Network system

• US 20040076152A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Takahiro, Shionozaki, Atsushi, Kimura, Shinya, Matsuyama, Shinako, Hokimoto, Akihiro, Oka, Makoto, Kunito, Yoshiyuki, Nakade, Motoki
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

MTID of a terminal apparatus is preliminarily registered into a database of an ISP. In step S2, when a power source of the terminal apparatus is turned on first, (MTID=B) is transmitted from the terminal apparatus to a router. A transmission signal is received by the router and (HGWID=A, MTID=B) is transmitted from the router to the ISP. If (HGWID=A, MTID=B) has been registered in the database, the ISP transmits a permission message in step S5. In step S6, an IP address for a new terminal apparatus is allocated and the new terminal apparatus can participate in a homenetwork. If (HGWID=A, MTID=B) is not registered, a refusal message is sent to the router.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a router for permitting or refusing a connection on the basis of one identifier which a terminal apparatus has; and

a database in which the router and the terminal apparatus connected thereto have previously been associated,

wherein when there is a connecting request from said terminal apparatus, said database is referred to on the basis of said request and in the case where a correspondence of said router and said terminal apparatus has been recorded in said database, the connection of said terminal apparatus which is connected is permitted.

2. A connecting apparatus in which a network including a router and one or more terminal apparatuses is provided on a terminal side and which provides a service for connecting to the Internet to the terminal side, comprising:

a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router and identifiers of the terminal apparatuses which are connected to the network has been registered,

wherein when a terminal apparatus is newly connected to said network, whether a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router which is sent from the user'"'"'s side and an identifier of the terminal apparatus exists in said database or not is discriminated, and

at least one of permission information which is formed when said correspondence relation exists and used to permit the connection of said new terminal apparatus to said network and refusal information which is formed when said correspondence relation does not exist and used to refuse the connection of said new terminal apparatus to said network is transmitted to said terminal side.

3. A connecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

when the terminal apparatus is sold, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to the network is registered into said database.

4. A connecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

when an order is made via the Internet, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to the network is registered into said database by a person who receives said order.

5. A connecting method in a network system including a router and one or more terminal apparatuses on a terminal side, wherein said network system has a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router and identifiers of the terminal apparatuses which are connected to a network has been registered, and in said network system, a service for connecting to the Internet is provided to the terminal side,

whereby when a terminal apparatus is newly connected to said network system, whether a correspondence relation between the identifier of the router which is sent from the user'"'"'s side and an identifier of said terminal apparatus exists in said database or not is discriminated, and

at least one of permission information which is formed when said correspondence relation exists and used to permit the connection of said new terminal apparatus to said network system and refusal information which is formed when said correspondence relation does not exist and used to refuse the connection of said new terminal apparatus to said network system is transmitted to said terminal side.

6. A connecting method according to claim 5, wherein

when the terminal apparatus is sold, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to the network is registered into said database.

7. A connecting method according to claim 5, wherein

when an order is made via the Internet, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to the network is registered into said database by a person who receives said order.

8. A network system which is constructed by a router having one identifier and one or more terminal apparatuses each having one identifier and connected to an Internet connecting apparatus via said router, wherein

when a terminal apparatus is newly connected to said network system, a correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and an identifier of said terminal apparatus is transmitted to said Internet connecting apparatus, at least one of permission information and refusal information formed by said Internet connecting apparatus on the basis of a result of a discrimination with reference to a database is received, and

the terminal apparatus can be newly connected only in the case where a fact that said correspondence relation exists in said database is shown by at least one of said permission information and said refusal information.

9. A network system according to claim 8, wherein

when the terminal apparatus is sold, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to a network is registered into said database.

10. A network system according to claim 8, wherein

when an order is made via the Internet, the correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and the identifier of the terminal apparatus which is connected to a network is registered into said database by a person who receives said order.

11. A program for a network system which is constructed by a router having one identifier and one or more terminal apparatuses each having one identifier and connected to an Internet connecting apparatus via said router, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute:

a procedure for, when a terminal apparatus is newly connected to said network system, transmitting a correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and an identifier of said terminal apparatus to said Internet connecting apparatus;

a procedure for receiving at least one of permission information and refusal information formed by said Internet connecting apparatus on the basis of a result of a discrimination with reference to a database; and

a procedure for newly connecting the terminal apparatus only in the case where a fact that said correspondence relation exists in said database is shown by at least one of said permission information and said refusal information.

12. A recording medium on which a program for a network system which is constructed by a router having one identifier and one or more terminal apparatuses each having one identifier and connected to an Internet connecting apparatus via said router has been recorded, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute:

a procedure for, when a terminal apparatus is newly connected to said network system, transmitting a correspondence relation between the identifier of the router and an identifier of the terminal apparatus to said Internet connecting apparatus;

a procedure for receiving at least one of permission information and refusal information formed by said Internet connecting apparatus on the basis of a result of a discrimination with reference to a database; and

a procedure for newly connecting the terminal apparatus only in the case where a fact that said correspondence relation exists in said database is shown by at least one of said permission information and said refusal information.

13. A network system in which a router and a terminal apparatus are connected in a wireless manner, wherein

one identifier is recorded, a removable recording medium is provided,

said recording medium is loaded into said router and, thereafter, attached to the terminal apparatus, and

said router reads out said identifier, thereby allowing a link between the router and the terminal apparatus specified by said identifier to be established.

14. A network system according to claim 13, wherein

the identifier has previously been written onto said recording medium on a connecting apparatus side.

15. A network system according to claim 13, wherein

a point that said recording medium has been attached to said terminal apparatus is used as a condition for establishment of the link.

16. A router for exchanging information between terminal apparatuses connected in a wireless manner, wherein

one identifier is recorded, a removable recording medium is detachably provided,

said identifier is read out from said loaded recording medium, and

a link with the terminal apparatus which is specified by said identifier is established.

17. A router according to claim 16, wherein

the identifier has previously been written onto said recording medium on a connecting apparatus side.

18. A router according to claim 16, wherein

a point that said recording medium has been attached to said terminal apparatus is used as a condition for establishment of the link.

19. A terminal apparatus for exchanging information in a wireless manner, wherein

one identifier is recorded, a removable recording medium is detachably provided,

said identifier is read out from said loaded recording medium, and

a link is established by said identifier at the time of wireless communication.

20. A communicating method in a network system in which a router and a terminal apparatus are connected in a wireless manner, comprising:

a step wherein one identifier is recorded and a removable recording medium is provided;

a step wherein said recording medium is loaded into said router and said router reads out said identifier;

a step wherein said recording medium is attached to said terminal apparatus and said terminal apparatus reads out said identifier; and

a step wherein said router detects that said terminal apparatus is specified by said identifier, thereby establishing a link between said router and said terminal apparatus.

21. A program for a network system in which a router and a terminal apparatus are connected in a wireless manner, one identifier is recorded, and a removable recording medium is provided, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute:

a step wherein said recording medium is loaded into said router and said router reads out said identifier;

a step wherein said recording medium is attached to said terminal apparatus and said terminal apparatus reads out said identifier; and

a step wherein said router detects that said terminal apparatus is specified by said identifier, thereby establishing a link between said router and said terminal apparatus.

22. A recording medium on which a program for a network system in which a router and a terminal apparatus are connected in a wireless manner, one identifier is recorded, and a removable recording medium is provided has been recorded, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute:

a step wherein said recording medium is loaded into said router and said router reads out said identifier;

a step wherein said recording medium is attached to said terminal apparatus and said terminal apparatus reads out said identifier; and

a step wherein said router detects that said terminal apparatus is specified by said identifier, thereby establishing a link between said router and said terminal apparatus.

23. A network system in which a server and a router are connected via a network and one or more terminal apparatuses are connected to said router, wherein

said server has a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of said router and identifiers of said terminal apparatuses connected to the network has been registered,

when the first and second terminal apparatuses communicate with each other, said server is inquired about whether the identifiers of said first and second terminal apparatuses have been registered as a same group onto said database or not, and

when said correspondence relation exists, said first and second terminal apparatuses can communicate.

24. A network system according to claim 23, wherein

one or more identifiers are registered into said database every identifier of the router.

25. A network system according to claim 23, wherein

the identifier of said terminal apparatus has been recorded on a recording medium which is removable to/from said terminal apparatus.

26. A terminal apparatus which is connected to a network system, wherein

when there is a communicating request from another terminal apparatus, an external server is inquired about an identifier of said another terminal apparatus via a router,

whether said another terminal apparatus belongs to a same group or not is discriminated with reference to a database of said server, and

only when said another terminal apparatus belongs to the same group, communication with said another terminal apparatus can be made.

27. A terminal apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

whether said another terminal apparatus belongs to the same group or not is determined by checking whether a correspondence relation between an identifier of said router and an identifier of said terminal apparatus exists on said database or not.

28. A communicating method in a network system in which a server and a router are connected via a network., one or more terminal apparatuses are connected to said router, and said server has a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router and identifiers of the terminal apparatuses which are connected to said network has been registered, comprising the steps of:

when the first and second terminal apparatuses communicate with each other, inquiring of said server about whether the identifiers of said first and second terminal apparatuses have been registered as a same group onto said database or not; and

when said correspondence relation exists, determining that said first and second terminal apparatuses can communicate.

29. A communicating method according to claim 28, wherein

one or more identifiers are registered into said database every identifier of the router.

30. A communicating method according to claim 28, wherein

the identifier of said terminal apparatus has been recorded on a recording medium which is removable to/from said terminal apparatus.

31. A program for a communicating method in a network system in which a server and a router are connected via a network, one or more terminal apparatuses are connected to said router, and said server has a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router and identifiers of the terminal apparatuses which are connected to said network has been registered, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute the steps of:

when the first and second terminal apparatuses communicate with each other, inquiring of said server about whether the identifiers of said first and second terminal apparatuses have been registered as a same group onto said database or not; and

when said correspondence relation exists, determining that said first and second terminal apparatuses can communicate.

32. A recording medium on which a program for a communicating method in a network system in which a server and a router are connected via a network, one or more terminal apparatuses are connected to said router, and said server has a database in which a correspondence relation between an identifier of the router and identifiers of the terminal apparatuses which are connected to said network has been registered has been recorded, wherein

said program allows said network system to execute the steps of:

when the first and second terminal apparatuses communicate with each other, inquiring of said server about whether the identifiers of said first and second terminal apparatuses have been registered as a same group onto said database or not; and

when said correspondence relation exists, determining that said first and second terminal apparatuses can communicate.