System for searching device on network

• US 20040083210A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Maki, Nobuhiko, Ochiai, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 7,284,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99946 Object-oriented database structure network

Abstract

Location information of each device connected to a network is managed in a hierarchical structure to display the location of each device in a manner easy to be recognized by a user. The location information of each device connected to the network is managed in the hierarchical structure and layout bit maps are stored in each client. When a client issues a device search request, the hierarchical location of the device whose location search was requested can be identified, and the identified location of the device can be displayed in a way to be easily recognized. When the client displays the search result, it is unnecessary for a sever to transmit the layout bit map to the client.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for searching a device on a network, comprising:

management means for managing a database registering a plurality piece of attribute information corresponding to each device on the network, the attribute information registered in the database having hierarchical location information representing a location of each device on the network in a hierarchical data structure;

search means for searching a device satisfying a search condition from the database in response to a reception of the search condition from another information processing apparatus, the search condition including at least one piece of the attribute information;

generation means for generating a search result for notifying the searched device, the search result including the hierarchical location information of the searched device; and

transmission means for transmitting the search result to the other information processing apparatus.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said management means further manages a plurality piece of map data in correspondence with the hierarchical location information, the map data being used for displaying a location relation of the device, and said transmission means further transmits the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of map data is map data for indicating that the hierarchical location information corresponding to the searched device is not registered in the database.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the database of said managing means further registers coordinate information of each device indicating a position in an area of the map data, and said transmission means further transmits the coordinate information corresponding to the searched device.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising storage means for storing a plurality piece of icon data representative of the devices, wherein said transmission means further transmits the icon data corresponding to the searched device.

6. An information processing apparatus having a database registering attribute information of a device on a network, wherein the database registers attribute information of each of a plurality of devices, the attribute information comprising:

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of each device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an optional piece of the hierarchical data of said hierarchical location information is used as a part of a search condition for searching the device from the database.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising management means for managing a plurality piece of map data in correspondence with the hierarchical location information, the map data being used for displaying a location of each device.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of map data is map data for indicating that the hierarchical location information corresponding to the searched device is not registered in the database.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the database further registers coordinate information of each of a plurality of devices, the coordinate information representing a position in an area of the map data and output when the search result is output.

11. An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising:

input means for inputting a search condition for searching a device on the network;

request means for transmitting a search request with the input search condition to a search apparatus on the network;

reception means for receiving a search result corresponding to the search request, the search result including hierarchical location information representing a location of the searched device in a hierarchical data structure; and

control means for displaying location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

storage means for storing at least one piece of the map data corresponding to a predetermined hierarchical level of the hierarchical location information, wherein said control means displays the location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result and corresponding map data.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

storage means for storing a plurality piece of icon data representative of devices, wherein said control means displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said reception means further receives the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device, and said control means displays the location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location data included in the searched result and the received map data.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said reception means further receives the icon data representative of the searched device, and said control means displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reception means further receives coordinate information of the searched device, the coordinate information representing a position in an area of the map data, and said control means displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device in accordance with the coordinate information of the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

17. A device for processing a job requested via a network, comprising:

storage means for storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

control means for transmitting said static attribute information and said hierarchical location information stored in said storage means to the network to search the device.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said control means registers said static attribute information and said hierarchical location information stored in said storage means, in a directory server on the network.

19. A network system having at least first and second information processing apparatuses and a plurality of devices, wherein the first information processing apparatus comprises:

management means for managing a database registering a plurality piece of attribute information corresponding to each device on the network, the attribute information registered in the database having hierarchical location information representing a location of each device on the network in a hierarchical data structure;

search means for searching a device satisfying a search condition from the database in response to a reception of the search condition from the second information processing apparatus, the search condition including at least one piece of the attribute information;

generation means for generating a search result for notifying the searched device, the search result including the hierarchical location information of the searched device; and

transmission means for transmitting the search result to the second information processing apparatus.

20. A network system having at least first and second information processing apparatuses and a plurality of devices, wherein the first information processing apparatus manages a directory information base which registers attribute information of each of a plurality of devices, the attribute information comprising:

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of each device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated, and

wherein the first information processing apparatus searches the directory information base in accordance with a search condition supplied from the second information processing apparatus.

21. A network system according to claim 20, wherein the device comprises:

storage means for storing said static attribute information and hierarchical location information; and

control means for transmitting said static attribute information and hierarchical location information to the first information processing apparatus and requesting the first information processing apparatus to register said static attribute information and hierarchical location information in the directory information base.

23. A network system according to claim 21, wherein the device comprises:

storage means for storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

control means for transmitting said static attribute information and said hierarchical location information stored in said storage means to the network to search the device.

22. A network system having at least one information processing apparatus and a plurality of devices, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises:

input means for inputting a search condition for searching a device on the network;

request means for transmitting a search request with the input search condition to a search apparatus on the network;

reception means for receiving a search result corresponding to the search request, the search result including hierarchical location information representing a location of the searched device in a hierarchical data structure; and

control means for displaying location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

24. A network system having at least one information processing apparatus and a plurality of devices, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits a signal for searching a device on the network to the network, and the device comprises:

storage means for storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

control means for transmitting a signal including said static attribute information and said hierarchical location information stored in said storage means to the network to search the device at another information processing apparatus on the network.

25. An information processing method of searching a device on a network, comprising:

a management step of managing a database registering a plurality piece of attribute information corresponding to each device on the network, the attribute information registered in the database having hierarchical location information representing a location of each device on the network in a hierarchical data structure;

a search step of searching a device satisfying a search condition from the database in response to a reception of the search condition from another information processing apparatus, the search condition including at least one piece of the attribute information;

a generation step of generating a search result for notifying the searched device, the search result including the hierarchical location information of the searched device; and

a transmission step of transmitting the search result to the other information processing apparatus.

26. An information processing method according to claim 25, wherein said management step further manages a plurality piece of map data in correspondence with the hierarchical location information, the map data being used for displaying a location relation of the device, and said transmission step further transmits the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

27. An information processing method according to claim 26, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of map data is map data for indicating that the hierarchical location information corresponding to the searched device is not registered in the database.

28. An information processing method according to claim 26, wherein the database of said managing step further registers coordinate information of each device indicating a position in an area of the map data, and said transmission step further transmits the coordinate information corresponding to the searched device.

29. An information processing method according to claim 28, further comprising a storage step of storing a plurality piece of icon data representative of the devices, wherein said transmission step further transmits the icon data corresponding to the searched device.

30. An information processing method using a database registering attribute information of a device on a network, comprising:

a registration step of registering attribute information of each of a plurality of devices, the attribute information comprising;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of each device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a search step of searching a device satisfying a search condition including the attribute information from the database.

31. An information processing method according to claim 30, wherein an optional piece of the hierarchical data of the hierarchical location information is used as a part of a search condition for searching the device from the database.

32. An information processing method according to claim 30, further comprising a management step of managing a plurality piece of map data in correspondence with the hierarchical location information, the map data being used for displaying a location of each device.

33. An information processing method according to claim 32, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of map data is map data for indicating that the hierarchical location information corresponding to the searched device is not registered in the database.

34. An information processing method according to claim 32, wherein the database further registers coordinate information of each of a plurality of devices, the coordinate information representing a position in an area of the map data and being output when the search result is output.

35. An information processing method connected to a network, comprising:

an input step of inputting a search condition for searching a device on the network;

a request step of transmitting a search request with the input search condition to a search apparatus on the network;

a reception step of receiving a search result corresponding to the search request, the search result including hierarchical location information representing a location of the searched device in a hierarchical data structure; and

a control step of displaying location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

36. An information processing method according to claim 35, further comprising:

a storage step of storing at least one piece of the map data corresponding to a predetermined hierarchical level of the hierarchical location information, wherein said control step displays the location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result and corresponding map data.

37. An information processing method according to claim 36, further comprising:

a storage step of storing a plurality piece of icon data representative of devices, wherein said control step displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

38. An information processing method according to claim 35, wherein said reception means further receives the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device, and said control means displays the location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location data included in the searched result and the received map data.

39. An information processing method according to claim 38, wherein said reception step further receives the icon data representative of the searched device, and said control step displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

40. An information processing method according to claim 39, wherein said reception step further receives coordinate information of the searched device, the coordinate information representing a position in an area of the map data, and said control step displays the icon data corresponding to the searched device in accordance with the coordinate information of the searched device, the icon data being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

41. A control method for a device for processing a job requested via a network, comprising:

a storage step of storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a control step of transmitting the static attribute information and the hierarchical location information stored at said storage step to the network to search the device.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said control step registers the static attribute information and the hierarchical location information stored at said storage step, in a directory server on the network.

43. A device search method for a network system having at least first and second information processing apparatuses, comprising:

in the first information processing apparatus,

a management step of managing a database registering a plurality piece of attribute information corresponding to each device on the network, the attribute information registered in the database having hierarchical location information representing a location of each device on the network in a hierarchical data structure;

a search step of searching a device satisfying a search condition from the database in response to a reception of the search condition from the second information processing apparatus, the search condition including at least one piece of the attribute information; and

a generation step of generating a search result for notifying the searched device, the search result including the hierarchical location information of the searched device.

44. A device search method for a network system having at least a first information processing apparatus for managing a directory information base, a second information processing apparatus, and a plurality of devices, comprising:

in the first information processing apparatus,

a registration step of registering attribute information of each of a plurality of devices in the directory information base, the attribute information comprising;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of each device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

in the second information processing apparatus,

a search step of searching the directory information base by the first information processing apparatus in accordance with a search condition supplied from the second information processing apparatus.

45. A device search method according to claim 44, further comprising:

in the device,

a storage step of storing the static attribute information and hierarchical location information; and

a control step of transmitting the static attribute information and hierarchical location information to the first information processing apparatus and requesting the first information processing apparatus to register the static attribute information and hierarchical location information in the directory information base.

47. A device search method according to claim 45, further comprising in the device:

a storage step of storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a control step of transmitting the static attribute information and hierarchical location information stored at said storage step to the network to search the device.

46. A device search method for a network system having a plurality of devices, comprising:

an input step of inputting a search condition for searching a device on the network;

a request step of transmitting a search request with the input search condition to a search apparatus on the network;

a reception step of receiving a search result corresponding to the search request, the search result including hierarchical location information representing a location of the searched device in a hierarchical data structure; and

a control step of displaying location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

48. A device search method for a network system having at least one information processing apparatus and a plurality of devices, comprising:

in the information processing apparatus,

a transmission step of transmitting a signal for searching a device on the network to the network, and

in the device,

a storage step of storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a control step of transmitting a signal including the static attribute information and hierarchical location information stored at said storage step to the network to search the device at another information processing apparatus on the network.

49. A storage medium storing a computer program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus for searching a device on a network, the computer program comprising:

a management step of managing a database registering a plurality piece of attribute information corresponding to each device on the network, the attribute information registered in the database having hierarchical location information representing a location of each device on the network in a hierarchical data structure;

a search step of searching a device satisfying a search condition from the database in response to a reception of the search condition from another information processing apparatus, the search condition including at least one piece of the attribute information;

a generation step of generating a search result for notifying the searched device, the search result including the hierarchical location information of the searched device; and

a transmission step of transmitting the search result to the other information processing apparatus.

50. A storage medium storing a computer program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus using a database registering attribute information of a device on a network, the computer program comprising:

a registration step of registering attribute information of each of a plurality of devices, the attribute information comprising;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of each device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a search step of searching a device satisfying a search condition including the attribute information from the database.

51. A storage medium storing an information processing program for searching a device on a network, the information processing program comprising:

an input step of inputting a search condition for searching a device on the network;

a request step of transmitting a search request with the input search condition to a search apparatus on the network;

a reception step of receiving a search result corresponding to the search request, the search result including hierarchical location information representing a location of the searched device in a hierarchical data structure; and

a control step of displaying location information of the searched device in accordance with the hierarchical location information included in the search result.

52. A storage medium storing a computer program to be executed by a device for processing a job requested via a network, the computer program comprising:

a storage step of storing attribute information including;

at least one piece of static attribute information representative of a performance of the device; and

hierarchical location information indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location information including a plurality piece of hierarchical data logically discriminated; and

a control step of transmitting the static attribute information and the hierarchical location information stored at said storage step to the network to search the device.