Network control device and control method

Abstract

A network control device that has a packet filtering unit for implementing packet filtering based on prescribed information in a header of a received packet, which includes: a position designating unit that designates a prescribed comparison position in a higher level protocol header to the header of the received packet; and an additional determination unit that implements pattern matching filtering by comparing data at the comparison position designated by the position designating unit with preset data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a principal portion of a printer 100 to which a network control device and method according to the present invention are applied;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining types of filters 111 provided in a reception controller 110 and packet filtering processing implemented by the filters;

FIG. 3 is a look-up table showing an example of reference positions and reference contents (byte patterns) of a packet referred to by a wakeup filter 111-4;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams each illustrating an example of a position of a packet referred to by an additional pattern matching filter 111-5;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method of comparing byte patterns by the additional pattern matching filter 111-5;

FIG. 6 is a reference chart 600 showing an example of settings of the unnecessary filer 111-3, the wakeup filter 111-4 and the additional pattern matching filter 111-5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of set values of additional pattern setting information that are preset for operation in association with the unnecessary packet filter 111-3 or the wakeup filter 111-4:

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operation when the packet filtering function is set to the power saving filter OFF setting;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operation when the packet filtering function is set to the power saving filter ON setting;

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (A) the unnecessary packet filter ON setting;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (B) the unnecessary packet filter ON/wakeup filter ON setting;

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (C) the unnecessary packet filter and additional pattern matching filter ON setting;

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (D) the unnecessary packet filter ON/wakeup filter and additional pattern matching filter ON setting;

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (E) the unnecessary packet filter and additional pattern matching filter ON/wakeup filter and additional pattern matching filter ON setting;

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (F) the wakeup filter ON setting;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (G) the wakeup filter and additional pattern matching filter ON setting; and

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating particulars of the processing operation when the function setting of the power saving filter 111-2 is (H) the unnecessary packet filter and additional pattern matching filter ON/wakeup filter ON setting.

Claims

1. A network control device that has a packet filtering unit for implementing packet filtering based on prescribed information in a header of a received packet, comprising: a position designating unit that designates a prescribed comparison position in a higher level protocol header to the header of the received packet; andan additional determination unit that implements pattern matching filtering by comparing data at the comparison position designated by the position designating unit with preset data.

2. The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the position designating unit designates the comparison position in association with the prescribed information used by the packet filtering unit.

3. The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the position designating unit designates the comparison position by designating a comparison starting position and a comparison ending position.

4. The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the position designating unit designates the comparison position by designating a comparison starting position and a comparison size.

5. A control method for implementing packet filtering based on prescribed information in a header of a received packet, the control method comprising: designating a prescribed comparison position in a higher level protocol header to the header of the received packet; andimplementing pattern matching filtering by comparing data at the designated comparison position with preset data.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the comparison position is designated in association with the prescribed information used at a time of the packet filtering.

7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the comparison position is designated by designating a comparison starting position and a comparison ending position.

8. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the comparison position is designated by designating a comparison starting position and a comparison size.