Network system, communication method of network system, electronic device, communication method of electronic device, communication apparatus, communication method of communication apparatus, storage medium, and computer program

• US 20030110512A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Maari, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/418 External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

When an IC card is placed close to an IC card reader/writer in a hard disk recorder, the hard disk recorder writes the profile thereof including an IP address on the IC card. The hard disk recorder reads a card ID and a profile list including, for example, the profile of a television receiver from the IC card. Based on the card ID and the profile list, the hard disk recorder accesses the television receiver. The hard disk recorder notifies the television receiver of the profile list which is read from the IC card and to which the profile of the hard disk recorder has been newly added. The hard disk recorder thus establishes a virtual private network with the television receiver.

Claims

1. A network system comprising an electronic device and a communication apparatus and forming a virtual private network based on information stored in the electronic device,

wherein the electronic device comprises:

first receiver means which receives first feature information transmitted from the communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

first storage means which stores the first feature information received by the first receiver means and second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

second storage means which stores identification information, and

first transmitter means which transmits, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information stored in the first storage means and the identification information stored in the second storage means; and

the communication apparatus comprises;

third storage means which stores the first feature information,

second transmitter means which transmits the first feature information stored in the third storage means to the electronic device,

second receiver means which receives the second feature information and the identification information transmitted from the electronic device,

third transmitter means which establishes a connection with the other communication apparatus based on the second feature information received by the second receiver means and transmits the first feature information to the other communication apparatus, and

forming means which stores the second feature information and forms a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus.

2. A communication method of a network system comprising an electronic device and a communication apparatus and forming a virtual private network based on information stored in the electronic device,

wherein the communication method of the network system carried out by the electronic device comprises:

a first receiving step of receiving first feature information transmitted from the communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

a first storage step of storing the first feature information received in the first receiving step and second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

a second storage step of storing identification information, and

a first transmitting step of transmitting, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information stored in the first storage step and the identification information stored in the second storage step; and

the communication method of the network system carried out by the communication apparatus comprises;

a third storage step of storing the first feature information,

a second transmitting step of transmitting the first feature information stored in the third storage step to the electronic device,

a second receiving step of receiving the second feature information and the identification information transmitted from the electronic device,

a third transmitting step of transmitting the first feature information to the other communication apparatus which is connected to the communication apparatus based on the second feature information received in the second receiving step, and

a forming step of forming a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus by storing the second feature information.

3. An electronic device comprising:

receiver means which receives first feature information transmitted from a communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

first storage means which stores the first feature information received by the receiver means and second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

second storage means which stores identification information, and

transmitter means which transmits, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information stored in the first storage means and the identification information stored in the second storage means.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the first feature information includes an IP address of the communication apparatus, and

wherein the second feature information includes an IP address of the other communication apparatus.

5. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the second storage means further stores image data which presents the same image on the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus, and

wherein the transmitter means further transmits the image data stored in the second storage means.

6. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the second storage means further stores an encryption key which is used in communication over a virtual private network including the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus, and

wherein the transmitter means further transmits the encryption key stored in the second storage means.

7. A communication method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving first feature information transmitted from a communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

a first storage step of storing the first feature information received in the receiving step and second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

a second storage step of storing identification information, and

a transmitting step of transmitting, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information stored in the first storage step and the identification information stored in the second storage step.

8. A storage medium storing a computer readable program, the computer readable program comprising:

a reception control step of controlling the reception of first feature information transmitted from a communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

a first acquisition control step of controlling of the acquisition of the stored first feature information received in the reception control step and stored second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

a second acquisition control step of controlling the acquisition of stored identification information, and

a transmission control step of controlling the transmission of, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information acquired in the first acquisition control step and the identification information acquired in the second acquisition control step.

9. A computer program comprising:

a reception control step of controlling the reception of first feature information transmitted from a communication apparatus and indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

a first acquisition control step of controlling of the acquisition of the stored first feature information received in the reception control step and stored second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus,

a second acquisition control step of controlling the acquisition of stored identification information, and

a transmission control step of controlling the transmission of, to the communication apparatus which has transmitted the first feature information, the second feature information acquired in the first acquisition control step and the identification information acquired in the second acquisition control step.

10. A communication apparatus comprising:

storage means which stores first feature information indicating a feature of the communication apparatus,

first transmitter means which transmits the first feature information stored in the storage means to an electronic device,

receiver means which receives the second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus and identification information identifying the electronic device, transmitted from the electronic device,

second transmitter means which establishes a connection with the other communication apparatus based on the second feature information received by the receiver means and transmits the first feature information to the other communication apparatus, and

forming means which stores the second feature information and forms a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first feature information includes an IP address of the communication apparatus, and

wherein the second feature information includes an IP address of the other communication apparatus.

12. A communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising display means which displays a predetermined image based on image data received by the receiver means.

13. A communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the receiver means receives an encryption key which is transmitted from the electronic device and is used in communication over the virtual private network formed by the forming means.

14. A communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first feature information includes information relating to the hardware configuration of the communication apparatus, and

wherein the second feature information includes information relating to the hardware configuration of the other communication apparatus.

15. A communication method comprising:

a storage step of storing first feature information indicating a feature of a communication apparatus,

a first transmitting step of transmitting the first feature information stored in the first storage step to an electronic device,

a receiving step of receiving second feature information indicating a feature of another communication apparatus and identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, transmitted from the electronic device,

a second transmitting step of transmitting the first feature information to the other communication apparatus which is connected to the communication apparatus based on the second feature information received in the receiving step, and

a forming step of forming a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus by storing the second feature information.

16. A storage medium storing a computer readable program, the computer readable program comprising:

an acquisition control step of controlling the acquisition of stored first feature information indicating a feature of a communication apparatus,

a first transmission control step of controlling the transmission of, to an electronic device, the first feature information acquired in the acquisition control step,

a reception control step of controlling the reception of second feature information indicating another communication apparatus and identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, transmitted from the electronic device,

a second transmission control step of controlling the transmission of the first feature information to the other communication apparatus which is connected to the communication apparatus based on the second feature information received in the reception control step, and

a formation control step of controlling the formation of a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus by controlling the storage of the second feature information.

17. A computer program comprising:

an acquisition control step of controlling the acquisition of stored first feature information indicating a feature of a communication apparatus,

a first transmission control step of controlling the transmission of, to an electronic device, the first feature information acquired in the acquisition control step,

a reception control step of controlling the reception of second feature information indicating another communication apparatus and identification information identifying the electronic apparatus, transmitted from the electronic device,

a second transmission control step of controlling the transmission of the first feature information to the other communication apparatus which is connected with the communication apparatus based on the second feature information received in the reception control step, and

a formation control step of controlling the formation of a virtual private network with the other communication apparatus by controlling the storage of the second feature information.