Communication method for device in network system and system for managing network devices

• US 20100313261A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hyun-wook
• Application Number:
  US12/805,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls

Abstract

A communication method for a device in a network system and a system for managing network devices are disclosed. The communication method for a device in a network system includes connecting a management server that manages at least one device in an internal network, the at least one device, and a designated device with one another through a firewall, the internal network, and an external network; the designated device maintaining a connection with the management server; and if a message for requesting a connection with a target device among the at least one device is received by the designated device from the management server, the designated device forwarding the received message to the target device. According to this method, the management server can connect and communicate with managed devices, whenever necessary, by making the designated device connected to the network continuously maintain the connection with the management server.

Claims

1. A communication method for a device in a network system comprising:

managing devices on an internal network with a management server on an external network, where access to the internal network from the external network is restricted by a firewall;

connecting to and maintaining a connection with a designated device on the internal network; and

transmitting a request or a message to a target device on the internal network, via the designated device, when the management server requests to communicate with or send a message to one of non-designated devices on the internal network.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the target device is connected to the management server after the target device receives the request to communicate via the designated device, and additional requests or messages transmitted from the management server to the target device are responded to by the target device.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting and designating any device on the internal network to first connect and register with the management server as the designated device.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising analyzing registration and state information reported by the devices on the internal network and then, based on the analysis, selecting and designating one of the devices as the designated device to maintain a connection with the management server.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, further comprising requesting a connection to the target device based on the state information received from the target device,

wherein the designated device forwards the request for the connection to the target device.

6. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the management server and the designated device remain connected for a predetermined time period, the time period being extendable.

7. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the management server, the designated device, and the at least one of the one or more target devices communicate via TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).

8. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the devices managed on the internal network are image forming devices.

9. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the designated device is an image forming device.

10. A communication method for a device in a network system comprising:

connecting to and maintaining a connection with a management server on an external network, via a designated device on an internal network, where access to the internal network from the external network is restricted by a firewall;

receiving a request or a message to communicate with or send a message to one of a plurality of non-designated devices on the internal network from the management server; and

forwarding the request or the message to a target device of the non-designated devices on the internal network, when the management server requests to communicate with or send the message to one of the non-designated devices on the internal network.

11. The communication method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving the request or the message from the management server to be forwarded to the target device, analyzing the request or the message, and forwarding the request or message to the target device, if the designated device determines that the received request or the message corresponds to the target device.

12. A designated device connected to an internal network, the designated device comprising:

a device communication unit to receive requests and messages from a management server connected to an external network, where access to the internal network from the external network is restricted by a firewall, and to transmit the requests and the messages to at least one target device connected to the internal network;

a message processing unit to confirm receipt of the requests and the messages, and forward the requests and messages to the at least one target device corresponding to the received requests and the messages, via the device communication unit;

a registration/connection control unit to connect to and maintain a connection with the management server, via the device communication unit;

a database to store registration and state information of the designated device; and

an information providing unit to retrieve the registration and the state information from the database, and report the registration and the state information to the registration/connection control unit, when requested by the registration/connection control unit.

13. The designated device according to claim 12, wherein the designated device connects to and maintains a connection with the management server if the designated device receives a message that the management server has selected and designated the designated device to create and maintain a connection.

14. The designated device according to claim 12, wherein designated device forwards a connection request from the management server to the at least one target device to cause the at least one target device to connect to the management server after receiving the connection request from the management server forwarded from the designated device, the at least one target device responding to the requests of the management server after connecting to the management server.

15. The designated device according to claim 12, wherein the designated device is an image forming device.

16. A management server connected to an external network, the management server comprising:

a server communication unit to send requests and messages to at least one target device on an internal network, and receive state information, via connections formed by devices on the internal network, where access to the internal network from the external network is restricted by a firewall;

a device selection unit to select a designated device connected to the internal network, and generate a message for the selected device to inform the selected device that the selected device has been designated;

a device management unit to, based on state information stored in the management server database, issue the requests and the messages to devices on the internal network, via the server communication unit;

a message generation unit to, when directed by the device management unit, send connection requests to at least one target device on the internal network, via the server communication unit; and

a database to store the registration and the state information of the designated device and the at least one target device.

17. The management server according to claim 16, wherein the management server selects and designates any device on the internal network to first connect and register with the management server as the designated device, so as to maintain a connection with the management server.

18. The management server according to claim 16, wherein the management server analyzes the registration and the state information reported by the devices on the internal network and then, based on the analysis, selects and designates one of the devices on the internal network to maintain a connection with the management server.

19. The management server according to claim 16, wherein the management server and the designated device are connected together for a predetermined time period, the time period for connection being extendable.

20. The management server according to claim 16, wherein the management server, the designated device, and the at least one of the one or more target devices communicate via TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).

21. The management server according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or more target devices is an image forming device.