Device Management System

Abstract

To provide a device management system that can reduce a possibility of performance deterioration when acquiring a connection status between a device managed by the device management system and the device management system.SOLUTION: A device management system that manages devices includes a message relay unit 32 that acquires a connection status between a device and the device management system in S121 and S123, a plurality of information transmitting and receiving units that receives the connection status acquired by the message relay unit 32, and a load balancer 34 that distributes access from the message relay unit 32 to the plurality of information transmitting and receiving units in S125.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device management system that manages devices.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, device management systems that manage devices are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in conventional device management systems, when the device management system acquires the connection status between the devices managed by the device management system and the device management system, there is a problem that load concentrates on a specific resource in the device management system, which may reduce the performance of the device management system.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device management system capable of reducing the possibility of performance degradation when acquiring the connection status between devices managed by the device management system and the device management system.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The device management system of the present invention is a device management system for managing devices, and is characterized by comprising: a connection status acquisition unit that acquires the connection status between the device and the device management system; a plurality of connection status receiving units that receive the connection status acquired by the connection status acquisition unit; and a load balancer that distributes access from the connection status acquisition unit to the plurality of connection status receiving units.

[0007] With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention distributes access from the connection status acquisition unit to multiple connection status receiving units via a load balancer. This reduces the possibility of a single connection status receiving unit becoming overloaded when acquiring the connection status between a device managed by the device management system and the device management system. As a result, it reduces the possibility of performance degradation when acquiring the connection status between a device managed by the device management system and the device management system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The device management system of the present invention can reduce the possibility of performance degradation when acquiring the connection status between a device managed by the device management system and the device management system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the device management system when a device is connected to the bidirectional communication section. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the device management system when a connection status check is performed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] First, the configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0012] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system according to this embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the system 10 according to this embodiment includes a device 20. The system 10 may include at least one device similar to device 20. The devices included in the system 10 consist of, for example, image forming equipment such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) or a dedicated printer. The devices included in the system 10 are located on a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) managed by the end user of the device.

[0014] System 10 includes a device management system 30 for remotely managing devices provided in System 10. The device management system 30 can be used, for example, by device distributors, retailers, and end-users. The device management system 30 is a system for, for example, providing users of the device management system 30 with various device information and performing various device settings on devices, such as updating device firmware. The device management system 30 is implemented by a computer executing a program. The device management system 30 is implemented by at least one computer. The device management system 30 is implemented by cloud computing, for example, Microsoft® Azure®.

[0015] The device management system 30 includes a bidirectional communication unit 31 that enables bidirectional communication with devices managed by the device management system 30. The bidirectional communication unit 31 is implemented, for example, by an XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) server. The bidirectional communication unit 31 can recognize when a device is connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 and when a device is disconnected from the bidirectional communication unit 31. In other words, the bidirectional communication unit 31 acquires the connection status between devices managed by the device management system 30 and the device management system 30, and constitutes the connection status acquisition unit of the present invention.

[0016] The device management system 30 includes a message relay unit 32 that relays messages in communication between the bidirectional communication unit 31 and the information transmission / reception unit described later. The message relay unit 32 is implemented, for example, by an XMPP client, and may convert the XMPP protocol when relaying messages in communication between the bidirectional communication unit 31 and the information transmission / reception unit described later. The message relay unit 32 repeatedly performs connection status checks (hereinafter referred to as "connection status checks") between multiple devices managed by the device management system 30 and the bidirectional communication unit 31 at specific timings. In other words, the message relay unit 32 acquires the connection status between devices managed by the device management system 30 and the device management system 30, and constitutes the connection status acquisition unit of the present invention.

[0017] The device management system 30 comprises an information transmitting / receiving unit 33 that transmits information to be sent to a device and receives information transmitted from the device. The device management system 30 includes at least one information transmitting / receiving unit that transmits information to be sent to a device and receives information transmitted from the device, in addition to the information transmitting / receiving unit 33. The information transmitting / receiving unit can generate a message to be transmitted to the device via the two-way communication unit 31, for example, in accordance with an instruction from a user of the device management system 30. Examples of the message generated by the information transmitting / receiving unit include a message for causing the device to update its firmware, a message for restarting the device, and a message for causing the device to transmit various setting values of the device. The information transmitting / receiving unit receives the connection status between the device and the two-way communication unit 31 acquired by the two-way communication unit 31 or the message relay unit 32, and constitutes the connection status receiving unit of the present invention. In addition, the information transmitting / receiving unit can receive specific information from the device without going through either the two-way communication unit 31 or the message relay unit 32, such as toner information of the device, counter information of the device, and error information of the device, for example.

[0018] The device management system 30 comprises a load balancer 34 that distributes access from the two-way communication unit 31 or the message relay unit 32 to the plurality of information transmitting / receiving units.

[0019] Next, the operation of the device management system 30 will be described.

[0020] First, the operation of the device management system 30 when a device is connected to the two-way communication unit 31 will be described.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system 30 when a device is connected to the two-way communication unit 31.

[0022] For example, when a device is connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 in response to an instruction from a user of the device management system 30, as shown in FIG. 2, the bidirectional communication unit 31 transmits a notification indicating that the device has been connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 (hereinafter referred to as a "device connection notification") to the load balancer 34 (S101). The device connection notification includes, for example, identification information of the device connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31.

[0023] When the load balancer 34 receives the device connection notification transmitted from the bidirectional communication unit 31 in S101, the load balancer 34 transmits the received device connection notification to one information transmitting / receiving unit selected by a specific algorithm among the plurality of information transmitting / receiving units (S102).

[0024] The above describes the operation of the device management system 30 when a device connection notification is transmitted from the bidirectional communication unit 31 to the information transmitting / receiving unit when a device is connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 in response to an instruction from a user of the device management system 30, for example. However, the same applies to the operation of the device management system 30 when a notification indicating that the device has been disconnected from the bidirectional communication unit 31 (hereinafter referred to as a "device disconnection notification") is transmitted from the bidirectional communication unit 31 to the information transmitting / receiving unit when the device is disconnected from the bidirectional communication unit 31 in response to an instruction from a user of the device management system 30, for example. The device disconnection notification includes, for example, identification information of the device disconnected from the bidirectional communication unit 31.

[0025] Next, the operation of the device management system 30 when connection status confirmation is performed will be described.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the device management system 30 when connection status confirmation is performed.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, when the message relay unit 32 determines that a specific timing has been reached, it inquires with the bidirectional communication unit 31 about the connection status between the device managed by the device management system 30 and the bidirectional communication unit 31 (S121). Here, the specific timing is a regular timing, such as every 10 minutes.

[0028] When the bidirectional communication unit 31 receives the inquiry in S121, it determines which device is connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 itself (S122).

[0029] Next, the bidirectional communication unit 31 transmits the result of the decision made in S122 (hereinafter referred to as the "connection status decision result") to the message relay unit 32 (S123). Here, the connection status decision result in S123 includes, for example, the device names of all devices connected to the bidirectional communication unit 31 itself.

[0030] When the message relay unit 32 receives the connection status determination result transmitted from the bidirectional communication unit 31 in S123, it transmits the received connection status determination result to the load balancer 34 (S124).

[0031] When the load balancer 34 receives the connection status determination result transmitted from the message relay unit 32 in S124, it transmits the received connection status determination result to one of the multiple information transmission and reception units selected by a specific algorithm (S125).

[0032] As explained above, the device management system 30 distributes access from the bidirectional communication unit 31 or the message relay unit 32 to multiple information transmission / reception units via the load balancer 34. This reduces the possibility of a single information transmission / reception unit becoming overloaded when acquiring the connection status between a device managed by the device management system 30 and the device management system 30. If a single information transmission / reception unit becomes overloaded, the performance of sending messages from the overloaded unit to the bidirectional communication unit 31 or the message relay unit 32 may degrade. Therefore, the device management system 30 can reduce the possibility of performance degradation when acquiring the connection status between a device managed by the device management system 30 and the device management system 30. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 20 devices 30 Device Management Systems 31. Two-way communication unit (connection status acquisition unit) 32 Message relay unit (connection status acquisition unit) 33. Information transmission / reception unit (connection status receiving unit) 34 Load Balancer

Claims

[Claim 1] A device management system for managing devices, A connection status acquisition unit that acquires the connection status between the device and the device management system, Multiple connection status receiving units that receive the connection status acquired by the connection status acquisition unit, A load balancer that distributes access from the connection status acquisition unit to multiple connection status receiving units. A device management system characterized by having the following features.

Images