Setting equipment for ip address and setting method for the same

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an IP address setting device and an IP address setting method for setting address information such as an IP address of a network device in a network environment.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, there are the following methods for setting address information such as the IP address of a device such as a network printer connected to a network environment.

【0003】

That is, (1) Set the address information by operating the input button of the device while looking at the display device such as the liquid crystal panel attached to the network device. (2) Using a host computer connected to the network, set the IP address using a communication protocol other than TCP / IP. (3) Using the host computer connected to the network, send a command to the network device to inform the MAC address by broadcasting, check the MAC address of the responding network device, and set the IP address etc. A command to select a device and set the IP address of the device is sent by broadcast, and the network device (Printer A) sets the address information such as the IP address based on this command (see Fig. 5).

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In order to adopt the method shown in (1) above, the network device must be equipped with a display device, and since the inexpensive network device is not provided with a display device, it is not possible to set an IP address or the like. Cases occur.

【0005】

Since the method shown in (2) above uses a communication protocol other than TCP / IP, this method cannot be used if the communication protocol is not supported by the host computer or network environment.

【0006】

In the method shown in (3) above, communication needs to be performed by broadcasting, which puts a load on the network. Furthermore, since routers installed in a network environment generally do not allow broadcast packets to pass through, it was often not possible to set the IP address of network devices connected to the other side of the router.

【0007】

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even an inexpensive network device without a display device can set an IP address or the like, and sets using a communication protocol normally supported in a network environment. The purpose is to provide an IP address setting device and an IP address setting method that can suppress a large load on the network and can set address information such as the IP address of a network device on the other side of the router. And.

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

The IP address setting device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a request packet transmitting means for transmitting a request packet requesting the MAC address of each node of the network to a predetermined multicast address by multicast, and for transmitting the request packet. An grant determination means for specifying a node for which address information such as an IP address should be set based on a response result and granting and determining address information such as a predetermined IP address, and an address such as an IP address determined by the grant determination means. It includes a setting packet transmitting means for transmitting a setting packet including information and a MAC address of the node to the predetermined multicast address by multicast.

【0009】

As a result, even an inexpensive network device without a display device can set an IP address, etc., and can be set with a communication protocol normally supported in a network environment, which puts a heavy load on the network. This can be suppressed, and address information such as the IP address of the network device on the other side of the router can be set.

【0010】

The IP address setting device according to claim 2 of the present invention should display a list of at least a part of the nodes that have transmitted the response packet in the grant determination means, and set address information such as an IP address according to the user's choice. Nodes can be selected and address information such as IP addresses can be set individually.

【0011】

This makes it possible to select a node for which address information such as an address should be set from among the nodes in the network environment (network devices including a network printer).

【0012】

The IP address setting device according to claim 3 of the present invention displays a list of at least a part of network printers among the nodes that have transmitted the response packet in the grant determination means.

【0013】

This makes it possible to display a network printer in a network environment and select a network printer for which address information such as an address is set.

【0014】

In the IP address setting device according to claim 4 of the present invention, the address information given by the grant determination means includes an IP address, a subnet mask, and a default gateway.

【0015】

This makes it possible to set address information such as an address in the TCP / IP protocol.

【0016】

The network printer according to claim 5 of the present invention is a network printer connected to the IP address setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and is participating in the predetermined multicast address and the request packet. A response means for transmitting a response packet including its own MAC address to the predetermined multicast address by multicast at the receiving node, and a setting packet when the MAC address in the received setting packet is its own MAC address. It is equipped with an IP address setting means for setting the address information such as the IP address in the packet as the address information such as its own IP address.

【0017】

As a result, it is possible to notify its own MAC address in response to the reception of the request packet of the IP address setting device, and it is possible to set the address information such as its own IP address in response to the reception of the setting packet.

【0018】

The IP address setting method according to claim 6 of the present invention includes a step of transmitting a request packet requesting the MAC address of each node of the network to a predetermined multicast address by multicast, and participating in the predetermined multicast address. At the node that received the request packet, a response packet including its own MAC address is transmitted by multicast to the predetermined multicast address, and address information such as an IP address is set based on the result of the response means. A process of identifying a node to be output and assigning and determining address information such as a predetermined IP address, and a setting packet including the determined IP address and other address information and the MAC address of the node are sent to the predetermined multicast address. The process of transmitting by multicast and the process of setting the address information such as the IP address in the set packet as the address information such as the own IP address when the MAC address in the transmitted setting packet is its own MAC address. Equipped with.

【0019】

As a result, even an inexpensive network device without a display device can set an IP address, etc., and can be set using a communication protocol normally supported in a network environment, which imposes a heavy load on the network. Can be suppressed, and address information such as the IP address of the network device on the other side of the router can be set.

【0020】

The IP address setting method according to claim 7 of the present invention includes a step of listing at least a part of network printers connected to the network based on the MAC address in the response packet, and an address such as an IP address by the user. It further includes a process of selecting a network printer for which information should be set and specifying address information such as an IP address.

【0021】

This makes it possible to display a network printer in a network environment and select a network printer for which address information such as an address is set.

【0022】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The IP address setting device and the IP address setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

【0023】

The IP address setting device and the like of the present embodiment have the following configurations.

【0024】

That is, (1) A means of transmitting a packet on the network that is placed on the host computer and requests that a MAC address be returned with a specific multicast address as the destination address. (2) Means that are placed on a network device (for example, a network printer) and receive packets addressed to a specific multicast address. (3) A means of transmitting a multicast address including the MAC address of the network device to the destination when it is placed on the network device and receives a reply request for the MAC address. (4) A means to display a list of returned MAC addresses placed on the host computer (5) A means of specifying address information such as an IP address for one of the displayed MAC addresses placed on the host computer. [0025]

The address information includes an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, and the like. (6) A means of transmitting a packet for setting request to a multicast address, which is placed on the host computer and includes address information such as a MAC address and an IP address. (7) When a packet containing the MAC address and address information such as an IP address is received on a network device and the MAC address in this packet matches the MAC address of the network device, the packet is included. Means for setting address information such as IP address as own address information [0026]

According to the IP address setting device and the IP address setting method of the present embodiment, the packet for setting the address information such as the IP address is transmitted by multicast, so that when the packet is transmitted by broadcast, the packet is transmitted. In comparison, the load on the network can be reduced. Since the address information is set in the network device by the transmission by multicast, the address information of the network device connected beyond the router can be set.

【0027】

[Example]

Hereinafter, the IP address setting device and the IP address setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

【0028】

FIG. 1 (a) is a diagram showing a part of the hardware configuration of the network printer. 1 is a CPU for controlling printing, 2 is a read / write RAM, 3 is a read-only ROM, 4 is a MAC mounted on a NIC mounted or mounted on a device, and 5 Is a physical layer consisting of a physical signal sublayer and a connection interface, and 6 is a transceiver connected to the connection interface. Transceiver 6 is connected to the network via a network cable.

【0029】

Here, MAC4 is composed of a read-only memory (ROM), in which the MAC address (6 bytes) used as the address of the frame header transmitted to the network is written. The MAC address consists of the manufacturer code, serial number, etc., and is unique to that NIC.

【0030】

Figure 1 (b) is an example showing a network configuration in which this IP address setting device and IP address setting method are used. Group G1 from node n1 to n6 of the network and group G2 from node n7 are connected via router 7. This router 7 is a multicast router. This makes it possible to set address information such as the IP addresses of other groups beyond the router 7 from the host computer, which is one of the nodes. If it is not a multicast router, it cannot be set beyond the router, but it can be set within the same group.

【0031】

When trying to set an address such as the IP address of a network printer, as shown in Fig. 2 (a), the host computer should return the MAC address by multicast to the specified multicast address (239.255.22.23). Send the requested packet.

【0032】

Upon receiving this packet, the network printers (Printer A and Printer B) return a packet containing their own MAC address to the multicast address, as shown in FIG. 2 (b). In the example of FIG. 2, the MAC address of Printer A is 00-80-77-31-00-04, and the MAC address of Printer B is 00-80-77-31-00-08.

【0033】

As shown in Fig. 2 (c), the host computer that receives this reply sets the address information such as a predetermined IP address for the network printer that needs to set the address information such as the IP address, and the network. A packet containing the MAC address of the printer and the address information is transmitted to the multicast address by multicast. In the example of Fig. 2, the address information is set only in Printer A, and the IP address is 133.151.12.34, the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0, and the default gateway is 133.151.1.1. Since the address information is not set in PrinterB, the packet is not transmitted.

【0034】

Upon receiving this packet, Printer A sets the address information such as the IP address in the packet as its own address information, as shown in FIG. 2 (d).

【0035】

The details of the process of the above processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The flowchart in FIG. 3 relates to the processing process of the host computer, and the flowchart in FIG. 4 relates to the processing process of the printer.

【0036】

As shown in Figure 3, the IGMP protocol notifies the router that the host computer is participating in the specified multicast address (239.255.22.23) (S1). This predetermined multicast address is a multicast address set and stored in the built-in ROM when the network printer is manufactured. For flexible operation, the host computer may decide it separately, or the user may enter it individually.

【0037】

Next, it sends a packet requesting a MAC address by multicast (S2) and waits for a response (S3). A list of printer names and MAC addresses of the responding network printers is displayed on the screen of a display device such as a CRT (S4). The user selects a network printer for setting address information such as an IP address from the displayed list and inputs the address information. Therefore, it becomes a state of waiting for these inputs (S5), and it is judged whether or not there is an input (S6).

【0038】

When the address information is entered, a packet containing the address information is sent (S7). Wait for a certain period of time (2 seconds) (S8). It is determined whether or not a packet (OK packet) indicating that the address information such as the IP address has been set has been received (S9), and if an OK packet is received (S9, YES), the address information such as the IP address is normal. A message indicating that the setting is set to is displayed on the screen of a display device such as CRT (S10), and the process is terminated. If the OK packet is not received (S9, NO), an error display is displayed on the screen of a display device such as a CRT and the process ends.

【0039】

As shown in FIG. 4, each network device (network printer in this embodiment) notifies the router that it is participating in a predetermined multicast address (239.255.22.23) by the IGMP protocol (S12). Waits for a packet to be sent from the host computer (S13).

【0040】

When a packet is received, it is determined whether the packet is a packet instructing a request to return the MAC address by multicast (S14), and if it is the packet, a packet containing its own MAC address and printer name is input. Send (S15).

【0041】

If it is not the packet, it is determined whether it is a packet that commands the setting of address information by multicast (S16). In the case of the packet, it is determined whether the MAC address in the packet is the same as its own MAC address (S17). If they are the same, the address information such as the IP address is set (S18), and a packet (OK packet) indicating that the setting of the address information such as the IP address is completed is transmitted (S20). If they are not the same, the packet is ignored. Then, in S16, if the packet does not instruct the setting of the address information by multicast (S16, NO), another process is performed (S19).

【0042】

Since the router used in the network configuration shown in Fig. 1 (b) is a multicast router, it is possible to make settings beyond the router by using the IGMP protocol. Since the host computer and the network printer notify the router that they are participating in the above specific multicast address by the IGMP protocol, the host computer and the network printer can communicate with each other by using this multicast address. Because it is possible.

【0043】

If the router is not a multicast router, it cannot be set beyond the router, but even in this case, communication between host computers and network printers in the same group can be performed without using the IGMP protocol. it can.

【0044】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the IP address setting device according to claim 1 of the present invention, even an inexpensive network device without a display device can set an IP address or the like, and is usually supported in a network environment. It is possible to set with the communication protocol that is used, it is possible to suppress a large load on the network, and it is possible to set address information such as the IP address of the network device on the other side of the router.

【0045】

According to the IP address setting device according to claim 2 of the present invention, it is possible to select a node for which address information such as an address should be set from among the nodes in the network environment (network devices including a network printer).

【0046】

According to the IP address setting device according to claim 3 of the present invention, it is possible to select a network printer that displays a network printer in a network environment and sets address information such as an address.

【0047】

According to the IP address setting device according to claim 4 of the present invention, address information such as an IP address, a subnet mask, and a default gateway address in the TCP / IP protocol can be set.

【0048】

According to the network printer according to claim 5 of the present invention, it is possible to notify its own MAC address in response to the reception of the request packet of the IP address setting device, and the address such as its own IP address is received upon the reception of the setting packet. Information can be set.

【0049】

According to the IP address setting method according to claim 6 of the present invention, the IP address and the like can be set even in an inexpensive network device not provided with a display device, and the IP address and the like can be set by a communication protocol normally supported in a network environment. It is possible to suppress a large load on the network and set address information such as the IP address of the network device on the other side of the router. [0050]

According to the IP address setting method according to claim 7 of the present invention, it is possible to display a network printer in a network environment and select a network printer for setting address information such as an address.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration used for the IP address setting apparatus and the IP address setting method of the Example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the process of the IP address setting apparatus and the IP address setting method of the Example of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart which shows the process of the IP address setting apparatus and the IP address setting method of the Example of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a flowchart which shows the process of the IP address setting apparatus and the IP address setting method of the Example of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a figure which shows the conventional IP address setting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 MAC 7 router n1 ~ n6 Nodes belonging to the first group G1 n7 ~ n12 Nodes belonging to the second group G2