JP2014167694A - Method, system and program for setting device in gateway apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for facilitating setting operation of network connection between a gateway apparatus and a short-range radio communication device.SOLUTION: In a device setting system, a device 12 is shared with a plurality of people belonging to one group, for a plurality of gateway apparatuses 10 which are arranged in the group and can be connected to the Internet. The system includes a management server 2 connectable to the gateway apparatuses 10. The management server 2 includes: a setting profile recording unit 21 which generates a setting profile for a gateway apparatus 10 to connect to the Internet every time arbitrary one gateway apparatus 10 completes connection setting for a device 12, and stores it together with a group ID; and a setting profile transmission unit 22 which receives a request to acquire a setting profile from a gateway apparatus other than the above arbitrary one gateway apparatus, and transmits the setting profile to the gateway apparatus.

Description

  The present invention enables connection to an external network via a short-range wireless communication device device (hereinafter referred to as a device device) such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN (Wi-Fi, 802.11a / b / g / n, etc.). A setting method for simplifying Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN settings for a device apparatus that requests network connection in a gateway apparatus to be provided, and a device apparatus setting system and device apparatus setting program having this function About.

Currently, in order for the device device to communicate with the gateway device using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN, pairing operation (in the case of Bluetooth (registered trademark)) or setting operation to the device device (in the case of wireless LAN) )Is required.
The pairing operation is executed by pressing the setting buttons provided in the device device and the gateway device almost simultaneously, and, in some cases, inputting a password predetermined by the device device to the gateway device.
The setting operation is executed by operating and setting a device device set of an SSID (Service Set Identifier) for identifying a gateway device, an encryption method, and an encryption key. In order to simplify the setting operation, a procedure such as pressing the setting button almost simultaneously has been proposed.

In recent years, it is expected that Machine-To-Machine (a device that performs M2M and M2M will be referred to as an M2M device) as a device device that can acquire and remotely control information via an external network. In order to provide the M2M service, it is necessary to connect the M2M device to an external network such as the Internet. In order to connect an M2M device to an external network, the following two configurations are generally considered.
(Configuration 1) A configuration in which all M2M devices include a communication module that can be connected to an external network such as LTE, WiMax, or 3G.
(Configuration 2) Once the M2M device is connected to the home gateway (HGW) or smartphone that already has the function of connecting to the external network via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN, the HGW or smartphone or the like is connected to the M2M device. Configuration that provides connection to the network (Hereafter, the HGW or smartphone that provides the connection to the external network is called M2M-GW).

  In order to realize M2M that communicates with everything, it is necessary to reduce the price of M2M devices, and the above-described extension of configuration 2 that can be realized with relatively inexpensive communication modules such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi. Expected in the future.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the device apparatus (M2M device) 12 is temporarily connected to the gateway apparatus (M2M-GW) 10 using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN, and the gateway apparatus (M2M-GW) 10 It is assumed that the device apparatus (M2M device) 12 provides a connection to an external network (Internet 3). In this case, in order to perform communication via the Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN between the device device (M2M device) 12 and the gateway device (M2M-GW) 10, the device device (M2M device) 12 and the gateway Pairing operations and setting operations are required for all the pairs between the devices (M2M-GW) 10.
Then, assuming that M2M is widely used and a combination of connection configurations between a large number of device devices (M2M device 912 and a plurality of gateway devices (M2M-GW) 10) is used while being switched from moment to moment, There is a problem that setting work needs to be performed in advance for the number of combinations of the (M2M device) 12 and the gateway device (M2M-GW) 10, which hinders popularization.

Therefore, as shown in Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3, a technique for simplifying a Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing operation and a wireless LAN setting operation has been proposed.
However, in any case, some setting operation such as simultaneous pressing operation of the setting button of the gateway device and the device device is necessary, and it is not known that pairing operation or setting operation is necessary in the first place. ) And users who are unfamiliar with the operation of a wireless LAN or the like, it is not always easy to use Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN.

https://www.bluetooth.org/apps/content/ http://www.wi-fi.org/knowledge-center/articles/wi-fi-protected-setup%E2%84%A2 http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=AirStation+One-Touch+Secure+System&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CFIQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buffalotech.com%2Ffiles% 2FAOSS_WP_Final.pdf & ei = XmYmT7m6C8H4mAXOvuTBAg & usg = AFQjCNEDiE7Fr0faYVriwcCmJWIu12qaVg & sig2 = bCdlmMxN8Hm3hYysIHV21w

  That is, in the above-described setting method, the gateway device 10 (M2M-GW, which is a parent device of Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN) and the device device 12 (M2M-M) via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN. In a scene where Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN slave device) communicates with each other, a pairing operation and a setting operation are required between all the gateway devices 10 that perform communication and the device device 12 before the communication. Therefore, the setting operation becomes complicated, and there is a concern that it becomes an obstacle to the spread of M2M.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and includes adding a special communication sequence that does not exist in an existing communication method to a device device that requests network connection using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device device setting method in a gateway device, a device device setting system having this function, and a device device setting program that can easily perform a network connection setting operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention newly introduces a management server, and this management server cooperates with the gateway device (parent device), so that the existing device device (child device) is not modified. Facilitates connection setting operations.
Specifically, assuming a situation where a device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN is shared and used by multiple people such as ordinary households, SOHO, companies, organizations, etc., a single group (one family, one company, If one or more managers who have knowledge about the use of Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN in one group perform pairing operation and setting operation, other users in the group can use the present invention. As a result, the pairing operation and the setting operation can be used without necessity.

That is, the invention method of claim 1 is a short-range wireless communication between a plurality of persons belonging to the group with respect to a gateway device (parent device) such as a home gateway or a smartphone that exists in a single group and can be connected to the Internet. When sharing a communication device device (device device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN device) (slave device), the gateway includes a management server that can be connected to each gateway device, and includes a gateway including the following procedures: It is characterized by a device device setting method in the device.
A procedure in which each gateway device performs usage registration with the management server.
The management server stores a set of each gateway device and the group ID.
A procedure in which the management server assigns a group ID to each gateway device.
A procedure in which any one of the gateway devices performs a connection setting operation on the device device.
A procedure in which the arbitrary one gateway device creates a setting profile.
A procedure for registering the setting profile in the management server.
A procedure in which the management server stores a set of the group ID, the setting profile, and gateway device information.
A procedure in which a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device automatically detects the device device on which the connection setting operation has been performed.
A procedure in which the management server applies the setting profile to a gateway device other than the arbitrary one gateway device.

The invention method of claim 2 is a device device setting method in the gateway device of claim 1,
Furthermore, a procedure for performing a gateway device switching request for the device device from a gateway device other than the arbitrary one gateway device to the management server;
A procedure for performing a gateway device switching request to the device device from the management server to the arbitrary one gateway device;
And a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device and a procedure for performing switching control of the gateway device by the management server in response to a response from the arbitrary one gateway device.

The device device setting system according to claim 3 is a short-range wireless communication device device (slave device) by a plurality of members belonging to the group with respect to a gateway device (master device) that exists in a single group and can be connected to the Internet. A management server that can be connected to each of the gateway devices,
The management server
Every time any one gateway device completes connection setting (pairing operation or setting operation) for the short-range wireless communication device (child device), a setting profile for the gateway device to connect to the Internet is generated. A setting profile recording unit that stores the group ID together with a group ID for identifying the group;
A setting profile transmission unit that receives the setting profile acquisition request from a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device and transmits the setting profile to the gateway device.

Claim 4 is the device device setting system according to claim 3,
The management server
It includes a device other than the arbitrary one gateway device and a device switching control unit for switching the gateway device by transmission / reception with the arbitrary one gateway device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device apparatus setting program for causing a computer to execute each procedure according to the first or second aspect.

  Conventionally, communication is performed in a situation where a short-range wireless communication device device (slave device) such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN shared within the family, the same company, or an organization is connected to the gateway device (master device). However, according to the present invention, from any parent device to a child device within the same group, connection setting (pairing operation and setting operation) is required for each set of parent device and child device. On the other hand, if the setting is made only once, connection setting between the other parent device and the child device is unnecessary.

  In addition, connection settings (communication) can be applied to device devices that require network connection using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN without adding special communication sequences that do not exist in existing communication methods. Setting).

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the device apparatus setting system of this invention. It is a processing sequence figure which shows the procedure of the setting method of the device apparatus in the gateway apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the example of a screen displayed when switching a gateway apparatus (M2M-GW). It is explanatory drawing of the example of a screen displayed when switching a gateway apparatus (M2M-GW). It is a block diagram of the device apparatus setting system by this invention. It is a block diagram of the device apparatus setting system by a prior art example.

  The device apparatus setting system of the present invention is a system for setting connection of a device apparatus by a gateway apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gateway apparatuses (M2M-GW) 10 and a plurality of gateway apparatuses (M2M-GW) arranged in a group 1 are used. An environment is constructed in which a device device (M2M device) 12 and a management server (M2M device management server) 2 that manages a plurality of gateway devices (M2M-GW) 10 are connected via the Internet 3.

The gateway device (M2M-GW) 10 is a home gateway, a smartphone, or the like, and constitutes a parent device that performs connection setting (communication setting) for the device device 12.
The device device (M2M device) 12 is a short-range wireless communication device device (Bluetooth (registered trademark), a wireless LAN device, etc.), such as a PC, a TV, a video recording device, an audio device, an air conditioner, an automatic cleaner, a game machine, An in-vehicle computer, a thermometer, etc. include all devices that can transmit information via the Internet 3 or can be remotely operated via the Internet 3 and can be connected and operated by the gateway device (parent device) 10 Is configured.
The gateway device (base device) 10 includes a setting profile creation unit 11 and is configured to create various types of information when performing connection settings for the device device 12.

The management server (M2M device management server) 2 is a server newly introduced for facilitating the connection setting operation of the device apparatus 12, and is a setting for recording information (setting profile) for connection setting of the device apparatus 12. A profile recording unit 21, a setting profile transmission unit 22 that transmits this information to the gateway device 10, and a control unit 23 that controls transmission / reception of setting profiles and processing operations are provided. The setting profile created by the setting profile creation unit 11 of the gateway device (parent device) 10 is recorded in the setting profile recording unit 21, and the recorded setting profile is sent to another gateway device (parent device) by the setting profile transmission unit 22. ) It is configured to be able to transmit to 10.
That is, the management server 2 cooperates with a plurality of gateway devices (M2M-GW) 10 to share connection settings within the group 1 without modifying the existing device device (M2M device) 12. ing.

The device device setting system of the present invention is constructed by a device device setting program stored in the management server (M2M device management server) 2 and each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10. Each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10 may have a device device setting program installed by downloading software via the Internet 3.
The management server (M2M device management server) 2 includes a computer, a ROM that stores a basic program including an operating system (OS) and various basic devices, and a hard disk drive that stores various programs and data. (HDD), a media drive device that reads programs and data from storage media such as CR-ROM and DVD, a CPU that executes the program, a RAM that provides a work area for the CPU, an information input means, a display means, etc. It has the main components of a normal computer.
Each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10 includes a main configuration of a computer such as a basic program including an operating system (OS), a memory, and a CPU that executes the program.

Next, the procedure of the device device setting method in the gateway device of the present invention will be described with reference to the processing sequence diagram of FIG.
First, preparation in advance when performing connection setting of the device apparatus 12 by the device apparatus setting system will be described.
Each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10a, 10b using this function connects to the management server (M2M management server) 2 and performs usage registration (step S1). In use registration, user information of each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10a, 10b and M2M-GW information such as device type are input.

  The management server 2 stores the information input in the use registration in step S1 in its own database, issues a group ID, and stores them in association with each other (step S2). If the group ID has already been issued, no new group ID is issued.

  The management server 2 assigns a group ID to each gateway device (M2M-GW) 10a, 10b as a response to the use registration in step S1 (step S3). As the group ID, for example, the same ID is set for each gateway device (M2M-GW) belonging to the same group, such as a family or the same company.

  Next, a person who has knowledge about the use of Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN (for example, an administrator) uses a gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a to connect any device device (M2M) 12 belonging to the group. Then, connection setting to the Internet is performed (step S4). This connection setting is the same as an existing Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing operation or wireless LAN setting operation.

  The gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a that has set the device device (M2M) 12 uses the setting profile creation unit 11 to create a setting profile in which connection setting information with the device device 12 is described (step S5). For example, in the case of a wireless LAN, the connection setting information corresponds to a combination of an SSID and an encryption key.

  The setting profile created by the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a is registered in the management server 2 (step S6).

The management server 2 stores a set of information of the group ID, the setting profile, and the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a being connected (step S7).
The above processing is a preparation for performing connection setting of the device devices 12 in the group by the device device setting system.

  In the device device setting system that has been prepared in advance, the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b that has not been set for connection with the device device 12 for which connection setting has been performed by the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a. The device apparatus 12 is detected by an existing technology that receives a signal emitted from the device apparatus 12 (step S8).

  Subsequently, when the user who uses the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b whose connection setting for the device device 12 has not been set receives the detection of the device device 12 and desires the connection setting with the device device 12, the user's A connection setting processing operation by input will be described.

  The gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b that has detected the device apparatus 12 does not have a setting profile of the detected device apparatus 12 in itself (when the setting of the target device apparatus 12 does not exist in itself). Then, the setting profile acquisition request is transmitted together with its own group ID and M2M device information (step S9).

  The management server 2 responds to the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b with a setting profile corresponding to the device device 12 (step S10).

  The gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b that has received the setting profile applies the setting profile to itself (step S11). For example, in the case of Bluetooth (registered trademark), each of the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a and the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b is in a state where pairing with the device device 12 is completed.

  Since many device devices 12 cannot communicate with a plurality of gateway devices 10 at the same time, gateway devices that communicate with the device device 12 are changed from the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a to the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b. In order to switch to, the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b transmits a request for switching the communication destination of the device device 12 (step S12).

The management server 2 specifies that the target device device 12 is currently communicating with the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a (user Z) from its own database, and is communicating with the gateway device (M2M-GW1). ) A switch request is transmitted to 10a (step S13).
When it is specified that the communication is being performed with the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a, the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10b of the user Y has a screen as shown in FIG. ) Is displayed, and it is confirmed whether or not the switching process can be performed. When “Use” is selected, the switching request is executed, and the switching request is transmitted to the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a.
As shown in FIG. 4, the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a that has received the switching request uses, for example, a pop-up of a message that the user Y wants the switching request to the user (user Z). In response to the confirmation (OK button selection), it is decided to switch the communication with the device device 12 in communication to the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b.

The gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a and the gateway device (M2M-GW2) 10b perform communication control for switching the connection destination of the target device device during communication from the gateway device (M2M-GW1) 10a to the gateway device (M2M-GW2). Perform (step S14).
At this time, it is assumed that the device apparatus 12 behaves in accordance with the standard established by each standardization organization, and switching is performed only by the gateway apparatus 10 (and the management server 2).
Note that the procedure for disconnecting communication from the base unit side is prepared by a standardization organization for both Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN.

According to the device setting system provided with the management server (M2M management server) 2 described above, as shown in FIG. 5, Bluetooth (registered trademark), wireless LAN, etc. When sharing device devices (M2M), a single group (one family, one company, one organization) with one or more administrators who have knowledge about using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN, If a pairing operation or setting operation with the device device (M2M) is performed by any gateway device (M2M-GW), other users in the group automatically detect the device device (M2M). By making a switching request, it is possible to connect to the Internet and use it without the need for a pairing operation or setting operation.
This is because in the conventional device setting system (FIG. 6), it is necessary to carry out setting work in advance for the number of combinations of the device device (M2M) and the gateway device (M2M-GW). If the setting operation is performed only once in the group, the device device (M2M) 12 can communicate with all the gateway devices (M2M-GW) in the same group, thereby avoiding complicated setting operations and setting the connection. It can be done easily.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Group, 2 ... Management server (M2M management server), 3 ... Internet, 10 ... Gateway apparatus (M2M-GW), 11 ... Setting profile creation part, 12 ... Device apparatus (M2M device), 21 ... Setting profile recording part 22 ... Setting profile transmission unit, 23 ... Control unit.

Claims (5)

Share multiple short-range wireless communication device devices (slave devices) among a plurality of people belonging to the group with respect to gateway devices (parent devices) such as home gateways and smartphones that exist in a single group and can be connected to the Internet. In case
While comprising a management server connectable to each gateway device,
A procedure in which each gateway device performs use registration with the management server;
A procedure in which the management server stores a set of each gateway device and the group ID;
A procedure in which the management server assigns a group ID to each gateway device;
A procedure in which any one of the gateway devices performs a connection setting operation on the device device;
A procedure in which the arbitrary one gateway device creates a setting profile;
A procedure for registering the setting profile in a management server;
A procedure in which the management server stores a set of the group ID, the setting profile, and gateway device information;
A procedure in which a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device automatically detects the device device on which the connection setting operation has been performed;
A procedure in which the management server applies the setting profile to a gateway device other than the arbitrary one gateway device;
A device device setting method in a gateway device, comprising: A procedure for performing a gateway device switching request for the device device from a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device to the management server;
A procedure for performing a gateway device switching request to the device device from the management server to the arbitrary one gateway device;
The device apparatus in the gateway apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a gateway apparatus other than the arbitrary one gateway apparatus; and a procedure for performing switching control of the gateway apparatus by the management server according to a response from the arbitrary one gateway apparatus. Setting method. In a system in which a plurality of persons belonging to the group share a short-range wireless communication device device (child device) with respect to a gateway device (parent device) that exists in a single group and can be connected to the Internet,
A management server connectable to each gateway device;
The management server
Every time any one gateway device completes connection setting (pairing operation or setting operation) for the short-range wireless communication device (child device), a setting profile for the gateway device to connect to the Internet is generated. A setting profile recording unit that stores the group ID together with a group ID for identifying the group;
A device device setting system, comprising: a setting profile transmission unit that receives the setting profile acquisition request from a gateway device other than the one arbitrary gateway device and transmits the setting profile to the gateway device. The management server
The device apparatus setting system according to claim 3, further comprising a device switching control unit configured to switch a gateway apparatus by transmission / reception with the gateway apparatus other than the arbitrary one gateway apparatus and the arbitrary one gateway apparatus. .   A device apparatus setting program for causing a computer to execute each procedure according to claim 1.