Network system that connects a network terminal to another network terminal having a different protocol

• US 20030041140A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Hideto
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network system is disclosed, including a plurality of network terminals connected to a network; and an administrator terminal that manages the network terminals across the network. One of the network terminals includes a command receiver that receives a command from the administrator terminal over the network, and a command transmitter that transits the command received by the command receiver to another of the plurality of network terminals. When the administrator terminal is allowed to communicate with only particular terminals, the network system allows the administrator terminal to transmit a command to terminals other than the particular terminals indirectly. Therefore, the network system enjoys enhanced advantages.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a plurality of network terminals connected to a network; and

an administrator terminal that manages the network terminals across the network, wherein

one of the plurality of network terminals includes;

a command receiver that receives a command from the administrator terminal over the network; and

a command transmitter that transits the command received by the command receiver to another of the plurality of network terminals.

2. A network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the command relates to settings of the another of the plurality of network terminals.

3. A network system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the command sets an IP address of the another of the plurality of network terminals to a predetermined value.

4. A network system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a gateway provided between the network and the administrator terminal for restricting transmission of a command from the administrator terminal to one of the plurality of network terminals depending on an IP address of the one of the plurality of network terminals.

5. A network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of network terminals includes a protocol changing unit that changes protocol defining the command, and wherein if the protocol of the command received by the command receiver is not supported by the another of the plurality of network terminals, the protocol changing unit changes the protocol of the command to a different protocol that supports the another of the plurality of network terminals, and the command transmitter then transmits the command in the different protocol to the another of the plurality of network terminals.

28. A network system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an interface interconnecting and the network and the one of the plurality of network terminals;

the administrator terminal further including an interface information obtaining means for obtaining information on the interface therefrom when the one of the plurality of network terminals transmits the information on all the plurality of network terminals to the administrator terminal.

29. A network system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the administrator terminal further includes a setting changing means for changing a setting or settings of either of the interface and one of the plurality of network terminals transmitting the information to the administrator terminal.

30. A network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of network terminals further includes a memory for storing the information on all the plurality of the network terminals.

6. A network terminal connected to other network terminals through a network, the network terminal comprising:

a command receiver that receives a command over the network; and

a command transmitter that transmits the command received by the command receiver to another network terminal connected to the network.

7. A network terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the command relates to settings of the another network terminal.

8. A network terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the command sets an IP address of the another network terminal to a predetermined value.

9. A network terminal as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a protocol changing unit that changes a protocol of the command, and wherein if the protocol of the command received by the command receiver is not supported by the another network terminal, the protocol changing unit changes the protocol of the command to a different protocol that supports the another network terminal, and the command transmitter then transmits the command in the different protocol to the another terminal.

31. A network terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the network terminal is a printer including a printing unit;

and an interface connected to the network.

10. A method for managing network terminals connected to a network by an administrator terminal, comprising the steps of:

receiving a command that controls one of the plurality of network terminals at another of the plurality of network terminals; and

transmitting the command received by the another of the plurality of network terminals to the one of the plurality of network terminals.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the command relates to settings of the one of the plurality of network terminals.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the command sets an IP address of the one of the plurality of network terminals to a predetermined value.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

restricting transmission of a command from the administrator terminal to the one of the plurality of network terminals depending on an IP address of the one of the plurality of network terminals.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

changing protocol defining the command to a different protocol supporting the one of the plurality of network terminals, and

transmitting the command in the changed protocol to the one of the plurality of network terminals.

15. A method for controlling network terminals connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a command over the network at the one of the plurality of network terminals; and

transmitting the received command to another of the plurality of network terminal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the command relates to settings of the another of the plurality of network terminals.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the command sets an IP address of the another of the plurality of network terminals to a predetermined value.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

changing a protocol of the command to a different protocol supporting the another of the plurality of network terminals, and

transmitting the command in the different protocol to the another of the plurality of network terminals.

19. A program for managing network terminals connected to a network by an administrator terminal, comprising:

a program for receiving a command that controls one of the plurality of network terminals at another of the plurality of network terminals; and

a program for transmitting the command received by the another of the plurality of network terminals to the one of the plurality of network terminals.

20. A program as claimed in claim 19, wherein the command relates to settings of the one of the plurality of network terminals.

21. A program as claimed in claim 20, wherein the command sets an IP address of the one of the plurality of network terminals to a predetermined value.

22. A program as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a program for restricting transmission of a command from the administrator terminal to the one of the plurality of network terminals depending on an IP address of the one of the plurality of network terminals.

23. A program as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a program for changing protocol defining the command to a different protocol supporting the one of the plurality of network terminals, and

a program for transmitting the command in the changed protocol to the one of the plurality of network terminals.

24. A program for controlling network terminals through a network, comprising:

a program for receiving a command over the network at the one of the plurality of network terminals; and

a program for transmitting the received command to another of the plurality of network terminal.

25. A program as claimed in claim 24, wherein the command relates to settings of the another of the plurality of network terminals.

26. A program as claimed in claim 25, wherein the command sets an IP address of the another of the plurality of network terminals to a predetermined value.

27. A program as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

a program for changing a protocol of the command to a different protocol supporting the another of the plurality of network terminals, and

a program for transmitting the command in the different protocol to the another of the plurality of network terminals.