transmitted.

The usable network address of 1) is an address that can be assigned to a network printer to be installed on the network from now on, and these addresses are registered by an administrator from a panel. In addition, even if it starts as a master printer,
If there is no change in the normal operation and there is a print request,
The received data is to be printed.

FIG. 10 shows a display example of a panel when a function to be registered is selected. When the child mode is started with the “master printer”, the item “completion address” appears on the panel, and it becomes possible to set and register the usable network address of 1).

An example in which a network address is registered is as follows:
This is shown in FIG. When another printer on the network requests to transmit a network address, the available addresses are transmitted in the order of registration. In the present embodiment, this registration method is described only for the case from the panel, but there is also a method for registration from a utility on the PC side via a network.

The process of assigning a network address to a newly installed printer will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This processing is performed between the master printer and the other network printers. First, processing performed by the master printer will be described.

Since the operations of the master printer and the other network printers are linked, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of both operations. In the following description, it is assumed that a list of network addresses has already been registered in the master printer, and the master printer will be restarted after registration.

The operation of the master printer will be described with reference to FIG. The master printer first checks whether there is another valid master printer on the network (step S11). If there is no response (step S12 / No), there is no other master printer, so that printer starts up as an official master printer in the network.

If there is a response (step S12 / Y
es) Since there is a printer that has already been activated as a master printer, that printer is not activated as a master printer, and this process ends.

Waiting for a network acquisition request, and if there is a network acquisition request (step S13 / Y
es), an unused address is selected from the registration list, and a call check is performed to confirm whether the address is not actually used (step S14).
(This is a PING command performed in the TCP / IP protocol.)

On the other hand, if there is a response from the network (step S15 / Yes), the address has already been used by another device.
The same process is performed for the next unused address in the registration list, and this process is continued until an unused address is found.

If another unused address is found, the address is transmitted to the printer that requested it (step S16). At this time, the status of the transmitted address is changed to "used", and its MAC address is held in order to identify the requesting printer.

When the master printer receives a request for acquisition of a network address by operating the master printer as described above, it confirms that an available network address can be used.
Since transmission becomes possible, even if a plurality of new printers are installed in the network, the network address can be surely set without going to the place where each of the printers exists. And the setting of the network address becomes very easy.

Next, processing performed by a network printer other than the master printer will be described with reference to FIG. When the printer is started up with a new printer connected to the network, if the printer is in an initial value state (default state) (step S21 / Yes), a network address acquisition request is broadcast to a terminal on the connected network. (Step S2)
2). If the printer is not in the initial value state (step S21 / No), the process for obtaining the network address ends.

If a master printer exists on the network, the printer responds to the acquisition request, and the network printer receives the network address transmitted therefrom (step S23 / Yes). The received network address is set in the setting area as the network address of the printer (step S2).
4), restart and the process ends.

At the time of this setting, the network address of the master printer that has responded is also held. Also,
When the system is restarted, the network address is not set to the initial value, so that broadcast transmission for acquiring the network address is not performed on the network.

If there is no master printer on the network, there is no printer that responds to the above-mentioned acquisition request, a timeout occurs in response waiting (step S23 / No), and the startup process ends.

By operating the network printer as described above, when a new printer is purchased and connected to the network, if the master printer is connected, it is not necessary to set the network address. Thus, a highly convenient network printer can be provided.

Although this embodiment is an example in which a network address (IP address in TCP / IP) is described, similarly, other setting items such as a subnet mask address or a gateway address are set in a registration list. By doing so, it is possible to set the address at the same time. FIG. 3B shows an example of the registration list.

The operation of resetting the set values in the network printer operating in the network environment shown in FIG. 2 will be described below. First, the master printer will be described.

As in the process of assigning a network address to a newly installed printer, the master printer and the network printer are printers having the same function, but the start mode is set to the “master printer mode”. By setting, it functions as a master printer.

The setting is basically the same as that of the process of assigning a network address to a newly installed printer, except for the setting display items displayed on the panel. FIG. 11 shows an example of a setting display displayed on the panel. Display Shortcut Settings and select System Shortcut Settings.

When the system setting is selected,
1. 1. Cow tray The items such as the jusin buffer are displayed, and the child mode is selected. Then, "Normal", "Master printer" and the like are displayed. When "Master printer" is selected, the printer functions as a master printer. In the key mode display, a key mode having the above-described functions is added to a conventional system setting item.

In the case of the master printer, in the case of this processing, the printer can perform the following two functions on the network. 1) Register or hold a plurality of pieces of operation information such as network addresses operating on a network. 2) When another network printer issues a request for updating information such as the currently set network address, the information is transmitted.

The operation information 1) is a network address or the like that can be assigned to a network printer to be installed on the network from now on, and these addresses are registered by the administrator from the panel. Even when the master printer is started, the normal operation is not changed, and when a print request is issued, the received data is printed.

FIG. 11 shows a display example of a panel when changing a network address originally registered or selecting a function for registering a network address. When the child mode is started with the “master printer”, the item “completion address” appears on the panel, and it becomes possible to set and register the usable network address of 1).

FIG. 6 shows an example in which a network address, a netmask and a gateway are registered. When there is a request from another printer on the network to transmit the operation information, usable addresses are transmitted in the order of registration. In this embodiment, this registration method describes only the case from the panel.
There is also a method of registering from a utility on the PC side via a network.

The process of assigning a network address to a printer that requires resetting of the network address will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is performed between the master printer and other network printers.
The processing performed by the master printer will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of two operations of the master printer and the network printer. FIG. 5A shows the operation of the master printer, and FIG. 5B shows the operation of a network printer other than the master printer. In the following description, it is assumed that a list of network addresses has already been registered in the master printer.

It is assumed that a network address and the like are set in the master printer, and information storing a MAC address corresponding to information such as a network address, a net mask, and a default gateway is stored. FIG. 6 shows an example.

When the item "Complete" is selected, the MAC address (000074) of the network printer which has been allocated to another network printer until now is selected.
abcdef etc.) is displayed. MA of the target printer
The C address is selected, and the IP address, gateway address, and the like are changed.

After starting, the master printer first checks whether there is another valid master printer on the network (step S31), and if there is no other master printer (step S32 / No), Start up as a master printer. If another master printer exists (step S32 / Yes), the process ends.

When the master printer receives a network information acquisition request from another network printer (step S33 / Yes), the master printer selects the reset information from the already registered list and uses the address. It is checked whether or not there is (step S3
4).

If the address is not used (step S35 / Yes), the reset information is returned to the requesting printer (step S36), and a request for obtaining the reset information is awaited.

If no network information acquisition request is received from another network printer (step S3)
3 / No), and waits for the acquisition request.

By operating the master printer as described above, when it becomes necessary to reset the operation information of a plurality of printers operating on the network, the reset information can be easily transmitted. So, 1
Even if the user does not go to the place where one device exists, the network address can be set without fail, and the setting of the network address becomes very easy.

Next, a process performed by a network printer other than the master printer that needs to be reset will be described. Start the printer for which you want to reset the setting information in the "resetting mode". The reset mode is a mode in which the printer is started in the reset mode by selecting and executing a selection item “reset” from the panel. FIG. 12 shows an example of the panel display.

To select the reset mode, select the system setting in FIG. 1. Cow tray Items such as jusin buffer are displayed. Select Kid mode. When the mode is selected, items such as "normal", "master printer", and "size setting" are displayed, and by selecting "size setting", the apparatus is activated as a reset mode.

When the apparatus is started in the reset mode, processing for acquiring reset information from the master printer is performed before the normal start processing. Hereinafter, the process of acquiring reset information from the master printer will be described with reference to FIG.

It is determined whether or not the mode is the reset mode (step S41). If the mode is the reset mode (step S41 / Yes), a broadcast request for the reset information is transmitted to the network (step S4).
2). If the reset information is received before the time-out occurs (step S43 / Yes), the received reset information is set in the setting area (step S44), and restarted.

At the time of restart, since the mode is not the “reset mode”, the broadcast transmission for requesting the network to acquire network information is not performed.

If the mode is not the reset mode in step S41 (step S41 / No), a request for obtaining reset information is not made, and the process ends. Step S43
In the case where no reset information is received (step S4
(3 / No) times out, the reset information cannot be obtained, and the process ends.

As described above, by operating a network printer that requires resetting of setting information, information to be reset of a network printer that requires resetting can be set even if the information is not set by the network printer. Since the setting is made, the setting work becomes very easy.

In the present embodiment, as a method of setting the master printer or the like, particularly, a method of setting from a panel is shown, but it is also possible to set from a PC or the like via a network using a utility.

Although the items to be set are limited to the TCP / IP network address, other protocols and other setting items can be set in the same manner.

[0065]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a network information acquisition request is issued to a network terminal device, the network information is transmitted in response to the request. If a new terminal is connected to the network or if there is a terminal that is already connected and needs to be reconfigured, set the network information for that terminal without having to go to the location where the terminal exists. And the setting of network information becomes very easy.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, if a network information acquisition request is issued, the network information is acquired and set, so that the user does not need to set the network information, and the setting of the network information is very difficult. It will be easier.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, if the network terminal device of the second aspect issues a request for acquiring network information, the network terminal device of the first aspect transmits the request in response to the acquisition request and transmits the request. Since the network terminal device described in claim 2 obtains and sets, the network information of the network terminal device can be set without going to the place where the network terminal device described in claim 2 exists. Thus, the network system is very convenient for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a conceptual diagram of a network terminal device and a network system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a network environment to which a network printer applied as one embodiment of the present invention is connected.

FIG. 3 is an example of network information such as a network address registered in a master printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a master printer and a new printer applied as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a master printer applied as an embodiment of the present invention and a printer for resetting setting values.

FIG. 6 is an example of network information such as a network address registered in a master printer.

FIG. 7 is an example of a setting value in which a setting value of a newly connected printer is in an initial state.

FIG. 8 is an example of a set value in which a set value of a printer is set.

FIG. 9 is a setting example when setting a network printer connected in advance as a master printer.

FIG. 10 is a setting example when setting network information in a master printer.

FIG. 11 is a setting example when changing network information of a network printer connected in advance by a master printer.

FIG. 12 is a setting example when a printer other than the master printer is started in the resetting mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 network terminal device 2 network terminal device 11 network information holding means 12 network information acquisition request receiving means 13 network information transmitting means 21 network information acquisition request transmitting means 22 network information setting means 23 network information receiving means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network terminal device connected to a network, the network terminal device receiving an address acquisition request from another network terminal device connected to the network, the request to acquire an address of the other network terminal device in the network. Means, network information holding means for holding the network information used by the other network terminal device, one of the network information held by the network information holding means, in response to the network information acquisition request, A network information transmitting unit for transmitting to a terminal device connected to the network. 2. A network terminal device connected to a network, comprising: an address acquisition request transmitting unit for transmitting an address acquisition request of the own network to another network terminal device connected to the network; Network information receiving means for receiving the network information transmitted based on the network information acquisition request; and network information setting means for setting the received network information in the network terminal device. Network terminal device. 3. A network system comprising the network terminal device according to claim 1 and the network terminal device according to claim 2.