Network system and method

Abstract

To solve the following problem in a device management system: in order to introduce a new service, a service engineer or the like needs to go to all of devices under management to manually perform an introduction work.SOLUTION: A network system includes a device management system configured to provide a first service and a second service which relate to a network device, and the network device having a first function, the network system including: first transmission means, in the network device, configured to, in response to the first function having been updated, transmit a first request to the device management system by using the first function: and second transmission means configured to, in response to a registration code having been received and stored, start transmission of data necessary for the second service to the device management system by using a second function of the network device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for a device management system to remotely manage a network device via a network.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a device management system that manages device data by communicating with the device in order to provide services that bring various added values to the devices owned by users.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a device management system, for reasons such as service improvement, additional introduction of services, and security enhancement, it may be necessary to introduce or activate a client application as a new mechanism for the device. However, there is a problem that it is costly for a service technician or the like to go to all the devices under management and perform the introduction work manually.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Therefore, the present invention relates to a network system comprising: a device management system that provides a first service and a second service relating to a network device; and a network device having a first function that transmits data necessary for the first service to the device management system, wherein the network device includes an update means for updating the first function; a first transmission means in which the first function transmits a first request to the device management system in response to the update of the first function; a response means in the device management system that transmits the registration code as a response to the first request based on the fact that a registration code has been issued for the network device and a license for the second service has been issued; and a second transmission means in which, in response to the network device receiving and storing the registration code, the second function of the network device starts transmitting data necessary for the second service to the device management system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to start new services while reducing the dispatch costs of service personnel and other related services. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a system configuration. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a hardware configuration. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a software configuration. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the sequence of processes within the system in the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0009] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, the device instruction management server 101, the update management server 102, the user terminal 103, and the device 104 are connected via the network 100. The device management system is a system for providing multiple services and communicates with devices owned by individual customers for services they have contracted. Furthermore, the device management system includes at least the device instruction management server 101 to enable communication with managed network devices using one or more communication methods for each service. The device management system can also be constructed to include the update management server 102.

[0010] Network 100 is a so-called communication network, which can be implemented using, for example, LANs such as the Internet, WANs, telephone lines, dedicated digital lines, ATM and Frame Relay lines, cable television lines, and wireless lines for data broadcasting. Network 100 only needs to be capable of transmitting and receiving data. In particular, communication between device 104 and device instruction management server 101 is assumed to be via a firewall installed in the local network environment of the device user where device 104 is installed. Therefore, in this case, network 100 is assumed to include the Internet.

[0011] Furthermore, device 104 is just one example among several network devices managed by the device management system, and similar control according to this embodiment, as described later, will be implemented for other network devices as well.

[0012] The device instruction management server 101 receives and stores instructions from the user terminal 103 to device 104, along with the device ID. When it receives an inquiry from device 104, it uses the device ID of that device to search for all instructions that should be sent to that device from the recorded and managed instructions and sends them to device 104. In addition, when it receives the processing result of an instruction processed by device 104, it updates the information of the corresponding instruction.

[0013] The update management server 102 has the function of sending firmware update data to device 104.

[0014] The user terminal 103 is a typical PC or similar device. The user terminal 103 has built-in functions for sending instructions to device 104 to the device instruction management server 101, along with a device ID indicating the destination of the instructions, and an environment for running applications that implement such functions.

[0015] Device 104 is a device that has the function of receiving instructions from the user terminal 103 via the device instruction management server 101 and executing the processing of those instructions, and the function of sending device data such as device operation information to the device instruction management server 101. Device 104 queries the update management server 102 for device update information. If it receives update information as a response to that query, device 104 executes the received instructions.

[0016] Hereafter, the server functions described in this invention may be implemented by a single server or a single virtual server, or by multiple servers or multiple virtual servers. Alternatively, multiple virtual servers may be running on a single server. The device management system may be designed on a cloud infrastructure based on cloud computing technology.

[0017] Figure 2 shows the hardware resources of each device that makes up the system in Figure 1.

[0018] FIG. 2(A) is a diagram showing a configuration example of hardware included in information processing apparatuses such as a device instruction management server 101, an update management server 102, and a user terminal 103 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In FIG. 2(A), a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 202 controls the entire device. The CPU 202 executes application programs, an OS, etc. stored in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 205, and controls to temporarily store information, files, etc. necessary for program execution in a Random Access Memory (RAM) 204. Further, the CPU 202 has a program stored in a ROM 203, and comprehensively controls each device via a system bus 201. The system bus 201 controls the flow of data within the device.

[0020] A Read Only Memory (ROM) 203 is a storage means and functions as a work area, etc. The HDD 205 is one of external storage means, functions as a large-capacity memory, and stores application programs such as a web browser, programs of a service server group, an OS, related programs, etc.

[0021] An input unit 207 is an instruction input means such as a keyboard or a mouse. A display unit 208 is a display means and displays commands, etc. input from the input unit 207. An interface 209 is an external device I / F and connects a USB device and peripheral devices. A Network Interface Card (NIC) 206 exchanges data with an external device via a network 100.

[0022] Note that the configuration of the above computer is just an example and is not limited to the configuration example shown in Fig. 2(A). For example, the storage locations of data and programs can be changed to ROM 203, RAM 204, HDD 205, etc. according to their features. In addition, by the CPU 202 executing processing based on the programs stored in the HDD 205, the processing in the software configuration as shown in Fig. 3 is realized.

[0023] Fig. 2(B) is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration provided in the device 104.

[0024] The device 104 can be applied to devices such as, for example, digital multi-function machines, facsimile devices, laser beam printers, inkjet printers, scanner devices, etc. In Fig. 2(B), the Central Professing Unit (CPU) 212 controls the entire device via the system bus 211. The system bus 211 manages the flow of data within the device.

[0025] The CPU 212 executes application programs, the OS, etc. stored in the Hard Disc Drive (HDD) 215, and controls the temporary storage of information, files, etc. necessary for program execution in the Random Access Memory (RAM) 214. The Read Only Memory (ROM) 213 is a storage means and functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 212. The HDD 215 functions as an external storage device and as a large-capacity memory, storing application programs such as web browsers, programs of service server groups, the OS, related programs, etc. The Network Interface Card (NIC) 216 exchanges data unidirectionally or bidirectionally with external network devices or personal computers (PCs) via the network 100.

[0026] The input unit 217 is a means of inputting instructions such as a keyboard or mouse. The display unit 218 is a means of display such as a display, which displays commands entered from the input unit 217, which consists of a keyboard or mouse, etc.

[0027] The above computer configuration is just one example and is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 2(B). For example, the storage location for data and programs can be changed to ROM213, RAM214, HDD215, etc., depending on their characteristics. In addition, the CPU212 executes processing based on the programs stored in HDD215, thereby realizing the processing in the software configuration shown in Figure 3.

[0028] Figure 3 illustrates an example of the software module configuration of each device according to this embodiment.

[0029] The device instruction management server 101 includes a first instruction management unit 302, an authentication information management unit 305, a device information management unit 306, a second instruction management unit 307, and a data storage unit 308.

[0030] The device instruction management server 101 has the function of receiving device data, such as operation information of network devices, transmitted by device 104, and storing it in a storage system (not shown) by the data storage unit 308, along with the identification information of the network device. The device instruction management server 101 also has the function of receiving instruction requests transmitted by device 104 and returning a response to device 104. Furthermore, the device instruction management server 101 has the function of receiving instruction requests for network devices from user terminal 103, and storing the instruction corresponding to that instruction request in a storage system (not shown) by the data storage unit 308, along with the identification information of the target network device. The storage system is realized using storage means within the information processing device on which the device instruction management server 101 operates, or using storage means of a device providing storage services that is connected to the device instruction management server 101 via a network.

[0031] The first instruction management unit 302 currently receives device data, such as operational information of network devices handled by the first service to which device 104 is currently targeted, from device 104 via communication using an existing communication method. Furthermore, the first instruction management unit 302 can receive connection requests for the new service, the second service, from device 104. The first instruction management unit 302 also transmits the determination result regarding registration for the second service to device 104.

[0032] The authentication information management unit 305 receives authentication information from the authentication information transmission unit 311. The authentication information management unit 305 also verifies and checks the authentication information and sends a success or failure of authentication to the authentication information receiving unit 312.

[0033] The device information management unit 306 receives a request from the request transmission unit 301 for instructions to grant a license for using the second service for the first time. The device information management unit 306 also receives a request to issue a registration code to the device instruction management server.

[0034] The second instruction management unit 307 receives device data, such as operation information of devices handled by the second service, transmitted from the second instruction transmission unit 315.

[0035] The data storage unit 308 manages each network device by storing information about each network device in a storage service, linked to device identification information (device ID). Specifically, it stores instructions received by the first instruction management unit 302, the device information management unit 306, and the second instruction management unit 307, as well as device operation information and device data.

[0036] The update management server 102 consists of an instruction receiving unit 319 and a data transmission unit 320. The update management server 102 has the function of receiving firmware update requests from device 104 and returning firmware update data.

[0037] The instruction receiving unit 319 has the function of receiving a firmware update inquiry from the device update management unit 314 and instructing the data transmission unit 320 to send firmware update data. The data transmission unit 320 sends the firmware update data to the device update management transmission unit 314.

[0038] The user terminal 103 has a request transmission unit 301. The user terminal 103 has a request transmission unit 301 that transmits a request to the device instruction management server 101 for a new license grant for the second service and a request to the device instruction management server 101 for the issuance of a registration code.

[0039] Device 104 consists of a first instruction transmission / reception unit 309, an authentication information reception unit 311, an authentication information transmission unit 312, a device update management unit 314, a second instruction transmission unit 315, and a data storage unit 316.

[0040] The first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 is capable of performing communication using an existing communication method for the first service. The second instruction transmission unit 315 is a function for using the second service.

[0041] The first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 transmits device data, such as operation information of device 104, to the first instruction management unit 302 using an existing communication method. Furthermore, after an update corresponding to the processing of the device update management unit 314, as described later in Figure 4, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 will support a new communication method and will have a function to control the transmission of connection requests for the second service. In addition, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 receives a determination result regarding registration to the second service as a response to the connection request from the first instruction management unit 302. If the determination result regarding registration to the second service is successful, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 stores the registration code included in the response in the data storage unit 316.

[0042] The authentication information transmission unit 311 has the function of reading the determination result regarding registration to the second service from the data storage unit 316, creating authentication information from the determination result regarding registration to the second service, and transmitting the authentication information to the authentication information management unit 305. The authentication information receiving unit 312 has the function of transmitting authentication success or authentication failure from the authentication information management unit 305.

[0043] The device update management unit 314 has a function to query the instruction receiving unit 319 of the update management server 102 to see if there is a firmware update. The device update management unit 314 also has a function to receive firmware update data from the data transmission unit 320 and update the device's first instruction transmitting / receiving unit 309 using the firmware update data.

[0044] The second instruction transmission unit 315 has the function of transmitting device data, such as operational information of network devices necessary for the second service, to the second instruction management unit 307.

[0045] The data storage unit 316 has the function of storing the registration code stored in the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 and the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving unit 312 in a storage device within the device.

[0046] Next, using Figure 4, the processing sequence between the device management system and device 104, which is the network device to be managed, in this embodiment will be explained.

[0047] In S100, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of device 104 transmits device data, such as operation information of devices handled by the existing service, to the first instruction management unit 302 of the device instruction management server 101. This is a process that is performed daily by network devices that can establish communication with the device instruction management server 101 using the existing communication method, according to a predetermined schedule or in response to internal events (error occurrence, power event, etc.). Therefore, the transmission of device data via this communication may be performed asynchronously with the processing of subsequent sequences.

[0048] In S101, the request transmission unit 301 of the user terminal 103 sends a request to the device information management unit 306 of the device instruction management server 101 for an instruction to issue a registration code, in accordance with the user's operation.

[0049] When the device information management unit 306 of the device instruction management server 101 receives an instruction request to issue a registration code to the device instruction management server, it stores a value in the device registration management table via the data storage unit 308 indicating that a registration code has been issued for the target device. Table 1 shows an example of the device registration management table managed by the data storage unit 308.

[0050] [Table 1]

[0051] The Device ID column stores a value that is a unique identifier for each network device.

[0052] In the registration code issuance column, a value indicating "Issued" is managed when the user terminal 103 has instructed the device instruction management server 101 to issue a registration code. A value indicating "Not Issued" is managed when the user terminal 103 has not instructed the server to issue a registration code.

[0053] The "Second Service License" column stores a value indicating whether or not a request for instruction to grant a license for the second service has been received from the target device. The request for instruction to grant a license is sent from the request transmission unit 301 of the user terminal 103 to the device information management unit 306 of the device instruction management server 101. If this instruction request has been received, the "Second Service License" column stores a value indicating "Issued". If this instruction request has not yet been received, the value indicating "Not Issued" is stored.

[0054] The "New Communication Method" column stores information indicating whether a connection request using the new communication method to initiate communication between the target device and the second service has been made and whether the transmission of data necessary for the second service has begun. If the transmission of data necessary for the second service from the target device has begun, the column will store a value indicating "Connected". Otherwise, the column will store a value indicating "Not Connected". This value is updated from "Not Connected" to "Connected" when the process in S111 described later is executed, or when the communication described in S112 is initiated.

[0055] In S102, the request transmission unit 301 of the user terminal 103 sends a request to the device instruction management server 101 for the issuance of a license for the second service, in accordance with the user's operation.

[0056] The device information management unit 306 of the device instruction management server 101 updates the device registration management table via the storage unit 308 in response to receiving an instruction request for issuing a license for the second service. Specifically, the information in the second service license column for device 104 in the table shown in Table 1 is updated from "Not Issued" to "Issued".

[0057] In S103, the device update management unit 314 of device 104 queries the instruction receiving unit 319 of the update management server 102 to inquire about the availability of a firmware update. This query is performed by the device update management unit 314 periodically or in response to user operations.

[0058] In S104, based on the receipt of the inquiry in S103, the data transmission unit 320 of the update management server 102 sends firmware update data to the device update management unit 314 of the device 104. At this time, if there is no firmware to be updated for the target device, data indicating that no update is necessary may be returned.

[0059] In S105, the device update management unit 314 of device 104 issues an update instruction to the first instruction management unit 302 using the received firmware update data. In this case, based on the update instruction, the firmware of device 104 and the software related to the first instruction management unit 302 may be updated, or only the software related to the first instruction management unit 302 may be updated.

[0060] In S106, the device update management unit 314 updates the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of device 104 using a firmware update. As a result, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of device 104 gains a new communication function that communicates with the first instruction management unit 302 of the device instruction management server 101 using a new communication method.

[0061] In S107, after the update process in S106 is completed, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of device 104 begins periodically sending connection requests using the new communication method to the first instruction management unit 302 of the device instruction management server 101. Note that even if it is not a periodic transmission, it is sufficient if a transmission process is initiated that sends connection requests multiple times after the update of the first instruction management unit 302, such as at a predetermined schedule or when the software is started.

[0062] When the device instruction management server 101 receives a connection request using the new communication method, it refers to the device registration management table (Table 1) managed by the data storage unit 308 to determine whether a license and registration code for the second service have already been issued to the target device.

[0063] In S108, the first instruction management unit 302 of the device instruction management server 101 refers to the device registration management table and, if a registration code issuance instruction has been issued and a service license has been granted, sends a registration code to device 104 as a response to the connection request.

[0064] In S109, the first instruction management unit 302 of device 104 stores the registration code in the data storage unit 316.

[0065] In S110, the authentication information transmission unit 311 of device 104 transmits authentication information for device authentication of device 104 to the authentication information management unit 305 of the device instruction management server 101, triggered by the fact that a registration code has been stored in the data storage unit 316 of device 104. In S111, if the authentication process based on the authentication information received in S110 is successful, the authentication information management unit 305 of the device instruction management server 101 transmits a response indicating successful authentication to the authentication information receiving unit 312 of device 104. This response includes an authorization token for the second instruction transmission unit 315 of device 104 to connect to the device management system, and the authentication information management unit 305 issues this authorization token.

[0066] In S112, the second instruction transmission unit 315 of device 104 determines that authentication is complete upon receiving a response indicating successful authentication in S111, and sends a request to the second instruction management unit 307 of the device instruction management server to initiate a connection. This request includes the aforementioned authorization token for the second instruction management unit 307 to verify the source of the communication. Subsequently, if the connection is successful, the second instruction transmission unit 315 of device 104 begins transmitting device data for the second service.

[0067] Next, we will explain two cases in which, regarding the connection request executed in S107, the license and registration code for the second service had not yet been issued for the target device, referring to the device registration management table (Table 1).

[0068] In the first case, at S113, the first instruction management unit 302 of the device instruction management server 101 refers to the device registration management table (Table 1) and identifies that the new communication method column is "connected". In this case, the first instruction management unit 302 sends a response to the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of the device 104 indicating that it has started.

[0069] In S114, the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 stops the periodic transmission of connection requests using the new communication method upon receiving a response indicating that the process has started. This helps to suppress unnecessary communication.

[0070] In the second case, at S115, the first instruction management unit 302 refers to the device registration management table (Table 1) and identifies that a value indicating "not issued" is managed in at least one of the registration code issuance column and the second service license. In this case, the first instruction management unit 302 sends a response indicating "not issued" to the first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 of device 104.

[0071] The first instruction transmission / reception unit 309 does not stop periodically transmitting connection requests using the new communication method even if it receives a response indicating that the request has not been issued. This is because it is assumed that the processing related to the issuance of the registration code or the second service license is simply delayed. By continuing the periodic transmission, the processing in S108 to S112 will be automatically performed later when these are issued by the device management system.

[0072] Furthermore, even after the completion of processing S112 or S114, the transmission process shown in S100 via the existing communication method from device 104 will continue to be executed unless a separate stop process is performed.

[0073] Here, we will explain a specific example regarding the second service.

[0074] One example of a second service that may be newly introduced on device 104 is a service that centrally manages the status, security status, and operational status of consumables such as toner for network devices. For this service, device 104 transmits the status of consumables within its device, security setting information, etc., to the device instruction management server 101 through the process initiated in S112. The second service can use the usage status, security status, and operational status of consumables stored by the device instruction management server 101 to create a web page and provide it to the users of device 104.

[0075] As an example of the first service, there is a service that manages the status of consumables such as toner for device 104 and automatically sends a delivery instruction to the installation location of device 104 as needed. In this case, data such as the remaining amount of consumables used by device 104 is sent from device 104 to the device instruction management server 101.

[0076] (Other examples) The present invention also includes apparatuses, systems, and methods configured by appropriately combining the embodiments described above.

[0077] Here, the present invention is a device or system that is the main body for executing one or more software programs that realize the functions of the embodiments described above. Furthermore, a method for realizing the embodiments described above that are executed on that device or system is also part of the present invention. In addition, the program is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media, and the program is read into one or more memories by one or more computers (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device and executed. In other words, as part of the present invention, the program itself or various storage media that can be read by the computer storing the program are also included. Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes the functions of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 100 Networks 101 Device Instruction Management Server 102 Update Management Server 103 User Terminals 104 devices

Claims

1. A network system comprising: a device management system that provides first and second services related to network devices; and a network device having a first function that transmits data necessary for the first service to the device management system, The network device includes an update means for updating the first function, In the network device, a first transmission means transmits a first request to the device management system in response to an update of the first function. A response means in the device management system that, based on the fact that a registration code has been issued for the network device and a license for the second service has been issued, transmits the registration code as a response to the first request. In the network device, upon receiving and storing the registration code, a second function of the network device is a second transmission means which initiates the transmission of data necessary for the second service to the device management system. A network system characterized by having the following features.

2. The network system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first transmission means initiates a transmission process in which the first function transmits the first request to the device management system multiple times in response to an update of the first function.

3. The response means, based on the fact that the second function had already started transmitting the data necessary for the second service to the device management system, sends a response to the first request indicating that it has started. The network system according to claim 2, characterized in that the network device stops the transmission process by the first function in response to receiving the response indicating that it has started.

4. The network system according to claim 1, characterized in that even after the transmission of data by the second transmission means has started, the transmission of data necessary for the first service by the first function to the device management system continues.

5. A method in a network system including a device management system that provides first and second services relating to network devices, and a network device having a first function that transmits data necessary for the first service to the device management system, An update step for updating the first function of the network device, A first transmission step in which, in response to an update of the first function in the network device, the first function transmits a first request to the device management system, A response step in the device management system, based on the fact that a registration code has been issued for the network device and a license for the second service has been issued, sends the registration code as a response to the first request. In the network device, upon receiving and storing the registration code, a second function of the network device initiates a second transmission step in which it begins transmitting data necessary for the second service to the device management system. A method characterized by having the following:

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