Server, electronic apparatus, external apparatus, and information processing system using them, and electronic apparatus setting and status acquisition method

• US 8,250,136 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Maekawa, Hajime, Iwamoto, Koji, Ikeda, Takumi, Takechi, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US10/518,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,361 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

An information processing system includes an electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus. The electronic apparatus acquires operation information for the electronic apparatus from the server, and directs the electronic apparatus to operate according to the operation information. The server receives an external apparatus identifier, electronic apparatus identifier, and operation information, from the external apparatus, and accumulates the information. The external apparatus accepts input of the electronic apparatus identifier and the operation information, and transmits the external apparatus identifier and the operation information to the server. Such an information processing system enables operation information for an electronic apparatus to be set and acquired, without directly accessing an electronic apparatus from an external apparatus, improving security.

Claims

1. An information processing system including an electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus, wherein

the electronic apparatus comprises:

an operation information acquirer for acquiring first operation information from the server, the electronic apparatus operating with the first operation information;

an operation controller for directing so that the electronic apparatus operates according to the first operation information;

an operation information input acceptor for accepting input of second operation information; and

a second operation information transmitter for transmitting the second operation information and an electronic apparatus identifier, to the server, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus,

the external apparatus comprises;

an external information storage for storing an external apparatus identifier, the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus;

a setting information acceptor for accepting input of the electronic apparatus identifier and of the first operation information; and

an operation setting information transmitter for transmitting the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, to the server, and

the server comprises;

an operation information control table storage for storing an operation information control table including at least one operation information control record, the record including the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information;

an operation setting information receiver for receiving the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, from the external apparatus; and

an operation information updating part for updating the operation information control table, according to the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information,

wherein the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus, and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, and the operation information updating part updates the operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the external apparatus further comprises:

an operation information acquisition information input acceptor for accepting input of operation information acquisition information including the electronic apparatus identifier;

an operation information acquisition command transmitter for transmitting an operation information acquisition command to the server, the command including the operation information acquisition information and the external apparatus identifier;

an operation information receiver for receiving the second operation information acquired according to the operation information acquisition command; and

an operation information output part that outputs the second operation information.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the external apparatus is one of a plurality of external apparatuses, and

the server stores the priority information showing the level of priority among pieces of the first operation information when the server receives the pieces of the first operation information from the external apparatuses, and the operation information updating part updates the operation information control table according to one piece of the first operation information that is given the higher priority level.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the operation information control record further includes operation information transmission history information, the operation information transmission history information showing that the first operation information has been transmitted to the electronic apparatus, and the operation information updating part updates the operation information transmission history information when the first operation information is transmitted to the electronic apparatus.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the operation information acquirer regularly acquires the operation information from the server.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the server notifies the electronic apparatus of the first operation information after updating, when the operation information updating part updates the operation information control table.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the external apparatus identifier includes an IP address defined in IP version 4, and identifying information inherent in the external apparatus.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the external apparatus identifier includes a host address in an IP address defined in IP version 6.

9. An information processing system including an electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus, wherein

the electronic apparatus comprises:

an electronic apparatus identifier storage for storing an electronic apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus;

a status information storage for storing status information showing a status of the electronic apparatus;

an electronic apparatus status information transmitter for transmitting the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information to the server,

the server comprises;

a status information control table storage for storing a status information control table including at least one status information control record including an external apparatus identifier that identifies the external apparatus, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the status information;

an electronic apparatus status information receiver for receiving the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information from the electronic apparatus; and

a status information updating part for updating the status information control table according to the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information received by the electronic apparatus status information receiver, and

the external apparatus includes;

an external information storage for storing the external apparatus identifier;

a status acquisition information acceptor for accepting input of status acquisition information, the status acquisition information including the electronic apparatus identifier;

a status acquisition command transmitter for transmitting a status acquisition command including the external apparatus identifier stored in the external information storage and the status acquisition information accepted by the status acquisition information acceptor, to the server; and

a status information receiver for receiving the status information acquired according to the status acquisition command,

wherein the electronic apparatus acquires first operation information from the server and accepts second operation information, the electronic apparatus operating responsive to one of the first operation information and the second operation information, and

the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, the server updates an operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein

the external apparatus further includes a status information output part for outputting the status information received by the status information receiver.

11. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein

the external apparatus identifier includes an IP address defined in IP version 4, and identifying information inherent in the external apparatus.

12. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein

the external apparatus identifier includes a host address in an IP address defined in IP version 6.

13. An electronic apparatus for use in an information processing system, the system including the electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:

an acquirer for acquiring first operation information from the server, the electronic apparatus operating with the first operation information;

a controller for directing so that the electronic apparatus operates according to the first operation information;

an operation information acceptor for accepting input of second operation information; and

a second operation information transmitter for transmitting the second operation information and an electronic apparatus identifier, to the server, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus, wherein

the external apparatus includes;

a first storage for storing an external apparatus identifier, the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus;

a first acceptor for accepting input of the electronic apparatus identifier and the first operation information;

a first transmitter for transmitting the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, to the server, and

the server includes;

a second storage for storing an operation information control table, the table including at least one operation information control record, the record including the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information;

a first receiver for receiving the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, from the external apparatus; and

a first updating part for updating the operation information control table according to the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information,

wherein the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus, and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, and the first updating part updates the operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the acquirer acquires the operation information from the server regularly.

15. An electronic apparatus for use in an information processing system including the electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a third storage for storing an electronic apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus;

a fourth storage for storing status information, the status information showing a status of the electronic apparatus; and

a fourth transmitter for transmitting the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information to the server, wherein

the server includes;

a fifth storage for storing a status information control table including at least one status information control record, the record including an external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the status information, the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus;

a third receiver for receiving the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information from the electronic apparatus; and

a second updating part for updating the status information control table according to the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information receive by the third receiver, and

the external apparatus includes;

a sixth storage for storing the external apparatus identifier;

a fourth acceptor for accepting input of status acquisition information, the status acquisition information including the electronic apparatus identifier;

a fifth transmitter for transmitting a status acquisition command including the external apparatus identifier stored in the sixth storage and the status acquisition information accepted by the fourth acceptor, to the server; and

a fourth receiver for receiving status information acquired according to the status acquisition command,

wherein the electronic apparatus acquires first operation information from the server and accepts second operation information, the electronic apparatus operating responsive to one of the first operation information and the second operation information, and

the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, the server updates an operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

16. A server for use in an information processing system, the system including an electronic apparatus, the server, and an external apparatus, the server comprising:

a second storage for storing an operation information control table including at least one operation information control record, the record including an external apparatus identifier, an electronic apparatus identifier, and first operation information, the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus operating with the first operation information;

a first receiver for receiving the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, from the external apparatus; and

a first updating part for updating the operation information control table according to the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes;

an acquirer for acquires the first operation information from the server;

a controller for directing so that the electronic apparatus operates according to the first operation information;

an operation information acceptor for accepting input of second operation information; and

a second operation information transmitter for transmitting the second operation information and the electronic apparatus identifier, to the server; and

the external apparatus includes;

a first storage for storing the external apparatus identifier;

a first acceptor for accepting input of the electronic apparatus identifier and the first operation information; and

a first transmitter for transmitting the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, to the server,

wherein the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus, and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, and the first updating part updates the operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

17. The server according to claim 16, wherein the operation information control record further includes operation information transmission history information, the operation information transmission history information showing that the first operation information has been transmitted to the electronic apparatus, and the first updating part updates the operation information transmission history information, when the first operation information is transmitted to the electronic apparatus.

18. The server according to claim 16, wherein the server notifies the electronic apparatus of the first operation information after updating, when the first updating part updates the operation information control table.

19. A server for use in an information processing system, the system including an electronic apparatus, the server, and an external apparatus, the server comprising:

a fifth storage for storing a status information control table, the table including at least one status information control record, the record including an external apparatus identifier, an electronic apparatus identifier and status information;

the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus, and the status information showing a status of the electronic apparatus;

a third receiver for receiving a first electronic apparatus identifier and first status information from the electronic apparatus; and

a second updating part for updating the status information control table according to the first electronic apparatus identifier and the first status information, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes;

a third storage for storing the first electronic apparatus identifier;

a fourth storage for storing the first status information;

a fourth transmitter for transmitting the first electronic apparatus identifier and the first status information to the server, and

the external apparatus includes;

a sixth storage for storing the first external apparatus identifier;

a fourth acceptor for accepting input of status acquisition information, the status acquisition information including the first electronic apparatus identifier;

a fifth transmitter for transmitting a status acquisition command to the server, the command including the first external apparatus identifier stored in the sixth storage and the status acquisition information accepted by the fourth acceptor; and

a fourth receiver for receiving status information acquired according to the status acquisition command,

wherein the electronic apparatus acquires first operation information from the server and accepts second operation information, the electronic apparatus operating responsive to one of the first operation information and the second operation information, and

the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, the server updates an operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

20. An external apparatus for use in an information processing system, the system including an electronic apparatus, a server, and the external apparatus, the external apparatus comprising:

a first storage for storing an external apparatus identifier, the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus;

a first acceptor for accepting input of an electronic apparatus identifier and first operation information, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatus operating with the first operation information; and

a first transmitter for transmitting the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, to the server, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes;

an acquirer for acquiring the first operation information from the server;

a controller for directing so that the electronic apparatus operates according to the first operation information;

an operation information acceptor for accepting input of second operation information; and

a second operation information transmitter for transmitting the second operation information and the electronic apparatus identifier, to the server, and

the server includes;

a second storage for storing an operation information control table, the table including at least one operation information control record, the record including the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information;

a first receiver for receiving the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information, from the external apparatus; and

a first updating part for updating the operation information control table according to the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the first operation information,

wherein the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus, and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, and the first updating part updates the operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

21. An external apparatus for use in an information processing system, the system including an electronic apparatus, a server, and the external apparatus, the external apparatus comprising:

a sixth storage for storing an external apparatus identifier,

the external apparatus identifier identifying the external apparatus;

a fourth acceptor for accepting input of status acquisition information including an electronic apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier identifying the electronic apparatus;

a fifth transmitter for transmitting a status acquisition command and status acquisition information accepted by the fourth acceptor, to the server, the command including the external apparatus identifier stored in the sixth storage; and

a fourth receiver for receiving status information acquired according to the status acquisition command, wherein

the electronic apparatus includes;

a third storage for storing the electronic apparatus identifier;

a fourth storage for storing the status information; and

a fourth transmitter for transmitting the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information, to the server, and

the server includes;

a fifth storage for storing a status information control table, the table including at least one status information control record, the record including the external apparatus identifier, the electronic apparatus identifier, and the status information;

a third receiver for receiving the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information, from the electronic apparatus; and

a second updating part for updating the status information control table according to the electronic apparatus identifier and the status information received by the third receiver,

wherein the electronic apparatus acquires first operation information from the server and accepts second operation information, the electronic apparatus operating responsive to one of the first operation information and the second operation information, and

the server stores priority information showing a level of priority for each of the first operation information and the second operation information, when the server receives the first operation information from the external apparatus and the second operation information from the electronic apparatus, the server updates an operation information control table, according to one of the first operation information and the second operation information that is given a higher priority level.

22. The external apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising a second output part for outputting the status information received by the fourth receiver.