JP4368248B2 - Network construction system and method, and network construction program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network construction system and method, and a network construction program capable of improving the security of a wireless communication interface using, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection adapter device.

  USB is widely used as a connection interface for peripheral devices of information processing apparatuses such as personal computers (PCs). For such a device (USB device) connected to the information processing apparatus via USB, it is necessary to install driver software corresponding to the type of the device into the information processing apparatus.

Conventionally, the driver software is provided by a magnetic disk or an optical disk. However, in consideration of user convenience, a USB device is provided with a memory, and the driver software and the automatic execution program are stored in the memory. The device is known. In such a USB device, when it is first connected to the information processing apparatus, it is recognized as a memory card, and an automatic execution program is executed to automatically introduce driver software (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-114858 A

  It is conceivable that a default value is set as security information such as ESSID between the modem device provided with the wireless LAN interface and the wireless LAN interface connected to the information processing device to facilitate connection.

  When such a USB device (wireless LAN interface) as described above is used as the wireless LAN interface on the information processing apparatus side, it is considered that driver software can be easily introduced and convenience is improved.

  However, in a state where such default security information is set, the modem device may be used from an unintended information processing device. For this reason, from the viewpoint of improving security, it is desirable to change security information so that an unintended information processing apparatus cannot be connected.

  However, if a new WEP key is changed via a wireless LAN with default security information set, it may be seen by other users, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving security. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems as described above, and provides a network construction system and method, and a network construction program that can contribute to improvement of user convenience and security. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a wireless adapter device that is connected to an information processing device and includes a wireless communication interface for connecting the information processing device to a wireless access point via wireless communication, and a wireless communication interface. The information processing apparatus is configured using setting processing means for setting information regarding security, driver software that is held in the wireless adapter apparatus and for introducing the wireless adapter apparatus into the information processing apparatus, and an automatic execution program. Connect to a wireless access point.

  In the present invention, when the wireless adapter device is inserted into the information processing device, the automatic execution program is automatically read from the wireless adapter device and executed, and the driver software is introduced into the information processing device by the automatic execution program. Then, the user is prompted to make a selection for setting the security of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface, and in response to this selection, the setting processing means is configured to set the security.

  In the above invention, a wired communication interface for connecting the information processing apparatus to the wireless access point via wired communication is further provided, and the setting processing means sets the security of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface. May be performed.

  In the above invention, when the wireless adapter device is connected to an information processing device in which no driver software is installed, identification information indicating that the wireless adapter device is a memory device is stored in the wireless adapter device. Based on the supply of the identification information, the automatic execution program stored in the wireless adapter device is executed, and the driver software is introduced into the information processing device, and wireless communication is performed according to the introduction of the driver software. It is preferable to supply identification information stored in the adapter device and indicating that the wireless adapter device is a wireless LAN interface.

  In the present invention, when the driver software is introduced, the identification information stored in the memory ID holding means is supplied to the information processing apparatus so that the wireless LAN interface is recognized as the memory apparatus and stored in the memory. By introducing the driver software using the automatic execution program, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of user convenience.

  Further, in the present invention, the wireless access point has setting processing means for receiving setting of information on at least the security of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface. In addition, since the auto-execution program or driver software includes a process for displaying information regarding security settings of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface, the user can set security information via the wired communication interface. Can contribute to the improvement of security.

(Network construction system)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network construction system according to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case of constructing a communication system having a wireless LAN access point equipped with an ADSL modem.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment wirelessly communicates between an information processing apparatus (PC) 10 such as a personal computer, a USB wireless adapter 20 connected to the PC 10, and the USB wireless adapter 20. And a wireless access point 30 for communication. Wireless communication is performed between the USB wireless adapter 20 and the wireless access point 30 by, for example, IEEE 802.11.

  The PC 10 includes, for example, a USB host controller 11 that controls a universal serial bus (USB), a USB driver 12 that realizes control of the USB host controller 11 from the operating system (OS) side of the PC 10, and installation of driver software Settings of the execution processing unit 13 that controls the communication, the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 that controls communication using the TCP / IP protocol, the HTTP client 15 that uses the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) service, and the USB wireless adapter 20 And the like, a wired LAN interface (wired LAN I / F) 17 such as IEEE 802.3, a display unit 18 such as a display device, and an input unit 19 such as a keyboard.

  The USB wireless adapter 20 includes, for example, a USB controller 21 that performs USB control, a state holding unit 22 that holds the state of the USB wireless adapter 20, an ESS (Extended Service Set Identity) ID, and WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) in wireless communication. ) An authentication information holding unit 23 that holds authentication information such as a key, an encryption processing unit 24 that performs encryption processing according to the authentication information stored in the authentication information holding unit 23, and a wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication , A virtual drive 26 realized by a memory or the like, and a switch (SW) 27 for setting the state of the USB wireless adapter 20.

  The virtual drive 26 stores driver software 26a and an automatic execution program 26b for introducing the driver software 26a. The automatic execution program 26b is automatically executed when the virtual drive 26 is mounted.

  The state holding unit 22 holds a plurality of IDs (device IDs) indicating device types defined in the USB standard, and switches the device IDs according to the state of the SW 27. Specifically, when the SW 27 is on the memory side, the state holding unit 22 sets the device ID as a value indicating that it is a memory, and when the SW 27 is on the USB wireless adapter side, the state holding unit 22 sets the device ID to the USB wireless. The value indicates that this is an adapter.

  The SW 27 is a switching unit that switches identification information supplied to the PC 10 by the state holding unit 22. When the USB wireless adapter 20 is connected to the PC 10 in which the driver software 26 a is not installed, the device ID is a memory. The PC 10 is supplied as a value indicating that it is present, thereby causing the automatic execution program 26b to be executed and the driver software 26a to be installed in the PC 10. Further, when the SW 27 is connected to the PC 10 in which the driver software 26a is installed, the SW 27 is supplied to the PC as a value indicating that the device ID is a USB wireless adapter.

  The SW 27 is a physical switch provided on the side surface of the USB wireless adapter 20 as shown in FIG. 2 in this embodiment, and the switching is manually performed by the user. That is, when installing the driver software, the SW 27 is set to the memory side, the PC 10 is made to recognize the USB wireless adapter 20 as a memory device, and the driver software 26a is introduced by the automatic execution program 26b. In addition, when the installation of the driver software is finished and used as a USB wireless adapter, the SW 27 can be set as the USB wireless adapter side, and the PC 10 can recognize the USB wireless adapter 20 as the USB wireless adapter 20 to perform wireless communication. Put it in a state.

  The wireless access point 30 is connected to an analog public switched telephone network (PSTN) 50 via a splitter 40 and connected to a network such as the Internet via a gateway device connected to the PSTN 50. Yes.

  The wireless access point 30 includes, for example, a USB wireless adapter 31 that communicates with the USB wireless adapter 20, a TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 that controls communication using the TCP / IP protocol, an HTTP server 33 that provides an HTTP service, A setting processing unit 34 for setting authentication information of the USB wireless adapter 31, a wired LAN I / F 35 such as IEEE802.3, an ADSL modem 36 for performing ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) communication, a telephone, a facsimile machine, and the like VoIP processing unit 37 used for providing a VoIP (Voice over IP) communication service to the analog terminal, and a splitter 40 that superimposes and separates the analog communication signal and the ADSL communication signal.

  The HTTP server 33 is used as a front end when the setting of the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 such as address and routing, the setting of the USB wireless adapter 31 such as ESSID and WEP key is performed via the HTTP client 15 of the PC 10, for example. Can be done.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the USB wireless adapter 20 includes a housing 20a and a connector 20b. The housing 20a accommodates an antenna 25a included in the wireless system 25 and circuit components constituting the USB controller 21 to the virtual drive 26 described above. In use, the connector 20b is connected to a connector provided in the USB host controller 11 of the PC 10. In the present embodiment, the physical SW 27 is provided as the SW 27 on the side surface of the housing 20a. When the SW 27 is realized by software or the like, it is not necessary to provide a physical switch.

(Network construction method)
The method of the present invention can be implemented by operating the network construction system having the above configuration. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network construction system according to this embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the network construction method of the present invention is implemented by executing the network construction program installed in the PC 10 on the CPU of the PC 10. This network construction program may be executed as a function of an OS installed in the PC 10, for example, or may be a plug-in application or a resident program.

  In the initial state of the PC 10, the driver software as the USB wireless adapter 20 is not installed in the PC 10, and the memory driver 12 a is installed in the USB driver 12. When the USB wireless adapter 20 is first connected to the PC 10 in such a state, for example, as shown in S1 in FIG. 3, the SW 27 is connected on the memory side (S1).

  When the USB wireless adapter 20 in such a state is inserted (S2), the USB host controller 11 of the PC 10 recognizes that the USB wireless adapter 20 is a memory device according to a network construction program executed in advance, and executes The processing unit 13 mounts the virtual drive 26. Further, the execution processing unit 13 executes the automatic execution program 26b in the virtual drive 26 (S3) and introduces the driver software 26a (S4).

  At this time, the authentication information such as the ESSID and the WEP key is set to the default value of the driver software, but it is desirable to change the authentication information such as the ESSID and the WEP key from the viewpoint of improving security.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the execution processing unit 13 displays a confirmation display for recommending security settings to the user (S5), and confirms the user's instruction (S6). Thus, the security setting confirmation display can be performed to prompt the user to set the security, which can contribute to the improvement of security.

  When the user selects enhanced security, the execution processing unit 13 causes the display unit 18 to display a display requesting connection between the wired LAN I / F 17 and the wired LAN I / F 35 (S7). When the connection is completed, an IP address and the like are set between the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 and the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 (S8).

  Thereafter, the execution processing unit 13 displays a screen for inputting an ESSID and a WEP key, for example, as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in the figure, a default value (for example, “YBBUser”) is set in ESSID. In response to this, when the user inputs the ESSID and the WEP key or the WEP key (S9), the execution processing unit 13 sets these authentication information in the wireless access point 30 and the USB wireless adapter 20 (S10).

  Specifically, the authentication information from the execution processing unit 13 is transmitted to the wireless access point 30 via the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 and the wired LAN I / F 17. This authentication information is supplied to the setting processing unit 34 via the HTTP server 33 and set in the authentication information holding unit 31a. The execution processing unit 13 also transmits authentication information to the USB wireless adapter 20 via the USB host controller 11. This authentication information is set in the authentication information holding unit 23 via the USB controller 21.

  In S6 described above, when the user immediately selects to connect via the wireless LAN, the execution processing unit 13, for example, a shortcut, an icon, etc. for requesting the wireless LAN driver 12b to perform security setting processing. Is generated (S11). Thereby, it becomes easy to set security later, which can contribute to improvement of security.

  After setting the authentication information in step S10, the user switches the SW 27 to the USB wireless adapter side (S21 in FIG. 6). By switching the SW 27, the state holding unit 22 supplies a device ID indicating that it is a USB wireless adapter to the USB host controller 11 via the USB controller 21, and recognizes that the USB host controller 11 is a USB wireless adapter ( S22), wireless communication encrypted with the newly set authentication information can be performed.

  Thereafter, an IP address and the like are set between the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 and the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 (S23), and the TCP is transmitted between the PC 10 and the wireless access point 30 via the USB wireless adapter 20. / IP protocol communication can be performed.

(Example of change)
In the embodiment described above, the security setting of the wireless LAN I / F is performed using the wired LAN I / F, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the wired LAN I / F, other types of wireless I / F that are already connected and usable, and media such as an infrared I / F, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, and a memory device can be used as a medium. . In this case, in step S7 in FIG. 3, a connection request is made to the wireless I / F of these other systems.

  As another modification, the SW 27 according to the above-described embodiment is a physical form that is manually switched by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be realized by software, for example. In this case, a function for detecting and storing the installation of the driver software 26a is provided in the OS or middleware of the USB wireless adapter 20 or the PC 10, and the value of the device ID is switched at a timing according to the procedure of the security setting operation. .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the driver software installation process for the USB wireless adapter according to this modification.

  Also in this modified example, in the initial state of the PC 10, the driver software as the USB wireless adapter 20 is not installed in the PC 10, and the memory driver 12 a is installed in the USB driver 12. When the USB wireless adapter 20 is first inserted into the PC 10 in such a state (S31), it is checked whether or not the driver software is installed, and the software SW 27 is switched to the memory side (S32). ).

  Next, the USB host controller 11 of the PC 10 recognizes that the USB wireless adapter 20 is a memory device by the network construction program executed in advance, and the execution processing unit 13 mounts the virtual drive 26. Further, the execution processing unit 13 executes the automatic execution program 26b in the virtual drive 26 (S33) and introduces the driver software 26a (S34).

  Subsequently, the SW 27 is automatically switched to the USB wireless adapter side by software by the automatic execution program 26b (S35). By switching the SW 27, the state holding unit 22 supplies a device ID indicating that it is a USB wireless adapter to the USB host controller 11 via the USB controller 21, and recognizes that the USB host controller 11 is a USB wireless adapter ( S36), wireless communication encrypted by the authentication information set in steps S41 and S42 described later can be performed.

  Next, the execution processing unit 13 displays a confirmation display that recommends security settings to the user (S37), and confirms the user's instruction (S38). When the user selects enhanced security, the execution processing unit 13 causes the display unit 18 to display a display requesting connection between the wired LAN I / F 17 and the wired LAN I / F 35 (S39). In step S39, when there is a wireless I / F or infrared I / F of another method that is already connected and usable in the initial setting environment or the like, the wireless I / F of the other method is used. Make a connection request. When the connection is completed, the IP address and the like are set between the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 and the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 (S40).

  Thereafter, the execution processing unit 13 displays a screen for inputting the ESSID and the WEP key, and when the user inputs the ESSID and the WEP key or the WEP key in response thereto (S41), the execution processing unit 13 Authentication information is set in the wireless access point 30 and the USB wireless adapter 20 (S42).

  On the other hand, if the user immediately selects to connect via the wireless LAN in S36 described above, the execution processing unit 13 uses, for example, a shortcut, an icon, etc. for requesting the wireless LAN driver 12b to perform security setting processing. Is generated (S44).

  After setting the authentication information in step S42, the IP address and the like are set between the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 14 and the TCP / IP protocol processing unit 32 (S43), and are recognized by the USB host controller 11 in step S36. In addition, TCP / IP protocol communication can be performed between the PC 10 and the wireless access point 30 via the USB wireless adapter 20.

(Operations and effects according to this embodiment)
In the network construction system according to the present embodiment and the modification described above, the driver software is stored in the virtual drive 26 as described above, and the USB wireless adapter 20 is used as the memory device when installing the driver software. By recognizing, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of convenience for the user as compared with the case where the driver software is supplied by a medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

  In the state where the driver software is installed in S4 in FIG. 3 described above, since default values are set for the ESSID and the WEP key, the authentication information such as the newly set ESSID and the WEP key is transmitted to the wireless LAN. If it is transmitted via the Internet, these authentication information may be leaked. For this reason, in this communication system, the security setting is performed via the wired LAN as described above. Thereby, possibility that authentication information will leak can be reduced and it can contribute to the improvement of security.

  In the conventional communication system, the authentication information needs to be set separately for the USB wireless adapter 20 and the wireless access point 30, but in this communication system, the execution processing unit 13 is connected to the USB wireless adapter 20 and the wireless access point 30 wirelessly. Since the authentication information is supplied to the access point 30, it is possible to simplify the setting of the authentication information and contribute to the improvement of user convenience.

  Further, in this communication system, only the input of ESSID and WEP key is requested as shown in FIG. In the conventional setting process, an input screen on which parameters that are not necessarily required can be input is displayed, and the user's operation becomes complicated. On the other hand, in this communication system, security can be improved only by the user inputting the ESSID and the WEP key by the processing as described above, which can contribute to simplification of the operation.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on embodiment. In embodiment, it is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the USB wireless adapter which comprises the said communication system. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a driver software installation process for a USB wireless adapter constituting the communication system in the embodiment. In an embodiment, it is a figure showing an example of a display at the time of introduction of driver software. In an embodiment, it is a figure showing an example of a display at the time of introduction of driver software. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing after driver software is installed in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of and after installation of driver software in a modification example.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... USB host controller 12 ... USB driver 12a ... Memory driver 12b ... Wireless LAN driver 16 ... Setting assistant 20 ... Wireless LAN I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... USB controller 22 ... State holding part 23 ... Authentication information holding part 24 ... Encryption processing part 25 ... Wireless system 26 ... Virtual drive 26a ... Driver software 26b ... Automatic execution program 27 ... Switch (SW)
30 ... Wireless access point 31 ... Wireless LAN I / F
31a ... Authentication information holding unit 34 ... Setting processing unit 35 ... Wired LAN I / F
37 ... VoIP processing unit 38 ... Splitter 50 ... PSTN

Claims (9)

A network construction system for connecting an information processing device to a wireless access point using a wireless adapter device having a wireless communication interface,
Setting processing means for setting security of the wireless communication interface;
Provided in the wireless adapter device, comprising driver software for introducing the wireless adapter device into the information processing device, and a memory device holding an automatic execution program,
When the wireless adapter device is inserted into the information processing device, the automatic execution program is:
Automatically read from the wireless adapter device and executed,
Introducing the driver software into the information processing apparatus;
Prompt the user to select the wireless communication interface security settings via the wired communication interface,
A network construction system characterized by causing the setting processing means to perform security setting according to the selection. A wired communication interface for connecting the information processing apparatus to the wireless access point via wired communication;
The network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the setting processing unit sets security of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface. A memory ID holding means provided in the wireless adapter device for holding identification information indicating a memory device;
Wireless ID holding means provided in the wireless adapter device and holding identification information indicating a wireless LAN interface;
The identification information stored in the memory ID holding unit is supplied to the information processing apparatus when the driver software is introduced, and is stored in the wireless ID holding unit when communicating with the wireless access point. Switching means for supplying identification information to the information processing apparatus, the switching means,
When the wireless adapter device is connected to an information processing device in which the driver software is not installed, the memory device is configured to supply identification information stored in the memory ID holding unit to the information processing device. To run the auto-execution program stored in
3. The network construction system according to claim 1, wherein identification information stored in the wireless ID holding unit is supplied when the driver software is connected to an information processing apparatus in which the driver software is installed. . A wireless adapter device connected to an information processing device and provided with a wireless communication interface for connecting the wireless processing device to a wireless access point via wireless communication;
Setting processing means for setting information on security of the wireless communication interface;
A network construction method for connecting the information processing apparatus to the wireless access point using driver software and an automatic execution program that are held in the wireless adapter apparatus and for introducing the wireless adapter apparatus into the information processing apparatus Because
When the wireless adapter device is inserted into the information processing device, the automatic execution program is automatically read from the wireless adapter device and executed (1);
(2) introducing the driver software into the information processing apparatus by the automatic execution program;
Prompting the user to select a wireless communication interface security setting via a wired communication interface, and causing the setting processing means to perform security setting in response to the selection (3), Network construction method. A wired communication interface for connecting the information processing apparatus to the wireless access point via wired communication;
5. The network construction method according to claim 4, wherein the setting processing unit performs security setting of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface in the step (3). In step (2),
When the wireless adapter device is connected to an information processing device in which the driver software is not installed, identification information indicating that the wireless adapter device is a memory device is stored in the wireless adapter device. Supply to the processing equipment,
Based on the supply of the identification information, the automatic execution program stored in the wireless adapter device is executed, and the driver software is introduced into the information processing device,
6. The network according to claim 4, wherein identification information stored in the wireless adapter device and indicating that the wireless adapter device is a wireless LAN interface is supplied in accordance with the introduction of the driver software. Construction method. In an information processing device connectable to a wireless access point via a wireless communication interface, a network construction program for setting security of the wireless communication interface,
In the information processing apparatus,
When the wireless adapter device is inserted into the information processing device, the step (1) of automatically reading and executing the automatic execution program stored in the wireless adapter device;
(2) introducing the driver software stored in the wireless adapter device into the information processing device by the automatic execution program;
Prompts the user to select a wireless communication interface security setting via a wired communication interface, and in response to this selection, causes the setting processing means to perform a process including a step (3). A network construction program characterized by this. A wired communication interface for connecting the information processing apparatus to the wireless access point via wired communication;
8. The network construction program according to claim 7, wherein the setting processing means sets security of the wireless communication interface via the wired communication interface in the step (3). In step (2),
When the wireless adapter device is connected to an information processing device in which the driver software is not installed, identification information indicating that the wireless adapter device is a memory device is stored in the wireless adapter device. Supply to the processing equipment,
Based on the supply of the identification information, the automatic execution program stored in the wireless adapter device is executed, and the driver software is introduced into the information processing device,
9. The network according to claim 7, wherein identification information stored in the wireless adapter device and indicating that the wireless adapter device is a wireless LAN interface is supplied in response to the introduction of the driver software. Construction program.

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