NETWORK SYSTEM, NETWORK CONNECTING DEVICE, AND NETWORK CONNECTING METHOD

• US 20080250151A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TOMITA, Nobuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/062 applying encryption of the keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution using key encryption key H04L9/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833

Abstract

A network system that performs network connection between devices conforming to a predetermined communication standard is disclosed. The system includes client devices including first network starting units that present first identification information including an identifier decided in advance and designating a first network and start the first network and a server. The server includes a reading unit that reads the first identification information, an option presenting unit that presents, as an option of a network connection destination, a client device including the first identification information read by the reading unit, a first network joining unit that joins the first network when the option is selected, and a transmitting unit that transmits, in the first network, a communication encryption key for joining a second network and second identification information designating the second network to the selected client device.

Claims

1. A network system that performs network connection between devices conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the network system comprising:

client devices including first network starting units that present first identification information including an identifier decided in advance and designating a first network and start the first network; and

a server including

a reading unit that reads the first identification information,

an option presenting unit that presents, as an option of a network connection destination, a client device including the first identification information read by the reading unit,

a first network joining unit that joins the first network when the option is selected, and

a transmitting unit that transmits, in the first network, a communication encryption key for joining a second network and second identification information designating the second network to the selected client device.

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

the first identification information is information different for each of the client devices,

the server further includes an identification-information storing unit that stores the first identification information read by the reading unit,

the reading unit judges, when the first identification information is received, whether the received first identification information coincides with the first identification information stored in the identification-information storing unit, and

the option presenting unit presents, as an option of a network connection destination, the client device including the first identification information not coinciding with the first identification information.

3. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

the server includes:

a second network starting unit that starts the second network after the second identification information is transmitted; and

a connection permitting unit that permits network connection to the client device when peculiar information of the client device is received after the second network is started,

the client device includes;

a decoding unit that decodes the communication encryption key with a decoding key prepared in advance; and

a second network joining unit that joins the second network using information obtained by decoding the communication encryption key with the decoding key and transmits the peculiar information of the client device to the server, and

the first network starting unit finishes the first network when the communication encryption key and the second identification information are received.

4. A network system according to claim 3, further comprising a network connecting device detachably provided in the server and including a second reading unit that reads the first identification information and a server activating unit that activates the server when the second reading unit reads the first identification information in a state in which the server is not activated, wherein

the second network starting unit starts the second network after the server is activated, and

the second network joining unit joins the second network.

5. A network system according to claim 4, wherein

the first identification information is information different for each of the client devices,

the network connecting device further includes an identification-information second storing unit that stores the first identification information,

the second reading unit judges, when the first identification information is received, whether the received first identification information coincides with the first identification information stored in the identification-information second storing unit, and

the server activating unit activates the server when the received first identification information coincides with the first identification information stored in the identification-information second storing unit.

6. A network connecting device detachably provided in a server and used for network connection between devices conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the network connecting device comprising:

a reading unit that reads first identification information, which is transmitted from client devices, including an identifier decided in advance and designating a first network;

an option presenting unit that presents, as an option of a network connection destination, a client device including the first identification information read by the reading unit to the server;

a first network joining unit that joins the first network when the option is selected by the server; and

a transmitting unit that transmits, in the first network, a communication encryption key for joining a second network and second identification information designating the second network to the selected client device.

7. A network connecting method for a network connecting device detachably provided in a server and used for network connection between devices conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the network connecting method comprising the steps of:

reading by a reading unit first identification information, which is transmitted from client devices, including an identifier decided in advance and designating a first network;

presenting, as an option of a network connection destination, by an option presenting unit a client device including the first identification information read by the reading unit to the server;

allowing a first network joining unit to join the first network when the option is selected by the server; and

transmitting by a transmitting unit a communication encryption key for joining a second network in the first network and second identification information designating the second network to the selected client device.