JP5012030B2 - Projector, image display device, and electronic device connected to network - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as an image display device used in an environment connected to a network, and more particularly to an electronic device such as a projector that has a high possibility of theft because it is relatively easy to carry.

  Since projectors can project and display images on a projection surface (screen), the number of projectors that are permanently installed in conferences, academic conferences, exhibitions, and the like is increasing, and it is easy for the thief to be noticed and is likely to be stolen.

  In the example described in Patent Document 1, the location of a projector connected to a network can be managed by a server, but a projector that is stolen and disconnected from the network is free to those who possess it. Therefore, the thief's willingness to steal cannot be killed and it is difficult to deter theft.

  Note that the above problem is not limited to projectors, but also to other image display devices, various electronic devices such as printers and fax machines, and in particular, various electronic devices that are relatively easy to wait.

JP 2006-195711 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to suppress theft of a thief in order to prevent theft of an image display device such as a projector or various electronic devices. Aims to provide a new technology.

In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, a projector according to the present invention includes:
A projector connected to a network,
When the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmission device connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or when the received transmission authentication information does not match the registered authentication information registered in advance, image projection operation comprising an operation authentication unit for limiting,
The registration authentication information, and wherein the network information der Rukoto for specifying the position on the network of the authentication information transmitting device.

According to the projector, when the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmission device connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or the received transmission authentication information indicates the position of the authentication information transmission device on the network. Since the image projection operation can be restricted when the network information is for identification and does not match the registered authentication information registered in advance, the image projection operation is restricted in the case of theft. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing, and since the thief's willingness to steal is suppressed, theft can be prevented.

  Here, the restriction of the image projection operation may be the prohibition of the image projection operation, and the restriction of the image projection operation is the restriction of the image projection operation for a predetermined image prepared in advance. You may make it prohibition of the said image projection operation | movement about images other than permission and the said predetermined image.

  In any case, since it is possible to prohibit projection display of an image desired by the owner of the projector, which is a stolen product, it is possible to suppress the thief's willingness to steal and to prevent theft. be able to.

Incidentally, before Symbol transmission report information by the authentication information transmitting device transmits a PING command periodically, it may be received at the projector.

  In this way, transmission authentication information can be easily received from the authentication information transmitting device.

When specific shared information is used as registration authentication information,
The authentication information transmitting device is connected to the network;
The transmission authentication information can be periodically received by the projector by the authentication information transmitting apparatus periodically transmitting it via the network.

  Although the aspect described above has been described with respect to the aspect of the projector connected to the network, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be realized with aspects of various electronic devices such as an image display device connected to the network.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. First embodiment:
A1. Overview of projector management system configuration and operation to prevent theft:
A2. Projector management actions to prevent theft:
B. Projector management operation for theft prevention in the second embodiment:
C. Configuration of projector management system for theft prevention in the third embodiment:
D. Variations:

A. First embodiment:
A1. Overview of projector management system configuration and operation to prevent theft:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a projector management system 1000A for preventing theft as the first embodiment. A projector management system 1000A shown in FIG. 1 includes a network 10, a projector 20A connected to the network 10, and a server 30A that manages various electronic devices connected to the network 10 such as the projector 20A. And. Note that the server 30A corresponds to the authentication information transmitting apparatus in the present embodiment.

  In projector management system 1000A, projector 20A performs authentication of the image projection operation based on authentication information AMI periodically transmitted from server 30A. If the authentication is normally performed, a normal image projection operation is executed.If the authentication is not normally performed, specifically, the transmitted authentication information (hereinafter referred to as “transmission authentication information”). When the AMI is invalid information or when the transmission authentication information AMI is not periodically received, the normal image projection operation is prohibited and a predetermined image, in the example shown in the figure, is used. , Project a message image “Use in a managed network.”, That is, a message image (hereinafter also referred to as “unauthenticated image”) that prohibits normal image projection and calls attention. .

  In the projector management system 1000A, the projector 20A and the server 30A operate as described above, thereby suppressing the thief's willingness to steal and preventing theft.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram functionally showing the projector 20A and the server 30A constituting the projector management system 1000A.

  The server 30 </ b> A includes a control unit 310, a network unit 320, an input operation unit 330, a device management unit 340 including a management device registration unit 342 and an authentication information transmission unit 344, and a storage unit 350.

  The control unit 310 of the server 30A has a function of controlling the entire server 30A. For example, the control unit 310 is connected to the network unit 320, the input operation unit 330, the device management unit 340, and the storage unit 350, and outputs or receives a signal corresponding to each operation, respectively. Control the behavior.

  The network unit 320 has a function of executing communication via the network 10.

  The input operation unit 330 includes an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a function of detecting an input operation by an operator of the server 30A and outputting a corresponding operation signal to a corresponding block.

  The device management unit 340 registers the electronic devices connected to the network 10 by the management device registration unit 342, and manages the electronic devices connected to the network 10 of the registered electronic devices as described in the related art. And an authentication information transmitting unit 344 transmits authentication information for theft prevention to prevent theft of electronic devices connected to the network. In this example, the projector 20A is shown as an example of an electronic device for preventing theft.

  Here, when registering an electronic device connected to the network 10, the management device registration unit 342 operates as follows. First, the management device registration unit 342 is connected to the network 10, reads the browsing list of electronic devices registered and managed by the server 30 </ b> A, reads the registration information RMI stored in the storage unit 350, and displays a display (not shown). To display. A person who is permitted to operate the server 30A (hereinafter referred to as “administrator”), for example, of the electronic device to be newly registered in the new registration column of the browse list via the input operation unit 330, for example. Network information, here, network information of the projector 20 </ b> A is newly input via the input operation unit 330. Note that the network information includes, for example, a device name, a MAC address, an IP address, and the like. Thereby, the management device registration unit 342 adds the network information of the new electronic device to change the browsing list, updates the registration information RMI stored in the storage unit 350, and registers the new electronic device. be able to.

  The authentication information transmission unit 344 transmits the authentication information AMI by periodically transmitting a PING command to the registered electronic device, here, the projector 20A via the network unit 320. In this example, the MAC address of the server 30A is used as the authentication information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or more of various network information that identifies the server 30A, such as a server name and an IP address that is not based on DHCP, may be used as authentication information. . Hereinafter, the authentication information transmitted by transmitting the PING command is also referred to as “transmission authentication information”.

  The projector 20A includes a control unit 210, an image processing unit 220, a projection unit 230, a network unit 240, an input operation unit 250, an authentication information registration unit 260, a storage unit 270, and a projection authentication unit 280. I have. The projection authentication unit 280 corresponds to the operation authentication unit of the present invention.

  The control unit 210 of the projector 20A has a function of controlling the entire projector 20A. For example, the control unit 210 is connected to the image processing unit 220, the projection unit 230, the network unit 240, the input operation unit 250, the authentication information registration unit 260, the storage unit 270, and the projection authentication unit 280. Each operation is controlled by outputting or receiving a signal corresponding to each operation.

  The image processing unit 220 has a function of processing an image represented by an input signal from an external device or an image represented by an image file stored in an external storage device (not shown) to generate image data that can be projected by the projection unit. Have.

  The projection unit 230 has a function of projecting an image represented by the image data based on the image data generated by the image processing unit 220.

  The network unit 240 has a function of executing communication via the network 10.

  The input operation unit 250 includes an input device (not shown) such as an operation panel or a remote controller, and has a function of detecting an input operation by an operator of the projector 20A and outputting a corresponding operation signal to a corresponding block.

  The authentication information registration unit 260 has a function of executing registration of authentication information based on an input operation performed by the operator via the input operation unit 250. The authentication information registration unit 260 is so-called password protected. For this reason, only an operator who is permitted to set authentication information (hereinafter referred to as “administrator”, but may or may not be the same as the administrator of the server) is the input operation unit. The authentication information registration unit 260 can be operated by an input operation via 250 to register the authentication information. The registered authentication information RAMI is stored in the storage unit 270. Hereinafter, the registered authentication information is also referred to as “registered authentication information”.

  As will be described later, the projection authentication unit 280 uses the registration authentication information RAMI stored in the storage unit 270 to authenticate the image projection operation. If the authentication is normally performed, the image processing unit 220 is permitted to operate and a normal image projection operation is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication is not normally performed, the image processing unit 220 is prohibited from performing a normal image projection operation, and the unauthenticated image shown in FIG. 1 is displayed. At this time, the image processing unit 220 reads out the unauthenticated image data IPD stored in the storage unit 270 and generates image data to be supplied to the projection unit 230, and the projection unit 230 is generated by the image processing unit 220. An unauthenticated image is projected based on the image data.

A2. Projector management actions to prevent theft:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing projection authentication processing by the projection authentication unit 280 of the projector 20A.

  In the projection authentication process by the projection authentication unit 280, the authentication information transmission unit 344 of the server 30A transmits the authentication information AMI by periodically transmitting a PING command to the projector 20A via the network unit 320. (Step S110). Note that the transmission interval may be set as appropriate in consideration of the monitoring effect for preventing theft, for example, about 500 ms.

  For example, the projection authentication unit 280 starts the projection authentication process with the start of input of an image signal to the image processing unit 220 as a trigger.

  First, the projection authentication unit 280 waits for reception of a PING command that is periodically transmitted (step P110: NO, step P120: NO).

  When a PING command is received within a certain time (a certain period) (step P110: YES, step P120: NO), it is determined whether authentication is possible or not (step P130). The fixed time may be set as appropriate in consideration of the transmission interval of the PING command, and may be set to about 5 s, for example.

  To determine whether authentication is possible or not, the MAC address as the transmission authentication information AMI included in the PING command is compared with the MAC address of the server 30A stored in the storage unit 270 as the registration authentication information RAMI. If they match, it is determined that authentication is possible, and if they do not match, it is determined that authentication is impossible.

  When authentication is possible (step P130: YES), the projection authentication unit 280 permits the image processing unit 220 to perform a normal image projection operation as described above (step P140). Thereby, a normal image projection operation is executed. On the other hand, when the authentication is impossible (step P130: NO), the projection authentication unit 280 prohibits the image processing unit 220 from performing the normal image projection operation as described above, and causes the authentication non-authenticated image display operation to be performed ( Step P150).

  On the other hand, if the PING command is not received within a certain time (step P110: NO, step P120: YES), it is determined that the authentication is impossible and the normal processing is performed for the image processing unit 220 as in step P150. The image projection operation is prohibited, and the display operation of the unauthenticated image is executed (step P160).

  Accordingly, even if the projector 20A is stolen, the stolen projector 20A cannot receive the transmission authentication information AMI and cannot be authenticated, and thus cannot perform normal projection. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing. As a result, it is possible to prevent theft by suppressing the thief's willingness to steal.

  Even if the transmission authentication information AMI is received, the authentication cannot be performed unless the authentication information that matches the registered authentication information RAMI is received, so that normal projection cannot be executed. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing. As a result, it is possible to prevent theft by suppressing the thief's willingness to steal.

B. Projector management operation for theft prevention in the second embodiment:
In the first embodiment, the case where a MAC address, which is one piece of network information for specifying the server 30A, is used as authentication information. However, since the network information is information that can be obtained relatively easily by analyzing transmission information transmitted over the network, there is a possibility that the projector 20A can be used by so-called impersonation. Therefore, in this embodiment, a specific shared key (shared information) that is known only between the server 30A and the projector 20A is used as authentication information. The configuration of the projector management system is the same except for the projector management operation for theft prevention by the authentication information transmission unit 344 of the server 30A and the projection authentication unit 280 of the projector 20A in the first embodiment. Description is omitted.

  The setting registration of a specific shared key in the server 30A may be performed in accordance with the registration in the registration of the projector network information described in the first embodiment. Further, the setting registration of the specific supply key to the projector 20A may be performed in accordance with the registration in the server network information registration described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing projection authentication processing by the projection authentication unit 280 of the projector 20A in the second embodiment.

  In the projection authentication process by the projection authentication unit 280 in the second embodiment, the authentication information transmission unit 344 of the server 30A encrypts the shared key as the transmission authentication information AMI, and transmits it to the projector 20A via the network 10. It is periodically transmitted (step S110B). The encryption is executed by using a general encryption method, for example, by using an encryption key exchanged in advance between the projector 20A and the server 30A.

  First, the projection authentication unit 280 waits for reception of a shared key as transmission authentication information AMI that is periodically encrypted and transmitted (step P110B: NO, step P120B: NO). When the shared key as the transmission authentication information AMI is received, the encrypted shared key is decrypted using the decryption key.

  When the shared key is received within a certain time (step P110B: YES, step P120B: NO), it is determined whether authentication is possible or not (step P130B).

  The determination as to whether authentication is possible or not is made by comparing the shared key as the transmission authentication information AMI with the shared key stored in the storage unit 270 as the registered authentication information RAMI. This is done by determining that the authentication is not possible if there is a mismatch.

  If authentication is possible (step P130B: YES), the image processing unit 220 is permitted to perform a normal image projection operation (step P140). Thereby, a normal image projection operation is executed. On the other hand, when the authentication is impossible (step P130B: NO), the projection authentication unit 280 prohibits the image processing unit 220 from performing a normal image projection operation as described above, and executes the display operation of the unauthenticated image ( Step P150).

  On the other hand, if the supply key is not received within a certain time (step P110B: NO, step P120B: YES), it is determined that the authentication is impossible, and the normal processing is performed on the image processing unit 220 as in step P150. The image processing operation is prohibited, and the display operation of the unauthenticated image is executed (step P160).

  Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, even if the projector 20A is stolen, the stolen projector 20A cannot receive the shared key as the transmission authentication information AMI and cannot authenticate. Cannot be projected. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing. As a result, it is possible to prevent theft by suppressing the thief's willingness to steal.

  Even if a shared key as transmission authentication information AMI is received, authentication cannot be performed unless it matches the shared key registered as registered authentication information RAMI, and normal projection cannot be executed. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing. As a result, it is possible to prevent theft by suppressing the thief's willingness to steal. Further, the shared key has higher confidentiality than the MAC address used as the authentication information in the first embodiment. Further, since the shared key as the transmission authentication information AMI is encrypted and transmitted from the server 30A to the projector 20A, the confidentiality is further increased. For this reason, there is an advantage that the possibility that the authentication information is known to the thief is very low.

C. Configuration of projector management system for theft prevention in the third embodiment:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a projector management system 1000C for theft prevention as the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram functionally showing the projector 20C, the server 30C, and the authentication information transmitting apparatus 40C that constitute the projector management system 1000C.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the server 30A operates as the authentication information transmitting device has been described as an example. However, in the present embodiment, the authentication information transmitting device 40C that wirelessly transmits the authentication information AMI to the projector 20C. Is configured separately from the server 30C.

  The server 30C includes a device management unit 340C in which the authentication information transmission unit 344 included in the device management unit 340 of the server 30A illustrated in FIG. 2 is replaced with an authentication information transmission unit 344C. The authentication information transmission unit 344C transmits the authentication information AMI to the projector 20A via the network unit 320 while the authentication information transmission unit 344 of the device management unit 340 shown in FIG. The point of transmission is different.

  The projector 20C is the same as the projector 20A shown in FIG. 2 except that the projector 20C includes an authentication information wireless reception unit 290 that receives the authentication information AMI wirelessly transmitted from the authentication information transmission device 40C.

  The authentication information transmission device 40C includes a control unit 410, a network unit 420, an authentication information registration unit 430, a storage unit 440, and an authentication information wireless transmission unit 450.

  The control unit 410 of the authentication information transmitting apparatus 40C has a function of controlling the entire authentication information transmitting apparatus 40C. For example, the control unit 410 is connected to the network unit 420, the authentication information registration unit 430, the storage unit 440, and the authentication information wireless transmission unit 450, and outputs or receives a signal corresponding to each operation. Each operation is controlled by.

  The network unit 420 has a function of executing communication via the network 10.

  The authentication information registration unit 430 receives the authentication information AMI transmitted from the server 30C via the network unit 420 and stores it in the storage unit 440.

  Authentication information wireless transmission unit 450 transmits authentication information AMI. The authentication information AMI can be, for example, an RFID used in an IC tag. Note that the authentication information transmitting device 40C is located at a position where the projector 20C exists within the reach of a radio wave to be transmitted (for example, a range indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure), and the authentication information transmitting device 40C is connected to the projector 20C. It is preferable to be installed at a position that is not easily noticeable by humans so as not to be stolen together.

  Also in this embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, even if the projector 20A is stolen, the stolen projector 20A cannot receive the authentication information AMI and cannot authenticate. Therefore, normal projection cannot be executed. As a result, it is possible to make the thief think that the item is not worth stealing. As a result, it is possible to prevent theft by suppressing the thief's willingness to steal.

  In the above embodiment, the authentication information AMI is transmitted from the server 30C to the authentication information transmitting device 40C via the network 10 and stored in the storage unit 440 by the authentication information registration unit 430. The authentication information AMI is transmitted from the server 30C to the authentication information transmitting device 40C by directly connecting the device 40C and the server 30C using a line such as a serial line or a parallel line, and the authentication information registration unit 430 stores the authentication information AMI in the storage unit 440. It may be stored. An IC tag can also be used as the authentication information transmitting device 40C. However, in this case, a device in which RFID as authentication information AMI is stored in advance in the storage unit is installed by a writing device dedicated to the IC tag.

D. Variations:
In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said Example and embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

D1. Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, a wired network has been described as an example, but a wireless network may be used.

D2. Modification 2:
The above embodiment has been described on the assumption that the projector is in the same network as the server. However, the present invention is applicable even if the projector is in a different network.

D3. Modification 3:
In the above-described embodiment, the case where a message image (non-authenticated image) that prohibits normal image projection operation and prompts attention is displayed in the case where authentication is impossible has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various predetermined images may be projected and displayed. In addition, projection display may be simply prohibited. As a method for prohibiting the projection display, various methods such as a method of stopping the operation of the image processing unit and the projection unit, a method of turning off the power source, and the like can be considered. That is, it is only necessary that the image projection operation of the projector can be limited.

D4. Modification 4:
The projector of the present invention can be applied as a rental projector. For example, during the rental period of the projector, the projector can be used by receiving authentication information from the server via the network. On the other hand, when the rental period is exceeded, the normal operation of the projector can be prohibited.

D5. Modification 5:
In the above embodiment, the projector has been described as an example. However, an electronic device connected to a network and managed by a server, such as an image display device other than a projector, a printer, a FAX, and the like, in particular, is easy to carry and may be stolen. Applicable to high electronic devices.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the projector management system 1000A for theft prevention as 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows functionally the projector 20A and server 30A which comprise the projector management system 1000A. It is explanatory drawing which shows the projection authentication process by the projection authentication part 280 of the projector 20A. It is explanatory drawing which shows the projection authentication process by the projection authentication part 280 of the projector 20A in 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the projector management system 1000C for theft prevention as 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows functionally the projector 20C, the server 30C, and the authentication information transmitter 40C which comprise the projector management system 1000C.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network 20A ... Projector 20C ... Projector 30 ... Server 30A ... Server 30C ... Server 40C ... Authentication information transmitting device 210 ... Control unit 220 ... Image processing 230 ... Projection unit 240 ... Network unit 250 ... Input operation unit 260 ... Authentication information registration unit 270 ... Storage unit 280 ... Projection authentication unit 290 ... Authentication information wireless reception unit 310 ... Control unit 320 ... Network unit 330 ... Input operation unit 340 ... Device management unit 340C ... Device management unit 342 ... Managed device registration unit 344 ... Authentication information transmission unit 344C ... Authentication information transmission unit 350 ... Storage unit 410 ... Control unit 420 ... Network unit 430 ... Authentication information registration unit 440 ... Storage unit 450 ... Authentication information wireless transmission unit 1000A. ..Projector management system 1000C ... Projector management system

Claims (7)

A projector connected to a network,
When the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmission apparatus connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or when the registered authentication information registered in advance and the received transmission authentication information do not match, image projection is performed. It has an action authentication unit that restricts actions ,
The registration authentication information, a projector, wherein the network information der Rukoto for specifying the position on the network of the authentication information transmitting device. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the restriction of the image projection operation is prohibition of the image projection operation. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The projector is characterized in that the limitation of the image projection operation is permission of the image projection operation for a predetermined image prepared in advance and prohibition of the image projection operation for an image other than the predetermined image. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The projector, wherein the transmission certificate information is received by the projector when the authentication information transmitting apparatus periodically transmits a PING command. An image display device connected to a network,
When the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmitting apparatus connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or when the registered authentication information registered in advance and the received transmission authentication information do not match, image display It has an action authentication unit that restricts actions ,
The registration authentication information, image display, comprising the network information der Rukoto for specifying the position on the network of the authentication information transmitting device. An electronic device connected to a network,
When the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmitting apparatus connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or when the registered authentication information registered in advance and the received transmission authentication information do not match, It has an operation authentication unit that restricts the operation of the device ,
The registration authentication information, electronic apparatus, wherein a network information der Rukoto for specifying the position on the network of the authentication information transmitting device.   A method for controlling a projector connected to a network,
  When the transmission authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmitting apparatus connected to the network is not received for a certain period, or network information for specifying the position of the authentication information transmitting apparatus on the network, which is registered in advance A projector control method that restricts an image projection operation when the registered authentication information and the received transmission authentication information do not match.

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