MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SERVER, CLIENT, AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20140040425A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakazawa, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,257,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/048 mobile agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A server stores association between client information and a network device as a management target of a client corresponding to the client information. In addition, the server creates an installer for starting a management function of the network device including client information and distributes the installer to the client. Then, when receiving a validation request including the client information corresponding to an execution of the installer from the client in the customer environment, the server performs validation processing of the client, and subsequently sends identification information of the network device as the management target of the client as a response.

Claims

1. A management system including a server for managing a network device installed in a customer environment,

wherein the server comprises:

a first creation unit configured to create client information;

a second creation unit configured to create an installer for starting a management function of a network device including the created client information;

a storage unit configured to store in a storage device association between the created client information and a network device as a management target of a client corresponding to the client information;

a reception unit configured to receive a validation request including the client information corresponding to an execution of the created installer from the client in the customer environment; and

a response unit configured to, in a case where the client information included in the validation request is stored on the storage device, perform validation processing of the client, and subsequently to send, as a response, identification information of the network device as the management target of the client stored in the storage device, and

wherein the client comprises;

an execution unit configured to obtain and execute the installer from the server;

a request unit configured to transmit a validation request including client information included in the installer to the server according to an execution of the installer; and

a transmission unit configured to, based on the identification information of the network device as the management target included in the response from the server, transmit information obtained from the network device to the server.

2. The management system according to claim 1,

wherein the transmission unit of the client is configured to transmit log information obtained from the network device as the management target to the server,

wherein the client is configured to obtain and install a package for expanding a function of transmitting at least either information of counter information and trouble information of the network device as the management target from the server to another system different from the server, and

wherein the server is configured to provide a new service by obtaining at least either information of counter information and trouble information from the other system.

3. A server for managing a network device installed in a customer environment, the server comprising:

a first creation unit configured to create client information;

a second creation unit configured to create an installer for starting a management function of a network device including the created client information;

a storage unit configured to store in a storage device association between the created client information and a network device as a management target of a client corresponding to the client information;

a reception unit configured to receive a validation request including the client information corresponding to an execution of the created installer from the client in the customer environment;

a response unit configured to, in a case where the client information included in the validation request is stored on the storage device, perform validation processing of the client, and subsequently to send, as a response, identification information of the network device as the management target of the client stored in the storage device; and

a collection unit configured to collect information of the network device via the client.

4. The server according to claim 3, wherein the response unit is configured to further send, as a response, information of a key for signature used for transmission of information from the client to the server.

5. The server according to claim 3, further comprising a storage unit configured to store in the storage device validated date and time information and information of a key for signature together with the client information and tenant information at a time when validation processing of the client is performed.

6. The server according to claim 3, wherein the response unit is configured to send, as a response, information indicating a service to be provided by the client and the identification information of the network device as the management target according to the service, and

further comprising a package transmission unit configured to, in response to a request for a package to expand a function necessary for executing the service from the client, transmit the package.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit according to claim 3.

7. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a server for managing a network device installed in a customer environment, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a request unit configured to, in response to an execution of an installer obtained from the server, transmit a validation request including client information included in the installer to the server;

a reception unit configured to receive a response including identification information of a network device as a management target corresponding to the client information; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit information obtained from the network device to the server based on the identification information of the network device as the management target.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reception unit is configured to receive information indicating a service to be provided corresponding to the client information and the identification information of the network device as the management target according to the service, and

wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a determination unit configured to determine whether a function of executing the service is already installed.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a request unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the function is not installed yet, request a package for expanding a function necessary for executing the service to the server.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to install a package obtained from the server according to a request by the request unit in order to expand a function of transmitting information of the network device as the management target to another system different from the server.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit according to claim 7.

11. A method performed in a server for managing a network device installed in a customer environment, the method comprising:

creating client information;

creating an installer for starting a management function of a network device, including the created client information;

storing in a storage device association between the created client information and a network device as a management target of a client corresponding to the client information;

receiving validation request including the client information corresponding to an execution of the created installer from the client in the customer environment;

in a case where the client information included in the validation request is stored on the storage device, performing validation processing of the client and subsequently sending, as a response, identification information of the network device as the management target of the client stored in the storage device; and

collecting information of the network device via the client.

12. A method performed in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a server for managing a network device installed in a customer environment, the method comprising:

in response to an execution of an installer obtained from the server, transmitting a validation request including client information included in the installer to the server;

receiving a response including identification information of a network device as a management target corresponding to the client information; and

transmitting information obtained from the network device to the server based on the identification information of the network device as the management target.