KR100330023B1 - Network Terminal Apparatus with Routing function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a router function, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network terminal device without separately purchasing each communication equipment necessary for network connection such as a public line switching network, a digital leased line and a general information communication network. It is to provide a network terminal device having a router function implemented as a device.

A configuration of the present invention for achieving this object includes a communication interface for receiving data transmitted from an external communication network or interfacing the transmission of data to the external communication network; A device interface for receiving data transmitted from an external device to the network terminal device or interfacing a transmission of data to the external device; A storage unit for storing the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface, or storing network data for accessing the external communication network, and storing a system program for operating the network terminal device; A routing unit performing a connection operation with the external communication network using the network data; A local area network controller configured to analyze and process data transmitted from the external communication network and received through the communication interface; And a controller configured to store the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface to the storage unit and to control an operation of the routing unit for connection with the external communication network.

According to the present invention, by directly performing a routing function within the network terminal device, expensive devices such as hubs, routers, and public network access devices (modems or DSUs) necessary for connecting various devices to a network to use Internet services are separately provided. There is an advantage that you do not have to.

In addition, there is an advantage that the user can easily use without a separate technology for the installation of the hub, router and public network connection apparatus as in the prior art.

Description

Network terminal device with router function {Network Terminal Apparatus with Routing function}

The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a router function, and more particularly, by adding a routing function and a dial-up function to a network printer or a multifunction device connected to a local area network (LAN), a computer connected to the network is separated. The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a router function that enables access to the Internet without going through a router and enables line access for a telephone call.

Small office home offices (SOHO) require various types of office equipment such as computers, printers, and copiers to perform their work.To use the Internet, a small local area network must be installed in the office, Separate communication equipment must be installed for the connection.

In addition, small businesses require a router and a hub for network access. As shown in FIG. 1, a hub is a device that connects network terminals, that is, a computer, a workstation, and a printer. Connected to an external network.

Here, in the case of a large company, it is possible to access a network using a dedicated line, but this has a disadvantage of high cost.

On the other hand, home users and small businesses use an Internet service provider (ISP) through a modem and then use an Internet service provided by the ISP.

As such, a method using a modem can be usefully used as a method of connecting a computer using a single telephone line, but there are many difficulties in using multiple users at the same time.

As a method used by a plurality of users, there are a method of connecting a plurality of computers to a local area network, and then installing and connecting additional equipment for connecting to an external communication network.

To set up a local area network, a hub for connecting multiple computers, a router for connecting to an external network, and a modem or data service unit (DSU) should be installed depending on the characteristics of the public network.

As such, a general user needs a hub, a router, and a modem or DSU device to access the Internet.

Small business owners also use a variety of ways to network office equipment in an office environment, sharing a single resource.

As such, existing small businesses require hubs, routers, and public network access devices (modems or DSUs) to connect various office devices through a network to use Internet services. Only stable network can be used.

However, such equipment has a disadvantage of having to be separately purchased and installed as expensive communication equipment.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to separately purchase each communication equipment necessary for network connection such as a public line switching network, a digital leased line and an integrated information communication network to a network terminal device. The present invention provides a network terminal device having a router function implemented as a single device.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration in which a conventional network terminal device is used;

2 is a block diagram showing a network terminal apparatus having a router function according to the present invention;

3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating operation of a network hub according to the present invention;

4 is an exemplary view showing an example of network printing, according to the present invention;

5 is an exemplary view showing an example of connecting to the Internet according to the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

100: control unit 200: storage unit

210: Rom 220: Ram

230: EEPROM 240: Shared Memory

300: device interface 310: printer interface

320: telephone interface 400: routing unit

500: Local Area Network Controller

600: signal amplification unit (PHY) 700: printer module

800: handset 900: communication interface

910: local interface 920: line interface

A network terminal apparatus having a router function of the present invention for solving the above object is a network terminal apparatus which is connected to an external communication network and can be used to receive data transmitted from the external communication network or interface data transmission to the external communication network. Communication interface for; A device interface for receiving data transmitted from an external device to the network terminal device or interfacing a transmission of data to the external device; A storage unit for storing the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface, or storing network data for accessing the external communication network, and storing a system program for operating the network terminal device; A routing unit performing a connection operation with the external communication network using the network data; A local area network controller configured to analyze and process data transmitted from the external communication network and received through the communication interface; And a controller configured to store the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface to the storage unit and to control an operation of the routing unit for connection with the external communication network.

Preferably, the external communication network includes a local area network and a public network.

Preferably, the communication interface includes a local interface configured to allow the network terminal device to connect with a plurality of computers or network devices connected to the local area network; And a line interface for connecting to the public network using a routing function performed in the routing unit.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a signal amplifying unit for accessing the local area network and amplifying data transmitted from the plurality of computers or network devices via the local interface.

Preferably, the device interface includes a printer interface for transmitting / receiving data between printers connected to the network terminal device; And a telephone interface for transmitting / receiving data between communication terminals connected to the network terminal apparatus.

Preferably, the network data includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for distinguishing computers or network devices connected to remote locations of the external communication network.

Hereinafter, the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention described above will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a network terminal apparatus having a router function according to the present invention.

This shows only a module that performs a network function among the functional blocks of the terminal device. In the case of a printer, an image processing module for processing image data, an engine module for printing, a module for menu setting, and the like are omitted. In this case, the image input unit and the communication module are omitted.

The control unit 100 is a device for managing a system according to the present invention and is connected to a ROM, a RAM, a shared memory, a local area network controller, a routing unit, and a printer interface to manage functions to be performed in each module.

The ROM 210 is configured as a flash memory so that all programs to be executed in the present invention can be stored and updated as new programs if necessary.

RAM 220 serves as a buffer that can temporarily store the data for communication.

The EEPROM 230 stores all information necessary as a network terminal, that is, a MAC (Media Access Control) address and an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

The local interface 910 is composed of RJ-45 connectors and electrical circuits for connecting with computers or network devices through a local area network, and can support up to four ports because it is intended for small subscribers. Expansion is possible.

The PHY 600, which is one of the signal amplification units, is connected to the local interface 910 to amplify a signal input from a local area network and transmit the amplified signal to another device.

The local area network controller 500 analyzes whether a signal input through the PHY 600 is data to be processed by itself, and transmits data to the corresponding module if the data is to be processed, and discards otherwise. do.

When the terminal device connected to the local area network is connected to the external Internet, the routing unit 400 performs a function of a general router as a device that performs the function so that the terminal device can be connected to the public network.

The line interface 920 is composed of RJ-45 connectors and electrical circuits so as to be connected to the routing unit 400 and the telephone interface 320 to be connected to the public network.

The telephone interface 320 connects with the telephone handset 800 to allow voice calls.

The printer interface 310 is configured such that when a computer or a network device connected to a local area network wants to print data, the printer interface 310 is connected to a printer to enable network printing.

The operation of the network terminal apparatus having the router function of the present invention having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The operation of the network terminal apparatus having the router function of the present invention has four functions.

First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the function of the hub will be described.

In general, the network hub, which is one of the local interfaces 910, functions to interconnect network terminal devices and performs a function of a general reproduction amplifier.

That is, in order to interconnect a plurality of terminal devices, the network topology may be configured using various methods. In the present invention, a scheme for supporting carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA / CD) having a bus topology may be used. An example will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the terminal A wants to transmit data to the terminal C, the signal transmitted from the A has the address of the terminal C and has a PHY 600 which is one of the signal amplification units through the local interface 910. ), The PHY 600 transmits the received signal back to all terminal devices A, B, C, and D.

Upon receiving the signal, the terminal apparatus checks whether it matches its address, and if it matches its address, processes the received data and discards it.

As described above, a signal is reproduced and relayed to enable communication between the terminal devices connected to the local area network.

Next, a network printing function will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

To perform a network printing function, an IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to a network printer is required.

When the terminal devices want to print a document, they set up a network printer having a pre-assigned IP address and send a document print command to the network printer. The document print procedure is the same as that of a general computer in the state where the network printer setup is completed. Is performed.

The document output command data from the terminal device A is received by the PHY 600 and transmitted to the local area network controller 500, and it is checked whether the received data matches the IP address assigned thereto.

As a result of the check, if the IP address matches, the printing function is transmitted to the printer module through the printer interface 310 to perform a printing function.

In addition, the printer interface 310 may be implemented in various ways, the most common method is a method of sharing a bus with a central processing unit (not shown) provided in the printer module.

The following is the routing function for internet access.

In order for the terminal device connected to the local area network to access the Internet, the terminal (Internet Service Provider) must be accessed through a public network or a dedicated line network, and then use a service provided by the ISP.

In order to access the ISP, the user must know the IP address provided by the ISP. Since the connection with the external network (public network) is required for the ISP connection, the gateway address for the connection with the external network must be set.

The gateway address is an essential element for the routing unit 400 to perform a function.

That is, the terminal devices connected to the local area network are communicating with each other by setting their own addresses according to the IP address system, and in order to communicate with the external terminal devices, the terminal devices connected to the local area network must know the address of the device that connects them to the external network. This is possible.

In other words, the routing function is described as an example when a user wants to connect with an address other than the one assigned to them.

When the terminal device A transmits data including the IP address of the external terminal device to access the external terminal device, the data is input to the local area network controller 500 through the PHY 600 and the IP address is input to the local area network. If it is determined that the address of the external terminal device is not the connected address, it is transmitted to the routing unit 400 and connected to the external terminal device through the line interface 920.

Finally, the telephone function is as follows.

The handset 800 connected to the telephone interface 320 is connected to another telephone connected to the public network through the line interface 920.

In addition, the hand signal is interlocked with the routing unit 400 to receive an incoming call according to the telephone number assigned to the telephone for voice call and the telephone number assigned to the routing unit 400.

As described above, the present invention is a terminal in which a function of a network printer, a hub function, a routing function, and a telephone function are combined, which is embedded in a printer or a facsimile body to perform the function, and two IP addresses are required for a network access function. .

Namely, one is an IP address for a network printer and an IP address for a gateway for performing a routing function.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be modified or modified in various ways. Therefore, changes in the future embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the technology of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by performing a direct routing function within a network terminal device, expensive devices such as hubs, routers, and public network access devices (modems or DSUs) required for connecting various devices to a network to use Internet services. There is an advantage that does not need to be equipped with a separate equipment.

In addition, there is an advantage that the user can easily use without a separate technology for the installation of the hub, router and public network connection apparatus as in the prior art.

Claims (6)

In the network terminal device can be used connected to an external communication network, A communication interface having a local interface for allowing the network terminal device to connect with a plurality of computers or network devices connected to a local area network and a line interface for connecting to the public network using a routing function performed by a routing unit; A device interface for receiving data transmitted from an external device to the network terminal device or interfacing a transmission of data to the external device; A storage unit for storing the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface, or storing network data for accessing the external communication network, and storing a system program for operating the network terminal device; A routing unit performing a connection operation with the external communication network using the network data; A local area network controller configured to analyze and process data transmitted from the external communication network and received through the communication interface; And And a control unit storing the data transmitted / received through the communication interface and the device interface in the storage unit and controlling an operation of the routing unit for connection with the external communication network. . The method of claim 1, wherein the external communication network Network terminal device having a router function, comprising a local area network (Local Area Network) and a public network (Public Network). Claim 3 has been deleted. The method of claim 1, And a signal amplifier for accessing the local area network and amplifying data transmitted from the plurality of computers or network devices through the local interface. The device interface of claim 1, wherein the device interface is A printer interface for transmitting / receiving data between printers connected to the network terminal device; And And a telephone interface for transmitting / receiving data between communication terminals connected to the network terminal apparatus. The method of claim 1, wherein the network data is And a media access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP) address for distinguishing computers or network devices connected to a remote site of the external communication network.