JP7344366B2 - Data processing device, data processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a data processing device, a data processing method, and a program.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a CDT line control unit 72 for communicating with an analog remote monitoring and control device (TC) connected to an analog switchboard, and a CDT line control unit 72 for communicating with an analog remote monitoring and control device (DTC) connected to a digital switchboard. ), the CDT protocol for communicating with the analog remote monitoring and control device (TC), and the IP protocol for communicating with the digital remote monitoring and control device (DTC). A TC/DTC conversion device 7 is disclosed, which includes a main CPU 71 that converts the TC/DTC.

Further, Patent Document 2 has a first program execution environment providing means, and the first program execution environment providing means is provided in response to input of a request according to a first interface specification using a predetermined communication protocol. A second image forming apparatus connected via a network to a first image forming apparatus that executes management processing for a first program to be used, in response to input of a request according to a second interface specification; means for executing a second program management process that utilizes a second program execution environment providing means having a configuration different from that of the first execution environment providing means; and means for accepting input of a request in accordance with the first interface specification. An image forming apparatus is disclosed, which includes means for converting the accepted request into a request according to a second interface specification and inputting the converted request to a program management means.

Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses that when the monitoring device (2) requests the facility management device (3) to provide a predetermined service, the monitoring device (2) includes parameters for receiving the service in the message body indicating the request content. The request command with the set first header added is sent to the equipment management device (3) according to the first protocol, and upon receiving the request command, the equipment management device (3) adds the first header of the request command. Disclosed is a communication system that converts a received request command into a frame compliant with a second protocol different from the first protocol based on a header, and provides a service to a monitoring device (2) based on the converted frame. has been done.

JP2010-178058 JP2011-041009 International publication 2016/151798

It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing device in which it is relatively easy to add usable communication protocols by utilizing already implemented communication protocols.

The data processing device according to the present invention includes: a data processing unit that performs data processing; a first communication processing unit that transmits or receives data processed by the data processing unit using a first communication protocol; a relay unit that is present in the same housing as the communication processing unit and relays data communication between the first communication processing unit and the outside of the housing; the relay unit includes the first communication processing unit; a second communication processing unit that performs data communication using the first communication protocol; and a third communication processing unit that performs data communication with the outside using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. .

Preferably, the first communication protocol is TCP or UDP, the second communication protocol is WebSocket protocol, and the first communication processing unit is configured to communicate with the outside of the casing and the second communication processing unit. TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication is performed for both parts.

Preferably, the relay unit transmits and receives data to and from the first communication processing unit using a loopback address.

Preferably, the data processing unit executes processing related to a scanner as the data processing, and sets communication paths in the first communication processing unit and the relay unit to an occupied state during the scanner processing by the data processing unit. The relay unit further includes an occupancy control unit that does not change whether or not to relay data communication while the relay unit is set to the occupancy state by the occupancy control unit.

Preferably, the relay unit further includes a protocol conversion unit that embeds information indicating a port number for TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication in a header of data transmitted and received by WebSocket communication.

Preferably, the relay unit starts or stops depending on destination information and at least one of whether cooperation with a predetermined service is enabled or disabled.

Further, the data processing method according to the present invention includes a data processing step of performing data processing, and an internal transmission step of transmitting the data processed in the data processing step to a relay unit within the same housing using a first communication protocol. , an external transmission step in which the relay unit transmits the data transmitted in the internal transmission step to the outside of the casing using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.

Further, the program according to the present invention includes a data processing step of performing data processing, an internal transmission step of transmitting the data processed in the data processing step to a relay unit in the same housing using a first communication protocol, and A relay unit causes the computer to execute an external transmission step of transmitting the data transmitted in the internal transmission step to the outside of the casing using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.

By utilizing already implemented communication protocols, it is possible to provide a data processing device in which it is relatively easy to add usable communication protocols.

1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a communication system 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the scanner device 3, focusing on control functions. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a scanner device 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating transmission processing (S10) by the scanner device 3. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating transmission processing using the WebSocket protocol. 3 is a flowchart illustrating reception processing (S20) by the scanner device 3. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically explaining reception processing using the WebSocket protocol. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an occupancy state by an occupancy control unit 502. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a communication system 1. As shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a client terminal 2, a scanner device 3, a cloud server 4, and a client terminal 6, which are connected to each other via a communication line such as the Internet 7. There is.
The client terminal 2 and the client terminal 6 are, for example, computer terminals such as tablet terminals and smartphones. The client terminal 2 of this example performs data communication with the scanner device 3 through TCP/UDP socket communication and controls the scanner device 3. The client terminal 6 of this example performs data communication with the scanner device 3 using WebSocket communication.
The scanner device 3 is an image reading device that optically reads image data from an image display medium, and transmits the read image data to the client terminal 2 by, for example, TCP socket communication. Note that the scanner device 3 is an example of a data processing device according to the present invention.

The cloud server 4 is a server on the cloud that provides services in cooperation with the client terminal 6. For example, the cloud server 4 provides an applet to the client terminal 6, and the applet performs data communication with the scanner device 3 using WebSocket communication, and uses the service on the cloud server 4 to transmit image data received from the scanner device 3. Make use of it.

In the communication system 1 described above, the scanner device 3 having a network communication interface transmits and receives TCP and UDP protocol data from a client terminal 2 such as a PC or a mobile phone, and performs a series of scanner reading processes (user operation, reading start, etc.). data transfer, read completion).
In addition to the above, when trying to realize cooperation with a new service (for example, an instant messenger service), the framework provided by the service (for example, an applet framework) must be able to send and receive data using TCP and UDP protocols. In some cases, there is no interface prepared, and in some cases, only a framework using the WebSocket protocol that allows two-way communication in real time is provided. Therefore, functions cannot be realized by following the implemented interface as is. Normally, a new interface using the WebSocket protocol would be created and a dedicated reading function would be built, but this not only poses technical issues such as ensuring quality, but also risks from a business perspective such as a long development period. There are challenges.

Therefore, in the firmware of the scanner device 3 in the communication system 1 of the present embodiment, a relay unit 520 (WebSocket server function) to be described later is implemented to support the WebSocket protocol, and data received from this interface is transmitted to the scanner device 3. We devised a method to perform internal protocol conversion and bypass transmission to the already implemented TCP/UDP interface. Similarly, data transmitted from the scanner device 3 is first transmitted locally inside the scanner device 3 using the TCP/UDP interface, then bypass-transmitted to the relay unit 520, and then transferred to the client terminal 6.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the scanner device 3, focusing on the control functions.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the scanner device 3 includes a CPU 300, a memory 302, a flash ROM 304, a network interface 306 (network IF 306), a display device 308, an input device 310, and a scanner control device 312. are connected to each other via a bus 314. These configurations are provided within the same housing.
CPU 300 is, for example, a central processing unit.
Memory 302 is, for example, volatile memory and functions as a main storage device.
The flash ROM 304 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores computer programs and other data files as a nonvolatile storage device.
The network IF 306 is an interface for wired or wireless communication, and realizes communication with the client terminal 2 and the client terminal 6, for example.
Display device 308 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.
Input device 310 is, for example, a touch panel.
A scanner control device 312 controls each component that performs a scanning operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the scanner device 3. As shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, a scanner program 5 is installed as part of firmware in the scanner device 3 of this example and operates. The scanner program 5 is distributed via the Internet 7, for example. Note that the scanner program 5 is stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and may be installed in the scanner device 3 via the client terminal 2.
The scanner program 5 includes a control section 500, an occupancy control section 502, a scanner processing section 510, a first communication section 512, and a relay section 520.
Note that part or all of the scanner program 5 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC, or may be realized by borrowing some functions of an OS (Operating System).

In the scanner program 5, the control unit 500 controls each component of the scanner program 5. For example, the control unit 500 starts or stops the function of the relay unit 520 depending on the destination information of the scanner device 3 and whether cooperation with a predetermined service is enabled or disabled. The control unit 500 of this example activates the relay unit 520 when the destination of the scanner device 3 is country A and the cooperation function with service B is enabled, and the destination of the scanner device 3 is country A. If the country is outside the country, or if the cooperation function with service B is set to be disabled, the relay unit 520 is stopped.

The occupancy control unit 502 sets the communication path in the first communication unit 512 and the relay unit 520 to an occupied state during scanner processing by the scanner processing unit 510. In this example, there is a communication path (WebSocket communication) that goes through the relay unit 520 and a communication path (TCP/UDP socket communication) that does not go through the relay unit 520, and the occupancy control unit 502 controls the scanner processing unit 510. From the start of processing until the scanner processing is completed, one of the communication paths is fixed and communication via the other communication path is prohibited. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when communicating using the WebSocket protocol, the applet first sends an occupation command to the scanner device 3 to occupy it, and then uses another communication path such as USB or cloud/mobile to occupy the scanner device 3. A series of exchanges are performed in a state where the terminal is prevented from communicating with the scanner device 3, and the occupation is released after all the exchanges are completed.

The scanner processing unit 510 performs data processing regarding the scanner device 3. The scanner processing unit 510 of this example includes a plurality of application programs (“application A” to “application D” in the figure), and performs image data transfer processing, setting processing for the scanner device 3, and the like. Note that the scanner processing section 510 is an example of a data processing section according to the present invention.

The first communication unit 512 transmits and receives data processed by the scanner processing unit 510 using a first communication protocol. The first communication unit 512 in this example performs data communication between the inside and outside of the casing of the scanner device 3 using a TCP/UDP socket interface. More specifically, when transmitting to the outside of the scanner device 3 via WebSocket, the first communication unit 512 specifies a loopback address and sends the data to the relay unit inside the scanner device 3 using a TCP/UDP socket interface. 520 and send it to the outside of the scanner device 3 using TCP/UDP, specify the external destination address (such as the address of the client terminal 2) and send the data to the outside of the scanner device 3. Send.

The relay unit 520 exists in the same casing as the first communication unit 512, and relays data communication between the first communication unit 512 and the outside of the casing.
Specifically, the relay section 520 includes a second communication section 512, a protocol conversion section 524, and a third communication section 526.

The second communication unit 512 performs data communication with the first communication unit 512 using a first communication protocol. The second communication unit 512 in this example specifies a loopback address and performs data communication with the first communication unit 512 using a TCP/UDP socket interface.

The protocol conversion unit 524 converts the data relayed by the relay unit 520 into a format compatible with the communication protocol. For example, the protocol conversion unit 524 embeds information indicating a port number for TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication in the header of data transmitted and received by WebSocket communication. Further, the protocol conversion unit 524 identifies a port number for TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication from the header of data transmitted and received through WebSocket communication, and generates a packet using the identified port number.

The third communication unit 526 performs data communication with the outside using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. The third communication unit 526 in this example performs data communication with the applet of the client terminal 6 using the WebSocket protocol.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission process (S10) by the scanner device 3.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically explaining transmission processing using the WebSocket protocol.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, in step 100 (S100), the scanner processing unit 510 (FIG. 3) performs data processing to generate data to be transmitted.
In step 105 (S105), the first communication unit 512 determines the destination of the data generated by the scanner processing unit 510. If the data destination is the client terminal 2, the process moves to S110, and if the data destination is the client terminal 6, the process moves to S115.

In step 110 (S110), the first communication unit 512 uses the TCP/UDP socket interface to transmit the data generated by the scanner processing unit 510 to the outside (client terminal 2).

In step 115 (S115), the first communication unit 512 specifies the loopback address and uses the TCP/UDP socket interface to transmit the data generated by the scanner processing unit 510 to its own device (scanner device 3). do.
In step 120 (S120), the second communication unit 522 of the relay unit 520 receives data from the first communication unit 512 using the TCP/UDP socket interface.

In step 125 (S125), the protocol conversion unit 524 embeds information indicating the port number (i.e., information identifying the application) in the header of the data received by the second communication unit 522, as illustrated in FIG. .
In step 130 (S130), the third communication unit 526 transmits the data in which the information is embedded by the protocol conversion unit 524 to the outside (client terminal 6) using the WebSocket protocol.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the reception process (S20) by the scanner device 3.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically explaining reception processing using the WebSocket protocol.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, in step 200 (S200), the third communication unit 526 of the relay unit 520 receives data from the outside (client terminal 6) using the WebSocket protocol.
In step 205 (S205), the protocol conversion unit 524 extracts information indicating the port number from the header of the data received by the third communication unit 526, as illustrated in FIG.
In step 210 (S210), the second communication unit 522 converts the data received by the third communication unit 526 through the TCP/UDP socket interface based on the port number extracted by the protocol conversion unit 524 and the loopback address. is transmitted to the first communication unit 512.

In step 215 (S215), the first communication unit 512 passes the data received from the second communication unit 522 to the application corresponding to the port number, as illustrated in FIG.
In step 220 (S220), the scanner processing unit 510 processes the data received by the first communication unit 512 using the application corresponding to the port number.

As described above, the scanner device 3 of this embodiment utilizes the conventionally implemented TCP/UDP socket interface and allows the relay unit 520 to relay data using the loopback address, thereby communicating using the WebSocket protocol. Realize. As a result, a communication mechanism using the WebSocket protocol can be realized in a short process and with high quality, without any modification to the conventional scanner reading control.

1 Communication system 3 Scanner device 5 Scanner program 520 Relay section

Claims (7)

a data processing unit that performs data processing;
a first communication processing unit that transmits or receives data processed by the data processing unit using a first communication protocol;
a relay unit that is present in the same casing as the first communication processing unit and relays data communication between the first communication processing unit and the outside of the casing;
The relay section is
the first communication processing unit; a second communication processing unit that performs data communication using the first communication protocol;
a third communication processing unit that performs data communication with the outside using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
The relay unit starts when cooperation with a default service is set to be valid, and stops when cooperation with the default service is set to be disabled.
Data processing equipment. The first communication protocol is TCP or UDP,
The second communication protocol is a WebSocket protocol,
The data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication processing unit performs TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication with both the outside of the case and the second communication processing unit. The data processing device according to claim 2, wherein the relay unit transmits and receives data to and from the first communication processing unit using a loopback address. The data processing unit performs processing related to a scanner as the data processing,
further comprising an occupancy control unit that sets a communication path in the first communication processing unit and the relay unit to an occupied state during scanner processing by the data processing unit,
The data processing device according to claim 3, wherein the relay unit does not change whether or not to relay data communication while the occupancy control unit sets the occupancy state. The relay section is
The data processing device according to claim 4, further comprising: a protocol conversion unit that embeds information indicating a port number of TCP socket communication or UDP socket communication in a header of data transmitted and received by WebSocket communication. a data processing step for performing data processing;
an internal transmission step of transmitting the data processed in the data processing step to a relay unit within the same housing using a first communication protocol;
activating the relay unit when cooperation with a default service is enabled;
a step of stopping the relay unit when cooperation with the default service is set to be disabled;
an external transmission step in which the activated relay unit transmits the data transmitted in the internal transmission step to the outside of the casing using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. Method. a data processing step for performing data processing;
an internal transmission step of transmitting the data processed in the data processing step to a relay unit within the same housing using a first communication protocol;
activating the relay unit when cooperation with a default service is enabled;
a step of stopping the relay unit when cooperation with the default service is set to be disabled;
and an external transmission step in which the activated relay unit transmits the data transmitted in the internal transmission step to the outside of the casing using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. program to do.

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