JP2010061292A - Connection device and connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily configure setting between a connection device and a service provider. <P>SOLUTION: This connection device 100 connected to a line connection device 30 mediating connection to a network NT has an imaging part 160. A paper sheet 20 with information unique to the user among setting information for connecting the connection device 100 to the line connection device 30 recorded thereon in the form of a QR code is captured by a camera 167, and the QR code is analyzed to acquire the unique information (an ID and a password) of the user. By storing the unique information in a predetermined address of an EEPROM 153 in a non-volatile manner, the setting for the connection device 100 is completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device for connecting a network user and a service provider, and a connection method thereof.

  When a network user connects to a service provider, a connection device (such as a router or a modem) that enables communication between the user's device and the service provider's equipment is required. Service providers usually perform some kind of authentication for users who want to connect. In order to receive authentication by the service provider, the user transmits, to the service provider, authentication specific information (usually an ID and a password) distributed by mail from the service provider to the user before connection. . If such unique information is stored in the connection device, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the unique information every connection.

  In this case, the user must input the unique information using his / her terminal device (for example, a personal computer) and store it by a procedure such as transmitting it to the connection device, and complete the setting operation. The method of inputting and setting the unique information differs depending on the type of connection device or the type of line for connection to the network, and may differ depending on the contracted service provider. In response to these differences, the user has to set up a connection, which is troublesome. As an attempt to facilitate connection setting, for example, techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below are known.

JP 2005-130334 A JP 2007-243365 A

  However, there are several problems with the above technique. First, the network device setting method of Patent Document 1 only facilitates the access method to the setting screen on the web for setting the connection device, and the user himself / herself inputs the specific information of the user thereafter. The problem of having to be solved is not solved. In addition, in the method for setting connection to the network system of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to add a plurality of servers in addition to the servers necessary for a general network system. In addition, it has been pointed out that from the user side, personal information such as a mobile phone number must be taught to the service provider side.

  In view of such background art, an object of the present invention is to facilitate connection setting including a process of inputting user specific information in connection setting of a connection device to a service provider.

  The present invention adopts the following forms or application examples in order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems.

[Application Example 1]
A connection device for connecting to a service provider that mediates network connection,
Of the setting information for connecting the connection device to the service provider, the unique information is acquired in a non-contact manner from a sheet-like recording medium in which unique information that is unique to the user is fixedly recorded in advance. Acquisition means;
And a setting unit configured to set a connection to the service provider using the specific information acquired by the acquiring unit.

  According to the connection device of Application Example 1, since the connection device acquires the unique information from the recording medium and sets the connection, the user does not need to directly input the unique information as the connection setting work. The unique information is recorded on a sheet-like recording medium and can be easily delivered to the user.

[Application Example 2]
A connection device according to Application Example 1,
The fixed recording of the unique information on the recording medium is performed by imaging the unique information and printing it as an image on the recording medium,
The acquisition means includes
An imaging unit that captures an image;
A connection device comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes the image on the recording medium and acquires the unique information when the recording unit images the recording medium.
According to the connection device of the application example 2, the user only needs to capture an image in which the unique information is imaged by the imaging unit provided in the connection device, and can easily set the connection. .

[Application Example 3]
A connection device according to Application Example 2,
The setting means includes a receiving unit capable of receiving at least data by wireless communication based on a predetermined procedure,
The acquisition means includes
It is configured separately from the main body of the connection device,
A connection apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the unique information acquired by the analysis unit to the reception unit.

According to the connection device of Application Example 3, since the acquisition unit is provided separately from the connection device main body, it is possible to shoot a recording medium relatively freely due to restrictions on the installation location of the connection device. Benefits are gained. In addition, since it is the unique information that has been analyzed that is transmitted to the main body, there is an advantage that data transmission can be completed in a short time.
In addition, the imaging unit, the analysis unit, and the transmission unit configured separately may be provided integrally, but only the imaging unit may be further separated. Further, in addition to these units, a notification unit such as an LED that indicates the execution state of a series of processes such as imaging and analysis of unique information from the recording medium may be added. A device such as a pan head that adjusts or fixes the posture of the imaging unit may be provided. Alternatively, a web camera function may be further incorporated in a device including an imaging unit, an analysis unit, and a transmission unit, and the device may be used as a web camera except when the connection device is set.

[Application Example 4]
A connection device according to Application Example 2,
The acquisition means includes
The imaging unit is configured separately from the main body of the connection device,
The image data of the recording medium imaged by the imaging unit is transmitted to the analysis unit of the main body of the connection device by a predetermined communication unit.
Connected device.

According to the connection device of Application Example 4, data of an image captured by a separate imaging unit can be sent to the main body side and analyzed by the analysis unit on the main body side to acquire unique information. Since the analysis of the unique information from the image data is performed on the main body side, it is possible to cause the CPU on the connection device side to perform analysis processing.
In this case, in addition to the imaging unit, other components such as a notification LED may be added.

[Application Example 5]
The connection device according to any one of Application Examples 2 to 4,
The unique information in the recording medium is printed on the recording medium in a QR code format after data representing the unique information is converted into a QR code format.
The connection unit that analyzes the QR code included in an image captured by the imaging unit and acquires the unique information as data.

  According to the connection device of Application Example 5, since the unique information is a QR code, the unique information can be easily analyzed and acquired. Moreover, if the unique information is recorded on the recording medium using only the QR code, the unique information cannot be seen by others.

[Application Example 6]
A connection device according to Application Example 1,
The fixed recording of the unique information in the recording medium is performed by writing the unique information as digital data in a recording element having a non-contact communication unit embedded in a sheet,
The acquisition unit is a connection device that receives the unique information from the storage element using a non-contact communication unit.

  According to the connection device of Application Example 6, since the unique information of the recording medium is input to the connection device by the non-contact communication means, the user can set the connection without directly inputting the unique information, and the image Since analysis or the like is not required, the reliability of acquisition of specific information can be increased.

[Application Example 7]
A connection device according to Application Example 6,
The recording element is composed of an RFID tag,
The acquisition unit is a connection device that acquires the specific information from the RFID tag via electromagnetic waves.
According to the connection device of Application Example 7, since the recording element is an RFID tag, it is possible to easily and inexpensively record and acquire unique information.

[Application Example 8]
A connection device according to Application Example 1,
The setting unit
A storage unit for storing the unique information;
A connection device comprising: a connection unit that transmits the unique information stored in the storage unit to the service provider, obtains connection permission to the service provider, and connects to the service provider.

  According to the connection device of Application Example 8, since the connection device stores the unique information and connects to the service provider, when a connection request from the various terminals connected to the connection device to the service provider occurs, the connection device alone Connection settings can be made. Therefore, there is no need to perform processing necessary for connection on the terminal side during normal connection.

[Application Example 9]
A connection method for connecting to a service provider that mediates connection to a network,
Of the setting information to the service provider, an acquisition step of acquiring the unique information in a non-contact manner from a sheet-like recording medium in which unique information that is unique to the user is fixedly recorded in advance.
A setting step of setting a connection to the service provider using the specific information acquired in the acquisition step.
According to the connection method of the application example 9, since the connection device acquires the unique information from the recording medium and sets the connection, the user sets the connection without directly inputting the unique information as the connection setting work. It can be carried out.

  The present invention is not limited to the device invention and the method invention aspects such as the connection device and the connection method described above, and can be realized in a connection setting system or the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
(A1) Schematic configuration of network connection system (A2) Schematic configuration of connection device (A3) Connection setting process Second embodiment:
C. Variation:

A. First embodiment:
(A1) Schematic configuration of network connection system:
A network connection system 10 including a connection device 100 as one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The network connection system 10 connects a client computer (hereinafter referred to as “terminal”) 15 used by a user to a network NT such as the Internet, and includes a connection device 100 placed on the user side, It is composed of a line connection device 30 placed on the service provider side. The connection device 100 is configured by integrating a router and a modem, and mediates between the terminal 15 and the line connection device 30 on the service provider side. The terminal 15 and the connection device 100 are connected by a cable such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and the connection device 100 and the line connection device 30 are connected by an ADSL metal line. Of course, it is also possible to connect by other lines such as a general public line or a cable of a cable TV. The line connection device 30 is connected to the network NT by a dedicated line. Note that the terminal 15 is not limited to a computer, and may be a network home appliance such as a digital television or a game machine using a network.

  First, the configuration on the service provider side will be described. A service provider server 30A, which is a server for assigning a global IP address in response to a request from the connection device 100, is installed in the line connection device 30 on the service provider side. Such servers include a PPPoE server and a DHCP server, but what kind of server is provided differs for each line connection device 30.

  For example, when the service provider server 30A is a PPPoE server, the global IP address is assigned to the connection device 100 after performing authentication using the user ID and password assigned by the line connection device 30. Therefore, when connecting the connection device 100 to the line connection device 30 in which the PPPoE server is installed, it is necessary to set a user ID and a password for the connection device 100.

  On the other hand, when the service provider server 30A is a DHCP server, the DHCP server itself does not perform such authentication, but the terminal 15 that has requested connection is the terminal 15 that has completed registration with the service provider. In any case, the process of authenticating is necessary. For this reason, an authentication server that performs authentication separately is installed. When the connection device 100 is connected to the line connection device 30 in which the DHCP server is installed, when a connection request is made from the connection device 100, the authentication server first responds and requests an ID and a password. When the authentication using the ID and the password is successful, the connection device is permitted to exchange with the DHCP server, and the connection device 100 executes a process of acquiring a global IP or the like from the DHCP server.

  Therefore, when the terminal 15 is connected to the network via the line connection device 30, the terminal 15 identifies the user to the connection device 100 regardless of whether the service provider server 30 </ b> A is a PPPoE server or a DHCP server. It is necessary to set unique information for authentication in some way. As the unique information for authentication for identifying the user, a normal ID and password are usually used as a set, but only one of them may be used, or a larger number of information may be combined to be used as unique information for authentication. The information is not limited to this, and any information that can uniquely identify the user may be used. These are simply referred to as “unique information” in the following description. In this embodiment, the unique information is converted into a QR code and printed on the surface of a predetermined paper 20 as shown in FIG. The sheet 20 corresponds to a “sheet-like recording medium” in the claims. In this embodiment, the paper 20 on which the QR code 21 is printed is sent by mail or the like to the user who applied for the use of the network by the service provider.

(A2) Schematic configuration of connection device:
Next, the configuration of the connection device 100 used in the first embodiment will be described. This connection device performs connection setting using unique information by taking in the unique information of the QR code 21 printed on the paper 20 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection device 100 includes a user I / F 110 that receives an instruction from a client, a CP-I / F 120 that is a client side communication circuit, and an NT-I / F 130 that is a network side communication circuit. A control circuit 150 that controls the entire connection device, an imaging unit 160 that performs imaging, and the like. These I / Fs and circuits are connected to each other by a bus 140. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 160 corresponds to an acquisition unit of claims, and the control circuit 150 also corresponds to a setting unit.

  The user I / F 110 includes an operation unit 112 that is operated by the user and a display unit 113 that informs the user of the connection setting status. The operation unit 112 is provided with a registration button 114 for instructing the start of registration of unique information, and a reset button 115 for initializing various setting values including unique information to a factory default state. By operating the registration button 114, a connection setting process described later is started. In addition, the display unit 113 displays a connection completion lamp 116 that is turned on when the connection setting is completed, and a user when the connection setting fails for some reason, such as when the QR code is defective or an error in unique information. An error lamp 117 for displaying is provided.

  As described above, the terminal 15 is connected to the CP-I / F 120 of the connection device 100 via an Ethernet cable, and the ADSL metal line is connected to the NT-I / F 130. With these connections, the terminal 15 is physically connected to the network NT via the connection device 100 and the line connection device 30 on the service provider side.

  Next, the control circuit 150 will be described. A control circuit 150 that controls the entire connection device 100 includes a known CPU 151, RAM 152, and EEPROM 153. The EEPROM 153 is a type of semiconductor memory that stores data in a nonvolatile manner but can electrically rewrite the contents. The EEPROM 153 stores a control program executed by the CPU 151 and various setting values used for executing the control program. When the CPU 151 executes this control program, the functions of the acquisition unit and the setting unit are realized in software. On the other hand, the RAM 152 is used as a work area when such a program is executed.

  The control executed by the control circuit 150 is one of connection processing for connecting the terminal 15 to the line connection device 30 and enabling exchange with the network NT, and the other is performed prior to such connection processing. This is a process for acquiring and setting unique information. The former becomes possible only after the latter setting process. In the state where the setting of the unique information to be described later is completed and the connection to the network NT is possible by the request from the terminal 15, the connection device 100 receives the data request from the terminal 15 to the site on the network. This is transmitted to a desired server on the network NT via the line connection device 30 on the service provider side. When the server on the network receives the data request, the necessary data is converted into text data with a tag according to a format such as XML, and a packet with a global IP or port number identifying the connection device 100 attached to the header. Send back. The connection device 100 that has received this data via the line connection device 30 outputs it to the terminal 15 that requested the data. The terminal 15 can display a page of a specific site by the browser interpreting the received data.

  Although the specific information setting performed by the control circuit 150 will be described in detail later, the imaging unit 160 is used to acquire the specific information. The imaging unit 160 is installed to capture the QR code 21 printed on the paper 20 and acquire unique information. The imaging unit 160 includes a camera 167 having a CCD 169, an illumination LED 165, and a camera controller 166. The camera controller 166 receives an instruction from the CPU 151 via the bus 140 and turns on the LED 165 for securing illuminance at the time of shooting or drives the CCD 169 to take an image of the paper 20 placed at a predetermined position. . An image photographed by the camera 167 is transferred to the RAM 152 via the bus 140 by the camera controller 166. In this embodiment, a CCD is used as the image sensor of the camera 167, but an image sensor such as a CMOS may be used.

  The camera 167 is provided at a position deepened by a depth h when viewed from the outer periphery of the housing of the connection device 100. This depth h is substantially equal to the focal length of the camera 167. Therefore, when the sheet 20 on which the QR code 21 is printed is placed on the installation location 161 of the camera 167 of the housing of the connection device 100 with the printing surface of the QR code 21 facing the camera, the camera 167 is just placed on the QR code 21. The focus of. In this state, when the LED 165 is turned on and photographing is performed, the camera 167 can photograph a clear image including the QR code 21.

(A3) Connection setting process:
Next, in the connection device 100 configured as described above, a process for setting user-specific information in the connection device using the QR code 21 printed on the paper 20 will be described. When the user uses the connection device 100 for the first time, the user sets the unique information after connecting the terminal 15 and the connection device 100 or connecting an ADSL metal line to the connection device 100. . Conventionally, the processing of the unique information is performed from the terminal 15, but in this embodiment, the unique information is set without using the terminal 15, as described below. When the wiring described above is completed and a power switch (not shown) of the connection device 100 is turned on, the connection device 100 executes an initialization program that is executed immediately after the power is turned on. It is determined whether or not the setting has been made. If it is determined that the unique information has not been set, the setting process shown in FIG. 2 is started. When it is determined that the unique information has been set, the process proceeds to a normal process for connecting the terminal 15 to the network NT.

  When the setting process routine shown in FIG. 2 is started, the CPU 151 of the connection apparatus 100 first performs a process of checking whether or not the registration button 114 of the operation unit 112 is turned on (step S100). In order to set the connection device 100, the user places the paper 20 on which the QR code 21 is printed at a predetermined position of the camera 167 with the printing surface of the QR code 21 facing the camera 167, and then The registration button 114 is operated. The CPU 151 waits until the registration button 114 is operated by the user. When the registration button 114 is pressed and turned on, the CPU 151 instructs the camera controller 166 to turn on the photographing LED 165 (step S105). Thereafter, the CPU 151 outputs an activation command for the camera 167 to the camera controller 166 (step S110). Upon receiving this command, the camera controller 166 performs a process of continuously reading images from the camera 167, and transfers this to a predetermined area of the RAM 152 at a predetermined interval. Transfer of the photographed image is realized as DMA transfer by the camera controller 166. Note that this image transfer corresponds to so-called pre-scanning, unlike the final image capturing. Whenever the DMA transfer is completed, the camera controller 166 notifies the CPU 151 of the completion of the image transfer. Therefore, the CPU 151 reads an image from a predetermined area of the RAM 152 and performs a process of analyzing the image (step S112). The analysis of the image is performed to confirm whether or not a QR code is included in the captured image. Note that this processing may be performed by the camera controller 166, and only the result may be notified to the CPU 151.

  It is determined whether or not the image captured by the camera 167 is the QR code 21 (step S115). When the CPU 151 recognizes that the QR code 21 is captured, the CPU 151 outputs a shooting command to the camera controller 166 (step S115). S120). Upon receiving this instruction, the camera controller 166 captures an image and immediately transfers the captured image data to the RAM 152. When the camera controller 166 completes shooting and transfer of image data to the RAM 152, the camera controller 166 notifies the CPU 151 of this and turns off the LED 165. Receiving the notification, the CPU 151 reads an image from the RAM 152, analyzes it, and performs processing for extracting unique information (step S125). As is well known, the QR code 21 has three base points on the image, and is easily recognized. In this embodiment, the user ID (8 digits) and the password (8 digits) are recognized and acquired as unique information.

  When the acquired unique information is stored in a predetermined address prepared in advance in the EEPROM 153 (step S130), the unique information stored in the ROM 153 is then transmitted from the NT-I / F 130 to the line connection device 30, and the network NT The process which tries to connect to is performed (step S135). Normally, a request for connection to the network NT is made based on a request from a device connected to the connection device 100 such as the terminal 15, but here, the unique information is correct from the QR code 21 recorded on the paper 20. The connection device 100 first transmits the unique information to the service provider server 30 </ b> A of the line connection device 30 without waiting for a request from the terminal 15 or the like in order to confirm whether it has been acquired.

  The service provider server 30A that has received the transmission of the unique information from the connection device 100 determines whether or not the received unique information (ID and password) is unique information registered in advance as permission for connection. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the ID and password are registered, a response to the effect that the connection of the connection device 100 to the network NT is completed is returned to the connection device 100 side. For example, a code prepared in advance as indicating the completion of connection is returned to the connection device 100. When receiving this code, the CPU 151 of the connection apparatus 100 determines that the connection to the network is completed (step S140), and turns on the connection completion lamp 116 provided on the display unit 113 (step S145). As a result, the user can easily recognize the completion of the setting. Thus, the connection setting process ends.

  By performing the above-described processing (steps S120 to S145), the specific information in the EEPROM 153 is stored in a non-volatile manner. The contents of this address in the EEPROM 153 are read when the connection device 100 receives a request from the terminal 15 and requests connection to the line connection device 30 of the service provider, and the content is read by the service provider server 30A of the line connection device 30. Sent. Therefore, after the above process is completed, when the user uses the terminal 15 to refer to a site on the network, the connection device 100 automatically connects to the service provider.

  When the QR code 21 is captured by the camera 167 and the QR code 21 is not recognized even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the camera 167 is activated (step S115: No), the CPU 151 A stop command is output (step S150), then the error lamp 117 is turned on (step S155), and the connection setting process is terminated.

  As described above, when the user performs connection setting to the network using the connection device 100 of this embodiment, the QR code 21 printed on the surface of the paper 20 sent by mail from the service provider is connected. The setting process can be completed only by an operation of shooting with the camera 167 provided in the apparatus 100. The user does not need to perform a cumbersome operation such as setting unique information in the connection device 100 using the terminal 15. As a result, it is possible to make the operation of setting unique information suitable for the service provider in the connection device 100 extremely easily. Further, it is not necessary to operate the terminal 15 or the like when setting the unique information. Further, from the service provider side, it is only necessary to mail the paper 20 as before, and the work of adding the QR code in which the unique information is recorded on the paper 20 is merely printing the unique information as it is. Compared to work, it can be added with little burden.

B. Second embodiment:
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the connection device 200 in the second embodiment. The connection device 200 according to the second embodiment is different from the connection device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the imaging unit 160 is not included in the connection device 200. The connection device 200 according to the second embodiment includes an RFID reader 208 instead of the imaging unit 160 according to the first embodiment. The imaging unit is provided on the mobile phone 300 side that is separate from the connection device 200. Since the other configuration of the connection device 200 is the same as that of the first embodiment, among the components of the connection device 200, members having the same configuration as the first embodiment have the same last two digits of the three-digit code. is there. In addition, these RFID readers 208 are connected to each other by a bus 240, like other I / Fs and circuits. In FIG. 3, the RFID tag 22 is also illustrated for explaining the second modification. However, in the second embodiment, the RFID tag 22 is not used.

  In the second embodiment, the imaging unit 160 is realized by a camera 307 built in the mobile phone 300. First, a schematic configuration of the mobile phone 300 will be described. A mobile phone 300 includes a CPU 301 that controls various functions of the mobile phone, a RAM 302 that is used for a work area, a ROM 303 that stores programs for realizing the functions of the mobile phone, a camera 307, and a camera controller 306 that controls the camera 307, An I / O 312 that manages an interface with the shooting button 309 and the like, an RFID-I / F 308, and a bus 315 that connects these to each other are provided. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the mobile phone 300 includes a microphone and a speaker for making a call, a circuit for performing call control such as calling / called, a memory for storing a telephone number of the other party, etc. Are provided, and a normal call function is also realized, but the details thereof will be omitted.

  The RFID-I / F 308 is an interface for exchanging data with the connection device 200. This interface is standardized for communication with an RFID tag, and in the second embodiment, the cellular phone 300 is brought close to the RFID reader 208 provided in the connection device 200, so Data can be exchanged. In this embodiment, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is used as a communication means between the mobile phone 300 and the connection device 200, but wireless communication such as infrared communication or Bluetooth (trademark) can also be used. .

  Next, a procedure for setting unique information to the connection device 200 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the second embodiment, since the imaging unit is realized by using the mobile phone 300, the processing includes a unique information acquisition process (flowchart in FIG. 4) executed by the CPU 301 of the mobile phone 300 and the CPU 251 of the connection device 200. Is divided into unique information setting processing (flowchart in FIG. 5) executed.

  A user who intends to start using the connection device 200 first prepares the mobile phone 300 and the sheet 20 on which the unique information obtained from the service provider is printed. On the sheet 20, the ID and password of the user who has made a use contract are printed, and a QR code obtained by coding them is printed on the same surface. The user who has prepared the sheet 20 first operates the mobile phone 300 to start the unique information acquisition processing routine shown in FIG. Since this processing routine is not normally installed in the mobile phone 300, it is downloaded into the mobile phone 300 by accessing the home page of the service provider using the mobile phone 300. Of course, this processing program may be installed in the mobile phone 300 using a memory card or the like, or may be read via the RFID reader 208 of the connection device 200.

  When the specific information acquisition processing routine shown in FIG. 4 is activated by any method, the CPU 301 waits until the photographing button 309 is pressed (step S200). The shooting button 309 may be provided independently, but it is also realistic to use a specific key provided in advance on the mobile phone 300, for example, a camera shooting key provided in advance on the mobile phone 300. When it is detected that the user has operated the shooting button 309 (step S200: Yes), the CPU 301 outputs a camera activation command to the camera controller 306 (step S205). In response to the camera activation command, the camera controller 306 activates the camera 307, and when the user brings the paper 20 close to the camera 307 so that the QR code 21 is captured, whether the image captured by the camera 307 is the QR code 21 or not. Start recognition work. At this time, although not shown in the figure, the user confirms the QR code and the camera so that the camera can easily recognize the QR code while checking the camera image displayed on the liquid crystal screen installed in the mobile phone 300. Adjust the relative position.

  The subsequent processing (step S210 to step S225) from acquisition of the user ID (8 digits) and password (8 digits) is the same as the processing from step S110 to step S125 of the first embodiment. At this time, in this range of processing, the CPU 301 of the second embodiment corresponds to the CPU 151 of the first embodiment. Similarly, the camera controller 306 is the camera controller 166, the camera 307 is the camera 167, and the RAM 302 is the RAM 152. Correspond.

  After the acquisition of unique information (step S225), the acquired unique information is temporarily stored in the RAM 302. At the same time, in order to notify the user that the acquisition of the unique information has been completed, the CPU 301 displays “acquire unique information” on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone 300 (step S227).

  The user who visually recognizes the “acquire unique information” display displayed on the liquid crystal screen transmits the unique information stored in the mobile phone 300 to the connection device 200 by wireless communication via the RFID-I / F 308. Hereinafter, this process will be described.

  The user brings the RFID-I / F 308 of the mobile phone 300 in which the unique information is stored and the RFID reader 208 of the connection device 200 close to a wireless communication distance, and operates the communication button 310 of the mobile phone 300 (step S230). . Further, the user operates the registration button 214 of the connection device 200 before and after the operation of the communication button 310 (FIG. 5, step S300). When the communication button 310 is operated (FIG. 4, step S230: Yes), the CPU 301 performs processing for recognizing the RFID reader 208 via the RFID-I / F 308 (step S235).

  On the other hand, when the CPU 251 of the connection device 200 recognizes that the registration button 214 has been pressed (FIG. 5, Step S300: Yes), the RFID reader 208 is activated (Step S305), and the process of recognizing the communication partner RFID is performed. Try (step SS310). In accordance with the RFID standard, devices close to a distance where data can be exchanged perform processing such as anti-collision and recognize that they can communicate with each other. Therefore, when the mobile phone 300 executes the process of FIG. 4 (steps S200 to S235) and the connection device 200 executes the process of FIG. 5 (steps S300 to 310), both can communicate with each other.

  When the RFID-I / F 308 recognizes the RFID reader 208 and is ready to exchange information using electromagnetic waves, the CPU 301 of the mobile phone 300 reads out the unique information stored in the RAM 302 and performs the RFID-I / F 308. A process of transmitting unique information from the RFID reader 208 to the RFID reader 208 is performed (step S240). When the mobile phone 300 transmits the unique information, the mobile phone 300 waits until a reception completion signal is received from the other party (step S245). When the reception completion signal is received, the mobile phone 300 returns to “END” and executes the processing routine of FIG. Complete.

  On the other hand, the connection device 200 that has activated the RFID reader 208 by operating the registration button 214 receives the unique information transmitted from the RFID-I / F 308 via the RFID reader 208 (step S315). The connection device 200 stores the received unique information in a predetermined address prepared in advance in the EEPROM 253, and transmits a unique information reception completion signal via the RFID reader 208 (step S320). A signal indicating that the reception of the unique information is completed is transmitted from the RFID reader 208 via the RFID-I / F 308. The CPU 301 of the mobile phone 300 recognizes this as described above and completes the processing (step S245).

  By performing the above processing, the connection apparatus 200 can acquire unique information from the paper 20 on which the QR code 21 is printed, as in the first embodiment. The connection setting process performed by the connection apparatus 200 using the acquired unique information is the same as in the first embodiment. Specifically, the CPU 251 of the connection device 200 executes processing similar to the processing in steps S130 to S145 shown in FIG. Therefore, the details of the unique information setting process are omitted here.

  As described above, when setting the connection to the network using the connection device 200 and the mobile phone 300 according to the present embodiment, the user uses the QR code 21 printed on the paper 20 as the camera 307 of the mobile phone 300. The unique information acquired by the mobile phone 300 is transmitted to the connection apparatus 200 by RFID wireless communication. By performing this work, the process of setting the connection device 200 is completed. That is, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary for the user to directly set the unique information in the connection device 200 using the terminal 15 or the like. In addition, when acquiring the specific information by the mobile phone 300, the QR code can be taken anywhere where the mobile phone 300 can be used. For this reason, there are few restrictions on the place where the unique information is acquired from the QR code, and there is no need to carry the QR code by taking the paper 20 to the image pickup unit incorporated in the connection device. For this reason, it is possible to easily capture a QR code and acquire unique information.

C. Variation:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.

(C1) Modification 1:
The camera 167 and the camera controller 166 in the first embodiment may be separately provided and replaced with a digital device having a digital camera function such as a web camera, a digital camera, or a digital video camera. In this case, the connection with the connection device 100 may be a general-purpose connection interface such as a USB connection or an IEEE1394 connection.

(C2) Modification 2:
In the second embodiment, the mobile phone 300 that acquired the unique information from the QR code is used as the partner from which the connection device 200 acquires the unique information. However, instead of such a configuration, the RFID in which the unique information is recorded as digital data in advance is used. The tag 22 (see FIG. 3) may be used. The RFID tag 22 is distributed by mail by the line connection device 30 to the user, and the user performs connection setting by reading the unique information recorded in the RFID tag 22 over the RFID reader 208 of the connection device 200. In this modification, the connection setting work performed by the user is only to operate the registration button 214 by bringing the RFID tag close to a distance that allows communication with the connection device. The burden of is significantly reduced.

(C3) Other variations:
In addition, the unique information may be encoded by a normal barcode or the like instead of the QR code, or the ID and password are recorded on the sheet as they are, and after this is imaged, the OCR function It may be coded. In this case, the service provider may notify the user of the unique information for authentication in the same manner as before. Various existing techniques can be used as a method of encoding the unique information. In addition, part or all of the functions realized by software in the above embodiment may be realized by hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the network connection system 10 in 1st Example with the schematic structure of the connection apparatus 100. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the connection setting process in 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of 10 A of network connection systems and each apparatus in 2nd Example and the modification 2. In FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the specific information acquisition process in 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which similarly shows the connection setting process in 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A ... Network connection system 15 ... Client computer (terminal)
20 ... paper 21 ... QR code 22 ... RFID tag 30 ... line connection device 30A ... service provider server 100,200 ... connection device 110,210 ... user I / F
112, 212 ... operation unit 113, 213 ... display unit 114, 214 ... registration button 115, 215 ... reset button 116, 216 ... connection completion lamp 117, 217 ... error lamp 120, 220 ... CP-I / F
130, 230 ... NT-I / F
140, 240, 315 ... bus 150, 250 ... control circuit 151, 251, 301 ... CPU
152, 252, 302 ... RAM
153, 253, 303 ... EEPROM
160 ... Imaging unit 161 ... Installation location 165 ... LED
166, 306 ... Camera controller 167, 307 ... Camera 169 ... CCD
208 ... RFID reader 300 ... Mobile phone 308 ... RFID-I / F
309 ... Shooting button 310 ... Communication button 312 ... I / O-I / F
NT ... Network

Claims (9)

A connection device for connecting to a service provider that mediates network connection,
Of the setting information for connecting the connection device to the service provider, the unique information is acquired in a non-contact manner from a sheet-like recording medium in which unique information that is unique to the user is fixedly recorded in advance. Acquisition means;
And a setting unit configured to set a connection to the service provider using the specific information acquired by the acquiring unit. The connection device according to claim 1,
The fixed recording of the unique information on the recording medium is performed by imaging the unique information and printing it as an image on the recording medium,
The acquisition means includes
An imaging unit that captures an image;
A connection device comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes the image on the recording medium and acquires the unique information when the recording unit images the recording medium. The connection device according to claim 2,
The setting means includes a receiving unit capable of receiving at least data by wireless communication based on a predetermined procedure,
The acquisition means includes
It is configured separately from the main body of the connection device,
A connection apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the unique information acquired by the analysis unit to the reception unit. The connection device according to claim 2,
The acquisition means includes
The imaging unit is configured separately from the main body of the connection device,
Data of the image of the recording medium imaged by the imaging unit is transmitted to an analysis unit provided in a main body of the connection device by a predetermined communication unit.
Connected device. The connection device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The unique information in the recording medium is printed on the recording medium in a QR code format after data representing the unique information is converted into a QR code format.
The connection unit, wherein the analysis unit analyzes the QR code included in an image captured by the imaging unit, and acquires the unique information as data. The connection device according to claim 1,
The fixed recording of the unique information in the recording medium is performed by writing the unique information in a non-volatile manner as digital data in a recording element including a non-contact communication unit embedded in a sheet.
The acquisition unit receives the unique information from the storage element using a non-contact communication unit. The connection device according to claim 6,
The recording element is composed of an RFID tag,
The acquisition device acquires the specific information from the RFID tag via electromagnetic waves. The connection device according to claim 1,
The setting unit
A storage unit for storing the unique information;
A connection device comprising: a connection unit that transmits the unique information stored in the storage unit to the service provider, obtains connection permission to the service provider, and connects to the service provider. A connection method for connecting to a service provider that mediates connection to a network,
Of the setting information to the service provider, an acquisition step of acquiring the unique information in a non-contact manner from a sheet-like recording medium in which unique information that is unique to the user is fixedly recorded in advance.
A setting step of setting a connection to the service provider using the specific information acquired in the acquisition step.

Images