JP2008147927A - Power line communication apparatus and apparatus registration method of same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make registration operation of a newly-installed unregistered apparatus easy, in a local area network of power line communication. <P>SOLUTION: An unregistered apparatus that has not authentication key accepts a specified operation (a press button is pressed) and transmits a registration request massage for acquiring an authentication key, meanwhile an arbitrary registered apparatus (not limited to master unit) that has been registered on the local area network and has an authentication key accepts the specified operation likewise, and goes into a reception mode for a registration request massage. The registered apparatus that has received the registration request massage delivers an authentication key to the unregistered apparatus, and then, all the registered apparatuses register the unregistered apparatus on the local area network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device registration method in power line communication (PLC) using a power line as a signal transmission path, and a power line communication device used directly for the implementation.

  Power line communication is a communication method in which a data communication signal is superimposed on a commercial AC voltage (current) using a power line as a signal transmission line, and has an advantage that it is not necessary to newly perform communication wiring. In recent years, attention has been paid to power line communication using indoor wiring as a communication method for constructing a local area network (LAN) in a home. However, normally, indoor wiring is physically connected to an adjacent house, so that communication may leak to the adjacent house. Therefore, the confidentiality of communication is maintained by having a different authentication key in each home and communicating using this authentication key. In this way, even a power line that is physically connected can be logically separated to construct an individual home LAN (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  When a device for power line communication is added in one home (house), the newly installed device receives an authentication key from the parent device among the registered devices and is registered as a member of the network. In this case, it is necessary to perform a “trigger” operation to start the registration operation from now on both the newly installed device and the master unit. For example, the registration operation is started by pressing a push button provided on both devices. The

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-204895 (Claims) JP-A-8-223092 (Claim 1)

In the conventional power line communication device registration method as described above, the user needs to specify the parent device when registering a new device. However, since there is usually no difference in appearance between the parent device and the child device, it is not easy for an amateur user to determine which is the parent device.
Even if the parent device can be specified, if the newly installed device and the parent device are far away from each other in the house, it is not easy to push the push buttons of both devices by themselves. Each device enters a registration state for a certain period of time after the push button is pressed, and then times out to return to the original state. Therefore, it is not necessary to press both devices at the same time. However, if they are separated from each other, there may be a time-out when the first button is pressed before the other device is pressed.

In order to avoid such timeout, there is a method of bringing the newly installed device and the parent device close to each other at the time of registration, but the parent device is connected to, for example, an optical fiber, a telephone line, or a cable of CATV, so it can be moved anywhere. It is not a thing. Regarding new equipment, a refrigerator equipped with a power line communication function, for example, can be considered in the future, but the refrigerator cannot be easily moved anywhere. Accordingly, there are cases where it is impossible to bring the new device and the parent device closer to each other.
On the other hand, in addition to the problem of specifying the master unit and the distance to the new device, for example, if the parent device is accidentally turned off, the authentication key cannot be distributed and the new device is registered. I can't.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to facilitate an operation of registering a new unregistered device therein in a local area network for power line communication.

  The present invention relates to a device registration method for power line communication in a local area network using a power line as a signal transmission path, and a registration request for an unregistered device having no authentication key to receive a predetermined operation and obtain an authentication key A message is transmitted, while a predetermined operation is accepted, and any registered device registered in a local area network and having the authentication key enters a reception state of the registration request message and receives the registration request message. The registered device distributes the authentication key to the unregistered device, and all the registered devices register the unregistered device in the local area network.

  In the power line communication device registration method, an unregistered device receives a predetermined operation and transmits a registration request message for obtaining an authentication key, while receiving a predetermined operation and receiving a specific registered device (parent Any registered device, not limited to the machine, enters the registration request message reception state. Then, the already registered device that has received the registration request message distributes the authentication key to the unregistered device. Therefore, the user does not need to search for a parent device among registered devices when registering an unregistered device, and may operate any registered device that is close to the user.

In addition, in the above power line communication device registration method, an already registered device that has distributed an authentication key to an unregistered device, when distribution is completed normally, displays information on all devices belonging to the local area network for all devices other than itself. You may make it notify to an apparatus.
Alternatively, an unregistered device that has received the authentication key may notify its information to all registered devices that belong to the local area network.
In these cases, the registered device can immediately communicate with other registered devices immediately thereafter, so the user of the newly registered device has a low waiting time until communication is possible and is highly convenient. .

  On the other hand, the present invention is a power line communication device that should constitute a local area network using a power line as a signal transmission path, accepts a predetermined operation, and authenticates itself if it is an unregistered device that does not have an authentication key. It has a function of transmitting a registration request message for obtaining a key and distributing the authentication key to the unregistered device upon receipt of the registration request message when the device is an already registered device having an authentication key.

  The power line communication apparatus can receive a predetermined operation and transmit a registration request message for obtaining an authentication key in the case of an unregistered device, while receiving a registration request message in the case of an already registered device. To distribute the authentication key to unregistered devices. Therefore, the user does not need to search for a parent device among registered devices when registering an unregistered device, and may operate any registered device that is close to the user.

  According to the power line communication device registration method or the power line communication device of the present invention, the user does not need to search for a parent device among registered devices when registering an unregistered device. Since it only has to be operated, in the local area network of power line communication, the work of registering a new unregistered device can be facilitated.

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram illustrating a local area network constructed by power line communication in a detached house, for example.
In the figure, the voltage (for example, 6 kV) of the high-voltage distribution line 1 is stepped down by the pole transformer 2, and a predetermined voltage (100 / 200V) is supplied to the low-voltage distribution line 3. This low-voltage distribution line 3 branches into a plurality of branch lines and becomes a lead-in line 5 to the house 4 and also a lead-in line to a plurality of houses (not shown) in the vicinity thereof.

  In the house 4, power line communication devices (hereinafter referred to as modems) 7, 8, 9 are connected to the indoor wiring 6 (power line) from the lead-in line 5 through a watt hour meter and a circuit breaker (not shown). . This connection is made by plugging the power cords of the modems 7, 8, and 9 into outlets. Among these, one modem 7 which is a master unit having a home gateway function is connected to a media converter 11 that performs optical / electrical signal conversion, and an optical fiber 12 is connected to the media converter 11 from outside. This is a configuration of FTTH (Fiber To The Home), but in other cases, it may be connected to the modem 7 from a telephone line or a cable of CATV via each terminating device.

  For example, personal computers 13, 14, and 15 are connected to the modems 7, 8, and 9, respectively. In addition to personal computers, information home appliances (for example, digital home appliances and game machines) may be connected. In the future, it is also conceivable to install a modem function in a home appliance (for example, a refrigerator) that does not have a communication function. Therefore, the modem and the connected device may be integrated as well as separated from each other.

  The modems 7, 8, 9 and personal computers 13, 14, 15 connected to them in FIG. 1 constitute a local area network by power line communication and can communicate with each other via an indoor wiring 6 as a signal transmission path. It is. Each personal computer 13, 14, 15 can communicate with an upper network such as the Internet via the modem 7. Note that the number of devices such as modems and personal computers is merely an example, and which modem is the parent device depends on the place where the optical fiber 12 is drawn.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal circuit configuration related to power line communication in the modem 7. In the figure, a modem 7 includes a PLC transmission / reception unit 71 that performs modulation / demodulation processing to perform signal transmission / reception to / from a power line, a control unit 72 that performs communication control and information storage, and a signal / noise ratio (S / N ratio) of power line communication. ), And a push button 74 as an operation switch for sending an on / off signal to the control unit 72. By inserting the plug 76 of the power cord 75 that serves both for power supply and communication into an outlet 61 provided on the indoor wiring 6 (FIG. 1), the modem 7 becomes capable of power line communication.

The other modems 8 and 9 have the same configuration, but only the master modem 7 is connected to the media converter 11. The modems 8 and 9 have push buttons 84 and 94, respectively (FIG. 1).
The modem 7 of the master unit manages and controls communication within the network. Each modem 7, 8, 9 has a common authentication key and network list. The authentication key is unique information given to each house (or contracted household) and is different from adjacent houses. Accordingly, communication leakage does not occur between multiple houses under the pole transformer 2 in FIG. The network list stores information on the modems 7, 8, and 9 that currently constitute the home LAN.

  Next, a method for registering a new unregistered device in the power line communication network as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a connection diagram illustrating a state in which the modem 10 is newly connected to an outlet of a desired room as an unregistered device with respect to the modems 7, 8, and 9 as registered devices in the house 4 of FIG. However, the modem 10 only connected to the outlet is not yet logically part of the network. As described above, the modem 10 may be mounted on the home appliance and may be a part of the home appliance. However, for simplicity of explanation, the modem 10 is simply referred to as a modem.

<< First Embodiment >>
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for device registration according to the first embodiment, with the modem 10 being a new unregistered device at the center, an arbitrary registered device A on the left, and other registered devices B on the right. is there. Here, the "any of the already registered device A", although not determined any in advance, it means one button press of the existing modem 7, 8, 9 is pressed. The “other registered device B” means a modem other than the registered device A. The modem 10 has the same internal configuration as the modems 7 to 9 and includes a push button switch 104.

(1) First, the user first presses the push button 104 of the modem 10. Accordingly, the modem 10 transmits a registration request message by broadcasting for a certain time. The registration request message includes information (hereinafter referred to as device information) that can identify a device, such as a MAC address.
(2) Next, the user selects one of the modems 7, 8, and 9 that is close to the modem 10 and presses the push button. For example, if the modem 9 is nearby and the push button 94 is pressed, the modem 9 becomes the registered device A, and enters a registration request message reception state for a certain period of time. There is a time lag between the push button 104 of the modem 10 being pushed and the push button 94 of the modem 9 being pushed, but the time delay is small because it is close, and before the transmission of the registration request message times out, It is possible to enter a reception system with a margin and receive a registration request message.

  On the other hand, the registration request message is also broadcasted to the other modems 7 and 8 that are already registered devices B, but the registration request message is received by these modems 7 and 8 that are not ready to receive the registration request message. Not done. Similarly, a registration request message may be delivered by broadcast to a modem in the house of another adjacent person, but no reception is performed.

(3) Next, the modem 9 as the registered device A distributes the authentication key to the modem 10 that is an unregistered device based on the received device information.
(4) The modem 10 receives this and returns a receipt report to the modem 9.
(5) The modem 9 knowing that the distribution of the authentication key has been completed normally by receiving the receipt report adds the device information of the modem 10 which is an unregistered device to the existing network list, and adds a new network list. Create
(6) The modem 9 broadcasts (notifies) the created new network list to all the modems 7, 8, and 10 other than itself.

  (7) The modem 10 which is an unregistered device receives and holds the new network list, and the modems 7 and 8 which are the other already registered devices B update the network list previously held to the new network list. . Thereby, the registration of the unregistered device is completed. The network list includes the MAC address for each modem as shown in Table 1, for example.

  In the above method, the push button of the unregistered device (modem 10) is pushed first, and then the push button of the registered device A is pushed, but this may be reversed. That is, after the push button of the registered device A is first pressed to be in a receiving state, the registration request message may be transmitted by pressing the push button of an unregistered device (modem 10) before the receiving state times out.

<< Second Embodiment >>
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for device registration according to the second embodiment. Like FIG. 4, the center 10 is a newly-registered unregistered device, the left is an arbitrary registered device A, and the right is other Is already registered device B. As in the first embodiment, among the modems 7, 8, and 9, the modem 9 is close to the modem 10, and the modem 9 becomes the registered device A when the push button 94 is pressed. . In the figure, the procedure from when the user first presses the push button 104 of the modem 10 until the authentication key is received and the receipt report is made is the same as (1) to (4) of the first embodiment.

Next, (5) the modem 10 which has made a receipt report subsequently transmits (notifies) a message including its own device information by broadcast.
(6) As a result, all registered devices (modems 7, 8, and 9) that have received the device information update the network list by adding the device information to the held network list.
(7) Thereafter, the modem 9 transmits the updated network list to the modem 10.
(8) The modem 10 receives this and acquires a network list. Thereby, the registration of the unregistered device is completed.

<< Third Embodiment >>
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for device registration according to the third embodiment. Like FIG. 4, the center is a newly installed unregistered device 10, the left is an arbitrary registered device A, and the right is other Is already registered device B. As in the first embodiment, among the modems 7, 8, and 9, the modem 9 is close to the modem 10, and the modem 9 becomes the registered device A when the push button 94 is pressed. .

(1) First, the user first presses the push button 104 of the modem 10. Accordingly, the modem 10 transmits a registration request message by broadcasting for a certain time. The registration request message includes device information.
(2) Next, when the user presses the push button 94 of the modem 9 at hand, the modem 9 becomes the already registered device A, and the modem 9 enters the reception state of the registration request message for a certain time. As described above, the time delay from the time when the push button 104 of the modem 10 is pressed to the time when the push button 94 of the modem 9 is pressed is small. And receive a registration request message. Further, when the push button 94 is pressed, the modem 9 broadcasts a reception request message requesting all other registered devices B (modems 7 and 8) to enter a state of receiving a registration request message. Send.

(3) All registered devices (modems 7, 8, 9) that have entered the receiving state distribute authentication keys to the modem 10, which is an unregistered device, based on the received device information.
(4) The modem 10 receives these, and returns reception reports to all the modems 7, 8, and 9 by broadcast.
In this way, the signal attenuation is achieved by receiving the distribution of the authentication key from not only one registered device A (modem 9) pressing the push button 94 but also all the registered devices A and B (modems 7, 8, 9). Even if the receipt fails due to noise or other reasons, there are other opportunities, so the authentication key can be acquired more reliably.

(5) The modems 7, 8, and 9 of the registered devices that have received the receipt report update the network list by adding the device information of the modem 10 that is an unregistered device to the already held network list.
(6) Then, the modem 9 transmits the updated network list to the modem 10 which is an unregistered device.
(7) The modem 10 which is an unregistered device receives and holds the network list, whereby the registration of the unregistered device is completed.

  In the above method, the push button of the unregistered device (modem 10) is pushed first, and then the push button of the registered device A is pushed, but this may be reversed. That is, after pressing the push button of the already registered device A to make it ready for reception, and the other already registered devices B are also made ready for receiving, unregistered before the time for receiving of all the already registered devices A and B times out. A registration request message may be transmitted by pressing a push button of the device (modem 10).

<< 4th Embodiment >>
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for device registration according to the fourth embodiment. As in FIG. 4, the center 10 is a newly-registered unregistered device, the left is an arbitrary registered device A, and the right is other Is already registered device B. As in the first embodiment, among the modems 7, 8, and 9, the modem 9 is close to the modem 10, and the modem 9 becomes the registered device A when the push button 94 is pressed. . In the figure, the procedure from when the user first presses the push button 104 of the modem 10 until the registered devices A and B enter the reception state is the same as (1) and (2) of the third embodiment.

Next, (3) the already-registered devices A and B that have received the registration request message in the receiving state return a distribution OK message for requesting distribution of the authentication key to the modem 10.
(4) The modem 10 selects one of the registered devices that has returned the distribution OK message (for example, the modem 9), and transmits an authentication key distribution request message.
(5) Next, the modem 9 distributes the authentication key toward the modem 10 which is an unregistered device based on the device information already received.
(6) The modem 10 receives this and returns a receipt report to the modem 9.

(7) The modem 9 that knows that the distribution of the authentication key has been completed normally by receiving the receipt report adds the device information of the modem 10 which is an unregistered device to the network list already held, and the new network list. Create
(8) The modem 9 transmits the created new network list to all the modems 7, 8, and 10 other than itself by broadcast.
(9) The modem 10 which is an unregistered device receives and holds the new network list, and the modems 7 and 8 which are the other already registered devices B update the network list previously held to the new network list. . Thereby, the registration of the unregistered device is completed.

<< 5th Embodiment >>
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for device registration according to the fifth embodiment. Like FIG. 4, the center 10 is a newly-registered unregistered device, the left is an arbitrary registered device A, and the right is other Is already registered device B. As in the first embodiment, among the modems 7, 8, and 9, the modem 9 is close to the modem 10, and the modem 9 becomes the registered device A when the push button 94 is pressed. . In the figure, the procedure from when the user first presses the push button 104 of the modem 10 until the modem 10 reports the receipt of the authentication key is the same as (1) to (6) of the fourth embodiment.

Next, (7) the modem 10 which has made a receipt report subsequently transmits a message including its own device information by broadcast.
(8) As a result, all registered devices (modems 7, 8, and 9) that have received the device information update the network list by adding the device information to the held network list.
(9) Thereafter, the modem 9 transmits the updated network list to the modem 10.
(10) The modem 10 receives this and acquires a network list. Thereby, the registration of the unregistered device is completed.

  As described above, in the power line communication device registration method according to each of the above embodiments, an unregistered device receives a predetermined operation (pressing a push button) and transmits a registration request message for obtaining an authentication key. In response to a predetermined operation (pressing a push button), not only a specific registered device (parent device) but also any registered device A or a registered device B that has received an instruction from the registered device A receives a registration request message. To get ready. Then, at least one registered device that has received the registration request message distributes the authentication key to the unregistered device. Therefore, the user does not need to search for a parent device among registered devices when registering an unregistered device, and may operate any registered device that is close to the user.

  That is, there is no trouble of specifying the parent device, and it is only necessary to operate a nearby registered device, so that a registration time-out hardly occurs. Also, even if the parent device is powered off, the authentication key can be distributed from other registered devices to unregistered devices, which makes registration work convenient. This also contributes to power saving in that the main unit does not always have to be turned on.

  In addition, an already registered device that has distributed an authentication key to an unregistered device notifies all devices other than itself of the information of all devices belonging to the local area network after distribution is completed normally, or an authentication key The unregistered device that received the distribution notifies its registered information to all registered devices belonging to the local area network, so that the registered device can immediately communicate with other registered devices. . Therefore, the user of the newly registered device has a low waiting time until communication is possible and is highly convenient.

  4 to 8 show the operation sequence for the registered devices A and B and the unregistered devices. As a processing procedure for self-determining which device corresponds, for example, a flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is shown. What is necessary is just to perform a process. In FIG. 9, this process is performed sufficiently quickly and periodically compared to the time during which the push button of each device is pressed. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the push button has been pressed. Done. If the key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether or not the user has an authentication key. An already registered device has an authentication key, but no unregistered device. Accordingly, when the device has the authentication key, the device operates as the registered device A. On the other hand, if it does not have an authentication key, it operates as an unregistered device.

In step S1, if the push button is not pressed, it is determined in step S5 whether or not an authentication key is possessed. Here, if the device has an authentication key, the device operates as a registered device B. On the other hand, if it does not have an authentication key, the process ends without doing anything.
By installing the processing function of the flowchart as described above in each modem, each modem can perform the above-described sequence operation as the already-registered devices A and B or unregistered devices.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a local area network for power line communication in a detached house, the same applies to a case where new equipment is registered in an apartment house such as a condominium or a local area network for power line communication in a building.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above-mentioned meaning but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

For example, in a detached house, it is a connection diagram showing a local area network constructed by power line communication. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the internal circuit structure regarding power line communication in a modem. FIG. 2 is a connection diagram illustrating a state where a modem is newly connected to an outlet of a desired room as an unregistered device with respect to a modem as a registered device in the house of FIG. 1. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the apparatus registration by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the apparatus registration by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the apparatus registration by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the apparatus registration by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the apparatus registration by 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which self-determines which each apparatus corresponds.

Explanation of symbols

6 Indoor wiring (power line)
7-9 Modem (registered equipment)
10 Modem (unregistered device)
74, 84, 94, 104 push buttons

Claims (4)

A device registration method for power line communication in a local area network using a power line as a signal transmission path,
An unregistered device that does not have an authentication key receives a predetermined operation and transmits a registration request message for obtaining an authentication key. On the other hand, the unregistered device receives the predetermined operation and is registered in the local area network and registered in the local area network. Any registered device having a status of receiving the registration request message,
The registered device that has received the registration request message distributes the authentication key to the unregistered device,
A device registration method for power line communication, wherein all registered devices register the unregistered device in the local area network.   The registered device that has distributed the authentication key to the unregistered device notifies all devices other than itself of information of all devices that belong to the local area network when distribution is completed normally. Registration method for power line communication.   2. The device registration method for power line communication according to claim 1, wherein the unregistered device receiving the authentication key notifies its own information to all registered devices belonging to the local area network. A power line communication device to constitute a local area network using a power line as a signal transmission path,
Accepts the specified operation, sends a registration request message to obtain an authentication key if it is an unregistered device that does not have an authentication key, and registers if it is an already registered device that has an authentication key A power line communication apparatus having a function of distributing the authentication key to the unregistered device upon reception of a request message.

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