JP5869429B2 - Information processing apparatus, communication method thereof, and wireless card - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a communication method thereof, and a wireless device.

  In recent years, wireless communication functions for connecting devices without a cable and building a network have been installed in information processing apparatuses such as notebook personal computers (notebook personal computers). The biggest feature of the wireless environment is that information can be exchanged with other devices without using a cable. The types are “IR (infrared communication)”, “Bluetooth (registered trademark)”, “Wi-Fi”. (Wi-Fi) ”and“ Wireless WAN (Mobile Broadband) ”.

  Here, for example, when the broadband Internet is effectively used outdoors, it is preferable to use a wireless WAN (Mobile Broadband) using a mobile phone line. The wireless WAN has several communication methods such as LTE and HSPA, and can communicate at several Mbps to several tens of Mbps.

  On the other hand, an information processing apparatus represented by a notebook personal computer is configured so that a function expansion card such as a USB card or a PCI card can be mounted for use in memory expansion and various input / outputs such as expansion of a modem function. ing. As a method of mounting, there are a method of mounting on a mother board (main substrate) of the information processing apparatus, a method of mounting in a slot, and the like. For example, when realizing the above-described wireless communication function using this function expansion card, conventionally, an antenna is attached to the function expansion card itself, and the controller and the antenna for wireless communication in the expansion card are integrated, for example, Have been accredited by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), etc. (hereinafter, accreditation required by public institutions and regulations is referred to as “standard accreditation”).

  However, the antenna that can be provided in the function expansion card is limited in the arrangement and size of the antenna, and it is difficult to improve its performance. Therefore, for example, notebook computers have recently been configured to incorporate a high-performance antenna into the main body of a notebook computer using a wireless antenna protruding from the liquid crystal panel or the outer edge of the liquid crystal panel. There is something that was done.

  Here, when receiving the above-mentioned certification of standards, it is necessary to obtain permission by integrating the wireless antenna and the controller provided on the main body side. At this time, if the communication function is mounted on the main board of the notebook computer, the design is simplest. However, for example, a wireless WAN needs to be authenticated for each country, and if these functions are onboard, it is necessary to create a different main board for each country. In consideration of future expandability, it is not preferable to mount the controller on the main board. Therefore, even when a wireless antenna is used on the main body side, it is preferable to mount the controller not on the main board but on the function expansion card.

  On the other hand, in the case where the above-mentioned standard certification is obtained in a state where the wireless antenna and the controller are separated from each other, it is necessary to limit the controller mounted on the notebook personal computer system. In other words, the standard approval allows the wireless antenna and the controller to be integrated, so the radio output via the wireless antenna mounted on the laptop is combined with a controller that is connected to the system and not certified. Is not allowed to do.

  Specifically, for example, when company A manufactures a notebook computer and a wireless device (controller) equipped with a wireless antenna, and has received certification for the wireless antenna and wireless device installed in the notebook computer. If the wireless device of company A is mounted on a laptop computer of another company and the radio wave is output, the standard certification will not be satisfied. On the other hand, if a wireless device of another company is mounted on a laptop computer of company A and radio waves are output, the standard certification is not satisfied.

JP 2003-318863 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an information processing apparatus capable of prohibiting radio wave output due to connection of a wireless device that is an inappropriate combination with an antenna, a communication method therefor, and a wireless device The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus that can be equipped with a wireless device for performing wireless communication and that includes a wireless antenna connected to the wireless device. Authentication means for authenticating the wireless device attached to the information processing apparatus; and special command output means for outputting a special command to the wireless device when the authentication means has succeeded in authenticating the wireless device; When the information processing apparatus is powered on, the wireless device maintains a special mode that does not output radio waves, and outputs radio waves when receiving the special command from the special command output means. It is characterized by shifting to the mode.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the authentication unit includes a table in which identification information for identifying a wireless device permitted to connect to the wireless antenna is recorded, and is stored in the wireless device. When the identification information recorded in the table matches the identification information recorded, the permission information is written in the memory, and the special command output means sends the special command to the wireless device when the permission information is written in the memory. Is desirable to output.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that an inbox driver of an OS for the wireless device is loaded.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the wireless device returns an out-of-service in response to an inquiry from the system side in the special mode.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an information processing system that can be equipped with a wireless device for performing wireless communication and that includes a wireless antenna connected to the wireless device. An apparatus communication method, wherein when the information processing apparatus is powered on, a wireless device mounted on the information processing apparatus enters a special mode in which radio waves are not output, and an authentication unit includes the wireless device A step of authenticating; a step of outputting a special command to the wireless device when the authentication unit succeeds in authenticating the wireless device; and a step of outputting the special command from the special command output unit. The process of shifting to the normal mode that outputs radio waves when a special command is received , Characterized in that it comprises a.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the authenticating step includes: identifying information recorded in a table for identifying a wireless device permitted to connect to the wireless antenna; and Writing permission information to a memory when the stored identification information matches, and outputting the special command includes sending a special command to the wireless device when the permission information is written to the memory. It is desirable to include outputting.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a wireless device attached to an information processing apparatus equipped with a wireless antenna, and outputs a special mode that does not output radio waves and radio waves. When the information processing apparatus is powered on, the special mode that does not output radio waves is maintained, and when a special command is received from the information processing apparatus, the normal mode that outputs radio waves is set. It is characterized by migrating.

  There is an effect that it is possible to prohibit radio wave output by connecting a wireless device that is an inappropriate combination with an antenna.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic external configuration of a notebook personal computer to which the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of the notebook personal computer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions and operations of the wireless WAN card of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation when the wireless WAN card of the present embodiment is mounted on a laptop computer of another company. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing for the wireless WAN card after the notebook personal computer is powered on.

  Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, a communication method thereof, and a wireless device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the components of the present invention are generally illustrated in the drawings herein, it can be readily understood that they may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of configurations with various configurations. Accordingly, the following more detailed description of the apparatus, system and method embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, but merely as an example of selected embodiments of the invention. It is intended merely to illustrate selected embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods consistent with the present invention as set forth in the claims herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, or materials. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic external configuration of a notebook personal computer to which the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook personal computer 1 includes a main body side housing 2 and a monitor side housing 3. An input unit 21 such as a keyboard or a track point is provided on the upper surface of the main body side housing 2. The input unit 21 is operated when inputting various commands and data. Further, a mother board (not shown) is provided inside the main body side housing 2. The wireless WAN card 31 can be attached to this motherboard. For example, the wireless WAN card 31 is attached to the motherboard by opening a lid provided on the bottom surface of the main body side housing 2.

  The monitor-side housing 3 is configured to be rotatable (openable / closable) with respect to the main body-side housing 2 via a pair of hinges (connecting portions) 6 with one side as a rotation center. The monitor side housing 3 is provided with a display panel 18 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for example, and various information is displayed on the display panel 18 in accordance with commands from the main body side housing 2. Is done.

  Further, the monitor side housing 3 is provided with a diversity antenna 15 as a wireless antenna inside both sides of the display panel 18, and is connected to a wireless WAN card 31 mounted on the motherboard via a cable 16.

  For example, a material in which titanium is contained in CFRP (carbon fiber composite material: reinforced plastic) is used for the main body side housing 2 and the monitor side housing 3, for example, in order to increase durability. Since this material does not transmit radio waves, ABS plastic material, for example, is used only in the portion where the diversity antenna 15 is provided. The diversity antenna 15 is configured to automatically use the one having the better reception sensitivity out of the two antennas.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of the notebook personal computer of FIG. The CPU 11 includes a memory controller and a PCI Express controller, and is connected to the main memory 19, the video card 17, and the chip set 12. The video card 17 is a subsystem for realizing functions related to image display, and includes a video controller. The video controller processes a drawing command from the CPU 11, writes the processed drawing information into the video memory, reads out the drawing information from the video memory, and outputs it to the display panel 18 as drawing data.

  The main memory 19 is a writable memory used as an execution program reading area for the CPU 11 or a work area for writing processing data of the execution program. For example, it is composed of a plurality of DRAM chips. The execution program includes various drivers for operating the OS, peripheral devices, a utility program (Tool), an application program for executing a specific task, and the like. These execution programs are stored in the HDD 14.

  The chip set 12 incorporates a controller (not shown) such as USB, SATA, PCI Express, LPC, RTC (Real Time Clock) and the like. An HDD 14 is connected to the SATA controller, and a USB slot 13 is connected to the USB controller. An RRPROM 40 and an embedded controller (EC) 22 are connected to the LPC controller.

  The USB slot 13 is configured so that a wireless WAN card 31 can be mounted. When the wireless WAN card 31 is mounted on the motherboard via the USB slot 13, it is connected to the diversity antenna 15 via the cable 16 via the antenna connector 32.

  The EEPROM 40 stores information such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) 41, a program for controlling the embedded controller 22, a password registered by the user, a supervisor password, and a product serial number. This is a non-volatile memory and the stored contents can be electrically rewritten.

  The embedded controller 22 is a microcomputer composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and further includes a plurality of channels of A / D input terminals, D / A output terminals, timers, and digital input / output terminals. The embedded controller 22 can execute a program related to the management of the internal operating environment of the notebook personal computer 1 independently of the CPU 11. The embedded controller 22 controls the input unit 21.

  The embedded controller 22 controls the operation of the charger 27 by monitoring the state of the battery set 23. The battery set 23 conforms to the standard of the smart battery system (SBS) and is mounted in a manner that cannot be replaced by the user inside the casing. The embedded controller 41 sets the charging current setting value and the charging voltage setting value of the battery set 23 in the charger 27. The charger 27 charges the battery set 22 by a constant current / constant voltage control method (CCCV) based on the setting value of the charging current and the setting value of the charging voltage set by the embedded controller 22.

  The embedded controller 22 controls the DC / DC converter 29 via the power controller 25 to supply power to the system device mounted on the notebook computer 1. The power controller 25 is connected to the embedded controller 22 and the DC / DC converter 29 and controls the DC / DC converter 29 based on an instruction from the embedded controller 22. The DC / DC converter 29 converts a DC voltage supplied from the battery set 23 or an AC / DC adapter (not shown) into a plurality of voltages and supplies power to the system device.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions and operations of the wireless WAN card 31 of FIG. In the following description, the operation realized by the CPU 11 executing the program will be described with the program as the operation subject.

  By the way, for example, Windows (registered trademark) 8 supports an inbox class driver for a wireless WAN device. For example, if a wireless antenna mounted on a personal computer manufactured by company A and a wireless WAN card (controller) manufactured by company A are certified, the standard for installing a wireless WAN card manufactured by company A on the other company's personal computer It may be a behavior that violates the certification. Specifically, in a personal computer made by another company, Windows® 8 checks, for example, “02h” of the USB base class (Base Class) and “0Eh” of the subclass (Sub Class), and the wireless WAN card In some cases, the corresponding inbox class driver is automatically loaded. The wireless WAN card operates according to a command from the loaded inbox class driver and outputs radio waves. Since this inbox class driver cannot be customized, it is impossible to prohibit radio wave output of a wireless WAN card that is not certified by the inbox class driver.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following configuration is adopted so that the wireless WAN card 31 does not violate the standard even when it is mounted on a laptop computer of another company.

  The wireless WAN card 31 is a wireless device compliant with the USB standard, has a transmission / reception circuit, transmits / receives commands and data to / from the system side, and controls wireless communication, and is accessible to the wireless controller 33. A nonvolatile memory 34 and the like are provided. The nonvolatile memory 34 stores a vendor ID and a product ID, which are identification information of the wireless WAN card 31.

  The wireless controller 33 does not output radio waves and responds to an inquiry from the system side with a special mode for returning “Out of Service” and a normal mode for performing normal operations including radio wave output. I have. When the notebook personal computer 1 is powered on, the wireless controller 33 wakes up in the special mode (T1), and shifts to the normal mode only when a special command is received from the utility program 52 (T6).

  The EEPROM 40 stores a BIOS 41 and a device table 42, and includes a field 43 for a secret key (permission information). The device table 42 stores an ID (identification information) of a network controller (wireless device) that has received certification for wireless communication in combination with a wireless antenna. Specifically, the ID stored in the device table 42 is a combination with the diversity antenna 15 that is a wireless antenna. For example, a network controller that is compatible with each standard such as the international standard IEEE802.11b. ID. For example, in the device table 42, a USB vendor ID (ID that identifies a company that supplies a card) and a product ID (ID that can uniquely identify a card) that have received certification for each product are stored. ing. Although the secret key is recorded in the EEPROM 40 here, the present invention is not limited to this, and the secret key may be recorded in the main memory 19. The data recorded in the main memory 19 is erased when the main body is powered off.

  The BIOS 41 functions as an authentication unit, and authenticates the wireless WAN card 31 during booting (T2). Specifically, at the time of booting, the BIOS 41 searches for a slot in which a wireless card is inserted, finds a device, and reads a vendor ID and a product ID from the device. The BIOS 41 determines whether or not the read vendor ID and product ID match the vendor ID and product ID registered in the device table 42. If they match (if the authentication is successful), the field 43 of the EEPROM 40 is determined. The secret key is written in (T3). The secret key written in the field 43 is erased when the power is turned off.

  The OS 50 is, for example, Windows (registered trademark) 8. After booting, the OS 50 loads the inbox class driver 51 corresponding to the USB base class “02h” and the subclass “0Eh”.

  The utility program 52 functions as special command output means. After booting the OS 50, the utility program 52 checks whether or not a secret key is written in the field 43 of the EEPROM 40 (T4). If the secret key is written, a special command is sent to the wireless WAN card 31. Is output (T5), and the special command is not output when the secret key is not written.

  With the above configuration, in the special mode, the wireless controller 33 returns “Out of Service” and does not output a radio wave even if there is an inquiry or a radio wave output request from the inbox class driver 51 (T7). In the normal mode, the wireless controller 33 outputs a radio wave when a radio wave output request is received from the inbox class driver 51 (T8).

  FIG. 4 illustrates the operation when the wireless WAN card 31 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a laptop computer of another company (a laptop computer having an antenna that is not certified as a set together with the wireless WAN card 31). It is a schematic diagram for. In FIG. 4, 100 indicates an OS, 101 indicates an inbox class driver, 200 indicates an EEPROM, and 201 indicates a BIOS. In the case of a laptop computer of another company, as shown in FIG. 4, the utility program 52, the device table 42, and the field 43 in FIG. 3 do not exist.

  In FIG. 4, the wireless WAN card 31 wakes up in a special mode (U1). In other laptop computers, special commands cannot be output to the wireless WAN card 31 (there is no utility program 52), so the wireless WAN card 31 always maintains a special mode. Even if the utility program 52 is installed, since the secret key is not written in the field of the EEPROM 200, the wireless WAN card 31 maintains the special mode. Since the wireless WAN card 31 always maintains the special mode, for example, even if there is a request for radio wave output from the inbox class driver 101, the radio WAN card 31 does not output radio waves (U2). Therefore, even when the wireless WAN card 31 is mounted on a laptop computer of another company, it does not violate the standard.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing for the wireless WAN card 31 after the notebook personal computer 1 is powered on. In the figure, first, when the notebook personal computer 1 is powered on (step S1), power is supplied to each unit, and the wireless WAN card 31 wakes up in a special mode (step S2). Then, the BIOS 41 starts booting (step S3). The BIOS 41 searches for a slot in which the wireless card is inserted, finds a device, and reads a vendor ID and a product ID from the device. The BIOS 41 determines whether or not the read vendor ID and product ID match the vendor ID and product ID registered in the device table 42, that is, whether or not the device is supported by the notebook personal computer 1. (Step 4). If the vendor ID and product ID of the wireless WAN card 31 do not match the vendor ID and product ID registered in the device table 42 (“No” in step S4), the process proceeds to step S6.

  If the vendor ID and product ID of the wireless WAN card 31 match the vendor ID and product ID registered in the device table 42 (“Yes” in step S4), that is, if the authentication is successful, the BIOS 41 The secret key is written in the field 43 of the EEPROM 40 (step S5).

  When the OS 50 is booted (step S6), the OS 51 loads a driver, for example, loads the inbox class driver 51 of a device whose USB base class is “02h” and subclass is “0Eh” (step S7).

  The utility program 52 determines whether or not a secret key is written in the field 43 of the EEPROM 40 (step S8). If the secret key has been written (“Yes” in step S8), a special command is output to the wireless WAN card 31 (step S9). When receiving the special command, the wireless WAN card 31 shifts from the special mode to the normal mode (step S10). As a result, the wireless WAN card 31 can output radio waves.

  On the other hand, if the secret key is not written in the field 43 of the EEPROM 40 in step S8 (“No” in step S8), the utility program 52 does not output a special command to the wireless WAN card 31. In this case, a wireless device that is not certified is installed.

  In step S4, if the vendor ID and product ID of the wireless WAN card 31 do not match the vendor ID and product ID registered in the device table 42 (if authentication fails), the boot sequence is stopped. You may decide.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the BIOS 41 authenticates the mounted wireless WAN card 31, and the utility program 51 stores the wireless WAN card 31 when the wireless WAN card 31 is successfully authenticated. When a special command is output and the wireless WAN card 31 is powered on, the wireless WAN card 31 maintains a special mode in which radio waves are not output, and shifts to a normal mode in which radio waves are output when a special command is received from the utility program 51. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit radio wave output by connecting a wireless device that is an inappropriate combination with an antenna.

  In addition, even if the wireless WAN card 31 is mounted on a notebook computer with an antenna that is not certified for use in combination with the wireless WAN card 31, the wireless WAN card 31 does not output radio waves. It is possible to prohibit radio wave output by connecting wireless devices to be combined.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the device table 42 in which identification information (for example, a vendor ID and a product ID) for identifying a wireless device permitted to connect to the diversity antenna 15 is provided, and the BIOS 41 is provided. When the identification information of the wireless WAN card 31 matches the identification information recorded in the device table 42, the secret key, which is permission information, is written to the EEPROM 40, and the utility program 51, when the secret key is written, Since the special command is output to the wireless WAN card 31, the wireless device can be authenticated by a simple and low-cost method.

  Further, in this embodiment, even when an OS that supports an inbox class driver such as Windows (registered trademark) 8 is installed, it is possible to prohibit radio wave output by connecting a wireless device that is an inappropriate combination with an antenna. It becomes.

  In this embodiment, the BIOS 41 is used as the authentication unit. However, the authentication unit is not limited to this, and other firmware, authentication hardware, or the like may be used.

  In this embodiment, the utility program 52 is used as the special command output means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the BIOS 41 may function as the special command output means.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless WAN card 31 returns “Out Of Service” to the system side in the special mode. However, radio wave output is prohibited in the standard certification, and reception is performed. As long as radio wave output is not performed, any mode may be used.

  In this embodiment, a USB standard wireless device is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another standard wireless device such as PCI or PCMCIA may be used. In this embodiment, the wireless WAN card is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another standard wireless device such as WLAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or WIMAX may be used. Good.

  In this embodiment, a notebook personal computer is exemplified as the information processing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other information processing devices such as a desktop personal computer, a tablet personal computer, a PDA, and a mobile phone are used. It is applicable to.

  The information processing apparatus, the communication method thereof, and the wireless device according to the present invention are useful for prohibiting radio wave output by connecting a wireless device that is an inappropriate combination with an antenna.

1 Notebook PC 2 Body side housing 3 Monitor side housing 6 Hinge (connecting part)
11 CPU11
12 Chipset 13 USB slot 14 HDD
15 Diversity antenna 16 Cable 17 Video card 18 Display panel 19 Main memory 21 Input unit 31 Wireless WAN card 33 Wireless controller 34 Non-volatile memory 40 EEPROM
41 BIOS
42 device 43 field 50 OS
51 inbox class driver
52 Utility Program

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus that can be equipped with a wireless card for performing wireless communication and includes a wireless antenna connected to the wireless card,
Authentication means for authenticating the wireless card attached to the information processing apparatus;
A special command output means for outputting a special command for shifting the wireless card to a normal mode for outputting radio waves from a special mode for not outputting radio waves to the wireless card when the authentication means succeeds in authentication of the wireless card;
With
When the information processing apparatus is powered on, the wireless card wakes up in the special mode, maintains the special mode, and receives the special command from the special command output means Only , the information processing apparatus shifts to the normal mode. The authentication means includes
A table in which identification information for identifying a wireless card permitted to connect to the wireless antenna is recorded;
When the information processing apparatus is powered on, if the identification information stored in the wireless card matches the identification information recorded in the table, the permission information is written in the memory, and the permission information written in the memory is Erased when the information processing device is powered off,
The special command output means includes
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the permission information is written in the memory, the special command is output to the wireless card. The OS inbox class drivers for wireless card (inbox class driver) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that is loaded.   4. The information according to claim 1, wherein the wireless card returns an out-of-service in response to an inquiry from the system side in the special mode. 5. Processing equipment. A communication method for an information processing apparatus, which can be equipped with a wireless card for performing wireless communication and includes a wireless antenna connected to the wireless card,
When the information processing apparatus is powered on, the wireless card mounted on the information processing apparatus wakes up in a special mode in which radio waves are not output (Wake UP), and maintains the special mode ;
An authenticating unit authenticating the wireless card;
A special command output means, when the authentication means has succeeded in authenticating the wireless card, outputting a special command for causing the wireless card to shift to a normal mode for outputting radio waves from the special mode;
Only when the wireless card receives the special command from the special command output means, the step of shifting to the normal mode;
A communication method for an information processing apparatus including: The authenticating step is performed when the identification information recorded in the table for identifying the wireless card permitted to connect to the wireless antenna matches the identification information stored in the wireless card. Including writing permission information to memory,
The information processing apparatus communication method according to claim 5, wherein the step of outputting the special command includes outputting the special command to the wireless card when permission information is written in the memory. A wireless card attached to an information processing apparatus equipped with a wireless antenna,
It has a special mode that does not output radio waves and a normal mode that outputs radio waves,
When the information processing apparatus is powered on , wake up in the special mode (Wake UP) to maintain the special mode;
The wireless card is shifted to the normal mode only when a special command for shifting from the special mode to the normal mode is received from the information processing apparatus.

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