JP2007004579A - Service control and appliance control method or device for information household electric product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide service control and appliance control method or device for an information household electric product for easily setting network information and control information an information household electric product in the information household electric product with a user interface limited. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile information communication terminal 4 of a user 1 or an information communication terminal 5 transmits a service request, and information household electric products 16 and 25 receive a service through service control of a service control server 7 managed by a service provider 6. For example, a server managed by an information household electric maker 19 requests identification information or authentication information for usage and a ticket for using a server managed by a content provider 22 for receiving a content service, and those information is obtained in the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 and subsequently set in the information household electric products 16 and 25 installed in the user's house or at a place where the user is. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a service control and apparatus control method or apparatus, for example, a service control and apparatus control method or apparatus for information home appliances.

  Conventionally, information communication terminals such as personal computers and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance) are provided with a device having a user interface function such as a monitor and a keyboard, but information home appliances (or products with sensors) In many cases, the user interface function is not sufficient (the user interface is simple). When a user of this information home appliance receives a service on the network (for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) connection service or various application services), authentication information (for example, an identifier and a password) necessary for receiving the service is received. Since it is necessary to perform the setting and the application server address setting for the information home appliance, the setting is performed via a device other than the information home appliance while involving a complicated operation. For example, the setting is made via a remote controller attached to the information home appliance, or via a device such as the personal computer.

  In addition, a technique for reducing such complicated operations is known for public wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access services using mobile IP. For example, with the information communication terminal, a shared secret key dynamically generated between the information communication terminal and the authentication server is targeted for connection delay control during access authentication processing applying the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.1x standard. A method of realizing shared secret key authentication without sharing a secret key in advance by applying to mutual authentication between network devices is also known (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, as another method, a key exchange method that makes the location public key of the communication partner unnecessary and simplifies the procedure is studied, and a key using a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server for main information encryption. An exchange method has also been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

  In addition, it is composed of a service provider and a plurality of individual networks connected via a network, and the individual network is composed of a plurality of control medium devices, a general control unit, a personal computer system, and a router. In the home network system, the service provider comprehensively manages device diagnosis of the individual network system and device information including device history information. A method is known in which information relating to operation and monitoring of the control medium device is transmitted and received, and an error signal transmitted from the control medium device is transmitted to the service company (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As described above, the methods described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 are based on the premise that the user shares authentication information between the mobile information communication terminal and the authentication server (or SIP server) in advance. It is a method. In addition, the method described in Patent Document 1 is a characteristic method in that device diagnosis of an individual network system and history information setting of a device are possible.
JP-A-2004-287461 (paragraphs [0042] to [0043] etc.). Mayumi Yanagiya, 3 others, “Proposal of secure access method in cooperation with 802.1x”, IEICE Technical Report, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, October 16, 2003, Vol. 103, No. 385 , P. 9-12. Kumiko Ono and two others, "Key exchange method using SIP server in End-to-End secure communication", "2003 General Conference Proceedings" communication 2, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, March 2003 3 days, p. 154.

  In the control method of information home appliances as described above, it is necessary to use services on the network with information home appliances with limited user interfaces (for example, information home appliances that do not have sufficient user interfaces). When setting such information, various and difficult setting operations must be performed, which is not convenient.

  In addition, when a user takes an information home appliance to a destination and receives a service such as an IP communication service or content viewing, it is necessary to set user identification information, authentication information, and a server address. And when inputting those settings directly, the problem that user privacy was exposed also occurred.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-mentioned problems. For information home appliances with a limited user interface, information necessary for the information home appliances to use services on the network and the information home appliances. An object of the present invention is to provide a service control and device control method or apparatus for information home appliances for simply setting information for controlling a product.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that a mobile information communication terminal or an information communication terminal and a network connected to an information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network are connected. An information home appliance service control method for performing service control via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal, the information home appliance from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal having succeeded in user authentication A means for receiving a service request related to the service request, and receiving a result of the service request from the means via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal. Features.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the step according to claim 1, wherein the user authentication processing means performs user authentication based on the user authentication information read by the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal. Receiving the identification information or authentication information setting service requested from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication in the device control request processing means via the service control means, and Receiving device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has been successfully authenticated by the device control request processing means via the service control means; and A step in which device control request processing means creates identification information or authentication information based on the device identification information; Transmitting the identification information or the authentication information created in step 1 to the information home appliance from the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication, via the service control unit; Receiving the ticket acquisition service requested from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal successfully authenticated by the ticket issuing processing means via the service control means, and the movement succeeding the user authentication. A step of receiving device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the information communication terminal or the information communication terminal by a service control means; a step of issuing a ticket by the ticket issuing processing means; and the ticket issuing Successful user authentication of the ticket issued from the processing means via the service control means A step of moving the information communication terminal or the information communication terminal to transmit the information home appliances, and having a.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the mobile information communication terminal or information is provided by the communication means provided in the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal and the information home appliance. The identification information or authentication information or ticket is set for the information home appliance from a communication terminal.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a network in which a mobile information communication terminal or an information communication terminal and an information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network are connected, via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal, An information home appliance control method for controlling the information home appliance, wherein the user authentication processing means performs user authentication based on the user authentication information read by the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal. Receiving the device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication in the device control request processing means via the service control means; and A device control service for information home appliances requested from a mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has succeeded in user authentication The step of authenticating the information home appliance received by the device control request processing means via the service control means, and the device control request processing means having successfully authenticated the information home appliance are the device identification And a step of constructing a control message based on information, transmitting the control message to the information home appliance, and controlling the information home appliance.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a network to which a mobile information communication terminal or an information communication terminal and an information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network are connected, via a communication means for performing communication in the network A service control server device for controlling the service, based on the user authentication information transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal and the user authentication information acquired from the use information management means Via the user authentication processing means for performing user authentication and the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal, the service usable by the information home appliance is selected, and the device identification information of the information home appliance is obtained. Requesting the service to the means for reading and the means corresponding to the selected service, obtaining the result of the service, A mobile information communication terminal or a service control means for presenting to the information communication terminal, a usage information management means for storing the user information and presenting the user information to the user authentication processing means, It is characterized by having.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the fifth aspect of the invention, means for performing an accounting process is included.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising means for performing communication via a gateway disposed between the information home appliance and the service control server device. And

  Invention of Claim 8 has a means to perform encryption communication between the said information household appliances or the said gateway, and the said service control server apparatus in the invention in any one of Claim 5 thru | or 7. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 9 is an information home appliance control server device for controlling an information home appliance through a communication means for performing communication in the network to which the information home appliance is connected. Setting information construction means for generating identification information or authentication information for the information home appliance based on the equipment identification information received from the control request processing means and sending the identification information or authentication information to the equipment control request processing means; Storing the identification information or the authentication information generated by the setting information construction means, and further, the device information storage means presented to the authentication means, and the device information storage means according to a control request from the equipment control request processing means Receives authentication based on the identification information or authentication information acquired from the information home appliance and constructs a control message for the information home appliance , The control message is transmitted to the information home appliance via the communication means, the device control processing means for controlling the information home appliance, and the device identification information received from the service control means is set information construction means And the procedure for sending the device identification information or authentication information returned from the setting information construction means to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal via the communication means, and service control. Receiving a control request from the means, and receiving authentication from the information home appliance by the authentication means, and sending the control request to the equipment control processing means. It is characterized by that.

  The invention described in claim 10 is a ticket management for managing a ticket including service usage right information in a mobile information communication terminal or a network to which the information communication terminal is connected via a communication means for performing communication in the network. A server device, which issues the ticket and sends the ticket to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal via the communication means, and is issued by the ticket issue processing means A ticket storage unit that stores the received ticket, and a service authentication processing unit that verifies whether or not the service use right is valid based on the ticket received from the ticket storage unit. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, the service control means automatically requests the service corresponding to the selected service item, acquires the result of the service, and presents the result. It is a program.

  The above-mentioned user authentication processing means is automatically used based on user authentication information (for example, user ID, password) transmitted from the outside and user authentication information managed internally. A device or a program for performing person authentication (for example, password verification).

  The device control request processing means automatically constructs and returns setting information (for example, IP address) for the device identification information (for example, model number, manufacturing number) received from the service control means, and returns a service. A device or program for constructing a control message for a control request received from a control unit, receiving authentication from an information home appliance to be controlled, and transmitting the control message to the information home appliance.

  The ticket issuing means is an apparatus or a program that automatically issues a ticket and sends the ticket to the person who requested the ticket. The ticket is, for example, a ticket that indicates that charging for the service has been completed and has a right to use the service.

  In the accounting process, for example, immediately after the user authentication is successful, the accounting start time may be transmitted to the accounting server for accounting.

  Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to distribute service requests from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal. Also, the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal can receive the distributed service request result.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, user authentication can be performed via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal can receive identification information, authentication information, or a ticket.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information home appliance can operate upon receipt of a control message.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to store user information for using a service and obtain an authentication result for a person who intends to use the service.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the billing process can be performed by the service control server device.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the gateway and the wide area network can be distinguished by the gateway.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, communication can be concealed between the information home appliance or the gateway and the service control server device.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the information home appliance control server device constructs the control message based on the device identification information, and transmits the control message to the information home appliance. Can do.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the ticket management server device can send the ticket to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal, and can verify the validity of the service usage right of the ticket.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, information for using a service on a network can be easily set for an information home appliance with a limited user interface. Further, even when setting user identification information, authentication information, server address, etc., exposure of user privacy can be prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal can set the identification information or the authentication information or the ticket for the information home appliance.

  According to invention of Claim 3, identification information or authentication information, or a ticket can be transmitted to an information household appliance by the said mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal.

  According to invention of Claim 4, control with respect to information household appliances can be performed with the said mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a person who intends to use a service can be authenticated. Also, services can be distributed.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to charge.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, communication can be performed between the home and the wide area via the gateway.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform safe communication between the information home appliance or the gateway and the service control server device without tampering or wiretapping.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the information home appliance control server device can directly control the information home appliance based on the device identification information.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manage tickets.

  As described above, these can contribute to the service field for information home appliances.

  Hereinafter, a service control and device control method or apparatus for information home appliances according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

  First, an outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration described in FIG. 1 is a mobile information communication terminal (for example, mobile phone 2 or PDA 3 in FIG. 1) 4 or information used by a user 1 in an IP communication network 11 connected to a mobile phone network 12. A server managed by the service provider 6 receives a service request from the communication terminals 5 and 18, and the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 can receive the service via service control in the server. Is.

  In addition, the configuration described above includes a server operated by each of the service provider 6, information appliance manufacturer 19, and ticket service provider (or content provider) 22, and the mobile information communication terminal 4 used by the user 1 or The information communication terminal 5 and the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 are connected to the IP communication network 11 and the mobile phone network 12, and can communicate with each other. Note that the ticket service provider 22 indicates, for example, a provider that handles tickets for services provided by the content provider.

  The user 1 in FIG. 1 controls a service for the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 via the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 (hereinafter referred to as a control service for the information home appliance). ) Is requested from the service provider 6. The mobile information communication terminal 4 is assumed to be, for example, a PDA 3 connected to the IP communication network 11 via the mobile phone 2 in FIG. 1 and wireless communication (for example, the mobile phone network 12 and wireless LAN in FIG. 1). The Further, in the information communication terminal 5, for example, a cellular phone 2, a PDA 3 connected to the IP communication network 11 via the wireless communication or the wired communication is assumed.

  When the management platform 8 in the service control server 7 operated by the service provider 6 receives the request for the control service contract of the information home appliance from the user 1, the user basic information of the user 1 (for example, , Name, address) and user authentication information (authentication information for service contractor; for example, user identifier, user ID (Identifier), password) are requested to the user 1.

  Next, the user 1 presents the basic user information and user authentication information to the management platform 8 via the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5. The user authentication information may be given to the user 1 from the management platform 8.

  In addition, when the user 1 transmits the start of use of the control service of the information home appliance to the management platform 8 via the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5, the management platform 8 The mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 of the user 1 is requested to present user authentication information.

  Next, the user 1 that has received the user authentication information presentation request notifies the management platform 8 of the user authentication information of the user 1. Then, the management platform 8 performs authentication using the user authentication information of the user 1 registered at the time of the control service contract for the information home appliance and the notified user authentication information, and the user 1 Confirm that the user is a contractor (hereinafter referred to as user authentication). Further, as necessary, the billing processing server 10 operated by the service provider 6 performs billing processing related to the service usage of the user 1.

  Further, when the user 1 transmits a use request for a service (hereinafter referred to as an information home appliance setting service) for setting information to the information home appliance to the management platform 8, the management platform 8 Input of information for identifying each device of the home appliances 15, 16, 25, 26 (hereinafter referred to as device identification information; for example, information including manufacturer name, model name, model number, and alias name) is requested. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that the information home appliance receives setting information related to the information home appliance (that is, the information home appliance setting service), the information home appliance receives control information related to the information home appliance. (Hereinafter referred to as information home appliance control service) is also possible.

  Then, the user 1 uses the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 to obtain the device identification information of the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, 26 from the device identification information acquisition means (for example, the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal). And the device identification information is transmitted to the management platform 8. There are various device identification information acquisition means. For example, a code obtained by encoding the device identification information by the photographing means provided in the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 (for example, Examples include means for capturing a two-dimensional code 17) and decoding the code to obtain device identification information. Further, means for communicating with the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 through the infrared communication means provided in the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 and directly acquiring the device identification information. Can be mentioned.

  Next, the management platform 8 in the service control server 7 selects the information setting management server 20 operated by the information appliance manufacturer 19 according to the result of receiving the device identification information of the information appliances 15, 16, 25, 26. Then, network setting information (for example, IP address) for each information home appliance to be set in the information home appliance 15, 16, 25, 26, and device control authentication for the information setting management server 20 to access the information home appliance Requests generation of information (for example, ID, password) (that is, requests generation of unique network setting information and device control authentication information to the information home appliance). Preferably, the information setting management server 20 stores means (hereinafter referred to as device information storage means) 21 for storing device setting information, network setting information, device control authentication information, and device setting information corresponding to the device identification information. It is good to have. Upon receiving the request, the information setting management server 20 generates network setting information and device control authentication information for the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 (for example, as a control message for setting the information). The generated content is notified to the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 of the user 1 via the management platform 8 or directly.

  Next, the user 1 sends the network setting information and the device control authentication information received by the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 to the short distance provided in the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5. By loading the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 via wireless communication (for example, infrared communication), the network setting information and device control authentication information are automatically set. Further, when the setting is completed, the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 may notify the management platform 8 or the information setting management server 20 of the setting completion.

  In addition, after the user authentication is completed, the user 1 uses the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 to start using a service (for example, a ticket-compatible content viewing service) (that is, the ticket acquisition service). When the request is sent to the management platform 8, the management platform 8 requests the ticket management server 23 managed by the ticket service provider 22 for a ticket necessary for using the service.

  Next, the ticket management server 23 generates a ticket corresponding to the request, and then notifies the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 of the ticket via the management platform 8, or Notify directly. The mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 that has received the ticket sets the ticket in the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 through the short-range communication.

  Next, when the user 1 uses the service, a ticket presentation is requested from the content provider 22 or the management platform 8, and the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26 set the above settings. A ticket is presented. When the ticket is confirmed by the content provider 22 (hereinafter referred to as service authentication), the user 1 uses the service via the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, and 26. can do. Since the user identification information is not included in the ticket, for example, the privacy of the user 1 is protected even when the ticket is set in the information home appliances 25 and 26 at the destination. Become.

  The outline of the present embodiment has been described above. Hereinafter, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described in detail. In the following description, detailed description of the same components as those in FIG. 1 is omitted. First, the configuration of the management platform 8 in the service control server 7 managed by the service provider 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The management platform 8 shown in FIG. 2 has a management platform main part 27 as a main body, and further includes a user interface part 28, a user information management part 29, and a control platform main part 27. The information home appliance mutual authentication unit 30 and the wide area communication unit 39 are included.

  The user interface unit 28 has a structure having each means (reference numerals 31 to 35) as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 32 denotes means for selecting a suitable information setting management server 20 from the device identification information presented by the user or selecting a suitable ticket management server 23 from a service use start request (hereinafter referred to as service control unit selection). Means). Reference numeral 31 denotes a procedure for receiving an information home appliance setting or control service request to the information setting management server 20 and a result for the request, and a procedure for receiving a ticket acquisition service request to the ticket management server 23 and a result for the request. And means for performing (hereinafter referred to as service control means). Reference numeral 35 denotes means (hereinafter referred to as screen construction means) for constructing a screen (for example, source data) for displaying information on the state of information home appliances in a format (for example, Web format) that the user 1 can recognize. It is shown). Reference numeral 34 denotes a means for acquiring user information (including user basic information) (hereinafter referred to as user information acquisition means), and reference numeral 33 denotes a user information management unit 29 for the user. This means means for requesting authentication based on authentication information and receiving the result of user authentication (hereinafter referred to as user authentication request means).

  The user information management unit 29 has a structure having each means as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 36 denotes user authentication processing means for handling authentication (that is, authentication for the user 1) that is performed when a service request is made to the management platform 8 via the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5. Is shown. Reference numeral 38 denotes means for accepting a contract request presented by the user 1 to the management platform 8 via the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 (hereinafter referred to as use acceptance processing means). Is shown. Reference numeral 9 denotes means for storing basic user information and user authentication information acquired via the use acceptance processing means 38 (hereinafter referred to as user information storage means; for example, basic user information and user authentication information). Is stored in DataBase). Reference numeral 37 is a means for retrieving basic user information and user authentication information from the user information storage means 9 and notifying it in response to a request from the user authentication processing means 36 (hereinafter referred to as a usage information management means). Is shown.

  In the information appliance home appliance mutual authentication unit 30, mutual authentication between the information home appliances 15, 16, 25, 26 or the gateway (for example, the home gateway 14) and the management platform main unit 27, IPsec (Security Architecture for Internet). Protocol) and the like.

  The wide area communication unit 39 has a wired or wireless communication means, and has a function of realizing wide area IP communication.

  Next, the configuration of the main part of the information setting management server 20 managed by the information home appliance manufacturer 19 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The main part of the information setting management server 20 in FIG. 3 has a structure having each means as shown. Reference numeral 40 indicates a setting service request for information home appliances from the management platform 8, and Internet setting information and devices for the information home appliances (for example, information home appliances indicated by reference signs 15, 16, 25, and 26) according to the contents of the request. Means for constructing control authentication information (hereinafter referred to as setting information construction means). Reference numeral 42 indicates means (hereinafter referred to as control information construction / analysis means) for performing control (for example, grasping of the state) of the information home appliance in response to a request from the management platform 8. Reference numeral 41 denotes a processing command sent to the setting information construction means 40 or the control information construction / analysis means 42, and the response contents from each means constituting the main part of the information setting management server 20 are sent to the management platform 8. Means for notifying (hereinafter referred to as device control request processing means) is shown. Preferably, the setting information construction unit 40 or the control information construction / analysis unit 42 obtains information on the information home appliance from the device information storage unit 21.

  Reference numeral 43 is a means that operates in response to a command from the control information construction / analysis means 42, and specifies the position of the information home appliance on the network using the Internet setting information and the device control authentication information. A control message (for example, a control message for confirming the state of the information home appliance) is issued to the information home appliance after authentication, or a response is received from the information home appliance, and the response is sent to the control home appliance. Means for responding to the information construction / analysis means 42 (hereinafter referred to as device control processing means) is shown. Reference numeral 44 indicates means (wide area communication means) for communicating with the management platform 8, the information home appliance, the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 via the IP communication network 11.

  Next, the configuration of the main part of the ticket management server 23 managed by the ticket service provider (or content provider) 22 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The main part of the ticket management server 23 in FIG. 4 includes a service authentication processing unit 45 that performs service authentication, and the service authentication processing unit 45 includes various units as illustrated. Reference numeral 49 indicates means for issuing a ticket in response to a ticket issue request from the management platform 8 and the ticket service provider 22, and storing and submitting the ticket (hereinafter referred to as ticket storage means). is there. Reference numeral 48 requests the ticket storage means 49 to store the ticket via the ticket management means (hereinafter referred to as ticket management means) 47, obtains an answer to the request, and is issued. Means for notifying the management platform 9, the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 via the wide area communication unit 46 (hereinafter referred to as ticket issuing processing means).

  Reference numeral 50 designates a request for ticket retrieval from the ticket storage means 49 to the ticket management means 47 when the management platform 8 or the ticket service provider 22 requests verification for a service using a ticket. Then, means for verifying service usage rights using the retrieved ticket and notifying the authentication result to the management platform 8 or the ticket service provider 22 via the wide area communication function unit 46 (hereinafter referred to as service authentication processing means). ). As the means for verifying the usage right, for example, there is a means for verifying an electronic signature signed for the ticket usage right information and confirming date and time information included in the ticket usage right information.

  Next, the main part 51 common to the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The user interface unit 52 in the main unit 51 that is common to the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 in FIG. Reference numeral 56 displays a screen (for example, a web page) constructed by the management platform 8 and further displays information and requests from the user 1 (for example, user authentication information, information home appliance setting or control service request). Means (hereinafter referred to as screen interface means) for receiving on the screen provided in the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 is shown. Reference numeral 57 denotes means for notifying the management platform main unit 27 of processing related to setting of information home appliances or control service request received via the screen interface means 56 (hereinafter referred to as device control request processing means). It is shown.

  Reference numeral 53 denotes the setting information / ticket management unit in the main unit, and setting information (setting information including network setting information and device control authentication information) passed from the management platform 8 or the information setting server 20. , A means (hereinafter referred to as setting information / ticket management means) 60 having procedures for registering, deleting, updating, and presenting the ticket delivered from the ticket management server 23 is provided. The registration, deletion, and update procedures are performed using a setting information and ticket storage unit 59 (hereinafter, setting information / ticket management unit). The procedure to be presented is performed for the means 58 for setting the information home appliance (hereinafter referred to as information home appliance setting means) 58, in response to a request from the user interface unit 52. Means for setting the information home appliance (hereinafter referred to as information home appliance setting means) via a communication unit (hereinafter, short-range communication unit) 55 that performs short-range wireless communication capable of transmitting the setting information and ticket. ) In response to a request from 58, the setting information and ticket are acquired from the setting information / ticket management means 59 and executed.

  The wide area communication unit 54 in the main unit performs IP communication with the management platform 8, the information setting management server 20, and the ticket management server 23 via the IP communication network 11 in response to a request from the user interface unit 52. Is what you do.

  Next, based on FIG. 6, the main part 61 common to the information household appliances 15, 16, 25, 26 is demonstrated in detail.

  The setting information / ticket management means 63 of the setting information / ticket management unit 62 in the main unit 61 common to the information home appliances has the following procedures. It governs overall management. As the procedure, first, setting information received via a communication unit (hereinafter referred to as a short-range communication unit) 68 that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile information communication terminal 4 or the information communication terminal 5 There is a procedure for setting the information home appliance and storing the setting information in a means (hereinafter referred to as setting information / ticket storage means) 66 for storing and presenting the setting information or the ticket. In addition, the ticket received via the short-range communication unit 68 is stored in the setting information / ticket storage unit 66, and further, based on the received ticket, the ticket service provider 22 or the management platform 8 and the mobile information communication terminal 4 Alternatively, in response to a request from a unit 64 that performs service authentication between the information communication terminals 5 (hereinafter referred to as a service authentication processing unit) 64, the ticket is extracted from the setting information / ticket storage unit 66, and is sent to the service authentication processing unit 64. Have a passing procedure. Further, the device control authentication (that is, the information home appliance authenticates the access from the information setting management server) via the wide area communication unit 67, and the control message received from the information setting management server 20 is transmitted according to the control message. It has the procedure which passes to the part (henceforth an apparatus control process part) 65 which controls the said information household appliances, and performs the control of the said information household appliances.

  The wide area communication unit 67 is a unit that performs IP communication with the management platform 8, the information setting management server 20, and the ticket management server 23 via the IP communication network 11.

  Although the configuration of the present embodiment has been described in detail above, the procedure (that is, the sequence) of the present embodiment will be described in detail below. In the following description, detailed description of the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 will be omitted. Further, description will be made assuming that the mobile information communication terminal 4 is an example of the mobile phone 2 and the information home appliance is an example of the information home appliance 16 (for example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder).

  First, a sequence from user authentication to basic menu display of the mobile phone 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The user 1 in FIG. 11 operates the mobile phone 2 to connect to the management platform 8 managed by the service provider 6, displays a service screen on the mobile phone 2, and displays menu number 2 in the service screen. “Start using setting / control service” is selected (S1, S24). On the other hand, the management platform 8 that has received a service start request by the above selection requests the user 1 to present user authentication information in order to perform user authentication (S2, S25). Then, the user 1 operates the mobile phone 2 to present user authentication information to the management platform 8 (S26). As a result, if the user authentication is successful in the management platform 8, the management platform 8 displays a menu screen for the user 1 via the mobile phone 2 through the billing process (S27) (S3, S28). . In the following description, since the same sequence as the sequence from S24 to S28 in FIG. 11 is included, this sequence is referred to as a common unit processing sequence.

  Furthermore, a setting sequence for the information home appliance 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. First, in FIG. 12, after the common part processing sequence is performed, if the user authentication for the user 1 is successful, the user 1 receives the menu presentation from the management platform 8 via the mobile phone 2, and then the information is displayed. A home appliance setting service request is made (S4, S29). And the management platform 8 which received the said request | requirement requests | requires the apparatus identification information of the information household appliance 16 which should be set with respect to the user 1 (S5, S30).

  Next, the user 1 who received the request acquires the device identification information of the information home appliance 16 to be set by the device identification information acquisition means (S5, S31, S32). And the acquired apparatus identification information is transmitted with respect to the management platform 8, after confirming visually by the user 1 (S6, S33). Note that the device identification information is transmitted to the management platform 8 in order to derive the device identification information in the device identification information acquisition means, and based on the reply contents from the management platform 8, the complete information is obtained. Device identification information may be configured.

  Next, the management platform 8 that has received the device identification information presents to the user 1 a service selection screen that can be used by the information home appliance 16 via the mobile phone 2 (S7, S34). Further, in FIG. 8, in order to acquire network setting information and device control authentication information necessary for connection to the information setting server 20 via the IP communication network 11, the menu number 1 of the service selection screen is displayed. “NW (Network) connection setting” is selected, and the management platform 8 is notified of the NW connection setting request (S7, S35).

  Next, the management platform 8 that has received the NW connection setting request receives the information setting management server managed by the information home appliance manufacturer 19 to generate network setting information and device control authentication information for the information home appliance 16. 20 is requested (S36). The information setting management server 20 generates network setting information and device control authentication information suitable for the information home appliance 16 (S37), and notifies the mobile phone 2 via the management platform 8, or , Direct notification (S38-a, S38-b).

  Next, the user 1 loads the received network setting information and device control authentication information to the information home appliance 16 via short-range wireless communication by the short-range communication unit provided in the mobile phone 2. . The NW connection setting is completed by the loading operation (S8, S39).

  When the NW connection setting is completed, the information home appliance 16 notifies the mobile phone 2 of the completion of the setting (S40), and the fact that the NW connection setting is normally completed is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 2 ( S9). The mobile phone 2 may notify the management platform 8 of the completion of setting (S41, S42).

  Furthermore, the control sequence with respect to the information household appliance 16 is demonstrated based on FIG.9 and FIG.13. First, in FIG. 13, after the common part processing sequence is performed, the user 1 receives a menu presentation from the management platform 8 (S10), and requests a control service for the information home appliance (S43). Upon receiving the request, the management platform 8 requests the user 1 for device identification information of the information home appliance 16 to be set (S11).

  Next, the user 1 notifies the management platform 8 of the device identification information of the information home appliance 16 as in the operation in FIG. 12 (S12, S46, S47, S48, S49). The management platform 8 that has received the request for the control service of the information home appliance and the device identification information of the information home appliance 16 is information that the information home appliance manufacturer 19 manages control (control service) that can be used in the information home appliance 16. Obtained from the setting management server 20 (S44, S45). Then, the management platform 8 displays the menu screen describing the available control on the mobile phone 2 (S13, S50).

  Next, the user 1 receives the menu screen describing the available control services (items) as described above via the mobile phone 2 (S13, S50), and then selects the control service item. Thus, the desired control is notified. In this case, for example, in FIG. 9, menu number 1 “reservation setting” on the screen is selected (S13, S51). The management platform 8 that has received the request for the selected control service item (that is, the reservation setting control in FIG. 9) sends the current information home appliance 16 to the information setting management server 20 managed by the information home appliance manufacturer 19. A request is made to check the status (S52). Further, the information setting management server 20 specifies the position on the network based on the network setting information, performs authentication based on the device control authentication information, accesses the information home appliance 16, and then accesses the information home appliance 16. (S53, S54), and notifies the management platform 8 whether the selected control is possible (S55). When the selected control is possible (that is, reservation setting control is possible in FIG. 9), the management platform 8 displays the control information setting (that is, reservation setting in FIG. 9) screen on the mobile phone 2. (S14, S56).

  Next, the user 1 inputs control information (for example, recording start time and end time, recording channel, recording mode) for the information home appliance 16 on the reservation setting screen, and enters the management platform 8. On the other hand, a control request including the control information (that is, a reservation control request in FIG. 9) is transmitted (S14, S57). The management platform 8 that has received the control request requests the information setting management server 20 to perform the control (S58). In addition, the information setting management server 20 identifies the position on the network with the network setting information, performs authentication based on the device control authentication information, accesses the information home appliance 16, and receives a control message (in FIG. 9). A reservation control message) is transmitted to the information home appliance 16 to control the information home appliance 16 (S59, S60). Then, the information home appliance 16 notifies the control result to the mobile phone 2 via the management platform 8 and the information setting management server 20 or directly (S15, S61, S62).

  Further, the ticket processing sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 14, after the common part processing sequence is performed, the user 1 selects menu number 3 “content service” from the menu screen presented from the management platform 8 (S16, S63). When the above selection is made, the management platform 8 that has received the content information service request from the mobile phone 2 presents a menu of content information (S17, S66). The content information menu can be requested and received from the content provider 22 (S64, S65).

  Next, the user 1 selects a desired content service from the content information menu, and sends a desired content service ticket (that is, a request for a ticket acquisition service) to the management platform 8 via the mobile phone 2. Request (S17, S67). Thereby, the management platform 8 presents a registration screen for the information home appliance (that is, a device capable of receiving the content service) to the user 1 via the mobile phone 2 (S18, S19, S68). And the user 1 who received the said presentation acquires the apparatus identification information of the information household appliance 25 via an apparatus identification information acquisition means, and notifies it to the management platform 8 (S19, S20, S69, S70, S71). , S72, S73).

  Next, the management platform 8 that has received the device identification information performs billing confirmation (S21), performs billing processing (S74), and then issues a ticket issuance related to the content service requested by the user 1. The management server 23 is requested (S75). As a result, the ticket management server 23 that has received the ticket issue request performs ticket issuance and ticket registration (S76), and provides a content service ticket to the mobile phone 2 via the management platform 8. Alternatively, it is provided directly (S22, S77-a, S77-b).

  Next, the user 1 registers the received ticket in the information home appliance 25 via short-range wireless communication by the short-range communication unit provided in the mobile phone 2 (S22, S78). The home information appliance 25 may notify the mobile phone 2 that the ticket registration is completed (S23, S79). Preferably, the ticket includes information for communicating with the management platform 8 and the ticket management server 23 (for example, an address indicating the position of the management platform 8 on the network).

  Next, when the user 1 requests a content service via the information home appliance 25 (S80), the management platform 8 or the ticket management server 23 requests the information home appliance 25 to present a ticket ( S81). The information home appliance 25 communicates with the management platform 8 or the ticket management server 23 based on the address related to the management platform 8 or the ticket management server 23 included in the ticket.

  Then, the information home appliance 25 that has received the ticket presentation request presents the registered ticket (that is, the ticket corresponding to the content service) to the management platform 8 or the ticket management server 23 (S82). Thereby, the ticket management server 23 verifies the ticket (S23), and if the verification is successful, provides the content service to the information home appliance 25 (S83, S84).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when network setting information or device control authentication information is passed to a user of a service provider, the management platform of the service provider and a mobile information communication terminal or information communication The mobile information communication terminal, the information communication terminal, and the information home appliance are services for the user by causing the user to use a terminal (for example, a mobile phone) and short-range wireless communication provided in the information home appliance. While maintaining the state where the purchase screen is displayed, in order to prevent the user from being aware of network setting information (eg, IP address) and device control authentication information (eg, ID), Information related to the information home appliance can be set.

  In addition, when the service provider that manages the service control server provides a service for the information home appliance, the user information (for example, user authentication) is sent to the user as setting information, authentication information, and a ticket. It becomes a role that handles information that is not related to (information), and setting information, authentication information, and a ticket as described above can be set in an information home appliance installed at a destination while ensuring the privacy of the user.

  In addition, the mobile information communication terminal, the information communication terminal, and the information home appliance are requested to present the available control to the information setting management server via the management platform, thereby describing the available control. It is possible to present the menu to the user, and to apply a unique protocol in the control of the information home appliance.

  Then, the user sends a service request to the service control means in the service control server via the mobile information communication terminal (for example, mobile phone, PDA) or the information communication terminal (for example, personal computer). A service corresponding to a service request can be received by the information home appliance (for example, an information home appliance installed in a user's house) via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal.

  For example, requesting identification information (for example, network setting information) or authentication information (for example, device control authentication information) or receiving a service (for example, content service) in order to receive a control service related to the information home appliance. In order to receive, after requesting a ticket for using a server managed by a content provider, and obtaining the information and ticket in the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal, the mobile information communication terminal or information communication It can be set for information home appliances installed in the user's house or at the destination via the short-range wireless communication provided in the terminal. For this reason, even for information home appliances that do not have a user interface such as a keyboard or a display, it is possible to easily set information for using such information home appliances and using the content service.

  Further, the service control server can provide control via a screen interface (for example, Web) to the user by mediating a control service request to the device control request processing means.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail only for the specific examples described above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Such variations and modifications are naturally within the scope of the claims.

  For example, as a modified example of the present embodiment, a wireless IC (Integrated Circuit) chip is installed in a mobile information communication terminal or an information communication terminal, and further, a reading device corresponding to the wireless IC chip in an information home appliance The identification information or authentication information or ticket may be stored in the wireless IC chip, and the identification information or authentication information or ticket may be read by the reading device.

Explanatory drawing of the setting, control, and service control model to information household appliances in this Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the structure of the management platform main part in this Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of a structure of the information setting management server in this Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of a structure of the ticket management server in this Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the structure of the mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment or an information communication terminal main part. Explanatory drawing of the structure of the information home appliance main part in this Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a screen transition diagram from user authentication to menu display in the present embodiment. The screen transition figure at the time of the setting with respect to information household appliances from the user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment. The screen transition figure at the time of control with respect to an information household appliance from the user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment. The screen transition figure at the time of the ticket setting with respect to information household appliances from the user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram from user authentication to menu display in the present embodiment. The sequence diagram at the time of the setting with respect to information household appliances from a user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment. The sequence diagram at the time of control with respect to information household appliances from a user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment. The sequence diagram at the time of the ticket setting with respect to information household appliances from the user's mobile information communication terminal in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... User 2 ... Mobile phone 3 ... PDA
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Mobile information communication terminal 5 ... Information communication terminal 6 ... Service provider 7 ... Service control server 8 ... Management platform 9 ... User information storage means 10 ... Charge processing server 11 ... IP communication network 12 ... Mobile telephone network 14 ... Home gateway 15, 16, 25, 26 ... Information appliances 17 ... Two-dimensional code 18 ... Information communication terminal 19 ... Information appliance manufacturer 20 ... Information setting management server 21 ... Device information storage means 22 ... Ticket service provider or content provision business 23 ... Ticket management server 27 ... Management platform main part 28 ... User interface unit 29 ... User information management unit 30 ... Mutual authentication unit for information appliances 31 ... Service control unit 32 ... Service control unit selection unit 33 ... User Authentication request means 34 ... User information acquisition means 35 ... Screen construction means 36 User authentication processing means 37... Usage information management means 38... Usage acceptance processing means 39. Wide area communication unit 40... Setting information construction means 41... Device control request processing means 42. ... wide area communication means 45 ... service authentication processing section 46 ... wide area communication section 47 ... ticket management means 48 ... ticket issue processing means 49 ... ticket storage means 50 ... service authentication processing means 51 ... mobile information communication terminal main part 52 ... user interface 53: Setting information / ticket management unit 54 ... Wide area communication unit 55 ... Short range communication unit 56 ... Screen interface means 57 ... Device control request processing means 58 ... Information home appliance setting means 59 ... Setting information / ticket storage means 60 ... Setting Information / ticket management means 61 ... Information home appliance main part 62 ... Setting information / ticket management part 6 ... setting information ticket means 64 ... service authentication processing unit 65 ... device control module 66 ... setting information ticket storage unit 67 ... wide area communication unit 68 ... short-range communication unit

Claims (10)

In a network in which a mobile information communication terminal or an information communication terminal and an information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network are connected, the information home electric appliance that performs service control via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal A service control method comprising:
Means corresponding to the service request received a service request regarding the information home appliance from the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has been successful in user authentication,
A service control method for information home appliances, comprising: a procedure for the information home appliance to receive a result of the service request from the means via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal. A step in which user authentication processing means performs user authentication based on the user authentication information read by the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal;
Receiving the identification information or the authentication information setting service requested from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication in the device control request processing means via the service control means;
Receiving the device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication in the device control request processing unit via the service control unit;
The device control request processing means creating identification information or authentication information based on the device identification information;
The identification information or the authentication information created by the device control request processing means is sent from the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication to the information home appliance via the service control means. Step to send,
Receiving the ticket acquisition service requested from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication by the ticket issuing processing means via the service control means;
Receiving the device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication at a service control means;
The ticket issuing processing means issuing a ticket;
Sending the ticket issued from the ticket issuing processing means to the information home appliance from the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication via the service control means; ,
The service control method for information home appliances according to claim 1, comprising:   The mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal and the information home appliance are connected to the information home appliance from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal by the communication means. 3. The method for controlling information home appliance service according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a ticket is set. Information for controlling the information home appliance via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal in the network connected to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal and the information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network A home appliance control method,
A step in which user authentication processing means performs user authentication based on the user authentication information read by the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal;
Receiving the device identification information of the information home appliance transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication in the device control request processing means via the service control means;
The device control request processing means receives the device control service of the information home appliance requested from the mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal that has succeeded in the user authentication via the service control means, and the information home appliance Authenticating against
The device control request processing means that has successfully authenticated the information home appliance constructs a control message based on the device identification information, transmits the control message to the information home appliance, A controlling step;
An information home appliance control method characterized by comprising: Service for controlling a mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal, in a network connected to an information home appliance capable of receiving services on the network, via a communication means for performing communication in the network A control server device,
User authentication processing means for performing user authentication based on the user authentication information transmitted from the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal and the user authentication information acquired from the use information management means;
Means for selecting the service that the information home appliance can use via the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal, and reading the device identification information of the information home appliance;
Service control means for requesting the service to the means corresponding to the selected service, obtaining a result of the service, and presenting the result to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal;
Usage information management means for storing the user information and presenting the user information to the user authentication processing means;
A service control server device comprising:   6. The service control server apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for performing a billing process.   The service control server device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising means for performing communication via a gateway disposed between the information home appliance and the service control server device.   8. The service control server apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for performing encrypted communication between the information home appliance or the gateway and the service control server apparatus. In a network to which information home appliances are connected, an information home appliance control server device that controls information home appliances via communication means for performing communication in the network,
Setting information construction means for generating identification information or authentication information for the information home appliance based on the equipment identification information received from the equipment control request processing means and sending the identification information or authentication information to the equipment control request processing means When,
Storing the identification information or authentication information generated by the setting information construction means, and further presenting device information storage means to be presented to the authentication means,
In response to a control request from the device control request processing means, authentication based on the identification information or authentication information acquired from the device information storage means is received from the information home appliance, and a control message for the information home appliance is constructed. Device control processing means for transmitting a control message to the information home appliance via the communication means and controlling the information home appliance;
The device identification information received from the service control means is sent to the setting information construction means, and the device identification information or authentication information returned from the setting information construction means is transferred to the movement information via the communication means. After receiving the control request from the communication terminal or the information communication terminal and the control request from the service control means, the authentication request is received from the information home appliance by the authentication means, and the control request is sent to the device control processing means. A device control request processing means including a procedure;
An information home appliance control server device characterized by comprising: In a network to which a mobile information communication terminal or information communication terminal is connected, a ticket management server device that manages a ticket including service usage right information via a communication means for performing communication in the network,
Ticket issuing processing means for issuing the ticket and sending the ticket to the mobile information communication terminal or the information communication terminal via the communication means;
Ticket storage means for storing the ticket issued by the ticket issuing processing means;
A service authentication processing means for verifying whether the service use right is valid based on the ticket acquired from the ticket storage means for the ticket received via the communication means;
A ticket management server device comprising: