JP2002328854A - Identification information management method for network terminal and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance operability at the time of performing data communication by specified terminals with each other or the terminals belonging to the same group with each other by simplifying the setting operation of information (identification information) for identifying terminals as data communicable opposite parties. SOLUTION: In a network environment in which communication is performed only by the terminals to which common identification information is set with each other, a server 20 holding the identification information and the alias name of the identification information in relation is provided on a network 10. The server 20 is provided with a transfer means transferring the identification information corresponding to the alias name to the terminals 40a and 40b in response to alias name reference from the optical terminals 40a and 40b and the terminals 40a and 40b are provided with a setting means setting the transferred identification information inside the present terminals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing network terminal identification information. For more information,
When performing data communication between specific terminals or terminals belonging to the same group via a network, a method for managing information (identification information) for identifying those terminals as a partner capable of performing data communication, and Equipment related.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, personal computers and personal digital assistants are networked in a wired or wireless network or in a mixed environment to achieve mutual use of data and sharing of resources. In some cases, exclusive management may be required to permit mutual use of data and sharing of resources only between specific terminals or terminals belonging to the same group.

FIG. 8 is a simplified conceptual diagram of exclusive management.
In the illustrated example, three portable information terminals 1 to 3 that can be wirelessly connected are shown. Here, assuming that the dashed line 4 is a group to which mutual use of data and sharing of resources are permitted, two portable information terminals 1 belonging to this group,
2 is allowed to communicate with each other, and other portable information terminals 3
Data communication between and must be refused. In the figure, “OK” indicates permission, and “NG” indicates rejection.

[0004] In order to satisfy such a demand, a conventional method is to set common identification information to the portable information terminals 1 and 2 in the same group. The identification information is, for example, a group ID (hereinafter simply referred to as ID) or a password (hereinafter simply referred to as PW).
In other words, mutual use of data and sharing of resources are permitted only between terminals (portable information terminals 1 and 2 in the illustrated example) in which the same ID and PW are set.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, the identification information must be manually set for all terminals belonging to the group.
There is a problem that it is troublesome and troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for managing identification information of a network terminal, which simplify the operation of setting the identification information and improve the usability.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, the identification information and an alias name of the identification information are stored in a server on the network in association with each other; Transferring the identification information corresponding to the alias name from the server to the terminal in response to the alias name reference; and setting the transferred identification information to the terminal. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a network environment where only terminals having common identification information set can communicate with each other, the identification information and an alias name of the identification information are stored in a server on the network in association with each other. Obtaining the user information of the terminal in response to the alias name reference from any terminal, and additionally registering the user information in the alias name reference list of the server; and aliasing from the arbitrary terminal. Transferring the identification information corresponding to the alias name and the alias name referrer list from the server to the terminal in response to the name reference, setting the transferred identification information to the terminal, and setting the alias name referrer to the terminal. Displaying the list on a terminal. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, a server holding the identification information and an alias name of the identification information in association with each other is provided on the network. The server comprises a transfer unit for transferring identification information corresponding to the alias name to the terminal in response to the alias name reference from any terminal, wherein the terminal transmits the transferred identification information to the terminal. It is characterized by comprising setting means for setting in its own terminal. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, a server holding the identification information and an alias name of the identification information in association with each other is provided on the network. The server has
A registration unit for acquiring user information of the terminal in response to the alias name reference from an arbitrary terminal and additionally registering the user information in an alias name reference list in the own server; and an alias name from the arbitrary terminal. Transfer means for transferring, to the terminal, identification information corresponding to the alias name and the alias name referrer list in response to the reference, the terminal sets the transferred identification information in its own terminal And a display unit for displaying the transferred alias name reference list.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of an embodiment. In this figure, network 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a communication infrastructure that supports general-purpose protocols such as the Internet Protocol (IP) and the Ethernet (registered trademark) protocol. A server 20 is connected to the network 10. Further, terminals 40a and 40b (the number of terminals is an example) can be arbitrarily connected to the network 10, and these terminals 40a and 40b can communicate with each other by using radio waves between terminals having common identification information set. They can perform data communication with each other.

Note that the identification information is information necessary for establishing negotiation between terminals, and negotiation is established only between terminals having common identification information set therein, thereby enabling mutual data transfer and the like. Things. Hereinafter, this identification information is assumed to be composed of a group ID (hereinafter simply referred to as “ID”) and a password (hereinafter simply referred to as “PW”) for convenience of description, but is not limited thereto. The point is that any information may be used as long as negotiation is established only between terminals that have set the common identification information, and mutual data transfer and the like can be performed.

[0010] Hereinafter, a terminal in which common identification information is set is referred to as a terminal belonging to the same group, and the two terminals 40a and 40b shown in the figure are terminals (terminals belonging to the same group). Terminal 40a,
At 40b, the same identification information had to be manually set for each terminal. Therefore, there is a problem that it is troublesome and troublesome. However, in this embodiment, the identification information for each group is registered in the server 20 in advance, and the desired identification information is transmitted from the server 20 to the terminal 4.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problem by downloading the data to the memory devices 0a and 40b and automatically setting the data.

When examining the elemental functions necessary to achieve the above-mentioned task, first, the server 20 must have a function of retaining identification information for each group in advance. The data table 50 conceptually shown in the figure is an element for that purpose, and is stored and held as electronic data in a storage device such as a hard disk, for example. The data table 50 stores at least an "alias name" arbitrarily set for each group and identification information assigned to the group in association with each other.

Here, an alias name is an alias definition. The alias name according to the present embodiment is an arbitrary character string (or a symbol string or a mixed data thereof) which is orally notified only to group members.
In this case, those which can be easily understood and memorized only by the group members are defined as alias names of the group.

Next, the server 20 has a function of receiving access from an arbitrary terminal (for convenience, the terminal 40a) via the network 10 and a data table for identifying the group identification information requested by the terminal 40a. It must have a function of taking it out of the terminal 50 and transferring it to the requesting terminal 40a.

On the other hand, the terminals 40a and 40b have the function of accessing the server 20 via the network 10, the designation of a group (actually, the alias name of the group) for the server 20, and the download of the identification information of the group. And a function of setting the identification information downloaded from the server 20 to the terminal itself.

By providing these functions in the server 20 and the terminals 40a and 40b, alias names and identification information for each group are registered in the server 20 in advance, and the terminals 20a and
To access the desired alias name, the identification information associated with the alias name can be downloaded from the server 20 to the terminals 40a and 40b, and can be automatically set in the download destination terminal. Therefore, it is possible to avoid troublesome setting work of identification information by manual operation, and to construct a convenient network environment.

Here, the point of the present embodiment is that, as described above, the identification information for each group is registered in the server 20 in advance, and in response to a request from the terminals 40a and 40b, the server 20 , 40b (first point). This makes it possible to automatically set the identification information. In the present embodiment, the identification information registered in the server 20 is further provided with an alias name for each group, and the identification information is used by using the alias name. There is a point (second point) in that the download request is made.

For example, in the data table 50 shown in the figure, three groups of "OO", "XXX", and "@" (where .largecircle., .Times. One alias name is defined, and the ID and PW (identification information) of each group are stored in association with the alias names.

Now, an arbitrary alias name from the terminal 40a,
For example, assuming that “XXX” is referred to, the ID “123” and the PW “ABC” stored in the first record of the data table 50 are extracted, and the terminal 40
is transferred (downloaded) to a. And the terminal 4
The ID “123” and the PW “ABC” are set in the identification information of “0”. To make such a download request,
The user of the terminal 40a only needs to know the alias name (“XXX”), and the user does not need to know the download data, that is, the identification information such as the ID and the PW at all (the eyes of the user). Therefore, the identification information can be kept secret and the security can be improved by the second point.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the server 20. The server 20 includes a CPU 21 (transfer means, registration means), a RAM 22, a disk controller 23, a disk device 24, a display controller 25, a display device 26, a keyboard controller 27, a keyboard device 28, a pointing device device 29, a communication control device 30, Bus 31, bus interface 3
2 and an internal bus 33.

The server 20 loads a control program stored in advance in the disk drive 24 into the RAM 22 and executes the control program on the RAM 22, whereby the communication control device 30
Can be connected to the network 10 via the. Further, the server 20 can receive access from the terminals 40a and 40b on the network 10 and transfer (download) the identification information of the group requested by the terminals 40a and 40b to the requesting terminals 40a and 40b. It has become.

The server 20 can also appropriately update and modify the contents of the data table 50 (see FIG. 1) held in the disk device 24. The data is displayed, and the keyboard device 28 is displayed on the display screen.
By operating the pointing device 29 and the pointing device 29, the alias name, ID, and PW of each group can be newly registered, modified, and freely.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of an example of the terminals 40a and 40b. Hereinafter, as a representative of the terminal 40a, the terminal 40
a is the CPU 41 (setting means, display means) and its C
RAM 43, R connected to PU 41 via bus 42
It comprises an OM 44, a display unit 45 (display means), an operation unit 46, a network interface 47, a wireless communication unit 48, and the like.

The terminal 40a loads a control program stored in the ROM 44 in advance into the RAM 43 and
By executing the program in U41, for example, various user applications for a portable information terminal can be operated, and if desired, the user application is connected to the network 10 via the network interface 47 and the server 20
To download and set the identification information of the own group to the own terminal, or perform data transfer with a nearby terminal (for example, the terminal 40b) via the wireless communication unit 48. Has become.

Next, a processing flow in the server 20 and the terminals 40a and 40b having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 4A is a schematic flowchart of a group information registration process (part of the control program) executed locally in the server 20. The administrator of the server 20 operates the keyboard device 28 and the pointing device device 29 while watching the display on the display device 26 to start the group information registration process, and when newly registering group information, first,
An alias name of the group is registered with arbitrary contents (step S11), and then a unique ID and PW are registered as identification information of the group (step S12).

Now, the alias name of a certain group is changed to "XX".
○ ”, and ID and PW are respectively“ 123 ”and“ AB ”.
1, the first record of the data table 50 of FIG. 1 is newly registered. Alternatively, the alias name of another group is set to “xxx”, and the ID and PW are set to “45”, respectively.
6 "and" DEF ", the data table 50 of FIG.
Is newly registered. Alternatively, if the alias name of another group is “$” and the ID and PW are “789” and “GHI”, respectively, FIG.
The third record of the data table 50 is newly registered.

The data table 50 shown in FIG. 1 uses an alias name as a reference field.
When the alias name "OO" is referred to, the first record is extracted and the information (ID = "123", PW = "ABC") of the ID field and the PW field is returned. In this group information registration process, it is sufficient that the alias name can be freely registered, and the ID and PW are generated mechanically (for example, from random numbers) inside the server 20. It may be.

Also, in the above example, the group information registration process is executed locally on the server 20.
In consideration of convenience, it is desirable that the program can be executed remotely via the network 10.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart in the case where the alias name, ID and PW can be registered remotely from a terminal connected to the network 10 (hereinafter referred to as a terminal 40a for convenience). . In this flowchart, the left side shows the processing of the terminal 40a, and the right side shows the processing of the server 20. The difference from FIG. 4A is that an authentication step of the management password (steps S21 and S31) is added.

That is, in the improved group information registration processing process, a management password (a password issued for management, which is different from the identification information PW) assigned in advance is input at the terminal 40a (step). S21) After the server 20 determines the validity of the management password (step S31), and only when the management password is correct, first, the terminal 40a inputs the alias name of the group at the terminal 40a (step S22).
0, the alias name is registered (step S32), and then a unique ID and PW are input as identification information of the group at the terminal 40a (step S23), and the ID and PW are registered at the server 20 (step S33). ).

Therefore, according to the improved group information registration processing, the server 20 is controlled via the network 10 by remote operation from the terminal 40a, for example.
Since the group information can be registered in the data table 50, the management load on the server 20 can be reduced, and the specific user (group administrator) who knows the management password can use the alias name of the own group. Can be freely registered from a remote place, so that there is an advantage that flexible group management can be performed without restricting the action of the group manager.

FIG. 5A shows a group information request processing process (the control described above) for downloading the group information registered in the server 20 to an arbitrary terminal (for convenience, the terminal 40a) on the network 10. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a part of a program).

The user of the terminal 40a connects the terminal 40a to the network 10 to access the server 20, and obtains the alias name of the group to which the user belongs, which is transmitted in advance by an administrator of the group or the like by oral or electronic mail. .) Is input (step S41). The server 20 searches the data table 50 with reference to the alias name (step S51), and finds a record in which the same alias name is registered (step S52). The data is transmitted to the terminal 40a (step S53). The terminal 40a receives the ID from the server 20.
And PW are acquired (step S42), and the information is set as the identification information of the own terminal (step S43), and then the process is terminated.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a terminal-to-terminal negotiating process (part of the control program) performed between terminals (for convenience, the terminals 40a and 40b) in which the same identification information is set. It is a simple flowchart. In this figure, for example, upon receiving a negotiating request from the terminal 40b (step S61), the terminal 40a acquires the identification information of the partner terminal (in this case, the terminal 40b) (step S6).
2), the acquired identification information and the own terminal (in this case, the terminal 40
A match with the identification information of a) is determined (step S6).
3). If the identification information does not match, the connection with the partner terminal is disconnected (step S64). On the other hand, if the identification information matches, for example, an arbitrary user application program or the like is executed to establish a connection with the partner terminal. , Etc., is started (step S65).

According to the group information request processing process, the user simply inputs the alias name of the own group, downloads the identification information of the group from the server 20, sets the same in the own terminal, and sets the same identification information. Data transfer and the like can be performed between the set terminals.
Therefore, IDs that are generally only symbol strings that are difficult to remember
It is possible to automate a set of identification information such as a network terminal and a PW, and to realize a method and an apparatus for managing identification information of a network terminal which is easy to use with improved operability. Moreover, since the user only needs to know the alias name of the own group and does not need to know the ID or PW, the user can keep the ID and PW (identification information) confidential and improve the security. Can be achieved.

In the above example, even if the user who knows the alias name is not a regular member of the group (if the user is an unauthorized user), the user can obtain the identification information of the group. Since it can be downloaded to the terminal and set, it is necessary to take some kind of security measure (elimination of unauthorized users).

FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of the countermeasures. When the identification information is downloaded, terminal information (such as terminal user information) of the download request source is transmitted to the server 20.
This is an example in which the information is recorded one by one. That is, FIG.
Is a terminal information registration data table 51 (alias name referrer list) provided in the server 20. This data table 51 is used when a download request for identification information is made via the network 10. The original terminal information is recorded for each group. For example, in the illustrated example, for a group, "AA
A, “BBB”, and “CCC” are recorded, and these users (“AAA”, “AAA”,
“BBB” and “CCC”) are the users of the terminals that have downloaded the identification information of the group.

On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows an improvement of the above-mentioned group information request processing process,
And a terminal information recording processing step (steps S71 and S81) and a list display processing step of the data table 51 (steps S72 and S82). As can be understood from this figure, the terminal information is recorded in the data table 51 (Step S).
71 and step S81), after performing the download of the identification information and the setting to the own terminal (steps S41 to S43 and steps S51 to S53: see FIG. 5), the registered contents of the data table 51 are listed, and the terminal (Step S82), and a list is displayed on the terminal (step S72).

Therefore, every time the identification information is downloaded and set in the terminal, the user information and the like of the terminal can be registered and grasped in the server 20, and the grasped information can be displayed and confirmed on the terminal side. From,
It is possible to immediately know which user belongs to the group, and if an unfamiliar user is included in the list, immediately take necessary measures such as changing the alias name, ID or PW. It is possible,
Unauthorized users can be forcibly excluded.

[0040]

According to the first or third aspect of the present invention, when a terminal on a network refers to an alias name for a server, identification information associated with the alias name is downloaded from the server to the terminal. Is set as identification information of the terminal itself. Therefore, the setting operation of the identification information can be simplified to improve the usability, and a user who does not know the alias name cannot download the identification information from the server, so that an unauthorized user can be excluded. According to the second or fourth aspect of the present invention, user information of a terminal is obtained in response to an alias name reference from an arbitrary terminal, and the user information is stored in an alias name reference list of the server. In addition to the additional registration, the alias name referrer list is transferred from the server to the terminal and displayed on the terminal, so that all users who have requested the download of the identification information can be grasped. If a user is confirmed that no user is available, the user can be regarded as an unauthorized user and necessary measures can be taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server 20.

FIG. 3 is an example internal configuration diagram of terminals 40a and 40b.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a group information registration processing process.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a group information request processing process.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a data table 51 for registering terminal information.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of an improved group information request processing process.

FIG. 8 is a simplified conceptual diagram of exclusive management.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network 20 server 21 CPU (transfer unit, registration unit) 40a terminal 40b terminal 41 CPU (setting unit, display unit) 45 display unit (display unit) 51 data table (alias name referrer list)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, the identification information and an alias name of the identification information are stored in a server on the network in association with each other; Transferring the identification information corresponding to the alias name from the server to the terminal in response to the alias name reference from an arbitrary terminal; and setting the transferred identification information to the terminal. Information management method of network terminal to be described. 2. In a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, the identification information and an alias name of the identification information are stored in a server on the network in association with each other; Acquiring user information of the terminal in response to the alias name reference from any terminal, and additionally registering the user information in the alias name reference list of the server; Transferring, in response, the identification information corresponding to the alias name and the alias name referrer list to the terminal from the server, setting the transferred identification information in the terminal and storing the alias name referrer list in the terminal Displaying the information on the network terminal. 3. In a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, a server is provided on the network for holding the identification information and an alias name of the identification information in association with each other. The server further includes a transfer unit that transfers identification information corresponding to the alias name to the terminal in response to the alias name reference from an arbitrary terminal, wherein the terminal stores the transferred identification information in its own terminal. An identification information management device for a network terminal, comprising: setting means for setting the identification information in a network terminal. 4. In a network environment in which communication can be performed only between terminals set with common identification information, a server is provided on the network for holding the identification information and an alias name of the identification information in association with each other. A server that obtains user information of the terminal in response to an alias name reference from an arbitrary terminal, and additionally registers the user information in an alias name reference list in the server; Transfer means for transferring the identification information corresponding to the alias name and the alias name reference list to the terminal in response to the alias name reference from the terminal, wherein the terminal stores the transferred identification information in its own A network comprising: setting means for setting in a terminal; and display means for displaying the transferred alias name referrer list. Terminal identification information management device.