Control apparatus, communication control method executed by the control apparatus, communication control program controlling the control apparatus, and data processing system

• US 8,706,848 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shouno, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Salad, Abdullahi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Jimmy H
• Application Number:
  US11/372,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/230, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2575 using address mapping retrieval, e.g. simple traversal of user datagram protocol through session traversal utilities for NAT [STUN]

Abstract

A control apparatus is provided between a first network and a second network different from the first network, in which a data processing apparatus is connected to the first network. The control apparatus notifies the data processing apparatus of a change of setting information that is set for network communications. Then, the control apparatus rewrites information involved in received data according to the changed setting information, when the data processing apparatus transmits data to be transmitted to a destination apparatus connected to the second network under a condition that the data processing apparatus is not yet operating based on the changed setting information.

Claims

1. A control apparatus provided external to a data processing apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the data processing apparatus through a first network and is connected to a second network that is different from the first network, the control apparatus comprising:

a changing unit configured to change setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus;

a notifying unit configured to notify the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit;

a determining unit configured to determine whether the data processing apparatus is operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive data from the data processing apparatus, wherein the data includes a first address to a destination on the second network;

a transferring unit configured to transfer, in response to the receiving unit receiving the data from the data processing apparatus, the received data to the second network;

a control unit configured to overwrite the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit, and to cause the transferring unit to transfer data to the destination on the second network,

wherein after the changing unit changes setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus and after the control apparatus receives a reply from the data processing apparatus to an inquiry, wherein the inquiry was received from a client on the second network to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus and the inquiry was to check the address of the destination, the determining unit determines whether the data processing apparatus is operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit,

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus is not yet operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit, the control unit overwrites the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit and causes the transferring unit to transfer the overwritten data to the destination on the second network, and

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus is already operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit, the control unit causes the transferring unit to transfer the data received from the data processing apparatus to the destination on the second network without overwriting the first address of the destination with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit; and

a processing unit configured to execute at least one of the changing unit, the notifying unit, the determination unit, and the control unit in memory.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a judging unit configured to judge a necessity of notification by the notifying unit in accordance with the setting information changed by the changing unit.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first address is designated information included in data corresponding to a designated protocol and the control unit overwrites the designated information included in data corresponding to a designated protocol.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit further is configured to determine whether to notify the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit and, in response to the determining unit determining that the setting information is not accompanied by setting change for the data processing apparatus, the notifying unit refrains from notifying the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit overwrites the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit when a source address of the data processing apparatus is changed to a global address of the control apparatus.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second network interface card; and

a port located adjacent to the second network interface card, wherein the port is configured to receive a message from the data processing apparatus indicating that the data processing apparatus is operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit.

7. A control apparatus provided external to a data processing apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the data processing apparatus through a first network and is connected to a second network that is different from the first network, the control apparatus comprising:

a changing unit configured to change setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus;

a notifying unit configured to notify the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit;

a determining unit configured to determine whether the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive data from the data processing apparatus, wherein the data includes a first address to a destination on the second network;

a transferring unit configured to transfer, in response to the receiving unit receiving the data from the data processing apparatus, the received data to the second network;

a control unit configured to overwrite the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit, and to cause the transferring unit to transfer data to the destination on the second network,

wherein after the changing unit changes setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus and after the control apparatus receives a reply from the data processing apparatus to an inquiry, wherein the inquiry was received from a client on the second network to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus and the inquiry was to check the address of the destination, the determining unit determines whether the data processing us is operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit,

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit, the control unit overwrites the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit and causes the transferring unit to transfer the overwritten data to the destination on the second network, and

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus did not perform a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit, the control unit causes the transferring unit to transfer the data received from the data processing apparatus to the destination on the second network without overwriting the first address of the destination with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit; and

a processing unit configured to execute at least one of the changing unit, the notifying unit, the determination unit, and the control unit in memory.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the data processing apparatus after the notifying unit notifies the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit, a message requesting the data processing apparatus to encourage a user to reboot the data processing apparatus.

9. A method for a control apparatus provided external to a data processing apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the data processing apparatus through a first network and is connected to a second network that is different from the first network, the method comprising:

changing setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus;

notifying the data processing apparatus of the changed setting information;

determining whether the data processing apparatus is operating based on the notified setting information;

receiving data from the data processing apparatus, wherein the data includes a first address to a destination on the second network;

transferring, in response to receiving the data from the data processing apparatus, the received data to the second network; and

controlling to transfer data to the destination on the second network,

wherein after changing changes setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus and after the control apparatus receives a reply from the data processing apparatusto an inquiry, wherein the inquiry was received from a client on the second network to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus and the inquiry was to check the address of the destination, determining includes determining whether the data processing apparatus is operating based on the notified setting information,

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received under a condition in which it is determined that the data processing apparatus is not yet operating based on the notified setting information, controlling includes overwriting the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the changed setting information and causing transfer of the overwritten data to the destination on the second network, and

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received under a condition in which it is determined that the data processing apparatus is already operating based on the notified setting information, controlling includes causing transfer of the data received from the data processing apparatus to the destination on the second network without overwriting the first address of the destination with a second address according to the changed setting information.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that causes a control apparatus to perform the method according to claim 9.

11. A method for a control apparatus provided external to a data processing apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the data processing apparatus through a first network and is connected to a second network that is different from the first network, the method comprising:

changing setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus;

notifying the data processing apparatus of the changed setting information;

determining whether the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after notifying the data processing apparatus of the changed setting information;

receiving data from the data processing apparatus, wherein the data includes a first address to a destination on the second network;

transferring, in response to receiving the data from the data processing apparatus, the received data to the second network; and

controlling to transfer data to the destination on the second network,

wherein after changing changes setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus and after the control apparatus receives a reply from the data processing apparatus to an inquiry, wherein the inquiry was received from a client on the second network to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus and the inquiry was to check the address of the destination, determining includes determining whether the data processing apparatus is operating based on the notified setting information,

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received under a condition in which it is determined that the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after notifying the data processing apparatus of the changed setting information, controlling includes overwriting the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the changed setting information and causing transfer of the overwritten data to the destination on the second network, and

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received under a condition in which it is determined that the data processing apparatus did not perform a reboot operation after notifying the data processing apparatus of the changed setting information, controlling includes causing transfer of the data received from the data processing apparatus to the destination on the second network without overwriting the first address of the destination with a second address according to the changed setting information.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that causes a control apparatus to perform the method according to claim 11.

13. A data processing system and network comprising:

a data processing apparatus connected to a first network; and

a control apparatus provided external to the data processing apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the data processing apparatus through a first network and is connected to a second network that is different from the first network, wherein the control apparatus comprises,

a changing unit configured to change setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus,

a notifying unit configured to notify the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit,

a determining unit configured to determine whether the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit,

a receiving unit configured to receive data from the data processing apparatus, wherein the data includes a first address to a destination on the second network,

a transferring unit configured to transfer, in response to the receiving unit receiving the data from the data processing apparatus, the received data to the second network,

a control unit configured to overwrite the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit, and to cause the transferring unit to transfer data to the destination on the second network,

wherein after the changing unit changes setting information of a destination that is set on the control apparatus and after the control apparatus receives a reply from the data processing apparatus to an inquiry, wherein the inquiry was received from a client on the second network to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus and the inquiry was to check the address of the destination, the determining unit determines whether the data processing us is operating based on the setting information notified by the notifying unit,

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus performed a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit, the control unit overwrites the first address of the destination included in the data received from the data processing apparatus with the second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit and causes the transferring unit to transfer the overwritten data to the destination on the second network, and

wherein, in response to the data from the data processing apparatus being received by the receiving unit under a condition in which the determining unit determined that the data processing apparatus did not perform a reboot operation after the notifying unit notified the data processing apparatus of the setting information changed by the changing unit, the control unit causes the transferring unit to transfer the data received from the data processing apparatus to the destination on the second network without overwriting the first address of the destination with a second address according to the setting information changed by the changing unit, and

a processing unit configured to execute at least one of the changing unit, the notifying unit, the determination unit, and the control unit in memory.