Management system, management apparatus, management method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing control program for registering processing devices

A management system includes: plural management apparatuses each of which includes a first transmitting unit that, when processing devices connected to a communication unit are searched with reference to a first management table in which information of a processing device managed by the management apparatus is registered and a processing device which is not managed by the management apparatus is detected, transmits detection information of the processing device to the communication unit, and a first registration unit, when a processing device management request corresponding to the detection information of the processing device is received from the communication unit, registers information of the processing device related to the processing device management request in the first management table; and an information management server including a change unit that changes information of the management apparatus and a second transmitting unit that transmits the processing device management request to the communication unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-067225 filed Mar. 25, 2011.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a management system, a management apparatus, a management method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a control program.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a management system including: plural management apparatuses each of which includes a first transmitting unit that, when processing devices connected to a communication unit are searched with reference to a first management table in which information of a processing device managed by the management apparatus is registered and a processing device which is not managed by the management apparatus is detected, transmits detection information of the processing device to the communication unit, and a first registration unit that, when a processing device management request corresponding to the detection information of the processing device is received from the communication unit, registers information of the processing device related to the processing device management request in the first management table; and an information management server that includes a change unit and a second transmitting unit, wherein, in the information management server, when information of the processing device related to the detection information of the processing device received from the communication unit is registered in a second management table in which the information of the processing device and information of the management apparatus managing the processing device are associated with each other, the change unit changes the information of the management apparatus associated with the information of the processing device which is related to the detection information of the processing device in the second management table to the information of the management apparatus transmitting the detection information of the processing device, and when the information of the processing device related to the detection information of the processing device received from the communication unit is registered in the second management table, the second transmitting unit transmits the processing device management request to the communication unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment relates to a management system.

FIG. 1shows an example of the structure of a management system1.

As shown inFIG. 1, in the management system1, a management center server10is connected to plural sub-nets201,202, . . . ,20N-1, and20N(N is an arbitrary integer), which are management targets, through a communication unit100, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or an Internet communication line.

The management apparatuses301to30Nmanage various kinds of devices (processing devices), such as the image forming devices211to21Nand the personal computers221to22Nin the sub-nets201to20N, which are management targets, through the communication units231,232, . . . ,23N-1, and23N, such as LANs (Local Area Networks), according to a communication protocol, such as an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), respectively.

The management apparatuses301to30Nregister and store the IP address (Internet Protocol Addresses) of each device in a table, periodically collect the information of each device through the communication units231to23N, detect the state of each device, and notify the state of each device to the management center server10, if necessary. In addition, the management apparatuses301to30Nmanage the history information of each device. When a specific event is detected, the management apparatuses301to30Ndetermine whether to notify the detection of the specific event to the management center server10on the basis of the history. For example, each of the management apparatuses301to30Nmay register a predetermined number of devices, for example, 100 devices and manage the devices.

For convenience of explanation, the communication units are divided into the communication unit100and the communication units231,232, . . . ,23N-1, and23N. However, the same communication unit may be used.

The image forming devices or the personal computers are given as examples of the devices managed by the management apparatuses301to30N, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, each of the management apparatuses301to30Nmay manage different combinations of the devices. That is, any devices may be applied to this exemplary embodiment as long as they have a structure managed by the management apparatuses301to30N.

The management center server10manages each device in the sub-nets201to20Nthrough the management apparatuses301to30N.

For example, the management system1may be constructed such that the sub-nets201to20Nare customers and the management center server10is an administrator and the administrator may provide, for example, business, maintenance, and logistics services. In this case, for example, each of the sub-nets201to20Nis constructed in a customer intranet and the management apparatuses301to30Nmanage the sub-nets201to20Nin the intranet.

In this example, for example, each of the management apparatuses301to30Nperforms various kinds of management operations, such as a failure state management operation, a printout management operation, and a supply management operation, on each device in the sub-nets201to20Nand transmits the management information to the management center server10. The management center server10searches for an operator (for example, a customer engineer) for repairing the failure of the device on the basis of the management information transmitted to the management center server10.

In the management system1having the above-mentioned structure, the management apparatus30(arbitrary management apparatus) periodically acquires information from the device in the sub-net20, which is a management target, detects the state of the device, periodically searches for the sub-net20, which is a management target, and determines whether the IP address of the registered device is changed.

By the way, the operator determines whether to set the device as a management target and registers the device in the management center server10. However, when the IP address of the registered device is changed by a customer and the device is moved to a sub-net (a sub-net managed by another management apparatus) other than the management target after the registration, the management apparatus30cannot collect information from the device since the device is not in the sub-net20, which is a management target. In addition, the management apparatus30cannot detect the device even when it periodically searches for the sub-net20, which is a management target. For example, the device may be moved between the sub-nets by a change in physical connection in addition to the change in the IP address.

In addition, since the setting of the device moved to the sub-net, other than a management target, is changed only by the operator, labor costs are generated or it takes time to recover a failure. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a management service for the device (for example, the dispatch of the operator due to a failure) during the recovery.

A technique is also considered in which, when the management apparatus searches for the sub-net, which is a management target, and detects the device whose IP address is changed, the IP address setting registration information of the device is changed. As described above, when the device is moved to a sub-net other than the management target, the management apparatus cannot detect the device from the sub-net managed by the management apparatus even though this technique is applied.

For example, even when the technique disclosed in JP-A-2007-206998, in which notification of error information is provided when the same segment is searched and it is difficult to detect a device, is applied, it is difficult to perform other recovery processes.

In contrast, in this exemplary embodiment, the following structure and process make it possible to continuously manage the device moved between the sub-nets.

FIG. 2shows an example of the structure of each of the management apparatuses301to30N.

As shown inFIG. 2, each of the management apparatuses301to30Nincludes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)31, a storage unit32that stores, for example, programs (hereinafter, referred to as a program storage unit32), a temporary storage unit33, a device search unit34, a table management unit35, and a communication processing unit (notification and request issuing unit)36.

The program storage unit32is a storage unit capable of storing data even when the power is turned off. The program storage unit32stores, for example, a program32aor fixed data used by the CPU to perform various kinds of processes. An exemplary example of the program storage unit32is a ROM (Read-Only Memory). In addition, the program storage unit32may be a non-volatile storage unit, such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), but the invention is not limited thereto.

The program32amay be stored in the program storage unit32before the shipment of the management apparatus or it may be read from a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, by the operation of the user and then stored in the program storage unit32after the shipment of the management apparatus.

The temporary storage unit33is a data writable storage unit that temporarily stores data. An exemplary example of the temporary storage unit33is a RAM (Random Access Memory), but the temporary storage unit33is not limited thereto.

The temporary storage unit33stores a management apparatus information management table33aand a device information management table33b. The management apparatus information management table33aand the device information management table33bmay be stored in a non-volatile storage unit, such as an EEPROM, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Each of the management apparatuses301to30Nmay store the management apparatus information management table33aand the device information management table33bin a single external storage device (for example, a server) or plural external storage devices (for example, servers) corresponding to the tables.

The CPU31reads, for example, the program32afrom the program storage unit32to the temporary storage unit33and performs various kinds of processes, if necessary.

The content of the processes of the device search unit34, the table management unit35, and the communication processing unit36will be described below. The device search unit34, the table management unit35, and the communication processing unit36may be implemented as the functions of the CPU by the operation of the CPU.

FIG. 3shows an example of the structure of the management center server10.

As shown inFIG. 3, the management center server10includes a CPU11, a storage unit12that stores, for example, programs (hereinafter, referred to as a program storage unit12), a temporary storage unit13, a table management unit14, and a communication processing unit (request issuing unit)15.

The program storage unit12is a storage unit capable of storing data even when power is turned off. The program storage unit12stores, for example, a program12aor fixed data used by the CPU11to perform various kinds of processes. An exemplary example of the program storage unit12is a ROM. In addition, the program storage unit12may be a non-volatile storage unit, such as an EEPROM, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The program12amay be stored in the program storage unit12before the shipment of the management apparatus or it may be read from a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, by the operation of the user and then stored in the program storage unit12after the shipment of the management apparatus.

The temporary storage unit13is a data writable storage unit that temporarily stores data. An exemplary example of the temporary storage unit13is a RAM, but the temporary storage unit13is not limited thereto.

The temporary storage unit13stores a device management table13a. The device management table13amay be stored in a non-volatile storage unit, such as an EEPROM, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The management center server10may store the device management table13ain an external storage device (for example, a server).

The CPU11reads, for example, the program12afrom the program storage unit12to the temporary storage unit13and performs various kinds of processes, if necessary.

The content of the processes of the table management unit14and the communication processing unit15will be described below. The table management unit14and the communication processing unit15may be implemented as the functions of the CPU11by the operation of the CPU11.

Next, the content of the process of each unit of an N-th management apparatus (arbitrary management apparatus)30Nand the management center server10will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6.

FIGS. 4 to 6show a communication sequence between the N-th management apparatus30Nand the management center server.FIG. 4shows a communication sequence when the N-th management apparatus30N(for example, the second management apparatus) detects a new device.FIG. 5shows a communication sequence when a device is moved from the N-th management apparatus30N(for example, the first management apparatus).FIG. 6shows a communication sequence when the N-th management apparatus30N(for example, the first management apparatus) cannot detect a target device.

As shown inFIG. 4, in the communication sequence related to the detection of a new device, first, the N-th management apparatus30Nperiodically (for example, at an interval of about 5 minutes) searches for an N-th sub-net20N, which is a management target, using the device search unit34(Step S1). As a result of the search of the sub-net by the device search unit34, when the N-th management apparatus30Ndetects a new device X (for example, a new image forming device or a personal computer) with reference to the device information management table33b, it transmits a device detection notice (information indicating the detection of a processing device) to the management center server10using the communication processing unit36(Step S2). The device detection notice includes the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nand the serial number of the newly detected device.

FIG. 7shows an example of the management apparatus information management table33a.FIG. 8shows an example of the device information management table33b.

As shown inFIG. 7, the management apparatus information management table33aincludes the serial number of the management apparatus and the information of the sub-net, which is a management target. The device information management table33bincludes the IP address, serial number, and state information of each device. For example, the device serial number is a device model code and a device model number, but is not limited thereto. Any information peculiar to the device may be used as the device serial number.

The device search unit34detects a new device on the basis of the device information management table33b. That is, the device search unit34checks whether the serial number of each device in the N-th sub-net20Nis included in the device information management table33band detects the device with a new device serial number as a new device.

The communication processing unit36adds the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nand the serial number of the newly detected device to the device detection notice with reference to the management apparatus information management table33aand the device information management table33b.

When receiving the device detection notice from the N-th management apparatus30N, the management center server10searches for the information of the device X (the new device detected by the N-th management apparatus30N) related to the device detection notice in the device management table13ausing the table management unit14(Step S3). In this case, the table management unit14preferentially searches for a device in a “missing” state in the device management table13a. A process of setting the state of the device to the “missing” state in the device management table13ais implemented by the communication sequence shown inFIG. 6, which will be described below.

FIG. 9shows an example of the device management table13a.

As shown inFIG. 9, the device management table13aincludes the IP address, serial number, and state information of each device, the serial number of the previous management apparatus, and the serial number of the (current or latest) management apparatus.

When detecting the information of the device X from the device management table13a, the table management unit14remotely withdraws the device X (Step S4). That is, the table management unit14changes the state of the device X to a “non-installed” state in the device management table13a. In addition, the table management unit14copies the serial number of the management apparatus to the serial number of the previous management apparatus in the device management table13a(Step S4).

The management center server10ends the process when it receives the device detection notice, but cannot detect the information of the device related to the device detection notice from the device management table13a, that is, when the device related to the device detection notice is not managed by any management apparatus. The reason why this process is performed is that, when the device related to the device detection notice is not managed by any management apparatus, the operator needs to determine the setting of the device.

Then, in the management center server10, the communication processing unit36responds to the device detection notice. That is, the communication processing unit36returns a request to manage the device X to the N-th management apparatus30Nin response to the device detection notice indicating the detection of the information of the device X from the device management table13a(Step S5).

When receiving the request to manage the device X from the management center server10, the N-th management apparatus30Nregisters the device X in the device information management table33busing the table management unit35(Step S6). Specifically, the table management unit35registers the IP address, serial number, and state information of the device X in the device information management table33b.

Then, the N-th management apparatus30Ntransmits a request to install and register the device X to the management center server10using the communication processing unit36(Step S7).

When receiving the request to install and register the device X from the N-th management apparatus30N, the management center server10changes the state of the device X to an “installed” state in the device management table13ausing the table management unit14(Step S8). In addition, the table management unit14registers the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nas the serial number of the management apparatus in the device management table13a(Step S8).

As shown inFIG. 5, in the communication sequence related to, for example, the movement of the device, first, the N-th management apparatus30Nperiodically (for example, one polling operation a day) performs polling using the communication processing unit36to check whether a request is transmitted to the management center server10(Step S21).

In the management center server10, the table management unit14searches whether the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nis registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus in the device management table13ain response to the request from the N-th management apparatus30N(Step S22). The table management unit14ends the process when the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nis not registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus in the device management table13a. In addition, in the management center server10, when the table management unit14detects that the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nis registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus in the device management table13a, the communication processing unit15returns a request (changed information) to exclude the device X related to the serial number of the previous management apparatus from the management target to the N-th management apparatus30Nin response to the periodic polling (Step S23).

When receiving the request to exclude the device X from the management target from the management center server10, the N-th management apparatus30Ndeletes the information of the device X from the device information management table33busing the table management unit35(Step S24).

As shown inFIG. 6, in the communication sequence related to the detection of a target device, first, the N-th management apparatus30Nperiodically (for example, at an interval of about 5 minutes) searches for the N-th sub-net20N, which is a management target, using the device search unit34(Step S41). When the device search unit34cannot detect the device X as a result of the search of the sub-net, the N-th management apparatus30Ntransmits a device missing notice (communication unavailable information) to the management center server10using the communication processing unit36(Steps S41and S42). In this case, the device missing notice includes the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nand the serial number of the device X. That is, the communication processing unit36adds the serial number of the N-th management apparatus30Nand the serial number of the detected device to the device missing notice with reference to the management apparatus information management table33aand the device information management table33b.

When the management center server10receives the device missing notice from the N-th management apparatus30N, the table management unit14searches for the information of the device X from the device management table13a(Step S43). Then, the table management unit14changes the state of the device X to a “missing” state in the device management table13a.

Then, when the management center server10receives the device detection notice related to the device X transmitted from another management apparatus, the table management unit14searches for the device in a “missing” state prior to the devices in the other states in the device management table13a. Then, the management center server10performs the same process as that shown inFIG. 4when the information of the device X is detected from the device management table13aby the search of the table management unit14. That is, for example, when the information of the device X is detected from the device management table13a, the management center server10changes the state of the device X to a “non-installed” state in the device management table13ausing the table management unit14(for example, Step S4).

Next, the structure and process of the management apparatuses301to30Nand the management center server10will be described with reference to examples shown inFIGS. 10 to 12.

(1)FIG. 10shows an example in which a device A in the first sub-net201managed by the first management apparatus301(arbitrary management apparatus) is moved to the second sub-net202managed by the second management apparatus302(another arbitrary management apparatus).

In this case, the communication sequence related to the detection of a device shown inFIG. 4is performed between the second management apparatus302and the management center server10.

That is, in the second management apparatus302, the device A is registered in the device information management table33b. In the device management table13aof the management center server10, the state of the device A is changed to a “non-installed” state and the serial number of the first management apparatus301is registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus (the serial number of the (current or latest) management apparatus is copied to the serial number of the previous management apparatus). In the management center server10, at the time when the second management apparatus302registers the device A in the device information management table33b, the state of the device A is changed to an “installed” state in the device management table13a, that is, a change in the management state of the device is completed, and the serial number of the second management apparatus302is registered as the serial number of the management apparatus in the device management table13a.

As such, when a new device A is detected in the sub-net201managed by the second management apparatus302, the second management apparatus302registers the newly detected device A as a management target in the management center server10(update of registration) and manages the newly detected device A thereafter.

That is, when the newly detected device A, which is not a management target, has already been registered in the management center server10, the second management apparatus302registers the device A as a management target in the device information management table33b.

In this way, the management system1, the management center server10, or the second management apparatus302is capable of continuously managing the device moved between the sub-nets.

The communication sequence related to the deletion of device information shown inFIG. 5and the communication sequence related to the missing of a device shown inFIG. 6are performed between the first management apparatus301and the management center server10.

That is, when the management center server10detects the serial number of the first management apparatus301from the serial number of the management apparatus that has previously managed the device A in the device management table13aat the periodic polling time of the first management apparatus301, the first management apparatus301deletes the information of the device A from the device information management table33bin response to a request from the management center server10.

Since the first management apparatus301cannot detect the device A in the first sub-net201, which is a management target, the management center server10changes the state of the device A to a “missing” state in the device management table13a.

Next, the relation between the communication sequences shown inFIGS. 4 to 6will be described. When the communication sequence shown inFIG. 4is not performed up to the last process, the communication sequence shown inFIG. 5is also not performed up to the last process. That is, the communication sequence shown inFIG. 5depends on the communication sequence shown inFIG. 4. However, the communication sequence shown inFIG. 6does not depend on the communication sequences shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. That is, the communication sequence shown in FIG.4may be performed after the communication sequence shown inFIG. 6, depending on the execution timing of the first management apparatus301.

In some cases, after the communication sequence shown inFIG. 6is performed and the management center server10changes the state of the device A to a “missing” state in the device management table13a, the communication sequence shown inFIG. 4is performed and the second management apparatus302transmits the device detection notice related to the device A to the management center server10. Then, in the management center server10, the table management unit14searches for the device in a “missing” state in the device management table13ain advance. Then, as a result of the search, when the information of the device A is detected from the device management table13a, the table management unit14changes the state of the device A to a “non-installed” state and registers the serial number of the first management apparatus301as the serial number of the previous management apparatus.

(2)FIG. 11shows an example in which a device B in the second sub-net202managed by the second management apparatus302is replaced with the device A in the first sub-net201managed by the first management apparatus301. For example, the device A is moved to the second sub-net202, the IP address of the device B is set to the device A, and the IP address of the device B is changed to a value that cannot be searched by the second management apparatus302.

In this case, the communication sequence related to the detection of a device shown inFIG. 4, the communication sequence related to the deletion of device information shown inFIG. 5, and the communication sequence related to the missing of a device shown inFIG. 6are performed between the second management apparatus302and the management center server10.

That is, the second management apparatus302registers the device A in the device information management table33b. In the communication sequence related to the detection of a device shown inFIG. 4, the second management apparatus302detects the device A as a new device since the IP address of the device A is registered in the device information management table33b, but the serial number of the device A is not identical to the serial number corresponding to the IP address.

In the device management table13aof the management center server10, the state of the device A is changed to a “non-installed” state and the serial number of the first management apparatus301is registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus. In the management center server10, at the time when the second management apparatus302registers the device A in the device information management table33b, the state of the device A is changed to an “installed” state in the device management table13aand the serial number of the second management apparatus302is registered as the serial number of the management apparatus in the device management table13a.

Since the second management apparatus302cannot detect the device B in the second sub-net202, which is a management target, the management center server10changes the state of the device B to a “missing” state in the device management table13a.

Since the management center server10cannot detect the serial number of the second management apparatus302from the serial number of the management apparatus that has previously managed the device B in the device management table13aeven though periodic polling is performed, the second management apparatus302ends the process without deleting the information of the device B from the device information management table33b(while maintaining the information of the device B in the device information management table33b).

Similar toFIG. 10, the communication sequence related to the deletion of device information shown inFIG. 5and the communication sequence related to the missing of a device shown inFIG. 6are performed between the first management apparatus301and the management center server10.

(3)FIG. 12shows an example in which the device A in the first sub-net201managed by the first management apparatus301is exchanged with the device B in the second sub-net202managed by the second management apparatus302. In this example, the IP address of the device A is reset to the IP address of the device B and the IP address of the device B is reset to the original IP address of the device A.

In this case, the communication sequence related to the detection of a device shown inFIG. 4, the communication sequence related to the deletion of device information shown inFIG. 5, and the communication sequence related to the missing of a device shown inFIG. 6are performed between the first management apparatus301and the management center server10and between the second management apparatus302and the management center server10.

That is, in the first management apparatus301, the device B is registered in the device information management table33b. In the device management table13aof the management center server10, the state of the device B is changed to a “non-installed” state and the serial number of the second management apparatus302is registered as the serial number of the management apparatus in the previous management process. In the management center server10, at the time when the first management apparatus301registers the device B in the device information management table33b, the state of the device B is changed to an “installed” state in the device management table13aand the serial number of the first management apparatus301is registered as the serial number of the management apparatus in the device management table13a.

When the management center server10detects the serial number of the first management apparatus301from the serial number of the management apparatus that has previously managed the device A in the device management table13aat the periodic polling time of the first management apparatus301, the first management apparatus301deletes the information of the device A from the device information management table33bin response to a request from the management center server10.

Since the first management apparatus301cannot detect the device A from the first sub-net201, which is a management target, the management center server10changes the state of the device A to a “missing” state in the device management table13a.

In the second management apparatus302, the device A is registered in the device information management table33b. In the device management table13aof the management center server10, the state of the device A is changed to a “non-installed” state and the serial number of the first management apparatus301is registered as the serial number of the previous management apparatus. In the management center server10, at the time when the second management apparatus302registers the device A in the device information management table33b, the state of the device A is changed to an “installed” state in the device management table13aand the serial number of the second management apparatus302is registered as the serial number of the management apparatus in the device management table13a.

When the management center server10detects the serial number of the second management apparatus302from the serial number of the management apparatus that has previously managed the device B in the device management table13aat the periodic polling time of the second management apparatus302, the second management apparatus302deletes the information of the device B from the device information management table33bin response to a request from the management center server10.

Since the second management apparatus302cannot detect the device B from the second sub-net202, which is a management target, the management center server10changes the state of the device B to a “missing” state in the device management table13a.

In this exemplary embodiment, the communication units231to23Nand the communication unit100correspond to, for example, a communication unit. The communication processing unit36corresponds to, for example, a first transmitting unit. The table management unit35corresponds to, for example, a first registration unit. The device information management table33bcorresponds to, for example, a first management table. The device management table13acorresponds to, for example, a second management table. The table management unit14corresponds to, for example, a change unit. The communication processing unit15corresponds to, for example, a second transmitting unit. The management center server10corresponds to, for example, an information management server.