Secure connection protocol for image projecting unit, process and program

• US 8,875,053 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sato, Minoru, Kubota, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US12/628,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32765 Initiating a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32767 in response to a user operation, e.g. actuating a switch H04N1/32769 and H04N1/32771 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32786 Ending a communication H04N1/32614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

There has been a problem of necessitating a complicated work for establishing a connection capable of intercommunication between a computer as server and a projector as client.

When a connection is established between a server 20 and projectors 301 through 30n, a communication command is issued according to UDP-based broadcasting to retrieve connectable projectors 301 through 303. Thereafter, the projector 301 to be connected is selected and is assigned an IP address to establish the connection. In this manner, a user can easily obtain a connection environment capable of intercommunication between the server 20 and the projector 301. A TCP/IP communication command is used to input or output image data, ensuring reliable transmission. Since the authentication can be provided using a keyword projected during the connection establishment, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized access to the projector 301 by an outsider.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a keyword generating unit which generates a keyword;

an image projecting unit which visibly projects the keyword;

a keyword determining unit which determines whether an input received from a computer matches the keyword; and

a computer connection establishing unit which establishes connection to the computer when the keyword determining unit determines that the input received from the computer matches the keyword,

wherein the image projecting unit projects an image based on image data inputted from the computer after the connection with the computer is established.

2. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a response output unit which outputs at least one of a name of the projector, intrinsic information about the projector, information about a status of use of the projector and information about a keyword authentication.

3. A method of establishing computer connection, comprising:

generating a keyword by a projector;

the projector visibly projecting the keyword;

determining whether an input received by the projector from a computer matches the keyword;

establishing a connection between the projector and the computer when the input received from the computer matches the keyword; and

the projector projecting an image based on image data inputted from the computer after the connection with the computer is established.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

displaying a list screen of connectable projectors; and

selecting the specific projector to be connected from the list screen.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program, the computer program comprising:

instructions for generating a keyword by a projector;

instructions for visibly projecting the keyword by the projector;

instructions for determining whether an input received from a computer matches the keyword;

instructions for establishing a connection between the projector and the computer when the input received from the computer matches the keyword; and

instructions for projecting an image by the projector based on image data inputted from the computer after the connection with the computer is established.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program according to claim 5, further comprising:

instructions for displaying a list screen of connectable projectors; and

instructions for selecting the specific projector to be connected from the list screen.