Program, information processing device, and system

The information processing apparatus automatically converts Ethernet to serial communication by acquiring and applying setting information, addressing the challenge of protocol conversion for users familiar with serial communication, ensuring seamless and efficient data transfer.

JP2025098487APending Publication Date: 2025-07-02KONICA MINOLTA INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023214638
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-20
Publication Date
2025-07-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing technologies require users to understand both Ethernet and serial communication protocols to convert from Ethernet to serial communication, which is challenging for users familiar only with serial communication.

Method used

An information processing apparatus acquires first and second setting information via broadcast Ethernet communication, automatically converting Ethernet communication to serial communication by using a virtual COM setting application and conversion driver, without requiring user knowledge of Ethernet protocols.

Benefits of technology

Enables easy conversion from Ethernet to serial communication for users without Ethernet knowledge, simplifying the process and maintaining the benefits of serial communication such as noise resistance and high-speed data transfer.

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Abstract

To provide a program, an information processing device, and a system that enable a user who has no knowledge of Ethernet communication to easily convert from Ethernet communication to serial communication.SOLUTION: A program causes an information processing device 1 connected to a terminal 2 via Ethernet communication to acquire first setting information regarding communication with the terminal 2 by broadcasting within the Ethernet communication, acquire second setting information for converting between Ethernet communication and serial communication from the information processing device 1, and output the acquired first setting information and second setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program, an information processing apparatus, and a system for causing an information processing apparatus connected to a terminal via Ethernet communication to execute processing necessary for conversion from Ethernet communication to serial communication.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a measuring instrument such as a colorimeter as a terminal has been connected to an information processing apparatus composed of a computer or the like, and measurement has been performed while communicating between the information processing apparatus and the measuring instrument.

[0003] As a communication protocol used between such an information processing apparatus and a measuring apparatus, Ethernet communication is known. Ethernet communication is superior to serial communication that is standardly used in terms of communication distance, communication speed, and noise resistance, and stable remote control is possible.

[0004] However, there are users who have a lot of experience in using serial communication among users of measuring instruments. Such users may desire to change to serial communication even if Ethernet communication is set. In addition, such users often have knowledge about serial communication but do not have knowledge about Ethernet communication.

[0005] Therefore, it is desired to enable easy conversion to serial communication even for users who do not have knowledge about Ethernet communication.

[0006] Patent Document 1 proposes a serial device server that transmits commands and data over different communication connections. Specifically, this server has a network interface and a serial interface. This server transmits and receives signals via the network interface and also transmits and receives signals via the serial interface. Further, the server has a command socket for transmitting and receiving commands among the signals transmitted and received via the network interface. Additionally, the server includes a TCP / IP section that has a data socket for transmitting and receiving data among the signals transmitted and received via the network interface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the user had to set both serial communication and Ethernet communication (TCP / IP). Also, the user had to understand both types of communication.

[0009] Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot provide a solution to the requirement that users without knowledge of Ethernet communication can easily perform the conversion from Ethernet communication to serial communication.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a program, an information processing apparatus, and a system for enabling a user without knowledge of Ethernet communication to easily perform the conversion from Ethernet communication to serial communication.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The above object is achieved by the following means. (1) A program for causing an information processing apparatus connected to a terminal by Ethernet communication to acquire first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication, acquire second setting information for converting the Ethernet communication and serial communication from the information processing apparatus, and output the acquired first setting information and the second setting information. (2) The program according to item (1) above, for causing the information processing apparatus to output the acquired first and second setting information to a network setting file. (3) The program according to item (1) or (2) above, wherein the first setting information includes an IPv6 link-local address and a port number. (4) The program according to item (1) or (2) above, wherein the second setting information includes a serial port name of the information processing apparatus and information regarding a network adapter. (5) An information processing apparatus connected to a terminal by Ethernet communication, comprising: a first acquisition means for acquiring first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication; a second acquisition means for acquiring second setting information for converting the Ethernet communication and serial communication from the own apparatus; and an output means for outputting the acquired first setting information and the second setting information. (6) The information processing apparatus according to item (5) above, wherein the output means outputs the acquired first and second setting information to a network setting file. (7) The information processing apparatus according to item (5) or (6) above, wherein the first setting information includes an IPv6 link-local address and a port number. (8) The information processing apparatus according to item (5) or (6) above, wherein the second setting information includes a serial port name of the information processing apparatus and information regarding a network adapter. (9) A terminal that performs Ethernet communication, An information processing apparatus that communicates with the terminal via the Ethernet communication and in which the program described in item 1 above is installed, Comprising The information processing apparatus includes a network setting file in which the first setting information and the second setting information are described, A system in which a conversion driver for converting Ethernet communication with the terminal into serial communication using the network setting file is installed in the information processing apparatus. (10) The program causes the information processing apparatus to install the conversion driver in the information processing apparatus in the system described in item 9 above. (11) An application program for operation for using the terminal is installed in the information processing apparatus, The information processing apparatus enables operation of the terminal using the second setting information by executing the application program for operation in the system described in item 9 above. (12) The information processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of terminals, and a serial port name is assigned to each terminal. The application program for operation causes the user to select one or a plurality of serial port names, and operates the terminal corresponding to the serial port name selected by the user in the system described in item 11 above. (13) The terminal is a measuring instrument in the system according to any one of items 9 to 12 above.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] The program according to the present invention causes an information processing apparatus connected to a terminal via Ethernet communication to obtain first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication. Further, the setting application program causes the information processing apparatus to obtain second setting information for converting Ethernet communication and serial communication from the information processing apparatus. Furthermore, the setting application program causes the information processing apparatus to output the acquired first setting information and second setting information.

[0013] That is, by executing the program, the information processing apparatus automatically acquires and outputs first setting information regarding communication with the terminal and second setting information for converting Ethernet communication and serial communication. Therefore, the user does not need to acquire or manually input the first setting information and the second setting information, and the work is simplified. For this reason, even if the user has no knowledge about Ethernet communication, the conversion to serial communication can be easily performed.

[0014] The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a terminal via Ethernet communication. The information processing apparatus obtains first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication. The information processing apparatus obtains second setting information for converting Ethernet communication and serial communication from itself. Then, the information processing apparatus outputs the acquired first setting information and second setting information. Therefore, the user does not need to acquire the first setting information and the second setting information. For this reason, even if the user does not have knowledge about Ethernet communication, the conversion to serial communication is easily performed.

[0015] The system according to the present invention includes a terminal that performs Ethernet communication, and an information processing apparatus that communicates with the terminal via the Ethernet communication and in which the above-described program is installed. Further, the information processing apparatus includes a network setting file including first setting information and second setting information. A conversion driver for converting Ethernet communication with the terminal into serial communication using the network setting file is installed in the information processing apparatus.

[0016] In this system, the conversion driver installed in the information processing apparatus uses a network setting file in which the first setting information and the second setting information are described to convert the Ethernet communication with the terminal into serial communication. That is, since the conversion of Ethernet communication to serial communication is automatically performed, user knowledge regarding Ethernet communication is unnecessary.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes an information processing apparatus 1 and a terminal 2.

[0020] The information processing apparatus 1 is a personal computer (referred to as a PC). The terminal 2 is a measuring instrument such as a light characteristic measuring apparatus including a color measuring apparatus. In the following description, the terminal 2 is also referred to as the measuring instrument 2.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a storage unit 13, a display device 14, an input device 15, a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 16, etc., and they are connected to each other via a system bus 17.

[0022] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the entire information processing apparatus 1 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 13 and the like. In particular, in this embodiment, the CPU 11 performs conversion processing from Ethernet communication to serial communication and the like regarding the communication between the information processing apparatus 1 and the measuring instrument 2, and the details will be described later.

[0023] The RAM 12 is a storage medium that provides a working area when the CPU 11 operates according to an operation program.

[0024] The storage unit 13 is a storage such as a hard disk or a solid state drive, and stores a network setting file and the like to be described later.

[0025] The display device 14 is composed of a CRT, a liquid crystal display device, etc., and displays various messages, an input reception screen for the user, a selection screen, etc.

[0026] The input device 15 is used for input operations by the user, and includes a keyboard, a mouse, etc.

[0027] The network interface unit 16 functions as a communication unit that performs Ethernet communication or serial communication with the measuring instrument 2 via an Ethernet cable or the like. Note that instead of a single measuring instrument 2, a plurality of measuring instruments may be connected to the information processing apparatus 1 via a hub.

[0028] Note that the mainstream communication standard for wired local area networks that constitute LANs and WANs is Ethernet, and communication using this is Ethernet communication. The technical specifications of Ethernet are defined by IEEE 802.3. Ethernet is a communication standard for the physical layer.

[0029] Also, serial communication is a communication in which data is sent sequentially, one bit at a time, over a transmission line in telecommunications. Serial communication communicates according to a communication standard such as RS-232C. The serial communication standard is a communication standard for the physical layer.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the functions and procedures when a PC, which is the information processing apparatus 1, acquires information necessary for converting Ethernet communication into serial communication.

[0031] A virtual command setting application program 101 is installed in the information processing apparatus 1. In the following description, the application program is simply referred to as an app, and the virtual command setting application program is also referred to as a virtual COM setting app.

[0032] The virtual COM setting app 101 installed is suitable for the type of OS (Operating System).

[0033] Also, a conversion driver 102 and a measurement app 103 for users are installed in the information processing apparatus 1.

[0034] The virtual COM setting application 101 is an application that acquires first setting information regarding communication with the measuring instrument 2 and second setting information for converting Ethernet communication and serial communication. The first setting information includes an IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) link-local address, a port number, and further a measuring instrument ID, etc., and is acquired from the measuring instrument 2. When a plurality of measuring instruments 2 are connected, it is acquired from each measuring instrument 2.

[0035] IPv6 is a communication protocol positioned at the network layer in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model. Also, the link-local address is a network address that is valid only for communication within the network segment (link) or broadcast domain to which the host is connected. This address is automatically generated based on a certain rule from the MAC (Media Access Control) address in IPv6. By utilizing this specification, the user can complete the network setting without manually setting the IP address.

[0036] The second setting information includes the serial port name (COM port name) of the information processing apparatus 1 and information regarding the network adapter (NIC). The second setting information is held by the information processing apparatus 1 itself, and the virtual COM setting application 101 acquires the second setting information from the information processing apparatus 1. Since the second setting information is automatically acquired by the virtual COM setting application 101, the user can communicate without being conscious of Ethernet communication by selecting the serial port name.

[0037] The virtual COM setting application 101 outputs and describes the acquired first setting information and second setting information to the network setting file 104. In this embodiment, the first setting information and the second setting information are described in the data format of json (JavaScript Object Notation). The network setting file 104 is created and stored in the storage unit 13 or the like.

[0038] The conversion driver 102 is software that uses the first setting information and the second setting information stored in the network setting file 104 to convert communication with the measuring instrument 2 from Ethernet communication to Serial communication.

[0039] Here, Ethernet communication is communication using Ethernet. Ethernet is the mainstream communication standard for wired local area networks that make up LANs and WANs. The technical specifications of Ethernet are defined by IEEE 802.3. Ethernet is a communication standard for the physical layer.

[0040] Serial communication is communication in telecommunications where data is sent sequentially, one bit at a time, over the transmission line. For example, communication is performed according to a communication standard such as RS-232C. This communication standard is a communication standard for the physical layer.

[0041] Physically, the conversion driver 102 enables the PC and the terminal 2 to communicate via Ethernet communication, converts the data into the Serial communication format within the driver, and provides a COM / IF to the upper-level application. In the following description, the conversion driver is also referred to as a virtual COM port driver or a virtual COM driver.

[0042] Note that COM / IF stands for Component Object Model / Interface. In the Windows OS, software can control RS-232C communication according to COM / IF.

[0043] The virtual COM port driver 102 is provided in the same file as the virtual COM setting application 101. When the virtual COM setting application 101 is installed, the virtual COM port driver 102 is also installed simultaneously. Note that the virtual COM port driver 102 is installed only once, but instances are created for the number of measuring instruments 2 connected to the information processing device 1.

[0044] The measurement app 103 for users is an operation app for users to use the measuring instrument 2. In the following description, the measurement app for users is also simply referred to as the measurement app. This measurement app 103 is provided in the same file as the virtual COM setting app 101, and when the virtual COM setting app 101 is installed, the measurement app 103 is also installed at the same time. By using this measurement app 103, users can easily operate the measuring instrument 2.

[0045] The acquisition of the first setting information from the measuring instrument 2 by the virtual COM setting app 101 is performed via the socket interface (SocketIF) 105 and the TCP / IP protocol layer 106.

[0046] TCP / IP is a group of communication standards for data communication. It is also called the Internet Protocol Suite. It is positioned in the upper layer with respect to the physical layer.

[0047] The TCP / IP protocol layer 106 is connected to the firmware (FW) of one or more measuring instruments 2 via the Ethernet cable 31, the PoE hub 32 having a PoE injector, and the Ethernet cable 33. In the example of FIG. 2, it is connected to three measuring instruments 2.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation in which the information processing apparatus 1 acquires the first setting information from the measuring instrument 2 and outputs the acquired first setting information to the network setting file 104.

[0049] The virtual COM setting application 101 selects a network adapter (NIC) (S01 in FIG. 3). When the search button is pressed by the user (S02), search commands are simultaneously transmitted from the virtual COM setting application 101 by UDP (User Datagram Protocol) broadcast (S03). Since UDP is a connectionless protocol, packets can be transmitted even if the destination IP address (link-local address) is unknown. The search commands include commands for acquiring the first setting information held by each measuring device 2. In the example of FIG. 3, two measuring devices 2, namely measuring device A and measuring device B, are connected by Ethernet.

[0050] Measuring device A and measuring device B that have received the search commands from the virtual COM setting application 101 transmit search response commands by UDP broadcast (S04, S05). The search response commands include the first setting information possessed by each measuring device 2.

[0051] The virtual COM setting application 101 that has received the search response commands from measuring device A and measuring device B by UDP broadcast detects the physically connected measuring devices A and B. When the save button is pressed (S06), instances of the virtual COM port driver 102 for each measuring device that has received the first setting information are created (S07). Also, second setting information such as the serial port name is acquired from the own device. However, the timing of acquiring the second setting information is not limited.

[0052] The acquired first setting information and second setting information are output and described in the network setting file 104, and the network setting file 104 is updated (S08).

[0053] When the application end button is pressed (S09), the virtual COM setting application 101 ends the process.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the network configuration file 104. This network configuration file 104 is a file for one measuring instrument. The network configuration file 104 describes information such as the IPv6 link-local address (ipv6address), which is the first setting information, the port number (portNo), the serial port name (portName), which is the second setting information, and the network adapter (adapterName).

[0055] When there are multiple measuring instruments 2, the setting information excluding the information of the network adapter (adapterName) is repeatedly described for multiple units.

[0056] The virtual COM port driver 102 reads this network configuration file 104 and determines the Ethernet communication destination.

[0057] In this way, since the virtual COM setting application 101 outputs the first and second setting information to the network configuration file 104, other applications such as the conversion application 102 and the operation application 103 can use the network configuration file 104. Therefore, cooperation between applications becomes possible.

[0058] Next, the sequence when the user operates the measuring instrument 2 using the measurement application 103 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0059] When the user starts the measurement application 103 (S21 in FIG. 5), the measurement application 103 reads the network configuration file 104 from the storage unit 13 (S22). The measurement application 103 acquires the COM number (for example, number 10) from the number of the measuring instrument A (for example, number 1) in the read network configuration file 104 (S23).

[0060] Next, the measurement application 103 requests the virtual COM driver_10, which is an instance for measuring instrument A of the virtual COM port driver 102, to open (Open) COM10 (S24). The virtual COM driver_10 that receives this request reads the network configuration file 104 (S25). Then, the virtual COM driver_10 refers to the network configuration file 104 to obtain the link-local address corresponding to COM number 10 (S26).

[0061] The virtual COM driver_10 performs TCP connection processing with the measuring instrument A connected via Ethernet (S27). The TCP connection processing is performed by sending and receiving necessary information through a request for establishing a TCP connection to the measuring instrument A and a response from the measuring instrument A.

[0062] When the measurement application 103 receives a response from the virtual COM driver_10 indicating that COM10 has been released (S28), it executes the same processing for the measuring instrument B as that performed for the measuring instrument A.

[0063] That is, the measurement application 103 obtains the COM number (for example, number 11) from the number of the measuring instrument B (for example, number 2) in the network configuration file 104 (S31).

[0064] Next, the measurement application 103 requests the virtual COM driver_11, which is an instance for measuring instrument B of the virtual COM port driver 102, to open COM11 (S32). The virtual COM driver_11 that receives this request reads the network configuration file 104 (S33). Then, the virtual COM driver_11 refers to the network configuration file 104 to obtain the link-local address corresponding to COM number 11 (S34).

[0065] The virtual COM driver_11 performs TCP connection processing with the measuring instrument B connected via Ethernet (S35). The TCP connection processing is performed by sending and receiving necessary information through a request for establishing a TCP connection to the measuring instrument A and a response from the measuring instrument A.

[0066] When the measurement application 103 receives a response indicating that it has released COM11 from the virtual COM driver_11 (S36), it updates the measuring instrument connection list (S37).

[0067] Next, the case of performing single-unit measurement using one measuring instrument (for example, measuring instrument A) will be described.

[0068] The user presses the measurement button of the measuring instrument A (ID: 1) on the screen of the operation application 103 (S41 in FIG. 6). This operation is the same as the operation in which the user selects the serial port name of one measuring instrument A. Then, the measurement application 103 acquires the COM number 10 based on the measuring instrument ID (S42).

[0069] When the measurement application 103 writes the measurement command to the virtual COM driver_10 (S43), the virtual COM driver_10 transmits the measurement command to the measuring instrument A via TCP (S44). The measuring instrument A responds with the estimated measurement time via TCP to the measurement command (S45).

[0070] The measurement application 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument A from the virtual COM driver_10 (S46) and acquires the estimated measurement time (S47). The measurement application 103 repeats the reading from and response acquisition from the virtual COM driver_10 until a measurement result is obtained (S48). If the measurement of the measuring instrument A is not completed, it responds with an error.

[0071] When the measurement is completed, the operation application 103 writes the measurement result acquisition command to the virtual COM driver_10 (S49). The virtual COM driver_10 transmits the measurement result acquisition command to the measuring instrument A (S50), and the measuring instrument A transmits the measurement result to the virtual COM driver_10 via TCP (S51).

[0072] The operation application 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument A from the virtual COM driver_10 (S52) and acquires the measurement result (S53).

[0073] Next, a case of performing multi-point measurement using a plurality of measuring instruments (for example, measuring instrument A and measuring instrument B) will be described.

[0074] The user presses the multi-point measurement button on the screen of the operation app 103 (S61 in FIG. 7). This operation is the same as the operation for the user to select the serial port names of all the measuring instruments A and B. Then, the measurement app 103 acquires the COM numbers for all the measuring instruments A and B (S62).

[0075] When the measurement app 103 writes the measurement command to the virtual COM driver_10 (S63), the virtual COM driver_10 transmits the measurement command to the measuring instrument A via TCP (S64). The measuring instrument A responds with the estimated measurement time to the measurement command via TCP (S65).

[0076] Next, when the measurement app 103 writes the measurement command to the virtual COM driver_11 (S66), the virtual COM driver_11 transmits the measurement command to the measuring instrument B via TCP (S67). The measuring instrument B responds with the estimated measurement time to the measurement command via TCP (S68).

[0077] The measurement app 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument A from the virtual COM driver_10 (S69) and acquires the estimated measurement time (S70). Similarly, the measurement app 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument B from the virtual COM driver_11 (S71) and acquires the estimated measurement time (S72).

[0078] The measurement app 103 repeats the reading from and response acquisition from the virtual COM driver_10 until the measurement result is obtained (S73). If the measurement is not completed, the measuring instrument A responds with an error.

[0079] When the measurement is completed, the operation app 103 writes a measurement result acquisition command to the virtual COM driver_10 (S74). The virtual COM driver_10 sends the measurement result acquisition command to the measuring instrument A (S75), and the measuring instrument A sends the measurement result to the virtual COM driver_10 via TCP (S76). The operation app 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument A from the virtual COM driver_10 and acquires the measurement result (S77).

[0080] The measurement app 103 also repeats reading and response acquisition from the virtual COM driver_11 until a measurement result is obtained (S78). If the measurement of the measuring instrument B is not completed, an error is responded.

[0081] When the measurement is completed, the operation app 103 writes a measurement result acquisition command to the virtual COM driver_11 (S79). The virtual COM driver_11 sends the measurement result acquisition command to the measuring instrument B (S80), and the measuring instrument B sends the measurement result to the virtual COM driver_11 via TCP (S81). The operation app 103 reads the response from the measuring instrument B from the virtual COM driver_11 and acquires the measurement result (S82).

[0082] When ending the operation app 103, the user presses the app end button (S83). Then, the operation app 103 requests the virtual COM driver_10 to close (S84), and the virtual COM driver_10 disconnects the connection with the measuring instrument A (S85).

[0083] Similarly, the operation app 103 requests the virtual COM driver_11 to close (S86), and the virtual COM driver_11 disconnects the connection with the measuring instrument B (S87).

[0084] As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 automatically converts Ethernet communication into serial communication, and data communication by serial communication is performed between the information processing apparatus 1 and the measuring instrument (terminal) 2. Therefore, it becomes easy to realize serial communication for users who are accustomed to serial communication and do not have knowledge about Ethernet communication. Further, by using the serial communication interface, the operation application 103 can obtain the benefits of Ethernet communication such as noise resistance, high-speed communication, and long-distance communication.

[0085] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, an example in which the conversion driver 102 and the operation application 103 are installed has been shown. However, only one of the conversion driver 102 and the operation application 103 may be installed, or neither of them may be installed. However, installing the conversion driver 102 has the advantage that conversion to serial communication is automatically performed. Also, installing the operation application 103 makes the measurement operation easier for the user.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0086] 1 Information processing apparatus 2 Terminal (measuring instrument) 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 Storage unit 14 Display device 15 Input device 16 Communication interface unit 31, 33 Ethernet cable 32 PoE hub 101 Virtual COM setting application program 102 Conversion driver 103 Measurement application for users 104 Network setting file 105 Socket interface 106 TCP / IP protocol layer

Claims

1. In an information processing apparatus connected to a terminal via Ethernet communication, obtain first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication; obtain second setting information for converting the Ethernet communication and serial communication from the information processing apparatus; output the obtained first setting information and the second setting information; A program for causing the above to be executed.

2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is caused to output the obtained first and second setting information to a network setting file.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first setting information includes an IPv6 link-local address and a port number.

4. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second setting information includes a serial port name of the information processing apparatus and information regarding a network adapter.

5. An information processing apparatus connected to a terminal via Ethernet communication, a first acquisition means for obtaining first setting information regarding communication with the terminal by broadcast within the Ethernet communication; a second acquisition means for obtaining second setting information for converting the Ethernet communication and serial communication from the own apparatus; an output means for outputting the obtained first setting information and the second setting information; An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output means outputs the obtained first and second setting information to a network setting file.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first setting information includes an IPv6 link-local address and a port number.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second setting information includes a serial port name of the information processing apparatus and information regarding a network adapter.

9. A terminal that performs Ethernet communication, an information processing apparatus that communicates with the terminal via the Ethernet communication and in which the program according to claim 1 is installed, Comprising The information processing apparatus includes a network setting file in which the first setting information and the second setting information are described, In the information processing apparatus, a conversion driver for converting Ethernet communication with the terminal to serial communication using the network setting file is installed.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the program causes the information processing apparatus to install the conversion driver in the information processing apparatus.

11. An application program for operation for using the terminal is installed in the information processing apparatus, The system according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus enables operation of the terminal by using the second setting information by executing the application program for operation.

12. The information processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of terminals, each terminal is assigned a serial port name, and the application program for operation causes the user to select any one or a plurality of serial port names and operates the terminal corresponding to the serial port name selected by the user. The system according to claim 11.

13. The system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the terminal is a measuring instrument.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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