JP3975364B2 - Home network system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a home network system capable of transmitting digital video data and the like via a wireless transmission path, and more particularly to a technique suitable for application to pairing and security setting between a server device and a client device.

  In recent years, DVD / HDD recorders and personal computers equipped with a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) function have been widely used, and video assets that individuals can view at home have also increased. And when content such as video information stored in a DVD / HDD recorder or a personal computer is desired to be viewed, it is required to enjoy it at a desired location, and a client device such as a liquid crystal television using a home network. A technology for enabling output is proposed. As a technique for transmitting a large amount of data such as video data and audio data at high speed and in real time, for example, IEEE 1394 is adopted as a connection interface for digital television, digital video, and the like.

  Recently, in order to simplify the connection between devices, a DVD / HDD recorder, a personal computer, a liquid crystal monitor, and the like can be connected using a wireless LAN. As a typical technique of this wireless LAN, there is IEEE 802.11 standardized by IEEE, and the one using the 2.4 GHz band is the mainstream. The 2.4 GHz band is called an ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band, and is a frequency band used for industrial, medical, and household microwave ovens. In Japan, 2.400-2.497 GHz is a wireless LAN. Assigned to.

  By the way, since wireless LAN communicates using radio waves, unlike wired LAN, there is a possibility of “interference” that allows communication with multiple networks. There are security issues such as being able to be controlled. For this reason, it is important to perform authentication work when establishing a communication link between a wireless LAN access point and each device. For example, mutual authentication IDs (SSID: Service Set Identifier) are set between connected devices. The communication is started only when the authentication IDs match. While this SSID can arbitrarily set up to 32 alphanumeric characters, there is also a special SSID called “ANY” that can be connected to any access point.

  Furthermore, since communication using a wireless LAN is extremely easy to intercept, it is necessary to encrypt the radio signal transmitted so that the contents cannot be known to the interceptor. For example, a secret key encryption technique called WEP has been standardized by IEEE and adopted as a security system such as IEEE 802.11b. The secret key includes a method using 40-bit data and a method using 128-bit data.

  As described above, in order to perform secure communication using a wireless LAN, it is necessary to register and group an authentication ID and an encryption key in each device. Pairing is a process in which the authentication ID and the encryption key are mutually registered and the first connection procedure is performed. Conventionally, pairing is performed by operating a pairing switch provided on the main body of each device to be grouped and registering an authentication ID and an encryption key with each other using infrared communication or wireless LAN.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device ID, a password, an encryption key, etc. between devices by using a signal output unit including a light emitting element and a signal input unit including a light receiving element. A technique that can be exchanged is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, identification information data is exchanged with a connection partner electronic device according to an operation instructing authentication by a user, and based on the received connection partner identification information data. An authentication system for an electronic device that performs an authentication process is disclosed.

Note that the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are pairing processing techniques mainly based on Bluetooth specifications.
JP 2003-78475 A JP 2002-73565 A

  By the way, in the Bluetooth technology used in the above-mentioned prior application technology, wireless communication cannot be performed unless identification information (PIN-code) is registered between the devices performing communication. It is necessary to exchange identification information using transmission / reception means other than radio waves such as communication. In order to perform this infrared communication, it is necessary to prepare for pairing by simultaneously operating a pairing switch provided in each device, and the work is complicated. In addition, even if one device is ready for pairing, if the other device is not ready for pairing, the identification information cannot be exchanged normally, so a wireless communication connection cannot be established. there were.

  On the other hand, in wireless communication using a wireless LAN, as described above, the SSID of one device is set to “ANY”, and the other device can establish a communication link with a device whose SSID is “ANY”. If it is set, wireless communication is possible without registering a unique SSID. Then, after establishing the communication link in this state, the SSID and the encryption key (for example, WEP key) can be exchanged by wireless communication. However, since information at the time of exchanging the SSID and the encryption key is not encrypted, there is a risk that if it is intercepted, it may be illegally accessed later, resulting in a security problem.

  Although a method of inputting an SSID or an encryption key using an input unit is also conceivable, there is no input unit such as a personal computer keyboard in a server device or a client device used in a home network system, and a numeric keypad or Since the input operation is performed using the cursor keys, the operation becomes very complicated.

  In a home network system in which a server device and a client device can communicate via a wireless transmission path, the present invention automatically and securely transfers connection information such as an encryption key using infrared communication. An object is to provide a home network system capable of constructing a network.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a home network system including a server device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals and one or more client devices, the server device transmits an infrared signal. Infrared light emitting means capable of transmitting and connection information providing means for transmitting connection information via the infrared light emitting means when receiving a radio signal transmitted from the client device, wherein the client device receives the infrared signal And a connection information setting unit that sets connection information from the server device received by the infrared light reception unit.

  That is, the server device is always on standby in a state where communication by wireless LAN is possible, and when receiving any radio signal from the client device, the connection information is transmitted from the infrared light emitting means. Only the client device installed in the vicinity of the server device receives the connection information by infrared communication and sets the connection information. Here, the connection information includes security information such as an authentication ID and an encryption key for safely establishing a communication link.

  Therefore, even if the server device is set so that a communication link can be established by receiving a radio signal from the client device with the SSID set to “ANY”, the client device desired by the user (installed in the vicinity of the server device) Connection information cannot be acquired unless the connection information is set), it is possible to easily set the connection information in a desired client device and to prevent the connection information from leaking to an external client device.

  Further, the client device transmits a radio signal based on a power-on operation provided in the client device. As a result, the connection information is automatically set in the client device without any special operation by the user.

  Preferably, the radio wave signal is a signal requesting connection information, and the connection information is transmitted from the server device only when a signal requesting connection information is transmitted from a client device that has not been paired. . As a result, the connection information is not transmitted even if any radio signal is received from the paired client device, so that the chance of the connection information leaking to the external client device can be limited.

  Further, the server device and the client device each have an authentication ID management unit having an authentication ID storage unit for storing an authentication ID for establishing a communication link, and the authentication ID management unit matches each other's authentication ID. In this case, the communication link is established, and the same authentication ID is recorded in advance in the respective authentication ID storage means of the server device and the client device. That is, only a specific client device having the same authentication ID as the server device can establish a communication link. As a result, the connection information is not transmitted even if the server device receives a radio signal from an external client device with a different authentication ID, and the connection information is transmitted only when the radio signal from the client device to be paired is received. As a result, safety is significantly improved. In this case, since the authentication ID has already been set, only the encryption key is transmitted as the connection information.

  According to the present invention, in a home network system including a server device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals and one or more client devices, the server device is transmitted from the infrared light emitting means capable of transmitting an infrared signal and the client device. And a server device received by the infrared light receiving means, the client device comprising: connection information providing means for transmitting connection information via the infrared light emitting means when receiving the received radio signal; Connection information setting means for setting connection information from the server device, it is possible to safely give connection information such as an encryption key from the server device to the client device, and a highly secure home network system can be easily provided. Can be built. The user only needs to install the client device in the vicinity of the server device, and no special operation is required for setting the connection information.

  Further, since the server device and the client device communicate with each other using infrared rays, it is possible to prevent connection information from being accidentally leaked to an external client device that is not installed near the server.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a home network system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  A home network system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a content providing apparatus 10 that provides content (analog data or digital data) including video data and audio data, a server device 20, a client device 30, a liquid crystal monitor, a speaker, and the like. Output device 40. This is a so-called AV home network system. Here, the content providing apparatus 10 corresponds to, for example, a DVD / HDD recorder, a video tape recorder, a receiver for analog television broadcasting, digital television broadcasting, or the like.

  In the home network system 100 of the present embodiment, for example, the content providing apparatus 10 and the transmission apparatus 20, the reception apparatus 30 and the output apparatus 40 are connected by an IEEE 1394 compliant cable or the like, and the server apparatus 20 and the client apparatus 30 are connected by IEEE 802. Data transmission is performed using a wireless LAN based on 11g.

  The server device 20 and the client device 30 exchange authentication IDs (SSIDs) when establishing a communication link, and start communication only when the authentication IDs match. For example, if the SSID of the server device 20 is “1234” and the SSID of the client device 30 is “1234”, the two match and a communication link is established.

  It is assumed that the same authentication ID is registered in advance in the server device 20 and the client device 30 constituting the home network system 100 of the present embodiment. For example, when the server device 20 and the client device 30 are distributed and sold as a pair, it is assumed that both are paired and used, and therefore it is considered that the same authentication ID is registered in advance.

  The content providing apparatus 10 has an AV data generation unit (not shown), reads content (video data, audio data) from a recording medium such as a DVD, a video cassette tape, and a hard disk, or performs digital television broadcasting or analog television broadcasting. , And the content or television broadcast is converted into a predetermined format and output as AV data. The AV data output from the content providing apparatus 10 is analog data or digital data depending on the type of media and the function of the content providing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the server device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the server device 20 includes an A / D conversion unit 201, an MPEG encoder 202, a transmission side buffer 203, a wireless LAN communication unit 204, a high frequency amplification unit (RF) 205, an antenna 206, The server control unit 207, the infrared light emitting unit 208, and the storage unit 209 transmit AV data supplied from the content providing apparatus 10 to the client device 30 in a digital data format compliant with MPEG2, for example.

  The A / D conversion unit 201 converts analog AV data transmitted from the content providing apparatus 10 into digital data. The MPEG encoder 202 compresses and encodes the digital AV data supplied from the A / D converter 201 according to the MPEG2 system.

  If the AV data supplied from the content providing apparatus 10 is already digital AV data, the A / D conversion unit 201 and the MPEG encoder 202 are not used.

  The transmission side buffer 203 stores the supplied digital AV data. The wireless LAN communication unit 204 performs protocol processing and modulation / demodulation processing on the digital AV data output from the transmission side buffer 203. The high frequency amplification unit 205 performs high frequency amplification on the RF signal and transmits it to the client device 30 via the antenna 206.

  The server control unit 207 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, and a ROM. Various control programs are stored in the ROM, and the CPU operates according to the control programs in the ROM while using the RAM as a work area. For example, when a radio wave signal transmitted from the client device 30 is received, an encryption key (for example, a WEP key) as connection information is transmitted via the infrared light emitting unit 208 (connection information providing unit).

  Here, the infrared light emitting unit 208 may be configured to be able to transmit a control signal to the content providing apparatus 10 connected to the server device 20. At this time, the encryption key signal transmitted to the client device 30 uses an arbitrary code different from the control signal (so-called remote control code) transmitted to the content providing apparatus 10. The infrared light emitting unit 208 is preferably extended from the server device body via a cord so that the position of the light emitting unit can be changed relatively freely. Thereby, the infrared light receiving unit 308 provided in the client device main body and the infrared light emitting unit 208 of the server device 20 can be easily opposed to each other to realize highly sensitive infrared communication.

  Further, the server control unit 207 functions as an authentication ID management unit that establishes a communication link when the authentication ID with the client device 30 matches. Here, the same authentication ID (for example, SSID: 1234) as the authentication ID set in the client device 30 is stored in the storage unit (authentication ID storage unit) 209 in advance.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the client device 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the client device 30 includes an antenna 301, a high frequency amplification unit (RF) 302, a wireless LAN communication unit 303, a reception side buffer 304, an MPEG decoder 305, a D / A conversion unit 306, The client control unit 307, the infrared light receiving unit 308, and the storage unit 309 receive the digital AV data transmitted from the server device 20 and output the digital AV data to the output device 40.

  The antenna 301 receives the RF signal transmitted from the server device 20 via the communication channel, and supplies the received RF signal to the high frequency amplifier 302. The high frequency amplifying unit 302 amplifies the RF signal received by the antenna 301 at a high frequency and supplies the amplified RF signal to the wireless LAN communication unit 303. The wireless LAN communication unit 303 performs protocol processing and modulation / demodulation processing on the digital AV data supplied from the high frequency amplification unit 302. The reception side buffer 304 sequentially stores the digital video data supplied from the wireless LAN communication unit 303.

  The MPEG decoder 305 decompresses and decodes the digital AV data supplied from the reception side buffer 304 to generate digital AV data. The D / A conversion unit 306 converts the digital AV data supplied from the MPEG decoder 305 into analog AV data and outputs the analog AV data to the output device 40. Note that when the output device 40 can reproduce digital AV data, the MPEG decoder 305 and the D / A converter 306 are not used.

  The client control unit 307 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (not shown). Various control programs are stored in the ROM, and the CPU operates according to the control programs in the ROM while using the RAM as a work area. For example, when a power source provided in the client device 30 is turned on, the radio wave signal is transmitted and an infrared signal (encryption key signal) transmitted from the server device 20 that has received the radio signal is received. The encryption key used when communicating with 20 is set (connection information setting means). Accordingly, since the encryption key used for communication with the server device 20 is set in the client device 30 without performing a special operation by the user, a home network system with excellent security can be easily constructed.

  Here, the infrared light receiving unit 308 may be configured to be able to receive a control signal from a remote control device (not shown). At this time, the encryption key signal transmitted from the server device 20 uses an arbitrary code different from the control signal (so-called remote control code) transmitted from the remote control device.

  In addition, the client control unit 307 functions as an authentication ID management unit that establishes a communication link when the authentication ID with the server device 20 matches. Here, the same authentication ID (for example, SSID: 1234) as the authentication ID set in the server device 20 is stored in advance in the storage unit 209 (authentication ID storage means).

  With the configuration described above, in the home network system 100 of this embodiment, the client device 30 can easily and securely acquire and set the encryption key from the server device 20. That is, since the server device 20 transmits an encryption key signal using infrared communication and the client device 30 receives the encryption key signal, only the client device 30 in the vicinity of the server device 20 has the encryption key signal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the encryption key signal from being erroneously received by an external client device that is not desired to be grouped. Therefore, even if an external client device can access the server device 20 and intercept the information, the encryption key cannot be obtained, so that the encrypted information cannot be decrypted and the security can be protected.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing network connection processing in the client device 30. In this network connection process, a control program is executed by the client control unit 307 of the client device 30, and each circuit is controlled according to this.

  First, when the client device 30 is powered on in step S101, the server device 20 having the same authentication ID is searched for in step S102. Normally, if the power is turned on, the server device 20 is always in a state where communication by wireless LAN is possible. In this case, it is determined in step S102 that there is a server device 20 having the same authentication ID.

  If it is determined in step S103 that there is a server device having the same authentication ID, it is determined in step S104 that pairing with the server device has been completed, that is, the encryption key used for communication is stored in the client device 30. Determine if it is set. If it is determined that the pairing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S108, and communication via the wireless LAN is started as it is.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that pairing has not been completed, a signal requesting an encryption key is transmitted to the server device in step S105. Communication at this time is wireless LAN communication via the antenna 206. Note that if the server device 20 having the same authentication ID causes an encryption key signal (infrared signal) to be transmitted when any radio wave signal is received from the client device 30, the process of step S105 can be omitted. . However, it is not desirable because connection information is transmitted every time a radio signal is received from a paired client device, and the chance of connection information being accidentally leaked to an external client device increases. .

  Next, in step S106, it is determined whether an encryption key signal transmitted from the server device has been received. If received, the process proceeds to step S107 to store the encryption key. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S108 and communication by the wireless LAN is started.

  As described above, the server device 20 is always on standby in a state where communication by the wireless LAN is possible, and when the signal requesting the encryption key is received from the client device 30, the encryption key signal is transmitted from the infrared light emitting unit 208, Since the client device 30 sets the encryption key signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 308, the user does not need to perform a special operation to set the encryption key, and the high security home network system 100 is set. Easy to build. Further, since the server device 20 and the client device 30 transmit and receive the encryption key signal using infrared rays, it is possible to prevent the encryption key signal from being leaked accidentally to an external client device that is not desired to be paired.

  As mentioned above, although the invention made by this inventor was concretely demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the server device 20 and the client device 30 are registered in advance with the same authentication ID has been described, but the case where the same authentication ID as the server device 20 is not registered in the client device 30 is also possible. Applicable.

  That is, in the client device 30, the SSID is set to “ANY”, and the server device may be set so that a communication link can be established when a radio wave signal from the client device 30 is received. In this case, the server device 20 receives the radio wave signal (for example, a signal requesting the authentication ID and the encryption key) from the client device 30, and transmits the authentication ID and the encryption key signal as connection information by infrared communication. Will be sent. Even in such a configuration, since connection information is transmitted using infrared communication, connection information cannot be acquired unless the user desires a client device (installed in the vicinity of the server device). Connection information will not leak to any client device.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a home network system is constructed using a 2.4 GHz band wireless LAN defined by IEEE802.11g has been described, but a home network system using other wireless transmission technologies is also described. It can also be applied. For example, there are a 5.2 GHz band wireless LAN defined by IEEE 802.11a, a 2.4 GHz band wireless LAN defined by IEEE 802.11b, and the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the server apparatus 20 and the content provision apparatus 10 may be comprised integrally, and the client apparatus 30 and the output device 40 may be comprised integrally.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the server device 20 and the client device 30 are provided in a one-to-one relationship. However, a home network in which a plurality of client devices 30 are connected to the server device 20 may be configured.

It is a schematic block diagram of the home network system of this embodiment. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a server device 20. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client device 30. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing network connection processing in the client device 30.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Content provision apparatus 20 Server apparatus 208 Infrared light emission part 30 Client apparatus 308 Infrared light reception part 40 Output device 100 Home network system

Claims (6)

In a home network system comprising a server device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals and one or more client devices,
The server device and the client device have an authentication ID management unit including an authentication ID storage unit that stores an authentication ID for establishing a communication link, and when the authentication ID management unit matches each other's authentication ID Configured to establish a communication link,
In each authentication ID storage means of the server device and the client device, the same authentication ID is recorded in advance,
The server device includes an infrared light emitting means capable of transmitting an infrared signal, and a connection information providing means for transmitting the connection information via the infrared light emitting means when receiving a signal requesting connection information transmitted from the client device. And
The client device includes an infrared light receiving means capable of receiving an infrared signal, and a connection information setting means for setting connection information from the server device received by the infrared light receiving means, and a power supply provided in the client device. A home network system characterized by transmitting a signal for requesting connection information based on a closing operation. In a home network system comprising a server device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals and one or more client devices,
The server device includes infrared light emitting means capable of transmitting an infrared signal, and connection information providing means for transmitting connection information via the infrared light emitting means when receiving a radio wave signal transmitted from the client device,
The home network system, wherein the client device includes infrared light receiving means capable of receiving an infrared signal, and connection information setting means for setting connection information from the server device received by the infrared light receiving means.   3. The home network system according to claim 2, wherein the client device transmits a radio wave signal based on a power-on operation provided in the client device.   4. The home network system according to claim 3, wherein the radio signal is a signal for requesting connection information. The server device and the client device each have an authentication ID management unit including an authentication ID storage unit that stores an authentication ID for establishing a communication link, and the authentication ID management unit matches each other's authentication ID Configured to establish a communication link to
5. The home network system according to claim 2, wherein the same authentication ID is recorded in advance in the authentication ID storage means of each of the server device and the client device. A client device constituting a home network system including a server device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals,
Infrared light receiving means capable of receiving connection information transmitted from the infrared light emitting means of the server device based on reception of a radio wave signal transmitted from the client device;
A client device comprising: connection information setting means for setting connection information from the server device received by the infrared light receiving means.

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