JP2004126856A - Ddns client terminal, ddns server, ddns version managing system and method for updaing firmware version - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a DDNS client terminal and a DDNS server and a DDNS version managing system and a firmware version updating method capable of making it unnecessary to perform access from a user side to the version information of the firmware or to make a notice from a supplier side, and easily acquiring the update version. <P>SOLUTION: In updating a global IP address, when a DDNS update request is issued from a DDNS client terminal 3 to a DDN server 2, the version number of the firmware of the DDNS client terminal 3 and its machine kind information are transmitted, and when the updated version firmware is present, version-up notification is noticed from the DDNS sever 2 to the DDNS client terminal 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a DDNS client terminal and a DDNS server capable of version management, a DDNS version management system including the same, and a method of updating a firmware version.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when accessing a web server on a wide area network such as the Internet using a host name from a browser of a network terminal, a DNS server obtains a global IP address corresponding to the host name and transmits an IP packet. However, global IP addresses are depleted worldwide, and it is widely performed to assign limited global IP addresses with a time limit by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.
[0003]
However, DNS servers cannot support dynamically changing global IP addresses. Therefore, a DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) server is used. When a network terminal, which is a DHCP client, updates a global IP address, it issues an update request to a DDNS server to enable access to a web server using a domain name.
[0004]
By the way, with the spread of broadband such as ADSL and CATV Internet, broadband routers that always connect are widely used. A plurality of network terminals are connected to the broadband router. For example, a network camera such as a monitoring camera is connected. These network terminals and broadband routers need to correspond to dynamically changing global IP addresses, and notify their global IP addresses to the DDNS server as DDNS client terminals.
[0005]
The DDNS server that has received the notification of the IP address from the DDNS client terminal compares the global IP address of the client terminal in its own database with the notified global IP address, and determines that the database has been updated if there is a change. ,change. The database of the DDNS server also stores personal information such as the mail address, address, and telephone number of the user of the DDNS client terminal.
[0006]
By the way, recently, the latest versions of the firmware of network terminals such as network cameras and broadband routers can be downloaded from sites of manufacturers, software companies and vendors. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-163873 provides a technology that allows a software vendor to grasp a customer from a remote location, update the customer's software using a new version, and correct a software bug.
[0007]
This (Patent Document 1) discloses that an Internet connection is established between a customer platform and a vendor platform in response to execution of software on the customer platform, and a first version of data related to the customer software is transmitted from a second platform from the vendor platform. If it is different from the version data, the first part of the first software is overwritten with the first update code from the vendor platform. In this way, the user of the network terminal can download the latest version and keep the firmware of the terminal at the latest version.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-222374
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the latest firmware has been updated to the above-mentioned site, users should visit this site and check for the latest firmware, or email the manufacturer or software company when updating. Unless the notification is made using a postcard, the user cannot understand. And in the former case, if the user does not access these sites, it is impossible to know that the latest firmware has been updated, and in the latter case, the user who has already updated will be notified. There was a problem.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a DDNS client terminal that can easily obtain the latest version without having to access firmware version information from the user side and not having to directly notify the supplier side. I do.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a DDNS server capable of easily notifying the latest version without having to access the firmware version information from the user side and not having to directly notify the supplier side. .
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a DDNS version management system capable of easily notifying the latest version without having to access the firmware version information from the user side and not having to directly notify the supplier side. I do.
[0013]
Further, the present invention provides a firmware version updating method that can easily notify the latest version without having to access the firmware version information from the user side and without having to directly notify the supplier side. Aim.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a DDNS client terminal according to the present invention is characterized in that when a DDNS client unit issues a DDNS update request to a DDNS server, the DDNS client unit simultaneously notifies the current version number and model information of the firmware.
[0015]
As a result, there is no need for the user to access the firmware version information, and there is no need to directly notify the supplier, and the latest version can be easily obtained.
[0016]
The DDNS server according to the present invention is characterized in that firmware version information and model information of a DDNS client terminal are stored as client information, and a firmware management table storing the latest version of firmware for each model is provided.
[0017]
As a result, it is not necessary for the user to access the firmware version information, and it is not necessary for the supplier to directly notify the firmware, and the latest version can be easily notified.
[0018]
The DDNS version management system according to the present invention is characterized in that, when a DDNS update request is issued from a DDNS client terminal to a DDNS server, the DDNS client terminal is notified of the current version number and model information of the firmware of the DDNS client terminal.
[0019]
As a result, it is not necessary for the user to access the firmware version information, and it is not necessary for the supplier to directly notify the firmware, and the latest version can be easily notified.
[0020]
The method of updating the firmware version according to the present invention is characterized in that, when updating a global IP address, when a DDNS update request is sent from a DDNS client terminal to a DDNS server, the firmware version number and model information of the DDNS client terminal are notified, and the latest version is notified. The DDNS server notifies the DDNS client terminal of a version upgrade when the firmware of the above exists.
[0021]
As a result, it is not necessary for the user to access the firmware version information, and it is not necessary for the supplier to directly notify the firmware, and the latest version can be easily notified.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a DDNS client unit that notifies a DDNS server when a global IP address is changed, and a version number management unit that manages a current version number of firmware, and the DDNS client unit A DDNS client terminal for simultaneously notifying the current version number and model information of firmware when making a DDNS update request to a DDNS server, and simultaneously transmitting the version number and model information when making a DDNS update request. The notification does not require the user to access the version information, and the latest version can be easily transmitted.
[0023]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DDNS server that includes a client information database storing a global IP address and a host name as client information, and converts an accessed host name into a global IP address. A DDNS server, wherein firmware version information and model information of a DDNS client terminal are stored, and a firmware management table for storing the latest version of firmware for each model information is provided. And a firmware management table in which model information of the DDNS client terminal is stored and the latest version of firmware is stored for each model. Ianto information database version information and model information is added, and since the latest versions of the firmware management table data storing is provided, it is possible to easily notify the latest version.
[0024]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a DDNS client terminal according to the first aspect is connected to a wide area network, and a DDNS server according to the second aspect is connected to a wide area network. A DDNS version management system for notifying the current version number and model information of the firmware of the DDNS client terminal when making a DDNS update request to the DDNS client, and notifying the version number and the model information in the DDNS update request. Therefore, there is no need for the user to access the firmware version information, and no notification from the supplier is required, and the latest version can be easily notified.
[0025]
According to the invention of claim 4 of the present invention, at the time of updating a global IP address, when a DDNS update request is sent from a DDNS client terminal to a DDNS server, the firmware version number and model information of the DDNS client terminal are notified, and the latest This is a firmware version update method in which the DDNS server notifies the DDNS client terminal of a version upgrade when the firmware of the version is available. In order to notify the version number and the model information by the DDNS update request, There is no need to access the firmware version information from the server, and no notification from the supplier is required, and the latest version can be easily notified.
[0026]
(Embodiment 1)
A DDNS version management system and a firmware version updating method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a DDNS version management system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a DDNS client terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a DDNS server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram.
[0027]
In FIG. 1, 1 is the Internet (a wide area network of the present invention), 2 is a DDNS server, 3 is a DDNS client terminal such as a broadband router or a network camera under the same, 4 is a network terminal that can receive mail from the Internet 1, Reference numeral 5 denotes a DHCP server that allocates a global IP address with a time limit in response to a request from a client. Reference numeral 9 denotes an SMTP server that has an STMP protocol and can handle e-mail addressed to the DDNS client terminal 3 in accordance with a request from the DDNS server 2. Is an FTP server that stores the firmware of the DDNS client terminal 3 in a downloadable manner by the FTP protocol.
[0028]
Next, the DDNS client terminal 3 will be described. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3a denotes a DDNS client unit that controls and manages communication with the DDNS server 2 of the DDNS client terminal 3, and 6a denotes a mail management unit (not shown) that manages communication of e-mails. A mail address management unit that manages the received mail address. Reference numeral 6b denotes an IP address management unit that manages its own IP address assigned from the DHCP server 5 for communication with the Internet 1 and the like, and 6c denotes a firmware version number management unit of the DDNS client terminal 3 itself. Note that the firmware is a program for controlling basic operations, and the firmware of the client terminal 3 has a version number each time it is changed by a vendor such as a manufacturer or a software company (for function expansion or bug correction). Be changed. The version number management unit first manages the version of the firmware at the time of manufacture. When the firmware of the client terminal 3 is switched, the version number of the switched firmware is replaced with the version number at the time of the first manufacture. to manage.
[0029]
In addition, the DDNS client unit 3a periodically transmits a DDNS update request to the DDNS server 2 in order to keep the client information of the own terminal (in the client information database described later) of the DDNS server 2 always new. As for the DDNS update request, the DDNS client unit 3a obtains the respective information from the mail address management unit 6a, the IP address management unit 6b, and the version number management unit 6c, and obtains a DDNS update request HTTP packet described later (see FIG. 6). Is generated and then transmitted. When the firmware of the client terminal 3 is switched as described above, the version number managed by the version number management unit 6c is also changed and notified to the DDNS server 2.
[0030]
When there is a plurality of firmware of one DDNS client terminal 3 such as firmware for DDNS client function, firmware for camera control, firmware for router control, etc., the version number management unit 6c stores version information for each firmware. It manages the DDNS update request and operates to transmit a plurality of pieces of firmware information and version information.
[0031]
The firmware is stored in a ROM or a non-volatile memory (not shown). The management units such as the DDNS client unit 3a, the mail address management unit 6a, the IP address management unit 6b, and the version number management unit 6c have firmware and other control programs loaded into the central processing unit, and are configured as function realizing means. You.
[0032]
Next, the DDNS server 2 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 7 denotes a client information database provided in the DDNS server 2 and storing respective client information for each DDNS client terminal 3. 7a is the current global IP address assigned by the DHCP server 5 and stored in each client information, 7b is the mail address provided in the same client information, 7c is the firmware version number information, 7d is the DDNS client This is model information of the terminal 3. The model information 7d is information indicating, for example, whether the device is a broadband router or a network camera. When one DDNS client terminal 3 has a plurality of firmware, a plurality of version numbers and a plurality of firmware information (model information) are stored in the version number information 7c and the model information 7d, respectively. Other personal information of the user is also stored in the client information. 8 is a firmware management table for managing the latest firmware for each model, 8a is the latest version number of the camera control firmware stored in the DDNS client terminal 3, and 8b is a broadband router also stored in the DDNS client terminal 3. This is the latest version number of the control firmware.
[0033]
The firmware management table 8 indicates that when the vendor updates the firmware version and uploads the latest firmware after the change to the FTP server 10 (so that the firmware can be downloaded from the DDNS client terminal 3), the FTP server 10 transmits the firmware to the DDNS server 2. The firmware to be changed and its version number are notified, and the DDNS server 2 changes the firmware management table 8 to the notified version number. The update of the firmware management table 8 can be performed by the vendor directly transmitting the firmware to be changed and its version number to the DDNS server 2 instead of notifying the update from the FTP server 10.
[0034]
Therefore, a processing sequence of the DDNS version management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a process of the DDNS version management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of the DDNS server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0035]
First, as shown in FIG. 4, the DDNS client terminal 3 periodically notifies its own global IP address and the like to the DDNS server 2. That is, a DDNS update request is made periodically. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an HTTP packet of a DDNS update request. The configuration of the DDNS update request will be described with reference to FIG. 6. 9a is an HTTP header of an HTTP packet, 9b is a global IP address assigned to the DHCP server 5, 9c is a mail address, 9d is firmware version number information, 9e Is model information, and 9f is a client ID for identifying the client.
[0036]
The DDNS server 2 that has received the notification from the DDNS client terminal 3 performs the server processing shown in FIG. 5 and acquires the version number information and the model information from the HTTP packet. As shown in FIG. 5, upon receiving the DDNS update request (step 1), the DDNS server 2 acquires version number information from the HTTP packet (step 2) and acquires model information (step 3). Next, the DDNS server 2 obtains the latest version number from the firmware management table 8 from the model information (step 4). Then, when the acquired firmware version number is compared with the version number registered in the management table, it is determined whether or not the firmware is the latest (step 5). If the registered version number is newer, the DDNS server 2 performs a version upgrade update notification process for e-mailing that the latest firmware has been uploaded to the registered e-mail address (step 6), and ends. If the acquired firmware has a newer version number, the processing ends because the latest firmware has already been downloaded. In the version update update notification process, information indicating that the latest firmware has been uploaded is transmitted to the DDNS client terminal 3 via the SMTP server 9 in an e-mail format for the mail address registered in the client information. It is also possible to add date information on the latest version, information on changes from the previous version, and information on the FTP server 10 to which the latest firmware has been uploaded, in this e-mail. The information is registered in advance in association with the management table 8.
[0037]
Thereafter, the DDNS server 2 transmits the version upgrade notification mail shown in FIG. 4, and ends the processing of the DDNS version management system.
[0038]
As described above, the DDNS version management system according to the first embodiment uses the DDNS update request performed between the DDNS server 2 and the DDNS client terminal 3 to store the firmware version number information and the model information of the DDNS client terminal. Since the notification is used, the firmware version management can be easily performed by using the DDNS system. Therefore, there is no need for the firmware vendor to directly send e-mail or the like every time the firmware is upgraded, and there is no need to notify the user of the DDNS client terminal whose firmware has already been upgraded.
[0039]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the firmware of the DDNS client terminal is downloaded by the FTP protocol has been described. However, a server that can be downloaded by the HTTP protocol may be used.
[0040]
Further, the update notification process of the version upgrade is not performed every time a DDNS update request is received, but a notification history information area may be provided in the client information database 7 so as to be notified only once every time the firmware is upgraded. Good. For example, the version information notified to the DDNS client terminal such as “version 2 notified, version 3 notified” is stored as client information as notification history information, and if the version number information 9d of the DDNS update notification is version 3, It is determined that the information has already been notified, and the update notification processing is not performed.
[0041]
Further, the date notified to the notification history information may be stored together, and the update notification processing may be performed at intervals of, for example, one week according to the stored date. That is, client information is stored as “version 2: 2002/5/31 notified, version 3: 2002/8/23 notified”, and the version number information 9d of the DDNS update notification is version 2, and If the current time is August 2, 2002, the update notification processing is performed, and the notification history information is updated to "version 2: notified on May 5, 2002, version 3: notified on August 8, 2002". As a result, a version update notification is not sent each time a DDNS update request is made, so that the user of the DDNS client terminal can be troubled and the capacity of the mail server of the user (allocated to the user) becomes punctured. You don't have to worry.
[0042]
In addition, if the DDNS server 2 is provided with a user information notification processing unit (not shown) for transmitting information stored in the DDNS server 2, for example, a mail address, firmware type, and version information to the firmware vendor, Can grasp the user's version information and send the version-up information to a mail address.
[0043]
Note that the user of the DDNS client terminal does not transmit the firmware or version information in the DDNS update notification by selection, or includes a request to stop the update notification process in the DDNS update notification so that the DDNS server 2 stops the update notification process. You may make it do.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the DDNS client terminal of this invention, since a version number and model information are notified simultaneously at the time of making a DDNS update request, there is no need to access version information from a user side, and the latest version can be transmitted easily. .
[0045]
According to the DDNS server of the present invention, the version information and the model information are added to the client information database and the firmware management table storing the latest version data is provided, so that the latest version can be easily notified. .
[0046]
According to the DDNS version management system and the firmware version updating method of the present invention, since the version number and the model information are notified by the DDNS update request, there is no need to access the firmware version information from the user side, and the supplier side does not need to access the firmware version information. The latest version can be easily notified without having to notify directly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a DDNS version management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a DDNS client terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a DDNS according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a process of the DDNS version management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of the DDNS server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Configuration diagram of HTTP packet
1 Internet 2 DDNS server 3 DDNS client terminal 3a DDNS client unit 4 Network terminal 5 DHCP server 6a E-mail address management unit 6b IP address management unit 6c Version number management unit 7 Client information database 7a Global IP address 7b E-mail address 7c Version number information 7d Model information 8 Firmware management tables 8a, 8b Latest version of firmware 9a HTTP header 9b Global IP address 9c Email address 9d Version number information 9e Model information 9f Client ID

Claims (4)

A DDNS client unit for notifying the DDNS server when the global IP address is changed;
A version number management unit that manages the current version number of the firmware,
A DDNS client terminal, wherein when the DDNS client unit issues a DDNS update request to a DDNS server, the DDNS client unit notifies the current version number and model information of the firmware at the same time. A DDNS server comprising a client information database storing a global IP address and a host name as client information, and converting an accessed host name into a global IP address.
Firmware version information and model information of the DDNS client terminal are stored as the client information,
A DDNS server comprising a firmware management table for storing a latest version of firmware for each model information. A DDNS client terminal according to claim 1 connected to a wide area network, and a DDNS server according to claim 2 connected to a wide area network, wherein when the DDNS client terminal issues a DDNS update request to the DDNS server, A DDNS version management system for notifying a current version number and model information of the firmware of the DDNS client terminal. When updating the global IP address, when the DDNS client terminal issues a DDNS update request to the DDNS server, the DDNS server notifies the DDNS client of the firmware version number and model information. Sending a version upgrade notification to the DDNS client terminal.

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