JP2014116825A - Apparatus management system, mediation apparatus, apparatus management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus management system for automatically performing registration of a network apparatus to a mediation apparatus.SOLUTION: An apparatus management system including a mediation apparatus AP for communicating with a network apparatus through a network comprises: acquisition means for acquiring address information on the network apparatus from the network apparatus, requesting identification information for identifying a network apparatus corresponding to the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information on the network apparatus according to the request; determination means for determining whether or not a network apparatus identified from the acquired identification information is registered as a management target apparatus that is managed by any mediation apparatus AP; and report means for reporting a result of the determination by the determination means. On the basis of the reported result of the determination, the mediation apparatus AP determines whether to register the network apparatus as a management target apparatus or not.

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management system, an intermediary device, a device management method, and a program.

  In an environment where a plurality of network devices such as image forming apparatuses are connected to the same network, there is a system configuration in which communication is performed with a center system via an intermediary device that is connected to the same network and communicates with the plurality of network devices. The intermediary device communicates with the network device and automatically reports the network device information to the center system in order to perform services such as status information of the network device, failure notification, and automatic consumable ordering.

  The network device and the intermediary device communicate with each other by using the IP address. When a network device is newly connected to the network, the intermediary device and the network device do not know each other's IP address, and thus need to recognize each other using the IP address. Therefore, a DNS (Domain Name System) server, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, and the like are installed, and the IP address of the intermediary device is registered in advance in these servers. When a network device is connected to the network, a system is proposed in which the network device queries the DNS server or DHCP server for the IP address of the mediation device and communicates with the mediation device based on the IP address obtained from these servers. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a device management system that eliminates the input work of an IP address of a device management server (mediation device) and reduces the workload of an administrator. According to this, the IP address of the device management server is registered in an information setting device such as a DHCP server that assigns and sets an IP address to each of a plurality of MFPs connected to the network. When the MFP is connected to the network, the MFP requests the information setting apparatus to set the IP address and also requests acquisition of the IP address of the device management server.

  The MFP that has acquired these IP addresses transmits the device specific information of the MFP using the IP address of the device management server, and determines whether or not the device management server approves the connection of the MFP based on the device specific information. I do. When the device management server approves the connection, in response, the MFP transmits the collected device information to the device management server and stores it to manage the device information.

  However, in the above system that uses a DHCP server or the like to acquire the IP address of the mediation device, it is necessary to install a DHCP server in the network environment. Furthermore, it is necessary to set the IP address of the mediation device in advance in the installed DHCP server.

  In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to automatically register the network device to the mediation device by obtaining the address information of the network device from the network device connected to the network. Another object is to provide a device management system, an intermediary device, a device management method, and a program.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention,
A device management system having an intermediary device that communicates with a network device via a network,
Acquisition means for acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the network device identified from the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit is registered as a management target device managed by any intermediary device;
Notification means for notifying the result of determination by the determination means,
A device management system is provided in which the intermediary device determines whether or not to register the network device as a device to be managed based on the result of the determination notified by the notification means.

  According to the present invention, by acquiring the address information of the network device from the network device connected to the network, the network device can be automatically registered in the mediation device.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a device management system according to a first embodiment. The hardware block diagram of the management apparatus and mediation apparatus which concern on 1st-4th embodiment. The functional block diagram of the network apparatus, management apparatus, and mediation apparatus which concern on 1st-4th embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The example of the apparatus management database of the management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 6 is a multicast packet example according to the first to fourth embodiments. The management object apparatus database example of the mediation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 4 is a management flag holding table example of a network device according to the first embodiment. The whole block diagram of the system which concerns on 2nd-4th embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The example of the apparatus management database of the management apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The management object apparatus database example of the 1st mediation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a management flag holding table example of a network device according to a second embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The example of the apparatus management database of the 2nd management apparatus which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The management object apparatus database example of the mediation apparatus which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The management flag holding table example of the network device which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The apparatus management database example of the 1st management apparatus which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The management object apparatus database example of the mediation apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The example of the apparatus management database of the management apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on the modification of 3rd Embodiment. The time chart which showed the automatic registration process which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same configurations, and redundant description is omitted.

<First Embodiment>
[System overall configuration]
First, a device management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a device management system according to the first embodiment.

  The device management system 1 includes network devices NT1, NT2, NT3, an intermediary device AP, and a data center management device (remote management device) 40.

  The network devices NT1, NT2, and NT3 are connected to the mediation device AP through a first network 51 such as an in-house network. Network devices NT1, NT2, and NT3 are devices to be managed, and have a function of multicasting their own IP addresses when connected. The network device NT may be, for example, an MFP / LP, a printer, a FAX device, a digital copying machine, a digital multifunction machine, or the like. However, the network device NT is not limited to this, and may be any information processing device connected to the first network 51 and capable of communicating such as a PC. As an example of the network device NT, a printer is illustrated in FIG. The printers are connected via a first network 51. In the following description, these devices will be collectively referred to as network devices NT.

  The intermediary device AP is installed in the customer environment of the first network 51. The intermediary device AP mediates and manages the data center management device 40 and its customer environment. The intermediary device AP collects device information of the own device from the network device NT connected in the customer side network, and notifies the management device 40 via the Internet 30. Here, the mediation device AP receives a multicast packet including the IP address of the network device notified from the network device NT. The mediation device AP extracts and stores the IP address from the received packet, and requests the network device NT to acquire device information of its own device such as a device ID.

  The management device 40 performs counter counting (billing processing), supply ordering, CE (Customer Engineer) dispatch, and the like from the device information of the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP.

[Hardware configuration]
Next, the hardware configuration of the management device and the mediation device provided in the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment and the second to fourth embodiments described later will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the management apparatus and the intermediary device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

  Each of the management device 40 and the intermediary device AP includes an HDD 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, a display device 106, and an input device 107 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  A program for realizing the function of the mediation device AP is installed in the HDD 102, for example. The HDD 102 stores the installed program and necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the HDD 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 realizes a function related to the mediation device AP according to a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network. The display device 106 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like by a program. The input device 107 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, and is used for inputting various operation instructions.

[Function configuration]
Next, functions of the network device, the management device, and the mediation device according to the first embodiment and second to fourth embodiments described later will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the network device, the management device, and the mediation device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

(Network equipment NT)
The network device NT includes a communication unit 21 for communicating with the mediation device AP via the first network 51. When a network device NT is newly connected to the first network 51, the communication means 21 of the network device NT notifies the intermediary device AP of the IP address of the own device. The network device NT has a management flag holding table 26 (see, for example, FIG. 8), and holds an IP address of an intermediary device AP that manages the network device NT and a management flag indicating a management state of the network device NT.

  When the network device NT is an image forming apparatus such as a printer or MFP / LP, the network device NT includes an image forming unit 24 and a conveyance control unit 25 in addition to the system control unit 23 that controls the entire network device. The image forming unit 24 forms a desired image using an image forming engine and prints it on a medium. The conveyance control unit 25 controls conveyance of a medium for printing an image.

(Intermediary device AP)
The mediation device AP includes a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, an acquisition unit 13, a registration control unit 14, a state monitoring unit 15, a state data storage unit 16, a control unit 17, a request analysis unit 18, and a request matrix unit 19. The acquisition unit 13 acquires the IP address of the network device from the network device NT, requests identification information for identifying the network device NT of the IP address, and acquires the identification information of the network device NT in response to the request. To do. Hereinafter, the device ID will be described as an example of the identification information of the network device NT. The device information of the network device NT includes, for example, the device model number and serial number. Etc. are included. The device ID of the network device NT is the serial number of the device. And the device model number and serial number. It may be a combination.

  The transmission unit 11 transmits the IP address of the network device NT acquired by the acquisition unit 13 and the device ID of the network device to the management apparatus 40. The receiving unit 12 receives from the management device 40 the result of the determination as to whether or not the network device NT identified from the device ID is registered as a management target device managed by any of the intermediary devices.

  The registration control unit 14 determines whether or not to register the network device NT as a management target device based on the determination result received by the receiving unit 12.

  The state monitoring unit 15 searches and monitors the state of the network device NT connected to the first network 51. The state data storage unit 16 stores the state of the network device NT monitored by the state monitoring unit 15. The control means 17 controls the entire system of the mediation device AP. The request analysis unit 18 analyzes the request (command) received from the management device 40, and the request matrix unit 19 holds the command. Thereby, even if a plurality of commands are received, a response to the commands can be executed.

  Further, the intermediary device AP has a management target device database 10 (see, for example, FIG. 7), and manages information on the network device NT that is a management target.

(Management device)
The management device 40 includes a notification unit 42, a determination unit 43, a management unit 44, and a device management database 45. The determination unit 43 determines whether or not the network device NT having the device ID is registered as a management target device managed by any of the mediation devices AP based on the device ID and IP address of the network device NT transmitted from the mediation device AP. Determine whether.

  The notification means 42 notifies the intermediary device AP of the result of determination by the determination means 43. The management unit 44 manages the states of the plurality of network devices NT via the mediation device AP. The device management database 45 stores the management state of the mediation device AP and the network device NT (see, for example, FIG. 5).

  The overall configuration of the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment and the hardware configuration and functional configuration of each device in the system according to each embodiment have been described above. Next, the operation of the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[Automatic registration processing]
Specifically, in the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment, automatic registration processing of the network device NT is executed. This process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the automatic registration process according to the first embodiment.

  The timing at which the automatic registration process is started may be, for example, when the network device NT is installed in the first network 51, or may be at the time of starting the system or at another timing. .

S0: Pre-registration Before this automatic registration process is started, the device management system 1 registers in advance the device ID of the network device NT that can be registered in the first network 51 in the device management database 45. For example, the operator of the management apparatus 40 registers in advance in the device management database 45 as a network device that can register only contracted devices. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the contracted device is based on the network device NT registered in the device management database 45 in advance. Further, it can be determined whether or not the network device NT is registered based on data indicating registration / non-registration of the network device NT stored in the device management database 45 in advance.

S1: Equipment Installation This process is started when a customer engineer (CE) or a user installs a network equipment NT in a network environment and connects a network cable.

S2: IP address notification When the communication means 21 of the network device NT detects that it is connected to the network, it broadcasts a multicast packet. The multicast packet includes the IP address of the network device NT (own device). For example, FIG. 6 shows an example of a multicast packet. Here, the source IP address “192.168.10.10.” Is shown as the IP address of the network device NT.

  The multicast packet is transmitted to all devices connected to the first network 51. Therefore, the multicast packet is also transmitted to the mediation device AP.

S3: Multicast reception The receiving means 12 of the mediation device AP receives a multicast packet. The registration control means 14 of the mediation device AP registers the IP address (“192.168.10.10” in FIG. 6) of the network device NT (own device) included in the multicast packet in the managed device database 10. Judgment is made. If it has already been registered, the following automatic registration processing is not performed and the processing ends.

S4: Device registration work S4.1: IP address storage The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP extracts and stores the IP address from the multicast packet received from the network device NT.

S4.2: Device Information Acquisition Request The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP requests the device information such as the manufacturer, model name, and serial number of the network device NT from the network device NT using the stored IP address.

S4.2.1: Device Information Notification The communication means 21 of the network device NT notifies the device information of the network device NT in response to the request from the mediation device AP2.

S4.3: Store Device Information The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP stores device information such as a manufacturer name, a model name, and a serial number received from the network device NT.

S4.4: Request for Device Registration The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP requests the management device 40 to request registration of the network device NT.

S4.4.1: Device Registration The determination unit 43 of the management device 40 searches the device management database 45 to determine whether the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP can be registered as a management target device. Thereby, the determination means 43 of the management apparatus 40 confirms the registration status of the network device NT, and avoids registration of the network device NT that is not contracted and re-registration of the already registered network device NT.

  For example, the case where the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP is the network device NT3 will be specifically described. In FIG. 5A, the network device NT1 (device ID: NT1ΔΔΔ) and the network device NT2 (device ID: NT2xxx) are registered as managed devices in the intermediary device AP, and the network device NT3 ( Device ID: NT3 □□□) is not registered. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 43 of the management device 40 determines that the network device NT3 can be registered in the mediation device AP as a management target device.

S4.4.2: Device Registration Response When the notification unit 42 of the management device 40 determines that registration is possible as a device to be managed, it returns a device registration affirmative response. When the notification unit 42 of the management device 40 determines that the device cannot be registered as a management target device, it returns a device registration negative response.

S4.5: Device Registration When receiving the device registration affirmative response from the management device 40, the acquisition device 13 of the mediation device AP registers the network device NT as a management target device. Accordingly, for example, the network device NT3 (device ID: NT3 □□□) is registered as the management target device in the management target device database 10 of FIG. 7 of the mediation device AP.

S4.6: Device Registration Upon receiving the device registration acknowledgment, the transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP transmits a device registration notification to the network device NT. At that time, the transmission unit 11 notifies the network device NT of the IP address of the mediation device AP. The intermediary device AP does nothing particularly when it receives a device registration negative response.

S5: Raise the management flag When the network device NT receives the device registration notification from the mediation device AP, the network device NT determines that the own device is under the control of the mediation device AP, sets the management flag, and stores the IP address of the mediation device. . As a specific example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the network device NT3 that has received the device registration notification stores the IP address “192.168.0.1” of the mediation device AP in the management flag holding table 26. The management flag is set to “1”. Thereby, the network device NT3 is registered as a management target device of the mediation device AP, and communication with the mediation device AP becomes possible.

  The automatic registration process according to the first embodiment has been described above. According to this, when the network device NT is connected to the first network 51 in which an intermediary device AP that manages a plurality of network devices NT exists, a multicast packet including the IP address of the network device NT is transferred to the intermediary device AP. be delivered. As a result, the registration status can be inquired to the management device 40 via the mediation device AP. And according to the registration status notified from the management apparatus 40, the registration operation | work of the network apparatus NT to the mediation apparatus AP can be implemented automatically. Thereby, in the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment, it is not necessary to install a DNS server or a DHCP server in the network environment, and it is also necessary to register the IP address of the mediation device AP in advance in the installed DHCP server or the like. Absent. As described above, according to the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to install a DNS server or a DHCP server, the work of the installer of the network device NT can be reduced. In addition, the system can be constructed at low cost.

Second Embodiment
[System overall configuration]
Next, a device management system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention and third and fourth embodiments described later will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a device management system according to the second to fourth embodiments.

  The device management system 1 has network devices NT1, NT2, NT3 and an intermediary device AP1 in a first network 51, and has a network device NT4 and an intermediary device AP2 in a second network 52. The mediation device AP1 is connected to the router RT1, and the mediation device AP2 is connected to the router RT2. The mediation device AP1 and the mediation device AP2 are connected to the data center management device 40 via the Internet 30 via the router RT1 and the router RT2.

  In this state, the network devices NT1, NT2, NT3 are registered as management target devices of the mediation device AP1, and the network device NT4 is registered as management target devices of the mediation device AP2. The first network 51 and the second network 52 are separate network segments, and usually multicast packets do not reach each other. Therefore, the mediation device AP1 receives the multicast packet notified from the network devices NT1, NT2, NT3. The mediation device AP2 receives the multicast packet notified from the network device NT4.

  In the second embodiment, automatic registration processing of a network device when the network device NT moves to another network is realized. For example, when there is a company layout change, a situation is assumed in which a part of the network device NT has moved from one network to another network. For example, in FIG. 9, the network device NT3 is moved from the first network 51 to the second network 52.

[Automatic registration processing]
The automatic registration process according to the second embodiment assuming such a case will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the automatic registration process according to the second embodiment.

S1: Equipment Installation A customer engineer (CE) or user connects a network cable in order to install the network equipment NT in the network environment. This process is started at this timing.

S2. Notifying the intermediary device AP2 of the IP address When the communication means 21 of the network device NT detects that it is connected to the network, it sends out a multicast packet. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, since the network device NT3 has moved from the first network 51 to the second network 52, the multicast packet sent from the network device NT3 is sent to the mediation device AP2. It is not sent to the mediation device AP1.

S3: Multicast reception The receiving means 12 of the mediation device AP2 receives a multicast packet. The registration control means 14 of the mediation device AP2 determines whether or not the IP address of the network device NT (own device) included in the multicast packet is registered in the management target device database 10. If it has already been registered, the following automatic registration processing is not performed and the processing ends. Here, the IP address of the network device NT3 is registered as a management target device of the mediation device AP1, but since it is not registered as a management target device of the mediation device AP2, the process proceeds to the next device registration work.

S4: Device Registration Work S4.1: IP Address Storage The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP2 extracts and stores an IP address from the multicast packet received from the network device NT.

S4.2: Device Information Acquisition Request The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP2 requests device information such as the manufacturer, model name, and serial number of the network device NT from the stored IP address.

S4.2.1: Device Information Response The communication means 21 of the network device NT notifies the device information of the network device NT in response to the request from the mediation device AP2.

S4.3: Saving Device Information The acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP2 saves device information such as a manufacturer name, model name, and serial number received from the network device NT.

S4.4: Device Registration Request The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 requests the management device 40 to request registration of the network device NT.

S4.4.1: Device Registration The determination unit 43 of the management device 40 searches the device management database 45 to determine whether the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP2 can be registered as a management target device. Thereby, the judgment means 43 of the management apparatus 40 confirms the registration status of the network device NT, and avoids registration of the network device NT that is not contracted and re-registration of the already registered network device NT.

  For example, the case where the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP2 is the network device NT3 will be specifically described. In FIG. 11A, the management target devices of the intermediary device AP1 include a network device NT1 (device ID: NT1ΔΔΔ), a network device NT2 (device ID: NT2xxx), and a network device NT3 (devices). ID: NT3 □□□) is already registered as a management target device of the mediation device AP1. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 43 of the management apparatus 40 determines that it is impossible to register the network device NT3 as a management target device of the mediation device AP2.

S4.4.2: Device Registration Response When the notification unit 42 of the management device 40 determines that registration as a management target device is impossible, it returns a device registration negative response.

S6: Device Registration Information Update The management means 44 of the management device 40 updates the IP address of the network device NT in the device management database 45. For example, when the IP address in the multicast packet sent from the network device NT3 after movement is “192.168.0.2”, the IP address of the network device NT3 is “192. 168.10.10 ”is updated to“ 192.168.0.2 ”shown in FIG.

S7: Polling In this state, the mediation device AP1 cannot recognize that the network device NT has moved to the mediation device AP2. On the other hand, in the device registration database update in S6, the latest information on the network devices is managed in the device management database 45, and information mismatch occurs.

  Therefore, when polling is issued from the intermediary device AP1 to the management device 40, the management device 40, when the device ID of the network device NT is the same and the IP address is changed, the IP of the updated network device NT. The address is returned to the mediation device AP1. Here, the IP address “192.168.0.2” of the network device NT3 is transmitted to the mediation device AP1.

S8: Update registered device information The registration control means 14 of the mediation device AP1 searches the management target device database 10 and updates the received IP address information of the network device NT. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the IP address of the network device NT3 in the management target device database 10 is updated to “192.168.0.2”.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the management flag holding table 26 holds the IP address “192.168.0.1” of the mediation device AP1. Thereby, in this embodiment, management of network apparatus NT3 is continued by mediation apparatus AP1 after a movement.

As described above, in the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the network device NT moves from one network to another network, the network device NT is connected to the intermediary device AP installed in the network before the movement. Can be notified of the destination IP address. The notification is made via the intermediary device AP and the management device 40 installed in the destination network. Thereby, the intermediary device AP installed in the network before moving can continue to manage the network device NT of the moving destination.
<Modification of Second Embodiment>
[Automatic registration processing]
An automatic registration process executed in the device management system 1 according to the modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a time chart showing an automatic registration process according to a modification of the second embodiment.

  In the automatic registration processing according to the second embodiment, the mediation device AP1 before movement is controlled so as to continue to manage the network device NT that is the movement destination. On the other hand, in the automatic registration process according to the modification of the second embodiment, control is performed such that the transfer destination intermediary device AP2 manages the transfer destination network device NT. Since S1 to S4.4 in FIG. 14 are the same processing as that in FIG. 10, the description thereof is omitted here, and the device registration from S4.4.1 will be described.

S4.4.1: Device Registration The determination unit 43 of the management device 40 searches the device management database 45 to determine whether the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP2 can be registered as a management target device.

  For example, the case where the network device NT notified from the mediation device AP2 is the network device NT3 will be specifically described. In FIG. 15A, network device NT1 (device ID: NT1ΔΔΔ), network device NT2 (device ID: NT2xxx), network device NT3 (device ID: NT3) are managed devices of the mediation device AP1. □□□) is registered. In this case, the determination unit 43 of the management device 40 determines that the management of the network device NT3 currently registered as the management target device of the mediation device AP1 can be changed and registered from the mediation device AP1 to the mediation device AP2.

S4.4.2: Device Registration Response When the notification unit 42 of the management apparatus 40 determines that change registration is possible as a device to be managed, it returns a device registration affirmative response.

S4.5: Device Registration When receiving the device registration affirmative response from the management device 40, the acquisition unit 13 of the mediation device AP2 registers the network device NT as a management target device. Accordingly, for example, in the management target device database 10 of FIG. 16 held by the intermediary device AP2, the network device NT3 (device ID: NT3 □□□; IP address “192.168.0.2”) as the management target device. Is registered.

S4.6: Device Registration Upon receiving a device registration affirmative response, the transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 transmits a device registration notification to the network device NT. At that time, the transmission means 11 notifies the network device NT of the IP address of the mediation device AP2. For example, it is assumed that the IP address “192.168.0.1” of the mediation device AP2 is notified to the moved network device NT3.

S5: Raise the management flag When the network device NT receives the device registration notification from the mediation device AP2, the network device NT determines that the own device is under the control of the mediation device AP2, sets the management flag, and stores the IP address of the mediation device AP2. To do. As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 17, the network device NT3 that has received the device registration notification stores the IP address “192.168.0.1” of the mediation device AP2 in the management flag holding table 26. The management flag is set to “1”. As a result, the network device NT3 is registered as a management target device of the mediation device AP2, and can communicate with the mediation device AP2.

S6: Device Registration Information Update The management means 44 of the management device 40 updates the IP address of the network device NT in the device management database 45. For example, as shown in FIG. 15B, the IP address of the network device NT3 is updated to “192.168.0.2”, and the mediation device that manages the network device NT3 is updated to the mediation device AP2.

S7: Polling When polling is issued from the mediation device AP1 to the management device 40, the management device 40 transmits a device registration cancellation request of the network device NT to the mediation device AP1. Here, a request for canceling the registration of the network device NT3 is transmitted to the mediation device AP1.

S8: Registration Device Cancel The registration control means 14 of the mediation device AP1 searches the management target device database 10 of the mediation device AP1 and cancels the registration of the received network device NT. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, the registration of the network device NT3 is deleted in the management target device database 10 of the mediation device AP1, and the network device NT3 is no longer a management target device of the mediation device AP1.

As described above, when the network device NT moves from one network to another network, in this embodiment, the mediation device AP installed in the destination network is registered as a management target device of the network device NT. . Also, a request for deregistration of the network device NT moved to the mediation device AP installed in the network before the movement is made via the mediation device AP and the management device 40 of the movement destination. Thereby, the management of the network device NT moved to the mediation device AP installed in the destination network can be changed.
<Third Embodiment>
[Automatic registration processing]
An automatic registration process executed in the device management system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a time chart showing the automatic registration process according to the third embodiment.

  In the automatic registration processing according to the second embodiment, when the network device NT moves from one network to another network, the destination IP address of the network device NT is set to the intermediary device AP before the movement via the management device 40. reported. In contrast, in the automatic registration process according to the third embodiment, the IP address of the destination of the network device NT is notified between the mediation devices AP without using the management device 40. The management apparatus 40 is notified of the result of the automatic registration process. Since S1 to S4.3 in FIG. 19 perform the same processing as the same step in FIG. 10, the description thereof is omitted here, and the description starts from the device management change notification in S9.

  In the case of the device management system 1 according to the third embodiment, the mediation device AP has the management target device database 10 shown in FIG. The managed device database 10 stores an intermediary device ID, a managed device ID, and an IP address of the managed device that have a relationship satisfying a predetermined security level. Intermediary devices that have a relationship that satisfies a predetermined security level can be determined to have the same customer number (for example, the same company) or a customer number that has a predetermined relationship (for example, a parent company and a subsidiary). An intermediate device. In FIG. 20A, information on the mediation devices AP1 and AP2 having the same customer number “CA” is stored in the management target device database 10. Thus, in this embodiment, automatic registration processing between mediation devices is permitted only between mediation devices having a relationship that satisfies a predetermined security level, without the management device 40 being interposed. Below, the automatic registration process of S9- is demonstrated.

S9: Notification of device management change From the management target device database 10 in FIG. 20, the mediation device AP1 and the mediation device AP2 are mediation devices having the same customer number “CA” and have a relationship satisfying a predetermined security level. It is determined that the intermediary devices have. Therefore, the transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 notifies the mediation device AP1 of a change in device management.

S9.1: Device Registration The registration control means 14 of the mediation device AP1 receives the device management change notification and updates the managed device database 10 held by the mediation device AP1. As an example of the managed device database 10 after the update, as shown in FIG. 20, the management of the network device NT3 is updated from the mediation device AP1 in FIG. 20 (a) to the mediation device AP2 in FIG. 20 (b). Yes. Further, the IP address of the network device NT3 has been updated from “192.168.10.10” in FIG. 20A to “192.168.0.2” in FIG.

S10: Notification of Device Management Change The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 notifies the management device 40 of a change in device management.

S10.1: Device Registration The management means 44 of the management device 40 updates the device management database 45 in response to the notification of device management change. As an example of the updated device management database 45, as shown in FIG. 21, the management of the network device NT3 is updated from the mediation device AP1 in FIG. 21A to the mediation device AP2 in FIG. . Further, the IP address of the network device NT3 has been updated from “192.168.10.10” in FIG. 21A to “192.168.0.2” in FIG. In consideration of security, the management target device database 10 holds only the latest information on the intermediary device AP of the customer number and the network device having a relationship satisfying a predetermined security level. However, since the management device 40 needs to manage the entire system, the device management database 45 holds the latest information on the mediation devices and network devices of all customer numbers.

S4.6: Device Registration The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 transmits a device registration notification to the network device NT. At that time, the transmission means 11 notifies the network device NT of the IP address of the mediation device AP2.

S5: Raise the management flag When the network device NT receives the device registration notification from the mediation device AP2, the network device NT determines that the own device is under the control of the mediation device AP2, sets the management flag, and stores the IP address of the mediation device AP2. To do.

As described above, according to the automatic registration process according to the third embodiment, it is possible to execute the automatic registration process of the moved network device NT between the mediation devices AP without using the management device 40.
<Modification of Third Embodiment>
[Automatic registration processing]
An automatic registration process executed in the device management system 1 according to the modification of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a time chart showing an automatic registration process according to a modification of the third embodiment.

  In the automatic registration processing according to the third embodiment, the automatic registration processing that is executed between the mediation devices when it is determined that the mediation devices have a relationship satisfying a predetermined security level has been described. In contrast, in the automatic registration process according to the modification of the third embodiment, a process when it is determined that the intermediary devices do not satisfy a predetermined security level will be described. Since S1 to S4.3 and S4.6 to S5 in FIG. 22 are the same processing as the same step in FIG. 19, the description thereof will be omitted here, and only the device management change notification in S11 and the abnormal processing in S11.1 will be described. .

S11: Device management change notification When the mediation device AP1 and the mediation device AP2 are mediation devices having different customer numbers (not shown) and are mediation devices that do not satisfy a predetermined security level, the mediation device AP2 The transmission means 11 notifies the management device 40 that the mediation device AP1 is a device that does not satisfy a predetermined security level.

S11.1: Abnormal Processing On the other hand, the management apparatus 40 processes the network device NT as abnormal because the network device NT is not managed by the intermediary device AP that does not satisfy the predetermined security level.
<Fourth embodiment>
[Automatic registration processing]
Finally, automatic registration processing executed in the device management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a time chart showing an automatic registration process according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment to the third embodiment, when the network device NT moves, the automatic registration processing of the moved network device NT is performed.

  In contrast, in the device management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment, both the network device NT and the mediation device AP perform automatic registration processing of the moved network device NT when the IP address is changed. Since S2 to S4.2.1 in FIG. 23 are the same processing as the same step in FIG. 19, the description thereof is omitted here, and only S12 to S14 will be described.

S12: Device Registration Request The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 requests the management device 40 to request registration of the network device NT.

S13: Notification of Mediation Device Information The receiving means 12 of the mediation device AP2 receives the device ID of the network device NT managed by the mediation device AP2 and the IP address of the mediation device AP2 from the management device 40 to the mediation device AP2.

S14: Notification of Mediation Device Information The transmission unit 11 of the mediation device AP2 notifies the IP address of the mediation device AP2 to the network device NT identified by the device ID of the network device NT.

  As described above, according to the device management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment, when the network device NT is moved to another network and the IP address of the mediation device AP managing the network device NT is changed. In addition, the network device NT can receive the IP address of the managed mediation device AP. As a result, the network device NT can be managed.

  As described above, according to the device management system 1 according to each of the above embodiments, the network device can be automatically registered in the mediation device AP by acquiring the IP address of the network device from the network device NT. To do.

  Each of the above embodiments does not limit the scope of the present invention, and the function of the management device 40 and the function of the intermediary device AP may be in either device. The functions of the units described in this embodiment are not necessarily provided in each device. For example, the determination unit 43 of the management device 40 may be provided in the mediation device AP instead of the management device 40. Further, the system configurations of the network device NT, the intermediary device AP, and the management device 40 are merely examples, and it goes without saying that there are various system configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  The preferred embodiments of the device management system, the mediation device, the device management method, and the program according to the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical scope of the device management system, mediation device, device management method, and program according to the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present invention can arrive at various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, Of course, these also belong to the technical scope of the device management system, mediation device, device management method and program according to the present invention. In addition, when there are a plurality of the above-described embodiments and modifications, they can be combined within a consistent range.

  Note that the network device NT, the mediation device AP, and the management device 40 according to the present invention incorporate a CPU (not shown). A program for realizing each function executed by the CPU may be stored in advance in storage means such as a ROM or HDD (not shown) provided in a computer (not shown). The program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a non-volatile recording medium (memory) such as a flexible disk, SRAM, EEPROM, or memory card. The functions of the network device NT, the intermediary device AP, and the management device 40 according to the present invention can be realized by causing the CPU to execute programs recorded in these memories. Further, the program can be downloaded from an external device connected to a network and provided with a recording medium recording the program, or an external device storing the program in a storage means.

  1: device management system, 10: managed device database, 11: transmission unit, 12: reception unit, 13: acquisition unit, 14: registration control unit, 21: communication unit, 23: system control unit, 26: management flag holding Table: 30: Internet, 40: Management device, 42: Notification means, 43: Determination means, 44: Management means, 45: Device management database, 51: First network, 52: Second network, NT1, NT2, NT3, NT: Network equipment, AP1, AP2, AP: Intermediary equipment

JP 2011-165048 A

Claims (11)

A device management system having an intermediary device that communicates with a network device via a network,
Acquisition means for acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the network device identified from the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit is registered as a management target device managed by any intermediary device;
Notification means for notifying the result of determination by the determination means,
The device management system, wherein the intermediary device determines whether to register the network device as a device to be managed based on a result of the determination notified by the notification means.   When the address information of the network device is changed from the first address information to the second address information, the first intermediary device that communicates with the network device using the first address information is In the case of continuing communication with the network device using the second address information, the notification means notifies the first intermediary device of the second address information and the identification information of the network device. The device management system according to claim 1, wherein   In the case where the address information of the network device is changed from the first address information to the second address information, the first intermediary device that communicates with the network device using the first address information. Instead, when the second mediation device communicates with the network device using the second address information, the notification means cancels the registration of the network device as a management target device. The device management system according to claim 1, wherein the device management system is requested. A device management system having first and second mediation devices that communicate with network devices via a network,
The first mediating device is:
Acquisition means for acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the network device identified from the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit is registered as a management target device managed by the first intermediary device;
A device management system comprising: a notification unit that notifies the second mediation device of a result of the determination by the determination unit.   When it is determined by the determination means that the first and second mediation devices have a relationship satisfying a predetermined security level, the notification means indicates the result of the determination by the determination means as the second The device management system according to claim 4, wherein the device management system notifies the intermediary device.   When it is determined by the determination means that the first and second intermediary devices do not have relevance satisfying a predetermined security level, the notification means indicates the result of determination by the determination means as the device management 6. The device management system according to claim 4, wherein a notification is sent to a management device that manages the system.   When the address information of the network device is changed from the first address information to the second address information, the notification unit notifies the network device of address information of an intermediary device that communicates with the network device. The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The determining means determines whether the address information of the network device acquired from the network device is registered as the address information of the management target device managed by the intermediary device;
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, as a result of the determination by the determination means, if the address information of the device to be managed is already registered, the processing is terminated. An intermediary device that communicates with a network device via a network,
Acquisition means for acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
Transmitting means for transmitting the address information of the network device acquired by the acquiring means and the identification information of the network device;
A management target device in which the network device identified from the identification information is managed by one of the intermediary devices from the management device that has received the address information of the network device and the identification information of the network device transmitted by the transmission unit Receiving means for receiving the result of the determination whether or not registered as
An intermediary device that determines whether or not to register the network device as a device to be managed based on the result of the determination received by the receiving means. A device management method for network devices that communicate via a network,
An acquisition step of acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
A determination step of determining whether or not the network device identified from the identification information acquired in the acquisition step is registered as a management target device managed by any intermediary device;
A notification step of notifying the result determined in the determination step;
A registration control step for determining whether or not to register the network device as a management target device based on the determination result notified in the notification step;
A device management method characterized by comprising: A program executed by a computer to manage network devices that communicate via a network,
An acquisition step of acquiring address information of the network device from the network device, requesting identification information for identifying the network device of the acquired address information, and acquiring identification information of the network device in response to the request; ,
A determination step of determining whether or not the network device identified from the identification information acquired in the acquisition step is registered as a management target device managed by any intermediary device;
A notification step of notifying the result determined in the determination step;
A registration control step for determining whether or not to register the network device as a management target device based on the determination result notified in the notification step;
A program for running a computer.

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