JP2006270475A - Network environment setting device and network connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely exchange information required for setting a network environment by simple work and to dissolve the troublesomeness of work in setting the environment. <P>SOLUTION: A network environment setting device is formed of a USB memory and stores the information required for setting the communication environment of a computer terminal in a nonvolatile writable memory 7. For the information stored in the memory 7, by bringing an interface part 5 into contact with the interface part 5 of the other network setting device, the information stored in the memory 7 is exchanged. By connecting a USB 4 to the computer terminal, the information stored in the memory 7 is supplied to the computer terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for setting a network environment.

When a plurality of computer terminals are connected via a communication medium and used as a network system, the network environment of the computer terminals to be used must be prepared. This environment setting is generally performed manually using the keyboard of each computer terminal, but there are many setting items, which is complicated.
In particular, in wireless networks such as IEEE802.11 compliant wireless LAN, wired network settings such as ESS-ID (Extended Service Set-ID) for preventing network interference and security settings for preventing eavesdropping during communication There are more setting items than communication, and the setting work becomes more complicated.
Therefore, conventionally, the result of the base station performing calculations on specific information is set as the network ID and transmitted to the communication terminal that is the client, and the communication terminal performs a predetermined calculation on the received network ID. A technique for exchanging network ID information is known in which if a calculation result becomes a predetermined value, the network ID is used as its own network ID (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Note that “information exchange” here refers to the exchange of one-way or two-way information. When information is transmitted only from one device to another device, “information exchange” "Information exchange" is used in this sense in this specification.
However, in the network ID exchange technique described in Patent Document 1, network ID communication is performed on the network, which may be intercepted and is not preferable in terms of security. Further, environment setting information other than the network ID cannot be automatically exchanged, and the complexity of the setting work still exists. Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used only for setting a communication environment, and wireless communication using a wireless LAN or the like cannot be performed between computer terminals using this technique.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to safely exchange information necessary for setting the network environment including information other than the network ID by a simple operation, and This eliminates the complexity of the work at the time of setting the environment, and the communication environment setting and the wireless communication between the information processing apparatuses are performed by one apparatus.
JP 2004-235735 A

The invention according to claim 1 is a network environment setting device comprising storage means for storing network environment setting information for the information processing device to perform network communication, wherein the network environment setting information is transferred to the other network environment setting information. A network environment setting apparatus comprising: network environment setting information exchanging means for exchanging with an apparatus; and network environment setting information supplying means for supplying the network environment setting information stored in the storage means to an information processing apparatus. It is.
A second aspect of the present invention is the network environment setting device according to the first aspect, wherein the network environment setting information exchanging means includes a conductive portion that exchanges information by contact with the other network environment setting device. This is a network environment setting device.
Invention of Claim 3 is the network environment setting apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising: The said network environment setting information exchange means is provided with the communication part which exchanges information by radio | wireless with the said other network environment setting apparatus. This is a network environment setting device.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the network environment setting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein switching means for switching between the network environment setting information exchanging means and the network environment setting information supplying means is provided. This is a network environment setting device.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the network environment setting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, is the network environment setting information exchanging means capable of communicating a signal with another network environment setting device? Detecting means for detecting whether or not the network environment setting information exchanging means exchanges the network environment setting information when it is determined that the signal can be communicated based on the detection result of the detecting means. Network environment setting device.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the network environment setting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects and the information processing device connected to the information processing device and transmitting / receiving data between the information processing device and another information processing device. A network connection device comprising a wireless communication unit.

  According to the present invention, information necessary for setting the network environment including information other than the network ID can be exchanged safely with a simple operation, and the complexity of the work at the time of setting the network environment can be eliminated. Wireless communication between information processing apparatuses can be performed by one apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network environment using the network environment setting device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the network environment is an ad hoc type (communication mode in which computer terminals directly communicate with each other without using an access point) using two computer terminals 100a and 100b as information processing apparatuses. is there. In FIG. 1, computer terminals 100a and 100b are notebook personal computers.

  Each of the computer terminals 100a and 100b is provided with a USB jack (not shown) for connecting the network environment setting device 1 of the present invention, and receives information necessary for network environment setting from the network environment setting device 1. be able to. The computer terminals 100a and 100b have a switching function (hereinafter simply referred to as “switching function”) that automatically starts network environment setting when it is detected that signal communication with the network environment setting apparatus 1 is possible. It can be provided by installing the target software.

  By applying the communication environment setting device 1 to the computer terminals 100a and 100b having a switching function, it is possible to greatly reduce the complexity of setting work when setting the network environment.

The computer terminals 100a and 100b are not limited to notebook personal computers, but may be any device such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) or a mobile phone as long as it can realize computer communication. The communication method between the computer terminals 100a and 100b may be any wireless method capable of realizing computer communication, such as an IEEE802.11 compliant wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark). In this embodiment, there are two computer terminals 100a and 100b, but three or more computer terminals may be used.
The network environment setting device 1 of the present invention is connected to USB jacks (not shown) of the computer terminals 100a and 100b.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the network environment setting device 1 according to the first embodiment.
The network environment setting device 1 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory type device, and includes a network environment setting function for setting a wireless LAN environment in the connected computer terminals 100a and 100b, and 100a between the computer terminals after the environment setting. A network connection function for realizing 100b wireless communication.

The main body 2 of the network environment setting device 1 includes a switch 3, a USB unit 4, and an interface unit 5.
The switch 3 is a push type for switching the operation mode in the network environment setting device 1 between a mode for supplying information to the computer terminals 100a and 100b and a mode for exchanging information between the network environment setting devices 1. Switch.
The USB unit 4 is a USB connection terminal and is connected to the computer terminals 100a and 100b to form a data transmission path.
The interface unit 5 is provided on the surface of the main body unit 2 and exchanges signals between the network environment setting apparatuses 1. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the network environment setting device 1 according to the first embodiment.
The network environment setting device 1 includes a switch 3, a USB unit 4, an interface unit 5, a sensor unit 6, a memory 7, a MAC / BB unit 8, an RF unit 9, and a control unit 10 as a configuration for control. The interface unit 5, the sensor unit 6, and the control unit 10 form a network environment setting information exchange unit 11 that exchanges network environment setting information with other network environment setting devices 1. The USB unit 4 forms a network environment setting information supply unit 12 that supplies the network environment setting information stored in the memory 7 to the computer terminals 100a and 100b. The USB unit 4, the MAC / BB unit 8, and the RF unit 9 form a network communication unit 13 that wirelessly communicates data output from the computer terminals 100a and 100b. The switching unit 14 includes a switch 3 and switches between the network environment setting information exchange unit 11 and the network environment setting information supply unit 12. The network environment setting information supply unit 12, the network communication unit 13, and the switching unit 14 are controlled by the control unit 10 included in the network environment setting information exchange unit 11. Each configuration shown in FIG. 3 is driven by receiving power from a power supply unit (not shown).
Each component of the control block diagram shown in FIG.
The control unit 10 is a calculation means including a CPU (central processing unit), a semiconductor memory, and the like, and based on the instructions of the installed program, the data of the entire network environment setting device 1 including the network environment setting information exchanging unit 11 Monitor and control processing and data transmission.

  The interface unit 5 exchanges electrical signals formed by converting information stored in the memory 7 with the interface unit 5 of another network environment setting device 1. The interface unit 5 is a conductive member exposed on a part of the surface of the main body unit 2 (for example, a contact type that communicates with a terminal unit connected to the memory 7 via a predetermined bus or a transponder provided in the memory 7. Reader / writer).

  The signal that the interface unit 5 communicates with another network environment setting device 1 may be a signal used for a normal LAN, or may be a dedicated signal for exchanging setting information. Further, it is desirable that the signal is encrypted and communicated to enhance security.

  The sensor unit 6 detects the contact state of the surface of the interface unit 5 in order to determine whether or not the network environment setting device 1 can communicate with other network environment setting devices 1. A signal detected by the sensor unit 6 is supplied to the control unit 10.

  The memory 7 is a nonvolatile data memory (storage means) that can be written by the user, and is a semiconductor memory such as an UV-EPROM (Ultra-Violet Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). In addition, it is formed of various storage media such as a small hard disk which has a large capacity and can repeatedly write and erase data. The memory 7 stores various information necessary for setting the network environment of the computer terminals 100a and 100b. Information to be stored includes, for example, various information necessary for setting the wireless LAN environment, such as information for preventing interference such as ESS-ID and Encryption, security information for preventing interception, and the computer terminal 100a after setting the wireless LAN environment. Various information necessary for performing wireless communication between 100b.

  The MAC / BB unit 8 functions as transmission control (Media Access Control) and transmission medium (Base Band). The function of the transmission medium includes a function of forming an electric signal exchanged in the LAN or the network environment setting device 1. The function as transmission control is to check the address information included in the signal (for example, the destination MAC address included in the header part of the packet data) and compare it with its own MAC address information. Non-information is discarded, information is selected.

  The RF unit 9 has various configurations for realizing wireless communication (Radio Frequency) between the computer terminals 100a and 100b after setting the wireless LAN environment (for example, functions such as signal modulation / demodulation, noise removal, and code error correction). It has.

  The power supply unit is a small rechargeable battery or the like, and supplies power necessary for setting the network environment to the entire network environment setting apparatus 1. Power storage to the power supply unit is performed by supplying power via the USB unit 4 when the network environment setting device 1 is connected to the computer terminals 100a and 100b.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of setting information exchange and communication environment setting in the network environment setting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of setting information exchange and communication environment setting in the network environment setting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. The information exchange procedure of the network environment setting device 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the description, part of the reference numerals in FIG.

  First, when the user of the network environment setting device 1 depresses the switch 3 of the two network environment setting devices 1 and 1, the switching unit 14 changes the operation mode of the network environment setting device 1 to a mode for exchanging information. It sets (FIG. 5 (5-1)). The network environment setting device 1 already in the mode for exchanging information does not perform this procedure.

  When both the network environment setting apparatuses 1 and 1 are in a mode for exchanging information (FIG. 4 (step S1)), the user of the network environment setting apparatus 1 is the main body 2 of both network environment setting apparatuses 1 and 1. The two interface portions 5 and 5 are brought into contact with or in proximity to each other (FIG. 5 (5-2)). When the interface units 5 and 5 are in contact or close to each other, the network environment setting information exchanging unit 11 confirms that the network environment setting devices 1 and 1 can communicate with each other based on the detection result of the sensor unit 6 (FIG. 4). ("Y" in step S2)), the network environment setting information exchange unit 11 exchanges information stored in the memory 7 between the network environment setting devices 1 and 1 (FIG. 4 (step S3)). The exchanged information is newly stored in the memory 7 of each network environment setting device 1 or 1. The information exchange procedure continues until the necessary information exchange is completed ("N" in FIG. 4 (step S4)). When all necessary information is exchanged (“Y” in FIG. 4 (step S4)), the network environment setting information exchange unit 11 ends the exchange procedure.

  When the exchange of information is completed between the network environment setting apparatuses 1 and 1 and the user of the network environment setting apparatus 1 presses the switch 3 of each network environment setting apparatus 1, the switching unit 14 operates the network environment setting apparatus 1. The mode is switched to a mode for supplying information to the computer terminals 100a and 100b (FIG. 5 (5-3)). When the switching is completed (FIG. 4 (step S5)), the user of the network environment setting device 1 connects the network environment setting devices 1 and 1 to the USB terminals of the communication terminals 100a and 100b (FIG. 5 (5-). 4)). If the communication terminals 100a and 100b have a switching function, the network environment setting information supply unit 12 automatically supplies information from the network environment setting apparatus 1 to the communication terminals 100a and 100b simultaneously with the connection of the network environment setting apparatus 1. Start. If the communication terminals 100a and 100b do not have a switching function, after the network environment setting apparatus 1 is connected, the keyboard input of the communication terminals 100a and 100b is performed to cause the network environment setting information supply unit 12 to start supplying information. The network environment setting information supply unit 12 supplies the same ESS-ID and common information for security setting to the communication terminals 100a and 100b (FIG. 4 (step S6)), and the communication terminals 100a and 100b Set the communication environment based on the information. When the network environment setting information supply unit 12 completes the information supply (“Y” in FIG. 4 (step S7)), the setting of the communication environment in the communication terminals 100a and 100b is also completed. Then, the communication terminals 100a and 100b start wireless LAN communication using the signal transmission and transmission control by the MAC / BB unit 8 of the network communication unit 13 and the wireless communication function of the RF unit 9 (FIG. 4 (step S8), FIG. 5 (5-5)).

According to the first embodiment, information exchange between the network environment setting devices 1 and 1 is performed by bringing the device main bodies 2 and 2 into contact with each other, and information that can be exchanged is a specific information such as an ESS-ID. Since it is not limited to information, it is possible to reduce complicated procedures when setting the network environment in the computer terminals 100a and 100b.
Next, a second embodiment of the network environment setting device of the present invention will be described.
The network environment setting device in the second embodiment is used in an ad hoc type wireless network (see FIG. 1), similarly to the network environment setting device 1 in the previous embodiment (see FIG. 1). The network environment setting apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is different from the network environment setting apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the appearance of the network environment setting device 21 of the present embodiment. The network environment setting device 21 includes only the switch 3 and the USB unit 4 in the main body unit 22 and does not have the interface unit 5 (see FIG. 2).
FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the network environment setting device 21 according to the second embodiment.
The network environment setting device 1 basically has the same configuration as the network environment setting device 1 shown in FIG. 3, but includes a modem unit 5a and an antenna unit 5b as communication units instead of the interface unit 5 in FIG. The network environment setting information exchanging unit 11 is different in that it includes a confirmation response unit 6a that does not exist in FIG.
The modulation / demodulation unit 5a and the antenna unit 5b mutually modulate / demodulate an electric signal formed by converting information stored in the memory 7 and a weak radio wave (for example, infrared rays or microwaves). Network environment setting devices 1 and 1 communicate with each other.
The confirmation response unit 6a transmits a signal for determining whether or not the network environment setting devices 1 can exchange setting information. Specifically, a signal (hereinafter referred to as “confirmation signal”) for confirming whether or not the network environment setting device 1 capable of exchanging the setting information exists in the surroundings is periodically transmitted, and the confirmation signal Is transmitted to the other party's network environment setting device 1 (hereinafter referred to as “response signal”).
The sensor unit 6 detects the confirmation signal and the response signal transmitted by the confirmation response unit 6a.
In the network environment setting device 21 of the second embodiment, the procedures for exchanging information between the network environment setting devices 21 and 21 and the communication environment setting are the same as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. In the same manner, the sensor 6 detects the confirmation signal and the response signal in the procedure for confirming whether or not the information can be exchanged (the procedure corresponding to (Step S2) in FIG. 4), and exchanges the setting information. The procedure (the procedure corresponding to (Step S2) in FIG. 4 and (5-2) in FIG. 5) is different from the first embodiment in that setting information is exchanged wirelessly.
In the second embodiment, setting information can be exchanged simply by bringing the network environment setting devices 21 close to each other. Therefore, the operation is simpler than the case where the network environment setting devices are brought into contact with each other, and the computer terminals 100a and 100b. It is possible to further reduce the complexity of the procedure when setting the network environment.

  As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, network environment setting information for the communication terminals 100a and 100b can be exchanged without going through a network. Information leakage can be prevented.

  According to the first and second embodiments, the network environment setting devices 1 and 21 are formed of a USB memory, and the computer terminals 100a and 100b have the function of a USB switch that automatically starts environment setting upon connection. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the complexity of work when setting the environment in the computer terminals 100a and 100b.

  In the first and second embodiments, the network environment setting devices 1 and 21 are applied to the construction of an ad hoc network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any network that needs to be set up for construction can be used. It can also be applied to such things. For example, the present invention can be applied to a wireless LAN using an access point. In this case, among the plurality of network environment setting devices that have exchanged information, one device is applied to the setting of the access point, and the other device is applied to the setting of the client terminal.

  In the first and second embodiments, the network environment setting devices 1 and 21 are applied to a computer terminal that forms a wireless network environment. However, the network environment setting apparatuses 1 and 21 are applied to a computer terminal that forms a wired network environment. Needless to say, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the embodiment.

  In the first and second embodiments, a power supply unit is provided in the network environment setting device 1 so as to supply power when exchanging information. However, depending on the device configuration, it is difficult to incorporate the power supply unit. There may also be a problem that the storage capacity is small and stable power supply is difficult, or that the size of the apparatus is inevitably increased. Therefore, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which power is supplied from outside the apparatus during information exchange.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the network environment setting device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the network environment setting device 31 of the third embodiment is supplied with power from outside the device during information exchange. The network environment setting device 31 is connected to the computer terminals 100a and 100b (8-1) or connected to an AC power source (not shown) via the AC adapters 32 and 32 (8-2). Exchange information while receiving power supply. By receiving power supply from the outside when exchanging information, it is not necessary to provide a power supply unit in the network environment setting device 31, a stable power source can be secured, and the device can be downsized and the circuit can be simplified. .

  In the information exchange according to the aspect of the present invention, information can be easily and safely exchanged between various identical devices in addition to the settings of the network environment setting devices for setting the environment such as the wireless LAN shown in the above embodiments. It is also possible to apply it. As a specific example of application, for example, a silicon audio player (portable audio player with a built-in nonvolatile memory) is used with a mechanism similar to the present invention, and the stored information is communicated with each other by contact or proximity. Conceivable. As a result, it is possible to easily and safely realize information exchange between the same devices, which has conventionally involved complicated work and risk of information leakage.

It is the schematic of a network environment using the network environment setting apparatus of this invention. 1 is a schematic external view of a network environment setting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of a network environment setting apparatus same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the setting information exchange and communication environment setting in a network environment setting apparatus same as the above. It is the schematic of information exchange and communication environment setting in a network environment setting apparatus same as the above. It is the external appearance schematic diagram of the network environment setting apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram of a network environment setting apparatus same as the above. It is the schematic of 3rd Embodiment of the network environment setting apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21 and 31 ... Network environment setting device, 5 ... Interface unit, 5a ... Modulation / demodulation unit, 5b ... Antenna unit, 6 ... Sensor unit, 7 ... Memory, 11 ... Network environment setting information exchange unit, 12 ... Network environment setting information supply unit, 13 ... Network communication unit, 14 ... Switching unit, 100a, 100b ... Computer terminal.

Claims (6)

A network environment setting device comprising storage means for storing network environment setting information for an information processing device to perform network communication,
Network environment setting information exchanging means for exchanging network environment setting information with other network environment setting devices;
A network environment setting apparatus comprising: network environment setting information supply means for supplying the network environment setting information stored in the storage means to an information processing apparatus. The network environment setting device according to claim 1,
The network environment setting information exchanging means comprises a conductive unit for exchanging information by contact with another network environment setting apparatus. The network environment setting device according to claim 1,
The network environment setting information exchanging means includes a communication unit that wirelessly exchanges information with other network environment setting apparatuses. The network environment setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A network environment setting apparatus comprising switching means for switching between the network environment setting information exchanging means and the network environment setting information supply means. The network environment setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The network environment setting information exchanging means includes a detecting means for detecting whether a signal can be communicated with another network environment setting apparatus,
The network environment setting information exchanging means, wherein the network environment setting information exchanging means exchanges network environment setting information when it is determined that a signal can be communicated based on a detection result of the detecting means. A network environment setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A network connection device comprising: a wireless communication unit that is connected to an information processing device and transmits / receives data between the information processing device and another information processing device.

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