Web bot scenario creation support device, Web bot scenario creation support system, program, and Web bot scenario creation support method

Abstract

To eliminate troublesomeness of a series of Web browser operations through a Web setting screen for various settings of network equipment.SOLUTION: In a Web bot scenario creation support system, a Web bot scenario creation support device 1 outputs a guidance to a setting terminal 3 so as to perform a setting operation of an intelligent hub 2 through a Wet setting screen, thereby, extracts first and second POST requests for reference accompanied with the designation of minimum and maximum port numbers from an HTTP request transmitted from the setting terminal to the intelligent hub, generates a POST request for execution that can select a port number within a range of minimum to maximum port numbers on the basis of the first and second POST requests for reference, replaces the POST request for execution with the first and second POST requests for reference to create a scenario of a Web bot, and sets network equipment according to the scenario of the Web bot accompanied with the port number received from the setting terminal 3 as an argument of the POST request for execution.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for supporting the creation of scenarios for Web bots, which are application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on network devices that can be configured via a Web configuration screen. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, network devices such as intelligent hubs that have a web server function and allow various settings to be made via a web setting screen provided by this web server function have become widespread.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a control device setting system that can reduce work costs by eliminating the hassle of a series of operations via a web setting screen for setting various types of network devices of this type.

[0004] This control device setting system includes an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) bridge means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the web server function of the network device, a storage means for storing web browser operations performed by the setting terminal on the network device, a program generation means for generating a program that reproduces the web browser operations based on the operation data stored in the storage means, a program storage means for storing the program generated by the program generation means, and an HTTP server means for transmitting the program stored in the program storage means to the setting terminal.

[0005] According to this control device configuration system, the configuration terminal can execute a program received from the control device configuration system to reproduce web browser operations for network devices, eliminating the hassle of a series of web browser operations via a web configuration screen for various network device settings and reducing operation costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-362029 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the control device setting system described in Patent Document 1 generates a program that reproduces a series of web browser operations that a user has performed on a network device using a setting terminal. Therefore, even if the user wants to change only a part of the series of web browser operations reproduced by the program (for example, the port number to be set), the user must use the setting terminal to perform all of the series of web browser operations with some changes on the network device, and then have the control device setting system generate a new program that reproduces the series of web browser operations with only some changes, which is cumbersome.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make various settings of network devices via a Web setting screen more efficient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention supports the creation of scenarios for Web bots, which are application software for performing automated tasks and making various settings on network devices that can be configured via a Web configuration screen.

[0010] In a first aspect of the present invention, a configuration terminal that configures a network device outputs guidance to the terminal via a web configuration screen to perform desired configuration operations (such as turning PoE (Power over Ethernet) on or off, enabling or disabling a port, etc.) for each of the ports with the smallest and largest port numbers that the network device has.

[0011] Next, the system stores HTTP requests sent from the configuration terminal to the network device as a result of the configuration terminal operating the network device via the web configuration screen in accordance with this guidance. From the stored HTTP requests, the system extracts a first reference POST request, the body of which contains a configuration command specifying the minimum port number as an argument, and a second reference POST request, the body of which contains a configuration command specifying the maximum port number as an argument. Based on these first and second reference POST requests, the system generates an execution POST request, the body of which contains a configuration command that can select a port number within a port number selection range (from the minimum port number to the maximum port number) as an argument, and creates a Web bot scenario in which the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request are replaced with this execution POST request.

[0012] Then, when it receives a request to execute a scenario from the configuration terminal, it outputs to the configuration terminal the port number selection range (minimum port number to maximum port number) in the configuration command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the created Web bot scenario, and accepts the port number specification from the configuration terminal.It then configures the network device according to the Web bot scenario that includes the accepted port number as an argument to the command stored in the body of the execution POST request.

[0013] For example, the first aspect of the present invention is A Web bot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a Web bot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a Web configuration screen, a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal that sets up the network device, urging the terminal to perform desired setting operations via the Web setting screen for each of the ports with the minimum and maximum port numbers that the network device has, in order to assist in creating a scenario for the Web bot; an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device in response to an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a first reference POST request having a setting command with the minimum port number specified as an argument stored in its body and a second reference POST request having a setting command with the maximum port number specified as an argument stored in its body, generating an execution POST request having a setting command with an argument that allows a port number within the range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number to be selected, based on the first reference POST request and the second reference POST request, and creating a scenario for the Web bot by replacing the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario of the Web bot created by the scenario creation means; According to a request from the setting terminal, the setting command stored in the body of the POST request for execution, which is included in the scenario of the Web bot stored in the scenario storage means, can be selected as an argument. Napo an argument receiving means for outputting a range of port numbers from the minimum port number to the maximum port number to the setting terminal and receiving a designation of a port number within the range from the setting terminal; The system also includes a Web bot execution means for configuring the network device in accordance with the Web bot scenario, which includes the port number received by the argument receiving means as an argument for the configuration command stored in the body of the execution POST request.

[0014] In addition, in a second aspect of the present invention, Guidance is output to the configuration terminal that configures the network devices, and the user is prompted to perform the desired VLAN configuration operation (enabling, disabling, deleting, etc. the VLAN) via the web configuration screen for the network devices that make up the VLAN and have the desired VLAN name.

[0015] Next, the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal to the network device in response to an operation on the network device performed by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with this guidance is stored.

[0016] Then, from the stored HTTP requests, a reference POST request having a setting command stored in its body with the desired VLAN name specified as an argument is extracted, and based on this reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command stored in its body that allows selection of one of the VLAN names of the network devices that make up the VLAN as an argument is generated, and a Web bot scenario is created in which the reference POST request included in the HTTP request is replaced with this execution POST request.

[0017] Then, when a scenario execution request is received from the configuration terminal, a list of the VLAN names of each network device that makes up the VLAN is output to the configuration terminal, and the VLAN name specification is accepted from the configuration terminal.Then, according to the Web bot scenario that includes the accepted VLAN name as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body of the POST request for execution, the VLAN configuration of the network device that has this VLAN name is carried out.

[0018] For example, the second aspect of the present invention is A Web bot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a Web bot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a Web configuration screen, a VLAN information storage means for storing address information and a VLAN name of each of the network devices that configure a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network); a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal that sets up the network device, the guidance prompting the user to perform a desired VLAN setting operation via the Web setting screen for the network device having the desired VLAN name stored in the VLAN information storage means, in order to support the creation of a scenario for the Web bot; an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device in response to an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a reference POST request having a setting command in its body that specifies the desired VLAN name as an argument, generating, based on the reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command in its body that can select one of the VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means as an argument, and creating a scenario for the Web bot by replacing the reference POST request included in the HTTP request with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario of the Web bot created by the scenario creation means; an argument receiving means for outputting a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means to the setting terminal in response to a request from the setting terminal, and receiving from the setting terminal a specification of a VLAN name in the list; and a Web bot execution means for implementing VLAN configuration of the network device identified by address information associated with the VLAN name and stored in the VLAN information storage means, in accordance with the Web bot scenario including the VLAN name received by the argument receiving means as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body of the execution POST request. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a user follows the guidance and performs desired setting operations on each of the ports with the lowest and highest port numbers provided by the network device via a web setting screen provided by the network device, thereby creating a web bot scenario for performing desired settings on any port with a port number within the range from the lowest to the highest port number. Then, when executing the web bot scenario, the user simply specifies a desired port number within the range from the lowest to the highest port number, and the desired settings can be performed on the port with the specified port number on the network device. Therefore, in order to perform desired settings on each port provided by the network device, it is not necessary to perform a series of operations for performing desired settings on each port provided by the network device via a web setting screen.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a user follows the guidance to perform desired configuration operations on network devices having a desired VLAN name that constitute a VLAN, thereby creating a Web bot scenario for performing desired VLAN configuration on all network devices that constitute the VLAN. Then, when executing the Web bot scenario, the user simply designates the desired VLAN name from among the VLAN names of all network devices that constitute the VLAN, thereby performing desired configuration on the network devices having the designated VLAN name. Therefore, in order to perform desired configuration on each network device that constitutes the VLAN, it is not necessary to perform a series of operations for performing desired VLAN configuration via a Web configuration screen for each network device that constitutes the VLAN.

[0021] In this way, according to the present invention, the hassle of repeating a series of web browser operations via a web setting screen to set various settings for network devices is eliminated, and various setting operations for network devices via the web setting screen can be made even more efficient. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a Web bot scenario creation support operation of the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the Web bot scenario creation support operation of the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a continuation of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a scenario execution operation of a Web bot in the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario creation support process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting target selection screen 31 displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32a displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32b displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32a shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32c and a Web setting screen (login screen) 33a displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32b shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32d and a Web setting screen (menu screen) 33b displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32c shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32e and a Web setting screen (PoE setting screen) 33c displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32d shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32f and a Web setting screen (PoE setting screen) 33d displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32e shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32g and a Web setting screen (logout screen) 33e displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32f shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 32h displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32g shown in FIG. [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario execution process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a Web bot scenario creation support operation of the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a scenario execution operation of a Web bot in a Web bot scenario creation support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support device 1a. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario creation support process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the setting target selection screen 34 displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the guidance screen 35a displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35b displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 35a shown in FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35c and a Web setting screen (login screen) 36a displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 35b shown in FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35d and a Web setting screen (menu screen) 36b displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 35c shown in FIG. [Figure 27]FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35e and a Web setting screen (VLAN setting screen) 36c displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 35d shown in FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35f and a Web setting screen (logout screen) 36d displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 35e shown in FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance screen 35g displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 following the guidance screen 32f shown in FIG. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario execution process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] [First embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support system according to this embodiment.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the Web bot scenario creation support system of this embodiment is configured to include an intelligent hub 2 connected to network terminals 4-1, 4-2 (hereinafter simply referred to as network terminal 4) such as gateways and edge terminals, a setting terminal 3 for various settings of the intelligent hub 2, and a Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0027] The intelligent hub 2 has an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) agent function and a Web server function, and performs various settings for itself in accordance with operations received from the setting terminal 3 via a Web setting screen. The intelligent hub 2 also has a monitor port (mirror port) 20, and mirrors HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) requests sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2 and outputs them from this monitor port 20.

[0028] The setting terminal 3 is a network terminal having a web browser function, and transmits the contents of various setting operations by the user to the intelligent hub 2 via a web setting screen provided by the intelligent hub 2 .

[0029] The Web bot scenario creation support device 1 then supports the creation of a scenario for a Web bot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on the intelligent hub 2 based on the setting operations of the intelligent hub 2 performed by the user via the Web setting screen on the setting terminal 3.

[0030] 2 and 3 are sequence diagrams for explaining an example of the Web bot scenario creation support operation of the Web bot scenario creation support system according to this embodiment.

[0031] When the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 detects the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as device startup (power on) or receipt of a terminal information request from the setting terminal 3 (S100), it broadcasts a terminal information request to the network (intelligent hub 2) (S101). The intelligent hub 2 and network terminal 4 that receive the terminal information request send their own terminal information to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1, which is the sender of the terminal information request (S102, S103). The Web bot scenario creation support device 1 then notifies the setting terminal 3 of terminal list information including the terminal information received from the network (S104).

[0032] Next, when the setting terminal 3 receives the terminal list information from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1, it displays it (S105) and accepts the user's selection of the terminal information to be set. Here, it is assumed that the user has selected the intelligent hub 2 as the device to be set (S106). In response to this, the setting terminal 3 sends an access request to the intelligent hub 2 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S107).

[0033] Next, when the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 confirms that the access request received from the setting terminal 3 is for the intelligent hub 2, it starts a guidance process for the setting operation for the intelligent hub 2 (S108), and displays a guidance screen on the setting terminal 3, displaying guidance information for supporting the creation of a Web bot scenario related to the setting of the intelligent hub 2 (S109). For example, to support the creation of a Web bot scenario, guidance is provided to encourage the user to perform the desired setting operations for the port with the minimum port number and the port with the maximum port number provided in the intelligent hub 2 via a Web setting screen provided by the intelligent hub 2. In addition, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 transfers the access request received from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2 (S110).

[0034] Next, when the intelligent hub 2 receives an access request from the setting terminal 3 via the Web bot scenario creation support device 1, it starts accepting operations via the Web browser (S111) and displays a Web setting screen on the setting terminal 3 (S112). This allows the user to follow the guidance messages displayed on the guidance display screen and use the Web setting screen to perform setting operations for creating a Web bot scenario. The intelligent hub 2 also mirrors the HTTP request received from the setting terminal 3 and outputs it from the monitor port 20 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S113).

[0035] Thereafter, when the user completes the setting operation on the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance message displayed on the guidance display screen (S114), the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 creates and registers a Web bot scenario based on the HTTP request received from the monitor port 20 of the intelligent hub 2 (S115).The Web bot scenario creation support device 1 then displays a notification on the guidance display screen on the setting terminal 3 that the creation of the Web bot scenario has been completed, and ends the guidance using the guidance display screen (S116).

[0036] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a scenario execution operation of a Web bot in the Web bot scenario creation support system according to this embodiment.

[0037] When the setting terminal 3 receives a scenario list display operation from the user (S150), it sends a scenario list acquisition request (S151) to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. In response, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 notifies the setting terminal 3 of a scenario list that describes the scenario names and other information of each registered scenario (S152).

[0038] Next, the setting terminal 3 displays the list of scenarios received from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S153), and accepts the user's selection of the scenario name of the scenario to be executed (S154).Then, the setting terminal 3 sends a scenario selection notification specifying the selected scenario name to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S155).

[0039] Next, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 identifies (S156) the range of port numbers (minimum port number to maximum port number: hereinafter, the selectable port number range) that can be specified as an argument (parameter value) of the setting command for the scenario having the scenario name specified in the scenario selection notification received from the setting terminal 3. Then, it sends a port number range notification including the identified port number range to the setting terminal 3 (S157).

[0040] Next, the setting terminal 3 displays the port number range included in the port number range notification received from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S158), and accepts from the user the selection of a port number within the selectable port number range (S159).Then, the setting terminal 3 sends a port number designation notification including the designation of the accepted port number to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 (S160).

[0041] When the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 receives a port number designation notification from the setting terminal 3, it sets the port number designated in the port number designation notification as the argument (port number) of the scenario of the Web bot having the scenario name designated in the scenario selection notification previously received from the setting terminal 3, and executes the scenario of this Web bot (S161). As a result, the port of the intelligent hub 2 with the port number designated in the port number designation notification is set according to the scenario of the Web bot having the scenario name designated in the scenario selection notification (S162).

[0042] Next, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 will be described in detail.

[0043] The intelligent hub 2 can be an existing intelligent hub with an SNMP agent function and a Web server function, and with a monitor port that allows configuration operations via a Web configuration screen, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0045] As shown in the figure, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 includes a network interface unit 100, a setting terminal interface unit 101, a relay unit 102, a guidance processing unit 103, an operation content acquisition unit 104, an operation content memory unit 105, a scenario creation unit 106, a scenario memory unit 107, a scenario designation reception unit 108, and a scenario execution unit 109.

[0046] The network interface unit 100 is an interface for connecting to the intelligent hub 2 and the monitor port 20 of the intelligent hub 2 .

[0047] The setting terminal interface unit 101 is an interface for connecting to the setting terminal 3 .

[0048] The relay unit 102 relays message exchanges (HTTP requests and HTTP responses) between the intelligent hub 2 and the setting terminal 3 via the network interface unit 100 and the setting terminal interface unit 101 .

[0049] When the guidance processing unit 103 receives an access request to the intelligent hub 2 from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it accepts a scenario name from the setting terminal 3 to assist in creating a scenario for a Web bot related to the setting of the intelligent hub 2, and also provides guidance to the user of the setting terminal 3 to urge them to perform desired setting operations via a Web setting screen provided by the intelligent hub 2 for each of the ports with the minimum and maximum port numbers provided in the intelligent hub 2. It also outputs the access request to the intelligent hub 2 to the relay unit 102.

[0050] The operation content acquisition unit 104 acquires, from among the HTTP requests received from the monitor port 20 of the intelligent hub 2 via the network interface unit 100, HTTP requests sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2 by web browser operations performed on the guidance display screen on the setting terminal 3 in accordance with the guidance message output by the guidance processing unit 103.

[0051] The operation content storage unit 105 stores the HTTP request acquired by the operation content acquisition unit 104 .

[0052] The scenario creation unit 106 creates a Web bot scenario for setting the intelligent hub 2 based on the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105. Specifically, the scenario creation unit 106 extracts, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105, a first reference POST request whose body contains a setting command specifying the minimum port number as an argument, and a second reference POST request whose body contains a setting command specifying the maximum port number as an argument. Based on these first and second reference POST requests, the scenario creation unit 106 creates an execution POST request whose argument can be arbitrarily selected within the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number). For example, the body of this execution POST request contains a setting command whose argument is the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number) instead of the port number in the reference POST request. The scenario creation unit 106 then creates a Web bot scenario in which the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105 are replaced with an execution POST request. Then, the guidance processing unit 103 associates the scenario name and the like received from the setting terminal 3 with the created scenario.

[0053] The scenario storage unit 107 stores the Web bot scenario created by the scenario creation unit 106 together with the scenario name associated with this scenario.

[0054] The scenario designation receiving unit 108 receives the designation of a scenario name from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101. Then, it outputs to the setting terminal 3 the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number) described as an argument of the setting command stored in the body of the POST request for execution included in the scenario of the Web bot linked to the designated scenario name and stored in the scenario storage unit 107, and receives from the setting terminal 3 the designation of any port number within this selectable port number range as the port number of the port to be set.

[0055] The scenario execution unit 109 replaces the argument of the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the Web bot scenario stored in the scenario storage unit 107 in association with the scenario name specified by the scenario specification reception unit 108 with the port number received by the scenario specification reception unit 108 from the selectable port number range, and executes this scenario, thereby setting up the intelligent hub 2.

[0056] The functional configuration of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 shown in Figure 5 may be realized in hardware using an integrated logic IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or in software using a computer such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Alternatively, in a general-purpose computer such as a PC (Personal Computer) equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, an auxiliary storage device, and a communication interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card), the CPU may load a predetermined program from the auxiliary storage device onto the memory and execute it, thereby realizing each function as a process.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario creation support process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0058] This flow starts when a predetermined event occurs, such as when the device is started (powered on) or when the setting terminal interface unit 101 receives a terminal information request from the setting terminal 3.

[0059] First, the guidance processing unit 103 broadcasts a terminal information request from the network interface unit 100 via the relay unit 102, and acquires terminal information including the terminal name, terminal type, and address information from the intelligent hub 2 and each network terminal 4 (S200).

[0060] Next, the guidance processing unit 103 transmits terminal list information including the acquired terminal information to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, and displays a setting target selection screen 31 on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 7 (S201). In the example shown in Fig. 7, the setting target selection screen 31 displays a list of selectable terminal information 310 included in the terminal list information. When the user selects one of the terminal information 310 by clicking, tapping, or the like, the setting terminal 3 transmits an access request (HTTP request) addressed to the address information included in the selected terminal information 310 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0061] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives an access request from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (YES in S202), it determines whether the destination is the intelligent hub 2 (S203).

[0062] If the destination of the access request is a network terminal 4 other than the intelligent hub 2 (NO in S203), the relay unit 102 passes this access request to the relay unit 102. In response to this, the relay unit 102 transmits the access request to the intelligent hub 2 via the network interface unit 100, and starts relaying between the network terminal 4, which is the destination of the access request, and the setting terminal 3 in cooperation with the network interface unit 100 and the setting terminal interface unit 101 (S204). This allows the user of the setting terminal 3 to perform various settings for this network terminal 4 by operating the web browser on the web setting screen provided by the network terminal 4, which is the destination of the access request. Thereafter, when a logout notification (HTTP response) is sent from the network terminal 4 to the setting terminal 3, or when a timeout occurs without message exchange (transmission and reception of HTTP requests and HTTP responses) occurring between the network terminal 4 and the setting terminal 3 for a predetermined period of time or more, the relay unit 102 determines that the setting of the network terminal 4 by the setting terminal 3 has been completed or canceled (YES in S205), and ends the relay between the network terminal 4 and the setting terminal 3 (S206).

[0063] On the other hand, if the destination of the access request is the intelligent hub 2 (YES in S203), the guidance processing unit 103 transmits guidance information to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 and starts guidance to assist in creating a Web bot scenario for setting the intelligent hub 2 (S207). At an appropriate timing in the guidance, the guidance processing unit 103 passes the access request to the relay unit 102 and instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to acquire the operation content. In response to this, the relay unit 102 transmits the access request to the intelligent hub 2 via the network interface unit 100 and starts relaying messages between the intelligent hub 2, which is the destination of the access request, and the setting terminal 3 in cooperation with the network interface unit 100 and the setting terminal interface unit 101. Furthermore, the operation content acquisition unit 104 starts storing, in the operation content storage unit 105, the HTTP request (the HTTP request from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2) acquired from the monitor port 20 of the intelligent hub 2 via the network interface unit 100 (S208).

[0064] Here, the guidance that the guidance processing unit 103 provides to the setting terminal 3 to assist in creating a scenario for a Web bot regarding the setting of the intelligent hub 2 will be described.

[0065] First, the guidance processing unit 103 displays a guidance screen 32a on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, which includes an input form 322 for a scenario name and a selection form 323 for selecting a setting value for a predetermined setting item from a pull-down menu, as shown in Fig. 8. The pull-down menu of the selection form 323 displays setting values ​​for the predetermined setting item in a pull-down menu, such as PoE (Power over Ethernet) on, PoE off, port enable, and port disable. The user of the setting terminal 3 enters a unique scenario name in the input form 322, enters one of the setting values ​​in the selection form 323 by selecting from the pull-down menu, and operates the complete button 320, whereby the scenario name and setting value are sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0066] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives the scenario name and setting values ​​from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a guidance screen 32b including an input form 324 for the maximum port number and an input form 325 for the minimum port number on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Figure 9. When the user of the setting terminal 3 inputs the maximum port number and the minimum port number of the intelligent hub 2 into the input forms 324, 325 and operates the complete button 320, the maximum port number and the minimum port number are sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1. The back button 321 is an operation button for returning to the previous guidance screen (here, the guidance screen 32a shown in Figure 8).

[0067] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives the maximum port number and the minimum port number from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it executes S208, passes the access request to the relay unit 102, and starts relaying between the setting terminal 3 and the intelligent hub 2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, a Web setting screen (login screen) 33a provided by the intelligent hub 2 is displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. The guidance processing unit 103 also instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to acquire operation content, starts storing the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2 in the operation content storage unit 105, and displays a guidance screen 32c on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, including a message 326 prompting the user to log in to the Web setting screen 33a provided by the intelligent hub 2, as shown in FIG. 10. When the user of the setting terminal 3 logs in to the intelligent hub 2 by entering a user name and password on the Web setting screen 33a and operates the complete button 320 on the guidance screen 32c, a login completion notification is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0068] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives a login completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, as shown in FIG. 11, it displays a guidance screen 32d on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, which includes a message 327 prompting the user to transition to a setting screen for a specified setting value (the setting value selected in the selection form 323 of the guidance screen 32a shown in FIG. 8; here, for example, the setting value "PoE disabled" for the setting item "PoE setting") on the Web setting screen (menu screen) 33b displayed upon completion of login to the intelligent hub 2. When the user of the setting terminal 3 selects the setting item corresponding to the specified setting value on the Web setting screen 33b and operates the complete button 320 on the guidance screen 32d, a notification of transition to the setting screen for the selected setting item is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0069] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives a notification of transition to the setting screen for the selected setting item from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a Web setting screen 33c for setting a specified setting value (here, "PoE disabled") for the intelligent hub 2, as shown in Fig. 12, and also displays a guidance screen 32e including a message 328 urging the user to disable PoE for the port having the smallest port number (here, for example, port number "1") accepted on the guidance screen 32b shown in Fig. 9. When the user of the setting terminal 3 sets the port having the smallest port number to the specified setting value (here, "PoE disabled") on the Web setting screen 33c in accordance with the message 328 on the guidance screen 32e and operates the complete button 320 on the guidance screen 32e, a setting completion notification of the specified setting value for the port having the smallest port number is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0070] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives this setting completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, as shown in Fig. 13, on the Web setting screen 33d for setting a specified setting value (here, "PoE disabled") for the intelligent hub 2, it displays a guidance screen 32f including a message 329 prompting the user to perform an operation to disable PoE for the port having the maximum port number (here, port number "8") accepted on the guidance screen 32b shown in Fig. 9. When the user of the setting terminal 3 sets the port having the maximum port number to the specified setting value (here, "PoE disabled") on the Web setting screen 33d and operates the complete button 320 on the guidance screen 32f, a setting completion notification of the specified setting value for the port having the maximum port number is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0071] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103 receives this setting completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a guidance screen 32g on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 14, which includes a message 330 prompting the user to perform a logout operation on the Web setting screen (menu screen) 33e provided by the intelligent hub 2. When the user of the setting terminal 3 selects logout from the menu displayed on the Web setting screen 33e, the setting terminal 3 logs out from the intelligent hub 2, and when the user of the setting terminal 3 further operates the complete button 320 on the guidance screen 32g, a logout completion notification is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0072] Returning to FIG. 6, the explanation continues.

[0073] When the guidance processing unit 103 receives a logout completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (YES in S209), it determines that the setting operation for creating a Web bot scenario related to the settings of the intelligent hub 2 has been completed, and ends the relay between the intelligent hub 2 and the setting terminal 3. The guidance processing unit 103 also instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to end acquisition of the operation content, and ends storage of the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 2 in the operation content storage unit 105 (S210). Then, the guidance processing unit 103 notifies the scenario creation unit 106 of the scenario name and setting values ​​received from the setting terminal 3, and instructs it to create a Web bot scenario.

[0074] In response to this, the scenario creation unit 106 creates a Web bot scenario for setting the intelligent hub 2 based on the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105, and stores the created scenario in the scenario storage unit 107 (S211). Specifically, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105, the scenario creation unit 106 extracts a first reference POST request, the body of which contains a setting command specifying the minimum port number as an argument, and a second reference POST request, the body of which contains a setting command specifying the maximum port number as an argument. Based on these first and second reference POST requests, the scenario creation unit 106 creates an execution POST request, the body of which contains a setting command describing the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number) as an argument. Then, the scenario creation unit 106 creates a Web bot scenario by replacing the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105 with an execution POST request. The created scenario is then associated with the scenario name and setting values ​​notified by the guidance processing unit 103 and stored in the scenario storage unit 107.

[0075] 15, the guidance processing unit 103 displays a guidance screen 32h including a message 331 indicating that the guidance for creating a Web bot scenario related to the setting of the intelligent hub 2 has ended on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 (S212). When the user of the setting terminal 3 operates the completion button 320 on the guidance screen 32h, the setting terminal 3 ends the display of the guidance screen 32h on the display screen 30.

[0076] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario execution process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1.

[0077] This flow starts when the scenario designation receiving unit 108 receives a scenario list acquisition request from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101.

[0078] First, the scenario designation receiving unit 108 sends scenario list information, including the scenario name and setting value of each Web bot scenario stored in the scenario storage unit 107, to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (S300). Then, it waits for a scenario selection notification to be sent from the setting terminal 3 (S301).

[0079] Next, when the scenario designation receiving unit 108 receives a scenario selection notification from the setting terminal 3 (YES in S301), it searches for Web bot scenarios associated with the scenario name specified in the scenario selection notification and stored in the scenario storage unit 107, and identifies the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number) set as an argument from the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the searched scenario (S302).The scenario designation receiving unit 108 then sends a port number range notification including the specification of the identified selectable port number range to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (S303), and waits for a port number designation notification to be sent from the setting terminal 3 (S304).

[0080] Next, upon receiving a port number designation notification from the setting terminal 3 (YES in S304), the scenario designation receiving unit 108 notifies the scenario execution unit 109 of the scenario name, etc., designated in the scenario selection notification and the port number designated in the port number designation notification, and instructs the scenario execution unit 109 to execute the scenario. In response to this, the scenario execution unit 109 changes the argument of the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the Web bot scenario, which is associated with the scenario name notified by the scenario designation receiving unit 108 and stored in the scenario storage unit 107, from the selectable port number range (minimum port number to maximum port number) to the port number notified by the scenario designation receiving unit 108 (S305). Then, the scenario execution unit 109 executes the Web bot scenario with the changed argument (S306). Specifically, the HTTP requests (including the execution POST request) included in the Web bot scenario are sent in order from the network interface unit 100 to the intelligent hub 2. As a result, in the intelligent hub 2, the setting value associated with the Web bot scenario is set to the port of the port number designated in the port number designation notification.

[0081] The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0082] According to this embodiment, the user of the setting terminal 3 performs desired setting operations for each of the ports with the minimum and maximum port numbers provided in the intelligent hub 2 via Web setting screens 33a to 33e provided by the intelligent hub 2, following the guidance on guidance screens 32a to 32h displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. This creates a Web bot scenario for performing desired settings on ports with port numbers ranging from the minimum port number to the maximum port number. Then, when executing the Web bot scenario, the user can perform desired settings on the port with the specified port number in the intelligent hub 2 simply by specifying a desired port number within the range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number. Therefore, in order to perform desired settings on each port provided in the intelligent hub 2, it is not necessary to perform a series of operations for performing desired settings on each port provided in the intelligent hub 2 via the Web setting screen.

[0083] In this way, according to this embodiment, the hassle of repeating a series of web browser operations via the web setting screen to set various settings for the intelligent hub 2 is eliminated, and various settings can be set via the web setting screen more efficiently.

[0084] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0085] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support system according to this embodiment.

[0086] In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to denote components having the same functions as those in the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

[0087] As shown in the figure, the Web bot scenario creation support system of this embodiment is composed of multiple intelligent hubs 5-1 to 5-4 (hereinafter simply referred to as intelligent hubs 5), a setting terminal 3 for various settings of the intelligent hubs 5, a Web bot scenario creation support device 1a, and a monitor hub 6 that relays between the intelligent hubs 5 and the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0088] The intelligent hub 5 has an SNMP agent function and a web server function, and performs various settings for itself according to operations received from the setting terminal 3 via a web setting screen. The intelligent hub 5 also has a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) function, and can transfer data between intelligent hubs 5 assigned to the same VLAN.

[0089] The monitor hub 6 has a monitor port (mirror port) 60, and mirrors the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 5 and outputs it from this monitor port 60.

[0090] The setting terminal 3 is a network terminal having a web browser function, and transmits the contents of various setting operations to the intelligent hub 2 via a web setting screen provided by the intelligent hub 5 .

[0091] The Web bot scenario creation support device 1a then supports the creation of a Web bot scenario, which is application software for executing automated tasks on the intelligent hub 2 to perform VLAN configuration, based on the VLAN configuration operations of the intelligent hub 5 performed by the user via the Web configuration screen on the configuration terminal 3.

[0092] FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a Web bot scenario creation support operation of the Web bot scenario creation support system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] When the setting terminal 3 accepts an operation to acquire an intelligent hub list from a user (S400), it sends an intelligent hub list acquisition request to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S401). In response, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a sends intelligent hub list information to the setting terminal 3, which describes intelligent hub information including, for each intelligent hub 5 assigned to a VLAN, the name of this intelligent hub 5, the VLAN ID of the VLAN assigned to this intelligent hub 5, the VLAN name of the intelligent hub 5 in this VLAN, and the address information of this intelligent hub 5 (S402).

[0094] Next, when the setting terminal 3 receives the intelligent hub list information from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a, it displays it (S403) and accepts from the user the selection of the intelligent hub 5 for VLAN configuration (S404). In response to this, the setting terminal 3 sends an access request to the selected intelligent hub 5 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S405).

[0095] Next, when the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a receives an access request to the intelligent hub 5 from the setting terminal 3, it starts guidance processing for the VLAN setting operation for this intelligent hub 5 (S406), and displays a guidance screen on the setting terminal 3, displaying guidance information for supporting the creation of a Web bot scenario related to the VLAN setting of the intelligent hub 5 (S407). For example, to support the creation of a Web bot scenario, guidance is provided to encourage the user to perform the desired VLAN setting operation for the accessed intelligent hub 5 via a Web setting screen provided by this intelligent hub 5. In addition, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a relays the access request received from the setting terminal 3 to the accessed intelligent hub 5 (S408).

[0096] Next, when the intelligent hub 5 receives an access request from the setting terminal 3 via the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a, it starts accepting operations via the Web browser (S409) and displays a Web setting screen on the setting terminal 3 (S410). This allows the user to follow the guidance messages displayed on the guidance display screen and use the Web setting screen to perform VLAN setting operations for creating a Web bot scenario. In addition, the monitor hub 6 mirrors the HTTP request received from the setting terminal 3 and sends it from the monitor port 60 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S411).

[0097] Thereafter, when the user completes the VLAN configuration operation on the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance message displayed on the guidance display screen (S412), the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a creates and registers a Web bot scenario based on the HTTP request received from the monitor port 60 of the monitor hub 6 (S413).The Web bot scenario creation support device 1a then displays a notification on the guidance display screen on the setting terminal 3 that the Web bot scenario creation has been completed, and ends the guidance using this guidance display screen (S414).

[0098] FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a scenario execution operation of a Web bot in the Web bot scenario creation support system according to this embodiment.

[0099] When the setting terminal 3 receives a scenario list display operation from the user (S500), it sends a scenario list acquisition request to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S501). In response, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a notifies the setting terminal 3 of a scenario list that describes the scenario names and other information of each registered scenario (S502).

[0100] Next, the setting terminal 3 displays the list of scenarios received from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S503), and accepts the user's selection of the scenario name to be executed (S504).Then, the setting terminal 3 sends a scenario selection notification specifying the selected scenario name to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S505).

[0101] Next, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a acquires a list of the VLAN names of the intelligent hubs 5 assigned to the VLAN (S506), and then transmits a VLAN name list notification including the acquired list of VLAN names to the setting terminal 3 (S507).

[0102] Next, the setting terminal 3 displays a list of the VLAN names included in the VLAN name list notification received from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S508), and accepts the user's selection of one of the VLAN names (S509).Then, the setting terminal 3 transmits a VLAN name designation notification including the designation of the accepted VLAN name to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a (S510).

[0103] When the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a receives a VLAN name designation notification from the setting terminal 3, it sets the VLAN name designated in this VLAN name designation notification as the argument (VLAN name) of the scenario of the Web bot having the scenario name designated in the scenario selection notification previously received from the setting terminal 3, and executes this Web bot scenario for the intelligent hub 5 identified by the address information linked to the VLAN name designated in this VLAN name designation notification (S511).As a result, the intelligent hub 5 is VLAN-configured in accordance with the scenario of the Web bot having the scenario name designated in the scenario selection notification (S512).

[0104] Next, the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a will be described in detail.

[0105] An existing intelligent hub that has an SNMP agent function and a web server function and that allows configuration operations via a web configuration screen can be used as the intelligent hub 5, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Similarly, an existing hub that has a monitor port can be used as the monitor hub 6, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0106] FIG. 20 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of a Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0107] The Web bot scenario creation support device 1a of this embodiment differs from the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 5 in that it has a guidance processing unit 103a, a scenario creation unit 106a, a scenario designation receiving unit 108a, and a scenario execution unit 109a instead of the guidance processing unit 103, the scenario creation unit 106, the scenario designation receiving unit 108, and the scenario execution unit 109, and that it has newly added a VLAN information storage unit 110. The other configurations are the same as those of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 5.

[0108] The VLAN information storage unit 110 stores, for each intelligent hub 5 assigned to each VLAN, intelligent hub information including the name of this intelligent hub 5, the VLAN ID of the VLAN assigned to this intelligent hub 5, the VLAN name of the intelligent hub 5 in this VLAN, and the address information of this intelligent hub 5.

[0109] When the guidance processing unit 103a receives an intelligent hub list acquisition request from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it transmits intelligent hub list information including all intelligent hub information stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110 to the setting terminal 3. Furthermore, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives an access request specifying an intelligent hub 5 from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it accepts a scenario name from the setting terminal 3 to assist in creating a Web bot scenario related to the VLAN setting of this intelligent hub 5, and provides guidance to the user of the setting terminal 3 to perform the desired VLAN setting operation via a Web setting screen provided by the intelligent hub 2. Furthermore, it outputs the access request to this intelligent hub 5 to the relay unit 102.

[0110] The scenario creation unit 106a creates a Web bot scenario related to the VLAN configuration of the intelligent hub 5 based on the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105. Specifically, the scenario creation unit 106a extracts, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105, a reference POST request whose body contains a VLAN configuration command with a VLAN name specified as an argument, and creates an execution POST request based on this reference POST request. This execution POST request is created by changing the argument of the extracted reference POST request from the VLAN name to a temporary VLAN name (a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110). Then, a Web bot scenario is created by replacing the reference POST request included in the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105 with an execution POST request. The created scenario is then linked to the scenario name received by the guidance processing unit 103a from the configuration terminal 3.

[0111] The scenario designation receiving unit 108a receives the designation of a scenario name from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101. Then, it outputs to the setting terminal 3 the temporary VLAN name (a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110) designated as an argument of the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the Web bot scenario associated with the designated scenario name and stored in the scenario storage unit 107, and accepts the designation of any of the VLAN names in this list from the setting terminal 3 as the setting target. It also searches the VLAN information storage unit 110 for intelligent hub information including the designated VLAN name, and identifies the address information included in this intelligent hub information. It then passes the designated scenario name and VLAN name together with the identified address information to the scenario execution unit 109a, instructing it to execute the scenario.

[0112] The scenario execution unit 109a changes the argument (parameter value) of the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the Web bot scenario, which is associated with the scenario name notified by the scenario designation receiving unit 108a and stored in the scenario storage unit 107, from the temporary VLAN name to the VLAN name notified by the scenario designation receiving unit 108a.The scenario execution unit 109a then executes this scenario for the intelligent hub 5 identified by the address information notified by the scenario designation receiving unit 108a.This implements the VLAN setting for this intelligent hub 5.

[0113] The functional configuration of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a shown in Figure 20 may be realized in hardware using an integrated logic IC such as an ASIC or FPGA, similar to the functional configuration of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1 shown in Figure 5, or may be realized in software using a computer such as a DSP. Alternatively, each function may be realized as a process by the CPU loading a specified program from the auxiliary storage device into the memory and executing it in a general-purpose computer such as a PC equipped with a CPU, memory, auxiliary storage device, and a communication interface such as a NIC.

[0114] 21 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario creation support process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a. This flow starts when the setting terminal interface unit 101 receives a request to obtain an intelligent hub list from the setting terminal 3.

[0115] First, the guidance processing unit 103a transmits intelligent hub list information including all intelligent hub information stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110 to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, and displays a setting target selection screen 34 on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 22 (S600). In the example shown in Fig. 22, the intelligent hub information 340 included in the intelligent hub list information are displayed in a selectable list on the setting target selection screen 34. When the user selects one of the intelligent hub information 340 by clicking, tapping, or the like, the setting terminal 3 transmits an access request (HTTP request) addressed to the address information included in the selected intelligent hub information 340 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0116] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives an access request addressed to the intelligent hub 5 from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (YES in S601), it transmits guidance information to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 and starts guidance to support the creation of a Web bot scenario related to the setting of the intelligent hub 5 (S602). Furthermore, at an appropriate timing in the guidance, it passes the access request to the relay unit 102 and instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to acquire the operation content. In response to this, the relay unit 102 transmits the access request to the intelligent hub 5 via the network interface unit 100 and the monitor hub 6, and starts relaying messages between the setting terminal 3 and the intelligent hub 5, which is the destination of the access request, in cooperation with the network interface unit 100 and the setting terminal interface unit 101. In addition, the operation content acquisition unit 104 starts storing the HTTP request (HTTP request from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 5) acquired from the monitor port 60 of the monitor hub 6 via the network interface unit 100 in the operation content memory unit 105 (S603).

[0117] Here, the guidance that the guidance processing unit 103a provides to the setting terminal 3 to assist in creating a scenario for a Web bot regarding the setting of the intelligent hub 5 will be described.

[0118] First, as shown in FIG. 23, the guidance processing unit 103a displays a guidance screen 35a on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, which includes an input form 352 for a scenario name and a selection form 353 for selecting a VLAN setting value from a pull-down menu. The pull-down menu of the selection form 353 displays various setting values ​​related to VLAN, such as enabling VLAN, disabling VLAN, and deleting VLAN, in a pull-down menu. The user of the setting terminal 3 enters a unique scenario name in the input form 352, enters one of the VLAN setting values ​​in the selection form 353 by selecting from the pull-down menu, and operates the complete button 350, whereby the scenario name and VLAN setting value are transmitted from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a. The back button 351 is an operation button for returning to the previous screen (here, the setting target selection screen 34 shown in FIG. 22).

[0119] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives the scenario name and the VLAN setting value from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a guidance screen 35b including a VLAN ID input form 354 and a VLAN name input form 355 on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in FIG. 24. These input forms 354, 355 may already display the VLAN ID and VLAN name included in the intelligent hub information 340 selected on the setting target selection screen 34. When the user of the setting terminal 3 operates the complete button 350 with the VLAN ID and VLAN name of the setting target VLAN entered in the input forms 354, 355, the VLAN ID and VLAN name are sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0120] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives the VLAN ID and VLAN name from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it executes S603, passes the access request to the relay unit 102, and starts relaying between the setting terminal 3 and the intelligent hub 5 that is the destination of the access request. As a result, a Web setting screen (login screen) 36a provided by the intelligent hub 5 that is the destination of the access request is displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 25. Furthermore, the guidance processing unit 103a instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to acquire operation content, and starts storing in the operation content storage unit 105 the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 5 that is the destination of the access request, and also displays a guidance screen 35c on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 25, that includes a message 356 that prompts the user to perform a login operation for the Web setting screen 36a provided by the intelligent hub 5 that is the destination of the access request. When a user of the setting terminal 3 logs in to the intelligent hub 5 by entering a username and password on the Web setting screen 36a and then operates the completion button 350 on the guidance screen 35c, a login completion notification is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0121] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives a login completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a guidance screen 35d on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 26, which includes a message 357 urging the user to transition to the VLAN setting screen on the Web setting screen (menu screen) 36b that is displayed upon completion of login to the intelligent hub 5. When the user of the setting terminal 3 selects the setting item "VLAN setting" from the menu on the Web setting screen 36b and operates the complete button 350 on the guidance screen 35d, a setting screen transition notification to the VLAN setting screen is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0122] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives a notification of transition to the setting screen to the VLAN setting screen from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a Web setting screen 36c for setting a VLAN on the intelligent hub 5, as shown in FIG. 27, and also displays a guidance screen 35e including a message 358 urging the user to perform an operation corresponding to the VLAN setting value (here, "delete") specified via the guidance screen 35b shown in FIG. 23 for the VLAN identified by the VLAN ID and VLAN name (here, the VLAN ID "1025" and the VLAN name "NGN1") received via the guidance screen 35b shown in FIG. 24. When the user of the setting terminal 3 follows the message 358 on the guidance screen 35e, selects and deletes the VLAN identified by the VLAN ID and VLAN name shown on the guidance screen 35e on the Web setting screen 36c, and operates the complete button 350 on the guidance screen 35e, a notification of completion of setting the specified VLAN setting value for the VLAN identified by the VLAN ID and VLAN name is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0123] Next, when the guidance processing unit 103a receives a setting completion notification of the VLAN setting value from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101, it displays a guidance screen 35f including a message 359 prompting the user to perform a logout operation on the Web setting screen (menu screen) 36d provided by the intelligent hub 5 on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3, as shown in Fig. 28. When the user of the setting terminal 3 selects "Logout" from the menu displayed on the Web setting screen 36d, the user is logged out of the intelligent hub 5, and when the user operates the completion button 350 on the guidance screen 35f, a logout completion notification is sent from the setting terminal 3 to the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0124] Returning to FIG. 21, the explanation will be continued.

[0125] When the guidance processing unit 103a receives a logout completion notification from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (YES in S604), it determines that the setting operation for creating a Web bot scenario related to the setting of the intelligent hub 5 has been completed, and ends the relay between the intelligent hub 5 and the setting terminal 3. The guidance processing unit 103a also instructs the operation content acquisition unit 104 to end acquisition of the operation content, and ends storage of the HTTP request sent from the setting terminal 3 to the intelligent hub 5 in the operation content storage unit 105 (S605). Then, the guidance processing unit 103a notifies the scenario creation unit 106a of the scenario name and VLAN setting value received from the setting terminal 3, and instructs it to create a Web bot scenario.

[0126] In response to this, the scenario creation unit 106a creates a Web bot scenario for setting the intelligent hub 5 based on the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105, and stores the created scenario in the scenario storage unit 107 (S606). Specifically, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105, the scenario creation unit 106a extracts a reference POST request whose body contains a setting command specifying a VLAN name as an argument, and creates an execution POST request based on this reference POST request, whose argument can be arbitrarily selected from the VLAN names contained in each piece of intelligent hub information stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110. For example, the body of this execution POST request contains a setting command whose argument is a temporary VLAN name (a list of VLAN names contained in each piece of intelligent hub information stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110) instead of the VLAN name in the reference POST request. Then, a Web bot scenario is created in which the reference POST request contained in the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105 is replaced with an execution POST request. Then, the created scenario is associated with the scenario name and VLAN setting value notified by the guidance processing unit 103a and stored in the scenario storage unit 107.

[0127] 29, the guidance processing unit 103a displays a guidance screen 35g including a message 360 ​​indicating that the guidance for creating a Web bot scenario related to the setting of the intelligent hub 5 has ended on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3 (S607). When the user of the setting terminal 3 operates the complete button 350 on the guidance screen 35g, the setting terminal 3 ends displaying the guidance screen 35g on the display screen 30.

[0128] FIG. 30 is a flow diagram for explaining the Web bot scenario execution process of the Web bot scenario creation support device 1a.

[0129] This flow starts when the scenario designation receiving unit 108 a receives a scenario list acquisition request from the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 .

[0130] First, the scenario designation receiving unit 108a sends scenario list information, including the scenario name and VLAN setting value of each Web bot scenario stored in the scenario storage unit 107, to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (S700). Then, it waits for a scenario selection notification to be sent from the setting terminal 3 (S701).

[0131] Next, when the scenario designation reception unit 108a receives a scenario selection notification from the setting terminal 3 (YES in S701), it acquires a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110 (S702). Then, the scenario designation reception unit 108a transmits a VLAN name list notification including the acquired list of VLAN names to the setting terminal 3 via the setting terminal interface unit 101 (S703). Then, it waits for a VLAN name designation notification to be sent from the setting terminal 3 (S704).

[0132] Next, when the scenario designation reception unit 108a receives a VLAN name designation notification from the setting terminal 3 (YES in S704), it searches the VLAN information storage unit 110 for intelligent hub information including the VLAN name designated in the VLAN name designation notification, and identifies the address information included in this intelligent hub information (S705).The scenario designation reception unit 108a then passes this address information, along with the scenario name designated in the scenario selection notification and the VLAN name designated in the VLAN name designation notification, to the scenario execution unit 109a, and instructs it to execute the scenario.

[0133] In response to this, the scenario execution unit 109a changes the argument of the setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the Web bot scenario, which is linked to the scenario name notified by the scenario designation reception unit 108a and stored in the scenario memory unit 107, from the temporary VLAN name to the VLAN name notified by the scenario designation reception unit 108a (S706).

[0134] The scenario execution unit 109a then executes the Web bot scenario with the changed arguments on the intelligent hub 5 identified by the address information notified by the scenario designation reception unit 108a (S707). As a result, the VLAN of this intelligent hub 5 is set according to the VLAN setting value linked to the Web bot scenario.

[0135] The second embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0136] According to this embodiment, the user of the setting terminal 3 can create a Web bot scenario for setting the desired VLAN for all intelligent hubs 5 by performing a desired VLAN setting operation via Web setting screens 36a to 36d provided by any of the intelligent hubs 5, following the guidance on the guidance screens 35a to 35g displayed on the display screen 30 of the setting terminal 3. Then, when executing the Web bot scenario, the desired VLAN setting can be performed for this intelligent hub 5 simply by specifying the VLAN name of the intelligent hub 5 for which the VLAN is to be set. Therefore, in order to set the desired VLAN for each intelligent hub 5, it is not necessary to perform a series of operations for setting the desired VLAN via the Web setting screen for each intelligent hub 5.

[0137] In this way, according to this embodiment, the hassle of repeating a series of web browser operations via the web setting screen to set up the VLAN of the intelligent hub 5 is eliminated, and various settings via the web setting screen can be made more efficient.

[0138] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0139] For example, in the first embodiment described above, the scenario creation unit 106 extracts, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content memory unit 105, a first reference POST request whose body contains a setting command with the minimum port number specified as an argument, and a second reference POST request whose body contains a setting command for setting with the maximum port number specified as an argument, and based on these first and second reference POST requests, creates an execution POST request whose body contains a setting command that allows any argument to be selected within the port number selectable range (minimum port number to maximum port number), and creates a Web bot scenario by replacing the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP requests stored in the operation content memory unit 105 with this execution POST request. In the second embodiment, the scenario creation unit 106a extracts, from among the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage unit 105, a reference POST request whose body contains a setting command with a VLAN name specified as an argument. Based on this reference POST request, the scenario creation unit 106a creates an execution POST request whose body contains a setting command whose argument can be arbitrarily selected from a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage unit 110. The execution POST request is then substituted for the reference POST request included in the HTTP request stored in the operation content storage unit 105, thereby creating a Web bot scenario. In this case, the Web bot scenario may be streamlined by extracting only the POST requests containing the execution POST request from the HTTP requests that make up the Web bot scenario and deleting other HTTP requests (such as GET requests). This reduces the time required to configure the intelligent hubs 2 and 5 and conserves the storage capacity of the scenario storage unit 107.

[0140] Furthermore, the above first embodiment has been described as supporting the creation of a Web bot scenario for configuring various settings in the intelligent hub 2, and the above second embodiment has been described as supporting the creation of a Web bot scenario for configuring various VLAN settings in the intelligent hub 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be widely applied to supporting the creation of a Web bot scenario for network devices that can be configured via a Web configuration screen. [Explanation of symbols]

[0141] 1, 1a: Web bot scenario creation support device 2: Intelligent hub 3: Setting terminal 4, 4-1, 4-2: Network terminal 5, 5-1 to 5-4: Intelligent Hub 6: Monitor Hub 20, 60: Monitor port 100: Network interface section 101: Setting terminal interface unit 102: Relay unit 103, 103a: Guidance processing unit 104: Operation content acquisition unit 105: Operation content storage unit 106, 106a: Scenario creation unit 107: Scenario storage unit 108, 108a: Scenario designation reception unit 109, 109a: Scenario execution unit 110: VLAN information storage unit

Claims

1. A webbot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a webbot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen, comprising: a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal that sets up the network device, urging the terminal to perform desired setting operations via the web setting screen for each of the ports with the minimum and maximum port numbers that the network device has, in order to assist in creating a scenario for the webbot; an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device as a result of an operation on the network device performed by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a first reference POST request having a setting command with the minimum port number specified as an argument stored in its body and a second reference POST request having a setting command with the maximum port number specified as an argument stored in its body, generating an execution POST request having a setting command with an argument selectable from a port number within the range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number stored in its body based on the first reference POST request and the second reference POST request, and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request are replaced with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario for the Webbot created by the scenario creation means; an argument receiving means for outputting a range of port numbers from the minimum port number to the maximum port number as a range of port numbers selectable as an argument for a setting command stored in a body portion of the POST request for execution included in the scenario of the Webbot stored in the scenario storage means to the setting terminal in response to a request from the setting terminal, and receiving a specification of a port number within the range from the setting terminal; a webbot execution means for executing the configuration of the network device in accordance with the webbot scenario including the port number received by the argument receiving means as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body portion of the execution POST request. A web bot scenario creation support device characterized by:

2. 2. The webbot scenario creation support device according to claim 1, The scenario creation means From among the HTTP requests that constitute the scenario of the Web bot, HTTP requests other than the POST request including the POST request for execution are deleted. A web bot scenario creation support device characterized by:

3. A webbot scenario creation support system comprising the webbot scenario creation support device according to claim 1 or 2 and a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen, The network device includes: a mirror port for outputting an HTTP request received from the setting terminal; The webbot scenario creation support device further comprising an operation content acquisition means for acquiring an HTTP request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device in response to an operation on the network device performed by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output from the mirror port of the network device; The operation content storage means The HTTP request acquired by the operation content acquisition means is stored. A web bot scenario creation support system characterized by the above.

4. A webbot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a webbot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen, comprising: a VLAN information storage means for storing address information and VLAN names of each of the network devices constituting a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network); a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal that sets up the network device, the guidance prompting the user to perform a desired VLAN setting operation via the web setting screen for the network device having a desired VLAN name stored in the VLAN information storage means, in order to support creation of a scenario for the webbot; an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device in response to an operation on the network device performed by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from among the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a reference POST request having a body portion containing a setting command accompanied by the specification of the desired VLAN name as an argument, generating, based on the reference POST request, an execution POST request having a body portion containing a setting command selectable using one of the VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means as an argument, and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the reference POST request included in the HTTP request is replaced with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario for the Webbot created by the scenario creation means; an argument receiving means for outputting a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means to the setting terminal in response to a request from the setting terminal, and receiving a designation of a VLAN name in the list from the setting terminal; and a webbot execution means for executing a VLAN configuration of the network device identified by address information associated with the VLAN name and stored in the VLAN information storage means, in accordance with the webbot scenario including the VLAN name received by the argument receiving means as an argument of a configuration command stored in the body portion of the execution POST request. A web bot scenario creation support device characterized by:

5. 5. The webbot scenario creation support device according to claim 4, The scenario creation means From among the HTTP requests that constitute the scenario of the Web bot, HTTP requests other than the POST request including the POST request for execution are deleted. A web bot scenario creation support device characterized by:

6. A webbot scenario creation support system comprising: the webbot scenario creation support device according to claim 4 or 5; a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen; and a repeater disposed between the webbot scenario creation support device and the network device, The repeater is a mirror port for outputting an HTTP request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device; The webbot scenario creation support device The network device further includes an operation content acquisition means for acquiring an HTTP request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device by the setting terminal performing an operation on the network device via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output from the mirror port of the repeater, The operation content storage means The HTTP request acquired by the operation content acquisition means is stored. A web bot scenario creation support system characterized by the above.

7. A program that causes a computer to function as a Web bot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a Web bot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a Web configuration screen, a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal for setting the network device, to prompt the user to perform desired setting operations via the web setting screen for each of the ports with the minimum and maximum port numbers provided in the network device, in order to assist in creating a scenario for the webbot; an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device as a result of an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a first reference POST request having a setting command with the minimum port number specified as an argument stored in its body and a second reference POST request having a setting command with the maximum port number specified as an argument stored in its body, and generating, based on the first reference POST request and the second reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command with which a port number can be selected within the range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number stored in its body as an argument, and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request are replaced with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario for the Webbot created by the scenario creation means; an argument receiving means for receiving a port number designation from the setting terminal by outputting to the setting terminal a range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number selectable as an argument of a setting command stored in a body portion of the POST request for execution included in the scenario of the Webbot stored in the scenario storage means in response to a request from the setting terminal; The computer is caused to function as a Web bot execution means that executes the configuration of the network device according to the Web bot scenario that includes the port number received by the argument receiving means as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body portion of the execution POST request. A program characterized by:

8. A program that causes a computer to function as a Web bot scenario creation support device that supports the creation of a scenario for a Web bot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a Web configuration screen, a VLAN information storage means for storing address information and VLAN names of each of the network devices constituting a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network); a guidance processing means for outputting guidance to a setting terminal for setting the network devices, the guidance processing means outputting guidance to the ... an operation content storage means for storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device as a result of an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the Web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal by the guidance processing means; a scenario creation means for extracting, from among the HTTP requests stored in the operation content storage means, a reference POST request having a setting command in its body section with the desired VLAN name specified as an argument, generating, based on the reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command in its body section that can be selected from the VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means as an argument, and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the reference POST request included in the HTTP request is replaced with the execution POST request; a scenario storage means for storing a scenario for the Webbot created by the scenario creation means; an argument receiving means for outputting a list of VLAN names stored in the VLAN information storage means to the setting terminal in response to a request from the setting terminal and receiving a designation of a VLAN name from the setting terminal; The computer is caused to function as a Webbot execution means that performs VLAN configuration of the network device identified by address information associated with the VLAN name and stored in the VLAN information storage means, in accordance with the Webbot scenario that includes the VLAN name received by the argument receiving means as an argument of a configuration command stored in the body portion of the execution POST request. A program characterized by:

9. A webbot scenario creation support method that uses a webbot scenario creation support device to support the creation of a scenario for a webbot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen, comprising: The webbot scenario creation support device outputting guidance to a setting terminal that sets up the network device, instructing the terminal to perform desired setting operations via the web setting screen for each of the minimum port number and the maximum port number that the network device has, in order to assist in creating a scenario for the webbot; storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device as a result of an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal; extracting, from the stored HTTP requests, a first reference POST request having a setting command with the minimum port number specified as an argument stored in its body portion and a second reference POST request having a setting command with the maximum port number specified as an argument stored in its body portion; generating, based on the first reference POST request and the second reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command with an argument that allows a port number to be selected within the range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number stored in its body portion; and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the first and second reference POST requests included in the HTTP request are replaced with the execution POST request; In response to a request from the setting terminal, outputting to the setting terminal a range from the minimum port number to the maximum port number that can be selected as an argument of a setting command stored in the body of the execution POST request included in the scenario of the Webbot, and accepting a port number designation from the setting terminal; The network device is configured according to the webbot scenario that includes the accepted port number as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body of the execution POST request. A method for supporting creation of a web bot scenario, comprising:

10. A webbot scenario creation support method that uses a webbot scenario creation support device to support the creation of a scenario for a webbot, which is application software for executing automated tasks and making various settings on a network device that can be configured via a web configuration screen, comprising: The webbot scenario creation support device a setting terminal for setting the network devices, configured to support creation of a scenario for the Webbot, outputs guidance to the setting terminal for setting the network devices, via the Web setting screen, for the network devices having a desired VLAN name among the network devices constituting a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network); storing an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) request transmitted from the setting terminal to the network device as a result of an operation performed on the network device by the setting terminal via the web setting screen in accordance with the guidance output to the setting terminal; extracting, from the stored HTTP requests, a reference POST request having a setting command in its body that specifies the desired VLAN name as an argument; generating, based on the reference POST request, an execution POST request having a setting command in its body that can be selected from the VLAN names of the network devices that make up the VLAN as an argument; and creating a scenario for the Webbot in which the reference POST request included in the HTTP request is replaced with the execution POST request; In response to a request from the setting terminal, outputting a list of VLAN names of the network devices that configure the VLAN to the setting terminal and accepting a designation of a VLAN name from the setting terminal; The VLAN configuration of the network device is performed according to the webbot scenario that includes the received VLAN name as an argument of the configuration command stored in the body of the execution POST request. A method for supporting creation of a web bot scenario, comprising:

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