Network Device Management Apparatus And Its Control Method, Computer Program and Computer-Readable Storage Medium
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention makes other devices on a network recognize a device that does not support the network compatible Plug and Play function as a device that supports the network compatible Plug and Play function, and makes that device serve as the device with the function. To this end, a proxy server searches for a printer which is present on the network and does not support any network compatible Plug and Play function, and registers information used to specify the found printer in a hard disk via a memory controller. Upon registration, the proxy server generates network compatible Plug and Play DeviceDEscription so as to behave as if it were a network compatible Plug and Play device. Upon reception of a network compatible Plug and Play search message from the network, the proxy server transmits the generated DeviceDEscription as a response message to indicate a UPnP device in place of the printer that does not support the network compatible Plug and Play device. Upon reception of a print job addressed to the registered printer, the proxy server converts the print job to a protocol for that printer, and transmits the converted job data to the printer.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A network device management apparatus which has network connection means and manages a network device which is connected to a network, said device having a plurality of functions, comprising:
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storage means for storing a network address of at least one network device that does not support any network-compatible Plug and Play function, and function information associated with a plurality of functions of the network device; and
response means for, when a location confirmation request of a network-compatible Plug and Play device is received via the network connection means, generating and returning a message including identification information which specifies the network device that does not support the network-compatible Plug and Play function as a plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices corresponding to the functions indicated by the plurality of pieces of function information stored in said storage means, wherein the identification information identifying the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices is used for installing a plurality of device drivers corresponding to the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a network device management apparatus which has network connection means, and storage means for storing a network address of at least one network device that does not support any network-compatible Plug and Play function, and protocol information used to communicate with the network device, and manages a network device connected to a network, said method comprising the step of:
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generating and returning, when a location confirmation request of a network-compatible Plug and Play device is received via the network connection means, a message including identification information which specifies the network device that does not support the network-compatible Plug and Play function as a plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices corresponding to the functions indicated by a plurality of pieces of function information stored in the storage means, wherein the identification information identifying the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices is used for installing a plurality of device drivers corresponding to the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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21. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable storage medium, serving as a network device management apparatus which has network connection means, and storage means for storing a network address of at least one network device that does not support any network-compatible Plug and Play function, and protocol information used to communicate with the network device, and manages a network device connected to a network, said program comprising code for performing the step of:
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generating and returning, when a location confirmation request of a network-compatible Plug and Play device is received via the network connection means, a message including identification information which specifies the network device that does not support the network-compatible Plug and Play function as a plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices corresponding to the functions indicated by a plurality of pieces of function information stored in the storage means, wherein the identification information identifying the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices is used for installing a plurality of device drivers corresponding to the plurality of independent virtual network-compatible Plug and Play devices. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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30. A network device management apparatus which manages a network device connected to a network, the device having a plurality of functions, said apparatus comprising:
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processing means for receiving and processing a request regarding the network device; and
response means for, when a request regarding the network device is received by said processing means, returning a plurality of identification data, each of the identification data corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of functions of the network device, wherein the plurality of identification data to be returned by said response means is used for installing a plurality of device drivers corresponding to the plurality of functions of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method for controlling a network device management apparatus which manages a network device connected to a network, the device having a plurality of functions, said method comprising:
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a response step of, when a request with regarding to the network device is received, returning a plurality of identification data, each of the identification data corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of functions of the network device, wherein the plurality of identification data to be returned in said response step is used for installing a plurality of device drivers corresponding to the plurality of functions of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification