JP3941562B2 - Connection control method and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection control method and recording for automatically setting a connection destination in a network application program. Medium About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, personal computers (PDs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as “portable terminals”) and the spread of networks, especially wireless networks, have made me personal from various places. It is possible to use the Internet service by connecting to the Internet with a portable terminal. When an Internet service is used by operating the same mobile terminal, the company goes through an Internet service provider (hereinafter referred to as “ISP”) with which the company is contracted via the company network, and the ISP is in the middle of moving. It is possible to use an Internet service via a mobile phone company and at home via another ISP.
[0003]
At this time, in general, when using the Internet service, even if the same portable terminal is used, if the ISP is different, the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the portable terminal assigned by the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server changes, The addresses of available SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP (Post Office Protocol) servers for sending and receiving electronic mail and WWW (World Wide Web) proxy servers also change. And the difference of the IP address normally allocated has the structure in which a portable terminal respond | corresponds automatically using protocols, such as DHCP.
[0004]
The homepage established on the ISP server can be freely browsed from any ISP, but the ISP SMTP server and POP server, other than the IP address assigned by the DHCP server in the ISP, even if they are themselves. The security level is different for each server so that it cannot be accessed from a portable terminal to which an IP address is assigned. Therefore, when ISPs are different, that is, when an IP address assigned by a DHCP server is changed, a user cannot easily send and receive e-mails via a desired ISP.
[0005]
For example, in order to receive an e-mail addressed to itself from a company server or to send an e-mail via a company server in a train on the way, the mobile terminal 61 has a function as shown in FIG. Various settings set for each of the network App (application programs) 62 and 63, for example, settings such as addresses of the SMTP server and the POP server, had to be changed by the user.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in many cases, the change of the setting has to be made for each of the networks App 62 and 63, which is a complicated operation. Furthermore, if you make a mistake, you will not be able to connect to the Internet, so you must change the settings carefully.
[0007]
Further, for the security of the server, it is impossible to access the SMTP server and the POP server through the firewall without going through the proxy server. The address of the proxy server varies depending on the place to access.
[0008]
In addition, there is an App that changes the settings of an SMTP server, a POP server, and a WWW proxy server registered in advance in the networks App 62 and 63. However, each time the setting is changed, the user has to restart the network App 62 and 63.
[0009]
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-10890, a client PC accesses an e-mail server or a WWW proxy server via a local proxy server, and the local proxy server is managed on a currently connected LAN (Local Area Network). Since the setting information of the client PC is received from the process, the client PC side describes what does not require network setting.
[0010]
However, a management process is required for each LAN, and there is a problem that it cannot be used where there is no management process. Furthermore, only information set in the LAN management process can be used. That is, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with fine settings unique to the user, such as connection to an ISP to which the user is subscribed individually.
[0011]
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-134508, a user carries a mobile server that obtains e-mails from a plurality of accounts, and the user reads e-mails via the mobile server, and simply reads and writes e-mails by itself. What can be done is described. When acquiring e-mails from a plurality of accounts, the current domain is determined, and the route for acquisition is changed in comparison with preset information. That is, the purpose is to centrally manage e-mails of a plurality of accounts.
[0012]
However, since the path for acquiring e-mail is changed by looking at the domain, it is not a proxy server but a server that moves independently from the user's side. Therefore, there is a problem that direct operation from the client PC to the original server cannot be performed. For example, even when it is only necessary to see only the header information of some electronic mails, there is a problem that it takes time to download the entire electronic mail from the original server to this server. Further, there are problems that optional commands not supported by the server cannot be used, and that the application cannot be applied to applications other than the e-mail reader, such as the WWW.
[0013]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection control method and recording that can easily connect to a desired server whenever a connection request is made to the Internet. Medium Is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described problem, the invention of claim 1 Includes multiple network applications Movable equipment Arbitrary by control by connection control application In a connection control method for connecting to a network, For connection control application by network application On connection request Depending on , The step of acquiring the current position of the device, and the acquired current position And based on connection request The corresponding URL Connection control application Retrieving from the database; Depending on the connection control application And a step of connecting to a server having the extracted URL.
The invention of claim 3 Including multiple network applications, A device that is movable and has information display means Arbitrary by control by connection control application In a connection control method for connecting to a network, For connection control application by network application On connection request Depending on , The step of acquiring the current position of the device, and the acquired current position And respond based on connection requests URL Connection control application Retrieving from the database; Depending on the connection control application A step of connecting to a server having the extracted URL, a step of acquiring information on the vicinity of the current position from the connected server, and a step of displaying information on the acquired vicinity of the current position by the information display means. This is a characteristic connection control method.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 4 Includes multiple network applications Movable equipment Arbitrary by control by connection control application In a recording medium on which a connection control program for connecting to a network is recorded, For connection control application by network application On connection request Depending on , The step of acquiring the current position of the device, and the acquired current position And based on connection request , The corresponding URL Connection control application Retrieving from the database; Depending on the connection control application A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a connection control program including a step of connecting to a server having an extracted URL.
[0016]
In this way, the server address corresponding to the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal can be taken out, and the server at the taken out address can be accessed. For example, without changing the settings of the network App, When you are at home, you can send email via your company's server, and when you are at home, you can send email via your personal ISP.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. For ease of explanation, the following explanation will be made when the mobile terminal receives an e-mail. However, even when an e-mail is transmitted from the mobile terminal, even when browsing a so-called homepage established on the network, the same can be applied.
[0018]
The network indicated by reference numeral 1 is the Internet as an example. The network 1 can be connected from networks 11 and 21 of different ISPs. The mobile terminal 2 can be connected to the networks 11 and 21. As an example, the network 11 indicates a network in a company where a user who owns the mobile terminal 2 works, and the network 21 is a network of another network such as a mobile phone company or a so-called hot spot provided in advance. Network. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 2 is carried by the user and is connected to the network 1 via the network 11 or 21.
[0019]
The mobile terminal 2 is installed with at least a network App that can send and receive e-mails, and further includes hardware that can be connected to the networks 11 and 21.
[0020]
Connected to the network 11 are an SMTP server 12 for transferring messages, for example, e-mails using the SMTP protocol, and POP servers 13 and 14 for transferring e-mails from the mailbox to the network App using the POP protocol. Similarly, an SMTP server 22 and a POP server 23 are connected to the network 21.
[0021]
In the SMTP servers 12 and 22, based on the information on the destination of the e-mail received from the network App installed in the portable terminal 2 or another SMTP server, the computer to be transferred uses DNS (Domain Name System) or the like. Used to identify and forward the e-mail. The received electronic mail is classified into a corresponding mailbox provided in the SMTP servers 12 and 22 and stored in a temporary file.
[0022]
In the POP servers 13, 14, and 23, the user is provided in the POP servers 13, 14, and 23 based on the information on the transmission destination of the e-mail received from the network App installed in the mobile terminal 2. After being authenticated as a valid user of the requested mailbox among the plurality of mailboxes, the e-mail stored in the mailbox is transferred. POP servers 13 and 14 are servers that can access the same server, but have different security level settings. In this example, the POP server 14 is set to a security level lower than that of the POP server 13 and corresponds to a server when accessed from other than the network 11.
[0023]
Here, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 2 is moved and the ISP to be routed is changed from the network 11 to the network 21, the e-mail stored in the mailbox of the POP server 13 is transferred to the mobile terminal 2. An example of transfer will be described. Specifically, an e-mail stored in a mailbox of the POP server 13 of the company network 11 is received via the network 21 such as a mobile phone company or a hot spot. At this time, since the mobile terminal 2 is connected to the network 1 via the network 21, an IP address is assigned by a DHCP server (not shown) of the network 21.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 2 is preinstalled with networks App31 and 32 that can send and receive e-mails, and connection control App33. The connection control App 33 is a gateway between the network App 31 or 32 and the POP server 13, 14, or 23 like a so-called proxy server. Therefore, in this example, when there is a connection request from the network App 31 or 32, it is always connected to one of the POP servers 13 and 14 via the connection control App 33.
[0025]
Here, the algorithm of the connection control App 33 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S1, the 110th port of the portable terminal 2 is monitored using a system call such as listen. The number 110 is an initial port number provided exclusively for the POP protocol. And it waits until there is a connection request (access) to the port 110 from the network App 31 or 32. If there is a connection request to the 110th port, the control shifts to step S2.
[0026]
In step S2, it is determined whether or not the connection request for the 110th port is a request from within the portable terminal 2. If it is determined that it is a connection request from within the portable terminal 2, the control moves to step S3, and if it is determined that it is not a connection request from within the portable terminal 2, the control moves to step S11. In step S11, the connection is rejected and control returns to step S1. In step S3, the connection is accepted. In step S4, an IP address (first address) currently assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is detected using a system call such as gethost.
[0027]
In step S5, it is determined whether or not the upper digit of the IP address currently assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is registered in the database of the connection control App 33 or a predetermined database on the network. Then, the control moves to step S6, and if it is determined that it is not registered, the control moves to step S12. In step S6, the address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) (second address) of the POP server corresponding to the upper digit of the IP address currently assigned to the portable terminal 2 is extracted from the database of the connection control App 33.
[0028]
Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of the database of the connection control App 33. Note that “*” in FIG. 4 represents an arbitrary number. In the line indicated by reference numeral 41, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the portable terminal 2 is “192.168.0. *”, The protocol is “pop3”, and there is a connection request, the host server (host ), The address of the POP server indicated by “pop.ABC.co.jp” is registered. Therefore, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.168.0. *”, “Pop.ABC.co.jp” is extracted as the address of the POP server.
[0029]
In the row indicated by reference numeral 42, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.168.0. *”, The protocol is “smtp”, and there is a connection request, the host server The address of the SMTP server indicated by “smtp.XYZ.co.jp” is registered as (host). Therefore, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.168.0. *”, “Smtp.XYZ.co.jp” is extracted as the SMTP server address.
[0030]
As shown in the row 41 and the row 42, even if the upper digits of the IP address assigned to the portable terminal 2 are the same address, it is possible to connect to the POP server and the SMTP server of different ISPs. That is, electronic mail can be transmitted and received from different ISPs.
[0031]
In the line indicated by reference numeral 43, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.123.0. *”, The protocol is “pop3”, and there is a connection request, the host server (host The address of the POP server indicated by “pop.DEF.co.jp” is registered. Therefore, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.123.0. *”, “Pop.DEF.co.jp” is extracted as the address of the POP server.
[0032]
In the line indicated by reference numeral 44, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.123.0. *”, The protocol is “smtp”, and there is a connection request, the host server The address of the SMTP server indicated by “smtp.DEF.co.jp” is registered as (host). Therefore, when the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is “192.123.0. *”, “Smtp.DEF.co.jp” is taken out as the SMTP server address.
[0033]
As shown in line 43 and line 44, the upper digits of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 can be connected to the same ISP POP server and SMTP server with the same address. That is, electronic mail can be transmitted and received from the same ISP.
[0034]
Further, although the host server address is registered in the database, a port number may be registered instead of the host server address to access a desired port.
[0035]
In the row denoted by reference numeral 45, connection is made to a URL registered based on the current position information of the portable terminal 2, for example, latitude and longitude. In the example of FIG. 4, when the mobile terminal 2 is at the position of north latitude “42 ° *. * '” And east longitude “140 ° *. *'”, The ISP URL is “tokyo-local.or.jp”. Is taken out. The position information such as latitude and longitude is acquired from, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System).
[0036]
In the row of reference numeral 46, connection is made to a proxy server registered based on the current position information of the mobile terminal 2, for example, latitude and longitude. In the example of FIG. 4, when the mobile terminal 2 is located at the latitude of “35 ° *. * '” And “136 ° *. *'”, The proxy server address “proxy.tokyo-local.or” .jp "is retrieved. Similarly, position information such as latitude and longitude is acquired from, for example, GPS.
[0037]
Although not shown in the figure, the URL may be connected based on the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2, or the proxy server may be connected based on the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2. May be performed. Furthermore, the address of the POP server and the address of the SMTP server may be taken out based on the latitude / longitude of the current location information of the mobile terminal 2.
[0038]
In step S12, a dialog for inquiring a predetermined database on another network or for allowing the user to input the address and server name of the POP server is displayed on the screen. As an example, the dialog shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. This dialog registers a POP server, and is provided with an input unit 51 for inputting an address and an input unit 52 for inputting a server name. Further, an OK button 53 for registering the contents after the input is completed and a cancel button 54 for registering nothing are provided.
[0039]
In this embodiment, since the case of receiving an e-mail is described, a dialog for registering a POP server is displayed. However, when an e-mail is transmitted, a dialog for registering an SMTP server is displayed. Alternatively, when it is determined that the address is not registered in the database, a dialog for simultaneously setting both the POP server and the SMTP server may be displayed.
[0040]
In step S13, when the input is completed and the OK button 53 is selected, the server address and server name input by the user are registered in the database of the connection control App 33. At this time, if the server address is unknown even if the user requests input, or if the cancel button 54 is selected, the connection request is closed.
[0041]
In step S7, a connection request is sent to the 110th port to the POP server at the address taken out or entered by the user. In step S8, when the connection is established, the data from the connection source network App31 or 32 is relayed to the connection destination POP server, and the data from the POP server is relayed to the network App31 or 32. In step S9, it is determined whether or not communication is completed. If it is determined that the communication has ended, the control moves to step S10. If it is determined that the communication has not ended, the control returns to step S8.
[0042]
In step S10, the connection from the connection source and the connection to the connection destination are terminated. If the connection source cuts off the connection, the connection to the connection destination is also cut off. Similarly, when the connection destination is cut off first, the connection from the connection source is also cut off.
[0043]
As described above, the upper digit of the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 is usually different for each ISP, and the current IP address is detected every time there is a connection request from the network App 31 or 32. The ISP can be switched based on the upper digit of the IP address. Accordingly, by registering the IP address of the mobile terminal 2 and the address of the POP server 13 allocated in the network 11 and the IP address of the mobile terminal 2 and the address of the POP server 14 allocated in the network 21 in the database automatically. Since the connection destination is switched to the POP server 13 or 14, an electronic mail can be received from the POP server 13 or 14 without being aware of the ISP.
[0044]
Here, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, another embodiment for performing protocol conversion between a connection source and a connection destination in the connection control App 33 will be described. As an example, a network App 31 that supports only POP3 authentication that transmits and receives passwords in plain text, and a POP that does not accept plain text passwords and accepts only authentication of APOP (Authenticated Post Office Protocol) that encrypts and transmits passwords. Another embodiment of the connection control App 33 that performs protocol conversion to enable access to the server 13 will be described. At this time, the portable terminal 2 is connected to the network 11 as an example.
[0045]
First, in step S21, there is a connection request from the connection source network App31, and the network App31 and the connection destination POP server 13 are connected in response to the connection request. In step S22, the first message (response of POP server 13) is received from POP server 13. In step S23, information generated from the date and time recorded in the received message, so-called time stamp, is stored. In step S24, the message is transferred to the network App31.
[0046]
In step S25, the connection control App 33 receives a command from the network App 31 that has received the message. In step S26, it is determined whether or not the command received from the network App 31 is a “USER” command. If it is determined that the received command is a 'USER' command, control is transferred to step S27. If it is determined that the received command is not a 'USER' command, control is transferred to step S37.
[0047]
In step S37, the received command is transferred to the POP server 13. In step S38, a response from the POP server 13 is received. In step S39, the received response is transferred to the network App31.
[0048]
In step S27, the user name is received together with the 'USER' command, and the received user name is stored. In step S28, '+ OK' data is transmitted to the network App31.
[0049]
In step S29, the connection control App 33 receives a command from the network App 31. In step S30, it is determined whether or not the command received from the network App 31 is a “PASS” command. If it is determined that the received command is a 'PASS' command, control is transferred to step S31. If it is determined that the received command is not a 'PASS' command, control is transferred to step S40.
[0050]
In step S40, the received command is transferred to the POP server 13. In step S41, a response from the POP server 13 is received. In step S42, the received response is transferred to the network App31.
[0051]
In step S31, the password is received together with the 'PASS' command, and the received password and the stored time stamp are concatenated to calculate an MD (Message Digest) 5 hash value. An argument of the 'APOP' command is generated from the calculated MD5 hash value and the stored user name. In step S <b> 32, the generated argument of the “APOP” command is transmitted to the POP server 13.
[0052]
In step S33, a response from the POP server 13 is received. In step S34, it is determined whether or not the response from the POP server 13 is “+ OK” data. If it is determined that the response from the POP server 13 is “+ OK” data, the control proceeds to step S35, and if it is determined that the response is not “+ OK” data, the control proceeds to step S43.
[0053]
In step S35, the response from the POP server 13 is transferred to the network App31. In step S 36, data transfer is relayed between the network App 31 and the POP server 13.
[0054]
In step S43, the response from the POP server 13 is transferred to the network App31. In step S44, the connection relay is terminated.
[0055]
In this way, the plain text password is encrypted by the connection control App 33 installed in the portable terminal 2 as a gateway between the network App 31 or 32 and the POP server 13, 14 or 23 like a so-called proxy server. The plaintext password never leaks outside the mobile terminal 2.
[0056]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0057]
In this embodiment, the IP address of the portable terminal 2 is assigned by the DHCP server, but it is not always necessary to assign the IP address by the DHCP server. The user himself / herself may assign the IP address of the portable terminal 2.
[0058]
In this embodiment, the POP servers 13 and 14 having different security levels have been described as physically different servers in the network 11 for ease of explanation. However, different security levels are provided in the same server. Anyway.
[0059]
In this embodiment, the server is switched based on the IP address assigned to the mobile terminal 2 and the location information of the mobile terminal. The server may be switched based on the read and read data, or the address of the server to be connected is recorded on the IC card, read by the RF tag reader, and connected to the read address. Also good.
[0060]
In this embodiment, for ease of explanation, the connection control App 33 is installed in the portable terminal 2 in advance, but the connection control App 33 may be provided on the network. In this case, when there is a connection request from the network App31 or 32, the connection control App33 provided on the network is always accessed first, and then a desired server is connected.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, once the user sets the address of the server of each ISP in each environment, the user can use the settings of each ISP without manually switching the settings. Furthermore, since the current IP address is confirmed for each connection request, the ISP can be switched without having to restart the network App.
[0062]
According to the present invention, if the connection destination is changed according to position information other than the IP address, information corresponding to the location of the user can be obtained with one URL. For example, it is possible to connect to neighboring servers based on the location information, and to display neighboring information.
[0063]
According to the present invention, the network App of the mobile terminal all accesses the ISP via the connection control App, so that all settings on the network App side are the same regardless of which ISP is used to connect to the Internet. You can access the appropriate ISP with localhost / 127.0.01.
[0064]
According to the present invention, in order to connect the network App and the server, a special server for providing information is not required, and the network App can be used by setting only the user's portable terminal. Furthermore, since the operation on the user side is directly relayed to the server, even if an extended command is used, it can be handled without any problem.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for illustrating an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining ISP switching according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example algorithm of ISP switching according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a database according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of database settings according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining protocol conversion in another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining protocol conversion according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining conventional ISP switching.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11, 21 ... Network, 2 ... Portable terminal, 12, 22 ... SMTP server, 13, 14, 23 ... POP server

Claims (5)

In a connection control method for connecting a movable device including a plurality of network applications to an arbitrary network under the control of the connection control application ,
In response to a connection request to the connection control application by the network application , obtaining a current position of the device;
Retrieving a corresponding URL from the connection control application database based on the acquired current position and the connection request ;
Connecting to the server having the extracted URL by the connection control application .   2. The connection control method according to claim 1, wherein when the URL corresponding to the current position is not registered in the database, the URL corresponding to the current position is registered in the database. In a connection control method that includes a plurality of network applications, is movable, and has an information display means, and connects to an arbitrary network under the control of the connection control application .
In response to a connection request to the connection control application by the network application , obtaining a current position of the device;
Retrieving a corresponding URL from the connection control application database based on the acquired current position and the connection request ;
Connecting to the server having the extracted URL by the connection control application ;
Obtaining information about the neighborhood of the current location from the connected server;
And a step of displaying information on the acquired neighborhood of the current position by means of an information display means. In a recording medium recorded with a connection control program for connecting a movable device including a plurality of network applications to an arbitrary network under the control of the connection control application ,
In response to a connection request to the connection control application by the network application , obtaining a current position of the device;
Retrieving a corresponding URL from the connection control application database based on the acquired current position and the connection request ;
A computer-readable recording medium on which a connection control program including a step of connecting to the server having the extracted URL is recorded by the connection control application . 5. The recording medium according to claim 4, wherein when a URL corresponding to the current position is not registered in the database, a URL corresponding to the current position is registered in the database.

Images