NETWORK-MANAGEMENT DEVICE, NETWORK-MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

• US 20080046553A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: YAMASHITA, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• 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 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A network-management device includes a map storing unit and a map state storing unit. The map storing unit stores therein a map created based on information on network devices. The map state storing unit stores therein a creation state indicating that creation of the map is in process or completed in association with the map. When creation of the map is in process, disclosure of the map is prohibited, and all the network devices are notified that creation of the map is in process. When creation of the map is completed, it is checked whether all the network devices are laid out on the map. When all the network devices are laid out on the map, disclosure of the map is permitted.

Claims

1. A network-management device comprising:

an acquiring unit that acquires device information on all network devices operating on a network;

a first storing unit that stores therein the device information;

a display unit that displays the device information in a list;

a designating unit that designates a layout position on a map where device information on each of the network devices is to be laid out;

a selecting unit that selects a display image for each of the network devices based on type of the network device;

a creating unit that creates the map by laying out on the map the device information on each of the network devices with the display image based on the layout position;

a specifying unit that specifies a creation state of the map; and

a second storing unit that stores therein the creation state in association with the map.

2. The network-management device according to claim 1, wherein the creation state includes

a first creation state indicating that creation of the map is in process;

and

a second creation state indicating that creation of the map is completed.

3. The network-management device according to claim 2, further comprising a prohibiting unit that prohibits disclosure of the map when the specifying unit specifies the first creation state.

4. The network-management device according to claim 2, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies the network devices that creation of the map is in process when the specifying unit specifies the first creation state.

5. The network-management device according to claim 2, further comprising a checking unit that checks, when the specifying unit specifies the second creation state, whether the device information on all the network devices is laid out on the map, wherein

the second storing unit stores therein the second creation state as the creation state only when the checking unit determines that the device information on all the network devices is laid but on the map.

6. A network-management method comprising:

acquiring device information on all network devices operating on a network;

storing the device information;

displaying the device information in a list;

designating a layout position on a map where device information on each of the network devices is to be laid out;

selecting a display image for each of the network devices based on type of the network device;

creating the map by laying out on the map the device information on each of the network devices with the display image based on the layout position;

specifying a creation state of the map; and

storing the creation state in association with the map.

7. The network-management method according to claim 6, wherein the creation state includes

a first creation state indicating that creation of the map is in process;

and

a second creation state indicating that creation of the map is completed.

8. The network-management method according to claim 7, further comprising prohibiting disclosure of the map when the first creation state is specified at the specifying.

9. The network-management method according to claim 7, further comprising notifying the network devices that creation of the map is in process when the first creation state is specified at the specifying.

10. The network-management method according to claim 7, further comprising checking, when the second creation state is specified at the specifying, whether the device information on all the network devices is laid out on the map, wherein

the storing the creation state includes storing the second creation state as the creation state only when it is determined at the checking that the device information on all the network devices is laid out on the map.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program codes embodied in the medium that, when executed, causes a computer to execute:

acquiring device information on all network devices operating on a network;

storing the device information;

displaying the device information in a list;

designating a layout position on a map where device information on each of the network devices is to be laid out;

selecting a display image for each of the network devices based on type of the network device;

creating the map by laying out on the map the device information on each of the network devices with the display image based on the layout position;

specifying a creation state of the map; and

storing the creation state in association with the map.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the creation state includes

a first creation state indicating that creation of the map is in process;

and

a second creation state indicating that creation of the map is completed.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising prohibiting disclosure of the map when the first creation state is specified at the specifying.

14. The computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising notifying the network devices that creation of the map is in process when the first creation state is specified at the specifying.

15. The computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising checking, when the second creation state is specified at the specifying, whether the device information on all the network devices is laid out on the map, wherein

the storing the creation state includes storing the second creation state as the creation state only when it is determined at the checking that the device information on all the network devices is laid out on the map.