JP2018061227A - Setting method and system of network address - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for setting network address and a system for setting network address capable of setting a specific address of each device easily, for large number of devices.SOLUTION: A setting method of network includes a step of creating a label, corresponding to each of a prescribed number of network addresses, out of prepared multiple network addresses. The label includes a display indicating an assigned network address. The setting method includes a step of acquiring a network address assigned to that label from the display of any label, a step of setting the acquired network address in an object device, and a step of associating that label to the object device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present technology relates to a method for setting a network address for a device and a system suitable for the setting method.

  Recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) are remarkable, and devices connected to networks such as the Internet are not limited to conventional information processing devices such as personal computers and smartphones, but can be used for various things. It has spread. Such a technology trend is called “IoT (Internet of Things)”, and various technologies and services are being proposed and put into practical use. In the future, a world where billions of people on the earth and billions or trillions of devices are connected at the same time is expected. In order to realize such a networked world, it is necessary to provide a solution that can be connected more simply, more securely, and more freely.

  For example, JP-A-2006-034117 (Patent Document 1) discloses a network of communication carriers controlled by EPC (Evolved Packet Core). With regard to this communication carrier network, the spread of M2M (Machine to Machine) communication and IoT (Internet of Things) communication is expected to enter the era of accommodating 100 million devices in the EPC network. Disclosed is a configuration in which different IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are assigned to the same terminal device from different P-GWs (Packet data network Gate Way) connected to the EPC in order to allow the terminal device to use the mobile service.

JP, 2006-034117, A

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is assumed to be an EPC network that accommodates 100 million devices, and the communication carrier network dynamically assigns an IP address to a terminal device. Yes. On the other hand, assuming a network in which tens of billions or trillions of devices communicate simultaneously, the network of communication carriers is not configured to dynamically assign an IP address, but a unique network address for each device Is preferably set in advance.

  However, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a study of a system premised on a configuration in which a communication carrier or the like dynamically assigns an IP address is mainstream. No configuration is assumed in which the network address is set in advance. Therefore, no consideration has been given to a method for realizing such a configuration.

  Under such circumstances, the present technology provides a method for setting a network address that can easily set a network address unique to each device and a system for setting the network address for a large number of devices. .

  A network setting method according to an aspect of the present technology includes a step of creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses among a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance. The label includes an indication showing the assigned network address. The setting method includes a step of acquiring a network address assigned to the label from the display of any label, a step of setting the acquired network address in the target device, and a step of associating the label with the target device. including.

  Preferably, the setting method further includes the steps of creating data associated with each created label, and transferring the data associated with the network address set to the target device to the target device. .

  Preferably, the display indicating the network address of the label includes an encoded image, and obtaining the network address includes optically reading the encoded image to identify the network address. Further, each piece of data associated with the label is given identification information including at least a part of the corresponding network address, and the transferring step is based on the network address set in the target device. The step of searching is included.

  A network setting method according to another aspect of the present technology includes a step of creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses among a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance, and the label represents an assigned network address. A step of acquiring a network address assigned to the label from an identifier of any label, a step of setting the acquired network address in the target device, and a step of associating the label with the target device Including.

  A system according to another aspect of the present technology creates a database for managing a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance and a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses among the plurality of network addresses managed in the database Means. The label includes an indication showing the assigned network address. The system includes means for acquiring a network address assigned to the label from the display of any label, and means for setting the acquired network address in a target device. Either label is affixed to the target device.

  According to the embodiment of the present technology, a network address unique to each device can be easily set for a large number of devices.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the system for setting the network address according to this Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence in the system for setting the network address shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the label used in the setting method of the network address according to this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the license related data used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the management database used in the setting method of the network address according to this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the device 2 used in the network address setting method according to this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining the setup procedure of the device by the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example of the label used in the setting method of the network address according to this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining another system of the device setup procedure by the network address setting method according to the present embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

  In this specification, the “network address” means identification information for uniquely identifying a device on some network, and is generally a character string composed of a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and the like. Become. A typical example of the network address is an IP (Internet Protocol) address, but it may be a lower layer address such as a MAC (Media Access Control address), or a host managed by a DNS (Domain Name System). It may be a higher layer address such as name or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). In addition, the protocol used can be arbitrarily selected regardless of the difference between the global network and the private network. The network address may be unique to the adopted protocol.

  When an IP address is adopted as a typical example, the prescribed number of bits differs depending on the version. In the currently established IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4), a 32-bit address section is defined, and in the currently established IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6), a 128-bit address section is defined. Yes.

  In this specification, the “device” includes any thing that can perform data communication via a network. Typically, the device may be configured as a single communication apparatus, may be configured as a part of some thing, or may be configured to be incorporated into some kind of thing.

<A. System overview>
First, an overview of the system 1 for setting a network address according to the present embodiment and processing performed will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a system 1 for setting a network address according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure in the system 1 for setting the network address shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a system 1 for setting a network address typically includes a license management entity 10 that performs license management including setting of a network address of a device. The license managed by the license management entity 10 is a part of an authentication technique for enabling data communication only between devices authenticated by the license management entity 10, and authentication information for identifying the authenticated license ( Authenticated Identity), a network address uniquely determined in principle on the corresponding network, and data (device-specific information, etc.) associated with each network address. In this embodiment, for convenience, authentication information that can be used as it is as a network address is used. That is, conceptually, the authentication information and the network address are separate information, but in the present embodiment, these information are used in common. By adopting such a configuration, the amount of information set in each device can be reduced. Of course, the authentication information and the network address may be assigned respectively.

  Since a unique network address is set in each device for each license, “issue or grant of a license” for each device may be used synonymously with “setting or assigning a unique network address”.

  The license management entity 10 has a management database 100 for performing license management such as issuance of licenses for devices, management of license validity periods, and license invalidation. That is, the management database 100 manages a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance.

  A company that wants to manufacture a device authenticated under a license managed by the license management entity 10, a company that wants to sell such a device to a company or an individual, a company that wants to mediate such a device, etc. Apply for a license. Then, the license management entity 10 accesses the management database 100 to issue the applied number of licenses and creates a label corresponding to the issued license. This label is used in processing when a license is granted to a device. Details of this label will be described later.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a device manufacturing and sales entity 20 and a transaction intermediary entity 30 as typical entities that apply to the license management entity 10 to purchase licenses.

  The device manufacturing and sales entity 20 is an entity that can actually manufacture the device. After the device is manufactured by itself or an affiliated company, the license issued by the license management entity 10 is granted, and the device after the license is granted. Place in the distribution process such as sales.

  The transaction intermediary entity 30 is an entity that provides a licensed device in response to a request from a retailer or an end user. Typically, the transaction intermediary entity 30 requests a third party to manufacture the device, and A license is granted to a device manufactured by a consumer and then provided to retailers and end users. As the transaction intermediary entity 30, both so-called BtoB and BtoC forms are assumed, and in addition to the case where a device as a finished product is put in the distribution process, there is a case where the device is supplied to some device manufacturer in a semi-finished product state. .

  Note that the entities that can be involved in the system 1 according to the present embodiment are not limited to the device manufacturing and sales entity 20 and the transaction mediating entity 30 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The license management entity 10 itself may be the device manufacturing / sales entity 20 or the transaction intermediary entity 30.

  As a more specific procedure in the device manufacturing and sales entity 20, the device manufacturing and sales entity 20 applies to the license management entity 10 for the purchase of a predetermined number of licenses based on some manufacturing and sales plan (step S100). Then, the license management entity 10 accesses its management database 100 and issues a license (step S300), and creates a label corresponding to the issued license (step S302). That is, the license management entity 10 creates a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of requested network addresses among a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance. It should be noted that the label creation operation itself does not have to be performed by the license management entity 10 itself, and a third party producer may create the label.

  In addition, the license management entity 10 creates data (hereinafter also referred to as “license related data”) associated with each created label. Then, the license management entity 10 provides the created label and the issued license related data to the device manufacturing and sales entity 20 (step S102). The license-related data may be delivered via a network, or via a semiconductor storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or an optical storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory). May be. In the system 1 for setting the network address according to the present embodiment, it is preferable to handle the label and the license related data integrally, so that the license related data is stored in some storage medium and delivered. Also good.

  Before or after the application for purchasing the license, or in parallel therewith, the device manufacturing and sales entity 20 manufactures the device 2 (step S104). Then, the device manufacturing / sale entity 20 gives a license to each manufactured device 2 using the label and license-related data from the license management entity 10 (step S106). That is, data (license related data) associated with the network address set in the target device 2 is transferred to the target device 2. The processing for granting these licenses may include processing for setting a network address. After the license is granted through such a process, the device 2 is shipped.

  On the other hand, as a more specific procedure in the transaction intermediary entity 30, the transaction intermediary entity 30 applies to the license management entity 10 to purchase a predetermined number of licenses in response to requests from retailers and end users (step S200). . Then, the license management entity 10 accesses its management database 100 and issues a license (step S300), and creates a label corresponding to the issued license (step S302). Then, the license management entity 10 provides the created label and license-related data to the transaction mediation entity 30 (step S202).

  Before or after the application for purchasing the license, or in parallel therewith, the transaction mediating entity 30 acquires the device 2 by some means (step S204). Typically, the device 2 is purchased from the device manufacturing and sales entity 20. Then, the transaction intermediary entity 30 grants a license to each acquired device 2 using the label and license related data from the license management entity 10 (step S206). That is, data (license related data) associated with the network address set in the target device 2 is transferred to the target device 2. The processing for granting these licenses may include processing for setting a network address. The processing for granting these licenses may include processing for setting a network address. After the license is granted through such a process, the device 2 is shipped to a retailer or an end user. It should be noted that the shipping destination of the device 2 after granting the license may be a lower order broker or an embedded supplier that manufactures and sells another product using the device 2.

<B. Label and license related data>
Next, the label and license related data provided by the license management entity 10 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a label used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, since a label is created for each license, a sheet 50 in which a plurality of labels 52 are arranged may be used. For convenience of production, it is preferable to employ a sheet 50 including a plurality of labels 52.

  Each of the labels 52 includes an indication showing the assigned network address. More specifically, each of the labels 52 includes a character string 54 indicating a network address to be assigned and an encoded image 56 corresponding to the network address indicated by the character string 54 on the exposed surface. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a character string 54 and an encoded image 56 are used as a display indicating a network address. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the character string 54 indicates an IP address (128 bits: 32 digits in hexadecimal notation) under IPv6.

  As the encoded image 56, a known encoding technique, for example, a two-dimensional barcode such as a (one-dimensional) barcode or a QR code (registered trademark) can be used. By operating such an encoded image 56, the network address given by a scanner or the like can be optically read.

  Furthermore, the label 52 may be provided with an authentication mark 58 indicating that each label is normally issued by the license management entity 10. As such an authentication mark 58, a so-called hologram or the like can be used. By providing the authentication mark 58 on the label 52, it is possible to suppress creation of a non-genuine product pretending to be a license issued by the license management entity 10 by a malicious third party.

  In addition, about the label 52, arbitrary things can be employ | adopted about a design or a design, and it is not limited to the example shown by FIG.

  As a mechanism for creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses among a plurality of network addresses managed in the management database 100 as described above, a known printing apparatus or the like can be adopted.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of license-related data used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example of the license related data 60.

  The license related data 60 shown in FIG. 4 is prepared for each license issued by the license management entity 10. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the value of the authentication information assigned to the corresponding license is used as the file name 61 of the file storing the license related data 60 so that the license corresponding to each license can be easily identified. . This authentication information corresponds to a network address to be set for the corresponding device.

  As an example, the file name 61 shown in FIG. 4 is “0123456789abcdef0123456789ab0000.inf”, which includes the corresponding authentication information 62 “0123456789abcdef0123456789ab0000”. By adopting such a file name, when the authentication information assigned from the label shown in FIG. 3 (in this case, also a network address) is read, the corresponding license-related data 60 can be uniquely identified. Network address setting work can be made more efficient. It should be noted that the character string portion common to a plurality of network addresses managed by the license management entity 10 (management database 100) has no identification capability, and is used as a part of the file name except for such a portion. May be. In this way, each license-related data 60 associated with the label is given identification information including at least a part of the corresponding authentication information (ie, network address). Then, the license-related data 60 to be transferred is searched based on the authentication information (or network address) set in the target device 2. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to facilitate identification or retrieval of the license related data 60 corresponding to the acquired authentication information (or network address).

  In addition to the authentication information 62, the license related data 60 includes information 64 related to license allocation (for example, license allocation date, expiration date, access speed, etc.) and information 66 related to a device to which the license is allocated (for example, product). And the source data 68 may be included. As an example, the source data 68 is information that is randomly and uniquely defined to generate the authentication information 62 (that is, a network address). That is, the authentication information 62 may be calculated by applying some kind of algorithm (for example, polynomial) to the arbitrarily selected source data 68.

  However, the license-related data 60 is not limited to the information shown in FIG. 4, and any necessary information may be included. When authentication information is used for the file name 61 of the license related data 60, the authentication information 62 is not necessarily included as a data element of the license related data 60.

  Furthermore, various information may be incorporated in the license related data 60. In this case, for example, necessary data may be described using KeyValuePair. The KeyValuePair is typically composed of a combination of identification information (Key) for uniquely specifying the data type and the value (Value) of the corresponding data type. The value of Key may be determined uniquely for the system.

  Such license-related data 60 is incorporated into the target device by an operation as described later.

<C. Example of database structure>
Next, an example of the structure of the management database 100 when generating the license related data 60 as shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a structure example of the management database 100 used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, management database 100 includes a number field 101, an IP address field 102, an assignment date field 103, an expiration date field 104, a product ID field 105, and a manufacturer ID field 106.

  In the management database 100, an assignable IP address (IP address field 102) is stored for each record in association with a management number (number field 101) which is a unique serial number. For an IP address assigned to any device, the assigned date field 103 stores the assigned date. Further, the expiration date of the IP address assigned to the expiration date field 104 is stored as necessary.

  If the information can be acquired, the product ID for specifying the device to which the IP address is assigned is stored in the product ID field 105, and at the same time, the manufacture for specifying the manufacturer of the device to which the IP address is assigned. The manufacturer ID may be stored in the manufacturer ID field 106.

  In other words, in the initial state, information on IP addresses prepared in advance is stored in the number field 101 and the IP address field 102, and when an IP address is assigned with the issuance of a license, it is used for the assignment. Information necessary for the record corresponding to the IP address is sequentially stored. At the same time, license-related data (license-related data 60 as shown in FIG. 4) corresponding to the IP address used for assignment is sequentially generated.

<D. Device configuration example>
Next, a configuration example of a device in which a network address is set by the method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the device 2 used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, device 2 includes, as main components, system board 3, network interface 7 physically connected to a communication path for data communication, a setting personal computer, and the like. A management interface 8 physically connected to the setting device 300 is included.

  The system board 3 is a part that executes main processing of the device 2, and includes, for example, a communication chip 4, a processor 5, and a storage unit 6.

  The communication chip 4 includes a circuit that processes an electrical signal propagating on a network connected via the network interface 7. Typically, the communication chip 4 is responsible for processing such as a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, a transport layer, and a session layer.

  The processor 5 executes processing related to data transmission / reception with a communication partner by executing a system program or firmware (both not shown) stored in the storage unit 6. The processor 5 is typically responsible for the presentation layer and the application layer.

  The storage unit 6 includes a volatile memory area configured by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like and a nonvolatile memory area configured by a flash memory or the like. The volatile memory area stores work data necessary for the processor 5 to execute the program. In addition to the system program or firmware, license related data 60 transferred from the setting device 300 is stored in the nonvolatile memory area. The system board 3 refers to the network address and other information included in the license-related data 60 and transmits / receives data to / from the communication partner.

  The network interface 7 is in charge of processing for exchanging data with the setting device 300. As the network interface 7, a general-purpose transmission method such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) may be employed.

  A storage area for storing a set network address in a nonvolatile manner may be prepared in any part of the system board 3 or inside the communication chip 4.

<E. Device setup procedure>
Next, an example procedure for setting up the device 2 using the above-described label and license-related data will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a setup procedure of device 2 by the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7A, a sheet 50 including a label 52 corresponding to the issued license and a device 2 to be set up are prepared. First, the label 52 is peeled off from the sheet 50 and attached to a predetermined position of the device 2 ((1) attachment). The position where the label 52 of the device 2 is attached may be any. In this way, any label 52 from the sheet 50 is placed on the target device 2.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7B, a network address is acquired from the label 52 attached to the device 2 ((2) network address acquisition). That is, the network address assigned to the label 52 is acquired from the display of the target label 52 (character string 54 and encoded image 56). Although the user may visually check the label 52 and input the network address to the setting device 300, the network address is typically optically read from the label 52 using a scanner. That is, the process of acquiring the network address includes a process of optically reading the encoded image 56 and specifying the network address. The network address read in this way is sent to the setting device 300. The process of optically reading the network address from the label 52 may be performed manually by an operator or automatically using a machine.

  The license related data provided from the license management entity 10 is given to the setting device 300 via the recording medium 80 ((3) License related data input). The setting device 300 searches the recording medium 80 for license-related data corresponding to the read network address, and specifies target license-related data ((4) license-related data search). Then, the setting device 300 transfers the read network address and the identified license-related data to the device 2 ((5) setting). That is, the network address acquired from the label 52 is set in the target device 2.

  Through the processing as described above, the network address corresponding to the license issued by the license management entity 10 is set in the device 2 and the corresponding license-related data is stored in the device 2. In this state, communication can be effectively performed via the network.

  For convenience of explanation, an example is shown in which a label is attached to the device first and then setting of the network address for the device 2 and writing of the license related data 60 to the device 2 is shown. The target label may be affixed to the device 2 after setting the network address and writing the license-related data 60 first.

  7 shows an example in which the label 52 is attached to a predetermined position of the device 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the corresponding label 52 can be easily accessed when the device 2 is used. That is, the label 52 may be associated with the target device 2. For example, the label 52 is not directly attached to the device 2, but the label 52 is attached to a packaging container when the device 2 is sold, the device 2 and the label 52 are packaged in the packaging container, and attached to the device 2. A mode in which the label 52 is attached to a manual or the like is assumed. The method of associating the label 52 with the target device 2 can be arbitrarily determined according to the size and use of the device 2.

  Furthermore, as a method for acquiring the network address from the label 52 attached to the device 2, the method using the encoded image 56 corresponding to the network address has been illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any method can be adopted. That is, either a non-contact method or a contact method may be employed, and any transmission method (optical method, electromagnetic method, or any other communication method) for acquiring information may be used.

  Hereinafter, as an example, a case where an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) is used will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another example of labels used in the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of labels 52A are aligned on sheet 50A. Each of the labels 52A includes a character string 54 indicating a network address to be assigned to the exposed surface and an encoded image 56 corresponding to the network address indicated by the character string 54. Further, an RFID tag 70 is disposed on each of the labels 52A.

  For convenience of explanation, the RFID tag 70 is drawn so as to be visible, but in actuality, the RFID tag 70 may be arranged inside the RFID tag 70. In this case, the antenna pattern may be formed using the entire inner plane of the label 52A.

  The RFID tag 70 stores information indicating the network address assigned to each label 52A. The RFID tag 70 preferably stores at least information similar to the information held by the encoded image 56. 8 shows a configuration example in which both the encoded image 56 and the RFID tag 70 are arranged on the label 52A, a configuration in which only the RFID tag 70 is arranged may be used.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating another method of setting up the device 2 by the network address setting method according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9A, a sheet 50A including a label 52A corresponding to the issued license and a device 2 to be set up are prepared.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, each of the labels 52A shown in FIG. 9A is affixed to a predetermined position of the device 2 to be set up. Then, the network address is acquired from the RFID tag 70 of the label 52A attached to the label 52A by the RFID reader 90 ((2) network address acquisition). That is, the network address assigned to the label 52 is acquired from the targeted label 52. In this case, the network address is electromagnetically read from the label 52 (RFID tag 70) using the RFID reader 90. That is, the process of acquiring the network address includes a process of electromagnetically reading the RFID tag 70 and specifying the network address. The network address read in this way is sent to the setting device 300. The step of optically reading the network address from the label 52 (RFID tag 70) may be performed manually by an operator or automatically using a machine. Since other steps are the same as the setup procedure shown in FIG. 7, detailed description will not be repeated.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the example in which the encoded image 56 and the RFID tag 70 are used as an identifier indicating the network address assigned to each label has been described. The identifier indicating the network address may be used for each label.

<F. Advantage>
According to the present embodiment, by using a label displaying network addresses, network addresses unique to each device can be easily set for a large number of devices. Also, the label can be created using a general printing technique, and even when a large number of different network addresses are required, it is easy to create a label corresponding to each network address. is there. Therefore, even if it is necessary to set unique network addresses for a large number of devices, it is possible to reliably set network addresses for each device while reducing the cost required for that.

  The embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1 system, 2 device, 3 system board, 4 communication chip, 5 processor, 6 storage unit, 7 network interface, 8 management interface, 10 license management entity, 20 device manufacturing and sales entity, 30 transaction intermediary entity, 50 sheets, 52 labels , 54 character string, 56 encoded image, 58 authentication mark, 60 license-related data, 61 file name, 62 authentication information, 64, 66 information, 68 keys, 70 RFID tag, 80 recording medium, 90 RFID reader, 100 management database 101 Number field, 102 Address field, 103 Allocation date field, 104 Expiration date field, 105 Product ID field, 106 Manufacturer ID field, 300 Setting device.

Claims (5)

Creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses out of a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance, wherein the label includes a display indicating the assigned network address;
Obtaining a network address assigned to the label from the display of any of the labels;
Setting the acquired network address in a target device;
Associating the label with the target device. Creating each of the data associated with each of the created labels;
The network address setting method according to claim 1, further comprising: transferring data associated with a network address set to the target device to the target device. The display indicating the network address of the label includes an encoded image;
Obtaining the network address includes optically reading the encoded image to identify a network address;
Each of the data associated with the label is given identification information including at least a part of the corresponding network address,
The network address setting method according to claim 2, wherein the transferring step includes a step of searching for transfer target data based on a network address set in the target device. Creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses out of a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance, the label including an identifier indicating an assigned network address;
Obtaining a network address assigned to the label from the identifier of any of the labels;
Setting the acquired network address in a target device;
Associating the label with the target device. A database for managing a plurality of network addresses prepared in advance;
Means for creating a label corresponding to each of a predetermined number of network addresses among a plurality of network addresses managed in the database, wherein the label includes a display indicating the assigned network address,
Means for obtaining a network address assigned to the label from the display of any label;
Means for setting the acquired network address in a target device, wherein any one of the labels is attached to the target device.