Information processing device, management method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, a management method and a program which update authentication information set in each of devices as management objects, even when new authentication information, that is the authentication information after update cannot be set, in the device as the management object, for some reason.SOLUTION: An information processing device 100 which manages an image forming device 200, in a management system 1 comprises: a storage unit which stores first authentication information for accessing the image forming device 200, and second authentication information which is information in which first authentication information has been updated; and an acquisition unit which accesses the image forming device, and acquires device information on the image forming device. The acquisition unit, when acquisition of the device information on the image forming device based on access using the second authentication information fails, acquires the device information on the image forming device, by using the first authentication information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is known as a standard protocol for managing devices in a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) network environment. Using SNMP, for example, a management device can obtain device information about managed devices. With SNMP, to collect device information about managed devices, the management device must use authentication information set in the managed devices. Generally, updating authentication information required to access devices is important for more secure system operation. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for periodically updating authentication information for using printers connected to a network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-288189 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is preferable that the authentication information set in each managed device so that the management device can manage the managed devices is also updated periodically or irregularly. When new authentication information is set in a managed device, the management device can access the managed device using this new authentication information. However, for some reason, the new authentication information, i.e., the updated authentication information, may not be set in the managed device. In this case, the management device may not be able to access the managed device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device disclosed herein is an information processing device that manages an image forming device, and includes a memory unit that stores first authentication information for accessing the image forming device and second authentication information that is information that updates the first authentication information, and an acquisition unit that accesses the image forming device and acquires device information of the image forming device, and if the acquisition unit fails to acquire the device information of the image forming device by accessing using the second authentication information, the acquisition unit acquires the device information of the image forming device using the first authentication information.

[0006] In addition, the management method disclosed herein is a management method for managing an image forming device, which stores first authentication information for accessing the image forming device and second authentication information, which is information obtained by updating the first authentication information, in a storage unit in advance, and if an attempt to obtain device information of the image forming device using the second authentication information fails, the management method obtains device information of the image forming device using the first authentication information.

[0007] In addition, the program disclosed herein causes a computer of an information processing device that manages an image forming device to execute a storage processing step of storing first authentication information for accessing the image forming device and second authentication information, which is information that updates the first authentication information, in a storage unit, and an acquisition step of accessing the image forming device and acquiring device information of the image forming device, wherein in the acquisition step, if acquisition of the device information of the image forming device by accessing using the second authentication information fails, the device information of the image forming device is acquired using the first authentication information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a management system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a setting DB. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a history information DB. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information displayed on a UI device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow relating to acquisition of device information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In addition, the same elements in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations have been omitted as necessary.

[0010] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a management system 1 according to an embodiment. The management system 1 includes an information processing device 100 as a management device that manages image forming devices 200, and the image forming devices 200 that are managed by the information processing device 100. The information processing device 100 and the image forming devices 200 are connected to a network N such as the Internet.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 200 is, for example, a device having a printing function, i.e., a printer. Note that the image forming apparatus 200 does not necessarily have to have a printing function. The image forming apparatus 200 may have one or more other functions instead of or in addition to the printing function. For example, the image forming apparatus 200 may have a scanner function. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , three image forming apparatuses 200 are illustrated as image forming apparatuses managed by the information processing apparatus 100, but the number of image forming apparatuses 200 managed by the information processing apparatus 100 is not limited to three and can be any number. The image forming apparatuses 200 managed by the information processing apparatus 100 may be image forming apparatuses of the same model or different models.

[0012] As described above, the information processing device 100 is a device for managing the image forming device 200. The information processing device 100 may also be referred to as a management device. The information processing device 100 manages the image forming device 200 by acquiring device information of the image forming device 200 using SNMP. Here, the device information is information indicating the status of the image forming device 200. The device information may be, for example, a status indicating the status of the printing function of the image forming device 200. Specifically, the device information may be information indicating the remaining amount of consumables used for printing (e.g., ink), or information indicating an error that has occurred in the image forming device 200 (e.g., a paper jam). These are merely examples of device information, and any device information may be acquired.

[0013] To achieve communication according to SNMP, the information processing device 100 and the image forming device 200 need to use the same authentication information. More specifically, the information processing device 100 needs to access the image forming device 200 using the same authentication information as the authentication information set in the image forming device 200. Here, the authentication information is information used in the authentication process performed by the image forming device 200 to confirm whether the process of obtaining device information of the image forming device 200 by the information processing device 100 is a process performed by a device with legitimate authority. The authentication information can also be said to be information necessary for the information processing device 100 to access the image forming device 200. Only when the information processing device 100 accesses the image forming device 200 using the same authentication information as the authentication information set in the image forming device 200, the image forming device 200 determines that the process is performed by a device with legitimate authority and transmits the device information to the information processing device 100.

[0014] In the present embodiment, as an example, the information processing device 100 and the image forming device 200 use SNMP version v3. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the authentication information includes the following information in accordance with the specifications of SNMP version v3. That is, in the present embodiment, the authentication information includes information specifying a user name, information specifying an authentication algorithm, information indicating an authentication password, information specifying an encryption algorithm, information indicating an encryption password, and a context name. Note that other versions of SNMP may be used. For example, in SNMP version v1 or version v2c, when the information processing device 100 accesses the image forming device 200, it is necessary to transmit the SNMP community name set in the image forming device 200 to the image forming device 200. Access to the image forming device 200 is successful only when the information processing device 100 uses the appropriate SNMP community name. Therefore, in version v1 or version v2c, the SNMP community name required for access can be considered a type of authentication information.

[0015] In order to operate the management system 1 securely, the authentication information set in the image forming apparatus 200 is updated periodically or irregularly by an administrator. However, in this embodiment, in order to facilitate the management of the authentication information set in each image forming apparatus 200 and the updating of the authentication information, authentication information is set in each image forming apparatus 200 so that all image forming apparatuses 200 included in the management system 1 use the same authentication information. Therefore, when the authentication information is updated, authentication information common to all image forming apparatuses 200 is set in each image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 can be said to be a device that acquires device information of each image forming apparatus 200 by accessing each image forming apparatus 200 using authentication information set common to the multiple image forming apparatuses 200.

[0016] As described above, in this embodiment, the management system 1 is a system having the following characteristics. Each of the multiple image forming devices 200 is operated so that common authentication information conforming to SNMPv3 is set. The information processing device 100 holds this common authentication information, uses this common authentication information to access each image forming device 200, and acquires device information from each image forming device 200.

[0017] A system having the above-described characteristics has the following problem. When updating the common authentication information (first authentication information) set in each image forming device 200 to new common authentication information (second authentication information), the new authentication information may not be set in some image forming devices 200. That is, the new authentication information, the second authentication information, may not be reflected in some image forming devices 200, and the first authentication information may continue to be used. In such a case, if an apparatus used as a management apparatus changes the authentication information used to acquire device information from an image forming device 200 from the first authentication information to the second authentication information, it will no longer be able to acquire device information from the image forming device 200 that still has the first authentication information set. Therefore, this embodiment describes an information processing apparatus 100 having characteristics to solve this problem. Note that, for example, the following situation may occur in which the authentication information set in the image forming device 200 is not updated. If the image forming device 200 is powered off when new authentication information is set, the updated authentication information will not be set in the image forming device 200. Furthermore, if an error such as packet loss occurs during communication for setting new authentication information, the authentication information fails to be updated in the image forming device 200. Furthermore, if there are a large number of image forming devices 200, the authentication information update work in each image forming device 200 must be performed over multiple dates, and as a result, old authentication information continues to be used in image forming devices 200 for which the update work has not yet been completed.

[0018] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing device 100 includes a setting unit 110, a storage unit 120, a storage processing unit 130, an acquisition unit 140, and a UI processing unit 150.

[0019] The setting unit 110 sets authentication information common to all image forming apparatuses 200 included in the management system 1 in each of the image forming apparatuses 200. That is, the setting unit 110 sets new authentication information in the image forming apparatus 200 or updates the authentication information set in the image forming apparatus 200. The setting unit 110 sets new authentication information designated by the user via, for example, a UI device 161 (described later) in the image forming apparatus 200. Note that the setting unit 110 sets the updated authentication information by accessing the image forming apparatus 200 using the authentication information currently set in the image forming apparatus 200. As described above, this authentication information update may not be successful at the same time in all image forming apparatuses 200.

[0020] The storage unit 120 is a storage area that stores information used by the information processing device 100 to acquire device information from the image forming device 200. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 120 includes a setting DB (database) 121 and a history information DB (database) 122.

[0021] The setting DB 121 is an area in which the setting unit 110 stores authentication information that is set in each image forming apparatus 200 as authentication information common to all image forming apparatuses 200. Every time the setting unit 110 sets new authentication information in an image forming apparatus 200, the new authentication information is added to the setting DB 121. Therefore, the setting DB 121 stores not only the latest authentication information but also past authentication information. The setting DB 121 is a specific example of a storage unit that stores first authentication information for accessing the image forming apparatus 200 and second authentication information, which is information obtained by updating the first authentication information.

[0022] The history information DB 122 is an area where information indicating authentication information used to acquire device information of the image forming device 200 is stored in association with the identification information of the image forming device 200. That is, the history information DB 122 is an area where information indicating authentication information used to successfully acquire device information of the image forming device 200 is stored in association with the identification information of the image forming device 200. More specifically, the history information DB 122 stores only information indicating authentication information used by the acquisition unit 140 when the device information of the image forming device 200 was most recently successfully acquired in association with the identification information of the image forming device 200. Therefore, the history information DB 122 stores one or less pieces of information indicating authentication information in association with the identification information of one image forming device 200. Note that the information indicating authentication information may be information for identifying one piece of authentication information from various pieces of authentication information, and may be, for example, identification information that identifies the authentication information or the authentication information itself.

[0023] The storage processing unit 130 performs a process of storing information in the storage unit 120. In the present embodiment, the storage processing unit 130 adds new authentication information to the setting DB 121 every time the setting unit 110 sets new authentication information in the image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, the setting DB 121 stores the updated authentication information every time authentication information is updated. In other words, the setting DB 121 stores the newly introduced authentication information as updated authentication information every time new authentication information is introduced into the management system 1. In the present embodiment, the storage processing unit 130 stores the authentication information together with information indicating a priority in the setting DB 121. The priority indicates which authentication information stored in the setting DB 121 should be used preferentially when using the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121. In the present embodiment, the priority is specifically determined according to the order in which the authentication information was updated. More specifically, a priority is set for each piece of authentication information so that the newer the authentication information, the higher the priority, i.e., the more preferentially it is used.

[0024] In the present embodiment, information indicating priority is automatically assigned to the authentication information stored in setting DB 121 by processing of storage processing unit 130, but the information indicating priority may be set by an administrator who uses information processing device 100 for each piece of authentication information stored in setting DB 121. Also, in the present embodiment, each time setting unit 110 sets new authentication information in image forming device 200, storage processing unit 130 automatically adds this new authentication information to setting DB 121, but authentication information may also be stored in setting DB 121 by an operation of the administrator.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in setting DB 121. In the example shown in Fig. 3, setting DB 121 stores N different pieces of authentication information. As shown in Fig. 3, a priority order is set for each piece of authentication information. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the authentication information at the top of the table has a higher priority order, which means that the authentication information at the top of the table is newer.

[0026] Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 140 acquires device information of the image forming device 200, the storage processing unit 130 associates the identification information of the image forming device 200 with information indicating the authentication information used to acquire the device information, and stores the associated information in the history information DB 122 as history information. That is, when the acquisition unit 140 successfully acquires the device information, the storage processing unit 130 associates the identification information of the image forming device 200 with information indicating the authentication information used to access the device information when it was acquired, and stores the associated information in the history information DB 122. In particular, when the acquisition unit 140 acquires the device information of the image forming device 200 using authentication information different from the authentication information identified based on the history information stored in the history information DB 122, the storage processing unit 130 updates the history information with information indicating the authentication information used to acquire the device information. This will be described in more detail. In the present disclosure, among the multiple image forming apparatuses 200 managed by the information processing device 100, one image forming apparatus 200 from which the acquisition unit 140 attempts to acquire device information is referred to as a target apparatus. For example, assume that the identification information of the image forming apparatus 200, which is the target apparatus, and information indicating authentication information B are stored in association with each other in the history information DB 122. In this case, if the acquisition unit 140 successfully acquires the device information of the target apparatus using authentication information A that is different from authentication information B, the storage processing unit 130 changes the information associated with the identification information of the target apparatus from information indicating authentication information B to information indicating authentication information A. In other words, the storage processing unit 130 updates the information indicating the history information associated with the identification information of the target apparatus. As a result, the next time device information is acquired from the target apparatus, the device information can be acquired efficiently using the history information.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in history information DB 122. As shown in Fig. 4, in history information DB 122, identification information of image forming apparatus 200 managed by information processing apparatus 100 and information indicating authentication information are stored in association with each other as history information. Note that only when acquisition unit 140 has succeeded in acquiring device information of image forming apparatus 200, history information about that image forming apparatus 200 is stored in history information DB 122. Therefore, for image forming apparatuses 200 for which there is no record of successful acquisition of device information, there is no history information in history information DB 122.

[0028] The acquiring unit 140 accesses the image forming apparatus 200 to acquire the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus 200. In this embodiment, particularly, the acquiring unit 140 accesses each of the multiple image forming apparatuses 200 to acquire the apparatus information of each image forming apparatus 200. At this time, the acquiring unit 140 accesses the image forming apparatus 200 using authentication information. If the authentication information used by the image forming apparatus 200 matches the authentication information set in the image forming apparatus 200 being accessed, the acquiring unit 140 succeeds in acquiring the apparatus information from the image forming apparatus 200. However, if the authentication information used by the image forming apparatus 200 differs from the authentication information set in the image forming apparatus 200 being accessed, the acquiring unit 140 fails to acquire the apparatus information from the image forming apparatus 200. For example, suppose that the authentication information has not been updated in some of the image forming apparatuses 200 managed by the information processing apparatus 100, and the acquiring unit 140 accesses each image forming apparatus 200 using updated authentication information (second authentication information). In this case, the acquiring unit 140 succeeds in acquiring device information from the image forming device 200 for which the updated authentication information (second authentication information) is set, but fails to acquire device information from the image forming device 200 for which the pre-update authentication information (first authentication information) is still set. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the acquiring unit 140 fails to acquire device information of the image forming device 200 by accessing using the updated authentication information (second authentication information), the acquiring unit 140 acquires device information of the image forming device 200 using the pre-update authentication information (first authentication information). In other words, the acquiring unit 140 attempts to acquire device information of the image forming device 200 using the second authentication information, and then attempts to acquire device information using the first authentication information for the image forming device 200 for which the acquiring unit 140 failed to acquire device information using the second authentication information. This makes it possible to acquire device information from each image forming device 200 even if the authentication information has not been updated for some of the image forming devices 200 among all the image forming devices 200 managed by the information processing device 100. In this embodiment, the above-described acquisition process of the acquisition unit 140 is performed when history information about the target device (i.e., one image forming device 200 from which an attempt is made to acquire device information) does not exist in the history information DB 122.

[0029] If the history information of the target device exists in the history information DB 122, the acquisition unit 140 first attempts to acquire the device information of the target device using authentication information identified based on this history information from among the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121. In other words, when acquiring new device information of the image forming device 200, the acquisition unit 140 identifies the authentication information to be used to access the image forming device 200 based on the history information stored in the history information DB 122. This gives priority to authentication information that has a track record of successfully acquiring device information, thereby reducing the occurrence of failures in acquiring device information. In other words, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of unnecessary communication.

[0030] Furthermore, if the acquisition of device information for a target device using authentication information identified based on history information fails, the acquisition unit 140 acquires the device information for the target device using authentication information selected according to a predetermined priority from among the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121. More specifically, in this case, the acquisition unit 140 attempts to acquire the device information for the target device using the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121 in order of priority, starting with the authentication information with the highest priority. This allows the acquisition unit 140 to find and use authentication information newly set for the target device. Therefore, even if the acquisition of device information using authentication information identified based on history information fails, the acquisition unit 140 can acquire the device information.

[0031] The UI processing unit 150 performs processing related to the user interface. For example, the UI processing unit 150 performs processing to accept instructions or information input by a user (e.g., an administrator) via a UI device 161 (described later). The UI processing unit 150 also performs processing to output information using the UI device 161 (described later). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information displayed on the UI device 161 by processing by the UI processing unit 150. The UI processing unit 150 performs processing to display a list of device information for each image forming device 200, which is a device to be managed by the information processing device 100. That is, the UI processing unit 150 displays the device information for each image forming device 200 acquired by the acquisition unit 140 on the UI device 161. As shown in FIG. 5, the UI device 161 may display a priority set for the authentication information used to acquire the device information in association with the identification information of each image forming device 200 so that the administrator can understand the authentication information used to acquire the device information. The UI processing unit 150 may also display any other information in association with the identification information of the image forming device 200. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the UI processing unit 150 may display the date and time when the device information was acquired. Furthermore, when there is an image forming device 200 for which device information cannot be acquired, the UI processing unit 150 may display information indicating an error in acquiring the device information instead of displaying the device information of the image forming device 200.

[0032] Furthermore, the UI processing unit 150 is not limited to displaying device information, and can display any information on the UI device 161. For example, the UI processing unit 150 may display on the UI device 161 a UI screen that allows the user to set a priority for each piece of authentication information stored in the setting DB 121.

[0033] Next, a description will be given of an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 100. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device 100. As shown in Fig. 6, the information processing device 100 has a UI device 161, a network interface 162, a memory 163, and a processor 164.

[0034] The UI device 161 is a device that functions as a user interface. Specifically, the UI device 161 is configured with a display that displays various information and an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device that accepts input operations from the user. The UI device may be configured as a touch panel in which the display and the input device are integrated.

[0035] The network interface 162 is used for communication over the network N. The network interface 162 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC).

[0036] The memory 163 is configured, for example, by a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The memory 163 is used to store programs executed by the processor 164. The storage unit 120 described above may be realized by a storage device such as the memory 163. The memory 163 may include multiple memories.

[0037] The processor 164 reads and executes a program from the memory 163. As a result, the processor 164 realizes the functions of the setting unit 110, the storage processing unit 130, the acquisition unit 140, and the UI processing unit 150 described above. The processor 164 may be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), or a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 164 may include multiple processors. In this way, the information processing device 100 has a configuration as a computer.

[0038] The program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0039] Next, the flow of processing by the information processing device 100 to acquire device information will be described. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the information processing device 100 to acquire device information. The flow of processing will be described below with reference to Fig. 7.

[0040] In step S100, the acquisition unit 140 determines whether history information about the target device exists in the history information DB 122. If history information about the target device does not exist in the history information DB 122, the process proceeds to step S101. For example, if this is the first time that device information about this target device has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S101. On the other hand, if history information about the target device exists in the history information DB 122, the process proceeds to step S107. For example, if there is a history of successful acquisition of device information about this target device, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0041] In step S101, the acquisition unit 140 performs an acquisition process to acquire device information of the target device using the authentication information with the highest priority among the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121. That is, the acquisition unit 140 attempts to acquire device information from the target device by accessing the target device using the authentication information with the highest priority. If the acquisition of the device information of the target device is successful in this acquisition process (YES in step S102), the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the acquisition of the device information of the target device fails (NO in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103.

[0042] In step S103, the acquisition unit 140 determines whether or not authentication information with the next highest priority exists in the setting DB 121. If authentication information with the next highest priority does not exist in the setting DB 121 (NO in step S103), that is, if the device information acquisition process has been attempted for all authentication information stored in the setting DB 121, the process ends. On the other hand, if authentication information with the next highest priority exists in the setting DB 121, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0043] In step S104, the acquiring unit 140 performs an acquisition process to acquire device information of the target device using the authentication information with the next highest priority among the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121. That is, the acquiring unit 140 attempts to acquire device information from the target device by accessing the target device using the authentication information determined in step S103 to exist in the setting DB 121. If the acquisition of the device information of the target device is successful in this acquisition process (YES in step S105), the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the acquisition of the device information of the target device fails (NO in step S105), the process returns to step S103, and the above-mentioned process is repeated.

[0044] If the acquisition of the device information of the target device is successful, in step S106, the storage processing unit 130 stores the history information in the history information DB 122. That is, the storage processing unit 130 associates the identification information of the target device with information indicating the authentication information for which the device information was successfully acquired, and stores the associated information in the history information DB 122. Note that if history information about the target device already exists in the history information DB 122, the storage processing unit 130 updates the history information stored in the history information DB 122. For example, if the process proceeds to this step after it is determined in step S100 that history information about the target device exists in the history information DB 122, the history information is updated.

[0045] If it is determined in step S100 that history information about the target device exists in the history information DB 122, the acquisition unit 140 performs an acquisition process to acquire the device information of the target device using authentication information identified from the history information of the target device stored in the history information DB 122. That is, when the process proceeds to step S107, the acquisition unit 140 attempts to acquire the device information from the target device by accessing the target device using the authentication information identified from the history information. If the acquisition of the device information of the target device is successful in this acquisition process (YES in step S108), the process proceeds to the above-mentioned step S106. That is, the history information in the history information DB 122 for this target device is updated. On the other hand, if the acquisition of the device information of the target device fails (NO in step S108), the process proceeds to the above-mentioned step S101. That is, in this case, the acquisition unit 140 attempts to acquire the device information of the target device by using the authentication information stored in the setting DB 121 in order of priority. In this case, the use of the authentication information that has failed to acquire the device information, that is, the authentication information identified from the history information in the history information DB 122, may be skipped in the processing from step S101 onwards.

[0046] The above describes the embodiment. As described above, information processing device 100 stores in advance in storage unit 120 first authentication information for accessing image forming device 200 and second authentication information, which is information obtained by updating the first authentication information. If information processing device 100 fails to acquire device information about image forming device 200 by accessing the image forming device using the second authentication information, information processing device 100 acquires device information about image forming device 200 using the first authentication information. Therefore, even if new authentication information cannot be set in a managed device for some reason, information processing device 100 can access the managed device and properly acquire device information.

[0047] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the device managed by the information processing device 100 is an image forming device, but the device managed by the information processing device 100 is not limited to an image forming device and may be any electronic device. More specifically, the device managed by the information processing device 100 may be any electronic device that can communicate with the information processing device 100 according to a predetermined protocol such as SNMP. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1...management system, 100...information processing device, 110...setting unit, 120...storage unit, 121...setting DB, 122...history information DB, 130...storage processing unit, 140...acquisition unit, 150...UI processing unit, 161...UI device, 162...network interface, 163...memory, 164...processor, 200...image forming device, N...network

Claims

1. An information processing device that manages an image forming device, a storage unit that stores first authentication information for accessing the image forming apparatus and second authentication information that is information obtained by updating the first authentication information; an acquisition unit that accesses the image forming apparatus and acquires apparatus information of the image forming apparatus; and When the acquisition unit fails to acquire the device information of the image forming device by accessing the image forming device using the second authentication information, the acquisition unit acquires the device information of the image forming device by using the first authentication information. Information processing device.

2. a storage processing unit that, when acquiring device information of the image forming device, associates identification information of the image forming device with information indicating authentication information used to acquire the device information, and stores the association information in the storage unit as history information; When newly acquiring device information of the image forming device, the acquisition unit identifies authentication information to be used to access the image forming device based on the stored history information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. If the acquisition of the device information of the image forming device using the authentication information identified based on the history information fails, the acquisition unit acquires the device information using authentication information selected according to a predetermined priority order from the authentication information stored in the storage unit. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The priority order is determined in accordance with the order in which the authentication information was updated. The information processing device according to claim 3 .

5. When the device information of the image forming device is acquired using authentication information different from the authentication information identified based on the history information, the storage processing unit updates the history information with information indicating the authentication information used to acquire the device information.

5. The information processing device according to claim 3 or 4.

6. A management method for managing an image forming apparatus, comprising: storing in advance in a storage unit first authentication information for accessing the image forming apparatus and second authentication information which is information obtained by updating the first authentication information; If the acquisition of the device information of the image forming device by the access using the second authentication information fails, the device information of the image forming device is acquired using the first authentication information. Management method.

7. In the computer of the information processing device that manages the image forming device, a storage processing step of storing first authentication information for accessing the image forming apparatus and second authentication information, which is information obtained by updating the first authentication information, in a storage unit; an acquisition step of accessing the image forming apparatus and acquiring apparatus information of the image forming apparatus; Execute In the acquiring step, if the acquisition of the device information of the image forming device by the access using the second authentication information fails, the device information of the image forming device is acquired using the first authentication information. program.

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