Device monitoring method, device monitoring apparatus, and recording medium for transmitting messages containing device control commands based on predetermined conditions

A device monitoring method performed in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring method comprising:

• receiving a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determining whether the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to a determination result that the message contains the device control command;
• and
• transmitting the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function, and
• the determining, of whether or not to transmit the message to the second device, further determines whether or not the second device has the predetermined function in response to the first condition not being satisfied, and determines to transmit the message to the second device in response to the second device not having the predetermined function.

A device monitoring method performed in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring method comprising:

• receiving a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determining whether the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to a determination result that the message contains the device control command;
• and
• transmitting the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function,
• the predetermined condition further includes a third condition that the first device is connected to a first connection port to which a device having the predetermined function is connected, and
• the determining, of whether or not to transmit the message to the second device, further determines to transmit the message to the second device in response to the third condition being satisfied.

A device monitoring method performed in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring method comprising:

• receiving a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determining whether the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to a determination result that the message contains the device control command;
• and
• transmitting the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function,
• the device monitoring method further comprises:
• generating the device list based on a response message responding to a determination message transmitted to each of the plurality of devices, the determination message being for determining whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function;
• and
• updating the device list generated in the generating of the device list, and
• the updating of the device list includes:
• transmitting the determination message to each of the plurality of devices;
• receiving the response message in response to each determination message;
• determining whether or not a determination result indicating whether or not a device has the predetermined function based on the response message matches registration information of the device in the device list;
• and
• updating a registration state of the device in the device list based on the determination result in response to the determination result not matching the registration information.

A device monitoring apparatus in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including a program, the program, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• receive a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determine that the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determine whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to the message containing the device control command;
• and
• transmit the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function,
• the predetermined condition further includes a second condition that one of a first operating state of the second device after being controlled by the device control command and a second operating state of the second device before being controlled by the device control command is a pre-set operating state, and
• the processor further determines, in determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on the predetermined condition, to transmit the message in response to the second condition being satisfied.

A device monitoring apparatus in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including a program, the program, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• receive a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determine that the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determine whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to the message containing the device control command;
• and
• transmit the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function, and
• the processor further determines, in determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on the predetermined condition, whether or not the second device has the predetermined function in response to the first condition not being satisfied, and determines to transmit the message to the second device in response to the second device not having the predetermined function.

A device monitoring apparatus in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including a program, the program, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• receive a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determine that the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determine whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to the message containing the device control command;
• and
• transmit the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function,
• the predetermined condition further includes a third condition that the first device is connected to a first connection port to which a device having the predetermined function is connected, and
• the processor further determines, in determining whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on the predetermined condition, to transmit the message to the second device in response to the third condition being satisfied.

A device monitoring apparatus in a network system, the network system having a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device and the second device being connected to a communication network, the device monitoring apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including a program, the program, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• receive a message addressed to the second device from the first device, the message being transmitted from the first device to the second device;
• determine that the message received from the first device contains a device control command that controls the second device;
• determine whether or not to transmit the message to the second device based on a predetermined condition, in response to the message containing the device control command;
• and
• transmit the message to the second device, in response to the predetermined condition being satisfied,
• wherein the predetermined condition includes a first condition that the first device, that is a source of transmission of the message addressed to the second device, is registered as having a predetermined function in a device list, the device list containing information about whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function
• the program further causes the processor to:
• generate the device list based on a response message responding to a determination message transmitted to each of the plurality of devices, the determination message being for determining whether or not each of the plurality of devices has the predetermined function;
• and
• update the device list, and
• updating of the device list includes:
• transmitting the determination message to each of the plurality of devices;
• receiving the response message in response to each determination message;
• determining whether or not a determination result indicating whether or not a device has the predetermined function based on the response message matches registration information of the device in the device list;
• and
• updating a registration state of the device in the device list based on the determination result in response to the determination result not matching the registration information.