JP2008146556A - Program distribution device, program distribution method, and distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program distribution device, a program distribution method and a distribution program, capable of using easily an own radio LAN router as an access point, by a user, capable of increasing easily radio LAN access points by a provider, while restraining an expense and an investment, and capable of supporting expansion of a radio LAN service usable area. <P>SOLUTION: A screen data distribution part 3b1 transmits a screen data for a selection screen stored in a screen data storage part 3a2, to a terminal device 2, when receiving a screen request for requesting the selection screen, from the terminal device 2. A program distribution part 3b2 reads a program indicated by a selection result, from a program storage part 3a1, to be distributed to the terminal device 2, when receiving the selection result expressing the program selected using the selection screen, from the terminal device 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a program distribution apparatus, a program distribution method, and a distribution program, and in particular, a program distribution apparatus that distributes a program that causes a wireless LAN router to operate as a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter simply referred to as “access point”). The present invention relates to a program distribution method and a distribution program.

  For example, in the present invention, each provider (a company providing a connection service with the Internet) can use a wireless LAN router (consumer device) purchased and installed by a general public (public) as an access point. A router is a device that controls a data transmission path.

  In the conventional wireless LAN access point providing business, each provider invests in business and installs and operates an access point as part of the service.

  For this reason, each provider needs a cost for installing and managing an access point, and the wireless LAN access point service is charged to recover the business investment cost.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-5824 discloses a portable terminal that can be used as an access point. Since this portable terminal is used by the general public (public), each provider can reduce the cost for installing and managing the access point.

  In recent years, it has become widespread that ordinary people purchase a wireless LAN router (consumer) and construct a wireless LAN at home.

Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-289723) describes a router device that can also operate as an access point.
JP 2006-5824 A JP 2004-289723 A

  A user who owns a wireless LAN router that does not have a function for use as an access point cannot use the wireless LAN router as an access point.

  It is also a provider's request that a wireless LAN router owned by a user who does not have a function to be used as an access point can be easily used as an access point. The reason is that in this case, the provider can reduce the cost for installing and managing the access point.

  An object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily use a wireless LAN router owned by a user as an access point, and to allow a provider to easily increase the number of wireless LAN access points while reducing cost investment, and To provide a program distribution device, a program distribution method, and a distribution program capable of supporting expansion of an available area of a LAN service.

  In order to achieve the above object, a program distribution apparatus according to the present invention is a program distribution apparatus that distributes a program for operating a wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point to a terminal device, and the program is provided for each wireless LAN router. A program storage unit that stores the screen, a screen data storage unit that stores screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program, and a screen request for requesting the selection screen from the terminal device. When a screen data distribution unit that transmits screen data stored in the data storage unit to the terminal device and a selection result representing the program selected using the selection screen from the terminal device are received, the selection is performed. The program shown in the result is read from the program storage unit and distributed to the terminal device. It includes a gram distribution section, the.

  The program distribution method of the present invention includes a program storage unit that stores a program for operating a wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point for each wireless LAN router, and screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program. A screen data storage unit that stores the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit when a screen request for requesting the selection screen is received from a terminal device. A screen data distribution step for transmitting data to the terminal device; and when receiving a selection result representing the program selected using the selection screen from the terminal device, the program indicated in the selection result is stored in the program. A program distribution step of reading from the storage unit and distributing to the terminal device; Including.

  According to the above invention, when a program for operating the wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point is selected using the selection screen, the program is distributed.

  Therefore, for example, if the distributed program is installed in a wireless LAN router used at the user's home, the user and the provider can use the wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point.

  Therefore, it is possible to support the provider to easily increase the number of wireless LAN access points and expand the usable area of the wireless LAN service while suppressing cost investment.

  The program distribution device further includes a user ID storage unit for storing a user ID. When the program distribution unit receives a user ID from the terminal device together with the selection result, the user ID is assigned to the user ID. It is desirable to store in the ID storage unit.

  According to the above invention, the user to whom the program is distributed can be identified, and the provider can provide various services (for example, reduction in Internet connection fee) to the user identified by the user ID.

  The distribution program of the present invention stores a program storage unit that stores a program for operating a wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point for each wireless LAN router, and screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program. When a screen request for requesting the selection screen is received from a terminal device, the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit is transmitted to the terminal device. When receiving a screen data distribution procedure to be performed and a selection result representing a program selected using the selection screen from the terminal device, the program indicated in the selection result is read from the program storage unit, and the terminal device And a program distribution procedure to be distributed.

  According to the above invention, the program distribution method can be executed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, a user can easily use a wireless LAN router owned by a user as an access point, and a provider can easily increase the number of wireless LAN access points while suppressing cost investment, and wireless communication. It becomes possible to support expansion of the LAN service available area.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a program distribution system including a program distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the program distribution system includes a wireless LAN router 1, a terminal device 2 such as a personal computer, and a program distribution device 3. The wireless LAN router 1 and the terminal device 2 can be connected. For example, the terminal device 2 communicates with the program distribution device 3 via the wireless LAN router 1 and the network 4 such as the Internet.

  The program distribution device 3 distributes a program that operates the wireless LAN router 1 as an access point (hereinafter referred to as “access point AP (application)”). The access point AP can be installed in the wireless LAN router 1 and is developed by, for example, each provider or each device manufacturer.

  The wireless LAN router 1 can install the access point AP distributed by the program distribution device 3. The wireless LAN router 1 is designed and sold by each device manufacturer.

  The wireless LAN router 1 controls the overall operation of the wireless LAN router 1 by reading and executing the communication unit 1a, a memory 1b that stores a plurality of programs that define the operation of the wireless LAN router 1, and the program in the memory 1b. And a control unit (for example, a computer) 1c.

  An area for storing the access point AP distributed by the program distribution device 3 is secured in the memory 1b.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the wireless LAN router 1.

  The terminal device 2 includes a communication unit 2a, a memory 2b that stores a plurality of programs that define the operation of the terminal device 2, and a control unit 2c that reads and executes the program in the memory 2b to control the operation of the entire terminal device 2. And including.

  The program distribution device 3 includes a memory 3a that is an example of a computer-readable recording medium, and a control unit 3b that is realized by the computer.

  The memory 3a includes a program storage unit 3a1, an image data storage unit 3a2, and a user ID storage unit 3a3.

  The program storage unit 3a1 stores, for each wireless LAN router, a program (access point AP) that operates the wireless LAN router as an access point.

  In the present embodiment, these access points AP are stored in the program storage unit 3a1 for each combination of a wireless LAN router and a provider.

  These access points AP can be installed in a wireless LAN router and are developed by each provider.

  In addition, since these access points AP partially borrow wireless LAN routers purchased by the general public (public), they are designed so as not to threaten the security of the network used by the individual. Is done. For example, the technique described in Patent Document 2 may be used as a technique for ensuring security.

  In addition, these access point APs restrict access for each provider, require personal authentication ID and password input before network connection, and only those who have contracted with the provider can receive the service. .

  Regarding the installation of the access point AP, for example, an ordinary person (public) person who purchased the wireless LAN router (consumer device) 1 uses the terminal device 2 to download the access point AP corresponding to the provider from the program distribution device 3. Then, the access point AP is installed in the wireless LAN router 1.

  The screen data storage unit 3a2 stores screen data representing a selection screen for selecting an access point AP stored in the program storage unit 3a1.

  The user ID storage unit 3a3 stores the user ID received from the terminal device 2.

  The control unit 3b includes a screen data distribution unit 3b1 and a program distribution unit 3b2.

  When receiving a screen request for requesting a selection screen from the terminal device 2, the screen data distribution unit 3 b 1 transmits the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit 3 a 2 to the terminal device 2.

  When the program distribution unit 3b2 receives a selection result representing the access point AP selected using the selection screen from the terminal device 2, the program distribution unit 3b2 reads the access point AP indicated in the selection result from the program storage unit 3a1, Delivered to the device 2.

  When the program distribution unit 3b2 receives a user ID from the terminal device 2 together with the selection result, the program distribution unit 3b2 stores the user ID in the user ID storage unit 3a3.

  The distribution program for realizing the function of the control unit 3b may be recorded in the memory 3a, and the control unit 3b may read and execute the distribution program from the memory 3a to realize the above-described function.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 that does not have a function used as an access point (function realized by the access point AP) obtains the access point AP from the program distribution device 3. It is a flowchart for doing.

  First, the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 checks whether the wireless LAN router 1 is a device that can download the access point AP (step A).

  Thereafter, the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 determines whether to open the wireless LAN router 1 to the provider (step B).

  When the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 determines that the wireless LAN router 1 is a device that can download the access point AP and opens the wireless LAN router 1 to the provider, the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 operates the terminal device 2 to operate the program distribution device. The access point AP is downloaded from 3 and installed in the wireless LAN router 1 (step C).

  Here, the operation of Step C will be described in detail.

  The owner of the wireless LAN router 1 operates the terminal device 2 to transmit a screen request for requesting a selection screen from the terminal device 2 to the program distribution device 3.

  When receiving the screen request, the screen data distribution unit 3b1 of the program distribution device 3 transmits the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit 3a2 to the terminal device 2.

  Upon receiving the screen data, the terminal device 2 displays a selection screen corresponding to the screen data.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the selection screen.

  In FIG. 4, on the selection screen, the access points AP stored in the program storage unit 3a1 are displayed for each combination of the wireless LAN router format (router name) and the provider (provider name).

  The owner of the wireless LAN router 1 operates the terminal device 2 to find that the owner is appropriate for the wireless LAN router 1 owned from the access points AP shown on the selection screen. Select an access point AP (access point AP name) that matches the provider. At this time, the owner of the wireless LAN router 1 operates the terminal device 2 and inputs a user ID for identifying itself.

  The terminal device 2 transmits the selection result and the user ID to the program distribution device 3.

  When the program distribution unit 3b2 of the program distribution device 3 receives the selection result and the user ID from the terminal device 2, the program distribution unit 3b2 reads the access point AP indicated by the selection result from the program storage unit 3a1 and distributes it to the terminal device 2. The user ID is stored in the user ID storage unit 3a3.

  When receiving the access point AP, the terminal device 2 installs the access point AP in the memory 1b of the wireless LAN router 1. This installation may be performed automatically or in accordance with an instruction from the owner of the wireless LAN router 1.

  When the access point AP is installed in the memory 1b, the control unit 1c of the wireless LAN router 1 reads and executes the access point AP. Therefore, the wireless LAN router 1 functions as an access point of the provider selected on the selection screen. For this reason, the access point of a provider increases in the town.

The installation at the access point AP to the wireless LAN router 1 depends on the capacity of the memory 1b, and it is possible to install N access points AP (N is an arbitrary number) (provider company A, (You can open N companies such as provider company B, provider company C ...)
The access point AP performs security management so that the network connection originally owned by the individual cannot be infringed regardless of whether or not the access point AP is installed.

  The provider identifies the user who has acquired the access point AP based on the user ID stored in the user ID storage unit 3a3 of the program distribution device 3, and provides the user with a reduction in connection fee and further services. Provide benefits that can be received (step D). The benefits may vary depending on the provider.

  On the other hand, a searcher searching for an access point searches for an access point of each provider using a mobile terminal (step E).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search result of access points of each provider.

  Note that the names below “_” in FIG. 5 represent provider names.

  As a result of the search, when the searcher can find a contracted provider, the searcher operates the mobile terminal to select an access point of the provider.

  Then, a provider-specific login screen (see FIG. 6) is displayed on the mobile terminal, and the searcher inputs the login ID and password that the searcher has.

  Then, the provider gives a connection permission to the network, and the mobile terminal can be connected to the Internet (step F). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a network connection completion screen.

  Next, the operation will be described using a specific embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that there are individuals “G”, “H”, and “J” who have installed the access point AP in the wireless LAN router 1, and “G” and “H” are open to the A company and the B company. “J” is open to Company A.

  “K” can access Company A and Company B when searching for a wireless LAN access point, and “L” can access Company A when searching for a wireless LAN access point.

  In this way, it is possible to easily increase the number of access points in the town.

  According to this embodiment, when an access point AP that operates the wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point is selected using the selection screen, the access point AP is distributed.

  Therefore, for example, if the distributed access point AP is installed in the wireless LAN router 1 used at the user's home, the user and the provider can use the wireless LAN router 1 as a wireless LAN access point.

  Therefore, it is possible to support the provider to easily increase the number of wireless LAN access points and expand the usable area of the wireless LAN service while suppressing cost investment.

  In this embodiment, the program distribution unit 3b2 stores the user ID in the user ID storage unit 3a3 when the user ID is received from the terminal device 2 together with the selection result.

  In this case, it becomes possible to identify the user to whom the access point AP has been distributed, and the provider can provide various services (for example, reduction in Internet connection fee) to the user identified by the user ID.

  In addition, each provider's public wireless LAN service can be deployed over a wide area.

  The reason is that each provider can suppress cost investment and can deploy a public wireless LAN service.

  In the embodiment described above, the illustrated configuration is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to use the distribution of the access point AP everywhere, regardless of the industry (regardless of the type of business) or the individual, and the change of the access point of the wireless LAN router can be applied.

  The installation of access points is not limited to large cities, business districts, downtowns, and specific stores, but can also be used in rural areas and rural areas, so that a Yukipitas environment can be easily constructed.

It is the block diagram which showed the program delivery system containing the program delivery apparatus of one Example of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless LAN router 1. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the whole operation | movement of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the search result of the access point of each provider. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the provider exclusive login screen. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the network connection completion screen. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the specific operation | movement of one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless LAN router 1a Communication part 1b Memory 1c Control part 2 Terminal device 2a Communication part 2b Memory 2c Control part 3 Program delivery apparatus 3a Memory 3a1 Program storage part 3a2 Screen data storage part 3a3 User ID storage part 3b Control part 3b1 Screen data delivery Part 3b2 program distribution part

Claims (5)

A program distribution device for distributing a program for operating a wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point to a terminal device,
A program storage unit for storing the program for each wireless LAN router;
A screen data storage unit for storing screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program;
When receiving a screen request for requesting the selection screen from the terminal device, a screen data distribution unit that transmits the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit to the terminal device;
A program delivery unit that, when receiving a selection result representing the program selected using the selection screen from the terminal device, reads the program indicated in the selection result from the program storage unit and delivers the program to the terminal device; , Including a program distribution device. The program distribution apparatus according to claim 1,
A user ID storage unit for storing the user ID;
The program distribution device, when receiving a user ID together with the selection result from the terminal device, stores the user ID in a user ID storage unit. A program storage unit that stores a program for operating the wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point for each wireless LAN router; and a screen data storage unit that stores screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program. A program distribution method performed by a program distribution apparatus,
When receiving a screen request for requesting the selection screen from a terminal device, a screen data distribution step of transmitting the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit to the terminal device;
A program distribution step of reading a program indicated by the selection result from the program storage unit and distributing it to the terminal device when a selection result representing the program selected using the selection screen is received from the terminal device; , Including a program delivery method. In the program delivery method of Claim 3,
The program distribution device further includes a user ID storage unit for storing the user ID,
In the program distribution step, when a user ID is received together with the selection result from the terminal device, the user ID is stored in a user ID storage unit. Connected to a program storage unit that stores a program for operating the wireless LAN router as a wireless LAN access point for each wireless LAN router, and a screen data storage unit that stores screen data representing a selection screen for selecting the program Computer
When receiving a screen request for requesting the selection screen from a terminal device, a screen data distribution procedure for transmitting the screen data stored in the screen data storage unit to the terminal device;
A program distribution procedure for reading a program indicated by the selection result from the program storage unit and distributing the program to the terminal device when receiving a selection result representing the program selected using the selection screen from the terminal device; , A delivery program to execute.

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