JP2003244244A - Two-way communication method for internet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform automatic meter-reading or monitor or the like via the Internet by realizing substantial access from a global address space to a private address space even under the environment of a P version 4. <P>SOLUTION: In performing two-way communication via the Internet N between a first terminal Pa imparted with a private address and a second terminal Pb imparted with a global address, the first terminal Pa performs connection to the second terminal Pb at a prescribed time Ts interval, and the second terminal Pb monitors the presence/absence of data to be transmitted to the first terminal Pa, and when the data are generated, the second terminal Pb executes the transmission processing of the data to the first terminal Pa when the connection is performed by the first terminal Pa. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internet bidirectional communication method suitable for bidirectional communication between a private address space and a global address space.

[0002]

[Background and Challenges] Currently, a unique global address is assigned to a terminal device (node) directly connected to the Internet, but due to the rapid spread of the Internet, there is a problem of exhaustion of this global address. . Therefore, the 32-bit IP currently used
(Internet Protocol) The transition from version 4 to IP version 6 with a large increase in addresses is in progress.

On the other hand, even under the current IP version 4 environment, a private address that can be used in a closed environment such as an in-house LAN is used, and an original global address is assigned only when accessing the Internet. In this case, as a mechanism for enabling access from the private address space to the global address space (Internet), Proxy and NAT (NetWork Address Addr) are available.
ss Translator) and the like are known. It should be noted that the global address is the only IP address in the world that is applied to and assigned by the Internet management organization, while the private address is assigned to a terminal device (computer) on a private network that is not connected to the Internet. It is an IP address. This private address is defined by RFC1918 by the Internet Special Technical Committee (IETF).

By the way, private addresses are not supposed to be routed from the Internet (global address) side, and outside the organization,
Sending packets with private addresses is also prohibited. However, private addresses can be freely assigned and used within the organization. That is, although it cannot be used on the Internet, a range (space) that can be freely used within the organization is defined. As the range, ClassA × 1 “10.0.0.0 to 1
0.255.255.25 ", Class B × 16
"172.16.0.0 to 172.31.2525.25
5 ", Class C x 256" 192.168.0.0.
~ 192.168.255.255 "is used. Within this range, for example, in the case of personally constructing a home LAN, the client machine that is normally used is
IP address "192.168.0.64", and server IP address "192.168.0.1"
The IP address "192.168.0.25
An address can be freely assigned to each terminal device such as "4".

As described above, when accessing the global address space from the private address space under the environment of IP version 4 via the Internet,
Although it is possible with Proxy, NAT, etc., since the private address space cannot be accessed from the global address space, for example, for a terminal device connected to a gas meter of a general home (user) that becomes the private address space, From the terminal installed at the gas company (center), which is the global address space,
In the environment of IP version 4, after all, there was a problem that the automatic meter reading and the like for the gas meter could not be easily performed using the Internet.

The present invention has been made in response to such a background, and enables substantial access from the global address space to the private address space even under the environment of IP version 4, and thus enables the Internet access. It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-way communication method on the Internet which enables easy automatic meter reading and monitoring.

[0007]

Means and Embodiments for Solving the Problems In a two-way communication method of the Internet according to the present invention, between a first terminal device Pa assigned a private address and a second terminal device Pb assigned a global address. When performing bidirectional communication via the Internet N, the first terminal device P
a connects to the second terminal device Pb at intervals of a predetermined time Ts, and the second terminal device Pb
The presence / absence of data to be transmitted to the first terminal device Pa is monitored, and when the data is generated, a data transmission process is performed to the first terminal device Pa at the time of connection by the first terminal device Pa. Characterize.

In this case, according to the preferred embodiment, it is desirable that the first terminal device Pa is set to the always connected environment. In addition, a plurality of first terminal devices Paa, Pab, Pac
... and each of the first terminal devices Paa, Pab,
A mode in which a single management device M that manages Pac ... Is provided, and a mode in which a control device C that is connected to the management device M and that connects to the second terminal device Pb at a predetermined time interval Ts is provided. Can also be carried out. On the other hand, the data may include communication data Dt for making a connection to the third terminal device Pc. At this time, if the first terminal device Pa receives the communication data Dt, the first terminal device Pa connects to the third terminal device Pc, and the third terminal device Pc makes the first terminal device Pc.
At the time of the connection of a, the processing data Dd corresponding to the first terminal device Pa can be transmitted to the first terminal device Pa. In addition, a plurality of third terminal devices Pc
It is also possible to implement by a mode that includes a, Pcb, Pcc ... And a single second terminal device Pb that manages each third terminal device Pca, Pcb, Pcc.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a system system used in the two-way communication method of the Internet according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the embodiment of FIG. 3 exemplifies an automatic meter reading system 1 for automatically metering a gas meter provided in a general home via the Internet.

In FIG. 3, Pb indicates a management terminal device (second terminal device) installed in the gas company (center), and
Pc indicates a main terminal device (third terminal device) similarly installed in the gas company (center). Each terminal device Pb and Pc
Has a computer function, and a global address is given to each. In addition, each terminal device Pb
And Pc may be configured by separate computers, or a single computer may have two terminal functions. The management terminal device Pb and the main terminal device Pc are connected to each other, and the terminal devices Pb and Pb are connected to each other.
c connects to the Internet N, respectively.

On the other hand, Pa indicates a user terminal device (first terminal device) provided in a general household (user). This user terminal device Pa is an IP assigned with a private address.
This IP transmission device Pas is equipped with a transmission device Pas.
Connect to a gas meter installed in a general household. IP
The transmission device Pas has at least a function of capturing the meter reading data of the gas meter and a communication function, and also has a timer function of measuring time. Then, the IP transmission device Pas connects to the Internet N via an ISP (provider) by an ADSL line, CATV, or the like. In this case, the ADSL line or the like is set to the constant connection environment.

Further, the IP transmission device Pas is connected to the management terminal device Pb at predetermined time intervals Ts, and the predetermined time period Ts and I of the management terminal device Pb are set.
P address (global address), management terminal device Pb
The respective port numbers are registered as data and are used for implementing the bidirectional communication method according to the present embodiment. In this case, the predetermined time (connection cycle) Ts is approximately 1 to 3600
It can be set arbitrarily within the range of [seconds]. In the embodiment, as an example, description will be made assuming that it is set to 5 seconds. Although FIG. 3 shows only one user terminal device Pa, a large number of user terminal devices Pa are actually connected in the same manner.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a two-way communication method of the Internet according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the main terminal device Pc installed in the center (gas company) is performing centralized management related to the automatic meter reading of the gas meter, and if the illustrated user terminal device Pa reaches the meter reading time, it is shown in FIG. As shown, a connection is made to the management terminal device Pb, and it is written to the management terminal device Pb that there is processing data (download data) Dd for the user terminal device Pa (steps S1 and S2). When the writing is completed, the connection to the management terminal device Pb is cut off (step S3).

On the other hand, the user terminal device Pa has a timer function for continuously measuring the time, and the above-mentioned predetermined time T
A connection is made to the management terminal device Pb every 5 seconds set as s (steps S4 and S5). At the time of connection, the ID data of the user terminal device Pa is transmitted to the management terminal device Pb (step S6). On the other hand, the management terminal device Pb checks whether or not there is a write corresponding to the ID data (step S7). In this case, since there is a writing to the user terminal device Pa indicating that there is the processing data Dd, the management terminal device Pb determines that the user terminal device Pa is the same.
It is determined that the writing corresponding to is present, and the IP address (global address) of the main terminal device Pc that is the communication data Dt
Is transmitted to the user terminal device Pa (steps S8, S
9). Upon receiving the IP address, the user terminal device Pa disconnects the connection to the management terminal device Pb (step S10). Moreover, the management terminal device Pb deletes the transmitted writing.

Upon receiving the IP address of the main terminal device Pc, the user terminal device Pa makes a connection to the main terminal device Pc based on this IP address, and the ID data of the user terminal device Pa is sent to the main terminal device Pa. It is transmitted to Pc (steps S11 and S12). As a result, the main terminal device Pc transmits the processing data (download data) Dd corresponding to the ID data to the user terminal device Pa (step S13). In this case, the processing data Dd is the same as the data in the conventional automatic meter reading system using a telephone line.
Automatic meter reading processing is performed based on d. Specifically, processing such as transmitting the meter reading data in the user terminal device Pa to the main terminal device Pc can be performed based on the processing data Dd. When a series of processes based on the processing data Dd is completed, the user terminal device Pa disconnects the connection to the main terminal device Pc (step S14).

Next, a description will be given of the processing when there is no writing corresponding to the user terminal device Pa when the user terminal device Pa makes a connection to the management terminal device Pb. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device Pa makes a connection to the management terminal device Pb every 5 [seconds] as in the case of FIG. 1 (steps S21, S22), and the ID data. Is transmitted (step S
23). As a result, the management terminal device Pb checks whether or not there is a write corresponding to the ID data (step S2).
4). At this time, since there is no writing to the user terminal device Pa, the management terminal device Pb transmits a code without writing to the user terminal device Pa (steps S25 and S26).
The user terminal device Pa disconnects the connection to the management terminal device Pb by receiving the unwritten code (step S27).

Therefore, in such a bidirectional communication method,
User terminal device Pa to which a private address is assigned
Is set to the constant connection environment, and the connection to the second terminal device Pb is for a predetermined time Ts (5 [seconds]).
Repeated at intervals. In addition, the second terminal device Pb monitors whether or not there is data to be transmitted to the first terminal device Pa, and when the data is generated, a process of transmitting data to the first terminal device Pa is performed. Therefore, even under the environment of IP version 4, it becomes possible to effectively access (bidirectional communication) from the global address space to the private address space, which facilitates automatic meter reading and monitoring of the gas meter via the Internet. It can be carried out. Further, in such a bidirectional communication method, since the first terminal device (user terminal device) Pa to be used does not have a global address, D
Strong against OS attacks (security). Note that the second terminal device (management terminal device) Pb and the main terminal device Pc side must have strong security.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the management terminal device Pb and the main terminal device Pc are separated. The reason for this is that when managing a large amount of data in a short time, a single terminal device imposes a considerable burden. Therefore, the main terminal device Pc that executes the original automatic meter reading process is left as it is, and the management terminal device Pb that executes the process added by the two-way communication method according to the present embodiment is separately prepared. This makes it possible to reduce the load on each terminal device Pb, Pc and stabilize the processing. Therefore,
If the amount of processed data is small or a high-performance computer is used, it can be replaced with a single terminal device.

Next, a bidirectional communication method of the Internet according to a modified embodiment of the present invention and a system system used in the method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

The above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 exemplify a so-called one-to-one relationship in which the gas meter is read by a gas company, but FIG. 4 shows the same user from a plurality of main terminal devices Pca, Pcb. A case of accessing the terminal device Pa is shown. In this case, similarly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the user terminal device Pa can make a connection to each of the main terminal devices Pca, Pcb ... At predetermined time intervals Ts. It causes an increase. Therefore, in the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a single management terminal device Pb that manages a plurality of main terminal devices Pca, Pcb ... Is installed.
Writing from a plurality of main terminal devices Pca, Pcb ... Can be commonly managed by a single management terminal device Pb. on the other hand,
The user terminal device Pa only needs to make a connection to the single management terminal device Pb, and at the same time, the main terminal device Pca (or Pcb ...) Including that there is the processing data Dd for the user terminal device Pa is written. Since it is sufficient to make a connection only to a plurality of main terminal devices Pc
Even when the same user terminal device Pa is accessed from a, Pcb ..., Increase in traffic can be avoided.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the main terminal device Pca accesses the user terminal device Paa provided in the home LAN, and the main terminal device Pcb accesses the user terminal device Pab. A case where the terminal device Pcc accesses the same user terminal device Pac is shown. In this case as well, similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the processing can be performed individually in each system, but this causes an increase in traffic. Therefore, in the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the management apparatus M and the control apparatus C are installed at the entrance of the home LAN. This management device M manages each user terminal device Paa ...
Connects to a single management terminal device Pb at predetermined time intervals Ts. Accordingly, when the control device C is connected, for example, if there is a writing from the main terminal device Pcb indicating that there is processing data Dd for the user terminal device Pab, the communication data Dt will be written by the management device M to the user terminal device Pab. Transferred to. Therefore, also in this case, the increase in traffic can be avoided.

In addition, when this system system is used, it can be applied to a plurality of surveillance cameras. In this case, the management terminal device Pb side is the ASP, and when there is access from the mobile phone, the image of the surveillance camera is displayed on the display of the mobile phone. At this time, the main terminal device Pc
a ... and surveillance camera (user terminal device Paa ...) 1: 1
The display can be updated at any time, or the required image of the surveillance camera can be displayed with the main terminal device Pca ... And the surveillance camera (user terminal device Paa ...) as 1 to n.

Further, as a concrete example, the modified embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 show the image of the camera (video camera) 2 connected to the home LAN 5 by the user as an external portable telephone T.
It can be seen from. In FIG. 6, 3 indicates a camera controller and Pa indicates a user terminal device. Also, 4
Is a gateway, and the port is connected to the home LAN 5 and is also connected to the Internet N via an ISP (provider) by an ADSL line or the like.

The operation of the system system shown in FIG. 6 is shown in the flow chart of FIG. First, the user accesses the web from the mobile phone T and displays the web page of the main terminal device Pc (step S31). As a result, the input screen is displayed on the display of the mobile phone T (step S32). The user inputs the ID and password on this input screen (step S33). Upon completion of the input, the menu screen is displayed (step S34). The user selects "camera display" from the menu screen (step S35). As a result, the main terminal device Pc makes a connection to the management terminal device Pb, and processing data (camera data request) Dd for the user terminal device Pa.
Is written in the management terminal device Pb (step S3).
6).

On the other hand, the user terminal device Pa has a predetermined time Ts (5 [seconds]) by the timer function for continuously measuring the time.
Each time, a connection is made to the management terminal device Pb (step S37). At the time of connection, the ID data of the user terminal device Pa is transmitted to the management terminal device Pb (step S38). On the other hand, the management terminal device Pb has an ID
The presence or absence of writing corresponding to the data is checked (step S39). In this case, since there is a writing to the user terminal device Pa indicating that there is the processing data Dd, the management terminal device Pb determines that there is a writing corresponding to the user terminal device Pa, and it is the communication data Dt. IP of main terminal device Pc
The address (global address) is set to the user terminal device P.
to a (step S40). User terminal device Pa
When receiving the IP address, disconnects the connection to the management terminal device Pb (step S41).

Upon receiving the IP address of the main terminal device Pc, the user terminal device Pa makes a connection to the main terminal device Pc based on this IP address, and the ID data of the user terminal device Pa is sent to the main terminal device Pc.
(Step S42). As a result, the main terminal device Pc transmits the processing data (camera data request) Dd corresponding to the ID data to the user terminal device Pa (step S43). Upon receiving the camera data request (Dd), the user terminal device Pa transfers it to the camera controller 3 via the home LAN 5 (step S).
44). Then, the camera controller 3 controls the camera 2 based on the camera data request (Dd) (step S45). As a result, camera data is input from the camera 2 to the camera controller 3, and the camera controller 3 transfers this camera data to the user terminal device Pa (steps S46 and S47). As a result, the image captured by the camera 2 is displayed on the display of the mobile phone T (steps S48, S49).

When the user finishes viewing the image, the user selects the end on the mobile phone T (step S50). As a result, the end code is transmitted from the main terminal device Pc to the user terminal device Pa, and the connection from the mobile phone T to the main terminal device Pc is disconnected (step S5).
1, S52). In addition, the user terminal device Pa disconnects the connection to the main terminal device Pc (step S5).
3). As described above, also in the modified embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the basic bidirectional communication method is the same as that of the embodiments shown in FIGS.

Although the embodiment (modified embodiment) has been described in detail above, in addition to the above, the detailed configuration, method, etc.
Modifications, additions, and deletions can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the case of setting the constant connection environment is illustrated, but the case of setting the dial-up connection environment is not excluded.

[0031]

As described above, the internet bidirectional communication method according to the present invention enables bidirectional communication via the internet between the first terminal device to which the private address is assigned and the second terminal device to which the global address is assigned. When performing communication, the first terminal device makes a connection to the second terminal device at a predetermined time interval, and the second terminal device monitors the presence or absence of data to be transmitted to the first terminal device, When data is generated, the data transmission process is performed to the first terminal device at the time of connection by the first terminal device, so that the following remarkable effects are obtained.

(1) Even under the environment of IP version 4, it is possible to substantially access the private address space from the global address space, and thus it is possible to easily perform automatic meter reading and monitoring on the Internet. .

(2) According to a preferred embodiment, when the first terminal device receives the communication data, it makes a connection to the third terminal device and at the time of connection of the first terminal device, the third terminal device. Therefore, by transmitting the processing data corresponding to the first terminal device to the first terminal device, it is possible to reduce the load on each terminal device and stabilize the process.

(3) According to a preferred embodiment, a single second terminal device for managing a plurality of third terminal devices is provided, or a single management device for managing a plurality of first terminal devices. If the device is further provided with a control device connected to the management device and connected to the second terminal device at a predetermined time interval, it is possible to avoid an increase in traffic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when there is writing in a second terminal device in a two-way communication method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when there is no writing in the second terminal device in the two-way communication method,

FIG. 3 is a system system diagram used in the two-way communication method.

FIG. 4 is a system system diagram used in a two-way communication method according to a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a system system diagram used in a two-way communication method according to another modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a system system diagram used in a two-way communication method according to another modified embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a bidirectional communication method using the system system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Pa first terminal device Paa ... First terminal device Pb second terminal device Pc Third terminal device Pca ... Third terminal device N Internet Data for Dt communication Dd processing data M management device C control device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasuhide Tsuchida             1067 Toyo Keiki Co., Ltd. 3967 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture             Inside the company (72) Inventor Yasutoshi Kurashina             1067 Toyo Keiki Co., Ltd. 3967 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture             Inside the company (72) Inventor Mitsuru Koshiyama             1067 Toyo Keiki Co., Ltd. 3967 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture             Inside the company (72) Inventor Masahiro Sato             1067 Toyo Keiki Co., Ltd. 3967 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture             Inside the company F-term (reference) 5K030 HC01 HC13 HD03 HD06 HD09                       LB02                 5K033 BA01 CB08 DA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A bidirectional communication method of the Internet, wherein bidirectional communication is performed between a first terminal device to which a private address is assigned and a second terminal device to which a global address is assigned via the Internet. Is connected to the second terminal device at a predetermined time interval, the second terminal device monitors the presence or absence of data to be transmitted to the first terminal device, and when the data is generated, A two-way communication method on the Internet, characterized in that when the first terminal device is connected, the data transmission process is performed to the first terminal device. 2. The two-way communication method for the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal device is set in an always-connected environment. 3. A plurality of first terminal devices are provided, and
The bidirectional communication method for the Internet according to claim 1, further comprising a single management device that manages each first terminal device. 4. A two-way communication method for the Internet according to claim 3, further comprising a control device connected to the management device and connected to the second terminal device at the predetermined time interval. 5. The two-way communication method for the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the data is communication data for establishing a connection with a third terminal device. 6. The first terminal device, upon receiving the communication data, establishes a connection with the third terminal device, and the third terminal device, when the first terminal device is connected, 6. The two-way communication method for the Internet according to claim 5, wherein the processing data corresponding to the first terminal device is transmitted to the first terminal device. 7. A plurality of third terminal devices are provided, and
7. The two-way communication method for the Internet according to claim 6, further comprising a single second terminal device that manages each third terminal device.