Monitor system and identifier assignment method adopted in monitor system

• US 8,756,295 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shima, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cloud, Joiya M
• Application Number:
  US11/853,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263

Abstract

In a device monitor system of the invention including multiple devices, a monitor apparatus, and a terminal that are mutually connected via a network, a serial number (first identifier of physically identifying the device) and a private address of the device are sent from the terminal to the monitor apparatus by e-mail. The monitor apparatus generates an installation ID (second identifier of logically identifying the device) correlated to the received serial number (first identifier), creates a document of a link for an HTTP request including the generated installation ID, a URL of the monitor apparatus, and the received private address of the device, and sends back the document to the terminal by e-mail. The user operates the terminal to click the link for the HTTP request and send the HTTP request to the device. The device receives and analyzes the HTTP request and stores the installation ID in a preset storage location. The device monitor system of the invention enables assignment of the second identifier of logically identifying the device to the device without requiring the user to go to the installation location of the device.

Claims

1. A device monitor system including multiple devices connected to a network, an information processing apparatus connected with each of the multiple devices via the network, and a monitor apparatus configured to monitor each of the multiple devices, wherein

each of the multiple devices comprises:

a registration request receptor that receives a registration request for registering the device into the monitor apparatus via the network from the information processing apparatus on installation of the device; and

a first transmitter that sends a request for a preset first operation and a monitor apparatus address given as an address of the monitor apparatus, as a response to the registration request, to the information processing apparatus, and causes the preset operation to be performed by the information processing apparatus to allow transmission of a first identifier of physically identifying the device in combination with a device address given as an address of the device on the network to the monitor apparatus, and

the monitor apparatus comprises;

a second identifier generation request receptor that receives a second identifier generation request of generating a second identifier of logically identifying the device, along with, the first identifier and the device address;

a second identifier generator that receives the second identifier generation request and generates the second identifier, which is correlated to the first identifier and allows logical and unique identification of the device itself to be registered; and

a second transmitter that sends the generated second identifier in correlation to the device address with a request for a preset second operation to the device via the network, wherein the request for the preset second operation is a request for generating an HTTP request to be sent to the device address; and

wherein the device receives a URL of the monitor apparatus.

2. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request for the preset first operation is a request for the information processing apparatus to send an e-mail to the monitor apparatus address.

3. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request for the preset first operation is a request for generating an HTTP request to be sent to the monitor apparatus address, and wherein the device receives a URL of the monitor apparatus.

4. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the request for the preset second operation is a request for generating an HTTP request to be sent to the device address.

5. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first transmitter of the device sends the first identifier and the device address to the monitor apparatus, and

the second transmitter of the monitor apparatus sends the second identifier in correlation to the device address to the device.

6. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least part of the sending by the first transmitter and the sending by the second transmitter is encrypted.

7. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the device further has a second identifier receiving/setting unit that receives the second identifier and sets the received second identifier as an identifier of the device.

8. The device monitor system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second transmitter transmits the address of the monitor apparatus in correlation to the device address and the generated second identifier, and allows the address of the monitor apparatus to be registered in the device.

9. A method of setting an identifier into a device, which is connected to a network and is monitored by a monitor apparatus via the network,

the method comprising:

receiving a registration request for registering the device into the monitor apparatus from an information processing apparatus connected via the network on installation of the device;

sending a request for a preset first operation and a monitor apparatus address given as an address of the monitor apparatus, as a response to the registration request, to the information processing apparatus, and causing the preset first operation to be performed by the information processing apparatus to allow transmission of a first identifier of physically identifying the device in combination with a device address given as an address of the device on the network to the monitor apparatus;

receiving a second identifier generation request of generating a second identifier of logically identifying the device, along with the first identifier and the device address;

receiving a the second identifier generation request and generating the second identifier which is correlated to the first identifier and allows logical and unique identification of the device itself to be registered; and

sending the generated second identifier in correlation to the device address with a request for a preset second operation to the device via the network, wherein the request for the preset second operation is a request for generating an HTTP request to be sent to the device address and the device receives a URL of the monitor apparatus.