JP2015050514A - Electronic device, information processing system, and program for device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device, information processing system, and program for the device for making it possible to easily perform switching to communication using allocated address information, even when a user is a beginner.SOLUTION: An electronic device comprises: fixed address communication means for communicating with a destination device by using predetermined fixed address information which is allocated in a fixed manner; variable address communication means for communicating with a destination device by using allocated variable address information when the address information is allocated by another device; and control means for performing control so as to perform communication with a destination device by using address communication means, of the fixed address communication means and variable address communication means, which has received a packet transmitted from the destination device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having a function of communicating with a counterpart device, an information processing system, and a program for the device.

In recent years, wireless and wired LANs (Local Area Networks) have become widespread, and some have been devised to make them easier for beginners to use.
As such an information processing system, the conventional information processing system shown in FIG. 3 is configured by connecting a PC 80 and an electronic device 90 wirelessly or by wire.

The PC 80 includes a communication unit 81, a connection setting unit 82 using an application for performing connection setting, and a control unit 83.
The electronic device 90 includes a communication unit 91 and a control unit 92 that realizes a predetermined function as the electronic device 90.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3A, when communication is performed only between the PC 80 and the electronic device 90 in the initial state purchased by the user, the communication between the communication unit 81 of the PC 80 and the electronic device 90 is performed. Each of the units 91 communicates with a preset fixed IP (Internet Protocol) address. In this way, by setting a fixed IP in advance from the time of purchase, even if the user is a beginner, communication can be performed immediately after installation.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when a user connects the router 30 for connection to the Internet, the router generally has a function as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. For this reason, the communication unit 81 of the PC 80 performs communication using the IP address assigned by DHCP, and the connection setting unit 82 switches the communication unit 91 of the electronic device 90 from the fixed IP mode to the DHCP mode. In this way, the communication unit 91 of the electronic device 90 changes from the mode in which communication is performed using the preset fixed IP to the mode in which communication is performed using the IP address assigned by DHCP. In this way, communication using the IP address assigned by DHCP is performed between the PC 80 and the electronic device 90.

  In addition, as a storage area network for the purpose of preventing address conflicts, when an address conflict between different disks is detected, the central control unit switches the conflicting address information to spare address information. Are controlled (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-217595 A

  However, in the information processing system shown in FIG. 3 described above, when the communication unit 91 of the electronic device 90 is switched from the fixed IP mode to the DHCP mode by the connection setting unit 82 of the PC 80 as shown in FIG. If the switching setting failed for a beginner, communication between the PC 80 and the electronic device 90 could not be performed. That is, in order to perform communication between the PC 80 and the electronic device 90 using the address information assigned by DHCP, switching setting in the connection setting unit 82 of the PC 80 is necessary. If this switching setting fails, the initial state It was necessary to set it again after returning to. Such an operation for returning to the initial state and resetting has a high degree of difficulty, particularly when the user is a beginner, and has been a psychological obstacle to the spread of products.

  Moreover, the thing of the patent document 1 mentioned above does not consider even about the simplification of the setting for beginners, since the central control apparatus which controls the whole system performs switching control.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even when a user is a beginner, an electronic device, an information processing system, and a program for the device that can be easily switched to communication using assigned address information The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve such an object, an electronic device according to the present invention is assigned fixed address communication means for communicating with a counterpart device using predetermined fixed address information fixedly assigned and address information assigned from another device. A variable address communication unit that communicates with the counterpart device using the assigned variable address information, and address communication that receives a packet transmitted from the counterpart device among the fixed address communication unit and the variable address communication unit. And control means for controlling to communicate with the counterpart apparatus using the means.

  An information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system configured such that an electronic device and an information processing device are communicably connected, and the electronic device has a predetermined fixed address assigned thereto. Fixed address communication means for communicating with the information processing device by information, and variable address communication means for communicating with the information processing device by the assigned variable address information when the address information is assigned from another device, Control means for controlling communication with the information processing apparatus using the address communication means that has received the packet transmitted from the information processing apparatus among the fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means. It is characterized by that.

  Further, the program of the electronic device according to the present invention uses the address communication processing that has received the packet transmitted from the communication partner device, the fixed device communication processing and the variable address communication processing, and In the fixed address communication process, communication is performed with a predetermined fixed address information fixedly assigned in the fixed address communication process. In the variable address communication process, the control process for controlling the communication is performed. When address information is assigned from another device, communication is performed with the counterpart device using the assigned variable address information.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the user is a beginner, it is possible to easily switch to communication using the assigned address information.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information processing system as embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the structural example in the case of implement | achieving the fixed address communication part 21 and the DHCP address communication part 22 virtually. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the conventional information processing system.

  Next, an electronic apparatus, an information processing system, and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting a PC 10 and an electronic device 20 wirelessly or by wire.

  The PC 10 includes a communication unit 11 and a control unit 12. The communication unit 11 can perform both communication using a set fixed IP address and communication using an IP address assigned from another device by DHCP, and a predetermined fixed IP address is preset in an initial state. . In the initial state, a predetermined fixed IP address preset in the fixed address communication unit 21 of the electronic device 20 is stored as the IP address of the electronic device 20.

The electronic device 20 includes a fixed address communication unit 21, a DHCP address communication unit 22, and a control unit 23 that realizes a predetermined function as the electronic device 20.
The fixed address communication unit 21 performs communication using the set fixed IP address. In the initial state, a predetermined fixed IP address is set in advance. In addition, a predetermined fixed IP address preset in the PC 10 is stored as the IP address of the PC 10 in the initial state.
The DHCP address communication unit 22 performs communication using an IP address assigned from another device by DHCP.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 1A, when communication is performed only between the PC 10 and the electronic device 20 in the initial state purchased by the user, the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 and the electronic device 20 are fixed. Each address communication unit 21 communicates with a preset fixed IP address.

  In this case, the source address included in the packet header of the packet received by the electronic device 20 is a fixed IP address preset in the communication unit 11 of the PC 10, and the destination address is the fixed address communication unit of the electronic device 20. 21 is a fixed IP address set in advance. When such a packet is received, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 confirms the transmission source address and the transmission destination address included in the packet header, and the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 recognizes the electronic device 20 with a fixed IP address. to decide. Then, a communication connection by predetermined authentication or encryption is established using a preset fixed IP address as address information of the own apparatus.

  Thus, by setting the fixed IP from the initial state at the time of purchase in advance, even if the user is a beginner, communication can be performed immediately after installation.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when a user connects the router 30 for connection to the Internet or the like, the router generally has a function as a DHCP server. For this reason, IP addresses by DHCP are respectively assigned to the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 and the DHCP address communication unit 22 of the electronic device 20.

  For this reason, the DHCP address communication unit 22 of the electronic device 20 can communicate with the IP address assigned by DHCP. For this reason, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 can transmit and receive either by the fixed address communication unit 21 or the DHCP address communication unit 22.

When it is detected that the IP address is assigned by DHCP, the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 performs communication using the IP address assigned by DHCP.
For this reason, the source address included in the packet header of the packet received by the electronic device 20 is the IP address assigned to the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 by DHCP, and the destination address is the DHCP address communication of the electronic device 20 by DHCP. This is an IP address assigned to the unit 22.
Note that the fixed IP address and the IP address assigned by DHCP belong to different network segments. The packets transmitted from the PC 10 or the electronic device 20 are broadcast packets transmitted so as to be receivable in all devices having addresses belonging to the network segment to which the address of the PC 10 or the electronic device 20 belongs.

  When such a packet is received, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 confirms the transmission source address and the transmission destination address included in the packet header, and determines that the communication unit 11 of the PC 10 is in the DHCP mode. Then, a communication connection by predetermined authentication or encryption is established with the IP address assigned to the DHCP address communication unit 22 of the electronic device 20 by DHCP as the address information of the own device.

  For this reason, even if a DHCP IP address is assigned to the PC 10 and the electronic device 20 by connecting the router 30, no setting operation by the user is required, and communication between the PC 10 and the electronic device 20 is possible. Can continue.

  After the communication connection is established in this way, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 may be able to transmit / receive either the fixed address communication unit 21 or the DHCP address communication unit 22 and is not used for the established communication connection. The structure which performs control which invalidates the communication part of the side may be sufficient.

  In the case of a configuration for performing such invalidation control, for example, when a broadcast packet for searching for the presence or absence of the electronic device 20 is received from the PC 10, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 releases the invalidated state. It is good also as a structure.

  Further, for example, a configuration further including a reset button (not shown) may be employed. In this case, for example, until the input from the reset button is detected, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 holds the invalidated state, and when the input from the reset button is detected, the electronic device 20 is detected. The control unit 23 may cancel the invalidated state. Further, when the invalidation state is canceled by the reset button in this way, the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 returns to the initial state again and performs communication using the fixed IP address set in advance by the fixed address communication unit 21. Also good.

  The fixed address communication unit 21 and the DHCP address communication unit 22 described above may be realized by providing a hardware communication adapter for each, and each may be realized by software control using one physical communication adapter. It may be realized.

  Next, a configuration example when the above-described fixed address communication unit 21 and DHCP address communication unit 22 are virtually realized by software control will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the configuration example of FIG. 2, only one physical adapter 55 is provided, and a virtual adapter 52 that performs communication with a fixed IP address by software control by a program stored in a storage unit (not shown), and an IP assigned by DHCP. A virtual adapter 53 that performs communication by address is virtually realized. A virtual switch 51 that switches on / off of each of the virtual adapters 52 and 53 and a virtual hub 54 that connects the virtual adapters 52 and 53 to one physical adapter 55 are virtually realized by software control. .

  In such a configuration, after establishing a communication connection by one of the virtual adapters 52 and 53, there is only one physical adapter 55, so only one used for the communication connection is valid, and the other virtual adapter is It is invalidated by software control by the program.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 20 includes the fixed address communication unit 21 and the DHCP address communication unit 22, and responds to the address information of the own device included in the packet transmitted from the PC 10. Then, the communication connection with the PC 10 is established by either of them.

  Therefore, even if the IP address is not assigned by DHCP, such as in the initial state at the time of product purchase, or if the IP address is assigned by DHCP, the setting operation by the user The communication between the PC 10 and the electronic device 20 can be continued.

  Therefore, switching between communication using a fixed IP address and communication using address information assigned by DHCP can be performed without requiring a connection setting by a dedicated application as in the prior art, and without mode change.

For this reason, even in the initial purchase state, setting is not necessary even when the router 30 having a function as a DHCP server can be connected immediately and can be communicated with a preset fixed IP address. It is possible to switch to DHCP communication without fear of failure.
For this reason, even if the user is a beginner, the communication can be easily switched to the communication using the address information assigned by DHCP, and the psychological obstacle in introducing the electronic device 20 can be removed. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information processing system using the electronic device 20 that is easy to use even for beginners.

In particular, when the TV receiving function is to be realized by the PC 10, a portion connected to the antenna cable connected to the TV antenna by wire is required. For this reason, when the PC 10 is a notebook computer, portability may be impaired if it is connected by wire.
Even in such a case, if the control unit 23 of the electronic device 20 has a TV receiving function, the TV can be received without impairing the portability of the notebook computer. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information processing system that can be easily installed even if the user is a beginner and that does not impair portability.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, address information used for communication between apparatuses is not limited to an IP address, and any information may be used.

2 has been described as being stored in a storage unit (not shown), a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a floppy (registered trademark) You may store in a disk, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc.
In other words, the above-described functions according to the embodiments of the present invention may be realized by processing of the CPU of the electronic device or the PC connected to the electronic device by the program supplied from the above-described recording medium.
In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from the recording medium described above or from an external recording medium via a network.
That is, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code and the signal read from the recording medium constitute the present invention. It will be.

  According to the program according to the present invention, each function in the above-described embodiment can be realized in an electronic apparatus controlled by the program.

10 PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Communication part 12 Control part 20 Electronic device 21 Fixed address communication part 22 DHCP address communication part 23 Control part 30 Router 51 Virtual switch 52, 53 Virtual adapter 54 Virtual hub 55 Physical adapter

Claims (13)

Fixed address communication means for communicating with a counterpart device using predetermined fixed address information fixedly assigned;
When address information is assigned from another device, variable address communication means for communicating with the counterpart device using the assigned variable address information;
Control means for controlling communication with the counterpart device using the address communication means that has received the packet transmitted from the counterpart device, out of the fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means. An electronic device characterized by that. The fixed address information and the variable address information belong to different network segments,
The packet transmitted from the partner device is a broadcast packet transmitted so as to be receivable in all devices having an address belonging to a network segment to which the address of the partner device belongs. Electronic equipment. The fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means are realized by one communication unit,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to enable either the fixed address communication unit or the variable address communication unit. The control means includes
When the address information of the own device included in the packet transmitted from the counterpart device is the predetermined fixed address information in the fixed address communication means, communication is performed by the fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means is invalidated. And
When the address information of the own device included in the packet transmitted from the counterpart device is the allocated variable address information in the variable address communication means, the variable address communication means performs communication and the fixed address communication means The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is invalidated.   When the invalidated, the control means holds the invalidated state until a predetermined input is detected, and releases the invalidated state when the predetermined input is detected. The electronic device according to claim 4. An information processing system configured such that an electronic device and an information processing device are communicably connected,
The electronic device is
Fixed address communication means for communicating with the information processing apparatus with predetermined fixed address information fixedly assigned;
When address information is assigned from another device, variable address communication means for communicating with the information processing device with the assigned variable address information;
Control means for controlling communication with the information processing apparatus using the address communication means that has received the packet transmitted from the information processing apparatus among the fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means, An information processing system characterized by comprising. The fixed address information and the variable address information belong to different network segments,
The packet transmitted from the information processing apparatus is a broadcast packet transmitted so as to be receivable by all apparatuses having addresses belonging to a network segment to which the address of the information processing apparatus belongs. Information processing system. The fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means are realized by one communication unit,
The information processing system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control unit performs control so as to enable either the fixed address communication unit or the variable address communication unit. The control means includes
When the address information of the electronic device included in the packet transmitted from the information processing apparatus is the predetermined fixed address information in the fixed address communication means, communication is performed by the fixed address communication means and the variable address communication means Disable
When the address information of the electronic device included in the packet transmitted from the information processing device is the allocated variable address information in the variable address communication unit, the variable address communication unit performs communication and the fixed address communication The information processing system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the means is invalidated.   When the invalidated, the control means holds the invalidated state until a predetermined input is detected, and releases the invalidated state when the predetermined input is detected. The information processing system according to claim 9.   The information processing according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the predetermined fixed address information in the fixed address communication means is preset in the information processing device as address information of the electronic device. system. The other device is a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server,
When the DHCP server is communicably connected to the information processing system, the electronic device and the information processing device are:
Address information assigned from the DHCP server to the variable address communication means in the electronic device;
The information processing system according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein communication is performed between the information processing apparatus and address information assigned by the DHCP server. An electronic device having a control process for controlling communication with the counterpart device in either a fixed address communication process or a variable address communication process using an address communication process that has received a packet transmitted from the counterpart device of the communication Run on your computer,
In the fixed address communication process, communication with the counterpart device is performed with predetermined fixed address information assigned fixedly,
In the variable address communication process, when address information is assigned from another device, the electronic device program performs communication with the counterpart device using the assigned variable address information.

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