Network device management system, network device management device, and network device management program

• US 20050099962A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,379,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A network device management system includes a computer that is connected to a network and at least one network device that is connected to the network and is capable of communicating with the computer via the network. Each network device includes a network device controller that provides the computer with network device information about settings and conditions of each network device of the at least one network device, via the network. The network device information includes connection type information that indicates whether each network device is a wired connection type or a wireless connection type. The computer includes a computer controller that obtains the network device information from each network device via the network and outputs a part or all of contents of the network device information including at least the connection type information, based on the obtained network device information.

Claims

1. A network device management system, comprising:

a computer that is connected to a network; and

at least one network device that is connected to the network and is capable of communicating with the computer via the network, each network device including a network device controller that provides the computer with network device information about settings and conditions of each network device of the at least one network device, via the network, the network device information including connection type information that indicates whether each network device is a wired connection type or a wireless connection type;

the computer comprising a computer controller that;

obtains the network device information from each network device via the network; and

outputs a part or all of contents of the network device information including at least connection type information, based on the obtained network device information.

2. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein different output operations are performed in accordance with the connection types.

3. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein different icons are outputted in accordance with the connection types.

4. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the computer further includes a storage device that stores the obtained network device information, and when the computer controller cannot obtain the network device information from the network device, the computer controller reads the connection type of the network device from the storage device and outputs the information in a format which indicates the connection type and a condition where the network device is not connected to the network.

5. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the computer includes a receiving level storage device that stores a receiving level of each network device, wherein the computer controller outputs the receiving level of the network device stored in the receiving level storage device when the computer controller cannot obtain the network device information from the network device.

6. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein when the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a case where the network device is connected to the network via a cable.

7. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, wherein when the computer cannot communicate with the wireless network device, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a condition where the computer can perform communications with the wireless network device.

8. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein when the network device is a wireless connection type, the network device controller can provide the computer controller with receiving level warning information, which indicates that a receiving level is lower than a predetermined threshold level in the wireless communication, as a part of the network device information, and when the receiving level warning information is transmitted by the wireless network device, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a condition where the receiving level warning information is not transmitted by the wireless network device.

9. The network device management system according to claim 1, further comprising an other network device that is newly connected to the network, wherein the computer controller obtains the network device information from the newly-connected network device at a frequency higher than an existing network device.

10. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the computer controller outputs error information, which indicates an occurrence of an error in the network device, in a form that identifies whether the error information is related to a network device of the wireless connection type or a network device of the wired connection type.

11. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein when the network device is the wireless connection type, the network device controller can provide the computer controller with information of an access point to which the wireless connection type network device is connected, and the computer controller outputs the access point information, based on the obtained access point information.

12. The network device management system according to claim 11, wherein the wireless network device includes a plurality of wireless network machines, wherein when the computer cannot communicate with some of the plurality of wireless network machines connected to the same access point, the computer controller outputs warning information that the access point may have a problem.

13. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein when the computer cannot communicate with all of the plurality of wireless network machines connected to the same access point, the computer controller outputs the warning information that the access point may have a problem.

14. The network device management system according to claim 12, wherein the warning information that the access point may have a problem is warning information there may be a problem in an installed location of the access point.

15. The network device management system according to claim 1, further comprising a client computer that is connected to the network and includes a browser that can display a data file in a web page format on a display, wherein the computer including the computer controller is an administrator server connected to the network, the computer controller outputs a part or all of the contents of the obtained network information by a data file in the web page format and further provides the client computer with the outputted data file in the web page format, in response to a request made by the browser of the client computer.

16. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the network device provides the connection type information via a Simple Network Management Protocol.

17. The network device management system according to claim 1, wherein the connection type information is connection setting information used for connecting the network device to a wireless network.

18. The network device management system according to claim 17, wherein the network device is connected with the network via an access point, and the connection setting information is used in order to establish a connection between the network device and the access point.

19. A network device management device, comprising:

a computer that can communicate with a network device via a network, the computer comprising a controller that;

obtains, via the network, network information about settings and conditions of the network device, the network information including connection type information that indicates whether the connection type is a wired connection or a wireless connection; and

outputs a part or all of contents of the network device information including at least the connection type information, based on the obtained network device information.

20. The network device management device according to claim 19, wherein when the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a case where the network device is connected to the network via a cable.

21. The network device management device according to claim 19, wherein the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, wherein when the computer cannot communicate with the wireless network device, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a condition where the computer can communicate with the wireless network device.

22. The network device management device according to claim 19, wherein when the computer controller receives receiving level warning information, which indicates that a receiving level of the network device of the wireless connection type is lower than a predetermined threshold level in wireless communication, from the network device, as part of the network device information, the computer controller obtaining the network device information from the network device of the wireless connection type at a frequency higher than a case where the computer controller does not receive the receiving level warning information from the network device of the wireless connection type.

23. The network device management device according to claim 19, wherein when the network device is newly connected to the network, the computer controller obtains the network device information from the newly-connected network device at a frequency higher than an existing network device.

24. The network device management device according to claim 19, wherein the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, wherein the controller obtains access point information that indicates an access point connected with the wireless network device, as part of the network device information, and outputs information indicating a correspondence between the wireless network device and the access point, based on the obtained access point information.

25. A program product for use in a computer functioning as a network administrator device which is capable of communicating with a network device via the computer, the program product causing the computer to execute:

obtaining, via the network, network device information about settings and conditions of the network device, the network device information including connection type information that indicates whether the connection type is a wired connection or a wireless connection; and

outputting a part or all of the network device information including at least the connection type information, based on the obtained network device information.

26. The network device management program according to claim 25, wherein when the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, the obtaining of the network device information includes obtaining the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a case where the network device is connected to the network via a cable.

27. The network device management program according to claim 25, wherein the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, and when the computer cannot communicate with the wireless network device, the obtaining the network device information includes obtaining the network device information from the wireless network device at a frequency higher than a condition where the computer can perform communications with the wireless network device.

28. The network device management program according to claim 25, wherein the obtaining the network device information includes obtaining, when the computer controller receives receiving level warning information, which indicates that a receiving level of the network device of the wireless connection type is lower than a predetermined threshold level in wireless communication, from the network device, as part of the network device information, the network device information from the network device at a frequency higher than a case where the computer controller does not receive the receiving level warning information from the network device.

29. The network device management program according to claim 25, wherein when the network device is newly connected to the network, the obtaining the network device information includes obtaining the network device information from the newly-connected network device at a frequency higher than an existing network device.

30. The network device management program according to claim 25, wherein the network device is wirelessly connected to the network, wherein the obtaining of the network information includes obtaining access point information that indicates an access point connected with the wireless network device, as part of the network device information, and the outputting the network device information includes outputting information indicating a correspondence between the wireless network device and the access point, based on the obtained access point information.

31. A method of managing a network including both wireless and wire connected devices using a computer, comprising:

polling each wireless device to obtain device information, the device information including signal strength;

polling each wire connected device to obtain device information;

detecting devices newly added to the network;

preparing a summary of polling and detected device information; and

providing the summary to a user connected to the network upon request, wherein the polling of wireless devices occurs with greater frequency than the polling of wire connected devices.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the polling of wireless devices is done at an even greater frequency when the signal strength is below a predetermined value.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein polling following detecting a newly detected device is at a greater frequency than a pre-existing device until a predetermined time has passed.