KR20020024077A - Apparatus and method for accessing/ controlling devices those are in a home using dynamic ip address allcocation, and computer readable medium which records program for the accessing/ controlling devices those are in a home using dynamic ip address allcocation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and a method for remotely accessing/controlling a device installed in home using a dynamic IP(Internet Protocol) address assignment method and a recording medium for recording a program capable of being read using a computer are provided to simply access and control various devices of home using the dynamic IP assignment method. CONSTITUTION: An external access connection device(105) receives a signal for requesting a remote access from an external Internet terminal, dials a predetermined telephone number, transmits a signal for requesting IP address assignment, and connects the external Internet terminal with an Internet connection device(113) using an assigned IP address. The Internet connection device(113) receives the signal for requesting the IP address from a telephone line, drives a dynamic IP address assignment agent to receive the IP address, and provides the assigned IP address to the external access connection device(105) through a WAN(Wide Area Network) line. The Internet connection device(113) connects the communication with the external Internet terminal, transmits a user command of an external subscriber received from the WAN line to specific devices of home, and transmits response signals generated from the specific devices to an external subscriber side through the WAN line.

Description

A computer-readable recording medium that records the devices, methods and programs for remotely accessing / controlling devices installed in the home using the dynamic Internet protocol address allocation method. [APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING / CONTROLLING DEVICES THOSE ARE IN A HOME USING DYNAMIC IP ADDRESS ALLCOCATION, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM WHICH RECORDS PROGRAM FOR THE ACCESSING / CONTROLLING DEVICES THOSE ARE IN A HOME USING DYNAMIC IP ADDRESS ALLCOCATION}

The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium recording a device, a method, and a program for remotely accessing / controlling various devices installed in a home from an external Internet terminal device, and in particular, a dynamic Internet protocol (hereinafter referred to as "Internet Protocol"). The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium that records an apparatus, a method, and a program for remotely accessing and controlling various devices installed in a home by using an address assignment method.

In the present invention, the Internet device refers to a device that can be connected to the Internet using an IP address, and includes a personal computer (PC) as well as an Internet appliance such as a digital TV, a digital refrigerator, a digital camera, and the like. to be.

To remotely access an internet device from outside (for example, a user remotely access an internet device installed in his or her home from an office, a PC room, etc.) to search, copy, delete, or execute a specific program of stored data, In the past, Internet devices should use a static IP address allocation method. In this case, there are the following problems.

First, the network provider pays rent and uses a fixed IP address. Since the IP address is a limited resource, the IP address rent is expensive in the case of having a fixed IP address.

Next, in most cases, the frequency of accessing the Internet home appliances is small and does not use for a long time. Allocating static IP addresses for this use is a waste of resources.

Next, if you access the device directly from a remote with a static IP address, you are more likely to be exposed to malicious access such as hacking. Internet appliances may also have devices that handle extremely private information, and if such devices are exposed to the Internet, there is a high potential for privacy violations.

Finally, if using static IP addresses is expensive, this may be possible for some time.However, if there are a lot of Internet appliances that require static IP addresses, the IP addresses that can be rented in the network using IP version 4 are It will soon be exhausted.

Meanwhile, subscribers using a multi digital subscriber line (hereinafter referred to as "xDSL") or a cable modem currently occupy the majority of domestic high-speed Internet subscribers. In addition, apartments that connect to the Internet using a LAN method are increasing.

These services use Point-To-Point (hereinafter referred to as "PPP") (including PPPoE) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "DHCP") to obtain IP when a subscriber uses a PC. If not available, return the IP address. In other words, it manages IP addresses dynamically.

If the Internet device uses a dynamic IP address as described above, there is a problem in remote access to the Internet device from the outside (for example, when using a digital washing machine outside the home).

First, if you want to access from the outside, you can't access it at all unless your Internet device is currently assigned a dynamic IP address. Also, even if a dynamic IP address is assigned, the assigned IP address changes each time you connect to the Internet, and externally, you do not know what is currently assigned. Of course, if you do dynamic DNS management on the network side, you can know the assigned IP address, but this management method puts a burden on network management.

Next, Home Automation (hereinafter referred to as "H / A"), Home Security System (hereinafter referred to as "H / S"), Home Control (hereinafter referred to as "H / C") Increasingly, there is a need for a technology that can remotely access and control various devices such as H / A, H / S, and H / C in the home from the outside.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium that records a device, method and program for remotely accessing / controlling various devices installed in a home from an external Internet terminal device using a dynamic IP address allocation method. In providing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device for remotely accessing and controlling a device installed in a home by using an external internet terminal, and receiving a signal for requesting remote access from the external internet terminal. Dials the set number, sends a signal requesting IP address assignment, and connects the communication between the external Internet terminal and the Internet access device using the assigned IP address. Device; Receiving a signal requesting an IP address assignment from a telephone line and running a dynamic IP address assignment agent to be assigned an IP address; (IP) address is provided to the external access connection device via a wide area network (WAN) line, and when communication with the external Internet terminal is connected, the user command of the external subscriber received from the wide area network (WAN) line; And the Internet access device for transmitting to a specific device in the home and transmitting a response signal generated from the specific device to the external subscriber through the wide area network (WAN) line.

The present invention provides a method for a subscriber to remotely access and control a device installed in a home by using an external internet terminal, wherein the external access connection device receives a signal for requesting remote access from the external internet terminal. step; A second step of checking, by the external access connection device, whether an internet access device is currently assigned an IP address; In the second step, if the IP address is not assigned, the external access device dials a predetermined number and requests the Internet access device to assign an IP address. Transmitting a third step; A fourth step of receiving an IP address by driving a dynamic IP address assignment agent when the Internet access device receives a signal for requesting IP address assignment from a telephone line; ; A fifth step of the internet access device transmitting the assigned IP address to the external access connection device through a wide area network (WAN) line; A sixth step of connecting, by the external access connecting device, the communication between the external internet terminal and the internet access device using the assigned IP address; In the sixth step, when the Internet connection device is connected to the external Internet terminal, the user command of the external subscriber, which is received from the wide area network (WAN) line, is transmitted to a specific device in the home, and from the specific device. A seventh step of transmitting the generated response signal to the external Internet terminal through the wide area network (WAN) line; And an eighth step of performing a control operation from the sixth step if the IP address is assigned in the second step.

The present invention provides a computer comprising: a first step of receiving, by an external access connecting device, a signal for requesting remote access from the external internet terminal; A second step of checking, by the external access connection device, whether an internet access device is currently assigned an IP address; In the second step, if the IP address is not assigned, the external access device dials a predetermined number and requests the Internet access device to assign an IP address. Transmitting a third step; A fourth step of receiving an IP address by driving a dynamic IP address assignment agent when the Internet access device receives a signal for requesting IP address assignment from a telephone line; ; A fifth step of the internet access device transmitting the assigned IP address to the external access connection device through a wide area network (WAN) line; A sixth step of connecting, by the external access connecting device, the communication between the external internet terminal and the internet access device using the assigned IP address; In the sixth step, when the Internet connection device is connected to the external Internet terminal, the user command of the external subscriber, which is received from the wide area network (WAN) line, is transmitted to a specific device in the home, and from the specific device. A seventh step of transmitting the generated response signal to the external Internet terminal through the wide area network (WAN) line; And a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the eighth step of performing the control operation from the sixth step if the IP address is assigned in the second step. It is done.

1 is an overall system configuration of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the external access connection device of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of the Internet access device of the present invention.

4A and 4B are procedure diagrams illustrating a method of remotely accessing and controlling various devices installed in a home from an external Internet terminal device.

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

1 shows the overall system configuration of the present invention.

The home 110 is provided with a PC 115, an Internet home appliance 117, and an H / A, H / S, H / C device 118. The PC 115 and the Internet home appliance 117 are Internet devices using a dynamic IP address assignment method. In order for the Internet devices 115 and 117 to be connected to the Internet 103, a dynamic IP address must be assigned from the IP address management server 109.

In the present invention, a well-known client (eg, PPP / PPPoE client, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client, etc.) for obtaining an IP address is provided in the Internet access device 113, and the client includes an IP address management server 109. Get an IP address from The internet access device 113 is provided in the home 110 and is connected to the internet concentrator 111. In addition, the Internet access device 113 is connected to a public telephone network (PSTN) through a telephone line.

The Internet access device 113 manages various devices (Internet devices 115, 117, H / A, H / S, and H / C devices 118) of the home 110, and receives an external PC 101. It provides a user command from the specific device (115, 117, 118), and provides a path for transmitting a response signal from the specific device (115, 117, 118) to the external PC (101) side.

From the outside, the subscriber connects to the external access connection device 105 of the present invention using the external PC 101 in order to give a user command to the specific device 115, 117, 118 and receive the response signal. Then, the external access connecting device 105 dials the Internet access device 113 and requests an IP address assignment. The telephone is a telephone to which a service to which a calling party number is added is subscribed.

When a call comes in, the Internet access device 113 interprets the caller ID of the call. As a result of the analysis, if the caller number corresponds to the external access connection device 105, the Internet access device 113 performs the procedure of assigning an IP address from the IP address management server 109, as described above, and the assigned IP. Inform the address to the external access connecting device 105. Now, since the IP address is assigned to the Internet access device 113 and the IP address is known, the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113 can communicate with each other.

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the external access connecting device of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 1.

The web server 201 provided in the external access connecting device 105 provides a web page according to the request of the external PC 101, and searches the database 203 to perform an authentication procedure. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113 are directly connected. In this case, the web server 201 is a hypertext link to a web page of the Internet access device 113. Perform the function.

The database 203 stores various web pages provided to the external PC 101. In addition, the database 203 stores a member ID, a phone number, and whether the current IP address is assigned to the Internet access device 113, and stores the IP address if the IP address is assigned. In addition, the database 203 may store a user interface that allows the subscriber to operate the external PC 101 to give a specific command to the specific device 115, 117, 118.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the external access connecting device 105 connects between the external PC 101 and the Internet devices 115 and 117, wherein the web server 201 is connected to the external PC 101. The user interface may be provided, and the communication server 205 communicates with the Internet access device 113 by using a message of a preset format. At this time, the communication server 205 transmits a user command signal from the external PC 101 to the Internet access device 113, and transmits a response signal from the Internet access device 113 to the external PC 101.

The telephone interface 207 dials the Internet connection 113 to request that an IP address be assigned. The telephone is a telephone to which a service to which a calling party number is added is subscribed. The telephone interface 207 may be a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) interface or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interface. In the case of the VoIP interface, the call origination data generated from the interface 207 is transmitted to the Internet access device 113 via the VoIP gatekeeper 107 and the PSTN (not shown). In the case of the PSTN interface, the call origination data generated from the interface 207 is directly transmitted to the Internet access device 113 via the PSTN.

3 shows the configuration of the Internet access device of the present invention. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Wide Area Network (hereinafter, referred to as "WAN") The interface 301 transmits data generated from various devices 115, 117, and 118 of the home 110 through a WAN line, and connects the WAN line. It provides an interface for transferring the data received through the various devices (115, 117, 118). In the present invention, the WAN line is a concept including an analog modem line, an xDSL line, a cable modem line, and an Ethernet line for connecting to the Internet 103.

When the WAN line is the xDSL scheme, the WAN interface 301 performs xDSL modulation and demodulation on the transmitted / received data. When the WAN line is the cable modem scheme, the WAN interface 301 performs cable modulation and demodulation. In addition, the WAN interface 301 performs a switch hub function for data transmitted / received when the WAN line is an Ethernet line.

Local Area Network (hereinafter, referred to as "LAN") The interface 307 processes the Ethernet packet data transmitted from the WAN interface 301 and converts it into an Ethernet frame, which is then converted into various Ethernet devices through the LAN cable. 118). In addition, the LAN interface 307 processes an Ethernet frame (response signal) received from the LAN cable, converts the Ethernet frame data into Ethernet packet data, and transfers the Ethernet frame data to the WAN interface 301.

Phone Network Appliance (hereinafter referred to as "PNA") The interface 309 processes the Ethernet packet data transmitted from the WAN interface 301 and converts it into a PNA frame, and converts the device into various PNA frames through a home telephone line. 115, 117, 118). In addition, the PNA interface 309 processes the PNA frame (response signal) received from the premises telephone line, converts it into Ethernet packet data, and delivers it to the WAN interface 301.

The power line interface 310 processes the Ethernet packet data transmitted from the WAN interface 301, converts the Ethernet packet data into a frame corresponding to the power line, and transmits the same to the various devices 115, 117, and 118 through the power line. In addition, the power line interface 310 processes the frame (corresponding to the power line) received from the premises power line, converts it into Ethernet packet data, and transmits it to the WAN interface 301.

In some cases, an Internet-facing device may be provided with a dedicated interface (eg, a USB port) (not shown). In addition, the interfaces 307, 309, 310 may be a wireless interface.

For reference, the above-described configuration of the WAN interface 301 and the LAN interface 307 is an xDSL modem or a cable modem installed in the home of a high-speed Internet subscriber.

The control unit 303 provided in the Internet access device 113 manages various devices 115, 117, and 118 in the home. The various devices 115, 117, 118 may be configured as an internal network of the home 110. The internal network may consist of LAN network, PNA network, power line network, dedicated network, and other networks (eg wireless LAN network). In addition, the controller 303 may manage the internal network using the internal IP, and in the case of the power line network, if the amount of data transmitted is small, the control unit 303 may manage the ID using the device ID.

The controller 303 communicates with the communication server 205 of the external PC 101 or the external access connection device 105. The control unit 303 transmits a user command from the external PC 101 received from the WAN line to the specific device 115, 117, 118 and sends a response signal from the specific device 115, 117, 118 to the external PC 101. Provide a route to the side. The controller 303 may provide the path by using a port forwarding function. In addition, the controller 303 may have an IP sharing function. This is to support a plurality of subscribers to access the device (115, 117, 118) that they have registered.

In addition, the controller 303 may receive and store image data from a digital camera at a predetermined time interval for remote monitoring, and may provide the stored image data when requested by an external subscriber.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113 are directly connected, the controller 303 may include a user interface (eg, a webpage) stored in the memory 305. ) Can be provided to the external PC 101 side. In some cases, a user interface provision function may be provided in each of the Internet devices 115 and 117.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a method of remotely accessing and controlling various devices installed in a home from an external Internet terminal device. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Member information including IDs and phone numbers of members, and information of Internet devices registered by each member are stored in the database 203 (401). When the subscriber connects to the external access connecting device 105 using the external PC 101, the web server 201 searches the database 203 to perform member authentication (member ID and password authentication). In addition, the web server 201 receives a request signal for accessing the specific Internet device 115, 117 from the external PC 101 (403). Then, the web server 201 searches the database 203 and checks whether the Internet access device 113 is currently assigned an IP address (405).

In step 405, if the Internet access device 113 is not assigned an IP address, the telephone interface 207 makes a call registered with the caller ID addition service to the Internet access device 113 to request an IP address assignment. (407).

When the call is made to the Internet access device 113, the caller number analyzer 311 analyzes the caller number and checks whether the call is received from the external access connecting device 105. If the call is from the external access connection device 105, the control unit 303 performs a procedure to be assigned an IP address from the IP address management server 109 (411). The controller 303 transmits the assigned IP address to the external access connecting device 105 (413).

According to the present invention, the communication connection between the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113 is implemented by two embodiments.

First, when the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113 are directly connected to each other, the web server 201 performs a hypertext link function to a web page of the Internet access device 113. At this time, a direct communication connection is made between the external PC 101 and the Internet access device 113. When the subscriber operates the external PC 101 to give a command to control the specific device 115, 117, 118, the control unit 303 transmits it to the specific device 115, 117, 118, and the specific device 115. , 117, 118 provides a response signal from the external PC (101). As described above, the user interface may be provided by the Internet access device 113 (stored in the memory 305), and may be provided by the specific Internet device 115 or 117 by itself (415).

Next, when the external PC 101 and the Internet connection device 113 are connected by the external access connection device 105, the communication server 205 is a communication module (control unit 303) of the Internet connection device 113. (415 ').

The controller 303 notifies the communication server 205 of intention to return the IP address if the external access communication is not performed for a predetermined time (417), and returns the IP address to the IP address management server 109 (419). ). Then, the communication server 205 stores the IP address return status in the database 203 (421).

Meanwhile, in step 405, the web server 201 searches the database 203 to check whether the Internet access device 113 is currently assigned an IP address, and the Internet access device 113 checks the IP address. The operation in the allocated state will be described with reference to FIG. 4B. In the description, description of the procedure already described is omitted.

If the control unit 303 provided in the Internet access device 113 performs step 413 (see FIG. 4A), the communication server 205 provided in the external access connection device 105 may be configured as the Internet access device 113. The state in which the IP address is allocated is stored in the database 203 (423). The control unit 303 and the communication server 205 periodically transmit / receive an alive message for confirming connectivity with each other (425). This is for the communication server 205 to register the IP address in the return state if the alive message is not received from the control unit 303.

When the external subscriber accesses the external access connecting device 105 and the procedure of step 421 is completed, the external access connecting device 105 performs step 423. Since operation 423 corresponds to a state in which an IP address is already assigned, operations 407 to 413 of FIG. 4A are not performed. Steps 421 and 423 are the same as steps 403 and 405 of FIG. 4A, respectively. Likewise, steps 425 and 425 'performed afterwards are the same as steps 415 and 415' of FIG. 4A, respectively.

As described above, the present invention has an advantage that an external subscriber can easily access and control a device (including various Internet devices) in the home by using a dynamic IP allocation method.

In addition, since the present invention manages the IP address dynamically allocated from the external access connection device, there is no need to perform dynamic DNS management in the network, thereby simplifying the configuration of the network.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage of preventing malicious access since only the controlled access through the external access connection device.

Claims (8)

In the device for the subscriber to remotely access and control the equipment installed in the home using an external Internet terminal, Receiving a signal for requesting remote access from the external Internet terminal and dialing a predetermined number to transmit a signal requesting the IP address assignment, using the assigned IP address An external access connection device for connecting communication between an external internet terminal and an internet access device; And Receives a signal requesting an IP address assignment from a telephone line and runs a dynamic IP address assignment agent to be assigned an IP address, and IP address is provided to the external access connection device through a wide area network (WAN) line, and when communication with the external Internet terminal is connected, the user command of the external subscriber received from the wide area network (WAN) line And the Internet access device for transmitting to a specific device of the device and transmitting a response signal generated from the specific device to the external subscriber through the wide area network (WAN) line. Device to access / control. The method according to claim 1, The Internet connection device, Apparatus for remotely accessing / controlling a device installed in a home, wherein the allocated IP address is returned if there is no data transmitted / received through the connected communication for a predetermined time. . The method according to claim 2, The devices installed in the home, A device for remotely accessing / controlling a device installed in a home, characterized in that configured as an internal network. The method according to claim 3, The internal network, A device for remotely accessing / controlling devices installed in a home, which includes a LAN network, a PNA network, a power line network, and a dedicated network. In a method for a subscriber to remotely access and control a device installed in the home by using an external Internet terminal, A first step of receiving, by an external access connection device, a signal for requesting remote access from the external Internet terminal; A second step of checking, by the external access connection device, whether an internet access device is currently assigned an IP address; In the second step, if the IP address is not assigned, the external access device dials a predetermined number and requests the Internet access device to assign an IP address. Transmitting a third step; A fourth step of receiving an IP address by driving a dynamic IP address assignment agent when the Internet access device receives a signal for requesting IP address assignment from a telephone line; ; A fifth step of the internet access device transmitting the assigned IP address to the external access connection device through a wide area network (WAN) line; A sixth step of connecting, by the external access connecting device, the communication between the external internet terminal and the internet access device using the assigned IP address; In the sixth step, when the Internet connection device is connected to the external Internet terminal, the user command of the external subscriber, which is received from the wide area network (WAN) line, is transmitted to a specific device in the home, and from the specific device. A seventh step of transmitting the generated response signal to the external Internet terminal through the wide area network (WAN) line; And In the second step, if the IP address is assigned, remotely access the device installed in the home, characterized in that it comprises an eighth step of performing the control operation from the sixth step / How to control. The method according to claim 5, If there is no data transmitted / received through the connected communication for a certain time, And remotely accessing / controlling a device installed in the home, further comprising a ninth step of returning the assigned IP address. In the computer, A first step of receiving, by an external access connection device, a signal for requesting remote access from the external Internet terminal; A second step of checking, by the external access connection device, whether an internet access device is currently assigned an IP address; In the second step, if the IP address is not assigned, the external access device dials a predetermined number and requests the Internet access device to assign an IP address. Transmitting a third step; A fourth step of receiving an IP address by driving a dynamic IP address assignment agent when the Internet access device receives a signal for requesting IP address assignment from a telephone line; ; A fifth step of the internet access device transmitting the assigned IP address to the external access connection device through a wide area network (WAN) line; A sixth step of connecting, by the external access connecting device, the communication between the external internet terminal and the internet access device using the assigned IP address; In the sixth step, when the Internet connection device is connected to the external Internet terminal, the user command of the external subscriber, which is received from the wide area network (WAN) line, is transmitted to a specific device in the home, and from the specific device. A seventh step of transmitting the generated response signal to the external Internet terminal through the wide area network (WAN) line; And The computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the eighth step of performing the control operation from the sixth step if the IP address is assigned in the second step. The method of claim 7, wherein And a ninth step of returning the allocated IP address if there is no data transmitted / received via the connected communication for a predetermined time.