KR101285965B1 - Apparatus and Method for Network Configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for setting a network. After checking whether a video display device is physically connected to a network, the present invention makes an IP lease request to find a DHCP server. It is characterized by setting the network environment by receiving the input.

According to the present invention, a network service can be provided smoothly in a video display device, and the network environment can be efficiently set up by detecting the validity of input IP information and testing whether the network is operating normally.

Network settings, DHCP, IP, server

Description

Apparatus and Method for Network Configuration

1A and 1B schematically show a network setting method of a conventional digital television.

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network setting apparatus of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a network setting method of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: network connection detection unit 120: DHCP environment setting unit

130: user environment setting unit 140: network test unit

The present invention relates to a network setting apparatus and method.

An image display apparatus is an apparatus for displaying an image received from the outside through an antenna, a cable, or the like, and an image stored in a recording medium.

In general, video display apparatuses include a digital versatile disk (DVD) player, a hard disk driver (HDD) player, a digital camera, a camcorder, a mobile phone, a television, a personal computer (PC), and the like.

In recent years, as digital broadcasting becomes full-fledged, a video display device (for example, digital television) providing a mixture of existing analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting has been developed and spread.

Digital broadcasting refers to broadcasting in which a broadcasting station compresses and transmits a broadcast signal in a digital manner rather than an analog manner.

Conventional analog broadcasting could only carry one broadcast signal in one image, and the audio had to be transmitted in another.

On the contrary, in digital broadcasting, a plurality of images or audios can be loaded in one radio wave, and data can be compressed without degrading the quality of the original data. There is an advantage that can be set to eight channels.

Due to the advantages of digital broadcasting, the demand of viewers for digital broadcasting has increased, and according to the increase of demand, broadcasting stations transmit many programs not only in analog but also in digital manner.

In addition, each broadcaster and cable broadcaster is introducing a data broadcast service that can provide a variety of additional information with the broadcast program.

Data broadcasting is an end-to-end interactive personalized solution that provides not only existing broadcasting programs but also life information such as weather, news, and traffic information as well as internet and e-commerce services through the broadcasting network. ).

By providing additional data contents with a broadcast program and providing a network access card in a data broadcast receiving apparatus, a broadcasting station enables a wider range of information desired by a developer.

For example, while watching a history program, the characters and the background of the period can be checked by connecting to the Internet. Also, while viewing entertainment programs or sports programs, personal information of singers and players can be checked.

On the other hand, the video display device that provides a mixture of the analog broadcast and digital broadcast, and can implement the data broadcast at the same time is called an integrated digital television (Built in DTV).

In other words, the data broadcast may be implemented through a digital television receiver using TV broadcasting and the Internet using an intercast technology.

In this case, the broadcast program and the basic Internet data are received through a broadcast signal, and when the user uses another web site linked to the information, the user accesses the Internet using a separate back channel, for example, a modem.

In order to use such a network service in a digital television, a network interface device such as a network interface card (NIC), a network adapter, a local area network (LAN) card, or the like must be provided.

In addition, the network environment should be set. For example, the network environment such as an IP address, a gateway, a subnet mask, and a DNS (Domain Name Server) address should be set.

The IP address means a unique identification address given to every communication network connected to the Internet and a host connected to the communication network.

The IP can be largely divided into a fixed IP and a floating IP. In the case of a fixed IP, the host has a fixed IP address, whereas the IP of the host changes from time to time.

In the case of the dynamic IP, generally, an IP address is allocated from a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server and used, and the IP address is returned when the lease period ends.

1A and 1B schematically illustrate a network setting method of a conventional digital television, FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a network setting method when the digital television is a fixed IP, and FIG. 1B is a network when the digital television is a dynamic IP. It is a figure which shows the setting method.

Referring to FIG. 1A, when the digital television is a static IP (S 10), the user may set an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, and a domain name server (DNS) address in the network configuration portion. If directly input (S 11), the network environment is set by the input information (S 12).

Referring to FIG. 1B, when the digital television is a dynamic IP (S20), the digital television requests an IP address allocation from a DHCP server (S21), and the IP address provided by the DHCP server according to the IP address allocation request, IP lease information including a subnet mask, a gateway, a DNS address, and a lease period is received (S 22), and a network environment is set based on the received IP lease information (S 23).

In the network setting method of the conventional digital television, although the digital television is a fixed IP, the network configuration can be set according to the process of the floating IP, and vice versa, the network configuration can be set. There may be a problem that does not work properly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to find a DHCP server by making an IP lease request, and if there is no response from the DHCP server, the network setting apparatus can efficiently set up the network environment by receiving information necessary for network setting from the user. And a method.

According to a preferred embodiment of the network setting apparatus of the present invention, a network connection detecting unit detecting whether the image display apparatus is physically connected to a network, and wherein the image display apparatus is physically connected to the network in the network connection detecting unit A DHCP environment setting unit configured to make an IP lease request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and to set up an environment of a network using IP lease information provided in response to the IP lease request; When the setting unit does not receive a response to the IP lease request, it comprises a user environment setting unit for setting the environment of the network by receiving information necessary for setting the environment of the network from the user.

In this case, the network environment set by the DHCP environment setting unit or the user environment setting unit is tested for normal operation. If the network environment does not operate normally, the network notifying the DHCP environment setting unit or the user environment setting unit notifies a network setting error. The network setting device further comprising a test unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the network setting method of the present invention, the network connection detecting unit detects whether the video display device is physically connected to the network, and if the video display device is physically connected to the network as a result of the detection; The DHCP environment setting unit makes an IP lease request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and confirms a response. When the IP lease information is provided from the DHCP server in response to the IP lease request, the DHCP environment is set. A setting unit sets the environment of the network by using the provided IP lease information, and if the response is not answered according to the IP lease request, the user environment setting unit inputs information necessary for setting the environment of the network from the user. Receiving and setting a network environment do.

Here, after setting the environment of the network, the network test unit for testing whether the set network environment is operating normally, as a result of the test, if the set network environment does not operate normally, the DHCP environment setting unit or user And notifying the network setting error message to the environment setting unit.

The setting of the network environment by the user environment setting unit may include: requesting, by the DHCP environment setting unit, a network environment setting unit from the DHCP environment setting unit when the response according to the IP lease request does not come, and the user environment. And a setting unit displaying a network setting input window to receive information necessary for setting a network environment from a user, and setting the environment of the network using the input information. It is done.

Hereinafter, the network setting apparatus and method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network setting apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the network setting apparatus of the present invention includes a network connection detecting unit 110, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) environment setting unit 120, a user environment setting unit 130, and a network testing unit 140. Is made of.

The network connection detecting unit 110 detects whether the video display device is physically connected to the network. That is, the network connection detecting unit 110 detects whether a LAN cable is connected to the image display device.

The network connection detector 110 notifies the DHCP environment setting unit 120 when the LAN cable is connected to the video display device.

When the network connection detecting unit 110 detects that the video display device is connected to the network, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 broadcasts a 'DHCP DISCOVER' message to broadcast a DHCP server (not shown). Find it.

In other words, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 broadcasts a 'DHCP DISCOVER' message to make an IP lease request to a DHCP server and wait for a response.

In response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message, the DHCP server receives IP lease information including an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, a domain name server (DNS) address, and a lease duration. Provided to the DHCP environment setting unit 120.

When the DHCP environment setting unit 120 receives the IP lease information from the DHCP server, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 transmits a message to the DHCP server to use the IP lease information, and sets the environment of the network using the provided IP lease information.

Meanwhile, when the DHCP environment setting unit 120 does not receive a response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 requests a network environment setting unit from the user environment setting unit 130 to receive information necessary for network setting from the user. .

When the user environment setting unit 130 receives a network environment setting request from the DHCP environment setting unit 120, the user environment setting unit 130 receives information about the network environment from the user, and sets the environment of the network using the received information.

In this case, information to be input by the user through the user environment setting unit 130 includes an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, a DNS address, and the like.

That is, when the DHCP environment setting unit 120 does not receive a response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message and makes a request for setting the network environment to the user environment setting unit 130, the video display device uses a fixed IP. In this case, information necessary for network configuration is directly input from the user.

The user environment setting unit 130 checks whether the gateway is valid based on the IP address among the information input by the user, and receives information such as an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, and a DNS address if it is not valid again.

When the network environment is set through the DHCP environment setting unit 120 or the user environment setting unit 130, the network test unit 140 tests whether the network operates normally with the set IP, and the network is normally set with the set IP. If it does not operate, it notifies the DHCP environment setting unit 120 or the user environment setting unit 130 to set the network environment again.

The network test unit 140 may check whether the actual network operates normally by transmitting a test packet.

For example, the network test unit 140 may check whether the network operates normally by using a command of 'PING (Packet Internet Groper)', and the 'PING' communicates to the counterpart computer, the network device, and the server device. Is a command to check if this works.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a network setting method of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the network connection detecting unit 110 first detects whether the image display device is physically connected to the network (step S 100).

When the network display detection unit 110 detects that the image display device is not physically connected to the network in step S 100, the network connection detection unit 110 connects the LAN cable since the LAN cable is not connected. A guidance message is displayed (step S 105).

As a result of the detection of the network connection detection unit 110 in step S 100, when the video display device is physically connected to the network, the network connection detection unit 110 may indicate that the video display device is physically connected to the network. Notify the DHCP environment setting unit 120 (step S 110).

Next, when notified that the video display device is connected to the network from the network connection detecting unit 110, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 broadcasts a 'DHCP DISCOVER' message (step S 120). ).

The step of broadcasting the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message may be referred to as a process of finding a DHCP server by the DHCP configuration setting unit 120 requesting an IP rental.

Subsequently, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 checks whether a response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message comes from a DHCP server (step S 130).

As a result of checking in step S 130, when a response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message is received from a DHCP server, that is, when IP lease information is provided from a DHCP server, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 uses the IP lease information. Message is sent to the DHCP server, and the network environment is set using the provided IP lease information (step S 140).

In other words, the DHCP server may include an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, a domain name server (DNS) address, a lease duration, and the like in response to a 'DHCP DISCOVER' message. When the lease information is provided to the DHCP environment setting unit 120, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 sets the environment of the network with the provided IP lease information.

Subsequently, when the network environment is set through the DHCP environment setting unit 120, the network test unit 140 tests whether the network operates normally with the set IP (step S 150).

That is, the network test unit 140 transmits a test packet to check whether the actual network is operating normally. For example, the network test unit 140 uses a command called 'PING (Packet Internet Groper)' to determine whether the network is operating normally. You can check it.

As a result of the test of step S 150, when the network is operating normally, the network environment setting is terminated (step S 160). When the test result of step S 150, the network is not operating normally, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 is performed. ), The network setting error is notified to set the network environment again (step S 170).

On the other hand, when the response of the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message is not received from the DHCP server as a result of the check in step S 130, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 requests a network environment setting request to the user environment setting unit 130 (Step S 180).

That is, when a response to the 'DHCP DISCOVER' message does not come from the DHCP server, the DHCP environment setting unit 120 is connected to the user environment setting unit 130 in order to receive information necessary for network setting directly from the user. Request setup

Next, the user environment setting unit 130 displays a network setting input window in order to receive information necessary for network setting from the user (step S 190).

Subsequently, when the user inputs information necessary for setting the network environment in the network setting input window, the user environment setting unit 130 sets the environment of the network using the input information (step S 200).

In this case, information to be input by the user through the network setting input window includes an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, and a DNS address.

Here, the user environment setting unit 130 checks whether the gateway is valid based on the IP address among the information input by the user, and if the gateway is not valid based on the input IP address, displays an error message to the user. The process of receiving information such as an IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway, and a DNS address may be further performed.

Subsequently, when the network environment is set through the user environment setting unit 130, the network test unit 140 tests whether the network operates normally with the set IP (step S 210).

As a result of the test of step S 210, when the network is operating normally, the network environment setting is terminated (step S 220). When the test result of step S 210, the network is not operating normally, the user environment setting unit 130. ) To notify the network setting error so as to set the network environment again (step S230).

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. I will understand.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the present invention, after checking whether the video display device is physically connected to the network, requesting an IP lease to find a DHCP server, and if there is no response from the DHCP server, receives information necessary for network configuration from the user. By setting the network environment, it is possible to smoothly provide a network service in the video display device.

According to the present invention, the network environment can be efficiently set up by detecting the validity of the inputted IP information and testing whether the network operates normally.

Claims (7)

A network connection detector configured to detect whether the image display device is physically connected to the network; When the network display detection unit detects that the video display device is physically connected to a network, an IP lease request is made to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, and IP lease information provided in response to the IP lease request. DHCP environment setting unit for setting the environment of the network using; A user environment setting unit configured to set the environment of the network by receiving information necessary for setting the environment of the network from the user when the DHCP environment setting unit does not receive a response to the IP lease request; And And a network test unit for testing whether the network environment set by the DHCP environment setting unit or the user environment setting unit is normally operated. delete The method of claim 1, And the network test unit notifies a DHCP setting error to the DHCP environment setting unit or the user environment setting unit when the network environment does not operate normally. Detecting whether the video display device is physically connected to the network; As a result of the detection, when the video display device is physically connected to a network, a DHCP environment setting unit making an IP lease request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and confirming a response; As a result of the checking, when IP lease information is provided from the DHCP server in response to an IP lease request, a DHCP environment setting unit configured to configure an environment of a network using the provided IP lease information; If the response is not answered according to the IP lease request, setting up a network environment by receiving information necessary for setting the network environment from a user; After setting the environment of the network, testing, by a network test unit, whether the set network environment operates normally; And And a network setting error message is notified to the DHCP environment setting unit or the user environment setting unit when the set network environment is not normally operated as a result of the test. delete 5. The method of claim 4, Testing whether the set network environment is operating normally, The network test method of the network test unit characterized in that the test by transmitting a test packet called 'PING (Packet Internet Groper)'. 5. The method of claim 4, The setting of the environment of the network by the user environment setting unit, Requesting, by the DHCP environment setting unit, a network environment setting unit from the DHCP environment setting unit when the response according to the IP lease request does not come; Displaying, by the user environment setting unit, a network setting input window and receiving information necessary for setting a network environment from a user; And And setting the environment of the network by using the input information by the user environment setting unit.

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