Address management system, interface ID setting processor, communication terminal, address management method, and computer program

• US 7,272,656 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/214,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/201, 709226-230, 709/245, 370/390, 370/392, 370/400, 713/186, 713/173, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

In an address management system, an interface ID can be handed over from one apparatus to another without losing the correspondence between the interface ID and a user. As a result, the interface ID can be used as a unique identifier for the user. Accordingly, an effective infrastructure for individualized services is achieved. The interface ID may be constant for one user even when an apparatus is replaced, and thus IPv6 communication can be used as a user-associated address in high availability services, such as telephone services. Furthermore, the interface ID can be returned and reused, and thus the interface ID can be efficiently used.

Claims

1. An address management system, comprising:

a communication terminal; and

an interface ID setting processor for issuing an interface ID as an address corresponding to the communication terminal upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal, wherein the communication terminal communicates with the interface ID setting processor,

and wherein the interface ID setting processor outputs the interface ID to the communication terminal upon authentication of the communication terminal, and

the communication terminal apparatus receives the interface ID and stores the interface ID in an interface ID storing memory in the communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the communication terminal,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.

2. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID configures lower bits of an address configuration defined in IPv6.

3. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID setting processor adds an electronic signature to the interface ID and outputs the interface ID with the electronic signature to the communication terminal apparatus upon the authentication of the communication terminal, and

wherein the communication terminal receives the interface ID with the electronic signature, and when the electronic signature is verified, stores the received interface ID with the electronic signature in the interface ID storing memory so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the communication terminal.

4. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a temporary interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which is not practically used, and, upon verification of the electronic signature, outputs a real interface ID which can be practically used to the communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the communication terminal.

5. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives the interface ID from a connected first communication terminal, which is connected to the interface ID setting processor, and outputs the interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal.

6. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from a first communication terminal and, upon verification of the electronic signature, outputs the real interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the real interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal.

7. The address management system according to claim 1, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from the communication terminal, and, upon verification of the electronic signature, deletes data in an interface ID managing database to invalidate the real interface ID.

8. An interface ID setting processor for issuing an interface ID as an address corresponding to a communication terminal upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal, the processor comprising:

authenticating parts for performing authentication with the communication terminal;

deciding parts for deciding whether the communication terminal is authenticated or not; and

an output for outputting the interface ID to the communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal according to the result of the decision by the deciding parts,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.

9. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein the interface ID configures lower bits of an address configuration defined in IPv6.

10. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein an electronic signature is generated by the interface ID setting processor which is associated with the interface ID, and wherein the processor outputs the interface ID with the electronic signature to the communication terminal.

11. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a temporary interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which is not practically used from the communication terminal, and, upon verification of the electronic signature, outputs a real interface ID, which can be practically used, to the communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the communication terminal apparatus.

12. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives the interface ID from a first communication terminal apparatus, which is connected to the interface ID setting processor, and outputs the interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal.

13. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used, and, upon the verification of the electronic signature, outputs the real interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the real interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal.

14. The interface ID setting processor according to claim 8, wherein the interface ID setting processor receives a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from the communication terminal and, upon verification of the electronic signature, deletes data in an interface ID managing database to invalidate the real interface ID.

15. A communication terminal for performing communication upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal, comprising storing parts for storing an interface ID as an address corresponding to the communication terminal and an electronic signature for verifying falsification,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.

16. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the interface ID configures lower bits of an address configuration defined in IPv6.

17. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the communication terminal apparatus receives the interface ID with the electronic signature from and interface ID setting processor, and, upon verification of the electronic signature, stores the received interface ID with the electronic signature in an interface ID storing memory in the communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the communication terminal.

18. An address management method for managing an address which is to be set in a communication terminal upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal for performing communication, comprising:

performing authentication between an interface ID setting processor issuing an interface ID as the address corresponding to the communication terminal and the communication terminal in which the address is to be set;

outputting the interface ID from the interface ID setting processor to the communication terminal when the authentication is complete; and

storing the interface ID received by the communication terminal in a memory in the communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the communication terminal,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.

19. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of configuring lower bits of an address configuration defined in IPv6.

20. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

adding an electronic signature to the interface ID;

outputting the interface ID with the electronic signature to the communication terminal upon the authentication of the communication terminal;

receiving the interface ID with the electronic signature; and

storing the received interface ID with the electronic signature in an interface ID storing memory so that the interface ID is set in the communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the communication terminal when the electronic signature is verified.

21. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of

receiving a temporary interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which is not practically used from the communication terminal, outputting a real interface ID which can be practically used to the communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the communication terminal when the electronic signature of the temporary interface is verified.

22. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the interface ID from a connected first communication terminal; and

outputting the interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal.

23. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from a connected first communication terminal;

verifying an electronic signature of the real interface ID; and

outputting the real interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the second communication terminal such that the real interface ID corresponds to the second communication terminal when the determination is complete.

24. The address management method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from the communication terminal;

verifying an electronic signature of the real interface ID; and

deleting data in an interface ID managing database to invalidate the real interface ID.

25. A computer program in which an address to be set in a communication terminal upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal for performing communication is issued in a computer system, the program comprising the steps of:

performing authentication between an interface ID setting processor issuing an interface ID as the address corresponding to the communication terminal and the communication terminal in which the address is to be set; and

outputting the interface ID from the interface ID setting processor to the communication terminal when the authentication is complete,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.

26. A computer program in which an address to be set in a communication terminal upon receiving a temporary interface ID from a user terminal for performing communication is issued in a computer system, the program comprising the steps of:

receiving a real interface ID which includes an electronic signature and which can be practically used from a connected first communication terminal apparatus;

verifying the electronic signature of the real interface ID; and

outputting the real interface ID to a second communication terminal so that the real interface ID is set in the second communication terminal when the verification is complete,

wherein the temporary interface ID is transmitted for requesting the real interface ID and is invalid with regard to effecting data communications with other communication terminals.