Network system

A computer for transmitting and receiving data to and from a device connected thereto via a network, the computer comprising:

• a bridge configured to encapsulate transmission/reception data transmitted and received to and from the device, and transmit and receive the data to and from the device via the network;
• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor executing the instructions to realize a plurality of units comprising:
• a control data transmitting unit for, based on control auxiliary data issued from the computer, generating control data for controlling a state of a system in which the computer and the device are connected via the network, and transmitting the control data to a system management device configured to control the state of the system via the network;
• a data discriminating unit for discriminating whether data issued from the computer is the transmission/reception data or the control auxiliary data;
• and
• an encapsulating/decapsulating unit for encapsulating the transmission/reception data transmitted thereby and terminating encapsulation of the transmission/reception data received thereby, wherein:
• the data discriminating unit is configured to pass the transmission/reception data to the encapsulating/decapsulating unit and pass the control auxiliary data to the control data transmitting unit;
• and
• the control data transmitting unit is configured to generate control data for controlling the state of the system based on the control auxiliary data, and transmit the control data to the system management device without subjecting the control data to encapsulation by the encapsulating/decapsulating unit.

A device for transmitting and receiving data to and from a computer connected thereto via a network, the device comprising:

• a bridge configured to encapsulate transmission/reception data transmitted and received to and from the computer, and transmit and receive the data to and from the computer via the network;
• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor executing the instructions to realize a plurality of units comprising:
• a control data transmitting unit for, based on control auxiliary data issued from the device, generating control data for controlling a state of a system in which the device and the computer are connected via the network, and transmitting the control data to a system management device configured to control the state of the system via the network;
• a data discriminating unit for discriminating whether data issued from the device is the transmission/reception data or the control auxiliary data;
• and
• an encapsulating/decapsulating unit for encapsulating the transmission/reception data transmitted thereby and terminating encapsulation of the transmission/reception data received thereby, wherein:
• the data discriminating unit is configured to pass the transmission/reception data to the encapsulating/decapsulating unit and pass the control auxiliary data to the control data transmitting unit;
• and
• the control data transmitting unit is configured to generate control data for controlling the state of the system based on the control auxiliary data, and transmit the control data to the system management device without subjecting the control data to encapsulation by the encapsulating/decapsulating unit.

A network system controlling method in a network system that includes a computer and a device connected via a network so as to be capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from each other and also includes, via the network, a system management device configured to control a state of a system including the computer and the device, the network system controlling method comprising:

• by respective bridges included by the computer and the device:
• encapsulating transmission/reception data transmitted and received to and from each other, and transmitting and receiving the data to and from each other via the network;
• and generating control data for controlling the state of the system based on control auxiliary data issued from the computer or the device and used for controlling the state of the system, and transmitting the control data to the system management device via the network;
• and
• by the system management device, controlling the state of the system in accordance with the control data received thereby, wherein:
• each of the bridges discriminates whether data issued from the computer or the device is the transmission/reception data or the control auxiliary data;
• and encapsulates the transmission/reception data transmitted thereby and terminating encapsulation of the transmission/reception data received thereby;
• each of the bridges passes the transmission/reception data to an encapsulating/decapsulating unit and passes the control auxiliary data to a control data transmitting unit;
• and the control data transmitting unit is configured to generate control data for controlling the state of the system based on the control auxiliary data, and transmit the control data to the system management device without subjecting the control data to encapsulation by the encapsulating/decapsulating unit.