JP4215789B2 - Communication protocol conversion system, communication protocol conversion method, and communication protocol conversion cradle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication protocol conversion system which efficiently sets an IP address to a mobile information terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The communication protocol conversion system includes the mobile information terminal and a communication protocol conversion cradle for connecting the mobile information terminal to a network environment. The communication protocol conversion cradle includes a storage means for storing information including an IP address to be set to the mobile information terminal and a communication protocol conversion means for converting communication protocols between the mobile information terminal and the communication protocol conversion cradle to communication protocols for connecting to the network environment, when connecting the mobile information terminal to the network environment. The mobile information terminal includes a reading means for reading out information including the IP address to be set to the mobile information terminal from the communication protocol conversion cradle and a communication means for using the read IP address to connect to the network environment and performs communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication protocol conversion system, a communication protocol conversion method, and a communication protocol conversion cradle, and more particularly to a communication protocol conversion system, a communication protocol conversion method, and a communication protocol conversion cradle used when a portable information terminal is connected to a network.

  Recently, portable information terminals (referred to as handy terminals, hereinafter referred to as “HT”) have become widespread, and in addition to using the HT as a stand-alone, information communication is performed by connecting to a network environment. The way it is used is becoming important.

  This HT is used for business use, for example, and when connecting to a network environment and using the HT, in the communication between the HT and the server, the physical connection of the HT to the connector is portability, operability, and robustness. Since it is negative from the viewpoint of safety, it is desirable to use a non-contact method.

  Therefore, conventionally, when connecting an HT to a network environment, a wired Ethernet (Ethernet: registered trademark) is used via a protocol conversion adapter called a cradle using infrared communication using a non-contact type IrDA (infrared data association). Connected to the network environment by connecting to.

  When using IrLAN, which is one of the IrDA standards, as a communication method, it is important to use a fixed IP (Internet Protocol) address for security and device identification.

  Therefore, conventionally, an IP address for connecting to a network environment is provided on the HT side, and each HT has to recognize a connection destination server at the time of communication.

  Here, a conventional configuration in which the IP address is provided on the HT side will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG.

  Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 3, the HT 1 includes a control circuit 6 that controls the operation of the HT 1 and an IrDA interface 7 that is an interface for performing the IrDA communication 2.

  On the other hand, the cradle 3 includes an IrDA interface 8 that is an interface for performing IrDA communication 2, a wired LAN interface 4 that is an interface for performing wired LAN communication 5, and a bridge that connects the IrDA interface 8 and the wired LAN interface 4. And a circuit 9.

  The HT 1 and the cradle 3 perform IrDA communication 2 in a contactless manner, and the cradle 3 provides a connection to the wired LAN communication 5 for the HT 1.

  The bridge circuit 9 inside the cradle 3 performs communication protocol conversion by the IrLAN protocol, and the HT 1 performs wired LAN communication 5 through the bridge circuit 9 by converting from IrDA to LAN.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the MAC address (Media Access Control address) in the TCP / IP communication uses an address held by the cradle 3, and the IP address uses the address held by the HT1.

  Here, the MAC address is an identification number assigned to a network device, and since this value is fixedly assigned, it does not overlap. In this way, the same identification number is prevented from being assigned to different devices, and is a unique value unique to each network device.

  Thus, the conventional HT 1 can perform wired LAN communication 5 via the bridge circuit 9 and the wired LAN interface 4 by performing communication with the cradle 3 using IrDA.

  However, when a plurality of HTs are simultaneously connected to the network environment to perform communication, an IP address is required for each HT. When this IP address is set in advance for each HT, Therefore, it is necessary to set a different IP address for each HT, and a very large number of IP addresses are required.

  Therefore, paying attention to the fact that the cradle 3 is connected to the wired LAN, during normal use, the number of HT used is greater than the number of cradle, so the relationship of “HT> cradle” can be considered.

  Therefore, if each cradle can have an IP address, the number of set IP addresses can be reduced, and the number of IP addresses can be reduced.

As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses that an IP address is assigned to each cruiser and connected to a network environment.
JP 2006-013643 A

  This Patent Document 1 discloses a first means for holding a terminal-side IP address for connecting to a network, a second means for holding a network-side IP address, and an IP address of a portable information terminal as an IP address of a cradle. A communication protocol conversion cradle having means for converting to an address and transmitting to the network, and having a means for converting the IP address on the network side into the IP address of the cradle and transmitting to the portable information terminal is described.

  However, in the communication protocol conversion cradle described in Patent Document 1, since the cradle has an IP address, the HT and the cradle are used in order to perform communication between IP and IP by LAN (Local Area Network) connection by a network. There is a problem that a dedicated protocol for performing pseudo communication by exchanging addresses must be constructed.

  Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to communicate with a host PC (personal computer) as a slave option like a cradle using a conventional SCSI (small computer serial interface) or USB (universal serial bus) interface.

  That is, since it is difficult to specify the cradle itself, this cradle has a problem that it is difficult to perform special operations such as data communication.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and there is no need to construct a dedicated protocol for performing address translation, and the terminal side that efficiently sets and uses an IP address for a portable information terminal. It is an object to provide a communication protocol conversion system, a communication protocol conversion method, and a communication protocol conversion cradle that can save the number of IP addresses.

  The communication protocol conversion system according to the present invention includes a portable information terminal and a communication protocol conversion cradle for connecting the portable information terminal to a network environment, wherein the communication protocol conversion cradle is the portable information terminal. Storage means for storing information including an IP address to be set, and when the portable information terminal is connected to the network environment, a communication protocol between the portable information terminal and the communication protocol conversion cradle is connected to the network environment. A communication protocol conversion means for converting the communication protocol into a communication protocol, wherein the portable information terminal reads information including the IP address set in the portable information terminal from the communication protocol conversion cradle; and the read IP address Using the above Characterized by comprising a communication means for communicating by connecting to Ttowaku environment.

  In the communication protocol conversion system according to the present invention, the communication protocol conversion cradle may be an IC tag rewritable by the storage means, the portable information terminal may be an IC tag reader.

  In the communication protocol conversion system according to the present invention, when the connection of the portable information terminal is disconnected from the network environment after being connected to the network environment, the portable information terminal uses the reading unit to read the communication protocol conversion cradle. The information including the IP address read out from the mobile information terminal and set in the mobile information terminal may be deleted from the mobile information terminal.

  According to the present invention, the communication protocol conversion cradle stores information including an IP address to be set in the portable information terminal, and the portable information terminal is set in the network environment by setting the stored IP address in the portable information terminal. Therefore, the number of IP addresses set in the portable information terminal can be saved. Thereby, it is possible to realize a communication protocol conversion system, a communication protocol conversion method, and a communication protocol conversion cradle that efficiently set an IP address in a portable information terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cradle 3 and the HT 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Components similar to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the HT 11 includes a control circuit 16 that controls the operation of the HT 11, an IrDA interface 17 that is an interface for performing IrDA communication 2, and various IC (integrated circuit) tags provided in the cradle 3. And an IC tag reader / writer 20 that reads setting information (IC tag data 22 described later).

  On the other hand, the cradle 3 includes an IrDA interface 8 that is an interface for performing IrDA communication 2, a wired LAN interface 4 that is an interface for performing wired LAN communication 5, and a bridge that connects the IrDA interface 8 and the wired LAN interface 4. A circuit 9 and an IC tag 21 having various setting information (IC tag data 22 described later) are provided. The various setting information includes at least an IP address.

  Here, the difference from the conventional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is that an IC tag reader / writer (corresponding to the reading means of the present invention) 20 is provided in the HT 11, and an IC tag (storage means of the present invention) is provided in the cradle 3. This is the point that 21 is provided. Other configurations are the same as the block diagram of the conventional configuration shown in FIG.

  The IC tag reader / writer 20 may be an IC tag reader when only reading information from the IC tag 21, and may include an IC tag reader / writer when writing information to the IC tag 21. Just choose.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the HT 11 uses the IC tag reader / writer 20 to read the IC tag data 22 written in the IC tag 21 provided in the cradle 3. As the IC tag data 22, specifically, for example, various setting information such as IP address information including an IP address is stored.

  The HT 11 reads the IP address of the IP address information from the IC tag 21 and uses the read IP address as the IP address of the HT 11 by the control circuit 16 in order to perform the wired LAN communication 5 via the cradle 3. .

  Next, the operation in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be further described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When starting communication, the HT 11 uses the IC tag reader / writer 20 to read the IC tag 21 of the cradle 3 (step S10). In the IC tag 21, IP address information including an IP address is registered.

  Accordingly, the HT 11 registers the terminal-side IP address in the read IP address information as the HT 11 IP address by the control circuit 16 and also registers the IP address to be connected to the network (step S11).

  Thereby, the HT 11 performs IrLAN communication using the IrDA interface 17 to a specific server using the registered terminal-side IP address and IP address information connected to the network (step S12).

  The IP address connected to the network may be assigned to data transmitted from the HT 11 in the cradle 3.

  Since the cradle 3 receives the data of the IrDA communication 2 from the HT 11 with an IP address for connecting to the network, the cradle 3 can be connected to perform the wired LAN communication 5 by the bridge circuit 9 using the conventional IrLAN protocol. Become.

  In addition, the IP address is the same for the IC tag 21 and the HT 11 provided in the cradle 3, and the HT 11 has the IP address in a pseudo manner, so that the server side specifies the cradle 3 by the IP address. , HT11 can be specified in a pseudo manner.

  Furthermore, the IC tag 21 can have various setting information other than the IP address information including the IP address.

  Specifically, for example, a dedicated terminal ID used for communication, connection destination information, and the like can be stored in the IC tag 21. Thereby, the HT 11 can acquire various setting information such as the dedicated terminal ID and connection destination information from the IC tag 21 together with the IP address during communication.

  When the HT 11 ends the connection to the network environment using the cradle 3 and IrLAN communication (step S13), various setting information such as IP address information including the IP address and connection destination information is deleted from the HT 11 ( Step S14).

  Further, when the HT 11 is taken out of the range where the cradle 3 can communicate with the cradle 3, the IrDA communication is disconnected, so the IrDA communication is interrupted, and the IP address information necessary for the communication is deleted from the HT 11 (step S14).

  Thus, in this embodiment, by deleting the IP address information including the IP address and various setting information from the HT 11, it is possible to prevent the IP address information set in the HT 11 from being used illegally. , Security on the communication line can be ensured.

  Further, since the cradle 3 includes the IC tag 21, it is possible to leave a result of communication with the HT 11 as a log on the IC tag 21, and specify the device when a communication failure occurs or the terminal is moved. It can be used as information. Further, the HT 11 can rewrite the IP address by using the IC tag reader / writer 20.

  In the present embodiment, the IC tag reader / writer 20 and the IC tag 21 store and read IP address information including an IP address as reading means for reading IP address information including the IP address and storage means for storing the IP address information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to use Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  In this case, it is necessary to install means for registering IP address information including an IP address in a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) of the adapter-side cradle 3 and a Bluetooth (registered trademark) profile capable of serial communication.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the cradle 3 has an IP address, the number of IP addresses managed by the server side is determined depending on the number of the cradle 3. Thereby, since the number of cradle is smaller than the number of HT, the number of IP addresses managed on the server side can be saved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the IP address can be provided in advance in the IC tag 21 of the cradle 3, it is possible to avoid occurrence of a communication error without overlapping the IP address. As a result, the HT 11 may set the IP address in advance, and can use it wherever the spare HT is held. Also, since it is not necessary to set an IP address in advance on the HT side, the introduction time can be saved.

  Further, since the HT 11 can use communication using the fixed IP address provided in the IC tag 21 of the cradle 3, it is possible to ensure communication security.

  Further, by providing the cradle 3 with the bridge circuit 9, it is possible to use communication using a general-purpose IrLAN protocol (which converts IrDA and LAN).

  Furthermore, in the cradle 3 according to the present embodiment, since communication can be performed even with a conventional HT in which the HT 11 itself has an IP address, the conventional HT 11 itself has an IP address already set. HT can also be mixed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the cradle and HT in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional cradle and HT.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 Portable information terminal 2 IrDA communication 3 Cradle 4 Wired LAN interface 5 Wired LAN communication 6, 16 Control circuit 7, 8, 17 IrDA interface 9 Bridge circuit 20 IC tag reader / writer 21 IC tag 22 IC tag data

Claims (8)

In a communication protocol conversion system comprising a portable information terminal and a communication protocol conversion cradle for connecting the portable information terminal to a network environment,
The communication protocol conversion cradle includes:
Storage means for storing information including an IP address set in the portable information terminal;
A communication protocol conversion means for converting a communication protocol between the portable information terminal and the communication protocol conversion cradle into a communication protocol connected to the network environment when the portable information terminal is connected to the network environment;
The portable information terminal
Reading means for reading out information including the IP address set in the portable information terminal from the communication protocol conversion cradle;
Communication means for connecting to and communicating with the network environment using the read IP address;
A communication protocol conversion system comprising: The communication protocol conversion cradle includes:
The storage means is a rewritable IC tag,
The portable information terminal
The communication protocol conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is an IC tag reader. When the connection of the portable information terminal is disconnected from the network environment after being connected to the network environment, the portable information terminal is read from the communication protocol conversion cradle by the reading means and set in the portable information terminal. The communication protocol conversion system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information including an IP address is deleted from the portable information terminal. A communication protocol conversion method in a communication protocol conversion system comprising a portable information terminal and a communication protocol conversion cradle for connecting the portable information terminal to a network environment,
A storage step in which the communication protocol conversion cradle stores information including an IP address set in the portable information terminal;
The portable information terminal reads out information including the IP address set in the portable information terminal from the communication protocol conversion cradle;
A communication step in which the portable information terminal connects and communicates with the network environment using the read IP address;
Converting the communication protocol between the portable information terminal and the communication protocol conversion cradle into a communication protocol for connecting to the network environment when the communication protocol conversion cradle connects the portable information terminal to the network environment; ,
A communication protocol conversion method characterized by comprising: In the storing step of the communication protocol conversion cradle, it is stored in a rewritable IC tag,
5. The communication protocol conversion method according to claim 4, wherein in the reading step of the portable information terminal, reading is performed by an IC tag reader.   When the connection of the portable information terminal is disconnected from the network environment after being connected to the network environment, the portable information terminal performs a reading step of reading information including the IP address from the communication protocol conversion cradle. 6. The communication protocol conversion method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of deleting information including the IP address set in the terminal from the portable information terminal. In the communication protocol conversion cradle that connects the mobile information terminal to the network environment,
Information storage means for storing information including an IP address set in the portable information terminal;
A communication protocol conversion means for converting a communication protocol between the portable information terminal and the communication protocol conversion cradle into a communication protocol connected to the network environment when connecting the portable information terminal to the network environment;
A communication protocol conversion cradle characterized by comprising: The portable information terminal includes information reading means for reading information including an IP address set in the portable information terminal from the communication protocol conversion cradle;
Communication means for connecting to and communicating with the network environment using the read IP address;
A portable information terminal comprising:

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