KR20030087865A - Wireless LAN service system for being connected with property management server and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system and a method for a wireless LAN service linked with a PMS(Property Management Server) are provided to create an online AD(ADvertisement) profit using the wireless LAN, to form a smooth community between a businessman and a customer without limit of time and space, and to easily know the information and the service use information of the connected customer. CONSTITUTION: Wire/wireless terminals(300,500) request the wireless LAN service and transmit/receive the wireless LAN data by connecting to the wire/wireless internal network. The PMS(400) registers the user information of the wire/wireless terminal, registers the customized service information and the service particulars information requested from the user, registers/transfers a message of the user, and generates the charge information according to the service use. The wireless LAN service servers(100a,100b) include NIF(Network InterFace) parts(110a,110b,120a,120b), PMS linking parts(140a,140b), and INET(Ip NETwork) data processors(130a,130b).

Description

Wireless LAN service system interworking with management server and method thereof {Wireless LAN service system for being connected with property management server and method

The present invention relates to a wireless LAN service system and a method for interworking with a management server, and more particularly, a mobile communication terminal can automatically connect through a short-range wireless network (wireless LAN) without adjusting network configuration information. It is a mobile communication terminal connected automatically to provide web service by interworking with external network, and provides customized service information, service history information, location information, message information, advertisement and content transmission service to mobile communication terminal by interworking with management server. The present invention relates to a WLAN service system and a method thereof.

Wireless LAN, which has been introduced in Korea since 1994, is a technology that extends LAN in an environment where existing wired network is difficult to install by using wireless transmission technology, and transmits and receives data through 2.4 GHz waves instead of 10Mbps or 100Mbps based wired cable. Use the method.

Wireless LANs have raised considerable expectations for their use due to various advantages. First of all, departments and mobile companies require a lot of relocation costs and consumables when using existing wired networks. Except in the case of network expansion, there is an efficiency that does not require additional costs. Therefore, in a work environment requiring maintenance, relocation, mobility, etc., or where a relatively large sales organization is required (e.g., insurance companies, car sales offices, etc.), even if a wired network environment is established, it is not sufficient to supplement dynamic business activities. Is the best solution available to distributors, local sales offices, logistics companies, manufacturers, schools and warehouses.

In addition, due to aesthetics and environmental factors, wired networks often have to be bypassed by a few hundred meters, far exceeding tens of meters in a straight line. In accordance with the government's policy on the installation of optical cables, there are cases in which a dedicated line is applied separately and a plurality of networks are integrated and used. In this case, using the WLAN, it is possible to reduce the cabling cost.

The WLAN is a device for WLAN, a service registration method, and a method used according to the number of mobile communication terminals to be connected, the size of an area requiring a service, the type of service provided for each ISP, and the involvement of a WLAN service provider. If you look at the configuration and services of the basic WLAN as follows.

First, an ISP equipped with a backbone network directly installs an AP device and provides a WLAN service by renting a registered PC card or a mobile communication terminal to a user who applied for WLAN service. Since the mobile terminal has information, the service user does not need to perform a separate procedure for roaming between service areas of the AP device. For example, an institution having a backbone network provides a wireless LAN service to a person who is related to the institution so that they can handle business regardless of movement within a certain region.

Second, ISPs equipped with backbone networks and AP devices provide wireless LAN services for the general public using their respective mobile communication terminals. Access to the site to apply for a wireless LAN service, and receive a communication program and identification information for using the wireless LAN to use the service.

Third, when the wireless LAN service provider provides the wireless LAN service by installing an AP device and connecting the ISP and the service user, the service user applies for the service to the wireless LAN service provider and uses his own unregistered mobile communication terminal. In other words, the use of the WLAN service is fragmented and more complicated communication is achieved between the mobile communication terminal, the AP device, the WLAN service provider, and the ISP.

Fourthly, ISP implements inter-regional network configuration as wireless LAN equipment, and provides wireless LAN service to wireless service providers (for example, PC rooms) and individual users in a wider area than those mentioned above. There is a case to provide.

As described above, despite various applications, wireless LANs are generally used in special fields such as logistics companies and hospitals due to low data transmission rate (the wireless LAN transmission rate was limited to 2Mbps). Its use was not activated. However, as the data transmission speed of wireless LAN is improved to 11Mbps and the purchase of equipment is easy, the usage of the wireless LAN is expected to be extended not only to general companies but also to the general public. In addition, each research institute including the Ministry of Information and Communication is actively developing and researching wireless LAN that can service in the 5GHz band which is at least 2 times (22Mbps) to 5 times (54Mbps).

However, as described above, the service user adapts to a more demanding WLAN environment than the wired network environment due to the WLAN service that is differentiated according to various environments such as the type of the WLAN protocol, the use of the fixed IP and the floating IP, and the charging method. This inconvenience in use has been reluctant to the general public who lacks knowledge of the network and the mobile communication terminal.

This inconvenience in using the wireless LAN service is cumbersome and difficult for the general public who lacks the knowledge of the mobile communication terminal. Even if the network band is shifted, it connects the external Internet network without modifying the network configuration information of the mobile communication terminal. If a wireless LAN service device is implemented, it may provide a lot of convenience for future mobile communication terminal users.

In addition, the wireless LAN system installed in a specific service area (for example, an airport, a hotel, a restaurant, a shopping mall, etc.) merely provides an Internet service and is operated separately from a management server that manages a specific service.

Therefore, in connection with the management server, authentication and billing processing is performed in a simple authentication process and various fee methods, and customized service information, service usage information, location information, message information, advertisement, and content transmission service applied to a specific service. There is also a need to develop a technology for extending the service area through the WLAN by generating various statistical information accordingly.

The present invention has been made in order to meet the above requirements, the authentication information received from the management server to authenticate the terminal connected to the wireless LAN and generate the charging information to provide to the management server, through the external network It provides Internet service and provides various advertisements and contents as a web server to the terminal, and delivers customized service information, service usage information, location information, and message information corresponding to a specific service area between the management server and the terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless LAN service system and a method including a backup server that can maintain an existing service when it occurs.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a connection configuration of a wireless LAN service system interworking with a management server according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a first wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

3 is a data table illustrating link record information transmitted and received by the PMS interworking unit according to the present invention to interwork with a management server.

Figure 4 illustrates a database record field of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

5A to 5B are flowcharts illustrating a method for providing a WLAN service interworking with a management server according to the present invention.

6 illustrates a part of a system setting screen (administrator panel) provided to a manager by a management server interworking with a wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating an authentication information input window provided to the terminal by the authentication means of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

8 is a screen showing statistical data according to the use of the Internet provided by the statistical processing means of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention to the management server.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

100a: first wireless LAN service server 110a: first NIF unit

120a: second NIF unit 130a: first INET data processing unit

140a: first PMS interworking unit 150a: first information providing unit

100b: second wireless LAN service server 110b: third NIF unit

120b: fourth NIF unit 130b: second INET data processing unit

140b: second PMS interworking unit 150b: second information providing unit

200: wired / wireless internal network 300: mobile communication terminal

400: management server 500: wired communication terminal

600: external network 700: external device

1000: wireless LAN service system interworking with the management server

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless LAN service system interworking with a management server according to the present invention is connected to a wired / wireless internal network including a wireless access device to request a wireless LAN service and transmit and receive wireless LAN data / Wireless terminal; A management server for registering user information of wired / wireless terminals, registering customized service information and service history information requested by a user, registering and transmitting a message of a user, and generating billing information according to service use; And an NIF unit which is assigned to each of the wired / wireless internal network and the external network, and is activated to transmit and receive data or is deactivated to transmit and receive data, and registers terminal user information in association with a management server. Receives and authenticates the communication service certification from the connected terminal, processes the billing according to the communication service provision, provides the billing information to the management server, and delivers customized service information and service history information from the management server to the terminal, and It provides network address translation function to handle data communication between internal / external network through PMS interworking unit and NIF unit, which delivers messages between management server and terminal, and establish route by real-time input of external authorized network gateway during external network communication. Coordinating routines and looking at one authorized DNS server At least one WLAN service server including an INET data processing unit for processing message traffic between internal / external networks by concentrating up requests and converting IP packet data into a PMS interworking unit to function as a PMS interworking unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the WLAN service providing method interworking with the management server according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) registering a terminal user in conjunction with the management server; (b) providing an authentication information input screen to a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network without adjusting network configuration information, processing communication service authentication, providing a logout window, and executing charging; (c) selecting one of the services providing the customized service information, the service history information, the location information, the message information, the advertisement, the content, or the communication service, and transmitting the corresponding data to the terminal; (d) stopping the service provision and generating the billing information when the logout signal is received from the terminal and providing the billing information to the management server; And (e) receiving / receiving any one or more information of personal information, authentication information, device identification information, and IP information of a terminal user to be registered and deleted from the management server to modify / delete the record of the database.

Hereinafter, a wireless LAN service system interworking with a management server according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a connection configuration of a wireless LAN service system 1000 interworking with a management server according to the present invention.

1, a wireless LAN service system (hereinafter referred to as "the wireless LAN system according to the present invention") 1000 that interworks with a management server according to the present invention is a wired / wireless terminal (in the drawing, a mobile communication terminal ( 300) and a wired communication terminal 500), a management server 400, and a first wireless LAN service server 100a and a second connected to the wired / wireless internal network 200 with them. It consists of a wireless LAN service server (100b). In addition, the first wireless LAN service server 100a and the second wireless LAN service server 100b are connected to another wireless LAN service system 700a, a content provider server 700b, and an ISP server 700c through an external network 600. ) And an external device 700 such as an advertising agency server 700d.

The first WLAN service server 100a includes a first NIF unit 110a, a second NIF unit 120a, a first INET data processing unit 130a, a first PMS interworking unit 140a, and a first information providing unit 150a. The second WLAN service server 100b includes a third NIF unit 110b, a fourth NIF unit 120b, a second INET data processing unit 130b, a second PMS interworking unit 140b, and a second information providing unit 150b. It is provided.

Here, the mobile communication terminal 300 is equipped with a wireless LAN card, such as a PC, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), notebook, etc., capable of wireless LAN data communication, or a NIC (Network Interface Card) equipped with wired LAN data communication is possible. As a terminal device, etc., it has been used in a broad concept encompassing a mobile device that is movable and connectable to a LAN.

The wired communication terminal 500 refers to a terminal or a desktop computer of a customer connected to the management server 400 to assist with service management. For example, a hotel employee may carry a job by carrying a mobile communication terminal. It is common to perform duties using fixed-line communication terminals (including existing internal business servers) fixedly installed in various places. Hereinafter, a mobile communication terminal and a wired communication terminal will be collectively referred to as a "terminal" by understanding the concept of the same client.

Property Management Server (PMS) 400 is a server that manages a service of a specific area such as an airport, a hotel, a restaurant, a shopping mall, and the like, and a wireless LAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention for the convenience of the following description. It is assumed that 1000 includes a hotel management server 400. In case of providing additional wireless LAN service in the existing hotel service management and usage fee settlement, dualization problem may occur. In this case, the management server 400 unifies the system by interworking with the wireless LAN service servers 100a and 100b. can do.

The wired / wireless internal network 200 connects the terminal and the management server 400 to the wireless LAN service servers 100a and 100b using, for example, an access point (AP), a switch hub, a serial cable, and the like. You can.

The wireless LAN service server may be provided as one or more servers serving as wireless LAN services to the wired / wireless terminals 300 and 500 by connecting the internal network 200 and the external network 600. One embodiment of the present invention The WLAN system 1000 according to the present invention is a first wireless LAN service server (active server) that normally provides a wireless LAN service (active server) (a) when the failure occurs in the first wireless LAN service server (100a) and the first It is assumed that a second wireless LAN service server (Stand-by server: standby server) (100b) for providing a wireless LAN service by inheriting the function of the wireless LAN service server (100a). A connection function between the first WLAN service server 100a and the second WLAN service server 100b will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

As described above, the first wireless LAN service server 100a and the second wireless LAN service server 100b have a relationship between an active server and a standby server, and the first NIF unit 110a, the second NIF unit 120a, and the third NIF. The unit 110b, the fourth NIF unit 120b, the first INET data processor 130a and the second INET data processor 130b, the first PMS interlocker 140a and the second PMS interlocker 140b, and the first information provider ( 150a) and the second information providing unit 150b each perform the same function.

The NIF (Network InterFace) part of the WLAN service server refers to an Ethernet device. For example, the first NIF part 110a of the first WLAN service server 100a is set for an internal network and the second NIF part is used. 120a is set for an external network. In this way, Ethernet devices are divided into internal and external networks, and various data processing is performed at the transport layer and the network layer (each of the third and fourth layers of OSI (Open System Interconnection)). It is to provide a function and the like.

The first INET (Ip NETwork) data processing unit 130a performs an interface function between the first NIF unit 110a and the second NIF unit 120a. It provides a network P & P service that can access the system 1000, and provides DHCP, IP / Mac filtering, network address translation, etc., as well as external Internet services.

The first PMS linking unit 140a transfers billing information, statistical information, user registration information, customized service information, a message, etc. between the management server 400 and the terminals 300 and 500. In addition, the first information providing unit 150a is a component that performs a separate web server function, can provide advertisements or contents to the terminals 300 and 500, and manages a service management information by statistically processing service usage information of a customer. 400).

The external network 600 connects the wireless LAN system 1000 according to the present invention to an external server through a router and the Internet, and connects to another wireless LAN service system 700a or an advertisement company server 700d through a dedicated line. Can be configured.

The other wireless LAN service system 700a, for example, means a wireless LAN system (or a management server connected thereto) of another hotel in a hotel chain, so that the hotel customers who are mobile in business can be integrated and managed. Exchange authentication information, billing information and service usage information.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a first wireless LAN service server 100a according to the present invention. First, the basic functions of the WLAN service server will be described using the first WLAN service server 100a as an example.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first WLAN service server 100a according to the present invention includes the first NIF unit 110a, the second NIF unit 120a, the first INET data processing unit 130a, and the first PMS interworking unit ( 140a), the first information providing unit 150a and the first database 160a. The first INET data processing unit 130a includes a DHCP unit 131, a NAT unit 132, and an HTTP R / D unit ( 133, the route setting means 134, the DNS R / D means 135, and the IP forwarding means 136, and the first PMS interworking unit 140a includes a registration means 141, an authentication means 142, and billing. Means 143, service information providing means 144, location information providing means 145 and message providing means 146. In addition, the first information providing unit 150a includes an advertisement providing unit 152, a content providing unit 154, and a statistical processing unit 156.

The first NIF unit 110a and the second NIF unit 120a are means for transmitting / receiving data through a wireless LAN of a predetermined frequency band (usually using a 2.4 GHz frequency band without a license) (for example, a wireless LAN card, USB client, etc.) and a connection port of a wired transmission medium to transmit and receive wired LAN data. In general, the NIF part follows the high-speed 802.11 standard of DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) method. The first NIF unit 110a communicates with the wireless access device.

Network bandwidth information is set in the first NIF unit 110a to receive all packet data transmitted from the terminals 300 and 500 connected through the wired / wireless LAN without adjusting the network configuration information (that is, the sub-network). Set the mask to "0.0.0.0"), the system is set to work with the internal network. On the other hand, the second NIF unit 120a has network band information set so as not to receive all the packet data transmitted from the terminals 300 and 500 (that is, the sub-network mask is set to "255.255.255.255") and the external network. The system is set to work with.

When the first NIF unit 110a and the second NIF unit 120a are set as described above, the first NIF unit 110a allocated to the internal network is allocated to the terminal 300 or 500 even if the terminal 300 or 500 has any network configuration information. Will receive all packet data sent by.

The first INET data processing unit 130a sets the IP address of the first NIF unit 110a as a gateway in the routing table and does not set the gateway information (the gateway information of the second NIF unit 120a) of the external public network. The data direction is switched to the first NIF unit 110a.

The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) means 131 sets the IP address to a private IP address (for example, "192.168.1.1") of a predetermined network band when the terminals 300 and 500 that transmit the packet data have set the floating IP. If the sub network mask is set to "255.255.255.0", private IP addresses of "192.168.1.2" to "192.168.1.254" can be allocated to the terminals 300 and 500.

NAT means 132 generates a translation table that maps the network address (fixed IP address or assigned private IP address) of the terminal (300, 500) to a network address combined with one public IP address and multiple port numbers . This Network Address Translation (NAT) is an IP address translation technology called "IP Masquerading" (or "Port Address Translation" ("Alias") ", ie multiple private IP addresses and unrecognizable. It converts fixed IP address into one public IP address and maps (translates) multiple IP addresses using port numbers. In addition, the NAT means 132 performs additional processing such as checksum, TCP sequence number, TCP recognition number correction, as well as replacement of the address field to correct the operation of the IP protocol and the TCP protocol.

The route setting means 134 inputs an external public network gateway to the routing table in real time in order to transmit the packet data converted to the first NIF unit 110a to the external network 600, and to the starting point address and the destination address of the packet data. Accordingly, the input / output path routines of the first NIF unit 110a and the second NIF unit 120a are set in the routing table. Therefore, the packet data received by the entire first NIF unit 110a can be forcibly forwarded to the outside network.

The first INET data processing unit 130a may be implemented using, for example, a Linux system, and the routing means 134 implemented in Linux includes three routings: a neighbor table, a forwarding information base (FIB) table, and a routing cache. Maintain the table.

The first INET data processing unit 130a may be configured as, for example, a kind of "Linux box". The first INET data processing unit 130a includes all data processing modules of the OSI 7 layer for the WLAN data transmission service and requests a program interface through the kernel. The data processing module may be an application program, a socket, a transmission routine, a network layer, a link layer, a transmission device, a bus, a port, and the like. The kernel includes an interrupt handler, a scheduler, a supervisor, a network flag, a kernel memory, and the like. Each means of the first INET data processing unit 130a functions through a series of program interfaces. Such a Linux system, OSI layer 7 and the kernel is a technical matter well known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The DNS R / D (ReDirection) means replaces the DNS server address of the packet data transmitted by the terminals 300 and 500 to redirect the packet data to one authorized DNS server (server provided in the ISP server 700c). Focus the lookup request by switching.

IP forwarding means 136, as described above, as the NAT means 132, routing means 134 and DNS R / D means 135 performs data processing in the transport layer, as described above, The network layer and the link layer perform a transmission function, and forward the corresponding data packet to the first NIF unit 110a, the second NIF unit 120a, the first PMS interworking unit 140a, and the first information providing unit 150a.

The HTTP R / D means 133 changes the destination address of the packet data redirected to the first NIF unit 110a so that the first PMS interworking unit 140a or the first information providing unit 150a moves to the terminals 300 and 500. Provide services. In addition, when the packet data from the first PMS interworking unit 140a or the first information providing unit 150a is transmitted, the HTTP R / D means 133 sets the starting address of the response packet to the packet data at the first service request. Replace with a destination address, and record the IP addresses of the terminals 300 and 500, which are the first starting point addresses, in the destination address field.

Hereinafter, each means of the first PMS linking unit 140a will be described.

First, the first PMS interworking unit 140a includes an interworking protocol for interworking with the management server 400, and the management server 400, for example, a MFIS (Micros-Fidelio Interface Specification) server (not shown). It may be provided with an interworking system such as to perform an interface function with the WLAN system 1000.

The first PMS interworking unit 140a receives a link start (LS) signal from the management server 400, and includes link description (LD) information and link record (LR) information (registration information, billing information, message information, and location information). And the like) in order. Subsequently, the first PMS interworking unit 140a and the management server 400 exchange LA (Link Alive) information. For example, the LD information may be “LD / DA960502 / TI153000 / V # 1.0 / IFWW /”. Can be recorded in a format.

3 is a data table illustrating link record information transmitted and received by the PMS linking unit 140a or 140b according to the present invention to interoperate with the management server 400.

The registration means 141 receives and stores the personal information and authentication information of the terminal user who is checked in through a data sink command when the link is established with the management server 400. Since the customer is checked in to the management server 400 at the front registration unit 141 automatically syncs the personal information and authentication information with the management server 400.

The registration means 141 may be represented as a check-in record (for example, "GI / RN310 / G # 10234 / GNMc. MicroFidelio, Mr / GLEA / GVN / Gftest / GA060101 / GD060301 / GSN /") Records (eg, expressed as "GO / RN312 / G # 10234 / GSN /") are recorded (through the sink), for example, specifying the room number as the ID and the English name of the user as the password. If the room of the user (customer) is changed, new authentication information is generated by recording a room change record (for example, "GC / RN312 / GSN / G # 10234 / RO310 / GSN /"). . Therefore, the manager does not need to operate the gateway equipment separately from the management server 400.

The registration means 141 applies for the service and transmits the personal information of the authenticated terminal user to the management server 400, and when the terminal user is deregistered from the management server 400 (that is, the hotel customer checks at the front desk). Out), the stored personal information and authentication information are deleted from the first database 160a.

The registration means 141 receives and records service time information available together with personal information and authentication information from the management server 400 when the terminal user prepays the service fee.

When the IP packet data is redirected, the authentication means 142 provides the authentication information input screen to the terminals 300 and 500 to authenticate the terminal user with the input authentication information, and the IP address and device identification of the terminals 300 and 500. Record the number. The authentication means 142 causes the first INET data processing unit 130a to provide a communication service according to the authentication result, and provides a logout window to the authenticated terminals 300 and 500 to transmit the logout signal to the first INET data. The function of the processing unit 130a is terminated.

When the terminal user cannot be authenticated with the authentication information received from the management server 400, the authentication means 142 may transfer the authentication information input by the terminal user to the management server 400 and request an authentication process. The authentication process may be requested to another WLAN service system 700a.

The authentication means 142 records the specific IP address or device identification number in the first database 160a, and when the packet data including the recorded specific IP address or device identification number is received, the first INET is not performed. The data processing unit 130a may provide a communication service, but packet data that has not undergone the authentication procedure is subject to non-billing. For example, the IP address or MAC address (device identification number) of the terminal (300, 500) used by the staff of the hotel or the main customer is registered directly in the wireless LAN system 1000 according to the present invention or the management server described above. By registering to the WLAN system 1000 through the 400 may provide a non-authenticated IP and MAC filtering function.

When the terminal user pays the fee in advance, the authentication means 142 provides the above-described various services including a communication service, and then, upon receiving the service time from the charging means 143, functions of the first INET data processor 130a. To exit.

The charging means 143 records the communication service start time when the terminal user is authenticated, and calculates the web service fee by recording the communication service end time when the terminal user logs out. In addition, the charging means 143 may calculate the web service fee by counting the number of bytes of packet data transmitted and received by the terminals 300 and 500 during the recorded time, and transfers the calculated charging information to the management server 400. .

When the terminal user prepaid the service fee and the registration means 141 records the service time information available in the first database 160a, the charging means 143 records the communication service start time and then records the recorded service time information. Check at regular intervals and notify the authentication means 142 when the service end time arrives.

The management server 400 transmits the billing request data that can be expressed as, for example, "XR / RN310 / G # 12345 /" in order to request the transfer of the billing data to the billing means 143, and the billing means 143 is a payment method. In order to recognize and record the charging status, the expressions of "XI / RN310 / G # 12345 / DC327 / BI310 / BDTelephone / DA010401 / TI124552 /" and "XB / RN310 / G # 12345 / BA13850 / DA010403 / TI101000 /" respectively. Can be used.

The service information providing means 144 provides a guide screen to the terminal user who is using the communication service, and when the selection information is received from the terminal user, the service information is provided from the management server 400 according to the service type, service area, and service time. Receives the service information or the history information of the service used by the terminal user to provide the terminal (300, 500).

The location information providing means 145 identifies the location of the terminals 300 and 500 as the first INET data processing unit 130a identifies the wireless access device that delivers the IP packet data of the terminals 300 and 500. Provide location information to the management server (400). For example, if a terminal user is provided with a communication service using a wireless access device installed in a restaurant in a hotel, the wireless access device transmits the identification information assigned to the user, and the location information providing means 145 identifies the terminal user so that the terminal user identifies the restaurant. Be aware of The terminal user may notify his / her location to the management server 400 through the boundary setting record or not notify his / her location to the management server 400 through the borderless record.

Therefore, when a call to a customer is called, a fax is received, or a visitor comes to the hotel, the management server 400 may notify the customer (the terminal user) of the fact, and the terminal user may likewise notify the hotel. The location of a colleague staying together can be provided to the management server 400 to provide location information. For example, if there are a large number of hotel guests and one of them registers their location information with the management server 400, the location information is provided to terminals 300 and 500 provided by colleagues of the guest who registered the location information. .

The message providing means 146 provides a message input / output window to the terminals 300 and 500 to transmit the message data received from the terminals 300 and 500 to the management server 400 (in this case, the message request record is recorded). Message data is recorded in the message text record), and the message data transmitted from the management server 400 is identified and transmitted to the corresponding terminal. That is, message data is transmitted and received in both directions between the terminals 300 and 500 and the management server 400.

Next, the first information providing unit 150a will be described. The first information providing unit 150a provides a kind of web server function that provides a web service independent of the external network 600 to the IP packet redirected by the HTTP R / D means 133.

Advertisement providing means 152 stores the advertisement data (for example, the hotel's own homepage, events, third-party advertising, etc.) delivered from the management server 400, and when the IP packet data is redirected to the destination address by recording the destination address Send advertisement data to (300, 500). The management server 400 may be connected with the advertisement company server to receive advertisement data, and the advertisement providing means 152 receives the advertisement data from the management server 400 and upgrades the data. The advertisement providing unit 152 may deliver advertisement by displaying advertisement data together when the first PMS linking unit 140a provides each service through a separate window.

The content providing means 154 provides the terminal 300 or 500 with a guide window asking whether to use paid contents (for example, contents of a game, tourism, securities, VoD service, etc.) separately from the Internet service. When the terminal user applies for the provision of the paid content, the terminal transmits the content data to the terminals 300 and 500 in real time.

That is, when the IP packet data is redirected, the first INET data processor 130a switches the destination address to IP forward the IP packet data to the content providing means 154, and the content providing means 154 guides the selection to the corresponding terminal address. Provides a screen to select content. The content providing means 154 retrieves the corresponding content data and transmits the same to the terminals 300 and 500. In this case, the content providing means 154 may provide the content data to the first database 160a by itself or provide the content. The stream may be received from the supplier server 700b and transmitted to the terminals 300 and 500. In this case, the content providing means 154 is preferably connected to the content provider server 700b through a dedicated line and should have a plurality of buffer pools.

The statistical processing unit 156 classifies the advertisement data or the content data selected by the terminal user on a predetermined basis, generates statistical data, and transmits the generated statistical data to the management server 400.

In addition, the statistical processing means 156 may statistically process data processed by the first PMS linking unit 140a, such as billing data, hotel service usage data, and the like, and provide the same to the management server 400.

The first database 160a has a general solution for controlling the transmission and reception of network data including a web page using the TCP / IP protocol as a database system. In addition, the first INET data processing unit 130a and the first PMS linkage are described. At the request of the unit 140a and the first information providing unit 150a, data may be recorded / modified / deleted and data may be retrieved and provided.

The first database 160a may be implemented as a Windows NT / 2000 server, an MS SQL 7/2000 server, or the like. However, when the WLAN system 1000 according to the present invention is implemented as a Linux system, an Oracle database server and a MY SQL server may be used. Should be implemented as

The first database 160a includes INET data processing information such as first NIF network setting information, second NIF network configuration information, translation table, router table, DNS server address, non-authentication processing target IP address, non-authentication processing target device identification number, Registration information such as authentication user information, personal information, authentication information, etc., service information, web service usage time information, packet data count information, usage amount information, and prepaid amount information are recorded.

In addition, the first database 160a stores / manages message information, location information, service usage information, advertisement data, content data, statistical data, and the like.

Figure 4 illustrates a database record field of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

As described above, the second wireless LAN service server 100b includes the third NIF unit 110b, the fourth NIF unit 120b, the second INET data processing unit 130b, the second PMS interworking unit 140b, and the second information providing unit. 150b and a second database (not shown) (the internal configuration of the second WLAN service server 100b is not shown), and the second WLAN service server 100b is normally a standby server. While functioning, when a failure occurs in the first WLAN service server 100a, it is activated to inherit the function of the first WLAN service server 100a (that is, when activated, the same as the first WLAN service server 100a described above). Function). When activated, the third NIF unit 110b, the fourth NIF unit 120b, the second INET data processing unit 130b, the second PMS interworking unit 140b, and the second information providing unit of the second wireless LAN service server 100b. The first NIF unit 110a, the second NIF unit 120a, the first INET data processing unit 130a, the first PMS interworking unit 140a, and the second information providing unit (150a) of the first wireless LAN service server 100a, respectively. Since the same function as 150b) will be omitted below.

However, unlike the first NIF unit 110a described above, the third NIF unit 110b of the second wireless LAN service server 100b receives all the IP packet data transmitted from the terminal connected through the wired / wireless internal network. Network bandwidth information and gateway information are set so that the network bandwidth information and gateway information are set so that the fourth NIF unit 120b receives all IP packet data transmitted through the external network.

In addition, the fourth NIF unit 120b of the second WLAN service server 100b communicates with the second NIF unit 120a of the first WLAN service server 100a through an external network. ) Is a state capable of transmitting and receiving packet data by itself, and the second NIF unit 120a is capable of transmitting and receiving packet data of an external network through an IP forwarding function of the first INET data processing unit 130a.

That is, the first WLAN service server 100a transmits one or more of the above-described terminal user information, customized service information, service history information, billing information, and message information through the second NIF unit 120a. It transmits to the service server 100a, and transmits an operation signal to the first wireless LAN service server 100a at regular intervals.

When the second WLAN service server 100b receives a signal indicating whether the first WLAN service server 100a is operating at a predetermined period through the fourth NIF unit 120b (that is, the first WLAN service server 100a normally operates). If it is determined that the function is performed) the above information is received and stored in the second database.

However, if the operation acknowledgment signal is not received at a predetermined period (that is, when it is determined that a failure has occurred in the first WLAN service server 100a), the second WLAN service server 100b receives the first WLAN service server 100a. Function of the third NIF unit 110b and the fourth NIF unit 120b is the same as that of the first NIF unit 110a and the second NIF unit 120a. To be modified.

More specifically, the third NIF unit 110b is modified with network bandwidth information and gateway information to receive all IP packet data transmitted from a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network, and the fourth NIF unit 120b. The network bandwidth information and the gateway information are modified so as not to receive all IP packet data transmitted through the external network.

In addition, each means of the second INET data processing unit 130b is also activated to connect the third NIF unit 110b and the fourth NIF unit 120b to the second PMS linking unit 140b and the second information providing unit 150b. Therefore, the second WLAN service server 100b can continue to provide the WLAN service to the terminal.

In this case, the charging means of the second wireless LAN service server 100b stops the function of the first wireless LAN service server 100a, and the third NIF unit 110b, the fourth NIF unit 120b, and the second INET data processing unit 130b. The billing information charged while inheriting the function of the first wireless LAN service server 100a is separately calculated and transmitted to the management server 400. Therefore, the management server 400 may generate the billing information by removing the billing during the service non-use time according to the function switching of the WLAN service server in the total service fee.

Hereinafter, a wireless LAN service providing method interworking with the management server 400 according to the present invention will be described in detail with an example to which the present invention is applied. The WLAN service providing method according to the present invention to be described below is assumed to be a WLAN service providing method provided by the first WLAN service server 100a. However, as described above, when the first WLAN service server 100a causes an operation failure in each step, the second WLAN service server 100b may be activated to process each subsequent step. to be.

5A to 5B are flowcharts illustrating a method for providing a WLAN service interworking with a management server according to the present invention.

First, the wireless LAN system 1000 according to the present invention is linked with the management server 400 according to the interworking protocol, and receives the personal information and authentication information of the customer (terminal user) checked in at the hotel front desk (S100). . At this time, the registration means 141 receives the check-in information from the management server 400 and parses it and stores it in the database 160. For example, the room number is stored as a password and the first four digits of the user's English name are encrypted. The user can be designated for convenience.

When the administrator inputs the non-billing / non-authenticating IP or the MAC address into the management server 400 (S105), a predetermined terminal user (for example, a hotel employee) authenticates the WLAN system 1000 according to the present invention. The registration means 141 registers the non-authentication target user information so that it can be used immediately (S110). In addition, in case that the terminal user turns off the terminal without logging out, the authentication means (if the IP packet is not received from the terminals 300 and 500 so that this time elapses) on the management server 400. 142 may set the first INET data processing unit 130a to stop the communication service) or set a basic unit of amount and time for billing calculation.

6 illustrates a part of a system setting screen (administrator panel) provided to the manager by the management server 400 interworking with the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

When the terminal user checking in has prepaid the service fee (S115), the registration means 141 receives and records the service time information available from the management server 400 together with the authentication information (S120).

Hotel guests who have finished checking in use their terminals (300, 500) while moving in the hotel, and the terminal user does not adjust the network configuration information of the terminals (300, 500). It can be connected to the first NIF unit 110a through (S125).

When the first INET data processing unit 130a processes NAT, DHCP, redirection, and route setting to function the first PMS interlocking unit 140a, the authentication means 142 provides the authentication information input screen to the connected terminals 300 and 500. (S130).

7 is a diagram illustrating an authentication information input window provided to the terminal by the authentication means of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention.

When the terminal user enters his name and room number in the input window, the authentication means 142 processes the authentication and leaves the authenticated authentication information as a cookie on the terminals 300 and 500 and provides a logout window (S145). ). After providing the logout window, the authentication means 142 records the service usage time (S150, S160) or counts the transmission and reception packet data (S155). When the terminal user has prepaid the wireless LAN fee (S160), the charging means 143 checks the service time information at predetermined intervals (S165).

In this process, if the authentication means 142 was unable to retrieve a matching terminal identification number, authentication information, personal information in the database 160 (S135), the authentication means 142 is a management server 400 of another hotel chain Alternatively, the authentication information may be requested by transmitting authentication information to the WLAN service system 700a (S140).

Subsequently, the first PMS linking unit 140a or the first information providing unit 150a provides a separate guide window (S170) to provide customized service information, service history information, location information, message information, advertisement, and content from the terminal user. The selected services or communication services are selected (S175 to S200), and the corresponding data is retrieved from a database or received from an external system and transmitted to the terminals 300 and 500 (S205). For example, a terminal user may be informed of a special meal of the day, an event event at a restaurant of a hotel, or a kind of service, an article, a fee, etc. of a service used by a user at a predetermined date, and a phone call, Visitors can be notified.

In addition, the terminal user can leave a message to a co-worker staying in the hotel, confirm their location or get a co-worker's location, eat food, check the schedule of business events in the hotel, or enjoy the Internet.

These services are obtained by the IP forwarding means 136 through the IP forwarding, port forwarding, the terminal 300, 500, the first NIF unit 110a, the second NIF unit 120a as the terminal user acquires the IP address to which the terminal user wants to access. And the data transmission between the first PMS linking unit 140a and the first information providing unit 150a.

Subsequently, when the logout signal is transmitted from the terminals 300 and 500 using the service (S225) or when the service end time according to the prepayment arrives, the first INET data processing unit 130a ends the function and the charging means ends the service provision. The service fee is calculated by recording the time or counting the number of bytes of the transmitted and received packet data (S230). At this time, the charging means 143, as described above, can process the billing using a time-based payment, packet-based payment, flat-rate payment, prepaid payment, or a combined billing method in which these billing methods are mixed.

As the service fee is calculated, the charging means 143 transmits the charging information to the management server 400 (S235). However, if the service is stopped by the service end time (S210), the authentication means 142 asks the terminal user whether to use the service anew and provides a new authentication window (S215) so that the terminal user can continue to use the service ( S220).

Here, when the terminal user closes the logout window without transmitting the logout signal, the charging means 143 may separately provide a web page for requesting service termination.

As described above, when the terminal user terminates the connection without transmitting the logout signal, the charging means 143 checks the idling time and stops the service providing function if the transmission and reception of packet data does not occur for a predetermined time. (S240).

As the use of the service is terminated, the statistical processing unit 156 generates statistical data by classifying advertisement data, content data, billing information, etc. provided to the terminal user on a predetermined basis, and provides the statistical data to the management server 400 (S245). ). Therefore, the management server 400 may select a target business partner to analyze the taste of the customer, select the type of advertising, and may determine the investment target equipment. In addition, it is possible to grasp the dynamics in the hotel of the customer and to charge various hotel charges in one bill.

Finally, if the hotel guest checks out at the counter (S250), the wireless LAN system 1000 according to the present invention is the personal information, authentication information, device identification information, IP information, etc. of the terminal user from the management server 400 Received to modify / delete the record of the database 160 (S260). However, if the terminal user (hotel guest) only logged out while checking in, the WLAN system 1000 according to the present invention maintains user registration information in a database (S255).

8 is a screen showing statistical data according to the use of the Internet provided by the statistical processing means of the wireless LAN service server according to the present invention to the management server (400).

The present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, which are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains do not depart from the essential characteristics of the present invention. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are not possible that are not illustrated above. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment of the present invention may be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, it is possible to generate online advertising revenue using a wireless LAN in a specific service area such as an airport, a hotel, a restaurant, a shopping mall, etc. Customer information and service usage information in progress can be easily identified.

In addition, according to the present invention by delivering the customized service information, service usage history information, customer location information and message information between the customer and the operator corresponding to a specific service between the customer terminal and the management server, specialized wireless according to the type of service The LAN service system can be constructed, and accurate statistical data can be calculated to facilitate customer analysis.

Claims (16)

In a system for providing a wireless LAN access service, A wired / wireless terminal accessing a wired / wireless internal network including a wireless access device and requesting wireless LAN service and transmitting and receiving wireless LAN data; A management server for registering user information of the wired / wireless terminal, registering customized service information and service history information requested by the user, registering and transmitting a message of the user, and generating billing information according to service use; And An NIF unit assigned to each of the wired / wireless internal network and the external network and configured to transmit and / or receive data by setting network information; Register the terminal user information in association with the management server, and receive and authenticate the communication service authentication request from the terminal connected to the NIF unit, and process the billing according to the communication service provided to provide the billing information to the management server; A PMS linking unit for transmitting a customized service information and service history information from the management server to the terminal, and transmitting a message between the management server and the terminal; And provide a network address translation function to process data communication between the internal / external network through the NIF unit, adjust a routing setting routine by inputting an external authorized network gateway in real time during external network communication, and authenticate one DNS server. And at least one wireless LAN service server including an INET data processing unit for processing message traffic between internal / external networks by converging lookup requests and converting IP packet data into the PMS interworking unit to function the PMS interlocking unit. Wireless LAN service system interworking with the management server. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless LAN service server A first NIF unit in which network band information and gateway information are set to receive all IP packet data transmitted from a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network; And Interworking with the management server, characterized in that the first wireless LAN service server having a NIF unit consisting of a second NIF unit with the network band information is set and the gateway information is not set so as not to receive all IP packet data transmitted through the external network WLAN service system. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless LAN service server A third NIF unit configured to set network bandwidth information and gateway information so as not to receive all IP packet data transmitted from a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network; And And a second wireless LAN service server having a NIF unit comprising a fourth NIF unit in which network band information is set and gateway information is set to receive all IP packet data transmitted through an external network. LAN service system. The method according to claim 2 or 3, The first WLAN service server transmits any one or more of the terminal user information, customized service information, service history information, billing information, and message information to the first WLAN service server through a second NIF unit, and operates at a predetermined cycle. Transmitting an acknowledgment signal to the first WLAN service server; The second WLAN service server receives and stores the information when the operation signal is received at a predetermined period through the fourth NIF unit. If the operation signal is not received at a predetermined period, the second WLAN service server functions as a function of the first WLAN service server. Set network bandwidth information and gateway information of the third NIF part to stop and receive all IP packet data transmitted from a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network, and not to receive all IP packet data transmitted through an external network. And setting the network bandwidth information of the fourth NIF unit and not setting gateway information to inherit the function of the first WLAN service server. The method of claim 4, wherein The second wireless LAN service server stops the function of the first wireless LAN service server if the operation acknowledgment signal is not received at a predetermined period, and the first wireless LAN service through the third NIF unit, the fourth NIF unit, and the INET data processing unit. Wireless LAN service system interworking with the management server, characterized in that the billing information charged during the succession of the server function separately calculated and transmitted to the management server. According to claim 2 or 3, wherein the PMS interlocking unit When the link is established, the terminal user personal information and authentication information are received and stored from the management server, and when the terminal user is deregistered from the management server, the stored personal information and authentication information are deleted and the terminal user authenticated by applying for a service. Registration means for transmitting the personal information of the management server; When the IP packet data is redirected, an authentication information input screen is provided to the terminal to authenticate the terminal user with the input authentication information, record the IP address and the device identification number of the terminal, and accordingly to the INET data processing unit. Authentication means for providing a communication service and providing a logout window to the authenticated terminal to terminate a function of the INET data processing unit when a logout signal is transmitted; And When the terminal is authenticated, the communication service start time is recorded, and when the terminal user logs out, the communication service end time is recorded to calculate the web service fee or to calculate the web service fee by counting the number of bytes of packet data transmitted and received by the terminal. And a charging means for calculating and transferring the charging information to the management server. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the authentication means When the terminal is not authenticated as the authentication information, the wireless LAN service system interworking with the management management server, characterized in that the authentication information is transmitted to the management server or another management server and the authentication request is received and the authentication result is transmitted. The method according to claim 2 or 3, The registration means receives and records the service time information available from the management server as the terminal user prepays the service fee. The charging means checks the service time information recorded by the registration means at regular intervals after recording the communication service start time, And the authentication means recognizes that the service time has arrived from the charging means and terminates the function of the INET data processing unit. According to claim 2 or 3, wherein the PMS interlocking unit Providing a guide screen to a terminal user using a communication service, and when the selection information is received from the terminal user, customized service information available according to the service type, service area, and service time from the management server, or a service used by the terminal user. Wireless LAN service system interworking with the management server, characterized in that it further comprises a service information providing means for receiving the breakdown information provided to the terminal. According to claim 2 or 3, wherein the PMS interlocking unit The INET data processing unit further comprises location information providing means for identifying a location of the terminal as the wireless access device for transmitting the IP packet data of the terminal and providing the determined location information to the management server. Wireless LAN service system that works with the management server characterized in that. According to claim 2 or 3, wherein the PMS interlocking unit And providing a message input / output window to the terminal to transmit the message data received from the terminal to the management server, and to identify the message data transmitted from the management server to deliver the message data to the terminal. Wireless LAN service system that works with the management server characterized in that. The method of claim 1, Advertisement providing means for storing the advertisement data transmitted from the management server, recording the destination address and transmitting the advertisement data to the corresponding terminal when the IP packet data is redirected; Storing contents data transmitted from the management server, recording the destination address when the IP packet data is diverted, and providing a selection guide screen to the terminal; when the contents are selected, searching and transmitting the corresponding contents data to the corresponding terminal. Content providing means; And The apparatus further includes an information providing unit including any one or more means among statistical processing means for generating the statistical data by classifying the advertisement data or the content data selected by the terminal user on a predetermined basis and transmitting the generated statistical data to the management server. Wireless LAN service system that works with the management server, characterized in that. In the method for providing a wireless LAN access service, (a) registering a terminal user in association with a management server; (b) providing an authentication information input screen to a terminal connected through a wired / wireless internal network without adjusting network configuration information, processing communication service authentication, providing a logout window, and executing charging; (c) selecting one of the services providing the customized service information, the service history information, the location information, the message information, the advertisement, the content, or the communication service, and delivering the corresponding data to the terminal; (d) stopping receiving a service and generating charging information and providing it to the management server upon receiving a logout signal from the terminal; And (e) receiving / receiving any one or more of personal information, authentication information, device identification information, and IP information of a terminal user to be registered and deleted from the management server, and modifying / deleting a record of a database. Wireless LAN service providing method linked with the management server. The method of claim 13, wherein the terminal user has prepaid a service fee. The step (a) further comprises the step of receiving and recording the service time information available from the management server, The step (b) further comprises the step of checking the service time information at regular intervals, The step (d) is a wireless LAN service providing method for interworking with a management server, characterized in that to stop the service provided when the service time has arrived. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) When the terminal user closes the logout window without transmitting a logout signal, a web page for requesting service termination is provided separately, or When the terminal user terminates the connection without transmitting the logout signal, if the transmission and reception of packet data does not occur for a predetermined time, the wireless LAN service interworking with the management server, characterized in that the step of stopping the service providing function. Way. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) And providing statistical data generated by classifying advertisement data or content data provided to a terminal user on a predetermined basis to the management server together with the billing information.