JP2011101290A - Information processor, information processing method, program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distinguish a plurality of terminal devices from the terminal devices in other networks, even if the plurality of terminal devices providing the same service is existing in an identical network. <P>SOLUTION: A representative terminal 102 includes a communication portion 112 which performs communication with a terminal device 104 and a P2P communications with a representative terminal 202, an equipment information acquisition portion 114 which acquires equipment information regarding the terminal device 204, 206 from the representative terminal 202 through the communication portion 112, a virtual device generation portion 116 which generates a virtual device corresponding to the equipment information, causes the virtual device to acquire the address of the virtual device, and at the same time, causes the address and the equipment information to transmit to the terminal device 104 through the communication portion 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system.

  In recent years, digitalization of information has progressed rapidly, and information equipment for handling digital information has rapidly spread to ordinary households. For example, a music player that reproduces music data recorded on a compact disc, a DVD player that reproduces a movie recorded on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the like are already widely used on a global scale. In general households, photographs taken with a digital camera and digitally recorded television programs are stored and managed in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). However, it seems that stored images, videos, music information, and the like are not very effectively utilized besides personal viewing and enjoyment. For example, when a family member wants to watch video footage shot with a digital video camera, the video footage stored and managed on the hard disk of a personal computer can be played back on a large TV set in the living room. This requires a little troublesome preparation.

  In view of these circumstances, recently there has been a movement to formulate a standard related to information technology for realizing sharing of digital information (so-called home network) using wireless or wired communication in a general home. For example, a non-profit organization called DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) formed by participation of a plurality of companies related to manufacturing and sales of home appliances, mobile phones, PCs, and the like is a good example. According to this, the home network is composed of a server device in which content such as video and music is stored and a player device for playing back the content, and distribution and content distribution based on a predetermined transmission method and format. Playback is realized.

  However, the above technology relates to a technology for sharing content in a single home network. Therefore, in order to share content between different home networks, a communication technique devised for connecting the home networks is required. As such communication technology, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, a virtual dedicated line (so-called VPN; using so-called peer-to-peer communication; hereinafter referred to as P2P communication) is used. A technique for constructing a Virtual Private Network is described. Further, although slightly deviating from the viewpoint of a connection technology between home networks, in Patent Document 3 below, a plurality of services provided by a plurality of terminal devices are made to appear as one service provided by one virtual device. The technology is described.

  Communication techniques for terminal devices belonging to different local networks to communicate with each other, including the techniques described in the following patent documents, are roughly divided into two types. One of them is a connection method between networks using a packet tunneling technique represented by VPN. In this connection method, packets transmitted and received in a local network are forwarded (tunneled) by a device such as a VPN router to a VPN router or the like of another local network, so that communication between different local networks can be performed within one local network. It is like communication. In other words, this is a method in which local networks are transparently connected.

  The other is a connection technology between terminals represented by P2P communication. That is, it is a technique for directly connecting terminal devices regardless of the attributes of the local network. Using this technology, even if each terminal device is assigned only a private IP address (internal address), it is possible to connect to another terminal device across the private network. For example, services called IP telephone service and messenger service are typical examples of applications using this P2P communication. The technology of P2P communication provides one-to-one communication between terminal devices, and cannot provide a free communication service between local networks such as a home network. The techniques described in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2 relate to a communication method in which these two methods are combined. Further, for example, the following Patent Document 4 describes a technique for connecting different networks.

JP 2007-96827 A JP 20047671 A Japanese Patent No. 3795507 JP 2009-159316 A

  However, in order to realize the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, it is required to install a special device such as a router in order to convert the IP address, or special settings relating to the network interface of the terminal device Is required. Therefore, it takes time for the user to be equivalent to or more than realizing the technology related to the conventional VPN. In particular, users of home networks often do not have advanced knowledge and techniques regarding special communication settings. Therefore, installation of a VPN router, a gateway server, etc., or communication setting is a very hurdle for such a user. On the other hand, since P2P communication is a communication technique between terminal devices, it does not require much special knowledge for its setting, and it is not necessary to install special equipment. Is suitable. However, since P2P communication is a communication technique between terminals as described above, a device for connecting different home networks is required.

  Further, according to the technique described in Patent Document 4, it is possible to connect different networks using inter-terminal communication without additional installation of a special device, but the same service within the same network. In the case where there are a plurality of terminal devices that provide the terminal device, there is a problem that the plurality of terminal devices cannot be distinguished from the terminal devices in other networks.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to connect different networks using inter-terminal communication without additionally installing special equipment. New and improved, which is possible, even when there are multiple terminal devices that provide the same service in the same network, so that the terminal devices can be distinguished from the terminal devices in other networks An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system are provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, information processing existing in a first local network in a network connection system in which a first local network and a second local network are connected via a wide area network. An apparatus is provided. The information processing device includes a communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with another information processing device existing in the second local network, and a second unit existing in the second local network. A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information, which is information related to two devices, from another information processing apparatus via a communication unit; a virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit; And a virtual device generation unit that acquires the address of the virtual device and transmits the address and device information to the first device via the communication unit.

  With this configuration, the information processing apparatus can notify the first device of the address acquired by the virtual device. In addition, for example, if the second device transmits a message in which the address acquired by the virtual device is set as the transmission destination to another information processing device, the second device uses P2P communication between the other information processing device and the information processing device. Thus, the message can be delivered to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus can deliver the message to the virtual device specified by the address set as the transmission destination of the delivered message.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus acquires the device information that is information related to the first device from the first device, and an address storage unit that stores the internal address of the second device in the second local network. A device information notifying unit that notifies other information processing apparatuses via a communication unit, and an address of the virtual device acquired by the virtual device is registered in the address storage unit in association with the internal address of the second device corresponding to the virtual device. An address registration processing unit, and when a message to which the address acquired by the virtual device is added as a transmission destination is acquired from the first device via the communication unit, the message is output to the virtual device, and the virtual device To obtain the internal address in the second local network of the second device corresponding to the address, and Is added to the transmission destination of message, it transmits a may further include a message analyzer for causing the message to another information processing apparatus via the communication unit. Thus, when a message to which the address of the virtual device is added as a transmission destination is transmitted from the first device located in the first local network, the information processing apparatus can deliver the message to the virtual device.

  Further, when the message analysis unit acquires a message from another information processing apparatus via the communication unit, the message analysis unit transmits the message via the communication unit to the first device specified by the transmission destination added to the acquired message. It is good. Thereby, the information processing apparatus can deliver the message transmitted from the second device located in the second local network to the first device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, the first local network and the second local network exist in the first local network in the network connection system in which the first local network and the second local network are connected via the wide area network. A communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with another information processing device existing in the second local network, a device information acquisition unit, a virtual device generation unit, An information processing method is provided by an information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing method includes a step of acquiring device information, which is information related to a second device existing in the second local network, from another information processing apparatus via the communication unit, and a virtual device generation unit. Generating a virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit, causing the virtual device to acquire the address of the virtual device, and transmitting the address and device information to the first device via the communication unit; , Including.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a computer is connected to a first local network in a network connection system in which a first local network and a second local network are connected via a wide area network. A communication unit that exists in the network, and performs communication with a first device that exists in the first local network and P2P communication with another information processing device that exists in the second local network; A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information, which is information related to the second device existing in the local network, from another information processing apparatus via the communication unit, and a virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit And the virtual device acquires the address of the virtual device and sends the address and the device information to the first device via the communication unit. Program for functioning as an information processing apparatus and a virtual device generation unit to be transmitted to are provided.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, the first local network and the second local network exist in the first local network in the network connection system in which the first local network and the second local network are connected via the wide area network. An information processing system having a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus existing in a second local network is provided. The first information processing device is a communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with the second information processing device, and information related to the second device existing in the second local network. A device information acquisition unit that acquires certain device information from the second information processing apparatus via the communication unit, a virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit, and a virtual device address in the virtual device , A virtual device generation unit that transmits an address and device information to the first device via the communication unit, an address storage unit that stores an internal address of the second device in the second local network, and a first device A device information notifying unit that acquires device information, which is information related to the first device, and notifies the acquired device information to the second information processing apparatus via the communication unit; An address registration processing unit that registers the address of the virtual device acquired by the device in the address storage unit in association with the internal address of the second device corresponding to the virtual device, and the address acquired by the virtual device are added as a transmission destination. When the message is acquired from the first device via the communication unit, the message is output to the virtual device, the virtual device is caused to acquire the internal address in the second local network of the second device corresponding to the address, and the internal address is A message analysis unit that is added to a message transmission destination and transmits a message to the second information processing apparatus via the communication unit. The second information processing device acquires a communication unit that performs communication with the second device and P2P communication with the first information processing device, and device information that is information related to the second device from the second device, and acquires the acquired device. A device information notifying unit for notifying information to the first information processing device via the communication unit, an address storage unit for storing an internal address in the second local network of the second device, and a message from the first information processing device A message analysis unit that, when acquired via the communication unit, transmits the message via the communication unit to the first device specified by the transmission destination added to the acquired message.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to connect different networks using inter-terminal communication without additionally installing special equipment, and provide the same service within the same network. Even when there are a plurality of terminal devices, the plurality of terminal devices can be distinguished from the terminal devices in other networks.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the network connection system which concerns on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the function structure of the representative terminal (1st information processing apparatus) which concerns on the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the function structure of the representative terminal (2nd information processing apparatus) which concerns on the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the communication method between home networks by the network connection system which concerns on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the communication method between home networks by the network connection system which concerns on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hardware constitutions of the apparatus which can implement | achieve the function which each component of each apparatus which concerns on the embodiment has.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

<Embodiment>
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is characterized by a technology for connecting different home networks using inter-terminal communication. In the following description, the expression home network is used. This is an example of a local network or a private network. For example, a private IP address is assigned to each device belonging to the network. Mean network.

[System configuration of network connection system 1]
First, the system configuration of the network connection system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a network connection system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network connection system 1 mainly includes a plurality of different home networks 1000 and 2000, routers 10 and 20 for connecting the home networks 1000 and 2000, and a wide area network 30. The However, the wide area network 30 means, for example, a wide area network such as the Internet in which each device is specified by a global IP address (external address). The home networks 1000 and 2000 are examples of first and second local networks.

  The home network 1000 includes one or a plurality of terminal devices, and the representative terminal 102, which is one of them, and the terminal device 104, which is the other, are connected to each other via a local network. Yes. Similarly, one or more terminal devices are installed in the home network 2000, and one of the representative terminals 202 and the other two terminal devices 204 and 206 are local networks. It is connected. However, a local network means a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) in which each device is specified by a private IP address. Of course, a device to which a global IP address is assigned may be included in a local network.

  The representative terminal 102, the terminal device 104, the representative terminal 202, and the terminal devices 204 and 206 may be any devices as long as they have a communication function. For example, the representative terminal 102, the terminal device 104, the representative terminal 202, and the terminal devices 204 and 206 are an information processing device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like, a digital television or a set top box (STB). A broadcasting device such as Set Top Box), a recording / playback device such as a digital video recorder, a game machine, a mobile phone, or various information appliances. The representative terminals 102 and 202 exist at least one in each local network, and any terminal device can be a representative terminal.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the representative terminals 102 and 202 are information processing apparatuses (for example, network connection devices) for connecting the home networks 1000 and 2000. Therefore, the representative terminals 102 and 202 are assumed to have a P2P communication function. Further, it is assumed that private IP addresses are assigned to the representative terminal 102 and the terminal device 104 by the router 10. Similarly, it is assumed that a private IP address is assigned by the router 20 to the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206. Therefore, the representative terminal 102, the terminal device 104, the representative terminal 202, and the terminal devices 204 and 206 pass through the routers 10 and 20 in order to access the information source of the wide area network 30.

  Also, it is assumed that the representative terminals 102 and 202 that are information processing apparatuses (for example, network connection devices) can perform P2P communication with each other. Further, the description will be made assuming that a P2P communication path is established between the representative terminals 102 and 202. Note that any technique can be applied to the P2P communication method, and the application range of the present embodiment is not limited to the type of the method.

  The system configuration of the network connection system 1 has been described above. Based on this system configuration, the functional configuration of the representative terminal 102 constituting the first information processing apparatus (for example, network connection device) in the home network 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described below.

[Functional configuration of representative terminal 102 (information processing apparatus)]
Next, the functional configuration of the representative terminal 102 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the representative terminal 102 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the representative terminal 102 is an example of an information processing apparatus (for example, a network connection device) according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the representative terminal 102 mainly includes a communication unit 112, a device information acquisition unit 114, a virtual device generation unit 116, a message analysis unit 118, a device information notification unit 122, and an address storage unit. 124 and an address registration processing unit 126. Further, it is assumed that a P2P communication path is established between the representative terminal 102 and the representative terminal 202 (external device). In the following description, the terminal device 104 may be simply expressed as a first device, and the terminal devices 204 and 206 may be simply expressed as a second device. In addition, the representative terminal 102 may have a function of providing a service to another terminal device in the same manner as the terminal device 104 or the like.

(Communication unit 112)
The communication unit 112 has a function of transmitting and receiving messages between the terminal device 104 installed in the home network 1000 and the representative terminal 202 and the terminal device 204 connected via the P2P communication path. When the P2P communication path is established, the communication unit 112 can send and receive messages to and from the representative terminal 202 in the home network 2000.

(Device information acquisition unit 114)
The device information acquisition unit 114 receives device information, which is information about the representative terminal (second information processing device) 202 and the terminal devices (second devices) 204 and 206 existing in the home network 2000, via the communication unit 112. 202 has a function to be acquired from 202. As the device information, for example, information indicating the contents of services provided by the terminal devices 204 and 206, the number of devices providing each service, and the like can be used, but the device information is limited to these. Instead, any information may be used as long as the information is about the device. For example, as device information, information (model identification information) for identifying the type of device can be used. It is assumed that the representative terminal 202 has previously acquired device information that is information related to the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206, for example, by the device information notification unit 222 (see FIG. 3).

(Virtual device generator 116)
The virtual device generation unit 116 has a function of generating virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 114. Further, the virtual device generation unit 116 causes the virtual device 202A to acquire the private IP address (an example of the address) of the virtual device 202A and transmits the private IP address of the virtual device 202A and the device information via the communication unit 112 to the terminal device 104. It has a function to transmit to. Similarly, the virtual device generation unit 116 causes the virtual device 204A to acquire the private IP address of the virtual device 204A and transmits the private IP address of the virtual device 204A and device information to the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112. Have The virtual device generation unit 116 has a function of causing the virtual device 206A to acquire the private IP address of the virtual device 206A and transmitting the private IP address of the virtual device 206A and device information to the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112. Have.

  For example, by transmitting an address assignment request message to the router 10, the virtual device 204 </ b> A is assigned the private IP address of the virtual device 204 </ b> A by the router 10, and can acquire the private IP address as a response to the address assignment request message. .

  Here, since the device information acquisition unit 114 acquires the device information of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206, the virtual device generation unit 116 has three virtual devices as virtual devices corresponding to the device information. The devices 202A, 204A, and 206A are generated. However, the virtual device generation unit 116 generates at least a virtual device corresponding to any one of the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 114. The virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A are generated, for example, by executing a program for operating each of the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that exists in the representative terminal 102. Each program can be stored in, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that exists in the representative terminal 102, and is expanded into a RAM and executed by the CPU. Each program may be different for each virtual device, or may be the same.

(Message analysis unit 118)
The message analysis unit 118 has a function of outputting a message to the virtual device 202A when the message with the private IP address acquired by the virtual device 202A added as a transmission destination is acquired from the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112. Is. Further, the message analysis unit 118 has a function of causing the virtual device 202A to transmit a message to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112. Thus, when the message with the private IP address of the virtual device 202A added as the transmission destination is transmitted from the terminal device 104 located in the home network 1000, the representative terminal 102 can deliver the message to the virtual device 202A. . The virtual device 202A acquires the private IP address in the home network 2000 of the terminal device 202 registered in the address storage unit 124 in association with its own private IP address, and adds the acquired private address to the message transmission destination. Then, the data is transmitted to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112.

  Similarly, the message analysis unit 118 outputs a message to which the private IP address acquired by the virtual device 204A is added as a transmission destination to the virtual device 204A and transmits the message to the virtual device 204A to the representative terminal 202. It can also be made. Similarly, in this case, the virtual device 204A acquires the private IP address in the home network 2000 of the terminal device 204 registered in the address storage unit 124 in association with its own private IP address, and acquires the acquired private address. Is transmitted to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112. Further, the message analysis unit 118 similarly outputs a message to which the private IP address acquired by the virtual device 206A is added as a transmission destination to the virtual device 206A and transmits the message to the virtual device 206A to the representative terminal 202. Can also be performed. Similarly, in this case, the virtual device 206A acquires the private IP address in the home network 2000 of the terminal device 206 registered in association with the private IP address in the address storage unit 124, and acquires the acquired private address. Is transmitted to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112.

  As a method of transmitting a message to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112 by the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A, roughly two methods are assumed. The first is transfer in the application layer, which is a relatively higher layer (hereinafter also referred to as “application layer transfer”). For example, this method performs the same operation as that of a real terminal (for example, the terminal device 204) on a virtual device (for example, the virtual device 204A) for a service whose standard in a higher concept than the UPnP (or DLNA) is determined. An application to be executed (Device in the case of UPnP) is installed. The basic message transmission method based on this transfer method is to transmit information that a real terminal (for example, the terminal device 104) receives or transmits a message to a connection destination virtual device (for example, the virtual device 204A), and re-transmit an equivalent message. It becomes a method of configuring and transmitting / receiving.

  The second is transfer (hereinafter also referred to as “IP packet layer transfer”) in the IP layer (or session layer (TCP, UDP), Ether layer, etc.). This transfer method is used when high standard processing is not required unlike the above application. However, with respect to protocols already supported by so-called NAT processing, it is possible to perform not only simple transfer processing but also more sophisticated processing using equivalent processing (IP control function or the like). For example, in ftp and the like, conversion of a PORT number included in a control session is supported by many NATs. That is, the message transmission method using this transfer method is packet forwarding using NAT or encapsulation.

  When the message analysis unit 118 acquires the private IP addresses of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 located in the home network 2000 from the representative terminal 202 or the router 20 via the communication unit 112, the message analysis unit 118 sets the acquired private IP address as an address. It has a function of outputting to the registration processing unit 126. These private IP addresses are registered in the address storage unit 124 by the address registration processing unit 126 in association with the private IP addresses of the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A. Further, when the message analysis unit 118 acquires a message to which the private IP address of the terminal device 104 located in the home network 1000 is added as a transmission destination via the communication unit 112, the message analysis unit 118 transmits the message to the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112. It has a function to send a message.

(Device information notification unit 122)
The device information notification unit 122 has a function of acquiring device information that is information related to the terminal device 104 from the terminal device 104 and notifying the representative device 202 of the acquired device information via the communication unit 112. The device information notification unit 122 can use information indicating the content of the service provided by the terminal device 104, but the device information is not limited to these.

(Address storage unit 124)
The address storage unit 124 has a function of storing a private IP address in the home network 1000 of the terminal device 104. The private IP address of the terminal device 104 stored by the address storage unit 124 is acquired and registered by the representative terminal 102 from the terminal device 104 or the router 10 via the communication unit 112, for example. Further, the address storage unit 124 corresponds to the private IP addresses of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 located in the home network 2000 and the private IP addresses of the virtual devices 202A, 204A and 206A by the address registration processing unit 126. The attached information is registered in the address storage unit 124.

(Address registration processing unit 126)
The address registration processing unit 126 includes the private IP addresses of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 acquired by the message analysis unit 118 via the communication unit 112 and the own private IP acquired by the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A. It has a function of associating addresses with each other and registering the associated information in the address storage unit 124.

  Heretofore, the functional configuration of the representative terminal 102 according to the present embodiment has been described. In the following description, it is assumed that the representative terminal 202 located in the home network 2000 has substantially the same functional configuration as the representative terminal 102. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of the representative terminal 202 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the representative terminal 202 includes, as components corresponding to the representative terminal 102, a communication unit 212, a device information acquisition unit 214, a virtual device generation unit 216, a message analysis unit 218, a device information notification unit 222, and an address storage. It is assumed that a portion 224 is included.

[Communication method between home networks]
Next, a communication method between home networks by the network connection system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a flow of a communication method between home networks by the network connection system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  First, referring to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing from when the representative terminal 102 starts acquiring the private IP address of its own terminal from the router 10 to generating a virtual device acting as a proxy for the device in the home network 2000 in the home network 1000. Show. Similarly, in the home network 2000, after the representative terminal 202 starts acquiring the private IP address of its own terminal from the router 20, a virtual device acting as a proxy for the device in the home network 1000 is generated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, the communication unit 112 of the representative terminal 102 which is a network connection device transmits an address assignment request message indicating that the router 10 requests assignment of a private IP address in the home network 1000 ( Step S102). Upon receiving the address assignment request message from the representative terminal 102, the router 10 assigns a private IP address to the representative terminal 102 by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and uses the assigned private IP address as a response to the address assignment request message. It returns to 102 (step S104).

  Similarly, the terminal device 104 transmits to the router 10 an address assignment request message indicating a request for assignment of a private IP address in the home network 1000 (step S106). Upon receiving the address assignment request message from the terminal device 104, the router 10 assigns a private IP address to the terminal device 104 by DHCP, and returns the assigned private IP address to the terminal device 104 as a response to the address assignment request message (step). S108).

  Next, the device information notification unit 122 of the representative terminal 102 transmits a device information transmission request message to the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112 in order to acquire device information from all devices located in the home network 1000. (Step S110). When UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is used in the home network 1000, for example, M-Search can be used as the device information transmission request message. When receiving the device information transmission request message, the terminal device 104 returns the device information of its own device to the representative terminal 102 as a response to the device information transmission request message (step S112). The device information notification unit 122 of the representative terminal 102 receives the device information of the terminal device 104 via the communication unit 112.

  Next, the device information notification unit 122 of the representative terminal 102 generates a device list in the home network 1000 by listing the received one or more pieces of device information (step S114). The processes executed in steps S102 to S114 in home network 1000 are also executed in steps S202 to S214 in home network 2000.

  Next, the communication unit 112 of the representative terminal 102 starts establishing a P2P communication path with the communication unit 212 of the representative terminal 202 (step S302), and completes the establishment of the P2P communication path. The device information notification unit 122 of the representative terminal 102 transmits the device list in the home network 1000 to the representative terminal 202 using the P2P communication path via the communication unit 112 (step S304). Similarly, the device information notification unit 222 of the representative terminal 202 transmits the device list in the home network 2000 to the representative terminal 102 using the P2P communication path via the communication unit 212 (step S306). In this way, information regarding devices in the home network 1000 and information regarding devices in the home network 2000 are exchanged between the representative terminal 102 and the representative terminal 202.

  Next, the virtual device generation unit 116 of the representative terminal 102 generates virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 114 (step S116). Similarly, the virtual device generation unit 216 of the representative terminal 202 generates the virtual devices 102A and 104A corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 214 (step S216).

  According to the processing shown in FIG. 4, a virtual device corresponding to a device in the home network 2000 can be generated in the home network 1000. Therefore, for example, when a device in the home network 1000 wants to transmit a message to a device in the home network 2000, the device may transmit the message using a virtual device corresponding to the device in the home network 2000 as a transmission destination. Similarly, a virtual device corresponding to a device in the home network 1000 can be generated in the home network 2000.

  Next, referring to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a continuation of the processing shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 5 shows that in the home network 1000, the representative terminal 102 starts an inquiry to the router 10 for the private IP addresses of the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A, and then the terminal device 104 in the home network 1000 A flow of processing until a service is provided from the terminal device 204 in 2000 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the virtual device 204A of the representative terminal 102 transmits an address assignment request message to the router 10 via the communication unit 112 (step S118). Similarly, the virtual device 202A and the virtual device 206A of the representative terminal 102 also transmit an address assignment request message to the router 10 via the communication unit 112. Upon receiving the address assignment request message from the virtual device 202A, the router 10 assigns a private IP address to the virtual device 204A by DHCP and returns the assigned private IP address to the representative terminal 102 as a response to the address assignment request message (step) S120).

  When the message analysis unit 118 of the representative terminal 102 acquires the private IP addresses of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 located in the home network 2000 from the router 20 or the representative terminal 200 via the communication unit 112, the acquired private IP The address is output to the address registration processing unit 126. The address registration processing unit 126 includes the private IP addresses in the home network 2000 of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 and the private IP addresses acquired by the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A. Are registered in the address storage unit 124. As a result, the address storage unit 124 of the representative terminal 102 associates the private IP addresses in the home network 2000 of the representative terminal 202 and the terminal devices 204 and 206 with the private IP addresses acquired by the virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A. The registered information is registered.

  In a similar manner, the address storage unit 224 of the representative terminal 202 associates the private IP address in the home network 1000 of the representative terminal 102 and the terminal device 104 with the private IP address acquired by the virtual devices 102A and 104A. Is registered.

  Next, the terminal device 104 transmits a device information transmission request message to the representative terminal 102 in order to acquire information regarding all devices located in the home network 2000 (step S308). When UPnP is used in the home network 2000, for example, M-Search can be used as the device information transmission request message. When receiving the device information transmission request message via the communication unit 112, the message analysis unit 118 of the representative terminal 102 transmits the device information transmission request message to the representative terminal 202 via the communication unit 112 (step S310). When the message analysis unit 218 of the representative terminal 202 receives the device information transmission request message via the communication unit 212, the message analysis unit 218 is designated by the private IP address in the destination home network 2000 added to the received device information transmission request message. The device information transmission request message is transmitted to the terminal device 204 (step S312). For example, when a device information transmission request message transmitted from the representative terminal 102 to the representative terminal 202 instructs broadcast distribution, the device information transmission request message is also transmitted to the terminal device 206.

  Next, when receiving the device information transmission request message from the representative terminal 202, the terminal device 204 returns the device information of its own terminal to the representative terminal 202 as a response (step S314). The message analysis unit 218 of the representative terminal 202 sends an information device transmission response to the virtual device 104A specified by the destination private IP address added to the device information transmission response message received from the terminal device 204 via the communication unit 212. Output a message. The virtual device 104A acquires the private IP address of the terminal device 104 in the home network 1000 corresponding to its own private IP address from the address storage unit 224. The virtual device 104A adds the acquired private IP address of the terminal device 104 to the transmission source of the response message, and transmits it to the representative terminal 102 via the communication unit 212 (step S316). When the message analysis unit 118 of the representative terminal 102 receives the device information transmission response message via the communication unit 112, the terminal device 104 specified by the destination private IP address added to the received device information transmission response message. The device information transmission response message is transmitted via the communication unit 112 (step S318). By receiving the device information transmission response message from the representative terminal 102, the terminal device 104 acquires the device information of the terminal device 204 using the device information transmission response message.

  Next, when the terminal device 104 causes the user to refer to the device information of the virtual device 204A and wants to receive service provision from the terminal device 204, the private IP address of the virtual device 204A is selected by the user. Thereafter, the terminal device 104 transmits a service request to the representative terminal 102 (step S320). The representative terminal 102 transmits a service request to the representative terminal 202 using the same method as in step S310 (step S322). The representative terminal 202 transmits a service request to the terminal device 204 by the same method as in step S312 (step S324). The terminal device 204 transmits a service response to the representative terminal 202 using the same method as in step S314 (step S326). The representative terminal 202 transmits a service response to the representative terminal 102 using the same method as in step S316 (step S328). The representative terminal 102 transmits a service response to the terminal device 104 by the same method as in step S316 (step S330).

  By applying the above communication method, communication between devices (terminal devices 104, 204, 206) existing in different home networks 1000, 2000 can be virtually realized by a P2P communication path.

  As described above, the technology according to the present embodiment is an apparatus for realizing a many-to-many communication environment between devices belonging to different home networks (private networks) using a single P2P communication path. , And a method. When this apparatus and method are used, there is an advantage that no special equipment installation or setting change is required for each user when applying the technique according to the present embodiment. This advantage is a very significant advantage compared to the prior art such as VPN. In order to use the VPN, it is necessary to install a dedicated device such as a VPN router, and there is a case where a network redesign by an expert is required. For this reason, technologies such as VPN are extremely high thresholds as technologies introduced into home networks.

  On the other hand, since P2P communication is inter-terminal communication, the threshold for introduction is relatively low for the user. However, since P2P communication is terminal-to-terminal communication, it has a problem that it is difficult to apply it to a service provided beyond a home network such as a LAN. With respect to such problems, the technology according to the present embodiment provides means for realizing many-to-many virtual inter-network communication while reducing the burden of introduction by using the P2P communication technology. is there.

  Here, the difference between the technology according to the present embodiment and the conventional VPN will be described in more detail. Conventional VPN is a technology for transparently connecting networks, and a technology for allowing each device to be recognized as a device having one IP address between devices in different home networks connected to each other. It is. Similarly, there is a technique for realizing communication between home networks by P2P communication using IP address conversion. Although this technology uses P2P communication, it can be said that this technology is substantially equivalent to conventional VPN in that IP address conversion is performed by a P2P communication transmitting / receiving device.

  For example, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-159316) described above is a technique for connecting different home networks at a service level, and devices in different home networks connected to each other. In the meantime, each device cannot recognize a communication destination device. For example, when the terminal device 104 transmits a message via a P2P communication path, the terminal device 104 recognizes only the representative terminal 102 that is a network connection device as a communication partner. That is, the devices in each home network recognize only the network connection device that is the communication partner when using the service provided by the device in another home network via the P2P communication path.

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4 described above is a technique for connecting different home networks at a service level. Therefore, for example, when the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206 provide the same service, the terminal device 104 wants to receive a service from the terminal device 204 via the P2P communication path. Even if it exists, the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206 cannot be distinguished. That is, when the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206 provide the same service, a conflict occurs when providing the service to the terminal device 104.

  In the technology according to the present embodiment, the representative terminal 102 of the home network 1000 generates virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A acting as a proxy for the devices (representative terminal 202, terminal device 204, and terminal device 206) that exist in the home network 2000. Is. The generated virtual devices 202A, 204A, and 206A acquire private IP addresses for their own devices from the router 10 and notify the terminal device 104, and the representative terminal 202, the terminal device 204, and the terminal device 206 are included in the home network 1000. Acts as if it is installed. Therefore, even if the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206 provide the same service, the terminal device 104 can connect the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206 by the virtual device 204A and the virtual device 206A. Can be distinguished. Therefore, the terminal device 104 can receive a service from a desired terminal device among the terminal device 204 and the terminal device 206.

[Hardware configuration]
The function of each component included in the device (for example, the representative terminal 102, the terminal device 104, the representative terminal 202, the terminal device 204, and the terminal device 206) It can be realized by using a computer program for realizing the function. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of a device capable of realizing the functions of each component of the device.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 902, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 904, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 906, a host bus 908, a bridge 910, and the like. , An external bus 912, an interface 914, an input device 916, an output device 918, a storage device 920, a drive 922, a connection port 924, and a communication device 926.

  The CPU 902 functions as, for example, an arithmetic processing unit or a control unit, and controls all or part of the operation of each component based on various programs recorded in the ROM 904, the RAM 906, the storage device 920, or the removable recording medium 928. . The ROM 904 stores, for example, a program read by the CPU 902 and data used for calculation. The RAM 906 temporarily or permanently stores, for example, a program that is read into the CPU 902 and various parameters that change as appropriate when the program is executed. These components are connected to each other by, for example, a host bus 908 capable of high-speed data transmission. The host bus 908 is connected to an external bus 912 having a relatively low data transmission speed via a bridge 910, for example.

  The input device 916 is an operation unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a switch, and a lever. The input device 916 may be remote control means (so-called remote controller) capable of transmitting a control signal using infrared rays or other radio waves. Note that the input device 916 includes an input control circuit for transmitting information input using the above-described operation means to the CPU 902 as an input signal.

  The output device 918 is, for example, a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), or an ELD (Electro-Luminescence Display), an audio device such as a speaker, a headphone, or the like. It is a device capable of visually or audibly notifying acquired information to a user, such as a mobile phone or a facsimile.

  The storage device 920 is a device for storing various types of data, and includes, for example, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storage device, an optical storage device, or a magneto-optical storage device. Is done.

  The drive 922 is a device that reads information recorded on a removable recording medium 928 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or writes information to the removable recording medium 928. The removable recording medium 928 is, for example, a DVD medium, a Blu-ray medium, an HD-DVD medium, a compact flash (CF) (registered trademark), a memory stick, or an SD memory card (Secure Digital memory card). Of course, the removable recording medium 928 may be, for example, an IC card (Integrated Circuit Card) on which a non-contact IC chip is mounted, an electronic device, or the like.

  The connection port 924 is a port for connecting an external connection device 930 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, an IEEE 1394 port, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), an RS-232C port, or an optical audio terminal. is there. The external connection device 930 is, for example, a printer, a portable music player, a digital camera, a digital video camera, or an IC recorder.

  The communication device 926 is a communication device for connecting to the network 932. For example, a communication card for wired or wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or WUSB (Wireless USB), a router for optical communication, ADSL (Asymmetric) A digital subscriber line) or a modem for various types of communication. The network 932 connected to the communication device 926 is configured by a wired or wireless network, such as the Internet, home LAN, infrared communication, visible light communication, broadcast, or satellite communication.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network connection system 10 Router 20 Router 30 Wide area network 102 Representative terminal 102A, 104A, 202A, 204A, 206A Virtual device 104 Terminal device 112 Communication part 114 Equipment information acquisition part 116 Virtual device generation part 118 Message analysis part 122 Equipment information notification part 124 Address storage unit 126 Address registration processing unit 202 Representative terminal 204 Terminal device 206 Terminal device 212 Communication unit 214 Device information acquisition unit 216 Virtual device generation unit 218 Message analysis unit 222 Device information notification unit 224 Address storage unit 226 Address registration processing unit 1000 Home network (first local network)
2000 Home network (second local network)

Claims (6)

An information processing apparatus present in the first local network in a network connection system in which a first local network and a second local network are connected via a wide area network,
A communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with another information processing apparatus existing in the second local network;
A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information, which is information related to a second device existing in the second local network, from the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
A virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit is generated, the virtual device is caused to acquire the address of the virtual device, and the address and the device information are transmitted through the communication unit. A virtual device generation unit to be transmitted to one device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: An address storage unit for storing an internal address of the second device in the second local network;
A device information notification unit that acquires device information that is information about the first device from the first device, and notifies the acquired information about the device to the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
An address registration processing unit that registers the address of the virtual device acquired by the virtual device in the address storage unit in association with the internal address of the second device corresponding to the virtual device;
Further comprising
When the message with the address acquired by the virtual device added as a transmission destination is acquired from the first device via the communication unit, the message is output to the virtual device, and the address is set to the virtual device. The internal address of the corresponding second device in the second local network is acquired, the internal address is added to the transmission destination of the message, and the message to the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit A message analysis unit for sending,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The message analysis unit
When the message is acquired from the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit, the message is transmitted via the communication unit to the first device specified by the transmission destination added to the acquired message.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: Communication with the first device existing in the first local network in the network connection system in which the first local network and the second local network are connected via a wide area network, and the first An information processing method by an information processing apparatus comprising: a communication unit that performs P2P communication with another information processing apparatus that exists in two local networks; a device information acquisition unit; and a virtual device generation unit,
Acquiring, by the device information acquisition unit, device information that is information related to a second device existing in the second local network from the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
The virtual device generation unit generates a virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit, causes the virtual device to acquire the address of the virtual device, and the address and the device information Transmitting to the first device via a communication unit;
An information processing method comprising: Computer
An information processing apparatus present in the first local network in a network connection system in which a first local network and a second local network are connected via a wide area network,
A communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with another information processing apparatus existing in the second local network;
A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information, which is information related to a second device existing in the second local network, from the other information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
A virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit is generated, the virtual device is caused to acquire the address of the virtual device, and the address and the device information are transmitted through the communication unit. A virtual device generation unit to be transmitted to one device;
A program for causing an information processing apparatus to function. A first information processing apparatus existing in the first local network and a second information processing existing in the second local network in a network connection system in which the first local network and the second local network are connected via a wide area network. An information processing system having a device,
The first information processing apparatus
A communication unit that performs communication with the first device existing in the first local network and P2P communication with the second information processing apparatus;
A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information, which is information related to a second device existing in the second local network, from the second information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
A virtual device corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit is generated, the virtual device is caused to acquire the address of the virtual device, and the address and the device information are transmitted through the communication unit. A virtual device generation unit to be transmitted to one device;
An address storage unit for storing an internal address of the second device in the second local network;
A device information notification unit that acquires device information that is information related to the first device from the first device, and notifies the acquired device information to the second information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
An address registration processing unit that registers the address of the virtual device acquired by the virtual device in the address storage unit in association with the internal address of the second device corresponding to the virtual device;
When the message with the address acquired by the virtual device added as a transmission destination is acquired from the first device via the communication unit, the message is output to the virtual device, and the address is set to the virtual device. The internal address of the corresponding second device in the second local network is acquired, the internal address is added to the transmission destination of the message, and the message to the second information processing device via the communication unit is added. A message analysis unit for sending,
With
The second information processing apparatus
A communication unit that performs communication with the second device and P2P communication with the first information processing apparatus;
A device information notifying unit that acquires device information that is information related to the second device from the second device, and notifies the acquired device information to the first information processing apparatus via the communication unit;
An address storage unit for storing an internal address of the second device in the second local network;
When the message is acquired from the first information processing apparatus via the communication unit, the message is transmitted via the communication unit to the first device specified by the transmission destination added to the acquired message. A message analysis unit;
An information processing system comprising:

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