COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

• US 20180145961A1
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yoshikazu Azuma
• Inventors: AZUMA, Yoshikazu
• Granted Patent: US 11,153,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication system includes: a first communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal apparatus; an authentication unit configured to transmit an authentication screen for inputting authentication information, in response to access from the terminal apparatus; a connection guiding unit configured to connect communication made from the terminal apparatus via the first communication unit and addressed to any destination, to the authentication unit; a display unit configured to display the authentication information input to the authentication screen and output by the terminal apparatus that has been connected to the authentication unit by the connection guiding unit and to which the authentication screen has been transmitted; and a connection control unit configured to permit connection of the terminal apparatus to a network via a second communication unit in accordance with the user input received by the input unit according to display by the display unit.

Claims

1. :

A communication system comprising;

a first communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal apparatus;

a second communication unit configured to communicate via a network;

an authentication unit configured to transmit an authentication screen for inputting authentication information, in response to access from the terminal apparatus;

a connection guiding unit configured to connect communication made from the terminal apparatus via the first communication unit and addressed to any destination, to the authentication unit;

a display unit configured to display the authentication information input to the authentication screen and output by the terminal apparatus that has been connected to the authentication unit by the connection guiding unit and to which the authentication screen has been transmitted;

an input unit configured to receive user input; and

a connection control unit configured to permit connection of the terminal apparatus to the network via the second communication unit in accordance with the user input received by the input unit according to display by the display unit.

2. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection control unit terminates connection via the second communication unit after elapse of a previously determined time starting from when the connection is permitted.

3. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit transmits the authentication screen for inputting the authentication information in a form of an image.

4. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit controls start and termination of communication by the first communication unit in accordance with an instruction.

5. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection guiding unit transmits location information that indicates a location of the terminal apparatus on the network to the terminal apparatus in response to a request made by the terminal apparatus via the first communication unit, and connects the communication made from the location information and addressed to any destination, to the authentication unit.

6. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein each time the connection is permitted, the connection control unit randomly generates information needed for communicating via the second communication unit, and transmits the information to the terminal apparatus, the connection of which is permitted.

7. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection control unit is capable of selecting an access level for a user who provides user input to the input unit, from among a plurality of access levels.

8. :

The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection control unit makes communication for permitting connection of the terminal apparatus to the network via the second communication unit, through protected communication.

9. :

A communication method comprising;

connecting communication made from a terminal apparatus via a first communication unit and addressed to any destination, to an authentication unit;

transmitting, by an authentication unit, an authentication screen for inputting authentication information, in response to access from the terminal apparatus;

displaying the authentication information input to the authentication screen and output by the terminal apparatus that has been connected to the authentication unit at the connecting and to which the authentication screen has been transmitted; and

permitting connection of the terminal apparatus to the network via the second communication unit in accordance with user input received according to display at the displaying.

10. :

A computer program causing a communication apparatus to execute;

connecting communication made from a terminal apparatus via a first communication unit and addressed to any destination, to an authentication unit;

transmitting, by an authentication unit, an authentication screen for inputting authentication information, in response to access from the terminal apparatus;

displaying the authentication information input to the authentication screen and output by the terminal apparatus that has been connected to the authentication unit at the connecting and to which the authentication screen has been transmitted; and

permitting connection of the terminal apparatus to the network via a second communication unit in accordance with user input received according to display at the displaying.