Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a network device and its setup method, and more particularly to a network device and its setup method for providing plural information processors with services over a network. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   With the development of the network technology in these years, devices such as printers, facsimiles and scanners are provided as network devices accommodating to a network and commonly used by information processors such as plural PCs (Personal Computers) connected to the network. 
   For example, there is a USB connector which can be used without a troublesome installing work by simply connecting to a computer without using a storage medium such as a CD-ROM (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-114859). 
   Besides, with the development of the network technology, the Web technology used for the Internet or the intranet is also improved, and many information processors have come to operate as Web clients. 
   Under the circumstances described above, it is made lately that a Web server function is provided within a network device, and various settings of the network device are executed from an information processor which operates as a Web client. 
   For example, not only the Web server function is used to make various settings but also the device driver of a network device is stored in the network device, and the Web server function is used to provide each terminal device with the device driver (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-202986). 
   But, when the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-114859 and the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-202986 are used, the device driver to be provided to each information processor is fixed, so that, when the network device is provided with any option, a user who has received the device driver needs to install the device driver on the information processor and executes setting in accordance with the configuration of the network device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a network device and its setup method that a user having received a device driver can use the network device by simply installing the device driver without necessity of changing setting in conformity with the configuration of the network device. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a network device which is connected to a network and provides an information processor on the network with a service, comprising: a network communication unit for communications over the network; a storage medium interface unit for connection with a storage medium into which data can be written; a parameter information storage unit for storing parameter information containing an address for specifying a logical position on the network; a parameter information file creation unit for creating a parameter information file which reflects the parameter information stored by the parameter information storage unit; an installer program storage unit for storing an installer program which executes setup to allow the information processor to use the service; and a storage medium write unit for writing the installer program stored in the installer program storage unit and the parameter information file created by the parameter information file creation unit into a storage medium connected to the storage medium interface unit; wherein: the installer program reads a network address contained in the parameter information file from the storage medium and executes the setup according to the read network address when the storage medium having the installer program and the parameter information file written therein is connected to the information processor. 
   The above-described configuration provides effects that an operation of designating the device address by the user in the setup work can be omitted and, by physically producing a setup medium from the network device itself, the user can surely setup the network device without being conscious of the network address. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device for executing a job according to an instruction from an information processor connected over a network, comprising: a Web server unit which displays a Web page according to a request from a Web client of the information processor; a configuration monitoring unit for monitoring a configuration of the network device; and an installer creation unit for creating an installer of a device driver reflecting the configuration monitored by the configuration monitoring unit; wherein: the Web server unit sends the installer created by the installer creation unit to the information processor according to the request from the Web client. 
   By constructing as described above, the configuration of the network device is monitored, the installer of the device driver reflecting the monitored configuration is created, and the created installer is sent by the Web server unit to the information processor according to a request from the Web client. Therefore, there is produced an effect that the user having received the installer can install the device driver, which is set according to the configuration of the network device, on the information processor by merely activating the installer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an example of the whole construction of a network device service system  1 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a network device  3  and an information processor  2 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a procedure of parameter information setting processing executed by the network device  3  when the network device  3  is connected to a network  4 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing write processing executed by the network device  3  when an installer program  14  and a parameter information file are written into a storage medium  15 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a functional structure of the network device of Example 2 and a configuration example of a network including the network device; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a flow of device driver provision processing in Example 2; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a functional structure of the network device in Example 3 and a configuration example of a network including the network device; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing a flow of device driver provision processing in Example 3; and 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing a flow of device driver provision processing in Example 3. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. 
   EXAMPLE 1 
   Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to a configuration in that information processors such as PCs (Personal Computers) and network devices are connected over a network. 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an example of the whole construction of a network device service system  1 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the network device service system  1  is configured with plural information processors  2  and plural network devices  3  connected over a network  4 . The information processors  2  and the network devices  3  are not always required to be plural. 
   The network device  3  provides the information processors  2  connected to the network  4  with network services. In the embodiments of the present invention, types of network services are arbitrary (e.g., a storage service, a print service, etc.). 
   The information processor  2  is an all-purpose electronic computer such as a PC and can use the network services of the network devices  3 . 
   Then, the functional configurations of the network devices  3  and the information processors  2  will be described in detail. 
     FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the functional configurations of the network devices  3  and the information processors  2 . 
   The functional configurations of the network devices  3  will be described in detail. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the network device  3  is comprised of a network I/F  51 , a control section  6 , a service component  7 , a parameter information storage section  8 , a parameter information file creation section  9 , an installer program storage section  10 , a storage medium I/F  111 , and a storage medium write section  12 . 
   The network I/F (interface)  51  is physically connected to the network  4  and provides the information processor  2  with network services over the connected network  4 . 
   The control section  6  executes control processing of the network services and also executes manual setting of a network address (IP address in a TCP/IP network) for specifying the network device  3  on the network  4  or setting by using an automatic network address setting mechanism (e.g., a DHCP [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol] etc. in the TCP/IP network) to execute processing to connect logically to the network  4  and to update parameter information including the network address and the like. Connection to the network (e.g., a Net BEUI [NetBIOS Extended User Interface] using a MAC [Media Access Control address] address unique to the network device etc.)  4  using a unique address of the network device  3  is made by merely connecting physically. 
   The service component  7  deals with the network services. 
   The parameter information storage section  8  stores parameter information  13  including the network address determined by the control section  6  and the set value unique to the network device set in the network device  3 . 
   The parameter information file creation section  9  processes to create a parameter information file reflecting the parameter information  13  stored in the parameter information storage section  8 . 
   The installer program storage section  10  stores an installer program  14  which is a setup program for making the network device  3 , which can be executed by a given information processor  2 , usable by registering it in an operating system (hereinafter referred to as the OS) stored in the given information processor  2 . The installer program  14  has as a resource a unique driver file necessary to use the network device  3  by the information processor  2  other than the function of registering on the OS and also has a function to deploy the pertinent driver file in the storage device within the information processor  2 , and a function to read a file system in a medium (any type) where the installer program  14  itself is stored, to read a parameter information file from it and to reflect the content on the setup process. The configuration is not limited to have the installer program storage section  10  built in the network device  3  but it may be configured such that the installer program  14  is stored in a server or the like on the network  4  and taken out from the server as appropriate. 
   The storage medium I/F  111  is an interface for physical connection to a storage medium  15 . 
   The storage medium write section  12  writes a parameter information file created by the parameter information file creation section  9  and the installer program  14  stored in the installer program storage section  10  into the storage medium  15  connected to the storage medium I/F  111 . The type of the storage medium  15  is arbitrary (e.g., when the storage medium  15  is a USB memory, the storage medium write section  12  has a USB host function). 
   The functional configuration of the information processor  2  will be described in detail. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the information processor  2  is physically connected to the network  4  and comprises a network I/F  52  for receiving the network services from the network device  3  through the connected network  4 , and a storage medium I/F  112  which is an interface for physical connection to the storage medium  15 . The information processor  2  uses an unshown CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory) and HD (Hard Disk) to process data and obtain the network services. 
   Then, the functional operation executed by the network device  3  when the network device  3  is connected to the network  4  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   When the network I/F  51  of the network device  3  is connected to the network  4 , the control section  6  executes manual setting of a network address or setting by using the automatic network address setting mechanism to connect logically the network device  3  to the network  4 , and stores the parameter information  13  containing the network address and the like in the parameter information storage section  8 . 
   Then, the functional operation effected by the network device  3  when the installer program  14  and the parameter information file are written into the storage medium  15  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   When a user connects the storage medium  15  of a conforming type to the storage medium I/F  111  of the network device  3 , the storage medium I/F  111  notifies the connection of the storage medium to the control section  6 . The control section  6  having received the notification of the connection of the storage medium gives a parameter information file creation instruction to the parameter information file creation section  9  and also provides the storage medium write section  12  with an instruction for writing of the installer program  14  and the parameter information file into the storage medium  15 . The method of notifying about the connection of the storage medium may be any method. For example, the user can push a button to notify the control section  6  about the connection of the storage medium. 
   The parameter information file creation section  9 , when receiving an instruction for creation of the parameter information file, reads the parameter information  13 , which is currently set in the network device itself, from the parameter information storage section  8 , creates a parameter information file which reflects the read parameter information  13 , and gives the created parameter information file to the storage medium write section  12 . 
   Upon receiving the instruction of writing the installer program  14  and the parameter information file into the storage medium  15 , the storage medium write section  12  reads the installer program  14  from the installer program storage section  10  and writes the read installer program  14  and the parameter information file received from the parameter information file creation section  9  into the storage medium  15  via the storage medium I/F  11 . 
   And, the network device  3  notifies the user of the completion of writing of the installer program  14  and the parameter information file into the storage medium  15  by any method (e.g., indication on a panel). The user takes the storage medium  15  from the storage medium I/F  111  and connects the taken storage medium  15  to the storage medium I/F  112  of the information processor  2  intended to use the network device  3 . The user activates the installer program  14  stored in the storage medium  15  or the installer program  14  is automatically activated by an automatic play function or the like possessed by the OS stored in the information processor  2 . The activated installer program  14  reads the parameter information file from the storage medium  15  and executes setup of the network device  3  according to the network address or the like contained in the read parameter information file. 
   Therefore, the information processor  2  having completed the setup of the network device  3  can receive the network services provided by the network device  3  via the network I/F  52 . 
   Then, the procedure of the parameter information setting processing executed by the network device  3  when the network device  3  is connected to the network  4  will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The network device is connected to the network (step S 301 ), the network address is set (step S 302 ), parameter information containing the set network address is stored (step S 303 ), and the parameter information setting processing is terminated. 
   Then, the write processing executed by the network device  3  at the time of writing the installer program  14  and the parameter information file into the storage medium  15  will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The storage medium is connected to the network device (step S 401 ), the parameter information file is created according to the parameter information (step S 402 ), the installer program is read (step S 403 ), the parameter information file and the installer program are written into the storage medium (step S 404 ), and the writing processing is terminated. 
   The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described example in that the parameter information file is created when the installer program  14  is written into the storage medium  15  but can also be applied to a configuration in that a parameter information file is previously created and stored. In such a case, as timing of creating the parameter information file, there may be applied a configuration in that a default file is stored at the time of shipping of the network device  3 , a configuration in that a parameter information file is created and stored after turning on the network device  3 , a configuration in that the parameter information file once created at the time of writing into the storage medium  15  is stored, or the like. In addition, as parameter information file update timing, there may be applied a configuration in that update is made as required at the time of change in the parameter setting of the network device  3 , a configuration in that, at the time of writing in the storage medium, the parameter setting of that time is updated, or the like. 
   EXAMPLE 2 
     FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a functional structure of the network device of Example 2 and a configuration example of a network including the network device. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the network device  3  is connected to plural information processors  2  ( 2 - 1  to  2 -n) through the network  4 . 
   The network device  3  is a network device such as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner or the like and commonly used by the individual information processors  2 . 
   The information processors  2  are computers such as PCs (personal computers) and can execute a variety of processing by running a variety of application software. And, the information processor  2  has a Web browser  23  installed as one of the application software. The computer configuring the information processor  2  and the Web browser  23  are for general-purpose use. The information processors  2 - 2  to  2 -n have the Web browser  23  omitted in  FIG. 5  but actually have the Web browser  23  installed in the same manner as the information processor  2 - 1 . 
   Here, the configuration of the network device  3  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the network device  3  has a Web server function section  16 , a configuration monitoring section  17 , a configuration information creation section  18 , and a storage section  19 . 
   The Web server function section  16  operates as a Web server and provides the Web browser  23  and the like with various types of Web pages including a device driver download page. 
   The configuration monitoring section  17  monitors the configuration of options and the like mounted on the network device  3 . Various options are mounted on the network device  3 . For example, when the network device  3  is a printer, the options are an expanded memory, a tray, a double-sided unit and the like, and when the network device  3  is a scanner, the options are an expanded memory, an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) and the like. 
   According to the instruction from the Web server function section  16 , the configuration information creation section  18  creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the network device  3  being monitored by the configuration monitoring section  17 . 
   The storage section  19  stores page information (not shown) on individual Web pages displayed by the Web server function section  16  and an installer  20  for installing a device driver of the network device  3 . The installer  20  includes a configuration information file  21  recording the configuration information created by the configuration information creation section  18  and a device driver  22  corresponding to the network device  3 . The installer  20  is an executable file, so that the device driver  22  is installed in the information processor  2  by executing the installer  20  by the information processor  2 , and setting is made according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file  21 . 
   Then, a flow of device driver provision processing in the configuration shown in  FIG. 5  will be described.  FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the flow of device driver provision processing in Example 2. 
   In the device driver provision processing, a user operates to designate a URL of the network device  3  on the Web browser  23  of the information processor  2  (step S 601 ), and the Web browser  23  accesses the Web server function section  16  of the network device  3 . 
   Subsequently, the Web server function section  16  responds and sends information for displaying a top page to the Web browser  23  (step S 602 ), and the Web browser  23  displays the top page (step S 603 ). The top page shows information on the network device  3  and a link to a page for instruction of processing. 
   Then, the user operates the Web browser  23  and selects a link to the download page of the device driver (step S 604 ), the Web server function section  16  responds and sends information for displaying the device driver download page to the Web browser  23  (step S 605 ), and the Web browser  23  displays the device driver download page (step S 606 ). 
   When the user demands to download a device driver from the device driver download page (step S 607 ), the Web server function section  16  having received the demand operates the configuration information creation section  18 . The configuration information creation section  18  creates configuration information according to the configuration of the network device  3  monitored by the configuration monitoring section  17  and records in the configuration information file  21  (step S 608 ) and creates the installer  20  including the configuration information file  21  (step S 609 ). The processing by the configuration information creation section  18  is actually a processing to rewrite the configuration information file  21  as necessary. 
   When the installer  20  is created by the configuration information creation section  18 , the Web server function section  16  sends the installer  20  to the Web browser  23  (step S 610 ), the Web browser  23  obtains the installer  20  to store it into the information processor  2  (step S 611 ), and the device driver provision processing is terminated. 
   When the installer stored in the information processor  2  is later activated by the user, the installer installs the device driver  22  in the information processor  2 , and makes setting to the device driver  22  according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file  21 . 
   EXAMPLE 3 
     FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a functional structure of the network device in Example 3 and a configuration example of a network including the network device. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the network device  3  is connected to plural information processors  2  ( 2 - 1  to  2 -n) over the network  4 . 
   The network device  3  is a network device such as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner or the like and commonly used by the individual information processors  2 . 
   The information processors  2  are computers such as PCs (personal computers) or the like and can execute a variety of processing by operating a variety of application software. The information processor  2  has the Web browser  23  installed as one of the application software. The computer configuring the information processor  2  and the Web browser  23  are for general-purpose use. The information processors  2 - 2  to  2 -n have the Web browser  23  omitted in  FIG. 7  but actually have the Web browser  23  installed in the same manner as the information processor  2 - 1 . 
   Here, the configuration of the network device  3  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the network device  3  has a Web server function section  16 , a configuration monitoring section  17 , a configuration information creation section  18 , and a storage section  19 . 
   The Web server function section  16  operates as a Web server and provides the Web browser  23  and the like with various types of Web pages including a device driver download page. 
   The configuration monitoring section  17  monitors the configuration of options and the like mounted on the network device  3 . Various options are mounted on the network device  3 . For example, when the network device  3  is a printer, the options are an expanded memory, a tray, a double-sided unit and the like, and when the network device  3  is a scanner, the options are an expanded memory, an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) and the like. 
   When the configuration monitoring section  17  detects that the configuration of the network device  3  is changed, the configuration information creation section  18  creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the network device  3  according to the detected result. 
   The storage section  19  stores page information (not shown) of individual Web pages indicated by the Web server function section  16  and an installer  20  for installing a device driver of the network device  3 . The installer  20  includes a configuration information file  21  recording the configuration information created by the configuration information creation section  18  and a device driver  22  corresponding to the network device  3 . The installer  20  is an executable file, so that the device driver  22  is installed in the information processor  2  by executing the installer  20  by the information processor  2 , and setting is made according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file  21 . 
   Then, a flow of device driver provision processing in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7  will be described.  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are flow charts showing the flows of device driver provision processing in Example 3. 
   In the device driver provision processing of Example 3, the network device  3  always monitors the configuration and executes the installer creation processing according to the monitored result. 
   In this processing, the configuration monitoring section  17  of the network device  3  monitors the configuration of the network device  3  (step S 801 ) and, when it detects that the configuration is changed (YES in step S 802 ), the configuration information creation section  18  is operated. 
   According to the change in the configuration detected by the configuration monitoring section  17 , the configuration information creation section  18  creates configuration information, records it in the configuration information file  21  (step S 803 ) and creates the installer  20  containing the configuration information file  21  (step S 804 ). The processing by the configuration information creation section  18  is actually a processing to rewrite the configuration information file  21  as necessary. 
   In the actual processing of providing a device driver, a user operates to designate a URL of the network device  3  on the Web browser  23  of the information processor  2  (step S 901 ), and the Web browser  23  accesses the Web server function section  16  of the network device  3 . 
   Subsequently, the Web server function section  16  responds and sends information for displaying a top page to the Web browser  23  (step S 902 ), and the Web browser  23  displays the top page (step S 903 ). The top page shows information about the network device  3  and a link to a page for instruction of processing. 
   Then, the user operates the Web browser  23  to select a link to the download page of the device driver (step S 904 ), the Web server function section  16  responds and sends information for displaying the device driver download page to the Web browser  23  (step S 905 ), and the Web browser  23  displays the device driver download page (step S 906 ). 
   When the user demands to download the device driver from the device driver download page (step S 907 ), the Web server function section  16  having received the demand sends the installer  20  stored in the storage section  19  to the Web browser  23  (step S 908 ). The Web browser  23  obtains the installer  20  and stores in the information processor  2  (step S 909 ), and the device driver provision processing is terminated. 
   Because the installer stored in the information processor  2  is created by the configuration information creation section  18  when the configuration of the network device  3  is changed, it installs the device driver  22  in the information processor  2  when activated later by the user and performs setting to the device driver  22  according to the configuration information recorded in the configuration information file  21 . 
   When the configuration of the network device in Example 1 and the configuration of the network device in Example 2 or Example 3 are combined to setup a network device to the information processor, it is also possible to apply a configuration in that an installer is installed via the storage medium to setup the network device and, when a device driver is later installed due to a change in the configuration of the network device, the installer sent by the Web server function section is installed over the network, so that the device driver, which is set in accordance with the change in the configuration of the network device, is installed.

Technology Category: g