Agent device, image-forming-device management system, image-forming-device management method, image-forming-device management program, and storage medium

A communication device which is connected with a management device via a network, comprising:

• a management command receiving unit, inside a firewall, configured by a hardware processor to start a connection of the communication device with the management device, outside the firewall, and receive a management command from the management device via the firewall in response to the connection, wherein the management command includes only one of a management command sent to the communication device and a management command sent to one or more external devices;
• a management command analysis unit configured to analyze the management command received from the management device, and determine whether the received management command is a management command sent to the communication device or a management command sent to the one or more external devices connected with the communication device;
• a control unit configured to execute a process according to the received management command in response to the analysis of the management command analysis unit;
• and
• a communication unit configured to receive completion information from a corresponding one of the one or more external devices as a response to a device message sent by the communication device to the corresponding external device based on the management command received by the management command receiving unit, wherein the completion information indicates at least completion of the process in the corresponding external device.

An external-device management system comprising:

• a communication device connected with one or more external devices;
• and
• a management device configured to carry out remote management of the one or more external devices through a network;
• and
• wherein the communication device includes:
• a management command receiving unit, inside a firewall, configured by a hardware processor to start a connection of the communication device with the management device, outside the firewall, and receive a management command from the management device via the firewall in response to the connection, wherein the management command includes only one of a management command sent to the communication device and a management command sent to one or more external devices;
• a management command analysis unit configured to analyze the management command received from the management device, and determine whether the received management command is a management command sent to the communication device or a management command sent to the one or more external devices connected with the communication device;
• a control unit configured to execute a process according to the received management command in response to the analysis of the management command analysis unit;
• and
• a communication unit configured to receive completion information from a corresponding one of the one or more external devices as a response to a device message sent by the communication device to the corresponding external device based on the management command received by the management command receiving unit, wherein the completion information indicates at least completion of the process in the corresponding external device.

An external-device management method for use in a communication device which is connected with a management device via a network, comprising:

• starting a connection of the communication device inside a firewall with the management device outside the firewall to receive a management command from the management device via the firewall in response to the connection, wherein the management command includes only one of a management command sent to the communication device and a management command sent to one or more external devices;
• analyzing the management command received from the management device to determine whether the received management command is a management command sent to the communication device or a management command sent to one or more external devices connected with the communication device;
• executing a process according to the received management command when the received management command is determined as being the management command sent to the communication device;
• and
• executing a process to transmit the received management command from the communication device to the one or more external devices when the received management command is determined as being the management command sent to the one or more external devices and, as a response, receiving completion information indicating at least completion of the process in the corresponding external device of the one or more external devices.