Device control system

• US 20020180581A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kamiwada, Toru, Fujita, Takushi, Azami, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

The object of the present invention is, in a device control system that controls devices within a house, to reduce the effort required of a user during authentication, as well as to prevent unauthorized access by a third party. A device control system access restriction method includes the steps of accepting registration of terminal information for associating an identifier unique to an operating terminal with operating terminal access right, of accepting instruction information including operating terminal identifier and instruction signals relating to operations of a device, of determining the access right of an operating terminal based on the operating terminal identifier included in instruction information, and of controlling the device based on operating terminal access right and instruction signals relating to that device.

Claims

1. An access restriction method for a device control system comprising a device control server interconnected over a wired or wireless home network with one or more devices within a home, and an operating terminal capable of wired or wireless transmission of instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices, said method including the steps of:

accepting registration of terminal information for associating a unique identifier established for said operating terminal with said operating terminal access right;

accepting instruction information including said operating terminal identifier and said instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices;

determining said operating terminal access right based on said operating terminal identifier included in said instruction information; and

controlling said one or more devices based on said operating terminal access right and said signal instructions relating to said one or more devices.

2. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving a public key set for said operating terminal when accepting registration of said operating terminal;

receiving predetermined data that has been encrypted with a secret key at said operating terminal; and

performing authentication of said operating terminal by decrypting said data using said public key, and comparing the decrypted data with said predetermined data.

3. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 2, wherein said public key is associated with said operating terminal identifier as part of said terminal information and registered as such.

4. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1, further including the steps of:

acquiring and storing within storage means electronic information; and

when said instruction signals relating to said one or more devices include access to electronic information stored in said storage means, determining whether to allow said electronic information to be presented is made based on said operating terminal access right.

5. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1, wherein, when said instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices include access to an external network, control of said one or more devices is performed after determination of whether to allow said access to an external network is made based on said operating terminal access right.

6. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 5, wherein determination of whether to grant access is made for each content on said external network.

7. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1, wherein, when instruction signals from said operating terminal have been received, determination is made of whether said operating terminal is located inside or outside the house, and determination of operating terminal access right is made based on the results of said determination and on said operating terminal identifier included in said instruction information.

8. An access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1, further including a step for accepting registration of individual information for associating information relating to a user operating said operating terminal with said operating terminal, wherein:

individual information associated with this operating terminal is extracted based on said operating terminal identifier included in said instruction information, and determination of access right is made based on said individual information and said terminal information.

9. A program for executing on a computer an access restriction method for a device control system according to claim 1.

10. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded the program according to claim 9.

11. A device control server interconnected over a wired or wireless home network with one or more devices in a home, said server controlling said one or more devices based on instruction information relating to the operation of said one or more devices sent from an operating terminal, said server comprising:

terminal information acceptance means for accepting registration of an operating terminal for the purpose of associating a unique identifier set for said operating terminal with said operating terminal access right;

terminal information storage means for storing said terminal information;

instruction information acceptance means for accepting instruction information that includes an identifier for said operating terminal and instruction signals relating to said operating terminal;

access right determination means for determining the access right of said operating terminal based on said instruction information; and

device control means controlling said one or more devices based on the access right of said operating terminal as determined by said access right determination means and on instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices included in said instruction information.

12. A device control server according to claim 11, further comprising:

public key acceptance means for, when accepting registration of said terminal information, accepting a public key set for said operating terminal and storing said public key along with said terminal information in said terminal information storage means; and

operating terminal authentication means for performing authentication on said operating terminal by sending predetermined data, receiving said predetermined data after encryption thereof at said operating terminal using a secret key, decrypting using said public key, and comparing with said predetermined data.

13. A device control server according to claim 11, further comprising:

electronic information acquisition means for acquiring electronic information and

electronic information storage means for storing electronic information acquired by said electronic information acquisition means, wherein;

when said instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices include access to electronic information stored in said electronic information storage means, said access right determination means determines the access right of said operating terminal before determining whether or not to allow presentation of said electronic information.

14. A device control server according to claim 11, further comprising external communication means capable of connecting with an external network existing outside the house, wherein:

when said instruction signals relating to operation of said one or more devices include access to said external network, said access right determination means determines the access right of said operating terminal before determining whether to grant access to said external network.

15. A device control server according to claim 14, wherein determination of whether to grant access is made for each content on said external network.

16. A device control server according to claim 11, further comprising terminal location determination means for determining whether said operating terminal is inside or outside the house based on instruction information accepted by said instruction acceptance means, wherein said access right determination means determines access right for said operating terminal based on determination results of said terminal location determination means.

17. A device control server according to claim 11, further comprising individual information acceptance means accepting registration of individual information for associating information relating to a user operating said operating terminal with said operating terminal, wherein said access right determination means extracts individual information associated with this operating terminal based on said operating terminal identifier included in said instruction information, and determines access right based on said individual information and said terminal information.

19. An operating terminal according to claim 18, further comprising location information acquisition means for acquiring current location information, wherein:

said instruction information generation means generates instruction information based on said inputted instructions, said identifier, and location information acquired by said location information acquisition means.

20. An operating terminal according to claim 18, further comprising:

individual information input means for accepting the input of information relating to an operating user, wherein;

said instruction information generation means generates instruction information based on said inputted instructions, said identifier, and information relating to said user accepted by said individual information input means.

21. An operating terminal according to claim 18, further comprising:

secret key storage means for storing a secret key;

public key storage means for storing a public key corresponding to said secret key; and

encryption means for encrypting data using said secret key;

wherein;

said operating terminal sends said public key to said device control server during registration of terminal information at said device control server by said terminal information registration means, and, during transmission of said instruction information, encrypts predetermined data received from said device control server using said secret key and sends this as authentication information.

18. An operating terminal that in a device control system having a device control server interconnected over a wired or wireless home network with one or more devices within a home, sends instruction signals relating to operations of said one or more devices comprising:

identifier storage means storing a unique identifier;

terminal information registration means for registering said identifier on said device control server;

input acceptance means for accepting input of instructions relating to operation of said one or more devices;

instruction information generation means for generating instruction information based on inputted instructions accepted by said input acceptance means and on an identifier stored in said identifier storage means; and

instruction information transmission means for wired or wireless transmission of instruction information generated by said instruction information generation means.