Network control apparatus and method

A computer program for implementing, by computer, a master agent which includes:

• means for separating a message issued from a network manager into a first message containing management information to be processed, and a second message containing management information other than said management information to be processed;
• response generating means for generating response information with regard to the first message;
• and
• means for notifying a peripheral device of the second message.

A computer program for implementing, by computer:

• means for separating a message received from a controller into a first message containing management information to be processed and a second message containing management information other than said management information to be processed;
• response generating means for generating response information with regard to the first message;
• and
• means for notifying other subagents of the second message.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for implementing, by computer, a master agent which includes:

• means for separating a message issued from a network manager into a first message containing management information to be processed, and a second message containing management information other than said management information to be processed;
• response generating means for generating response information with regard to the first message;
• and
• means for notifying a peripheral device of the second message.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for implementing, by computer:

• means for separating a message received from a controller into a first message containing management information to be processed and a second message containing management information other than said management information to be processed;
• response generating means for generating response information with regard to the first message;
• and
• means for notifying other subagents of the second message.

A network controller connected to a peripheral device and to a communication line, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving data from a management apparatus via the communication line;
• discriminating means for discriminating the data, which has been received by said receiving means, as data to be processed by the network controller and data to be processed by the peripheral device;
• and
• processing means for sending the peripheral device, and causing the peripheral device to process, data that said discriminating means has discriminated as being data to be processed by the peripheral device, and for processing data that said discriminating means has discriminated as being data to be processed by the network controller.

A method of controlling a network controller connected to a peripheral device and to a communication line, comprising:

• a receiving step of receiving data from a management apparatus via the communication line;
• a discriminating step of discriminating the data, which has been received at said receiving step, as data to be processed by the network controller and data to be processed by the peripheral device;
• and
• a processing step of sending the peripheral device, and causing the peripheral device to process, data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the peripheral device, and for processing data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the network controller.

A computer program for implementing control in a network controller connected to a peripheral device and to a communication line, comprising:

• a receiving step of receiving data from a management apparatus via the communication line;
• a discriminating step of discriminating the data, which has been received at said receiving step, as data to be processed by the network controller and data to be processed by the peripheral device;
• and
• a processing step of sending the peripheral device, and causing the peripheral device to process, data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the peripheral device, and for processing data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the network controller.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for implementing control in a network controller connected to a peripheral device and to a communication line, said program comprising:

• a receiving step of receiving data from a management apparatus via the communication line;
• a discriminating step of discriminating the data, which has been received at said receiving step, as data to be processed by the network controller and data to be processed by the peripheral device;
• and
• a processing step of sending the peripheral device, and causing the peripheral device to process, data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the peripheral device, and for processing data that said discriminating step has discriminated as being data to be processed by the network controller.

A network device connected to a communication line and including a network controller and a peripheral processing unit, said network controller having:

• receiving means for receiving data from a management apparatus via the communication line;
• discriminating means for discriminating the data, which has been received by said receiving means, as data to be processed by the network controller and data to be processed by the peripheral processing unit;
• and
• first processing means for sending the peripheral processing unit, and causing said peripheral processing unit to process, data that said discriminating means has discriminated as being data to be processed by the peripheral processing unit, and for processing data that said discriminating means has discriminated as being data to be processed by the network controller;
• and
• said peripheral processing unit has:
• receiving means for receiving data that said discriminating means has discriminated as being data to be processed by said peripheral processing unit;
• and
• second processing means for processing data, which has been received by said receiving means, upon referring to a database holding information relating to the peripheral processing unit.

A device controller externally connected at two ends, comprising:

• a database;
• means which, if a message received from upstream contains management information corresponding to an entry in said database, is for generating response information by processing the management information in accordance with the message;
• means which, if the message contains other management information, is for generating a second message containing this management information and transmitting the second message downstream;
• and
• means for reconstructing a response message by combining the response information with the second message received from downstream, and transmitting the response message upstream.

A controller method for a device externally connected at two ends, comprising the step of:

• if a message received from upstream contains management information corresponding to an entry in a database, generating response information by processing the management information in accordance with the message;
• if the message contains other management information, generating a second message containing this management information and transmitting the second message downstream;
• reconstructing a response message by combining the response information with the second message received from downstream;
• and
• transmitting the response message upstream.

A computer program, which uses a database, for implementing by computer:

• means which, if a message received from upstream contains management information corresponding to an entry in said database, is for generating response information by processing the management information in accordance with the message;
• means which, if the message contains other management information, is for generating a second message containing this management information and transmitting the second message downstream;
• and
• means for reconstructing a response message by combining the response information with the second message received from downstream, and transmitting the response message upstream.