JP2005352530A - Web storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a web storage system that can use a computer managed by an individual as a storage device, and can record data in the storage device from a terminal computer via the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: In this system, a web storage management server 1, a computer 2 for individual management, and the individual terminal computer 4 using the computer 2 for individual management are interconnected through the Internet 5. An ID number issued by the web storage management server 1 is received by the computer 2 for individual management and/or the terminal computer 4. The computer 2 for individual management transmits an acquired IP address to the web storage management server 1 based on the ID number, and the terminal computer 4 utilizes the storage device 3 of the computer 2 as a web storage based on the IP address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a web storage system, and more particularly, to a web storage system that uses a personal computer managed by an individual as a storage device, and can record data in the storage device from a terminal computer via the Internet. Is.

  In recent years, with the broadbandization of the Internet, not only documents but also images such as photographs, and even movies and sounds have been stored in computer storage devices, and digital data has become enormous. ing. In addition, the data transfer speed has been increased, and the bit unit price for data transfer has also decreased. Furthermore, the bit unit price of a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an optical disk is decreasing, and this tendency is further increased.

  On the other hand, as a conventional system for storing a large amount of data, there is a file server dedicated to only data exchange, which is called NAS (Network Attached Storage), but it has a drawback in that the network is loaded and transmission efficiency is poor. was there. There is a SAN (Storage Area Network) as a solution to such a drawback. SAN is a storage service system using a dedicated line. Referring to FIG. 3, in this storage service system, a storage service operator has a storage server 14, a user authentication server 13, and a dedicated network authentication server 15 connected to a dedicated network 20 via lines 33-36. Connected. The user of the terminal A10 or the terminal B12 can use the storage service only when using a hard key containing a certificate issued by the storage service operator. The terminal A 10 or the terminal B 12 can use the dedicated network 20 upon receiving authentication from the dedicated network authentication server 15. The terminal A10 or the terminal B12 can be connected to the dedicated network 20 via ADSL or optical fibers 30, 31, the wireless access point 11, and the like, and when the wireless access point 11 is passed, the storage service is provided within the hot spot. There is something that you can accept in. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2004-005037 A (all pages of the specification, all drawings)

  However, if NAS constructs such a system as one company, there is a drawback that access to the storage server is concentrated and transmission efficiency deteriorates, and it can be solved by providing a mirror site. Etc., and there is a problem with security, and it is necessary to take measures such as a fire wall and so on, and there is a disadvantage that the equipment cost increases. On the other hand, SAN uses a dedicated line, which improves transmission efficiency and has excellent security, but has the disadvantage that the maintenance cost rises because a dedicated line or wireless access point must be used. there were. Therefore, a storage system that can maintain security and that does not require a rental fee for the storage device and that can be constructed at low cost has been desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a web storage system in which a computer managed by an individual is used as a storage device, and data can be recorded in the storage device from a terminal computer via the Internet. It is for the purpose.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the invention of claim 1 includes a web storage management server, a personal management computer, and a personal terminal computer using the personal management computer. The personal management computer and / or the terminal computer receives an ID number issued by the web storage management server and connected to the Internet, and the personal management computer receives the acquired IP address based on the ID number. This is a web storage system characterized in that the terminal computer uses the storage device of the personal management computer as a web storage based on the IP address. The web storage means a storage device (storage device) that can be used by a specific individual provided on the web.

  The personal management computer automatically sends the acquired IP address to the web storage management server, and the web storage management server sends the IP address to the terminal computer so that the terminal computer directly accesses the personal management computer. Can do. On the other hand, it is desirable that the ID number transmitted from the web storage management server is encrypted. The terminal computer can automatically obtain the IP address obtained by the personal management computer by opening the home page of the web storage management server by URL (Uniform Resource Locators) and inputting the user code and password. The IP address managed by the user ID number can be automatically obtained. Further, the ID number issued by the web storage management server may be sent after being encrypted. Furthermore, the web storage management server adds a different code number to the ID number each time it is used and sends it to the personal management computer, and sends the IP address to the web storage management server based on the new ID number. You may make it do.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the terminal computer is connectable with a USB key having key information for connecting to the web storage management server via the Internet. Is a web storage system. The USB key stores key information for connecting to the web storage management server. By attaching the USB key to the terminal computer, the URL of the web storage management server is sent out and connected to the web storage management server. The terminal computer can obtain the IP address of the personal management computer and connect to the personal management computer. Note that a password, a user code, or the like may be included as key information.

  The invention of claim 3 is the web storage system according to claim 2, wherein the USB key has a fingerprint authentication function. There are various methods for fingerprint authentication. For example, fingerprint information is registered in the storage area of the terminal computer in advance via a USB key, the fingerprint data is authenticated, and the IP address is obtained from the web storage management server only when it is permitted. The fingerprint authentication itself may be executed on the web storage management server side.

  The invention of claim 4 is the web storage system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the USB key has a nonvolatile storage area, and temporarily stores data in the storage area. It is good also as a field to do.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems. In the invention of claim 1, a web storage management server, a personal management computer, and a personal terminal computer using the personal management computer are provided. The personal management computer and / or the terminal computer receives an ID number issued by the web storage management server and connected to the Internet, and the personal management computer receives the acquired IP address based on the ID number. The web storage management server sends the IP address to the terminal computer, and the terminal computer uses the storage device of the personal management computer as a web storage based on the IP address. Is a web storage system and personal management The computer and the terminal computer are assembled so that they can be accessed by an IP address. When the IP address of the personal management computer is changed, the computer is automatically transmitted to the web storage management server, and the terminal computer The IP address is transmitted via the web storage management server. In the web storage management server, the IP address is managed together with the ID number, and the security of the system is protected. In addition, since the terminal computer can write and read data to and from the storage device (storage device) of the personal management computer based on the ID number and the IP address, security is protected and the storage system can be inexpensively operated. Can be built. This web storage system is not limited to being used within a single company, but can generally be expanded. In addition, although the user is charged for the use of this system, the storage device has the advantage that it is extremely inexpensive because it uses the storage device of its own computer. The security level can be further increased by encrypting the ID number and transmitting it.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the web storage system according to the first aspect, a USB key for having key information to be connected to the web storage management server can be connected to the terminal computer. Therefore, when the USB key is inserted into the USB socket of the terminal computer, it is automatically connected to the web storage management server via the Internet, and the terminal computer automatically obtains the IP address of the personal management computer managed by the web storage management server. There is an advantage that the personal computer can be accessed. Note that the USB key has a function of automatically opening the web storage management server, and further can be given a function of automatically accessing the personal management computer, which is convenient. The USB key is managed by the administrator of the web storage management server, and has an advantage that security can be set high.

  The invention of claim 3 is the web storage system according to claim 2, wherein the USB key is provided with a fingerprint authentication function. There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent access to the personal management computer by operating the computer, and to prevent leakage or falsification of data written in the storage device by a third party or data erasure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the USB key has a non-volatile storage area. The web storage system according to the second or third aspect, wherein data can be temporarily recorded. It is possible to add a program having various security functions, and a highly secure web storage system can be constructed.

  Embodiments of a web storage system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a web storage system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
The present embodiment is a web storage system in which a storage device connected to a personal management computer can record or read data via the Internet. As shown in FIG. 1, the web storage management server 1 The personal management computer 2 and a terminal computer 4 used by an individual who uses the personal management computer 2 are connected via the Internet 5, and the personal management computer 2 is connected to an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an optical disk. A storage device 3 is connected. The storage device 3 may be a device built in the personal management computer 2 or an external storage device.

  The personal management computer 2 is, for example, a computer installed at home or in a remote place, and may be a computer installed on the web in a distributed manner, and targets computers that can be connected via the Internet. The web storage management server 1 has a function of issuing and managing an ID number to the personal management computer 4. The personal management computer 2 is based on the ID number, and the personal management computer 2 is an ISP (Internet Service Provider). ) Is sent to the web storage management server 1, and the web storage management server 1 sends the IP address to the terminal computer 4. The terminal computer 4 can access the personal management computer 2 based on the IP address, and can record data created by the terminal computer 4 in the recording device 3 of the personal management computer 2 via the Internet 5. The terminal computer 4 can read data recorded in the recording device 3. Similarly, the terminal computer 4 obtains an IP address from the ISP and is connected to the web storage management server 1. Thus, this web storage system is a system in which the terminal computer 4 can use the storage device 3 of the personal management computer 2 as a storage device on the web.

  The web storage management server 1 obtains the ID issuing means 1a for issuing an ID number to a person who wants to construct a web storage system, and the IP address sent from the personal management computer 2, and corresponds to the ID number. And IP address sending means 1b for sending and managing the IP address to the terminal computer 4. Of course, the web storage management server 1 manages passwords and user codes for obtaining IP addresses. The web storage management server 1 may manage the storage capacity of the storage device 3 connected to the personal management computer 2 and its free capacity.

  When the personal management computer 2 constructs a web storage system, it sends out a URL, obtains an IP address from the ISP, connects to the web storage management server 1, inputs a user code and password, and enters the web storage management server 1. The ID acquisition unit 2a acquires the ID number issued by the ID issuing unit 1a of the web storage management server 1. The personal management computer 2 sends an IP address corresponding to the ID number to the web storage management server 1. The personal management computer 2 stores a program for performing such a series of processes. Further, a plurality of storage devices 3 mirrored with the storage device 3 of the personal management computer 3 may be installed on the web. In the mirrored storage device, data equal to the data stored in the storage device 3 is stored. In this case, the IP address together with the ID numbers of the mirrored storage devices is recorded and managed on the web storage management server 1 side.

  The terminal computer 4 receives the IP address of the personal management computer 2 sent from the web storage management server 1, accesses the personal management computer 2 based on this IP address, and stores it in the storage device 3 of the personal management computer 2. Data can be stored from the terminal computer 4. The terminal computer 4 and the personal management computer 2 share the storage device 3 as a peer-to-peer type. Further, when the storage device 3 of the personal management computer 3 and the mirrored storage device are installed on the web, the same data is automatically recorded after the operation by the terminal computer 4 is completed.

(Embodiment 2)
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This figure has substantially the same configuration as the above embodiment. The difference of this embodiment from the above embodiment is that the USB key 6 is used. In the present embodiment, when the USB key 6 is attached to the terminal computer 4 in a state where the web storage management server 1, the personal management computer 2, and the terminal computer 4 are connected to the Internet 5, the web storage management is automatically performed. Connected to server 1. The terminal computer 4 receives the IP address obtained by the personal management computer 2 via the web storage management server 1, and the terminal computer 4 can access the personal management computer 2, and the data from the terminal computer 4 is personalized. The data is recorded in the storage device 3 of the management computer 2, and the terminal computer 4 can read the data in the storage device 3. Of course, the IP address acquired by the personal management computer 2 is automatically transmitted to the web storage management server 1 as in the above embodiment.

  The USB key 6 stores key information (URL, ID number, etc.) for connecting to the web storage management server 1 in the storage device 6a. When the USB key 6 is attached to the terminal computer 4, the web storage management server 1 uses the URL. In the same way as in the above embodiment, a user code and a password are input, the web storage management server 1 manages the IP address obtained by the personal management computer 2 together with the ID number, and the terminal computer 4 The IP address obtained by the personal management computer 2 from the ID number can be obtained via the web storage management server 1. The above embodiment is also the same, but a predetermined site for using the web storage device is provided in the web storage management server 1. First, the personal management computer 2 and / or the terminal computer 4 uses this predetermined site. The system is constructed so that it is opened, authenticated by the ID number of the key information, etc., and then connected to the web storage management server 1.

  The key information such as the URL and ID number may be written in the storage area of the USB key 6 by the administrator of the web storage management server 1 or the key information may be written in the storage device 3 as hardware. Good. The storage device 6a is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory, and can be used as a storage area for temporarily storing data created by the terminal computer 4. The terminal computer 4 may register personal information to receive a user code or password, receive an ID number, and store it in the storage area of the USB key 6. It may be provided by being stored in the storage area of the key 6. According to such a USB key 6, when the USB key 6 is attached to a terminal computer, a predetermined site of the personal management computer 2 is automatically opened, an IP address is received, and the personal management computer 2 can be accessed. .

  Furthermore, as one method for improving the security of the present embodiment, it is possible to use a USB key 6 provided with a fingerprint authentication sensor, and the terminal computer 4 sends a URL after fingerprint authentication by the USB key 6 is completed. Then, the security may be enhanced by connecting to the web storage management server 1, opening a predetermined site, obtaining an IP address, and connecting to the personal management computer 2. Alternatively, the web storage management server 1 may execute fingerprint authentication itself.

  In the first and second embodiments, the web storage management server 1 can transmit the ID number to the personal management computer 2 and / or the terminal computer 4. Any of the terminal computers 4 can be set as a client of the web storage management server 1. Further, when the terminal computer 4 is connected to the personal management computer 2, the system may be configured such that a password is requested to the terminal computer 4 side. In addition, the personal management computer 2 may have a plurality of computers mirrored on the web and simultaneously record data in a storage device of those computers.

  The web storage system of the present invention is not limited to being operated for the employees of one company that operates this system, and can expand the number of users beyond the company. However, the storage device itself is managed by the individual who uses it. For example, a storage device connected to a home computer is used as a web storage device. Since the device itself is used, there is an advantage that it is inexpensive.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a web storage system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the conventional web storage service system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Web storage management server 2 Personal management computer 3 Storage device 4 Terminal computer 5 Internet 6 USB key

Claims (4)

  A web storage management server, a personal management computer, and a personal terminal computer using the personal management computer are connected via the Internet, and an ID number issued by the web storage management server is assigned to the personal management computer and / or The terminal computer receives the personal management computer, based on the ID number, sends the acquired IP address to the web storage management server, the web storage management server sends the IP address to the terminal computer, and A terminal computer uses a web storage as a storage device of the personal management computer based on the IP address.   The web storage system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal computer is connectable with a USB key having key information for connecting to the web storage management server via the Internet.   The web storage system according to claim 2, wherein the USB key has a fingerprint authentication function.   4. The web storage system according to claim 2, wherein the USB key has a non-volatile storage area.

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