JP2008193303A - Communication equipment and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment and a communication method, capable of easily identifying a local area network to which they belong. <P>SOLUTION: In respective PLC modems A to H connected to indoor wiring 16 to 19 as transmission media shared by a plurality of LAN (LAN 1, LAN 2, and LAN 3), LED 8 to 10 corresponding to the plurality of LAN are disposed and displayed so that it is possible to visually recognize which LAN the PLC modem belongs to. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device and a communication method in a communication system in which a plurality of local area networks are mixed in a common transmission medium (power line) such as power line communication (PLC).

  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 transmission medium, 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 LAN (local area network) in one house (inside a house or building) (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). ). Here, since the indoor wiring is physically connected to the adjacent house through, for example, a pole transformer, the power line communication transmission medium is shared by a plurality of adjacent houses. Therefore, by using different authentication keys for each house, it is possible to logically separate the LANs and prevent information leakage from one LAN to another.

Interface, pp. 70-81, “Current Status of Power Line Communication (PLC)”, Kiyoshi Eto, CQ Publishing, September 2000 SEI WORLD Vol. 327, “Special Feature: Power Line Communications (PLC)”, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., December 2004

However, there may be a utilization form of power line communication in which a plurality of LANs exist in one house and different authentication keys are used in each LAN. In such a case, the user cannot easily determine to which LAN the PLC modem (power line communication device) connected to the outlet belongs. Accordingly, if the setting of the authentication key for the PLC modem is wrong or the PLC modem for connecting the information terminal such as a personal computer is wrong, the information terminal will be connected to a LAN different from the desired LAN, and there will be no problems such as communication failure or information leakage. Intentional situations can occur.
In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a communication method that can easily identify a local area network to which the present invention belongs.

The present invention relates to a communication device for inputting / outputting signals to / from a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks, and identifying the local area network to which it belongs from other local area networks. And display means for displaying the local area network identified by the identification means so as to be visible.
In the above communication apparatus, the local area network to which it belongs is identified as other by the identification means, and the local area network to which it belongs is displayed by the display means so as to be visible.

In the communication device, the identification unit obtains a different identification code for each local area network, and the display unit displays at least one of the display color or the display mode of the indicator lamp according to the identification code of the local area network to which the identification unit belongs. It may be changed.
In this case, the local area network to which it belongs can be easily identified by a simple configuration in which the display color and the display mode of the indicator lamp are changed according to the identification code of the local area network.

In the communication apparatus, the identification unit may acquire a different identification code for each local area network, and the display unit may display the identification code of the local area network to which the identification unit belongs.
In this case, the local area network to which the communication device belongs can be easily identified by displaying the identification code by the common display means regardless of the number of local area networks.

On the other hand, the present invention is a communication device that inputs / outputs signals from / to a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks, and identifies the local area network to which it belongs from other local area networks. Identifying means for receiving, a receiving means for receiving a display command operation, a display command means for giving a display command signal to all communication devices belonging to a local area network based on the display command operation received by the receiving means, and the display command signal And display means for visibly displaying that it belongs to the local area network.
In the above communication device, a display command signal is given to all the communication devices belonging to the local area network that have accepted the display command operation of the operator, and the display means visibly displays that it belongs to the local area network. The

In the communication device, the display command means preferably broadcasts a display command signal received from any one of the other communication devices to other communication devices in the same local area network.
In this case, since the broadcast display command signal reaches the communication device that has not received the display command signal directly, the display unit of the communication device in the same local area network can be displayed more reliably. it can.

On the other hand, the present invention is a communication method by a plurality of communication devices that input / output signals from / to a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks, and a plurality of communication devices having one authentication key Constitutes one local area network, and another local area network is constituted by a plurality of communication devices having other authentication keys, and the communication devices serving as masters of the respective local area networks transmit and receive special signals to and from each other. By doing this, a different identification code is obtained for each local area network, and each communication device displays in a visible manner which local area network it belongs to according to the identification code of the local area network to which it belongs. It is.
In the above communication method, a different identification code is acquired for each of the plurality of local area networks, and according to the identification code, which local area network the user belongs to is displayed in a visible manner.

The present invention also relates to a communication method by a plurality of communication devices that input / output signals from / to a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks, and a plurality of communication devices having one authentication key. The one local area network is configured by a plurality of communication devices having other authentication keys and another local area network is configured, and the one communication device that receives the display command operation is the local area to which the communication device belongs. A display command signal is given to all other communication devices belonging to the network, and when the display command signal is received, it is visibly displayed that it belongs to the local area network.
In the communication method described above, a display command signal is given to all other communication devices in the local area network to which the one communication device that has accepted the display command operation of the operator belongs, and these communication devices are connected to the local area network. It is displayed so as to be visible.

  According to the communication apparatus / communication method of the present invention, it is possible to easily identify the local area network to which it belongs.

Hereinafter, a PLC modem as a communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a communication method thereof will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of a PLC modem. In the figure, a PLC modem 1 includes a PLC signal processing unit 2 that performs basic signal processing of power line communication, a PHY 3 that is connected to the PLC signal processing unit 2 and has an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface function, and the PHY 3 A LAN cable connector 4 connected to the PC, a PLC signal processing unit 2 and a CPU 5 incorporating an LED driver, a ROM 6 and a RAM 7 connected to the CPU 5, and three different colors (for example, red and green) , Blue).) LEDs 8, 9, and 10.

The total number of the LEDs 8 to 10 corresponds to a usage pattern in which a power line (indoor wiring) as a signal transmission medium for power line communication is shared by a maximum of three LANs. That is, the number of three is merely an example of a plurality, and may be two or four or more.
A power cord 11 and a power plug 12 are connected to the PLC signal processing unit 2, and power line communication is enabled by inserting the power plug 12 into an outlet (not shown). The connector 4 is connected to an information terminal such as a personal computer via a LAN cable.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the PLC modem 1. Two LEDs 13 and 14 (not shown in FIG. 1) are provided on the front of the PLC modem 1. The LED 13 is turned on when the power is turned on, and the LED 14 is in use by an information terminal such as a personal computer connected to the connector 4. Lights up when Further, LEDs 8 to 10 shown in FIG. 1 are arranged on the front surface of the PLC modem 1.

  In FIG. 1, the CPU 5 acquires network numbers (an example as LAN identification codes) of a plurality of LANs from the PLC signal processing unit 2. The ROM 6 stores correspondence table data between network numbers and LED colors. The RAM 7 has a network number table and stores network numbers.

  3 to 5 are connection diagrams showing an example in which a LAN is configured by power line communication in one house. The number of LAN networks is increased to 1, 2, and 3 in the order of FIGS. Show. All information terminals will be described as personal computers.

  In FIG. 3, indoor wirings 16, 17, 18, and 19 are provided from the distribution board 20 to the respective outlets 21 to 28 as illustrated. Here, first, it is assumed that a pair of PLC modems A and B (same as the PLC modem 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2) are introduced. PLC modems A and B are connected to outlets 21 and 22, respectively, and personal computers 31 and 32 are connected to PLC modems A and B, respectively. The two PLC modems A and B become capable of power line communication with each other by setting a common authentication key (password). The authentication key is normally set from a personal computer, but can also be set by setting a DIP switch or the like on the PLC modem. It is also possible for two units to simultaneously recognize each other by performing a predetermined operation (such as pressing a push button).

  One of the PLC modems A and B is set as a master (parent), and the other is a slave (child). Here, it is assumed that PLC modem A is the master. The master PLC modem transmits a special signal including a network number to every PLC modem at regular intervals apart from a normal PLC signal (also to a PLC modem belonging to a different LAN). And a function for receiving a special signal transmitted from another master and storing it in the network number table. The master PLC modem has a function of notifying a slave PLC modem belonging to the same network of the network number, thereby allowing all PLC modems in the same LAN to know the network number.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process in which the PLC modem set as the master determines the network number.
In FIG. 6, the PLC modem A first listens for a special signal for a predetermined time (step S1). Subsequently, the PLC modem A determines whether or not a special signal has been received (step S2). Here, no special signal is received because there is no other master. Therefore, the PLC modem A sets the network number to which it belongs to 1 (step S7), displays its own network (step S8), and ends the process. As a result, the PLC modem A turns on the LED 8 (red) corresponding to the network number 1 (FIG. 3).

  The PLC modem A notifies the slave PLC modem B of the network number. Thereby, the PLC modem B turns on the LED 8 (red) corresponding to the network number 1 (FIG. 3). Further, when the PLC modem E is added and the same authentication key is set as the PLC modems A and B, the network number 1 is notified from the master PLC modem A, and the PLC modem E corresponds to the network number 1. The LED 8 (red) to be turned on is turned on (FIG. 3). In this way, all the PLC modems A, B, and E belonging to the LAN 1 that is the network number 1 each turn on the LED 8 (red), and display that it is a common network so as to be visible. Therefore, the user can easily identify the LAN 1 to which the personal computers 31, 32, and 35 belong.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that a pair of PLC modems C and D (same as the PLC modem 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2) are newly introduced. PLC modems C and D are connected to outlets 23 and 24, respectively, and personal computers 33 and 34 are connected to PLC modems C and D, respectively. The two PLC modems C and D are in a state where they can perform power line communication with each other by setting a common authentication key. One of the PLC modems C and D is set as a master, and the other is a slave. Here, it is assumed that the PLC modem C is the master.

  In FIG. 6, the PLC modem C first listens for a special signal for a predetermined time (step S1). Subsequently, the PLC modem C determines whether or not a special signal has been received (step S2). Here, when the special signal is received from the PLC master A which is another master, the PLC modem C temporarily sets its own network number to a number which seems to be free (step S3). Then, the PLC modem C asks another master to use the temporarily set network number (step S4). The other master (PLC modem A) receiving it returns an OK signal if there is no duplication of the network number based on its own network number table, and returns an NG signal if there is an overlap.

  Waiting for a reply from another master, the PLC modem C determines whether or not an NG signal has been received (step S5). If received, the temporary network number is changed and steps S3 to S5 are performed. Try again. If no NG signal is received in step S5, the PLC modem C determines the temporarily set network number (2) as the network number to which it belongs (step S6). As a result, the PLC modem C turns on the LED 9 (green) corresponding to the network number 2 (FIG. 4).

  The PLC modem C notifies the slave PLC modem D of the network number. As a result, the PLC modem D turns on the LED 9 (green) corresponding to the network number 2 (FIG. 4). In this way, all the PLC modems C and D belonging to the LAN 2 that is the network number 2 each turn on the LED 9 (green), and display that it is a common network so as to be visible. Therefore, the user can easily identify the LAN 2 to which the personal computers 33 and 34 belong.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that a pair of PLC modems G and H (same as the PLC modem 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2) are introduced. PLC modems G and H are connected to outlets 27 and 28, respectively, and personal computers 37 and 38 are connected to PLC modems G and H, respectively. The two PLC modems G and H become capable of power line communication with each other by setting a common authentication key. One of the PLC modems G and H is set as a master, and the other is a slave. Here, it is assumed that the PLC modem G is the master.

  In FIG. 6, the PLC modem G first listens for a special signal for a predetermined time (step S1). Subsequently, the PLC modem G determines whether or not a special signal has been received (step S2). Here, when receiving a special signal from the PLC modems A and C, which are other masters, the PLC modem G temporarily sets its own network number to a number that seems to be free (step S3). Then, the PLC modem G asks another master to use the temporarily set network number (step S4). The other masters (PLC modems A and C) that have received this return an OK signal if there is no duplication of network numbers based on their own network number tables, and return an NG signal if there are duplications.

  Waiting for a reply from another master, the PLC modem G determines whether or not an NG signal has been received (step S5). If received, the temporary network number is changed and steps S3 to S5 are performed. Try again. If no NG signal is received in step S5, the PLC modem G determines the temporarily set network number (3) as the network number to which it belongs (step S6). As a result, the PLC modem G turns on the LED 10 (blue) corresponding to the network number 3 (FIG. 5).

  The PLC modem G notifies the slave PLC modem H of the network number. As a result, the PLC modem H turns on the LED 10 (blue) corresponding to the network number 3 (FIG. 5). Further, when the PLC modem F is added and the same authentication key as the PLC modems G and H is set, the network number 3 is notified from the master PLC modem G, and the PLC modem F corresponds to the network number 3. The LED 10 (blue) to be turned on is turned on (FIG. 5). In this way, all the PLC modems F, G, and H belonging to the LAN 3 that is the network number 3 respectively turn on the LEDs 10 (blue) and display the fact that they are common networks. Therefore, the user can easily identify the LAN 3 to which the personal computers 36, 37, 38 belong.

If each of the LANs 1 to 3 is displayed with LEDs 8 to 10 having different colors as described above, it is possible to easily identify which PLC modem belongs to which LAN. Therefore, the personal computer is not erroneously connected to another LAN other than the desired LAN, and communication troubles and information leakage can be prevented.
Further, the LAN to which the PLC modem belongs can be easily identified by a simple configuration in which the LED display color and display mode are made different according to the network number as the LAN identification code.

  In the PLC modems A to H, the function as “identification means” for identifying the LAN to which the self belongs from other LANs is achieved by setting an authentication key and acquiring a network number. The PLC signal processing unit 2, CPU 5, and RAM 7 in FIG. 1 are involved. Further, the function as “display means” for displaying the own LAN identified by the identification means so as to be visible is realized by the CPU 5, the ROM 6, and the LEDs 8 to 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the three-color LEDs 8 to 10 are provided as display means, and the network is shown depending on which LED is lit. However, the identification is possible even if three LEDs of the same color are arranged. However, people with different colors are more likely to call attention. In addition, a plurality of indicator lamps are not necessarily required, and one indicator lamp may be used to change the display color.

  On the other hand, the display mode may be changed instead of the display color. For example, the lighting pattern of a plurality of LEDs of the same color may be changed in a binary number according to the network. Moreover, when not only continuous lighting but also blinking display is incorporated, the blinking speed of one LED may be changed for each network. Furthermore, it is possible to change both the display color and the display mode.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a liquid crystal display panel 15 or the like may be provided instead of the LED, and the network number itself may be displayed as a number. In this case, the network identification code may be a character or a symbol. According to such a configuration, the LAN can be easily identified by displaying the identification code by the common display means regardless of the number of LANs. Therefore, such display means is suitable when a large number of LANs are mixed in the transmission medium.

  Next, a PLC modem as a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a communication method using them will be described. FIG. 8 is a block circuit diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the PLC modem 1 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the PLC modem 1. The difference from FIGS. 1 and 2 is that there is only one LED 42 and that a push button 41 for giving a signal to the CPU 5 is provided. The ROM 6 stores predetermined management data (display command signal) and a predetermined lighting time (time for lighting) of the LED 42. The RAM 7 also stores other PLC modems that constitute the same LAN as itself.

  If such a PLC modem 1 is configured as shown in FIG. 10 with three PLC LANs in one house, as in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, Even in the PLC modems A to H, the LED 42 is not lit.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process related to turning on / off the LED 42 in each of the PLC modems A to H. First, the PLC modem determines whether or not the push button 41 has been pressed (step S11). If the push button 41 has not been pressed, the PLC modem determines whether or not management data has been received (step S15). If the management data has not been received, the process returns to step 11 and the same determination is repeatedly executed to wait for the push button 41 to be pressed or management data to be received.

  Here, when the push button 41 is pushed by an operator's manual operation in any of the PLC modems, the PLC modem broadcasts management data indicating that the push button 41 has been pushed to all other members belonging to the same LAN. Is sent to the PLC modem (step S12). On the other hand, the PLC modem that has received (deciphered) the management data transmits the received management data to all other PLC modems belonging to the same LAN by broadcasting (step S16).

  Then, the PLC modem whose push button 41 has been pressed and the PLC modem which has received the management data turn on the LED 42 for a certain time (step S13) and turn it off after a certain time (step S14). Thereafter, the process returns to step S11 again, and the same processing is repeated.

  According to the above processing, for example, when any one push button 41 of the PLC modems A, B, and E in the LAN 1 in FIG. 10 is pressed, all the LEDs 42 of the PLC modems A, B, and E are all set for a predetermined time. Light. Further, the LEDs 42 of other networks (LAN2, LAN3) are not lit. In other words, management data as a display command signal of the LED 42 is given to all PLC modems belonging to the LAN that has accepted the operator's display command operation of pressing the push button 41, and when the LED 42 is turned on, it belongs to the LAN. Is displayed so as to be visible. Therefore, all the PLC modems belonging to the same LAN as the PLC modem whose push button 41 is pressed can be easily distinguished from the PLC modems in other LANs.

  Further, the management data (display command signal) received from any one other PLC modem first is relayed and transmitted only once to other PLC modems in the same LAN (step S16). Even if there is a PLC modem whose initial management data has not arrived directly, since the relayed management data arrives, the LED 42 of the PLC modem in the same LAN can be displayed more reliably. . However, if relay transmission of management data is performed twice or more, the number of arrivals of management data increases rapidly, so it is assumed that it is limited to once.

  In the PLC modems A to H, a function as “identification means” for identifying the LAN to which the PLC belongs belongs to other LANs by setting an authentication key or forming a network. PLC signal processing unit 2, CPU 5, and RAM 7 are involved. The push button 41 is an example of a “reception unit” that receives a display command operation, and serves as a “display command unit” that provides management data (display command signal) to all PLC modems belonging to the LAN based on the display command operation. The function is realized by the PLC signal processing unit 2, the CPU 5, the ROM 6, the RAM 7, and the push button 41. Further, the function as “display means” for displaying that it belongs to a specific LAN so as to be visible is realized by the CPU 5, the ROM 6, and the LED 42.

  In addition, although each said embodiment demonstrated the PLC modem which uses a power line as a transmission medium, the display means which displays not only to a PLC modem but to which LAN it belongs is applicable also to another communication apparatus. . For example, in the case of a wireless LAN, since a common space is used as a transmission medium, when a plurality of wireless LANs are configured in one house, it is not possible to know which wireless LAN adapter belongs to which LAN. Therefore, in this case as well, it is possible to visually identify which device belongs to which LAN by providing a similar display means for the communication device serving as the wireless LAN adapter.

  Moreover, although the typical personal computer was shown as an information terminal in the said embodiment, it can apply to various other information terminals. For example, in the case of a video / audio device such as a projector, a LAN configuration in which the main body and the speaker are connected to each other via the LAN 1 and the main body and the screen are connected to each other via the LAN 2 is possible.

  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.

It is a block circuit diagram which shows the outline of the internal structure of the PLC modem by 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the PLC modem of FIG. It is a connection diagram which shows an example which comprised LAN by power line communication in one house, and has shown the state where the number of LAN is one. FIG. 5 is a connection diagram illustrating an example in which a LAN is configured by power line communication in one house, and shows a state where the number of LANs is two. FIG. 5 is a connection diagram illustrating an example in which a LAN is configured by power line communication in one house, and shows a state where the number of LANs is three. It is a flowchart which shows the process in which the PLC modem set to the master determines a network number. It is a perspective view of the PLC modem which provided the liquid crystal display board etc. instead of LED. It is a block circuit diagram which shows the outline of the internal structure of the PLC modem by 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the PLC modem of FIG. FIG. 9 is a connection diagram illustrating an example in which a LAN is configured by power line communication in one house using the PLC modem of FIG. 8. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed in the PLC modem of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 PLC modem (communication equipment)
2 PLC signal processor 5 CPU
6 ROM
7 RAM
8-10 LED
15 Liquid crystal display panels 16-19 Indoor wiring (transmission medium)
41 Push button 42 LED

Claims (7)

A communication device that inputs and outputs signals from or to a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks,
An identification means for identifying the local area network to which it belongs from other local area networks;
And a display means for displaying the local area network identified by the identification means so as to be visible.   The identification means obtains a different identification code for each local area network, and the display means changes at least one of the display color or the display mode of the indicator lamp according to the identification code of the local area network to which the identification means belongs. The communication apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit acquires a different identification code for each local area network, and the display unit displays the identification code of the local area network to which the identification unit belongs. A communication device that inputs and outputs signals from or to a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks,
An identification means for identifying the local area network to which it belongs from other local area networks;
A receiving means for receiving a display command operation;
Display command means for giving a display command signal to all communication devices belonging to the local area network based on the display command operation received by the receiving means;
And a display means for receiving the display command signal and displaying that it belongs to the local area network so as to be visible.   The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the display command means broadcasts the display command signal received from any one of the other communication devices to another communication device of the same local area network. A communication method by a plurality of communication devices for inputting / outputting signals to / from a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks,
One local area network is configured by a plurality of communication devices having one authentication key, and another local area network is configured by a plurality of communication devices having another authentication key,
The communication device that is the master of each local area network acquires a different identification code for each local area network by sending and receiving special signals to each other,
Each communication device displays in a visible manner which local area network it belongs to according to the identification code of the local area network to which it belongs. A communication method by a plurality of communication devices for inputting / outputting signals to / from a transmission medium shared by a plurality of local area networks,
One local area network is configured by a plurality of communication devices having one authentication key, and another local area network is configured by a plurality of communication devices having another authentication key,
One communication device that has accepted the display command operation gives a display command signal to all other communication devices belonging to the local area network to which the communication device belongs,
Upon receiving the display command signal, the communication method characterized in that the fact that it belongs to the local area network is visible.

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