A communication device for requesting setting parameters, a communication device for holding setting parameters, a communication device, a communication system, a communication method, and a communication program.

Abstract

To provide a setting parameter request communication device capable of generating setting information for performing a communication using information acquired from a setting parameter holding communication device.SOLUTION: A setting parameter request communication device comprises: a control section 14 which performs control for transmitting a setting acquisition request requesting a setting parameter corresponding to the own device to a setting parameter holding communication device for holding a setting parameter in such a form that setting information required for a communication regarding the setting parameter request communication device can be read by the setting parameter request communication device; a setting information generation section 15 for generating setting information used by the own device from the setting parameter corresponding to the own device in a case where the setting parameter corresponding to the own device is included in a setting acquisition response acquired from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request; and a setting information holding section 16 for holding the setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a setting parameter request communication device, a setting parameter holding communication device, a communication device, a communication system, a communication method, and a communication program that constitute a communication system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a communication system composed of a plurality of communication devices, and each communication device performs communication such as data transmission via a transmission path. To perform such communication, various types of information necessary for communication are preset in each communication device. Here, when a communication device constituting the communication system fails, the communication device may be replaced as a fault countermeasure. In order for the communication device after replacement to perform communication, it is necessary to set various types of information necessary for communication in the same manner as the communication device before replacement for the communication device after replacement. However, when there is a large amount of information to be set, it takes time for an operator or the like to perform the setting manually. Also, as the number of replaced communication devices increases, it takes time for the operator to complete the setting of all communication devices, so it takes time for communication to be restored in the communication system.

[0003] In response to such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in a network system where when a certain network device is replaced due to a failure or the like, the network device after replacement acquires the setting information of the network device before replacement from an adjacent network device and uses it as its own setting information. In the network system described in Patent Document 1, adjacent network devices transmit and receive and store each other's setting information. Therefore, even when a certain network device is replaced, the network device after replacement can acquire the setting information used by the network device before replacement from an adjacent network device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0005] However, the conventional technology described above assumes compatibility of configuration information between the network equipment before replacement and the network equipment after replacement. Generally, network equipment that makes up a network system does not fail frequently, and it is thought that a long period of time is required from the time the network equipment is first installed until it is replaced due to failure. Furthermore, it is possible that new network equipment may be designed and manufactured during the long period before the network equipment fails. Therefore, if there is no compatibility in terms of how configuration information is written between the network equipment before replacement and the network equipment after replacement, there is a problem that the network equipment after replacement may not be able to use the configuration information used by the network equipment before replacement, even if it is obtained from an adjacent network equipment.

[0006] This disclosure is made in view of the above, and aims to provide a setting parameter request communication device that can generate setting information for communication using information acquired from a setting parameter holding communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the setting parameter request communication device of the present disclosure comprises: a control unit that performs control to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, requesting setting parameters corresponding to its own device; a setting information generation unit that generates setting information to be used by its own device from the setting parameters corresponding to its own device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes setting parameters corresponding to its own device; and a setting information holding unit that holds the setting information. The setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting acquisition response includes setting parameters corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting acquisition response if the setting acquisition response includes setting information used by the device.It is characterized by the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the setting parameter request communication device has the effect of being able to generate setting information for communication using information obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example configuration of the communication system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Block diagram showing an example configuration of the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing an example configuration of the communication device 20 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1 [Figure 6] Flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 20 according to Embodiment 1 [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a processing circuit when the processing circuit for realizing the communication device according to Embodiment 1 is implemented using a processor and memory. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a processing circuit when the processing circuit for realizing the communication device according to Embodiment 1 is configured with dedicated hardware. [Figure 9] A diagram showing an example configuration of the communication system according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 10] Block diagram showing an example configuration of the communication device 40 according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit of the communication device 40-2 in Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes in detail, with reference to the drawings, the setting parameter request communication device, the setting parameter holding communication device, the communication device, the communication system, the communication method, and the communication program according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows an example configuration of a communication system 50 according to Embodiment 1. The communication system 50 comprises a communication device 10, a communication device 20, and communication devices 30-1 and 30-2. Communication devices 10, 20, 30-1, and 30-2 are communication devices that perform communication such as data transmission in the communication system 50, and are, for example, Layer 2 switches. Each communication device 10, 20, 30-1, and 30-2 has unique information set for performing communication, and communication is performed based on the set information. The communication system 50 is, for example, a network with VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) configured. Communication devices 10, 20, 30-1, and 30-2 perform IP (Internet Protocol) communication within the communication system 50, for example. In the following description, the information set in the communication devices for performing communication will be referred to as configuration information. Configuration information is information necessary for the communication devices to perform communication. The communication system 50 can continue to perform communications, such as data transmission, if a communication device is replaced due to a malfunction or other reason, by using the configuration information of the previous communication device when the replacement device is replaced.

[0012] In communication system 50, communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 are, for example, communication devices that have been operating since the initial installation of communication system 50. Also, communication devices 10 and 20 are newer models than communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, and are communication devices that are not compatible with communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 in terms of the method of describing the aforementioned setting information. Communication device 20 is a backup node in communication system 50 that holds setting parameters, which are information based on the setting information of other communication devices, to be described later. Communication device 10 is the communication device after replacement. In Embodiment 1, the operation of communication device 10, as the communication device after replacement, to acquire the setting information of the communication device before replacement will be described. In Embodiment 1, communication system 50 is a communication system including one or more communication devices 10 and one or more communication devices 20. Note that in Embodiment 1, communication device 10 may be referred to as the setting parameter request communication device, communication device 20 may be referred to as the setting parameter holding communication device, and communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 may be referred to as the setting information request communication devices. Note that in the example of FIG. 1, communication device 20 functions as a backup node, but in communication system 50, a plurality of communication devices may function as backup nodes.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Communication device 10 includes ports 11 and 12, a communication unit 13, a control unit 14, a setting information generation unit 15, and a setting information holding unit 16.

[0014] Ports 11 and 12 are each connected to one communication device via a transmission line. For example, in communication system 50 shown in FIG. 1, port 11 is connected to communication device 20 via a transmission line, and port 12 is connected to communication device 30-2 via a transmission line.

[0015] The communication unit 13 communicates with an adjacent communication device via port 11 or port 12 under the control of the control unit 14, and performs data transmission and the like in the communication system 50. Further, the communication unit 13, under the control of the control unit 14, transmits a setting parameter acquisition request for requesting the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device 10 itself to a communication device 20 that holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the communication device 10 for communication regarding one or more communication devices 10 via port 11 or port 12. The communication unit 13 receives, via port 11 or port 12, a setting parameter acquisition response that is a response to the setting parameter acquisition request from the communication device 20. The communication unit 13 outputs the received setting parameter acquisition response to the control unit 14. In the following description, the setting parameter acquisition request transmitted by the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1 may be simply referred to as a setting acquisition request, and the setting parameter acquisition response received by the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1 may be simply referred to as a setting acquisition response.

[0016] The control unit 14 controls the transmission of a setting parameter acquisition request via port 11 or port twelve from the communication unit 13. Further, when the setting parameter acquisition response acquired from the communication unit 14 includes the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device 10, the control unit 14 outputs the setting parameter acquisition response to the setting information generation unit 15.

[0017] When the setting parameter acquisition response acquired from the communication device 20 as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device 10, the setting information generation unit 15 generates the setting information used by the communication device 10 from the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device 10.

[0018] When the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device 10, the setting information holding unit 16 holds the setting information used by the communication device 10 generated by the setting information generation unit 15.

[0019] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a communication device 20 according to Embodiment 1. The communication device 20 comprises ports 21 and 22, a communication unit 23, a control unit 24, a setting information generation unit 25, and a setting parameter holding unit 27.

[0020] Ports 21 and 22 are each connected to a communication device via a transmission line. For example, in the communication system 50 shown in Figure 1, port 21 is connected to communication device 30-1 via a transmission line, and port 22 is connected to communication device 10 via a transmission line.

[0021] The communication unit 23, under the control of the control unit 24, communicates with adjacent communication devices via port 21 or port 22 and performs data transmission in the communication system 50. The communication unit 23 also receives setting acquisition requests from adjacent communication devices via port 21 or port 22. The communication unit 23 outputs the received setting acquisition requests to the control unit 24. Under the control of the control unit 24, the communication unit 23 sends a setting acquisition response corresponding to the communication device that sent the setting acquisition request via port 21 or port 22 as a response to the setting acquisition request. For example, under the control of the control unit 24, the communication unit 23 sends a setting parameter acquisition response containing the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 10 that sent the setting parameter acquisition request via port 21 or port 22 as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request.

[0022] When the control unit 24 receives a setting acquisition request from the communication unit 23, it performs control to send a setting acquisition response. For example, the control unit 24 performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to a communication device 10 that sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting setting parameters, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, including the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 10 that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. Alternatively, the control unit 24 performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to a communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 that sent a setting information acquisition request requesting setting information, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, including the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit 25 and used by the communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 that sent the setting information acquisition request.

[0023] The configuration information generation unit 25 generates configuration information to be used by the communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 that sent the configuration information acquisition request, based on the configuration parameters corresponding to the communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 that sent the configuration information acquisition request.

[0024] The setting parameter holding unit 27 holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the communication device 10 for one or more communication devices 10, which contains the setting information necessary for communication. The setting parameter holding unit 27 also holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the setting information generation unit 25 for communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, which contains the setting information necessary for communication. The fact that the setting parameter holding unit 27 holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the communication device 10 means that, as with communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, the setting parameter holding unit 27, i.e., the communication device 20, can hold setting parameters for multiple communication devices 10.

[0025] Figure 4 shows an example of setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit 27 of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1. In the communication system 50, the communication device 20, which is a backup node, holds setting parameters for communication device 10, setting parameters for communication device 30-1, and setting parameters for communication device 30-2, as described above. The setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit 27 of the communication device 20 are, for example, in a text file. A text file is, for example, JSON (Java Script Object Notation), XML (eXtensible Markup Language), etc., but is not limited to these.

[0026] In addition, in the communication system 50, communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 are communication devices that, unlike communication devices 10 and 20, cannot generate setting information from setting parameters.

[0027] Next, we will describe the operation in the communication system 50 where the replacement communication device 10, which has been replaced from the original communication device, obtains setting parameters from the backup node communication device 20 and generates setting information. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device 20 according to Embodiment 1.

[0028] In the communication device 10, when the control unit 14 is first started after replacement (step S101), it checks whether or not setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit 16 (step S102). Since the setting information is not stored in the setting information storage unit 16 (step S102: No), the control unit 14 performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to the communication device 20 requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device. The communication unit 13 sends the setting parameter acquisition request to the communication device 20 under the control of the control unit 14 (step S103).

[0029] Here, when communication device 10 communicates with communication device 20 for the first time after the exchange, it can perform communication by obtaining the IP address, VLAN information, etc. necessary for IP communication from communication device 20 using a method described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4776512, and reflecting this information in its own device. As for the communication method between each communication device in the communication system 50, existing methods such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) described in Patent Document 1 or the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 4776512 can be used.

[0030] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, it is assumed that the communication system 50 has a mix of communication devices of multiple models. Therefore, the communication device 10 includes information about its own specifications in the setting parameter acquisition request it sends to the communication device 20. The information about the specifications of the communication device 10 is, for example, information indicating whether the communication device 10 can generate setting information from setting parameters. The information indicating whether the communication device can generate setting information from setting parameters does not have to be information that directly indicates whether it can generate setting information, as long as it can be determined by information such as the model identification information of the communication device 10 and the production date of the communication device 10. The information indicating whether the communication device can generate setting information from setting parameters may be, for example, what is requested as a setting acquisition request, i.e., setting parameters or setting information. The communication device that requests setting parameters is a communication device that can generate setting information from setting parameters, for example, the communication device 10. The communication device that requests setting information is a communication device that cannot generate setting information from setting parameters, for example, the communication devices 30-1 and 30-2.

[0031] In the communication device 10, the control unit 14 stores information about the specifications of the communication device 10, for example, in a defined existing field or extended field of the setting parameter acquisition request. If the communication device 20 can store information relating the source port number and model in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header, i.e., the specifications of the communication device 10, the control unit 14 can transmit the information about the specifications of the communication device 10 to the communication device 20 without having to provide a dedicated area in the setting parameter acquisition request. Alternatively, the control unit 14 may send the information about the specifications of the communication device 10 to the communication device 20 when it obtains the IP address, VLAN information, etc., necessary for IP communication from the communication device 20.

[0032] In the communication device 20, when the communication unit 23 receives a setting acquisition request from the communication device (step S201), it outputs the setting acquisition request to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 determines whether the setting acquisition request is a setting parameter acquisition request from the communication device 10 requesting setting parameters, or a setting information acquisition request from the communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 requesting setting information (step S202). The control unit 24 can make this determination, for example, based on the information regarding the specifications of the communication device that sent the setting acquisition request, as described above, that is, based on information indicating whether the communication device that sent the setting acquisition request can generate setting information from setting parameters in its own device.

[0033] The control unit 24 determines that the received setting acquisition request is a setting parameter acquisition request from the communication device 10, based on the information regarding the specifications of the source communication device included in the setting acquisition request (Step S202: Yes). The control unit 24 assumes that the source communication device 10 can generate setting information from the setting parameters, and acquires the setting parameters corresponding to the source communication device 10 from the setting parameter holding unit 27, and generates a setting parameter acquisition response that includes the setting parameters (Step S203). The control unit 24 outputs the generated setting parameter acquisition response to the communication unit 23 and controls it to transmit it to the communication device 10. The communication unit 23 transmits the setting parameter acquisition response to the communication device 10 under the control of the control unit 24 (Step S204).

[0034] Furthermore, if the source of the setting acquisition request is communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2, the control unit 24 determines that the received setting acquisition request is a setting information acquisition request from communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 based on the information regarding the specifications of the communication device that sent the setting acquisition request and is included in the setting acquisition request (step S202: No). The following explanation will use the case of communication device 30-1 as an example. The control unit 24 determines that the source communication device 30-1 cannot generate setting information from the setting parameters, and obtains the setting parameters corresponding to the source communication device 30-1 from the setting parameter holding unit 27 and outputs them to the setting information generation unit 25. The setting information generation unit 25 generates setting information to be used by communication device 30-1 from the setting parameters corresponding to communication device 30-1 (step S205). The specific method by which the setting information generation unit 25 generates setting information from the setting parameters will be described later. The setting information generation unit 25 outputs the generated setting information to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 obtains the setting information used by the transmitting communication device 30-1 from the setting information generation unit 25 and generates a setting information acquisition response containing the setting information (step S206). The control unit 24 outputs the generated setting information acquisition response to the communication unit 23 and controls it to transmit it to the communication device 30-1. The communication unit 23 transmits the setting information acquisition response to the communication device 30-1 under the control of the control unit 24 (step S207).

[0035] Here, we will explain how the setting information generation unit 25 of the communication device 20 generates setting information from setting parameters. The setting information generation unit 25 has in advance information necessary for generating setting information, such as the format of setting information for each model, i.e., for each communication device 10, 30-1, and 30-2, and the conversion rules from setting parameters to the aforementioned setting information. The format of the setting information refers to, for example, the file format, such as text format or binary format, and the order of each piece of information described in the setting parameters. The setting information generation unit 25 can have in place the information necessary for generating setting information for communication devices that are already in use at the time the communication device 20 is designed or manufactured. Therefore, when the setting information generation unit 25 receives setting parameters from the control unit 24, it can generate setting information by converting them based on the information necessary for generating setting information. The setting information generation unit 25 can generate setting information for communication devices that are already in use at the time the communication device 20 is designed or manufactured by converting them based on the information necessary for generating setting information.

[0036] Furthermore, the setting information generation unit 25 cannot generate setting information from setting parameters for new communication devices that were designed or manufactured after the communication device 20 was designed or manufactured, and for which the setting information is incompatible with previous models. However, if the new communication device is equipped with a setting information generation unit, such as communication device 10, then communication device 20 does not need to generate setting information; it only needs to transmit setting parameters to the communication device equipped with the setting information generation unit. As a result, a communication device equipped with a setting information generation unit, such as communication device 10, can generate setting information corresponding to its own device if it can obtain the setting parameters corresponding to its own device.

[0037] Furthermore, the communication device 20 can generate setting parameters from setting information by performing a conversion process that is the reverse of the conversion process performed by the setting information generation unit 25 to generate setting information from setting parameters. The communication device 20, acting as a backup node, can acquire setting information from other communication devices in the communication system 50, such as communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, and generate the setting parameters of communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 by performing a conversion process that is the reverse of the conversion process performed by the setting information generation unit 25 to generate setting information from setting parameters. As a result, the communication device 20 can hold the setting parameters of communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 as a backup node. The communication device 20 cannot generate setting parameters from setting information for new communication devices that were designed or produced after the communication device 20 was designed or produced, and for which the setting information is incompatible with previous models. Therefore, the communication device 20 requests the setting parameters from the communication device that sent the setting parameters, such as communication device 10, when holding or updating the setting parameters of communication device 10 as a backup node. The communication device 10 is capable of generating setting information from setting parameters, and also capable of generating setting parameters from setting information, as the setting information generation unit 15 has the same functionality as the setting information generation unit 25.

[0038] Returning to the flowchart explanation, in the communication device 10, the communication unit 13 receives a setting parameter acquisition response from the communication device 20 (step S104). The communication unit 13 outputs the received setting parameter acquisition response to the control unit 14. The control unit 14 checks whether the acquired setting parameter acquisition response contains the setting parameter corresponding to its own device (step S105). Since the control unit 14 contains the setting parameter corresponding to its own device (step S105: Yes), it extracts the setting parameter corresponding to its own device from the setting parameter acquisition response and outputs it to the setting information generation unit 15. The setting information generation unit 15 generates setting information corresponding to its own device from the setting parameter corresponding to its own device (step S106). The method by which the setting information generation unit 15 generates setting information from setting parameters is the same as the method by which the setting information generation unit 25 of the communication device 20 generates setting information from setting parameters, as described above. The setting information generation unit 15 outputs the generated setting information corresponding to its own device to the control unit 14. The control unit 14 outputs the setting information corresponding to its own device, generated by the setting information generation unit 15, to the setting information holding unit 16, and has the setting information holding unit 16 hold it. The setting information holding unit 16 holds the setting information corresponding to its own device that it has obtained from the control unit 14 (step S107). Although not shown in Figure 2, the setting information generation unit 15 may also output the generated setting information corresponding to its own device directly to the setting information holding unit 16 without going through the control unit 14, and have the setting information holding unit 16 hold it.

[0039] Basically, the setting parameter acquisition response that communication device 10 receives from communication device 20 will include the setting parameters corresponding to communication device 10. Here, we assume a case where communication device 20 generates setting information used by communication device 10 from the setting parameters corresponding to communication device 10 due to some incorrect processing. For example, if communication device 20 and communication device 10 are communication devices designed or manufactured at the same time, as mentioned above, communication device 20 can generate setting information used by communication device 10 from the setting parameters corresponding to communication device 10. In this case, communication device 10 can also use the setting information generated by communication device 20. Therefore, in communication device 10, if the setting parameters corresponding to its own device are not included (step S105: No), but the setting information corresponding to its own device is included (step S108: Yes), the control unit 14 extracts the setting information corresponding to its own device from the setting parameter acquisition response and outputs it to the setting information holding unit 16, and has the setting information holding unit 16 hold it. Therefore, the setting information holding unit 16 holds the setting information used by the communication device 10 included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes setting information used by the communication device 10.

[0040] Furthermore, if the control unit 14 does not contain setting parameters corresponding to its own device (step S105: No) and does not contain setting information corresponding to its own device (step S108: No), it terminates the operation of the flowchart shown in Figure 5 without acquiring setting information. The case where step S105: No and step S108: No is, for example, when the communication device 20 is not operating normally for some reason. In such a case, the communication device 10, for example, after a specified time has elapsed, executes the operation of the flowchart shown in Figure 5 again from step S101. In the communication device 10, if the control unit 14 has setting information held in the setting information holding unit 16 (step S102: Yes), it terminates the operation of the flowchart shown in Figure 5 without performing an operation to acquire setting information. The case where setting information is held in the setting information holding unit 16 (step S102: Yes) is, for example, when the communication device 10 is replaced and a worker sets setting information in the communication device 10.

[0041] Next, the hardware configuration of the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. In the communication device 10, ports 11 and 12 are interfaces that connect to adjacent communication devices via transmission lines. The communication unit 13, control unit 14, setting information generation unit 15, and setting information holding unit 16 are implemented by processing circuits. The processing circuit may be a memory for storing programs and a processor for executing the programs stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware. The processing circuit is also called a control circuit.

[0042] Figure 7 shows an example of the configuration of a processing circuit 90 when the processing circuit for realizing the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1 is realized by a processor 91 and a memory 92. The processing circuit 90 shown in Figure 7 is a control circuit and comprises a processor 91 and a memory 92. When the processing circuit 90 is composed of a processor 91 and a memory 92, each function of the processing circuit 90 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a program and stored in the memory 92. In the processing circuit 90, each function is realized by the processor 91 reading and executing the program stored in the memory 92. That is, the processing circuit 90 includes a memory 92 for storing a program that will ultimately be executed as processing for the communication device 10. This program can also be said to be a program that causes the communication device 10 to execute each function realized by the processing circuit 90. This program may be provided by a storage medium on which the program is stored, or by other means such as a communication medium.

[0043] The above program can also be described as a program that causes the setting parameter request communication device to execute the following steps: a request control step in which the control unit 14 controls the setting parameter request communication device to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, requesting setting parameters corresponding to its own device; a generation step in which the setting information generation unit 15 generates setting information to be used by its own device from the setting parameters corresponding to its own device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes setting parameters corresponding to its own device; and a setting information holding step in which the setting information holding unit 16 holds the setting information.

[0044] Here, the processor 91 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The memory 92 is, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Registered Trademark) (Electrically EPROM), magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, minidiscs, or DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs).

[0045] Figure 8 shows an example of the configuration of a processing circuit 93 when the processing circuit realizing the communication device 10 according to Embodiment 1 is configured with dedicated hardware. The processing circuit 93 shown in Figure 8 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The processing circuit 93 may be partially realized with dedicated hardware and partially realized with software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit 93 can realize each of the above functions with dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0046] The hardware configuration of the communication device 20 is similar. In the communication device 20, ports 21 and 22 are interfaces that connect to adjacent communication devices via transmission lines. The communication unit 23, control unit 24, setting information generation unit 25, and setting parameter holding unit 27 are implemented by processing circuits. The processing circuits may be a memory for storing programs and a processor for executing the programs stored in the memory, or they may be dedicated hardware. Processing circuits are also called control circuits.

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, in the communication system 50, the communication device 10, which is the replacement communication device, sends a setting parameter acquisition request and receives a setting parameter acquisition response from the backup node communication device 20, which includes setting parameters listed in a format readable by the communication device 10, containing the setting information necessary for communication for the communication device 10. The communication device 20 generates setting information corresponding to the communication device 10 from the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 10. The backup node communication device 20 sends a setting parameter acquisition response, which includes the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 10, to the replacement communication device 10, which is capable of generating setting information from setting parameters. As a result, the communication device 10 can generate setting information for communication such as data transmission using information acquired from other communication devices. Even if the communication devices that make up the communication system 50 are incompatible in terms of how setting information is described, the replacement communication device can continue communication such as data transmission by generating setting information from its own setting parameters.

[0048] Embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 describes a case in a communication system where the communication device after replacement and the communication device of the backup node have the same configuration.

[0049] Figure 9 shows an example configuration of a communication system 50a according to Embodiment 2. The communication system 50a comprises communication devices 40-1 and 40-2, and communication devices 30-1 and 30-2. Communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 are similar to the communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 of Embodiment 1. Communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 are devices that perform communication such as data transmission in the communication system 50a, and are, for example, Layer 2 switches. Communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 have unique information set for each communication device for performing communication, and communication is performed based on the set information. The communication system 50a is, for example, a network with VLANs set. Communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 perform IP communication within the communication system 50a, for example. If a communication device in the communication system 50a is replaced due to a failure or the like, the replacement communication device can continue to perform communication such as data transmission by using the setting information of the previous communication device.

[0050] In the communication system 50a, communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 are, for example, communication devices that have been in operation since the initial installation of the communication system 50a. Communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 are newer models than communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, and are not compatible with communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 in terms of the method of describing the aforementioned configuration information. Communication device 40-2 is a backup node in the communication system 50a that holds configuration parameters, which are information based on the configuration information of other communication devices. Communication device 40-1 is the replacement communication device. In Embodiment 2, the operation of communication device 40-1, as the replacement communication device, to acquire the configuration information of the pre-replacement communication device will be described. In the following description, when communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 are not distinguished, they may be referred to as communication device 40. In Embodiment 2, the communication system 50a is a communication system comprising two or more communication devices 40. In Embodiment 2, communication devices 30-1 and 30-2 may be referred to as setting information request communication devices. In the example shown in Figure 9, communication device 40-2 functions as a backup node, but in the communication system 50a, multiple communication devices may function as backup nodes.

[0051] In Embodiment 2, communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 are both capable of acting as backup nodes in the communication system 50a. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the communication device 40 according to Embodiment 2. The communication device 40 includes ports 41 and 42, a communication unit 43, a control unit 44, a setting information generation unit 45, a setting information holding unit 46, and a setting parameter holding unit 47.

[0052] Ports 41 and 42 are each connected to one communication device via a transmission line. For example, if communication device 40 is communication device 40-1, then in the communication system 50a shown in Figure 9, port 41 is connected to communication device 40-2 via a transmission line, and port 42 is connected to communication device 30-2 via a transmission line.

[0053] The communication unit 43, under the control of the control unit 44, communicates with adjacent communication devices via port 41 or port 42 and performs data transmission in the communication system 50a. The communication unit 43 also sends and receives setting acquisition requests and setting acquisition responses via port 41 or port 42. Specifically, when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device 40-1, the communication unit 43 operates in the same way as the communication unit 13 of the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1, and when the communication device 40 is the backup node communication device 40-2, the communication unit 43 operates in the same way as the communication unit 23 of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1.

[0054] The control unit 44 operates in the same way as the control unit 14 of the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device 40-1, and operates in the same way as the control unit 24 of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is the backup node communication device 40-2. For example, when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device 40-1, the control unit 44 controls the communication device 40-2, which holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by the other communication device, to send a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 40-1. Note that the other communication device here refers to another communication device from the perspective of the communication device 40-2, such as the communication device 40-1. Furthermore, for example, if communication device 40 is a backup node (communication device 40-2), the control unit 44 controls communication device 40-1, which sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting setting parameters, to send a setting parameter acquisition response containing the setting parameters corresponding to communication device 40-1 that sent the request, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request.

[0055] The configuration information generation unit 45 operates in the same way as the configuration information generation unit 15 of the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device 40-1, and operates in the same way as the configuration information generation unit 25 of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is the backup node communication device 40-2. For example, when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device 40-1, the configuration information generation unit 45 generates configuration information to be used by the communication device 40-1 from the configuration parameters corresponding to the communication device 40-1 when the configuration parameter acquisition response obtained from the communication device 40-2 as a response to the configuration parameter acquisition request includes configuration parameters corresponding to the communication device 40-1. Furthermore, for example, if communication device 40 is a backup node, communication device 40-2, the setting information generation unit 45 generates setting information to be used by communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2, which sent the setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit 47 that correspond to the setting parameters of communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 that sent the setting information acquisition request. The control unit 44 also controls communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2 to send the setting information acquisition request by sending a setting information acquisition response to communication device 30-1 or communication device 30-2, which sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request.

[0056] The setting information holding unit 46 operates in the same manner as the setting information generation unit 15 of the communication device 10 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device, which is communication device 40-1. For example, when the communication device 40 is the replacement communication device, which is communication device 40-1, the setting information holding unit 46 holds the setting information used by the communication device 40-1, which is generated by the setting information generation unit 45, if the setting parameter acquisition response includes setting parameters corresponding to the communication device 40-1. Alternatively, the setting information holding unit 46 holds the setting information used by the communication device 40-1 included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes setting information used by the communication device 40-1.

[0057] The setting parameter holding unit 47 operates in the same way as the setting parameter holding unit 27 of the communication device 20 in Embodiment 1 when the communication device 40 is a backup node, which is communication device 40-2. For example, when the communication device 40 is a backup node, which is communication device 40-2, the setting parameter holding unit 47 holds setting parameters listed in a format that can be read by communication device 40-1, which is a communication device other than itself, which is communication device 40-2, for setting information necessary for communication. The setting parameter holding unit 47 also holds setting parameters listed in a format that can be read by the setting information generation unit 45, for communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, for setting information necessary for communication. Furthermore, the fact that the setting parameter holding unit 47 holds setting parameters listed in a format readable by communication device 40-1 for communication devices 40-1 other than its own communication device 40-2 means that, as with communication devices 30-1 and 30-2, the setting parameter holding unit 47, i.e., communication device 40-2, is capable of holding setting parameters for multiple communication devices 40 other than its own communication device 40-2.

[0058] Figure 11 shows an example of setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit 47 of the communication device 40-2 in Embodiment 2. In the communication system 50a, the communication device 40-2, which is a backup node, holds setting parameters for communication device 40-1, setting parameters for communication device 30-1, and setting parameters for communication device 30-2, as described above. The setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit 47 of the communication device 40-2 are, for example, in a text file. A text file is, for example, JSON, XML, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0059] In the communication system 50a of Embodiment 2, when the replacement communication device 40-1, which has been replaced from the original communication device, obtains setting parameters from communication device 40-2 and generates setting information, communication device 40-1 operates in the same way as communication device 10 in Embodiment 1, and communication device 40-2 operates in the same way as communication device 20 in Embodiment 1. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the operations of communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 is omitted. Since communication devices 40-1 and 40-2 have the same configuration, communication device 40-1 can also act as a backup node. In this case, for example, if communication device 40-2 fails, the replacement communication device 40, which is the same model as communication device 40-2, can obtain setting parameters for communication device 40-2 from communication device 40-1 and generate the setting information that was used by communication device 40-2.

[0060] Next, the hardware configuration of the communication device 40 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. In the communication device 40, ports 41 and 42 are interfaces that connect to adjacent communication devices via transmission lines. The communication unit 43, control unit 44, setting information generation unit 45, setting information holding unit 46, and setting parameter holding unit 47 are implemented by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be a memory for storing programs and a processor for executing the programs stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware. The processing circuit is also called a control circuit.

[0061] As described above, in this embodiment, in the communication system 50a, the communication device 40-1, which is the communication device after replacement, and the communication device 40-2, which is the backup node, have the same configuration. In this case as well, the same effects as in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

[0062] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and it is possible to combine them with other known technologies, combine different embodiments, and omit or modify parts of the configuration without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0063] Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0064] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix.

[0065] (Note 1) A control unit that performs control to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, regarding a setting parameter request communication device, for setting information necessary for communication during communication, and requests the setting parameters corresponding to itself. A setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, A setting information holding unit that holds the aforementioned setting information, A setting parameter request communication device characterized by comprising the following: (Note 2) The setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting acquisition response includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting acquisition response if the setting acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. A setting parameter request communication device as described in Appendix 1, characterized by the above. (Note 3) A setting parameter request communication device includes a setting parameter holding unit that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, and A control unit that performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to a setting parameter request communication device that has sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. A communication device for holding setting parameters, characterized by comprising the following features. (Note 4) moreover, For a setting information request communication device that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request request for the setting information, a setting information generation unit generates the setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, Equipped with, The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. The control unit performs control to transmit a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request. A setting parameter holding communication device as described in Appendix 3, characterized by the above. (Note 5) A control unit that performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to a communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by other communication devices, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device, the setting information necessary for communication with other communication devices. A setting information generation unit that generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, A setting information holding unit that holds the aforementioned setting information, A communication device characterized by comprising: (Note 6) The setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. The communication device described in Appendix 5, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 7) A setting parameter holding unit that holds the setting parameters in a format readable by the aforementioned communication device other than itself, the setting information necessary for communication with the aforementioned communication device other than itself. Equipped with, The control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, which includes the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. A communication device as described in Appendix 5 or 6, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 8) The setting information generation unit generates the setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit that correspond to the setting parameters of the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, for setting information request communication devices that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. The control unit performs control to transmit a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request. The communication device described in Appendix 7, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 9) The setting parameter request communication device described in Appendix 1 or 2, The setting parameter holding communication device described in Appendix 3 or 4, A communication system characterized by comprising the following features. (Note 10) A communication system characterized by comprising two or more communication devices described in any one of the appendices 5 to 8. (Note 11) A communication method for a setting parameter request communication device, A request control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device, the setting parameter request communication device, and the setting parameter holding communication device that holds the setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device. The setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, The setting information holding unit performs a setting information holding step of holding the setting information, A communication method characterized by including (Note 12) In the setting information holding step, the setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting acquisition response includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting acquisition response if the setting acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. The communication method described in Appendix 11, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 13) A communication method for a communication device that holds setting parameters, The setting parameter holding unit holds setting parameters in a format that allows the setting parameter request communication device to read the setting parameter information necessary for communication with the setting parameter request communication device. A response control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the setting parameter request communication device that sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. A communication method characterized by including (Note 14) moreover, The setting information generation unit generates the setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, for setting information request communication devices that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. Includes, In the setting parameter holding step, the setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. In the response control step, the control unit performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, which includes the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request. The communication method described in Appendix 13, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 15) A communication method for communication devices, A request control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to a communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the other communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device, the setting information necessary for communication with the other communication device. A setting information generation step for the device in which the setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, The setting information holding unit performs a setting information holding step of holding the setting information, A communication method characterized by including (Note 16) In the setting information holding step, the setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. The communication method described in Appendix 15, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 17) The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information necessary for communication with a communication device other than itself to be read by the communication device other than itself, in a setting parameter holding step, The control unit performs a response control step in which it transmits a setting parameter acquisition response to the communication device that transmitted the setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the communication device that transmitted the setting parameter acquisition request. A communication method according to appendix 15 or 16, characterized by including the following: (Note 18) moreover, A setting information generation step for a setting information request communication device, in which the setting information generation unit cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request for the setting information, generates the setting information to be used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request from the setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit that correspond to the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. Includes, In the setting parameter holding step, the setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. In the response control step, the control unit performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, which includes the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request. The communication method described in Appendix 17, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 19) A communication method for a communication system comprising a setting parameter request communication device and a setting parameter retention communication device, The setting parameter holding communication device holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, with the setting parameter holding communication device holding setting information necessary for communication with the setting parameter request communication device, The request control step involves the setting parameter request communication device performing control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to the setting parameter holding communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device. The setting parameter holding communication device performs a response control step in which it controls the setting parameter acquisition communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, which includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. The setting parameter request communication device generates setting information for its own device from the setting parameter corresponding to its own device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameter corresponding to its own device, The setting parameter request communication device includes a setting information holding step in which it holds the setting information, A communication method characterized by including (Note 20) In the setting information retention step, the setting parameter request communication device retains the generated setting information for use by its own device if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to its own device, and retains the setting information for use by its own device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information for use by its own device. The communication method described in Appendix 19, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 21) The communication system further includes a setting information request communication device that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters, moreover, The setting parameter holding communication device performs a setting information generation step for a setting information request communication device that has sent a setting information acquisition request request for the setting information, generating the setting information used by the setting information request communication device from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request. Includes, In the setting parameter holding step, the setting parameter holding communication device holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device to be read by the setting parameter holding communication device. In the response control step, the setting parameter holding communication device performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, which includes the generated setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request. The communication method described in Appendix 19 or 20, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 22) A communication program characterized by causing a computer to implement one of the communication methods described in any one of the appendices 11 to 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10,20,30-1,30-2,40,40-1,40-2 Communication device, 11,12,21,22,41,42 Port, 13,23,43 Communication unit, 14,24,44 Control unit, 15,25,45 Setting information generation unit, 16,46 Setting information holding unit, 27,47 Setting parameter holding unit, 50,50a Communication system.

Claims

1. A control unit that performs control to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, regarding a setting parameter request communication device, for setting information necessary for communication during communication, and requests the setting parameters corresponding to itself. A setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, It comprises a setting information holding unit that holds the aforementioned setting information, The setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting acquisition response includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting acquisition response if the setting acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. A communication device for requesting setting parameters, characterized by the above.

2. A setting parameter request communication device includes a setting parameter holding unit that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, and A control unit that performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to a setting parameter request communication device that has sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. For a setting information request communication device that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request, the system includes a setting information generation unit that generates the setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request. The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. The control unit performs control to transmit a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that transmitted the setting information acquisition request. A communication device for holding setting parameters, characterized by the above.

3. A control unit that performs control for a communication device to send a setting parameter acquisition request to another communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to the communication device itself. A setting information generation unit that generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the other communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, It comprises a setting information holding unit that holds the aforementioned setting information, The setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. A communication device characterized by the following features.

4. The device includes a setting parameter holding unit that holds the setting parameters in a format readable by the other communication devices other than itself, which is necessary for communication with the other communication devices other than itself. The control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the other communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, which includes the setting parameter corresponding to the other communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. The communication device according to feature 3.

5. The setting information generation unit generates the setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit that correspond to the setting parameters of the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, for setting information request communication devices that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. The control unit, in response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, In response to the request to acquire the setting information, the system performs control to transmit a setting information acquisition response that includes the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that sent the request to acquire the setting information. The communication device according to feature 4.

6. A setting parameter request communication device according to claim 1, A setting parameter holding communication device according to claim 2, A communication system characterized by comprising the following features.

7. A communication system characterized by comprising two or more communication devices as described in any one of claims 3 to 5.

8. A communication method for a setting parameter request communication device, A request control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting acquisition request to a setting parameter holding communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device, the setting parameter request communication device, and the setting parameter holding communication device that holds the setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device. The setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, The setting information holding unit includes a setting information holding step of holding the setting information, In the setting information holding step, the setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting acquisition response includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting acquisition response if the setting acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. A communication method characterized by the following features.

9. A communication method for a communication device that holds setting parameters, The setting parameter holding unit holds setting parameters in a format that allows the setting parameter request communication device to read the setting parameter information necessary for communication with the setting parameter request communication device. A response control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the setting parameter request communication device that sent a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. The setting information generation unit includes a generation step of generating the setting information used by a setting information request communication device that sent a setting information acquisition request, from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, for setting information request communication devices that cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. In the setting parameter holding step, the setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. In the response control step, the control unit performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, which includes the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request. A communication method characterized by the following features.

10. A communication method for communication devices, A request control step in which the control unit performs control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to another communication device that holds setting parameters in a format readable by the communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to itself, which is the communication device, the setting information necessary for communication with the communication device. A setting information generation step for the device in which the setting information generation unit generates the setting information to be used by the device from the setting parameters corresponding to the device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the other communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameters corresponding to the device, The setting information holding unit includes a setting information holding step of holding the setting information, In the setting information holding step, the setting information holding unit holds the setting information used by the device, which is generated by the setting information generation unit, if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the device, and holds the setting information used by the device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information used by the device. A communication method characterized by the following features.

11. The setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information necessary for communication with other communication devices other than itself to be read by those other communication devices, and The control unit performs a response control step in which it transmits a setting parameter acquisition response to the other communication device that transmitted a setting parameter acquisition request requesting the setting parameter, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to the other communication device that transmitted the setting parameter acquisition request. The communication method according to claim 10, characterized by including the following:

12. moreover, A setting information generation step for a setting information request communication device, in which the setting information generation unit cannot generate the setting information from the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request for the setting information, generates the setting information to be used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request from the setting parameters held by the setting parameter holding unit that correspond to the setting parameters that sent the setting information acquisition request. Includes, In the setting parameter holding step, the setting parameter holding unit holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting information generation unit to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting information request communication device. In the response control step, the control unit performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, which includes the setting information generated by the setting information generation unit and used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request. The communication method according to feature 11.

13. A communication method for a communication system comprising a setting parameter request communication device and a setting parameter retention communication device, The setting parameter holding communication device holds setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter request communication device, with the setting parameter holding communication device holding setting information necessary for communication with the setting parameter request communication device. The request control step involves the setting parameter request communication device performing control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to the setting parameter holding communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device. The setting parameter holding communication device performs a response control step in which it controls the setting parameter acquisition communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, which includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. The setting parameter request communication device generates setting information for its own device from the setting parameter corresponding to its own device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameter corresponding to its own device, The setting parameter request communication device includes a setting information holding step of holding the setting information, In the setting information retention step, the setting parameter request communication device retains the generated setting information for use by its own device if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting parameter corresponding to its own device, and retains the setting information for use by its own device included in the setting parameter acquisition response if the setting parameter acquisition response includes the setting information for use by its own device. A communication method characterized by the following features.

14. A communication method for a communication system comprising a setting parameter request communication device, a setting parameter retention communication device, and a setting information request communication device that cannot generate setting information from setting parameters, The setting parameter holding communication device holds the setting parameters in a format that allows the setting parameter request communication device to read the setting information necessary for communication with the setting parameter request communication device, in a setting parameter holding step, The request control step involves the setting parameter request communication device performing control to send a setting parameter acquisition request to the setting parameter holding communication device, requesting the setting parameters corresponding to its own device. The setting parameter holding communication device performs a response control step in which it controls the setting parameter acquisition communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request to send a setting parameter acquisition response to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request, as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request, which includes the setting parameter corresponding to the setting parameter request communication device that sent the setting parameter acquisition request. The setting parameter request communication device generates setting information for its own device from the setting parameter corresponding to its own device when the setting parameter acquisition response obtained from the setting parameter holding communication device as a response to the setting parameter acquisition request includes the setting parameter corresponding to its own device, The setting parameter request communication device includes a setting information holding step in which it holds the setting information, The setting parameter holding communication device includes a setting information generation step for a setting information request communication device that has sent a setting information acquisition request request for the setting information, which generates the setting information to be used by the setting information request communication device that has sent the setting information acquisition request request, from the setting parameters corresponding to the setting information request communication device that has sent the setting information acquisition request request, In the setting parameter retention step, the setting parameter retention communication device retains the setting parameters in a format readable by the setting parameter retention communication device, with respect to the setting information request communication device the setting parameters are necessary for communication. In the response control step, the setting parameter holding communication device performs control to send a setting information acquisition response to the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request, as a response to the setting information acquisition request, which includes the generated setting information used by the setting information request communication device that sent the setting information acquisition request. A communication method characterized by the following features.

15. A communication program characterized by causing a computer to implement the communication method described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

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