JP2000293466A - Information processing apparatus, method for displaying shared resources of information processing apparatus, and storage medium storing computer readable program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To allow a client machine to visually and easily grasp the type of a shared printer provided by a server machine and the physical connection status. SOLUTION: Client machines 103, 111, 1 are provided.
12 and icons 3b-3 indicating server machine 104
e is displayed on the network line 3a, and it is determined whether the shared printers 2i and 2h are network printers or local printers. The icon 3f of the printer 2h determined as the local printer is connected to the connected server. It is arranged below the icon 3e of the machine 104, and the icon 3g of the printer 2i determined as a network printer is displayed so as to be arranged on the network line 3a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a plurality of print servers which provide, as shared printers, a plurality of network printers which can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers which are connected to their own local bus. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus communicably connected via a network and capable of using the respective shared printers, a shared resource display method of the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, networks have rapidly become widespread. By installing a print server (server machine) on a network, a local printer and a network printer can be provided as shared resources.

For example, a print server, a plurality of client computers a to c, and a network printer are connected to a network having Ethernet as a backbone, and the print server is connected to a printer p which is a local printer connected to the print server. The printer q, which is a network printer directly connected to the network, is provided as a shared resource on the network.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shared resource display screen on a network displayed on a display screen of an information processing apparatus operating as a conventional client computer.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 700 denotes a line indicating a network (hereinafter, a network line). On the network line 700, an icon 701 indicating a print server (server machine) and icons 702 to 702 indicating client machines a to c are shown. 704 are displayed.

Further, an icon 7 indicating a print server is provided.
An icon 70 indicating the printer p is provided below (lower layer) of “01”.
5 and an icon 706 indicating the printer q are displayed so as to be arranged in a tree shape.

As described above, conventionally, the local printer and the network printer displayed on the display screen of the client computer on the network are all displayed as a shared printer so as to be arranged in a tree structure below each print server. Was.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional information processing apparatuses are all arranged in a tree shape under each print server on a display screen of a client computer on a network, with a local printer and a network printer as shared printers. In such a case, it is very difficult for the user to determine whether the shared printer is a local printer or a network printer.

For example, when a trouble occurs in a shared printer, if the troubled shared printer is a local printer, a return operation is often performed in a server machine to which the local printer is connected.
If the shared printer in which the trouble occurred is a network printer, it may be expected that the client machine will perform a return operation using a tool or the like on its own machine or perform a return operation at the place where the network printer is located. As described above, in the display of shared resources on a network by a conventional client computer, it is difficult for the user to determine whether the shared printer in which an error has occurred is a network printer or a local printer, and there is no trouble. In addition, there is a problem that the work of restoring the shared printer cannot be performed quickly.

Therefore, there is an increasing demand for displaying the type of printer (network printer, local printer) shared by the server machine.

[0011] Further, not only printers but also peripheral devices such as scanners provided as shared resources on a network, it is difficult for a user to determine whether the peripheral device is a local device or a network device.
There is also a problem similar to that of the above-described printer in that it is not possible to quickly perform a recovery operation of a peripheral device having a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to eleventh inventions according to the present invention is to provide a plurality of network printers which can be directly connected to a predetermined network. A plurality of local printers connected to their own local bus and a plurality of print servers each providing a shared printer on the network and communicably connected via the network,
In the information processing apparatus capable of using each of the shared printers, all information processing apparatuses and print servers connected to the network and capable of using the shared printer are displayed on a display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and It is determined whether the shared printer is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any of the print servers. By controlling the display so that the shared printer determined to be a network printer is arranged on the network, the user can control the display of the shared printer determined as a network printer on the network, so that the user can determine the type and physical Connection status An information processing apparatus, a shared resource display method of the information processing apparatus, and a computer, which can be visually and easily grasped and can promptly perform an appropriate recovery operation for a printer in which a trouble has occurred even when a trouble occurs. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a readable program.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of network printers (a printer shown in FIG. 3 and a network not shown) which can be directly connected to a predetermined network (LAN 100 shown in FIG. 3). Printer)
And a plurality of local printers (the printer 105 shown in FIG. 3 and a local printer not shown) connected to its own local bus (I / O bus 1m shown in FIG. 2) as shared printers on the network. An information processing apparatus (PC10 shown in FIG. 3) which is communicably connected to a plurality of print servers (the server machine 104 shown in FIG. 3 and the personal computer 115 shown in FIG. 1) via the network and can use the respective shared printers.
3, PC111, PC112) provided by all of the information processing devices that are communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network and are capable of using the shared printers, as well as the print servers and the print servers. Acquisition means for acquiring information on each of the shared printers (the CPU 1f shown in FIG.
D1i or an acquisition process based on a program stored in a storage medium (not shown)), and the shared printer is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any of the print servers. Determination means for determining whether there is any of the information processing devices (the CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2 performs determination processing based on a program stored in the ROM 1g or HDD 1i or a storage medium (not shown)); A print server is displayed on the display unit (CRT 1a shown in FIG. 2) so as to be arranged on the network (3a to 3e shown in FIG. 4), and a shared printer determined as a local printer by the determination unit is connected. To be arranged below the print server (3f shown in FIG. 4) The control means (CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2 is stored in ROM 1g or HDD 1i or a storage medium (not shown) for controlling the display so that the shared printer which is displayed and determined as the network printer is arranged on the network (3g shown in FIG. 4). C based on the program
RT1a).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information of each of the shared printers provided by each of the print servers, which is obtained by the obtaining means (CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2), is stored in each of the shared printers of each of the print servers. The information about the output port to the CPU is determined by the determination means (CPU 1 shown in FIG. 2)
f) determining whether each of the shared printers is the network printer or the local printer based on the information on the output port to each shared printer of each of the print servers acquired by the acquisition unit. Things.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a designating means (pointing device (PD) 1e shown in FIG. 2) for designating any of the shared printers displayed on the display section as a printer to be used. It is a thing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of network devices (a scanner 110 and a copying machine 118 (including an image processing unit 119) shown in FIG. 1) which can be directly connected to a predetermined network (the LAN 100 shown in FIG. 1). , Printer 102) and a plurality of local devices (scanner 117,
A plurality of server machines (PC1 shown in FIG. 1) for providing network disks 107, printers 105, and printers 116 as shared resources on the network, respectively.
04, PC 115) via the network so as to be able to communicate with each other and use each of the shared resources (PC 103, PC 104, PC 111, and PC 111 shown in FIG. 1).
PC112, PC115, PC121, and PC122), all the information processing apparatuses that are communicably connected to the plurality of server machines via the network and can use the shared resources, and the server machines and the server machines. (A CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2 performs an acquisition process based on a program stored in a ROM 1g or an HDD 1i or a storage medium (not shown)) for acquiring information on each of the shared resources provided by the network. (E.g., the CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the ROM 1g or the HDD 1i or in a storage medium (not shown)) to determine whether the device is a network device directly connected to the server machine or a local device connected to any of the server machines. Judgment processing based on a program) and The information processing device and the server machine acquired by the means are displayed on a display unit (CRT 1a shown in FIG. 2) so as to be arranged on the network (3a to 3e shown in FIG. 4), and are locally determined by the determination means. The shared resources determined to be devices are displayed as being arranged below the connected server machine (3f shown in FIG. 4), and the shared resources determined to be network devices are arranged on the network (shown in FIG. 4). 3g) to control the display (the CPU 1f shown in FIG.
Or display processing on the CRT 1a based on a program stored in the HDD 1i or a storage medium (not shown)).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include an image input device (the scanner 110 and the scanner 11 shown in FIG. 1).
7, a copying machine 118).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include a copying machine having an image input function and an image output function (a copying machine 118 (image processing unit shown in FIG. 1). 11
9))).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include an image input device and an image output device (the scanner 11 shown in FIG. 1).
0, copier 118 (image processing unit 1)
19), the printer 102, the scanner 117, the printer 105, and the printer 116).

An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the information of each of the shared resources provided by each of the server machines obtained by the obtaining means (CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2) is a shared resource of each of the server machines. The determination means (CPU 1f shown in FIG. 2) includes information on an input / output port to each shared resource of each of the server machines acquired by the acquisition means. It is to determine whether the shared resource is the network device or the local device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a designating means (pointing device (PD) 1e shown in FIG. 2) for designating any of the shared resources displayed by the display unit as a device to be used. It is a thing.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of network printers which can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers which are connected to their own local bus are provided as shared printers on the network. In a method for displaying a shared resource of an information processing apparatus which is communicably connected to a plurality of print servers via the network and which can use the respective shared printers, the communicable connection is established between the plurality of print servers and the network. An acquisition step (step (1) in FIG. 5) of acquiring information on all the information processing apparatuses that can use the respective shared printers, the respective print servers, and the respective shared printers provided by the respective print servers; Each of the acquired information processing apparatuses and the print server is stored on the network. A first display step (step (2) in FIG. 5) for displaying on the display unit as to be arranged, and a step in which each of the shared printers is a network printer directly connected to the network or connected to any of the print servers. (Step (6) in FIG. 5), and a shared printer determined as a local printer is displayed so as to be located below the connected print server (FIG. 5). (7)), the shared printer determined to be a network printer is displayed so as to be arranged on the network (step (8) in FIG. 5), and a second display process (steps (7) and (7) in FIG. 5) 8)).

An eleventh invention according to the present invention provides a plurality of network printers directly connectable to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers connected to its own local bus as shared printers on the network. A storage medium that is communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network and stores a program readable by a computer that controls an information processing apparatus capable of using each of the shared printers; Acquisition step of acquiring all information processing devices that are communicably connected via a network and can use the respective shared printers, the respective print servers, and the information of the respective shared printers provided by the respective print servers (FIG. 5) Step (1)) and the acquired information First displaying the physical device and the print server to the display unit to place on the network
(Step (2) in FIG. 5), and determine whether each of the shared printers is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any of the print servers. A determination process (step (6) in FIG. 5) and a display indicating that the shared printer determined to be a local printer is arranged in a lower layer of a connected print server (step (7) in FIG. 5), and determined to be a network printer The displayed shared printer is displayed so as to be arranged on the network (step (8) in FIG. 5), and can be read by a computer having a second display step (steps (7) and (8) in FIG. 5). The program is stored in a storage medium.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of an information processing system to which an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. This corresponds to the network configuration diagram when connected.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 102 denotes a printer having an open architecture and a network board (NB) 1.
01 Local area network (LAN) 1
00 is connected. The NB 101 includes an Ethernet (Ethernet) interface 10Base-2 having a coaxial connector and a 10Base-
A local area network (LAN) 100 via a local area network interface such as T
Connected to.

A plurality of information processing apparatuses (personal computers (PCs)) 103, 104, 111, 112
Are also connected to the LAN 100, and these PCs
Under the control of the network operating system,
It can communicate with the NB 101. Therefore, the above PC
, For example, the PC 103 can be used as a network device management PC. Furthermore, the above PC
For example, the printer 105 may be locally connected to the PC 104 as a local printer. Note that a plurality of local printers may be connected.

Reference numeral 106 denotes an information processing device (personal computer (PC)), which is a file server (FILE).
SERVER) and is connected to the LAN 100. The file server (PC 106) manages access to files stored in a large-capacity (for example, 10 billion bytes) network disk (NETWORK DISK) 107. In other words, the file server (PC 106) executes data writing and data reading processing on the network disk 107 based on a write request and a read request from another information processing device (PC) communicable via the LAN 100. is there.

Reference numeral 113 denotes an information processing device (personal computer (PC)), which is a file server (FIL).
E SERVER) and connected to the LAN 100. This file server (PC113)
It manages access to files stored in a large-capacity (for example, 10 billion bytes) network disk (NETWORK DISK) 114. In other words, the file server (PC 113) receives a write request and a read request from another information processing device (PC) communicable via the LAN 100, and
This executes data writing and data reading processing to the memory.

The PC 104 is connected to a print server (PR
INT SERVER).
The print server (PC 104) is connected to the locally connected printer 105 or the remote printer 1.
02, etc., and print information from another information processing device (PC) communicable via the LAN 100 to the printer 105 or the printer 102 is sequentially transferred to the printer 105 or the printer 102.

Similarly, reference numeral 115 denotes an information processing apparatus (personal computer (PC)), which is a scanner server (SCA).
NER SERVER). The scanner server (PC 115) manages a scanner such as the scanner 117 connected locally or the scanner 110 at a remote location, and requests image input processing from another information processing apparatus (PC) communicable via the LAN 100. , The scanner 117 and the scanner 110 execute image input processing, and return an input image. The scanner server (PC 115) may connect a plurality of scanners locally.

The scanner 110 is connected to the LAN 100 via a network board or the like.

A printer 116 is locally connected to the PC 115 as a local printer.
115 is used as a scanner server and a print server, and a locally connected printer 116 or LAN 1
00, and print information from another information processing device (PC) communicable via the LAN 100 to the printer 116 or the printer 102 is sequentially transmitted to the printer 116 or the printer 102.
Transfer processing to.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a copying machine which provides a function as a printer or a scanner under the control of the image processing unit 119.

In the network shown in FIG. 1, in order to efficiently communicate between various network members, Nov
network software such as ell or UNIX can be used. For example, Novell's Net
Software (registered trademark of Novell, hereinafter abbreviated) can be used. A detailed description of this software package is provided in the online documentation included with the NetWare package.

This is from Novell's NetWar
Can be purchased with ePackage.

PC 103 and PC 104 are respectively
Generation of data file, LA of generated data file
This is a general PC that can perform transmission to the N100, reception of files from the LAN 100, and display and / or processing of those files.

Although FIG. 1 shows a personal computer device (PC), another computer device suitable for executing network software may be used. For example, if UNIX software is used, UNIX workstations may be connected to the network, and these workstations are connected to the illustrated information processing device (personal computer (P
C)).

Normally, the LAN 100 provides a service to a relatively local user group, for example, a user group on one floor or a plurality of continuous floors in one building. On the other hand, a wide area network (WAN) may be constructed as the users move away from each other, such as in different buildings or different prefectures.

Basically, the WAN has several LANs
Are a collection of LANs formed by being connected by high-speed digital lines such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an LA 100 connected to a LAN 100 and a plurality of information processing apparatuses (personal computers (PCs)) 121 and 122 is connected.
The N 120 is connected by the backbone 140 to form a WAN. LAN100, LA
The devices connected to N120 can access the functions of the devices connected to other LANs via the WAN connection.

The print server, the scanner server,
There may be a plurality of file servers on the LAN 100.

<Description of Apparatus> FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1b is a video RAM (VRA).
M), the characters and images displayed on the screen of the CRT display device (CRT) 1a are developed and stored. A bit move unit (BMU) 1c controls data transfer between memories or between a memory and each device. 1d is a keyboard (KB) having various keys related to input.
e is a pointing device (PD), and a screen (CRT)
1a) is used to indicate an icon or the like in the above.

Reference numeral 1f denotes a CPU which controls various devices connected to the I / O bus 1m based on a boot program and a BIOS stored in the ROM 1g. 1h
Is a RAM for loading various programs and a CPU 1
f is used as a work area when executing various programs and a temporary save area during error processing. A hard disk drive (HDD) 1i is used for storing an OS, various programs (including device drivers), data, libraries, and the like. Reference numeral 1j denotes a floppy disk drive (FDD) to which a floppy disk (FD) is attached and which is used for installing and storing various programs and data. 1k is a printer (PRN), and I /
It is connected to the O bus 1m and can print various data according to an instruction from the CPU 1f.

1l is a network interface (N
In ET-I / F), data control and diagnosis are performed on the LAN 100 in order to perform data transfer with another device via the LAN 100. I / O bus (local bus) 1m
Consists of an address bus, a data bus and a control bus,
The above-mentioned units are connected.

In the above configuration, when the apparatus is powered on, the CPU 1f initializes the apparatus according to the boot program in the ROM 1g, loads the OS from the HDD 1i, and thereafter operates various applications.

Since the apparatus of this embodiment is based on a general-purpose information processing apparatus (such as a personal computer), the program is stored in a hard disk or the like. The present invention may be stored in a storage medium, and the present invention is not limited by the storage medium.

<Management of Shared Resources Available on Network> A process of managing and displaying available network printers on the network as shared resources will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration to which the present invention can be applied. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, a network (LAN 100
(WA configured by LAN 100 and LAN 120
N may be a network having, for example, Ethernet as its backbone.
Reference numerals 111 and PC 112 indicate information processing devices (hereinafter, client machines) used by the user.

The PC 104 uses a printer as a shared resource and provides an information processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a “server printer”) that provides a printer (hereinafter, “shared printer”) that can be used to output data to each client machine. Server)).

The printer 105 is a printer (hereinafter, local printer) connected to the server machine 104 via a local bus. On the other hand, the printer 102 is a network printer that can be directly connected to a network (hereinafter simply referred to as a network printer).

Reference numerals 2h and 2i denote shared printers, and the server machine 104 communicates with each of the client machines 103, 111, 1
12, a local printer 105 and a network printer 102 are provided as shared resources.

Each client machine 103, 111, 1
12, the access method for the local printer 105 and the network printer 102 is as follows.
These shared printers 2h and 2i are designated for use.

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is basically the same as the information processing apparatuses 104, 103, 11 shown in FIG.
1 and 112 respectively.

However, the information processing apparatus 104 operating as a server machine needs to operate not only these hardware resources but also a corresponding server program on the apparatus.

On the other hand, the information processing apparatuses (PCs) 103, 111 and 112 operating as client machines do not have the printer hardware resources (PRN1k) and do not have the shared program (server program). However, the basic configuration of each information processing apparatus is the same as the configuration of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

That is, the information processing apparatus sharing the resources is a server machine, and the information processing apparatus receiving the service is a client machine. Incidentally, there may be an information processing device called a server machine and a client machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shared resource display screen on the network displayed on the CRT 1a of the client machine (PC) 103 (111, 112) shown in FIG. 103 (1
11, 112) correspond to a window when a program for displaying a server machine, a client machine, and an available shared printer on the network 100 is operated.

As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (server machine and client machine) existing on the network and the shared printer are arranged in a tree structure so as to easily visually recognize the shared printer and the network configuration. Are clearly displayed.

In the figure, 3a is the network 1 in FIG.
On the network line 3a, the PCs 103, 111, and 112, which are the client machines shown in FIG.
The icons are displayed as icons indicating the client machines b, 3c, and 3d.

Further, the server machine 104 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the network line 3a as an icon indicating the server machine 3e.

<Display Method of Shared Printer on Network> Here, the display of the shared printers 2h and 2i provided by the server machine 104 shown in FIG. 3 is as follows.

In a normal case, since the shared printers 2h and 2i are both provided by the server machine 104, they may be displayed below the icon 3e indicating the server machine (conventional). The feature is that if information is acquired from each shared printer and the printer provided as a shared printer is a network printer,
It is displayed directly on the network line, and if the shared printer is a local printer, it is displayed below the server machine that is providing it as a shared resource.

Accordingly, the icon indicating the shared printer 3f in the figure indicates the shared printer 2h in FIG. 3. However, by acquiring the information of the shared printer 2h and determining the type of this printer, the local printer 3h is displayed. Since the printer 105 has been identified, the server machine 104
Is displayed as the icon 3f of the shared printer 2h under the icon 3e indicating.

On the other hand, the icon indicating the shared printer 3g shown in the figure indicates the shared printer 2i in FIG. 3. By acquiring the information of the shared printer 2i and determining the type of the printer, the network printer is identified. 1
When it is determined that the shared printer is 02, the icon of the shared printer is displayed directly on the network line 3a.

By designating the displayed icons 3f and 3g indicating the shared printers (printer 2h and printer 2i) with the pointing device (PD) 1e shown in FIG. 2, the printer is designated as a printer to be used. can do.

After the designation process, the print data is transmitted to the server machine (print server) 104, so that the designated printer can perform the print process.

In this embodiment, the method of searching for a resource on the network is a known method and is not particularly limited.

The method for determining the type of printer (local printer, network printer) will be described below.

<Determination as to whether the printer is a network printer or a local printer> In general, a printer driver (software) unique to the shared printer is registered in the OS in the server machine.

The difference between a local printer and a network printer is that if the printer is connected locally,
The setting is to redirect to the port of the own machine, and if the printer is on a network, the driver is set in a format to redirect to the port indicating the network address of the network printer.

Therefore, whether it is a network printer,
A method for determining whether the printer is a local printer can be realized by determining the port for which the output is specified.

In this case, the client machine inquires each server machine of the output port to each shared printer provided by each server machine and obtains the same, and determines whether each shared printer is a local printer based on the obtained port information. Determine whether the printer is a network printer.

However, other means may be provided for the server machine to directly communicate with the printer whether it is a local printer or a network printer.
Some printer drivers may already provide this information.

In this case, the client machine makes a determination by inquiring each server machine whether or not each shared printer provided by each server machine is a local printer or a network printer.

In the present embodiment, the method of determining the type of the printer is not particularly limited.

The feature of this embodiment is that the server machine can display the physical connection status of the printer provided as a shared printer to the user, and the user can visually check the printer configuration in the network environment. It is possible to easily recognize it.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The shared resource display processing operation of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first control program of the present invention, which corresponds to the shared resource display processing procedure and is based on the program stored in the ROM 1g or HDD 1i or the storage medium (not shown) shown in FIG. Is executed by the CPU 1f. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), information on all computers (server machine and client machine) on the network 100 and information on the shared printer provided by the server machine is obtained. The information of each shared printer is obtained by inquiring each server machine.

Next, in step (2), all the icons corresponding to the acquired computers are displayed on the network line 3a. By this step, a diagram of the network configuration of the computer is created (3a to 3e in FIG. 3).

Hereinafter, the display of the shared printer will be described.

First, in step (3), the number N of shared printers is obtained from the information on the shared printer obtained in step (1). Next, in step (4),
The counter variable I is initialized to 1.

In step (5), the counter I is compared with the number N of shared printers. If I is equal to N or if I is smaller than N (if I is not larger than N), the process proceeds to step (6). Proceed to).

In step (6), it is determined from the information on the I-th shared printer whether the physical printer of the shared printer is a network printer or a local printer (for example, based on the information on the output port). However, if it is determined that the printer is a local printer,
In step (7), the I-th shared printer is displayed below the icon 3e corresponding to the server machine providing the shared resource as a shared resource (3f in FIG. 3), and the process proceeds to step (9).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that the physical printer of the I-th shared printer is a network printer from the information of the I-th shared printer, then in step (8), the I-th shared printer is Is displayed directly on the network line 3a (3g in FIG. 3), and the process proceeds to step (9).

In step (9), the counter variable I
Is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step (5), and the above steps (5) to
When the process of step (9) is repeated and the process is completed for all the shared printers, the display process is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can display whether the shared printer provided by the server machine is a network printer or a local printer without performing any special operation. It can be easily recognized.

Therefore, in a network system in which a plurality of client machines exist on a network, and a server machine which provides a network printer or a local printer as a shared printer exists, the client machine uses information existing on the network. The processing devices (each server machine and each client machine) are displayed on the network, each shared printer provided by the server machine is displayed below the server machine, and if the shared printer is a network printer, the By displaying the shared printer directly on the network, each client machine can provide the user with the visual information of the type of shared printer provided by the server machine without any special operation. It becomes ability, the user with easily grasp the actual physical connection state, even if a trouble occurs, it is possible to quickly take appropriate recovery work for the printer trouble occurs.

Further, the local printer and the network printer are configured in different forms (for example, by changing the color of the icon,
(For example, changing the shape of the icon).

The printer described in this embodiment is
An electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a sublimation method, or another method may be used.

In the above embodiment, the case where the server machine provides a locally connected printer and a printer connected to the network as shared resource printers has been described. However, the server machine (for example, the scanner (see FIG. (Printing) Server PC 115, Print Server PC 104, File Servers 106 and 113) Locally Connected Scanner (Scanner 117 in FIG. 1), Printer (Printers 105 and 116 in FIG. 1), Copy Having Image Input Function and Image Output Function Network devices connected to the network (e.g., a copier (not shown) similar to the copier 118 in FIG. 1), a large-capacity hard disk (network disks 107 and 114 in FIG. 1), and a modem (not shown). Printer 1 shown in FIG.
02, a scanner 110, and a copying machine 118 (including the image processing unit 119) as shared resources, are communicably connected to each server machine via a network, and are capable of using the shared resources. Acquires information on each server machine and each shared resource provided by each server machine, and determines whether each shared resource is a network device directly connected to a network or a local device connected to any of the server machines Respectively, and the acquired information processing apparatus and the server machine are displayed on the display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and the shared resource determined as the local device by the determination unit is connected to the connected server. It is displayed so that it is located below the machine, and the shared resources determined to be network devices are displayed. It may be configured such displays controls to place on the network (replacing processing for each printer of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 to other peripheral devices).

In this case, the determination as to whether the various devices provided as the various shared resources are network devices or local devices is made by the client machine using the shared resources provided by each server machine for each server machine. It inquires and obtains an input / output port to a device provided as a device, and determines from the obtained port information whether the device provided as each shared resource is a local device or a network device.

Further, various server machines and various devices provided as shared resources on the network by the various server machines may be mixedly displayed, or may be displayed on different screens for each function of the device. It may be configured as follows.

Further, the local device and the network device may be displayed in different forms (for example, changing the color of the icon, changing the shape of the icon, etc.).

Further, by pointing an icon indicating a peripheral device provided as a displayed shared resource with the pointing device (PD) 1e shown in FIG. 2, the device can be designated as a device using the device. .

Therefore, in each client machine,
Without any special operation, the type of shared resources provided by the server machine can be provided to the user with visual information, and the physical connection status of various devices available on the network can be checked. In addition to being able to easily grasp, even when a trouble occurs, it is possible to quickly perform appropriate recovery work on the device in which the trouble has occurred.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, if the program or data to be installed is compressed,
A program for decompressing may also be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 5 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

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

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program codes, and the OS (Operating System) running on the computer is executed based on the instructions of the program codes. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0110]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, a plurality of print servers and a plurality of print servers each providing a plurality of network printers directly connectable to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers connected to its own local bus as shared printers on the network In an information processing apparatus communicably connected through the network and using each of the shared printers, all information that is communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network and can use each of the shared printers A processing device and the respective print servers and information on the respective shared printers provided by the respective print servers are acquired by an acquisition unit, and the respective shared printers are network printers directly connected to the network, or any one of the prints. Local printer connected to the server The information processing device and the print server obtained by the obtaining unit are displayed on a display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and the local printer is determined by the determining unit. The displayed shared printer is displayed so as to be located below the connected print server,
The control unit controls the display so that the shared printer determined to be a network printer is arranged on the network, so that the user can visually check the type of the shared printer provided by the server machine and the physical connection status at each client machine. And it can be easily grasped.

According to the second aspect, the information on each shared printer provided by each print server obtained by the obtaining means includes information on an output port of each print server to each shared printer, The determining unit determines whether each of the shared printers is the network printer or the local printer based on the information on the output port to each of the shared printers of each of the print servers acquired by the acquiring unit. Therefore, the type of the shared printer provided by the server machine can be reliably determined.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the designating means for designating any one of the shared printers displayed on the display unit as a printer to be used is provided. After grasping the type of the shared printer to be used and the physical connection status, it is possible to easily specify the printer to be used.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of network devices which can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local devices which are connected to their own local bus are provided as shared resources on the network. In an information processing apparatus communicably connected to a server machine via the network and using the respective shared resources, the information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the plurality of server machines via the network and uses the respective shared resources. Acquisition means for all possible information processing devices and the respective server machines and information on the respective shared resources provided by the respective server machines, and whether each of the shared resources is a network device directly connected to the network Determine whether each of the server machines is a local device connected to any of the server machines. The information processing device and the server machine acquired by the acquiring unit are displayed on a display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and the shared resource determined to be a local device by the determining unit is connected. The control means controls the display so that the shared resources determined to be network devices are arranged on the network, so that the user provides the client machine with the server machine at each client machine. It is possible to visually and easily grasp the types of peripheral devices usable as shared resources and the physical connection status.

According to the fifth aspect, since the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include the image input device, the user can select the type of the shared scanner and the physical scanner provided by the server machine at each client machine. It is possible to easily and visually grasp the connection status.

According to the sixth aspect, the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include a copying apparatus having an image input function and an image output function. The type of the provided copier and the physical connection status can be grasped visually and easily.

According to the seventh aspect, since the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include an image input device and an image output device, a user can use a shared printer provided by a server machine at each client machine. The type of the shared scanner and the physical connection status can be grasped visually and easily.

According to the eighth aspect, the information of each of the shared resources provided by each of the server machines obtained by the obtaining means includes information on an input / output port to each of the shared resources of each of the server machines. The determination unit determines whether each of the shared resources is the network device or the local device based on the information regarding the input / output port to each of the shared resources of each of the server machines acquired by the acquisition unit. Since each determination is made, the type of peripheral device that can be used as a shared resource provided by the server machine can be reliably determined.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the designation means for designating any one of the shared resources displayed on the display unit as a device to be used is provided, the user can provide the client machine with the server machine at each client machine. The user can easily specify the peripheral device to be used after grasping the type of the peripheral device that can be used as a shared resource and the physical connection status.

According to the tenth and eleventh aspects, a plurality of network printers which can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers which are connected to their own local bus are provided as shared printers on the network. A shared resource display method of an information processing apparatus which is communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network and which can use the respective shared printers, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program. The information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the print server via the network, and obtains information of all information processing apparatuses capable of using the respective shared printers, and information of the respective print servers and the respective shared printers provided by the respective print servers. The acquired information processing apparatuses and A print server is displayed on the display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and whether each shared printer is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any of the print servers is determined. Each shared printer determined to be a local printer is displayed so as to be located below the connected print server, and a shared printer determined to be a network printer is displayed so as to be located on the network. Can visually and easily grasp the type and physical connection status of the shared printer provided by the server machine in each client machine.

Therefore, the user can visually and easily grasp the type of the shared printer provided by the server machine and the physical connection status at each client machine, and even if a trouble occurs, the trouble occurs. It is possible to achieve an effect that an appropriate recovery operation for the printer can be quickly performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system to which an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration to which the present invention can be applied.

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a shared resource display screen on a network displayed on a CRT of the client machine illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first control program of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shared resource display screen on a network displayed on a display screen of an information processing apparatus operating as a conventional client computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 LAN 102 Printer 103 Personal computer (client machine) 104 Personal computer (server machine) 105 Printer 111 Personal computer (client machine) 112 Personal computer (client machine) 1a CRT 1f CPU 1g ROM 1h RAM 1i HDD

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A network comprising: a plurality of print servers which provide a plurality of network printers which can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers which are connected to a local bus thereof as shared printers on the network; An information processing apparatus communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network and capable of using the respective shared printers; An apparatus and an acquisition unit for acquiring information on each of the print servers and each of the shared printers provided by each of the print servers; and whether each of the shared printers is a network printer directly connected to the network. With a local printer connected to Determining means for determining whether each of the information processing apparatuses and the print server obtained by the obtaining means are displayed on a display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and determining that the printer is a local printer by the determining means. Control means for displaying so that the shared printer is arranged in a lower layer of a connected print server, and controlling display so that the shared printer determined as a network printer is arranged on the network. Information processing device. 2. The information of each of the shared printers provided by each of the print servers obtained by the obtaining unit,
The print server includes information on an output port to each shared printer of each of the print servers, and the determination unit determines each of the shared servers based on information on an output port to each of the shared printers of each of the print servers acquired by the acquisition unit. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the printer is the network printer or the local printer. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit for designating any one of the shared printers displayed on the display unit as a printer to be used. 4. A network comprising: a plurality of server machines each providing a plurality of network devices directly connectable to a predetermined network and a plurality of local devices connected to its own local bus as shared resources on the network; An information processing apparatus communicably connected to the plurality of server machines via the network and capable of using the respective shared resources; An apparatus, an acquisition unit for acquiring information on each of the server machines and the respective shared resources provided by the respective server machines, and whether each of the shared resources is a network device directly connected to the network or any one of the server machines Determining means for determining whether the device is a local device connected to the The information processing device and the server machine acquired by the step are displayed on the display unit so as to be arranged on the network, and the shared resource determined as the local device by the determination unit is located below the connected server machine. Control means for controlling the display so that the shared resource determined as a network device is displayed on the network so as to be located on the network. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include an image input device. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of network devices and said plurality of local devices include a copying device having an image input function and an image output function. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of network devices and the plurality of local devices include an image input device and an image output device. 8. The information of each of the shared resources provided by each of the server machines obtained by the obtaining unit includes information on an input / output port to each of the shared resources of each of the server machines. It is characterized in that each of the shared resources is the network device or the local device based on the information on the input / output port to each of the shared resources of each of the server machines acquired by the acquiring unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a designation unit for designating any one of the shared resources displayed by the display unit as a device to be used. . 10. A network comprising: a plurality of print servers that provide a plurality of network printers that can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers that are connected to a local bus of the network as shared printers on the network; A shared resource display method for an information processing apparatus that is communicably connected via the network and is capable of using each of the shared printers. Obtaining information on all the information processing devices, the respective print servers, and the respective shared printers provided by the respective print servers; and arranging the obtained respective information processing devices and the print server on the network. A first display step of displaying on the display unit so that A determination step of determining whether each of the shared printers is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any one of the print servers; and And a shared printer determined to be a network printer is displayed so as to be located on the network. How to display shared resources. 11. A plurality of print servers that provide a plurality of network printers that can be directly connected to a predetermined network and a plurality of local printers that are connected to their own local buses as shared printers on the network, and the network includes: A storage medium that stores a program readable by a computer that controls an information processing apparatus that can use each of the shared printers, and that is communicably connected to the plurality of print servers via the network. An information processing apparatus capable of using each of the shared printers, and an acquisition step of acquiring information on each of the print servers and each of the shared printers provided by each of the print servers; And print server on the network A first display step of displaying on a display unit as to arrange, and determining whether each of the shared printers is a network printer directly connected to the network or a local printer connected to any of the print servers. A determining step, wherein the shared printer determined as the local printer is displayed so as to be arranged below the connected print server, and the shared printer determined as the network printer is displayed so as to be arranged on the network. 2. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program, comprising: