Patent ID: 8656464
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A communication controller used in a network system, said network system including: a first device configured to perform predetermined processing; and a second device configured to request said first device to perform the predetermined processing, wherein said second device includes a request unit configured to send a request signal, the request signal including first sender information indicative of said second device selected as a sender of the request signal, request information indicative of processing which said second device requests said first device to perform, and first destination information indicative of said first device selected as a destination of the request signal, said first device including: a function unit configured to, upon receiving the request signal, perform the processing indicated by the request information included in the request signal, and a notification unit configured to send a notification signal, said notification signal including second sender information indicative of said first device selected as a sender of the notification signal, notification information indicative of processing available in said function unit, and second destination information indicative of said second device selected as a destination of the notification signal, said communication controller comprising an authorization information storage unit, a relay unit configured to relay between said first device and said second device via a network, a fundamental information storage unit, a request authorization information adding unit, and a notification authorization information adding unit, said authorization information storage unit being configured to store request authorization information indicative of a combination of the first sender information, the request information, and the first destination information, and notification authorization information indicative of a combination of the second sender information, the notification information, and the second destination information, said relay unit including a request signal relay module and a notification signal relay module, said request signal relay module being configured to, upon receiving the request signal, check whether or not the request authorization information includes the same combination of the first sender information, the request information, and the first destination information as that indicated by the received request signal, and relay the received request signal upon acknowledging that the request authorization information includes the same combination of the first sender information, the request information, and the first destination information as that indicated by the received request signal, said notification signal relay module being configured to, upon receiving the notification signal, check whether or not the notification authorization information includes the same combination of the second sender information, the notification information, and the second destination information as that indicated by the received notification signal, and relay the received notification signal upon acknowledging that the notification authorization information includes the same combination of the second sender information, the notification information, and the second destination information as that indicated by the received notification signal, said fundamental information storage unit being configured to store fundamental notification information indicative of a correspondence relation between the notification information and first class information indicative of a class of said first device, and fundamental request information indicative of a correspondence relation between the request information and second class information indicative of a class of said second device, said request authorization information adding unit comprising: a second class information obtaining module configured to obtain the second class information of said second device which is newly added to the network; a request information obtaining module configured to refer to the fundamental request information stored in said fundamental information storage unit, and obtain the request information corresponding to the second class information obtained by said second class information obtaining module; a second sender information obtaining module configured to refer to the notification authorization information stored in said authorization information storage unit, and obtain the second sender information which is associated with the notification information indicative of the same processing as that indicated by the request information obtained by said request information obtaining module; a request authorization information creation module configured to create the request authorization information which indicates a combination of the first sender information indicative of said second device newly added to the network, the request information obtained by said request information obtaining module, and the first destination information indicative of the same first device as that indicated by the second sender information obtained by said second sender information obtaining module; and a request authorization information storing module configured to store the request authorization information created by said request authorization information creation module in said authorization information storage unit, and said notification authorization information adding unit comprising: a first class information obtaining module configured to obtain the first class information of said first device which is newly added to the network; a notification information obtaining module configured to refer to the fundamental notification information stored in said fundamental information storage unit, and obtain the notification information corresponding to the first class information obtained by said first class information obtaining module; a first sender information obtaining module configured to refer to the request authorization information stored in said authorization information storage unit, and obtain the first sender information which is associated with the request information indicative of the same processing as that indicated by the notification information obtained by said notification information obtaining module; a notification authorization information creation module configured to create the notification authorization information which indicates a combination of the second sender information indicative of said first device newly added to the network, the notification information obtained by said notification information obtaining module, and the second destination information indicative of the same second device as that indicated by the first sender information obtained by said first sender information obtaining module; and a notification authorization information storing module configured to store the notification authorization information created by said notification authorization information creation module in said authorization information storage unit.