JP2001092759A - Device search method and system, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a device search method and system capable of performing a useful search for a user and saving the user's trouble of searching. SOLUTION: The CPU 201 controls not only to display a device that satisfies a condition but also to perform display in consideration of a user's search purpose.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a device search method and system for searching for devices connected to a network, and a storage medium storing a control program for controlling the device search system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a so-called directory service has been proposed as a method for efficiently searching and using various resources (printers, servers, scanners, etc.) on a network.

[0003] The directory service is, so to speak, a telephone directory relating to a network, and stores various information. As a specific example of the directory system, for example, an LDAP (Lightweight Di
repository Access Protocol). The provisions of the LDAP are based on IETF (Intern
et Engineering Task Forc
e) Issued RFC (Request for
Comments) 1777. Also,
For example, "LDAP Internet Directory Application Programming" was issued on November 1, 1997 by Prentice Hall Co., Ltd.

By using this directory service, for example, by searching for devices connected to the network, a list of network addresses of devices available on the network can be obtained.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the search is performed only from the search condition,
There is a problem that it is not possible to perform a search that is effective for the user or a search that obtains only necessary information according to the level of the user who searches.

That is, for example, if the search conditions are the same, the administrator and the end user can obtain the same search result, so that there is a problem that even the information unnecessary for the user is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. A first object of the present invention is to enable a user to perform a useful search and to perform a search. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device search method and system which can save the trouble required for searching for a device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a control program for controlling the above-described device search system of the present invention.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search method for searching for a device connected to a network. A search condition input step of inputting a condition, a search step of transmitting the search condition input in the search condition input step to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, and a search condition input in the search condition input step. And a display step of displaying a selection result of the selection step based on the search condition.

In order to achieve the first object, a device search method according to a second aspect is the device search method according to the first aspect, wherein the search condition inputting step comprises:
A purpose of the user is determined instead of the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search method according to the first aspect, wherein the search condition inputting step comprises:
The device usage environment of the user is considered.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search method according to the first aspect, wherein the search condition includes information indicating a user who requests the search. And wherein the search result is obtained from a device that is permitted to be used by the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search method according to the first aspect, wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting a plurality of devices obtained by a search result. A device that can be used by a user who inputs the search condition is selected from among them.

In order to achieve the first object, a device search method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the device search method according to the fifth aspect, wherein the selecting step includes a step of: Is selected from the search results for the device on which is installed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search system for searching for a device connected to a network, wherein a search condition for the device is input. Search condition input means, search means for transmitting the search condition input by the search condition input means to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, and search conditions input by the search condition input means A selection unit for selecting a search result of the search unit based on the search unit; and a display unit for displaying the selection result of the selection unit.

In order to achieve the first object, a device search system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the device search system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the search condition input means is for the purpose of the user instead of the device. It is characterized by determining.

In order to achieve the first object, a device search system according to claim 9 is the device search system according to claim 7, wherein the search condition input means considers a device use environment of the user. It is characterized by doing.

In order to achieve the first object, a device search system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the device search system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the search condition includes information indicating a user who requests the search. And wherein the search result is obtained from a device that is permitted to be used by the user.

[0019] In order to achieve the first object, a device search system according to claim 11 is the device search system according to claim 7, wherein the selection means is configured to select a plurality of devices obtained by a search result. A device that can be used by a user who inputs the search condition is selected from among them.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device search system according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the selecting means comprises:
A device having a driver installed in the user's PC (personal computer) is selected from search results.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a control program for controlling a device search system for searching for a device connected to a network. A storage medium readable by a computer, the control program comprising: a search condition input module for inputting a search condition of the device; and a search server on the network, the search condition input by the search condition input module. A search module that transmits the search result to the search module, a selection module that selects the search result of the search module based on the search condition input by the search condition input module, and a selection result of the selection module And a display module for displaying .

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to claim 14 is the storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the search condition input module determines the purpose of the user instead of the device. It is characterized by the following.

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to claim 15 is the storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the search condition input module considers a device use environment of the user. It is characterized by.

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to claim 16 is the storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the search condition includes information indicating a user who requests search. The search result is obtained from a device that is permitted to be used by the user.

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to a seventeenth aspect is the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the selection module is configured to select one of a plurality of devices obtained by a search result. And selecting a device that can be used by a user who inputs the search condition.

In order to achieve the second object, a storage medium according to claim 18 is the storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the selection module is a PC of the user.
(Personal Computer) A device in which a driver is installed is selected from search results.

In order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the nineteenth aspect provides the storage medium according to the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects or the first aspect.
9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a floppy disk.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, a storage medium according to the twenty-first aspect is provided.
8. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the twenty-first aspect is characterized by the following:
9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is an optical disk.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to claim 22 provides the storage medium according to claims 13 to 17 or 1
9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a magneto-optical disk.

In order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the twenty-third aspect provides the storage medium according to the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects or the first aspect.
8. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a CD-R.
OM (Compact Disk Read Only)
Memory).

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to claim 24 provides the storage medium according to claims 13 to 17 or 1
8. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a CD-R.
(Compact Disk Recordable)
It is characterized by being.

In order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the twenty-fifth aspect provides the storage medium according to the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects or the first aspect.
9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a magnetic tape.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to claim 26 is a storage medium according to claims 13 to 17 or 1
9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a nonvolatile memory card.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the storage medium according to the twenty-seventh aspect provides the storage medium according to the thirteenth to seventeenth aspects.
8. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the storage medium is a ROM.
(Read Only Memory) chip.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As described in detail below, the present invention is to easily and accurately search for a network device that meets a user's purpose and display the search result in a format that is easy for the user to understand. In particular, it is effective for various search purposes, such as an administrator who manages devices and a Yaza that prints.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system in which the device search system according to the present embodiment can operate. In the figure, 101 is a color printer,
Reference numeral 102 denotes an MFP (Multi Function Pe).
ripheral: a copy machine that can also be used as a network printer), 103 and 104 are monochrome printers, and 105 is a network-connected scanner.
111 is a desktop personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a desktop PC), 112 is a desktop personal computer having a device search server function (hereinafter referred to as a desktop PC or a directory server PC or a device search server), Reference numeral 113 denotes a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook PC), and these devices are all network-compatible devices.

Desktop PC 111 and Notebook PC
Reference numeral 113 denotes a PC that can execute the program of the network device search client according to the present embodiment. The PC 113 issues inquiry information about a device that satisfies desired conditions to the network device search server, as described later. Select a search result that is useful to the user from the list and display it. Desktop PC
Reference numeral 112 denotes a PC that can execute the program of the network device search server according to the present embodiment. As described later, the network device (color printer 101, M
Information regarding the FP 102, the monochrome printers 103 and 104, and the scanner 105 is stored in the network device search client (the desktop PC 1).
11 or the desktop PC 113), and returns the result.

Among these devices, a color printer 101, an MFP 102, a monochrome printer 103, a desktop PC 111, and a directory server PC 11
2 is installed on the second floor (2F), and the monochrome printer 104 and the scanner 105 are installed on the first floor (1F).
The notebook PC 113 is currently connected to the network 1 from the first floor.
00, but may be removed as needed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a general personal computer. In the figure, 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes a PC (personal computer), which is equivalent to the desktop PC 111, the device search server 112, and the notebook PC 113 in FIG.

The PC 200 is a PC on which network device search client software or network device search server software (hereinafter collectively referred to as network device search software) operates, and print data output software (hereinafter, referred to as network device search software).
Driver software). Driver software exists for each printer,
The data format is controlled in order for the user to output the desired output data to the desired printer. If there is no driver software corresponding to the target printer, output to the corresponding printer becomes impossible. PC 200 is a CPU (central processing unit) 2
01 is provided. The CPU 201 executes network device search software and driver software stored in a ROM (read only memory) 202 or an HD (hard disk) 211 or supplied from a floppy disk drive (FD) 212, and is connected to a system bus 204. Control each device.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a RAM (random access memory), which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 201. 205 is a keyboard controller (KB
C) controls instruction input from a keyboard (KB) 209, a pointing device (not shown), or the like. Reference numeral 206 denotes a CRT (cathode ray tube) controller (CRTC),
The display of the T display (CRT) 210 is controlled. 2
A disk controller (DKC) 07 controls access to an HD (hard disk) 211 and a floppy disk drive (FD) 212 that store a boot program, various applications, edit files, user files, a network management program, and the like. 2
08 is a network interface card (NIC)
Thus, data is bidirectionally exchanged with a network printer, another network device, or another PC (personal computer) via a LAN (local area network) 220.

In this embodiment, the LAN 22
0 is the same as the network 100 in FIG.

Next, the configuration and operation of the device search server will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the device search server 112 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data on network devices stored in a table format. Device search server 1 of FIG.
At 12, the information of the database is physically stored on the hard disk 211 of FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes directory registration information (data on network devices).
In the directory registration information 300, one row of the table represents one printer (network device). Each column of the table includes a device name 301, a network address 302 of the network device, and an object class 3 indicating a function type of the network device.
03, a device type 304 indicating the type of network device, a color 305 indicating whether color printing can be performed, a double-sided printing 306 indicating whether double-sided printing can be performed, and a staple function. Staples 307 indicating whether or not they are supported are shown.

Here, the object class indicates a function type of the device. For example, if the device has a printing function, even if the device is an MFP, it is registered as a device of the printer class. May be done. The device type indicates the overall function of the device.
It is distinguished from FP.

In the notations of the color 305, the double-sided printing 306, and the staple 307 in FIG. 3, 1 indicates that it is supported, and 0 indicates that it is not supported. NA indicates that information on the attribute is not stored.

For the data shown in FIG. 3, for example,
A specific description will be given by taking the network device registered in the first row of the table as an example. A device named “color-kun” has a network address of 192.16.
8.16.131, the device has a print function, and is a single printer in form.
It can be seen that color printing and staple are supported as attributes, but the duplex printing function is not supported.

In the present embodiment, the devices in the first to fifth rows of the table shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the color printer 101, the MFP 102, the monochrome printers 103 and 104, and the scanner 105.

The directory registration information shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the information stored in the device search server 112 may further include additional information such as the installation location.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the network device search server 112 according to the present embodiment. The determination and execution of these series of processes are performed by the network device search server 20 in terms of hardware.
0 is performed by the CPU 201 inside.

The network device search server 1 shown in FIG.
12 is activated, first, in FIG.
At 01, a reception port for receiving a device search request from a device search client is opened. With this operation, when a search request from the device search client is received, the operating system issues a reception event, and the program is notified of the reception of the search request.

Next, the process proceeds to step S402, and waits until an event is notified from the operating system. If any event is notified, the event is acquired, and the process proceeds to the next step S403. In step S403, step S40
It is determined whether the event acquired in 2 is a system shutdown event (end command) by the user. If it is determined that the event is a system shutdown event by the user, the process proceeds to the next step S408 to close the receiving port, and then ends this processing operation.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that the event is not a system shutdown event, the flow advances to step S404 to determine whether the event is a query reception event from a device search client. If it is determined that the event is an inquiry reception event from the device search client, the process proceeds to the next step S405, where the database shown in FIG. 3 is compared with the inquiry conditions to select an appropriate device (database). Search process). This step S405
For details of the database search process in FIG.
Will be described later.

Next, at step S406, step S406 is performed.
After transmitting the search result obtained in 405 to the device search client, the process returns to step S402.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that the event is not an inquiry reception event from the device search client, the process advances to step S407.
After performing other processing (processing other than the shutdown event or the inquiry receiving event), for example, updating the screen, the process returns to step S402.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the database search processing operation in step S405 in FIG.

Briefly describing the whole, in the database search processing step (step S405 in FIG. 4) of the present embodiment, when the device search client specifies a plurality of search conditions, each of the search conditions is specified one by one. The processing method is adopted. That is the outer loop determined in step S501 of FIG. The inner loop determined in step S504 in FIG. 5 is for searching (scanning) all registered information in the database for one search condition.

Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail.

In FIG. 5, when the database search process starts, it is first determined in step S501 whether all search conditions have been processed. If it is determined that all search conditions have been processed, the next step S5
02, return the search results to the upper program,
This processing operation ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that all search conditions have not been processed, the process advances to step S503 to retrieve one search condition from the information received from the device search client. Next, the process proceeds to step S504, where data (registered device information) 3 regarding the network device described with reference to FIG.
It is determined whether all 00 have been scanned (searched). If it is determined that all of the data (registered device information) 300 has been scanned (searched), the process returns to step S501 to perform the processing of the next search condition.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 504 that the data (registered device information) 300 has not been completely scanned (retrieved), the process proceeds to step S 505, where one device is selected from the data 300 in FIG. Retrieve the data of Next, the process proceeds to step S506, and it is determined whether or not the data extracted in step S505 matches the search condition. If it is determined that the search condition is met, the next step S50
7 and among the information of the devices determined to match the search condition in step S506, FIG.
Device name 301 and network address 302,
Device type 304, color 305, duplex printing 306
And the staple 307 are taken out and the next step S50
8, after adding the search result, the step S504 is performed.
Then, the search (scan) for the next data is continued.

At the time of the condition search, not only the search for the search condition specified by the inquiry source PC but also the search according to the user level of the PC is performed. For example, in the case of a search from a general user, it is determined whether the user (client) is permitted to use,
Only the permitted devices will be determined to match. The same process is performed when a search is made by an administrator, but in the case of an administrator, most of the devices are permitted devices. This can be changed as appropriate by system construction, and although not shown, is assumed to be registered in the directory registration information in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 506 that the data extracted in step S 505 does not match the search condition, step S 506 is executed.
Returning to 504, the search (scan) for the next data is continued.

The operation of the device search client will be described later. For example, it is assumed that the device search client has requested a search for a device whose ObjectClass is Printer. FIG. 6 shows the result of a search performed on the device data shown in FIG. 3 under these conditions in accordance with the algorithm shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, ObjectClass
Is a Printer, there are four devices, each of which has a device name 601, a network address 602, a device type 603, a color 604 indicating the presence or absence of a color function, a double-sided printing 605 indicating the presence or absence of double-side printing, and a staple function The information of the staple 606 indicating the presence or absence of the staple is shown.

Next, the operation of the network device search client will be described.

The hardware configuration has already been described with reference to FIG.
Since the configuration described in (1) can be applied as it is, its description is omitted here.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the network device search client before searching for a device. In the figure, reference numeral 700 denotes a window serving as search condition input means, in which various information is displayed. Reference numeral 701 denotes a combo box for specifying an object class of a device to be searched. This combo box 7
01, the object class of the device to be searched is changed to, for example, “printer”, “scanner”
Etc. can be changed. In addition, the search attribute condition in the area 704 for specifying the search attribute changes to an attribute corresponding to the object class according to the change.

Reference numeral 702 denotes a combo box for designating the level of the user performing the search, that is, the mode of the user. In this combo box 702, "administrator" and "general user" are displayed, and either one is selected. Thus, the user's search purpose is determined, and a search result to be displayed after the search is selected. When "general user" is selected, the search purpose of the user, that is, the general user, is determined to be a printer that outputs print data, and the driver software selects and displays an existing printer from the search results. If "administrator" is selected, it is determined that the search purpose of the user, that is, the administrator is not output of print data, and all search results are displayed.

Reference numeral 703 denotes a search start button. When the user presses the search start button 703 using the keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown), the device search server determines whether there is a device that matches the conditions. Is asked.

Reference numeral 704 denotes an area for specifying a search attribute. Since a printer is currently selected as the object class in the combo box 701, the area 704 for specifying the search attribute indicates three check boxes for printer-related attributes. Have been. 704a indicates whether color printing is possible, and 404a indicates whether double-sided printing is possible.
b, whether or not stapling is possible 404c can be designated.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, since all the check boxes are checked, a device capable of color printing, double-sided printing, and stapling is searched.

Reference numeral 705 denotes an area for displaying a search result. In the area 705 for displaying the search result, a device name 7 is displayed.
05a and the network address 705b are displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram describing search conditions and inquiry conditions to the device search server specified on the screen shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with the notation of RFC1960 issued by IETF. In the figure, reference numeral 801 denotes a search condition. As the search condition 801, a device whose object class is a printer and whose attributes are color printing, double-sided printing, and stapling are specified.

Reference numeral 802 denotes an inquiry condition to the device search server. As the inquiry condition 802, as will be described later regarding the operation of the device search client, the device search client according to the present embodiment extracts only an object class-related search condition from the search conditions as an inquiry to the device search server. Only the condition that the object class is a printer is shown.

The search condition 801 is changed by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2 each time the user changes the search condition by operating the window shown in FIG.
3 is temporarily stored.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the device search client. The device search client is, for example, a desktop PC in FIG.
111 or a notebook PC 113. Further, it is also possible to execute a device search client program on the device search server 112 in FIG.

First, an outline of the operation of the device search client will be described.

The device search client is an event-driven program, and when an event occurs, processes the event. Continue the loop of getting events and processing them until the system terminates. Main events to be processed are a system end event, a device search request event, and a device search result reception event.

Hereinafter, the individual steps will be described in detail.

In FIG. 9, when the device search client is activated, first, in step S901, the process waits until an event occurs. If an event has occurred, the event is acquired, and the process proceeds to the next step S902.
In step S902, it is determined whether or not the event acquired in step S901 has been issued by the user using the keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown) to end the system. Then, if it is determined that the command for issuing the system end has been issued, the present processing operation is ended.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S902 that a command for terminating the system has not been issued, the flow advances to step S903 to execute step S9.
It is determined whether or not the event acquired at 01 is caused by issuing the device search command by selecting the search menu of the combo box 701 in FIG. If it is determined that the event is caused by the issuance of the device search command, the process proceeds to step S904, and the device search server 112 in FIG.
After transmitting the device search request to the server, the process returns to step S901 and waits until the next event occurs.

The details of the search request operation in step S904 will be described later with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S903 that the event is not an event due to the issuance of the device search command, the flow advances to step S905, and the event acquired in step S901 is replaced with the device search request transmitted in step S904. It is determined whether or not the event is due to the reception of a response to the search result from the device search server 112 in FIG. If it is determined that the event is a response-response event, the process advances to step S906 to display the received search result in the window 700 of FIG. 7, and then returns to step S901 to wait until the next event occurs.

The details of the search result selection / display processing operation in step S906 will be described later with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that the event is not a response-receiving event, the flow advances to step S907 to perform other processing, and then returns to step S901 to wait until the next event occurs.

The other processing performed in step S907 includes, for example, redrawing the screen when the program is started or when the user moves the window screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the search request operation in step S904 in FIG.

In the search request operation, first, in step S1001, the RAM 203 of FIG. 2 is accessed to acquire the search conditions registered in advance as described with reference to FIG. Next, the process proceeds to step S1002, in which only the conditions relating to the object class are extracted from the search conditions, transmitted to the device search server 112 in FIG. 1, and a search for a network device is requested. .

In this embodiment, the address of the device search server 112 is, for example, a value input by the user using the keyboard 209 of FIG. 2, which is a command input unit, written in the hard disk 211 of FIG. It is assumed that it is known in advance by reading it, but the invention is not limited to this.

As another method, for example, the data may be obtained from the network by using a technique such as a double space in the programming language Linda. There are various papers and commentaries on the programming language Linda, which are described in the following paper, for example.

"D. Gelernter,""Gen
erative Communication in
Linda ", ACM Transactions o
nProgramming Languages an
d Systems, volume7, number
1, pp 80-112, 1985 ”FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the search result selection / display processing operation in step S906 in FIG.

In the search result selection / display processing operation,
First, information for one device is extracted from the search result received in step S1101. Next, step S1102
To determine whether the mode is “administrator” or “general user”.
If it is determined that the mode is “administrator”, the process proceeds to step S1103 to display a search result, and then proceeds to step S1107. The step S
If it is determined in step 1102 that the mode is the “general user”, the process advances to step S1104 to determine whether driver software corresponding to the searched device exists. If it is determined that there is driver software corresponding to the searched device, the process proceeds to step S1.
After proceeding to 105 and displaying the search result, step S11
Proceed to 07. If it is determined in step S1104 that there is no driver software corresponding to the searched device, the process advances to step S1106 to discard the search result, and then advances to step S1107.

In step S1107, it is determined whether all search results have been processed, that is, whether processing for all searched devices has been completed. If it is determined that all the search results have been processed, this processing operation is terminated. If it is determined that all the search results have not been processed, the process returns to step S1101.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the device search client after the search operation has been completed. In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 7 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a search is made for a device whose object class is a printer and which can perform color printing, double-sided printing and stapling.

As a result of performing such a search and selection,
This indicates that devices named “Color-kun” and “High-speed machine on the second floor” existed. Since the mode was set to “general user”, the driver software for “color-kun” and “second-order high-speed machine” existed among the searched devices, and the print data was output to these two devices. Shows what is possible.

The network control program and the driver software may be executed by the PC 200 by a program installed from the outside. In that case, the program is stored on a CD-ROM (Co
mpact Disk Read Only Memo
ry), a storage medium such as a flash memory or a floppy disk, or an information group including a program from an external storage medium via a network such as e-mail or personal computer (personal computer) communication. The present invention is applied even when supplied to

The present invention may be applied to a system or an integrated device composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, etc.) or to a device composed of one device. .

Also, a program code (control program) of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment.
And a storage medium is supplied to the system or the device, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or the device is stored.
It is needless to say that the object of the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

The device search client, the device, the device search server, and the device search system according to the present embodiment allow a computer to read and execute a control program stored in a storage medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operating system running on the computer based on the instruction of the control program.
It goes without saying that a part or all of actual processing such as (operating system) is performed, and the functions of the present embodiment described above are realized by the processing.

The storage medium for supplying the program code includes, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-RO
M (Compact Disk Read Only)
Memory), CD-R (Compact Disk)
Recordable), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM chip, or the like can be used.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

The present invention is also applicable to a case where the program is delivered from a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a requester via a communication line such as a personal computer communication. It goes without saying that it can be applied.

[0109]

As described above in detail, according to the device search method and system of the present invention, not only a device that satisfies the condition is displayed but also a display in consideration of the user's search purpose, and the device is used for the purpose of the user. Since an appropriate search can be performed, it is possible to perform a search that is useful for the user, and it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for the user to search.

Further, according to the storage medium of the present invention, there is an effect that the above-described device search system of the present invention can be smoothly controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system in which a network device search system according to a first embodiment of the present invention can operate.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a general personal computer in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of device information held by a device search server in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a device search server in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a database search processing operation of a device search server in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a device search result in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a device search client at the time of device search in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of search conditions and inquiry conditions temporarily stored in a device search client in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a device search client in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a device search request processing operation of a device search client in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of a device search result selection / display processing operation of a device search client in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display of the device search client after device search and search result selection in the network device search system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Network 101 Color Printer 102 MFP (Multi Function P
eripheral: a copy machine, but which can also be used as a network printer. 103 monochrome printer 104 monochrome printer 105 scanner 111 desktop personal computer (desktop PC) 112 desktop personal computer (device desktop) having device search server function Type PC,
Device search server PC) 113 Notebook personal computer (notebook PC) 200 PC (personal computer) 201 CPU (central processing unit) 202 ROM (read only memory) 203 ROM (read only memory) 204 System bus 205 Keyboard controller ( KBC) 206 CRT (cathode ray tube) controller (CRT
C) 207 Disk controller (DKC) 208 Network interface card (NI
C) 209 Keyboard (KB) 210 CRT display (CRT) 211 HD (hard disk) 212 Floppy disk drive (FD) 220 LAN (local area network) 300 Directory registration information (device information) 301 Device name 302 Device network address 303 ObjectClass 304 Device type 305 Color 306 Double-sided printing 307 Staple 601 Device name 602 Device network address 603 ObjectClass 604 Device type 605 Color 606 Double-sided printing 707 Staple 700 Window (search condition input means) 701 Combo box 702 Combo box 703 Search start button 704 Search Area 7 for specifying attributes 5 search results to display the area

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A device search method for searching for a device connected to a network, comprising: a search condition input step of inputting a search condition of the device; and a search condition input by the search condition input step. A search step of transmitting the search result to the above search server to obtain the search result; a selection step of selecting a search result of the search step based on the search condition input in the search condition input step; Displaying a selection result of the step. 2. The device search method according to claim 1, wherein the search condition input step determines a purpose of a user instead of the device. 3. The device search method according to claim 1, wherein the search condition input step considers a device usage environment of the user. 4. The search condition includes information indicating a user requesting a search, and the search result is a search result from a device permitted to use for the user. The device search method according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The device search method according to claim 1, wherein, in the selection step, a device usable by a user who inputs the search condition is selected from a plurality of devices obtained as a result of the search. . 6. The method according to claim 6, wherein the selecting step is performed by the user's PC.
6. The device search method according to claim 5, wherein a device in which the driver is installed in the (personal computer) is selected from search results. 7. A device search system for searching for a device connected to a network, comprising: a search condition input unit for inputting a search condition of the device; and a search condition input by the search condition input unit. Search means for transmitting the search result to the above search server to obtain the search result; selecting means for selecting a search result of the search means based on the search condition input by the search condition input means; Display means for displaying a selection result of the means. 8. The device search system according to claim 7, wherein the search condition input means determines a purpose of the user instead of the device. 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the search condition input unit considers a device usage environment of the user.
Device search system as described. 10. The search condition includes information indicating a user requesting a search, and the search result is found to be a search from devices that are permitted to use the user. The device search system according to claim 7, wherein: 11. The device search system according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit selects a device that can be used by a user who inputs the search condition from a plurality of devices obtained as a result of the search. . 12. The user's PC
12. The device search system according to claim 11, wherein a device in which the driver is installed in the (personal computer) is selected from search results. 13. A storage medium which stores a control program for controlling a device search system for searching for a device connected to a network and which can read the control program by a computer. A search condition input module for inputting a search condition of a device, a search module for transmitting a search condition input by the search condition input module to a search server on the network to obtain the search result, and a search condition input module A storage medium, comprising: a selection module for selecting a search result of the search module based on a search condition input by the user; and a display module for displaying a selection result of the selection module. 14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the search condition input module determines the purpose of the user instead of the device. 15. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the search condition input module considers a device usage environment of the user. 16. The search condition includes information indicating a user who requests a search, and the search result indicates that the search has been performed from devices permitted to use the user. 14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein: 17. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the selection module selects a device usable by a user who inputs the search condition from a plurality of devices obtained as a result of the search. 18. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the selection module selects a device having a driver installed in the user's PC (personal computer) from search results. 19. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a floppy disk. 20. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk. 21. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said storage medium is an optical disk. 22. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said storage medium is a magneto-optical disk. 23. The storage medium is a CD-ROM (Co-ROM).
mpact Disk Read Only Memo
ry). The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein: 24. The storage medium is a CD-R (Comp)
The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is an act disk recordable. 25. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic tape. 26. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is a nonvolatile memory card.
The storage medium according to the above. 27. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the storage medium is a ROM (Read
19. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is an only memory (IC) chip.