TW201528726A - Relay device - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention addresses the problem of making it easy for users to implement the provision of various services over a communications network. This invention provides a relay device characterized by having the following: a relay means that relays data communications between first and second communications networks; a storage means that stores data in a modifiable manner and stores both an application program that implements a prescribed communication service via data communications over the first communications network and/or the second communications network and a subprogram library consisting of a set of subprograms that are called during the execution of the application program; and a program execution means that executes the application program.

Description

Relay device

The present invention relates to a technology for supporting various services via a communication network.

In recent years, various services realized by data communication via a communication network, such as an e-mail service or a file sharing service, have become available. In addition, companies and the like usually provide such services to practitioners, thereby improving business efficiency.

Prior technical literature Patent literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-254430

In order to provide such a service, a computer (hereinafter, a server device) that executes an application that implements the service (that is, a program that causes a computer to execute data communication for the service) is required to be connected to the communication via a relay device such as a router. network. Moreover, due to the content of the services provided, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to eavesdropping in the communication network, and to fully pay attention to the security. Therefore, for a person with a shortage of funds such as an individual or a small and medium-sized enterprise, there is a problem that in many cases, it is difficult to separately prepare a server device for executing an application, or a professional technician is employed to pay sufficient attention to security assurance, and cannot be easily passed through The communication network provides various services.

Patent Document 1 discloses an invention in which a communication device of an application is incorporated in advance. However, in the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user cannot freely execute the application. Add, delete, change, etc. Therefore, even if the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, the user is not free to provide the required service.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technology that allows a user to freely and easily provide various services via a communication network.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a relay apparatus, comprising: a relay unit that relays data communication between the first and second communication networks; a memory unit that can memorize memory data, and a memory application And a secondary library that implements a specific communication service by data communication via at least one of the first and second communication networks, the library being called during execution of the application a collection of secondary programs; and a program execution unit that executes the above application.

According to such a relay device, it is not necessary to separately prepare a server device for executing an application. Further, in the present invention, the application is executed in the relay device, so there is no fear of eavesdropping, and it is not necessary to particularly consider security. Moreover, according to the present invention, there is also a need to ensure that the communication address assigned to the server device is saved, and the effect of the communication address can be saved. In particular, since the above-mentioned communication address is an IP (Internet Protocol) address of IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4), this lack becomes a big problem, and thus The advantage of saving the IP address assigned to the server device is greater. Further, according to the present invention, since the communication between the relay device and the server via the communication network is replaced with the communication via the internal bus in the relay device in the prior communication system, it is expected to be alleviated. The effect of the traffic in the above communication network. Further, the relay device of the present invention is different from the communication device disclosed in the reference 1, and can freely overwrite the application stored by the memory unit as needed by the user. Further, as the above-mentioned secondary library, a collection of secondary programs to be executed by the program execution unit in a plurality of applications is prepared in advance, and the calling pattern is used as an API (Application Programming Interface). Interface) open, you can save the user The time to make the program. Therefore, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to allow a user to freely and simply implement various services provided via a communication network.

A further aspect is characterized in that the program execution unit in the execution of the application program includes a program for causing a specific processing of the failure of the relay of the data communication using the relay unit. When it is determined whether or not the relay is performed by the relay unit, in the case of relaying, the execution of the specific processing is suspended before the end of the material communication. According to this aspect, in the application executed by the program execution unit, even if the specific processing for causing the relay of the data communication using the relay unit to generate a failure is in the relay of the data communication using the relay unit, The execution of this particular process is suspended until the end of the material communication. Here, as a specific example of the specific processing for causing the relay of the data communication by the relay unit to generate a failure, the parameters used for relaying the data communication (for example, the communication address of the relay device, etc.) may be mentioned. Processing or restarting the processing of the relay device. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the user does not pay special attention, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a malfunction caused by the execution of the specific processing (stop of data communication in the relay, etc.).

A further preferred feature is that a relaying of data communication by using the relay unit and a communication service realized by executing the application by the program execution unit are respectively pre-defined, and relaying in the data communication In the case of competing with the above communication service, the execution of the other is suspended before the end of the higher priority order. According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent the relay of the data communication by the relay unit and the higher priority among the services realized by executing the application from being blocked by the other. Furthermore, in a preferred aspect, the priority of each of the communication services implemented by the relay unit and the communication service implemented by the program execution unit is pre-defined at each time, and The relay device is configured to acquire a current time acquisition unit (for example, a clock or a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver), and realize the above using a priority order corresponding to the time acquired by the time acquisition unit. Competition avoidance Free.

Further, as another aspect for solving the above problem, there is considered a method of relaying a relay of data communication between the first and second communication networks, and executing the application from the memory unit. The program execution step is performed in parallel with the control unit of the relay device connected to the first and second communication networks. The memory unit stores an application program and a secondary program library in advance, and the application program is passed through the first and the first 2 communication of at least one of the communication networks to implement a particular communication service, the library being a collection of secondary programs that are called during execution of the application.

Further, the relay device may be a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router.

10‧‧‧Relay device

20‧‧‧Internet

30‧‧‧Wireless terminal

40‧‧‧Manufacture, retailer database

110‧‧‧Control Department

120‧‧‧1st communication I/F department

130‧‧‧2nd Communication I/F Department

140‧‧‧Memory Department

142‧‧‧Volatile Memory Department

144‧‧‧ Non-volatile memory

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system including a relay device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the relay device 10.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions realized by the control unit 110 of the relay device 10.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation example of the relay device 10.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining another example of the operation of the relay device 10.

Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an execution procedure of an API including a process of causing a relay of data communication to cause a failure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(A: composition)

Fig. 1 is a view showing a configuration example of a communication system including a relay device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system includes a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) installed in a store such as a retail store. The wireless LAN in the store is connected via the relay device 10. Connected to the Internet 20. The relay device 10 is a wireless LAN router and houses the wireless terminal 30. The wireless terminal 30 is a tablet terminal used by a practitioner of the above-mentioned store. In FIG. 1, only one wireless terminal 30 is illustrated, but a plurality of wireless terminals 30 may be included in the in-store wireless LAN. In FIG. 1, although the detailed illustration is omitted, the in-store wireless LAN includes a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server for assigning an IP address to the wireless terminal 30. The DHCP server associates the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the wireless terminal 30 to which the IP address is assigned, and stores the IP address assigned to the wireless terminal 30.

The relay device 10 functions as a normal wireless LAN router and functions as a so-called database server. As described in more detail, the memory unit of the relay device 10 of FIG. 1 stores information for storing various products sold in the store (a product identification code that uniquely indicates the product (for example, a string indicating a product name or a model number, etc.) ) or a description of the product specification, such as the string, price, etc.: The following is the database of the product information (the following is the product database: illustration is omitted in Figure 1). A manufacturing, retailer database 40 operated by a manufacturer of merchandise, a retailer, or the like is connected to the Internet 20. The latest information on the products manufactured and sold by the operator is stored in the manufacturing and retailer database 40. The relay device 10 accesses the manufacturing and retailer database 40, updates the stored content of the product database to the latest state (that is, the addition of new product information, etc.), and stores the updated product database. It is sent to the wireless terminal 30 and stored as a regional product database. The user of the wireless terminal 30 (that is, the shop owner) can quickly and easily explain the specifications of various products to the customer by referring to the contents stored in the regional product database. That is, the in-store wireless LAN shown in FIG. 1 is used to implement an information sharing service that allows various practitioners to share the latest product information.

Conventionally, in order to realize such information sharing service, a server device functioning as a database server and a relay device 10 are usually installed separately in a wireless LAN in a store. On the other hand, the present embodiment is characterized in that the relay device 10 has a database server. effect. Hereinafter, the relay device 10 that remarkably shows the features of the present embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the relay device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the relay device 10 includes a control unit 110, a first communication interface (hereinafter abbreviated as "I/F") unit 120, a second communication I/F unit 130, a storage unit 140, and coordination. The bus 150 for the information transfer between the constituent elements.

The control unit 110 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 110 functions as a control center of the relay device 10 by executing various programs stored in the storage unit 140. The first communication I/F unit 120 is a wireless communication I/F, and establishes a wireless communication link with the wireless terminal 30, and accommodates a wireless terminal that establishes a wireless communication link. The first communication 1/F unit 120 receives the packet transmitted from the wireless terminal 30 via the wireless section and transmits the packet to the control unit 110, and transmits the packet supplied from the control unit 110 to the wireless section. The second communication I/F unit 130 is, for example, an NIC (Network Interface Card) and is connected to the Internet 20. The second communication I/F unit 130 receives the packet transmitted from the Internet 20 and transmits the packet to the control unit 110. On the other hand, the packet transmitted from the control unit 110 is sent to the Internet 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory unit 140 includes a volatile memory unit 142 and a non-volatile memory unit 144. The volatile memory unit 142 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The volatile storage unit 142 is used by the control unit 110 as a work area when executing various programs. On the other hand, the non-volatile memory unit 144 is a non-volatile memory that can overwrite data. In the present embodiment, a flash memory is used as the non-volatile memory unit 144.

The commodity database is stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144. Further, the non-volatile memory unit 144 stores various programs useful for realizing the functions of the relay device 10 (i.e., the wireless LAN router function and the database server function in the above information sharing service). Specific examples of the program stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144 include OS (Operating). System, operating system) program, relay control program, database server program and API library.

The OS program causes the control unit 110 to implement a program called a multitasking OS. In the present embodiment, Linux (registered trademark) is used as the OS program. However, as long as the control unit 110 implements the multitasking OS, it is not limited to Linux (registered trademark). When the power supply (not shown) of the relay device 10 is turned on, the control unit 110 reads the OS program from the non-volatile memory unit 144 to the volatile memory unit 142, and starts execution of the OS program. The control unit 110 that realizes the state of the OS in accordance with the OS program operation is stored as an execution memory unit (the non-volatile memory unit 144 in the present embodiment) according to a predetermined schedule or an instruction given from the outside. The program execution unit of other programs (see Figure 3) functions. The control unit 110 that realizes the state of the OS can execute a plurality of programs in parallel. In the present embodiment, immediately after the OS is implemented, the relay control program and the database server program are read from the non-volatile memory unit 144 to the volatile memory unit 142 and executed in advance.

The relay control program causes the control unit 110 to execute a program of relay control processing for receiving a packet received by one of the first communication I/F unit 120 or the second communication I/F unit 130. The other is transmitting. The control unit 110 that operates in accordance with the relay control program is used as a data communication between the relay first communication network (the intra-store wireless LAN in the present embodiment) and the second communication network (the Internet 20 in the present embodiment). The relay unit (see Fig. 3) functions. Further, the relay processing executed by the control unit 110 in accordance with the relay control program does not particularly change the processing in the normal wireless LAN router, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. The database server program causes the control unit 110 to execute an application that updates the storage contents of the product database to the latest state with reference to the contents of the manufacturing and retailer database 40, and the area of each wireless terminal 30. The contents of the product database are updated to the latest status. Details of the processing executed by the control unit 110 in accordance with the database server program are explicitly illustrated in the operation example in order to avoid duplication. In the present embodiment, the relay of the data communication relay (see FIG. 3) and the application execution unit (refer to FIG. 3) are used. The execution of the database server program (this embodiment is executed in parallel).

The API library is a collection of various subprograms (ie, sub-libraries) that are highly likely to be commonly used regardless of the type of application. The so-called API originally refers to the format when the sub-programs are called, but in the present specification, the sub-programs themselves are also referred to as APIs. An example of an API included in the API library of the present embodiment is an API for acquiring device information of the hardware (the relay device 10 of the present embodiment) or environmental information surrounding the hardware, and for setting the operation of the hardware. The API for the change. Specifically, an API for obtaining the usage rate of the control unit 110 (that is, the CPU), the usage rate of the volatile memory unit 142 (that is, the memory), and an API for measuring the temperature in the casing of the relay device 10 are performed. The API for reading, updating, and saving the config, the API for reading the action log, and the API for restarting the relay device 10.

Also, the API library contains an API that only has its installation address. That is, the API library in the present embodiment includes an API that is unique to a communication device. Specific examples of the API that is only available in the communication device include an API that acquires a list of MAC addresses of the wireless terminal 30 connected to the relay device 10 (hereinafter referred to as a MAC address list acquisition API), and acquires/changes the first communication I. The API of the IP address of the /F unit 120 or the second communication I/F unit 130. In the present embodiment, these various APIs are prepared in advance in the form of an API library, and the calling patterns of the respective APIs are disclosed. Therefore, as long as the application is created, the code for calling each API can be encoded according to the above-described pattern, and the order of processing by the APIs need not be encoded one by one. Therefore, it reduces the effort of the application.

The above is the configuration of the relay device 10.

(B: action)

Next, an operation performed by the control unit 110 in accordance with the database server program will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 110, which operates in accordance with the database server program, first communicates with the manufacturing and retailer database 40 via the Internet 20, downloads the latest data, and updates the stored contents of the product database (FIG. 4: Step SA100). Here, about whether it is The latest information is determined by storing the version information of the version (version number) of the data in the manufacturing and retailer database 40 as long as the information is associated with the version information of the new version of the product stored in the product database. The information is determined to be the latest information. Furthermore, in the case where the manufacturing and retailer database 40 does not store the latest data, the processing after step SA100 may be skipped.

Then, the control unit 110 acquires the IP address of the wireless terminal 30 connected to the body device (FIG. 4: Step SA110). More specifically, the control unit 110 acquires a list of MAC addresses of the wireless terminals 30 connected to the main device using the MAC address list acquisition API. Further, the control unit 110 acquires an IP address corresponding to each MAC address acquired in this manner from a DHCP server (not shown) of the wireless LAN in the store. Furthermore, when there is a wireless terminal 30 that cannot obtain an IP address, the MAC address of the wireless terminal 30 is used as the receiving address to transmit a sleep release signal, and the IP address of the wireless terminal 30 is acquired, and again Conduct an inquiry to the DHCP server.

Then, the control unit 110 transmits the stored content of the product database via the in-store wireless LAN to each of the IP addresses acquired in step SA110 as the receiving address, and instructs the wireless terminal 30 represented by the IP address to the regional product database. Update (step SA120). Furthermore, it is of course possible to query each wireless terminal 30 for the version of the data stored in the regional product database before transmitting the stored content of the product database, and omitting the product information for the wireless terminal 30 having the latest version of the regional product database. The storage of the contents of the library. As a result of the above-described operation, the storage contents of the product database of the relay device 10 and the storage contents of the regional product database of each wireless terminal 30 are collectively updated to the latest state.

According to the present embodiment, the power of the relay device 10 is turned on at a specific time before the store opening time, and the power of the relay device 10 is turned off after the store closing time, so that the shop owner can be always in the business hours. Share the latest product information. Furthermore, if the schedule is executed in such a manner that the database server program is executed at the specific time, the same effect can be obtained even if the power of the relay device 10 is always turned on.

In the present embodiment, the storage contents of the product database and the storage contents of the regional product database of each wireless terminal 30 can be collectively provided without separately providing a server device functioning as a database server in the in-store wireless LAN. Update to the latest status and let each practitioner share the latest product information. In this way, since it is not necessary to separately prepare a server device that functions as a database server, even if the operator of the store is a lack of funds such as an individual or an enterprise, the information sharing service related to the product information can be easily realized. Further, in the present embodiment, the memory device used as the storage location of the product database in the relay device 10 uses a flash memory, and this feature is also a feature of this embodiment. In the conventional server device, a hard disk drive is generally used as such a memory device, but with regard to the hard disk drive, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the failure of the mechanism such as a motor (for example, periodically recording the contents of the hard disk drive in the memory device) Disadvantages of other recording media, etc.). On the other hand, since the flash memory does not have a mechanism portion such as a motor, it is not necessary to pay attention to the above. In this respect, according to the present embodiment, the information sharing service related to the product information can be easily realized. In addition, this embodiment describes a case where a information sharing service is provided for a shopper who stores a wireless LAN in a store, but an information sharing service may be provided to a shopper of the store. Further, although the present embodiment has described the case of realizing the sharing of product information, it is a matter of course that the present invention can be applied to the sharing of other types of information.

As described above, the database server program, which is an application that causes the relay device 10 to function as a database server, is stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144, and the non-volatile memory unit 144 is non-volatile for overwriting data. Sexual memory. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relay device 10 can be provided with other communication services by replacing the application stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144. For example, the relay server 10 can be replaced by the database server program stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144 instead of the file sharing server program that causes the control unit 110 to perform file sharing processing as shown in FIG. The file sharing server functions. Furthermore, regarding various applications installed in the relay device 10, the relay device 10 can be used. The manufacturer or a third party authorized by the manufacturer is properly distributed via the Internet 20.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of file sharing processing executed by the relay device 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 110 operating in accordance with the file sharing server program waits for an access request to the file from the wireless terminal 30 (step SB100). When the control unit 110 receives the access request via the in-store wireless LAN (step SB100: YES), the control unit 110 specifies the network address to which the wireless terminal 30 belongs (step SB110). Regarding the specificity of the network address, it is only necessary to prepare the API in advance. Further, in the case where the communication network that accommodates the terminal that is the source of the access request is a wireless LAN as in the present embodiment, an SSID (Service Set Identifier) may be used instead of the network address. When the SSID is used instead of the network address, for example, the SSID of the employee is assigned to the employee of the store, and the SSID of the customer different from the SSID of the employee may be assigned to the visitor.

The control unit 110 determines whether or not the specified network address is the address for the customer in step SB110 (step SB120), and if the determination result is negative, receives the access request, and executes the processing from step SB130 onward. On the other hand, if it is the address for the customer (step SB120: YES), the control unit 110 discards the access request (step SB150), and repeats the processing of step SB100 and subsequent steps.

In step SB130 executed when the determination result in step SB120 is negative, the control unit 110 transmits the file of the access target according to the access request to the wireless terminal 30 of the transmission source of the access request, and displays the file. content. Furthermore, when the file of the access target according to the access request is not stored in the disclosure directory of the user, the control unit 110 acquires the file via the Internet 20 and transmits it to the public directory after storing the file. Take the source of the request. In the file stored in the public directory in this manner, the control unit 110 deletes the file from the public directory by the disconnection of the communication session with the source of the access request. Thereafter, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the file sharing service is instructed to be terminated (step SB140), and if the result of the determination is negative, the processing in and after step SB100 is repeated. In this way, the file sharing service is realized.

As described above, in the execution process of an application such as a database server program or a file sharing server program, various APIs are called, but the APIs also include data communication using the relay unit. Execution in the relay causes the relay of this data communication to generate a specific processor for the failure. Specifically, there is an API for restarting the relay device 10 or an API for overwriting parameters used for relaying data communication. In the present embodiment, the API for executing the specific processing for causing the failure of the data communication is configured to suspend the execution of the processing before the end of the data communication even if it is called out in the relay of the data communication. It is also a feature of this embodiment.

For example, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 110 in accordance with the API for restarting the main device. If the API is called from the application, the control unit 110 first determines whether the material communication is in the relay (step SC100). Here, regarding the determination of whether the material communication is in the relay, the existing technology may be used, and it is also considered that the determination processing of step SC100 is performed by another API different from the API for executing the processing of FIG. 6, and then from the other The API receives the result of its decision. If the result of the determination in step SC100 is YES, the control unit 110 performs the processing of step SC100 and subsequent steps after performing the sleep for a specific time (for example, one second or the like) (step SC110). On the other hand, if the decision result in the step SC100 is "NO", the control unit 110 restarts the main body device (step SC120). Furthermore, the API for overwriting the parameters used in relaying the data communication by the relay unit may be the same flow (the parameter update is performed in step SC120), and in this case, it is preferable to make the relay control before the parameter update. The program temporarily sleeps and resumes after the parameters are updated. The goal is to avoid the initiation of new data communication relays in parameter updates.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the API for executing the specific processing for causing the data communication failure is configured to suspend the execution of the processing until the end of the data communication even if the data communication is called out. The user of the device 10 does not need to consider whether the application to be installed to the relay device 10 will call the API (i.e., whether it is a program that causes the relay device 10 to restart during the execution of the application). Therefore, the root According to this embodiment, the user can easily realize various services via the communication network.

(C: change)

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the following changes can be applied to the embodiment.

(1) In the above embodiment, as an example of a specific process for causing a failure in relaying data communication, a process of restarting the relay device 10 and a process of overwriting a communication parameter such as a communication address are collectively performed. In addition to these, the start/stop of the first communication I/F unit 120 or the second communication I/F unit 130, the update of routing information, and the VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) parameters are performed. When the update or encryption algorithm is updated, the same failure may occur, so it is preferable to suspend execution of the processing before the end of the data communication in the relay. Further, when the plurality of applications are executed in parallel by the control unit 110, the application that updates the system time is executed during the execution of the application at the reference system time, or the application that writes the data to the non-volatile memory unit 144 When the application in which the relay device 10 is restarted during execution is executed, the same failure may occur. Therefore, the same mediation can be performed between applications (if other applications are in execution, the system time is suspended, etc.).

(2) pre-determining the priority order for the relay of the data communication using the relay unit and the communication service realized by the execution of the application by the program execution unit, when the relay of the data communication competes with the communication service, It is also possible to suspend the execution of the other party before the end of the higher priority order. For example, if the communication service implemented by the application is not a service requiring immediateness, the application can be executed centrally during the idle period of the data communication by setting the priority of the relay control to be higher. The impact of the execution of the application on the relay control is minimized. In addition, in the business hours of the store, the priority order of the communication service is set to be higher than the priority of the relay control, and the opposite order is set outside the business hours, and the above-mentioned priority order is specified at each time, so that the priority can be further realized. Priority control.

(3) In the above embodiment, the case where the non-volatile memory unit 144 is configured by the flash memory has been described. However, it is of course possible to use a hard disk drive. Alternatively, it can be constructed by non-volatile memory (such as flash memory) that can overwrite data and non-volatile memory (such as ROM (Read Only Memory)) that cannot overwrite data. The non-volatile memory unit 144 stores the program, such as an application program, which is preferably freely updated by the user, in the former, and stores the program having a low update necessity such as an OS program or a relay control program in the latter. In short, as long as the application is memorized in the memory of the rewritable data.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the API library is prepared in advance to reduce the time required for development of the application has been described. However, the installation of the API library may of course be omitted. However, in this case, an application including a specific process for causing a data communication failure is preferably made in such a manner as to determine whether or not the relay is to be relayed by the relay unit before performing the specific processing. If it is in the relay, it is convenient to suspend the execution of the specific processing before the end of the data communication.

(5) In the above embodiment, the relay unit that implements relay data communication by the software module and the program execution unit that executes the application program are described. Of course, it may be separated from the program execution unit by independent. A relay module (ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc.) is used to implement the relay unit. Further, in the above embodiment, an application example in which the present invention is applied to a wireless LAN router connected to a wired communication network and a wireless communication network is described, but the present invention can also be applied to a wireless router or cable connected to two wireless communication networks. A router connected to two wired communication networks. Further, the relay device to be applied to the present invention is not limited to a router (that is, a relay device for relaying data communication of the third layer of the OSI (Open System Interconnection) reference model), and may be The present invention is applied to a switching hub (a relay device for a layer 2 relay data communication in an OSI reference model) or a gateway device (a relay device for hierarchical relay data communication at a layer 4 or higher of the OSI reference model), A bridge such as a wireless access point device.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the information sharing service and the file sharing service realized by the update of the database and the like are described as an example of the service realized by the control unit 110 executing the application program. Not limited to this, for example, it may be an email service (that is, the relay device 10 functions as an email server). In short, the service can be realized by communicating with the data of at least one of the wireless LANs in the store via the Internet 20. Furthermore, in addition to (or in place of) the program that enables the control unit 110 to implement the service by communicating with the data of at least one of the wireless LANs in the store, the control unit 110 may also be used to overwrite the program. The text editor or the address book management program of the setting information file of the relay device 10 is stored in the non-volatile memory unit 144 as an application executed by the control unit 110.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-001962, filed on Jan.

Claims (6)

A relay device, comprising: a relay unit that relays data communication between the first and second communication networks; a memory unit that can memorize memory data, a memory application program and a secondary program library, the application program Implementing a specific communication service by means of data communication via at least one of the first and second communication networks, the library being a collection of secondary programs called during execution of the application; And a program execution unit that executes the above application. The relay device of claim 1, wherein the program execution unit is called the sub-program that is called during execution of the application program, and includes a specific process for causing a relay of data communication using the relay unit to generate a fault. In the case of the program, it is determined whether or not the relay is performed by the relay unit, and in the case of relaying, the execution of the specific processing is suspended before the end of the data communication. The relay device of claim 2, wherein the specific processing is a process of restarting the processing of the main device or overwriting a parameter used when the data communication is relayed by the relay unit. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the relay of the data communication using the relay unit and the communication service are respectively prioritized, and the data communication using the relay unit is performed. In the process of executing one of the executions of the above-described application using the program execution unit, the execution of the other is generated, and the execution of the other is suspended until the execution of the higher priority is completed. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first communication network and said At least one of the second communication networks is a wireless communication network. The relay device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the relay device is a wireless LAN router.