Network system, network connecting device, and network connecting method

• US 8,346,939 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tomita, Nobuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US11/954,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/229, 709/225, 709/226, 370/270, 370/260
• US Class Current: 709/227
• 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:

a plurality of client devices in a first network, each client device including;

a first network starting unit to start the first network and present first identification information including a predetermined identifier associated with the first network and a prefix that is the same for each client device included in the plurality of client devices in the network; and

a server including;

a scanning unit to scan for the prefix of the first identification information,

a reading unit to read the first identification information located by the scanning unit and including the prefix,

an option presenting unit to present to a user, as an option of joining the first network, a client device from the plurality of client devices including the first identification information read by the reading unit,

a first network joining unit to join the first network upon selection of the option, and

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

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein,

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

the server further includes an identification-information storing unit to store 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 stored in the identification-information storing unit.

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 information specific to the client device is received after the second network is started, and

the client device includes;

a decoding unit to decode the communication encryption key with a predetermined decoding key; and

a second network joining unit to join the second network using information obtained by decoding the communication encryption key with the decoding key and transmit the information specific to the client device to the server, wherein

the first network starting unit disconnects from the first network upon reception of the communication encryption key and the second identification information.

4. A network system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a network connecting device connected at the server and including a second reading unit to read the first identification information; and

a server activating unit to activate 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 storing unit to store 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 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 storing unit.

7. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the server further includes a display device that displays a connection manager that presents the option to join the first network.

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

a scanning unit to scan for a prefix of first identification information transmitted from a client device of a plurality of client devices that starts a first network, the prefix being the same for each client device included in the plurality of client devices in the network, and the first identification information including a predetermined identifier that designates the first network;

a reading unit to read the first identification information located by the scanning unit and including the prefix;

an option presenting unit to present to a user, as an option of joining the first network, the client device of the plurality of client devices including the first identification information read by the reading unit to the server;

a first network joining unit to join the first network upon selection of the option; and

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

8. A network connecting method for a network connecting device connected at a server and used for network connection between devices conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the network connecting method comprising:

scanning, by a scanning unit, for a prefix of first identification information transmitted from a client device of a plurality of client devices that starts a first network, the prefix being the same for each client device included in the plurality of client devices in the network, and the first identification information including a predetermined identifier that designates the first network;

reading, by a reading unit, the first identification information located by the scanning unit and including the prefix;

presenting to a user, by an option presenting unit as an option of joining the first network, the client device of the plurality of client devices including the first identification information read by the reading unit of the server;

joining, by a joining unit, the first network upon selection of the option by the server; and

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