Connection test method and information processing apparatus performing same

• US 7,219,030 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohtani, Yohko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baran; Mary Catherine
• Application Number:
  US10/788,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 702/119, 702122-123, 702182-183, 702186-188, 714/53, 714/55, 717/124, 717/127, 717/171
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method for an information processing apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server from which the information processing apparatus obtains information is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from a screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered; (b) testing the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test; and (c) outputting the result of the connection test.

Claims

1. A method for an information processing apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server from which the information processing apparatus obtains information, the information storage server being used in common by one or more information processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

simultaneously displaying an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from the same screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered;

testing the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test; and

outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, by which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entering of the connection information and the request for the connection test are received from a client connected directly or indirectly to the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a level at which the connection to the information storage server is tested is set in the request for the connection test;

and

the connection test item is selected based on the set level in the request for the connection test.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection to the information storage server is tested by repeating said simultaneously displaying, receiving, testing and outputting steps.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection test checks sufficiency of entered items of the connection information;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the entered items of the connection information are sufficient and, if insufficient, information about a missing item of the connection information to be entered.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection test determines an operating state of the information storage server;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the information storage server is in or out of operation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection test determines accuracy of authentication information included in the connection information by having the information storage server perform authentication using the authentication information; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the authentication performed by the information storage server has succeeded or failed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the search has succeeded or failed.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, a result of the search or information showing a failure of the search.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information retrieved from the information storage server, the information being converted into one or more character codes.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using one or more optional search conditions included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information showing the success of the search or one of the optional search conditions for which the search has failed.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving receives the request for the connection test from an input part of the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outputting outputs the result of the connection test to a display part or a printing part of the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outputting outputs the result of the connection test to a display part or a printing part of a client connected directly or indirectly to the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outputting composes an e-mail message from the result of the connection test, and transmits the e-mail message to a client connected directly or indirectly to the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outputting converts the result of the connection test into an image, attaches the image to an e-mail message, and transmits the e-mail message to a client connected directly or indirectly to the information processing apparatus obtaining the information from the information storage server.

17. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for an information processing apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server from which the information processing apparatus obtains information, the information storage server being used in common by a plurality of information processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

simultaneously displaying an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from the same screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered;

testing the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test; and

outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.

18. An information processing apparatus obtaining information from an information storage server used in common by one or more information processing apparatus, comprising:

a displaying part simultaneously displaying an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

a connection test request receiving part receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing connection to the information storage server from a screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered;

a connection test conducting part testing the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test; and

a connection test result outputting part outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection to with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.

19. A method for an image-forming apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server used in common by one or more image-forming apparatuses or information processing apparatuses, the image-forming apparatus including a hardware resource used in image formation, one or more programs performing processing related to the image formation, and a platform managing use of the hardware resource by the one or more programs, the method comprising:

simultaneously displaying an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from the same screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered;

testing the connection to the information storage server using the connection information based on the request for the connection test; and

outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection to with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the entering of the connection information and the request for the connection test are received from an operations panel included in the hardware resource of the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the platform receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

a connection information management part included in the platform tests the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test received by the connection information receiving part in said testing.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the one or more programs receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

a connection information management part included in the platform tests the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test received by the connection information receiving part in said testing.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the one or more programs receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

the connection information receiving part tests the connection to the information storage server using a predetermined library in said testing.

24. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the platform receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

the connection information receiving part tests the connection to the information storage server using a predetermined library in said testing.

25. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the setting of the connection information and the request for the connection test are received from a client connected directly or indirectly to the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the platform receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

a connection information management part included in the platform tests the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test received by the connection information receiving part in said testing.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the one or more programs receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

a connection information management part included in the platform tests the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test received by the connection information receiving part in said testing.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the platform receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

the connection information receiving part tests the connection to the information storage server using a predetermined library in said testing.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

a connection information receiving part included in the one or more programs receives the request for the connection test in said receiving; and

the connection information receiving part tests the connection to the information storage server using a predetermined library in said testing.

30. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein a level at which the connection to the information storage server is tested is set in the request for the connection test;

and

the connection test item is selected based on the set level in the request for the connection test.

31. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connection to the information storage server is tested by repeating said simultaneously displaying, receiving, testing, and outputting.

32. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connection test checks sufficiency of entered items of the connection information;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the entered items of the connection information are sufficient and, if insufficient, information about a missing item of the connection information to be entered.

33. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connection test determines and operating state of the information storage server;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the information storage server is in or out of operation.

34. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

the connection test determines accuracy of authentication information included in the connection information by having the information storage server perform authentication using the authentication information; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the authentication performed by the information storage server has succeeded or failed.

35. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable;

and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information as to whether the search has succeeded or failed.

36. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, a result of the search or information showing a failure of the search.

37. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using a search condition included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information retrieved from the information storage server, the information being converted into one or more character codes.

38. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

the connection test conducts a search of the information storage server using one or more optional search conditions included in the connection information, and thereby determines whether the information storage server is searchable; and

said outputting outputs, as the result of the connection test, information showing the success of the search or one of the optional search conditions for which the search has failed.

39. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said outputting outputs the result of the connection test to a display part or a printing part of the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

40. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said outputting outputs the result of the connection test to a display part or a printing part of a client connected directly or indirectly to the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

41. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said outputting composes an e-mail message from the result of the connection test, and transmits the e-mail message to a client connected directly or indirectly to the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

42. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said outputting converts the result of the connection test into an image, attaches the image to an e-mail message, and transmits the e-mail message to a client connected directly or indirectly to the image-forming apparatus testing the connection to the information storage server.

43. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for an image-forming apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server used in common by one or more image-forming apparatuses or information processing apparatuses, the image-forming apparatus including a hardware resource used in image formation, one or more programs performing processing related to the image formation, and a platform managing use of the hardware resource by the one or more programs, the method comprising:

simultaneously di shaving an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from the same screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered;

testing the connection to the information storage server using the connection information based on the request for the connection test; and

outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.

44. An image-forming apparatus including a hardware resource used in image formation, one or more programs performing processing related to the image formation, and a platform managing use of the hardware resource by the one or more programs, the image-forming apparatus comprising:

a displaying part simultaneously displaying an input for at least part of the connection information with a connection test input on a same screen;

a connection test request receiving part receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing connection to an information storage server from a screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered, the information storage server being used in common by one or more image-forming apparatuses or information processing apparatuses;

a connection test conducting part testing the connection to the information storage server using the connection information based on the request for the connection test; and

a connection test result outputting part outputting a result of the connection test,

wherein at least one connection test item, which the connection with the information storage server is tested, is selected by a user in the request for the connection test, the connection test item defining a type of the connection test used in the connection with the information storage server,

wherein the at least one connection test item includes use of the information stored in the information storage server.