Communication network system, gateway, data communication method and program providing medium

• US 8,612,630 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamoto, Youji, Futagami, Motomasa, Nagano, Motohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bengzon, Greg C
• Application Number:
  US13/558,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

This invention relates to provide a communication network system, a gateway, and a data communication method, in which the gateway has an advanced functionality. A person who issues an access request can retrieve a desired access destination easily by the following configuration: functions of routing information providing and authentication processing are added to a gateway that performs protocol conversion between two different communication networks; when an access request is issued from a public communication network such as Internet to a terminal in a local (private) communication network connected to the gateway, a request terminal is authenticated to enable prevention of unauthorized data writing and reading; and an access request user who succeeded in the authentication is provided with an active terminal list comprising accessible terminal information, or with a user condition table.

Claims

1. A home gateway, comprising:

an interface unit configured to communicate with two communication networks;

a storage unit configured to automatically accumulate, from a terminal connected to one of the two communication networks, program data executed at the terminal, and to store the program data; and

a registration unit configured to receive, from the terminal, both a license number of the program data and device identification information of the terminal, in response to the program data that is accumulated from the terminal being stored in the storage unit, and then to register the license number of the program data and the device identification information of the terminal in the storage unit,

wherein the home gateway requests transmission of a license number, receives transmitted license number and device identification information, in response to requesting of transmission of the license number, and determines whether or not the transmitted license number and the transmitted device identification information are allowed to receive the program data, based on the registered license number of the program data and the device identification information of the terminal.

2. The home gateway of claim 1, wherein

a first of the two communication networks is a private communication network that enables only terminals within a specific communication area to communicate,

a second of the two communication network is a public communication network that enables an indefinite number of users to communicate, and

the terminal is connected to the first of the two communication networks that is the private communication network.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a home gateway configured to

communicate with a private communication network and a public communication network,

automatically accumulate, from a terminal connected to one of the private communication network and the public communication network, program data executed at the terminal, and to store the program data in a memory,

receive, from the terminal, both a license number of the program data and device identification information of the terminal, in response to the program data that is accumulated from the terminal being stored in the memory,

register the license number of the program data and the device identification information of the terminal, which are received from the terminal, in the memory,

request transmission of a license number,

receive transmitted license number and device identification information, in response to the request of transmission of the license number, and

determine whether or not the transmitted license number and the transmitted device identification information are allowed to receive the program data, based on the registered license number of the program data and the device identification information of the terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the home gateway is further configured to

accumulate log information each time the home gateway determines that the transmitted license number and the transmitted device identification information are not allowed to receive the program data, and

transmit the log information to an administrator.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the terminal includes a plurality of terminals, and

the plurality of terminals include a personal computer and at least one of an audio device and a video device.