JP2005094053A - Network communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that setting for connection to a radio network is troublesome. <P>SOLUTION: In a data transmission/reception network 10, a digital camera 12 detects a first access point 14, a second access point 16, a third access point 18, a first liquid crystal projector 24, and a fourth access point 26 as radio terminals around itself. If a network node to which a user wants to connect the digital camera 12 is a file server 20, a plurality of radio terminals are tried to be connected sequentially, and the file server 20 is detected according to whether or not a node to which a desired IP address is assigned or a node for providing desired service is contained in each network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network communication device, and more particularly to a technique for simplifying setting of wireless LAN communication.

In order for network terminals to communicate with each other according to a so-called wireless LAN standard such as IEEE 802.11, it is necessary to set at least a communication mode and an SSID. As communication modes, there are an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode, and the SSID corresponds to the name of the wireless LAN network. In order to increase the security of data transmitted and received by wireless communication, it is necessary to further set the presence or absence of WEP encryption and the WEP key. Furthermore, when using TCP / IP communication via wireless communication, it is necessary to further set the IP address of the terminal itself, the IP address of the connection destination, the subnet mask, and DNS and gateway as required. Among these necessary settings, a technique for automatically optimizing the communication mode of the wireless LAN is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-330142 A

  Conventionally, when it is desired to connect a network terminal to a node provided with a specific service via a wireless LAN, in principle, the user has to manually set the various information described above. Also, even if some information is automatically set, the user eventually has to select one of the nodes from the search result list, or the user may be arbitrarily connected to an unintended node. There was an inconvenience. In particular, when there are a plurality of wireless terminals belonging to different networks around each other, it is unknown to which network a desired node is connected, and it is unclear which wireless terminal should be connected to the user. Setting work was complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enhance convenience related to establishment of communication between network terminals.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a network communication device. This network communication device is a device that can be connected to a wireless communication network, and includes a wireless search unit that detects connectable peripheral wireless terminals and a setting that indicates an IP address of a desired network node to which the device is to be connected A setting storage unit that stores information in advance, and whether or not the IP address indicated in the setting information is assigned to any of the detected wireless terminal and the network node included in the network to which the wireless terminal belongs A connection destination determination unit that determines whether or not a wireless terminal is a connection destination of a target wireless communication, and if it is determined that the wireless terminal is a connection destination of a target wireless communication, the wireless terminal A communication unit that communicates with a desired network node through wireless communication.

  In this aspect, as long as the IP address of a network node that is a desired connection destination can be known in advance, it automatically connects to a wireless terminal to which the IP address is assigned or to a wireless terminal that belongs to the same network as the node to which the IP address is assigned. Is done. Accordingly, since complicated operations such as wireless communication settings and network settings such as TCP / IP communication are reduced, the user can easily connect a specific network terminal to a desired node.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is also a network communication device. This device is a device that can be connected to a wireless communication network, and stores in advance a wireless search unit that detects connectable peripheral wireless terminals, and setting information indicating a desired service that the device should receive. Based on whether the setting storage unit and any of the detected wireless terminal and the network node included in the network to which the wireless terminal belongs provide the service indicated in the setting information, the wireless terminal A connection destination determination unit that determines whether or not a communication destination is a connection destination, and when it is determined that a wireless terminal is a connection destination of a target wireless communication, a desired service is obtained through wireless communication with the wireless terminal. A communication unit that communicates with a network node to be provided.

  In this aspect, if even a desired service can be grasped in advance, it is automatically connected to a wireless terminal that provides the service or a wireless terminal that belongs to the same network as the network node that provides the service. Accordingly, since complicated operations such as wireless communication settings and network settings such as TCP / IP communication are reduced, the user can easily connect a specific network terminal to a node that provides a desired service.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described components, and the components and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between a method, apparatus, system, computer program, recording medium storing the program, data structure, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, setting of wireless communication can be facilitated.

  In the present embodiment, information necessary for wireless communication is automatically set in a network terminal connectable to wireless LAN communication. At this time, the wireless communication is automatically set based on the IP address of the network node desired by the user as the connection destination of the network terminal or information on the service provided by the node. Hereinafter, a digital camera capable of wireless communication as a network terminal will be described as an example, and a case where a captured image is transmitted from the digital camera to a specific file server in a specific network will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic network configuration of a data transmission / reception system. In the data transmission / reception system 10, the digital camera 12 includes a wireless module, and can perform wireless communication with other wireless terminals. A first access point 14, a second access point 16, a third access point 18, and a file server 20 are connected to the first IP network 22 by wire. A fourth access point 26, a second liquid crystal projector 28, and a personal computer 30 are connected to the second IP network 32 by wire. The first access point 14, the second access point 16, the third access point 18, and the fourth access point 26 each have a wireless module and can perform wireless communication in the infrastructure mode. The first liquid crystal projector 24 also has a wireless module and can perform wireless communication in an ad hoc mode. The wireless communication may be a wireless LAN system such as IEEE802.11.

  The digital camera 12 detects and recognizes the first access point 14, the second access point 16, the third access point 18, the first liquid crystal projector 24, and the fourth access point 26 by searching for surrounding wireless terminals. be able to. When the digital camera 12 is connected to the first liquid crystal projector 24, it becomes a peer-to-peer connection in the ad hoc mode, and when connected to another wireless terminal, the digital camera 12 is included in the first IP network 22 or the second IP network 32 to which the digital camera 12 belongs. It becomes possible to communicate with the file server 20 and the personal computer 30 to be connected.

  Each configuration of the digital camera 12, the first access point 14, the second access point 16, the third access point 18, the first liquid crystal projector 24, and the fourth access point 26 is a wireless module or other LSI in terms of hardware. In terms of software, it is realized by a program having a data transmission / reception function loaded in a memory. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functional blocks illustrated in FIG. 2 can be realized in various forms in cooperation with hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  In this embodiment, when the digital camera 12 which is one of the wireless terminals wants to transmit a captured image to the file server 20, the optimum access point is selected and information necessary for the wireless communication and IP network communication is automatically selected. Set with.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the network communication apparatus. The network communication device 40 corresponds to each wireless terminal in FIG. Hereinafter, the description will be appropriately made on the assumption that the network communication device 40 is the digital camera 12. The network communication device 40 includes a transmission / reception unit 42, a wireless search unit 44, a connection destination determination unit 46, a communication unit 48, a setting storage unit 50, and a setting input unit 52. Each unit of the wireless search unit 44, the connection destination determination unit 46, and the communication unit 48 transmits / receives data to / from an external wireless terminal via the transmission / reception unit 42 by wireless communication.

  The wireless search unit 44 detects surrounding wireless terminals that can be connected. For example, the wireless search unit 44 receives a probe response issued from each wireless terminal, acquires information necessary for wireless communication with the wireless terminal from the probe response, and sends the information to the connection destination determination unit 46. Examples of information necessary for wireless communication include SSID, communication mode, and communication channel. When searching for a wireless terminal, the wireless search unit 44 may use a setting in which nothing is specified as an SSID or a setting in which a value of “ANY” is specified, and sets a search mode as a communication mode. May be. When a plurality of wireless terminals are detected, the wireless search unit 44 generates a list in which the plurality of wireless modules and information necessary for wireless communication are associated with each other and sends the list to the connection destination determination unit 46.

  The setting storage unit 50 stores in advance setting information indicating information necessary for specifying a desired network node to which the network communication device 40 should be connected. The setting information indicates at least one of a desired wireless connection setting, an IP address of the desired node, and a service provided by the desired node. The setting storage unit 50 may be configured by a non-volatile memory, and the setting information is continuously held even after the network communication device 40 is turned off. The connection destination determination unit 46 specifies a wireless terminal to be connected and a network node to be connected based on information such as a desired wireless setting, service, and IP address indicated in the setting information. The service is identified by a TCP or UDP port number and a unique command.

  The setting information stored in the setting storage unit 50 defines which parameter should be used as a priority reference when the connection destination determination unit 46 determines a target connection destination of wireless communication. Specifically, (1) a desired wireless connection setting should be preferentially used, (2) a desired service should be preferentially searched, (3) a desired IP address should be preferentially searched, At least one of the determination criteria is written in the setting information. In the setting information, the application priority order may be set so that two or more of the above (1) to (3) are sequentially applied, or any one of (1) to (3) Only one may be set as an absolute reference. The content of such a determination criterion is updated by the setting input unit 52 that receives an instruction from the user.

  If the setting information indicates that (1) the desired wireless connection setting should be used preferentially, the connection destination determination unit 46 tries to connect to the wireless terminal with the desired wireless connection setting. When the wireless connection is successful, a node that provides a desired service or a node to which a desired IP address is assigned is detected from the network to which the wireless terminal belongs. When the wireless terminal connected wirelessly is in the ad hoc mode, it detects whether the wireless terminal itself provides a desired service or a desired IP address is assigned. If a desired node is detected, a connection with the wireless terminal and the node is established.

  When the setting information indicates that (2) the desired service should be preferentially searched, the connection destination determination unit 46 sequentially tries to connect to a plurality of wireless terminals, and the desired information is obtained from the network to which the wireless terminal belongs. Find the node that provides the service. When the wireless terminal connected wirelessly is in the ad hoc mode, it detects whether the wireless terminal itself provides a desired service. If a node providing the desired service is found, a connection with the wireless terminal and the node is established.

  When it is set in the setting information that (3) a desired IP address should be preferentially searched, the connection destination determination unit 46 sequentially tries to connect to a plurality of wireless terminals, and from the network to which the wireless terminal belongs. A node to which a desired IP address is assigned is detected. When the wireless terminal connected wirelessly is in the ad hoc mode, it detects whether a desired IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal itself. If a node to which a desired IP address is assigned is found, a connection with the wireless terminal and the node is established.

  The method for trying to connect to the IP network is as follows. First, the IP address of the network communication device 40 is assigned by the DHCP function operating in the IP network. Thereafter, the connection destination determination unit 46 broadcasts the node search packet in the IP network by UDP, and acquires the IP address and the like of each node belonging to the IP network by the reply packet. The connection destination determination unit 46 can generate a list of IP addresses of each node and connect to a node having a desired IP address.

  When it is determined that the detected wireless terminal is a connection destination of the target wireless communication, the communication unit 48 is a network node or a desired service to which a desired IP address is assigned through wireless communication with the wireless terminal. Communicate with network nodes that provide In the case of this embodiment, the connection destination determination unit 46 selects one of the first access point 14, the second access point 16, and the third access point 18 as a target connection destination from among a plurality of wireless terminals, The file server 20 connected to the 1IP network 22 is detected. The communication unit 48 is wirelessly connected to any one of the first access point 14, the second access point 16, and the third access point 18 with each wireless setting and then connected to the file server 20 using a protocol such as TCP / IP. Connected. The communication unit 48 transmits the captured image of the digital camera 12 to the file server 20.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the relationship between the wireless communication between the digital camera 12 and the wireless terminal and the wired communication between the digital camera 12 and a desired node. First, when the power of the digital camera 12 is turned on (S300), the digital camera 12 acquires information necessary for connecting to the wireless terminal based on the probe response issued from the surrounding wireless terminal (S302). Based on the acquired information, an attempt is made to establish a wireless communication connection with the wireless terminal. If the connection is successful, a virtual communication path for wireless communication is established (S304).

  Next, connection is attempted with any node in the IP network to which the wireless terminal belongs via the wireless communication channel (S306). For example, in the case of TCP / IP, when an IP address of a connection destination node is acquired and a TCP connection is established based on the IP address, a virtual communication path using TCP is established with the node ( S308).

  FIG. 4 shows a table in which surrounding wireless terminals and settings necessary for wireless connection with the terminals are associated with each other. The wireless search unit 44 of FIG. 2 searches for the surrounding wireless terminals in the data transmission / reception network 10 of FIG. 1, and as a result, the first access point 14, the second access point 16, the third access point 18, and the first liquid crystal projector. 24. The fourth access point 26 is detected. Based on the information obtained from the probe response received from each of these wireless terminals, the wireless search unit 44 generates the table of FIG. In this table, a wireless terminal name is associated with each communication mode, SSID, and communication channel, and the connection destination determination unit 46 or the communication unit 48 refers to this table to establish a wireless connection with any wireless terminal. Can do. Further, in the table of this figure, the wireless terminals are sorted in the order of the radio field intensity, but only the radio terminals whose radio field intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold may be stored in the table.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an overall processing process of the present embodiment. First, when the power is turned on (S10), the wireless search unit 44 searches for surrounding wireless terminals and generates a table (S12). If the previous wireless communication settings and connection destination IP address information remain in the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 50, the connection destination determination unit 46 starts a connection attempt based on those settings (S14). ). If the connection is successful (Y in S16), the network communication device 40 displays on the screen that communication is possible (S18), and if the connection fails (N in S16), the process proceeds to S20.

  Next, if the determination information indicating that the desired wireless communication setting should be prioritized is written in the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 50 (Y in S20), the first connection process described later with reference to FIG. When the routine is executed (S22) and a determination criterion that priority should be given to the setting of the desired service or the desired IP address is written in the setting information (N in S20), the second connection described later in FIG. A processing routine is executed (S24). When the return value X in S22 or S24 indicates “OK” (OK in S26), the network communication device 40 displays on the screen that communication is possible (S18), and when the return value X indicates “NG” (S26). NG), the network communication device 40 displays an error on the screen (S28). Note that in S14 to S16, the wireless connection itself with the wireless communication settings stored in advance was successful, but the connection was made because a terminal assigned with a desired IP address or a terminal providing a desired service was not found. When it fails, it transfers from S20 to S22. On the other hand, when the wireless communication itself by the wireless communication setting stored in advance has failed, if the determination criterion to prioritize the wireless communication setting is determined as an absolute reference, the process proceeds to S28 without proceeding from S20 to S22. If the absolute reference is not determined, the process may be shifted to S24 without shifting from S20 to S22.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing in detail the first connection processing routine in S22 of FIG. A trial of wireless connection is started according to the desired wireless communication setting stored in the setting storage unit 50 (S30), and when the connection fails (N in S32), a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value X. If the connection is successful (Y in S32), a node that provides a service that can be used in the same IP network as the wireless terminal is searched (S34). If a node that provides a desired service is not included in the nodes detected by the search (N in S36), a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value X (S44). If a node providing a desired service is included (Y in S36), connection with the node is started (S38). If the connection fails (N in S40), a value indicating "NG" is stored in the return value X (S44). If the connection is successful (Y in S40), a value indicating "OK" is stored in the return value X. Store (S42).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the second connection processing routine in S24 of FIG. First, the value “1” is stored in the number of connection trials i, and the number of wireless terminals n detected by the wireless search unit 44 is stored in the trial number upper limit j (S50). When the number of connection trials i is within the upper limit j of trials (N in S52), the i-th wireless setting in the table generated by the wireless search unit 44 is used (S54), and a wireless connection trial is started (S56). ). If the connection is successful (Y in S58), the process proceeds to a connection routine described later in FIG. 8 (S62). If the connection fails (N in S58), the connection trial number i is incremented (S60), and the process returns to S52. The subsequent processing is repeated. When the return value Y in the connection routine in S62 indicates “NG” (NG in S64), the connection trial number i is incremented (S60), and the process returns to S52 and the subsequent processing is repeated. When the return value Y indicates “OK” (OK in S64), a value indicating “OK” is stored in the return value X (S66), and when the return value Y indicates “FIN” (FIN in S64). Then, a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value X (S68). When the number of connection attempts i exceeds the upper limit of the number of trials j without repeating the wireless connection while repeating the processing after S52 (Y in S52), a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value X. (S68).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail the connection routine in S62 of FIG. When it is set in the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 50 that the desired service should be prioritized (Y in S70), a service search routine described later in FIG. 9 is executed (S72), and the setting information is displayed. When it is set that the desired IP address should be prioritized (N in S70), a node search routine described later with reference to FIG. 10 is executed (S74).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail the service search routine in S72 of FIG. A node that provides a desired service is searched (S90). When such a node is found (Y in S92), connection with the node is started (S94). If the connection is successful (Y in S96), a value indicating “OK” is stored in the return value Y (S98). If no node is found in S92 (N in S92) or if connection to the node fails (N in S96), a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value Y (S100).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the node search routine in S74 of FIG. A node to which a desired IP address is assigned is searched (S110). When such a node is not found (N in S112), a value indicating “NG” is stored in the return value Y (S126). When such a node is found (Y in S112), a list of services provided by the node is generated (S114). If the desired service is included in the list (Y in S116), connection with the node is started (S118). If the connection is successful (Y in S120), the return value Y is set to a value indicating “OK”. If the connection fails (N in S120), a value indicating "FIN" is stored in the return value Y (S124). When a node providing the desired service is not found (N in S116), a value indicating “FIN” is stored in the return value Y (S124).

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

  In the present embodiment, the WEP key for the wireless LAN is not particularly described. However, in the modification, the WEP key is written in advance in the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 50, and the WEP key is further displayed. In the case where the setting is prioritized over the SSID, the connection destination determination unit 46 may preferentially select a wireless terminal that can be connected with the WEP key.

It is a figure which shows the basic network structure of a data transmission / reception system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of a network communication apparatus. It is a figure which shows schematically the relationship of the wireless communication of a digital camera and a wireless terminal, and the wire communication of a digital camera and a desired node. It is a figure which shows the table with which the setting required for the radio | wireless connection of a surrounding radio | wireless terminal and the terminal was matched. It is a flowchart which shows the whole process process of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st connection process routine in S22 of FIG. 5 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd connection process routine in S24 of FIG. 5 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the connection routine in S62 of FIG. 7 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the service search routine in S72 of FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the node search routine in S74 of FIG. 8 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  40 network communication device, 44 wireless search unit, 46 connection destination determination unit, 48 communication unit, 50 setting storage unit, 52 setting input unit.

Claims (4)

A device connectable to a wireless communication network,
A wireless search unit for detecting surrounding wireless terminals that can be connected;
A setting storage unit that stores in advance setting information indicating an IP address of a desired network node to which the device is to be connected;
Based on whether or not the IP address indicated in the setting information is assigned to either the detected wireless terminal or a network node included in the network to which the wireless terminal belongs, the wireless terminal A connection destination determination unit that determines whether or not a connection destination of wireless communication to be performed;
A communication unit that communicates with the desired network node through wireless communication with the wireless terminal when it is determined that the wireless terminal is a connection destination of the target wireless communication;
A network communication device comprising: A device connectable to a wireless communication network,
A wireless search unit for detecting surrounding wireless terminals that can be connected;
A setting storage unit that stores in advance setting information indicating a desired service to be provided by the device;
Based on whether any of the detected wireless terminal and the network node included in the network to which the wireless terminal belongs provides the service indicated in the setting information, A connection destination determination unit for determining whether or not the connection destination;
A communication unit that communicates with a network node that provides the desired service through wireless communication with the wireless terminal when the wireless terminal is determined to be a connection destination of the target wireless communication;
A network communication device comprising:   The connection destination determination unit, when the wireless search unit detects a plurality of wireless terminals, tries to connect to the plurality of wireless terminals, and selects a connection destination of the target wireless communication to be actually connected The network communication device according to claim 1, wherein the network communication device is a network communication device. A setting input unit that receives an instruction from a user as to which of the wireless connection setting, service, and IP address should be given priority as a criterion for determining whether the wireless terminal is a connection destination of the target wireless communication In addition,
The network communication device according to claim 1, wherein the setting input unit updates setting information stored in the setting storage unit based on an instruction from the user.

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