Processing method of device information and network device in device information management system

• US 7,058,705 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukasawa, Nobuaki, Sanbe, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US09/624,384
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709/220, 709/203, 709/250, 709/217, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

In a device information management system in which a management server for managing device information and various devices are connected, a plurality of different types of device information is transmitted to the management server at predetermined timings, respectively. In a device information management system in which a management server for managing device information and various devices are connected, a request to transmit the device information to the management server is transmitted to another device and the device information of the requesting device is transmitted to the management server in accordance with the request.

Claims

1. A method of processing device information in a network system in which a management server, for managing the device information, an information processing apparatus, and a device are connected via a network, comprising:

a first transmitting step of transmitting a plurality of different types of device information from the device to the management server at predetermined timings, respectively, wherein the plurality of different types of device information are static information, which does not vary, semi-static information transmitted periodically at a first time interval, and dynamic information transmitted periodically at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval; and

a second transmitting step of transmitting the semi-static information and the dynamic information from the management server to the information processing apparatus at respective different timings, wherein in the second transmitting step, the semi-static information is transmitted less frequently than the dynamic information.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a setting step of setting in the device the predetermined timings.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the devices is provided in the network system and said method further comprises the steps of:

a request transmitting step of transmitting, by one device to another device, a request to transmit the device information of the one device to the management server; and

an obtaining step of obtaining in the management server the device information of the requesting device in accordance with the transmitted request.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device is a printer.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device is a copying apparatus.

6. A network device connected through a network to a management server for managing device information, comprising:

a transmitting unit adapted to transmit a plurality of different types of device information to the management server at predetermined timings, respectively,

wherein the plurality of different types of device information are static information, which does not vary, semi-static information transmitted periodically at a first time interval, and dynamic information transmitted periodically at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval,

wherein the transmitting unit is adapted to transmit the semi-static information and the dynamic information from the management server to the information processing apparatus at respective different timings, with the semi-static information being transmitted from the management server to the information processing apparatus less frequently than the dynamic information.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a setting unit adapted to set the predetermined timings.

8. A device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a request transmitting unit adapted to transmit, to another device, a request to transmit the device information of said network device to the management server.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein said network device is a printer.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein said network device is a copying apparatus.

11. A device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a request receiving unit adapted to receive a request from another network device to transmit the device information of the another network device to the management server so as to enable the management server to obtain the device information of the requesting network device in accordance with the request received by said request receiving unit.

12. A recording medium on which is stored a program for the processing of device information in a network system in which a management server, for managing device information, an information processing apparatus, and a device are connected via a network, said program comprising:

a first transmitting step of transmitting a plurality of different types of device information from the device to the management server at predetermined timings respectively, wherein the plurality of different types of device information are static information, which does not vary, semi-static information transmitted periodically at a first time interval, and dynamic information transmitted periodically at a second time interval shorter than the first interval; and

a second transmitting step of transmitting the semi-static information and the dynamic information from the management server to the information processing apparatus at respective different timings, wherein in the second transmitting step, the semi-static information is transmitted less frequently than the dynamic information.

13. A recording medium according to claim 12, wherein said program further comprises a setting step of setting in the device the predetermined timings.

14. A recording medium according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of the devices are provided in the network system and said method further comprises:

a request transmitting step of transmitting, by one device to another device, a request to transmit the device information of the one device to the management server; and

an obtaining step of obtaining in the management server the device information of the requesting device in accordance with the transmitted request.

15. A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium for the processing of device information in a network system in which a management server, for managing device information, an information processing apparatus, and a device are connected via a network, comprising:

a first transmitting step of transmitting, a plurality of different types of device information from the device to the management server at predetermined timings, respectively, wherein the plurality of different types of device information are static information, which does not vary, semi-static information transmitted periodically at a first time interval, and dynamic information transmitted periodically at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval; and

a second transmitting step of transmitting the semi-static information and the dynamic information from the management server to the information processing apparatus at respective different timings, wherein in the second transmitting step, the semi-static information is transmitted less frequently than the dynamic information.

16. A program according to claim 15, further comprising a setting step of setting in the device the predetermined timings.

17. A program according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of the devices are provided in the network system and said method further comprises:

a request transmitting step of transmitting, by one device to another device, a request to transmit the device information of the one device to the management server; and

an obtaining step of obtaining in the management server the device information of the requesting device in accordance with the transmitted request.

18. A management server connected to an information processing apparatus and a device via a network, comprising:

a receiving unit adapted to receive a plurality of different types of device information from the device at predetermined timings, respectively, wherein the plurality of different types of device information are static information, which does not vary, semi-static information transmitted periodically at a first time interval, and dynamic information transmitted periodically at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval; and

a transmitting unit adapted to transmit the semi-static information and the dynamic information from the management server to the information processing apparatus at respective different timings, wherein the transmitting unit is adapted to transmit the semi-static information less frequently than the dynamic information.

19. A server according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined timings are set in the device.

20. A server according to claim 18, wherein said server is connected to a plurality of the devices, one device transmits to another device a request to transmit the device information of the one device to said management server, and said server further comprises:

an obtaining unit adapted to obtain the device information of the requesting device in accordance with the request.

21. A server according to claim 18, wherein the device is a printer.

22. A server according to claim 18, wherein the device is a copying apparatus.