JP2001285313A - Data communication method and apparatus and recording medium recording data communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication device capable of appropriately restricting data communication in consideration of connection authentication and protocol conversion when connecting from an external communication network to a home network. The purpose is to: SOLUTION: When an external communication network is connected to various devices in a small communication network via a predetermined interface,
An authentication unit for performing authentication at the time of connection between the external communication network and the small-scale communication network using a unique ID used in the interface; and an IEEE 1394 data format used for the data format used in the external communication network. And a conversion unit for converting the data into the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to authentication of connection to a home network constructed using a 394 bus and control from an external communication path to electronic devices constituting the home network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, IEEE1394 (hereinafter simply referred to as 1) has been proposed.
394 (abbreviated as 394).
The construction of a home network using these electronic devices has become possible. Furthermore, as means for connecting from home to the Internet have become diversified with the spread of the Internet, various technologies for connecting from the home network to the Internet have been proposed.

Conventionally, there has been a system for making a call to a home telephone from the outside and making a reservation to a home video tape recorder (hereinafter simply referred to as VTR) connected to the telephone with a dedicated cable. Further, when the home network is connected to an external communication network, various functions can be used in addition to the recording reservation of the VTR by controlling each electronic device constituting the home network from the external communication network.

[0004]

However, as a device for connecting to a home network from an external communication network and controlling each electronic device, a mobile phone, a PHS, and a portable information terminal with a communication function, which have recently become more sophisticated, have been developed. In the case of using mobile communication devices utilizing wireless communication such as these, since these mobile communication devices do not have the 1394 processing function, the load of protocol conversion processing increases, and data used for connection authentication is not unified. That is a problem. In addition, if an operation is performed from outside using a mobile communication device without knowing the state of each electronic device, there is no danger that an unexpected situation may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of a connection authentication and a protocol conversion when connecting from an external communication network to a home network. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an external communication network and various devices in a small communication network via a predetermined interface. The point is that when a connection is made wirelessly, authentication of communication means connected via the external communication network is performed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, authentication is performed even if communication means including an uncertain element is involved in the point of unauthorized intrusion by radio, thereby preventing access to various devices in a small-scale communication network. Safety is ensured.

[0008] Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides an IEEE 139 connection to an external wired or wireless communication network.
A data communication method for wirelessly connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an I.4 interface, wherein a data format used in the external communication network is converted into an IEEE 1394 data format and an IEEE 1394 data format is used. The gist is that a unique ID used in the interface is used for authentication of a connection between the external communication network and the home network.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the IEEE 13
In 94, a unique ID that is not assumed to be used for authentication is used for authentication of a connection between the external communication network and the home network. Therefore, without setting an authentication code or an authentication ID, An easy and strong authentication method can be defined.

[0010] The invention according to claim 3 provides a multimedia apparatus connected to the home network,
The gist is that unique data other than the unique ID is registered, and this data is used as authentication data of the device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, unique data is allocated to each multimedia device, and this data is used as authentication data of the device. I can do it.

Further, according to the present invention, in response to an access from the external communication network, only information on multimedia devices connected to the home network permitted for the access is returned. Make a summary.

According to the present invention, since all the multimedia devices connected to the home network cannot be known on the screen of a terminal used for access from an external communication network, security is enhanced. Can be

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication apparatus for connecting an external communication network to various devices in a small communication network via a predetermined interface.
An authentication unit for performing authentication at the time of connection between the external communication network and the small-scale communication network using a unique ID used in the interface; and an IEEE 1394 data format used for the data format used in the external communication network. And a conversion unit for converting the data into the data.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if a communication means including an uncertain element is involved in the unauthorized intrusion of wireless communication, authentication is performed to prevent access to various devices in a small-scale communication network. Safety is ensured, and IEEE1
In 394, a unique ID that is not assumed to be used for authentication is used for authentication of a connection between the external communication network and the home network. Therefore, without setting an authentication code or an authentication ID, An easy and strong authentication method can be defined.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication apparatus for connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an IEEE1394 interface when connecting to an external wired or wireless communication network. And the data format used in the external communication network is I
A gist comprising: conversion means for converting a protocol into an IEEE 1394 data format; and authentication means for performing authentication at the time of connection between the external communication network and the home network using a unique ID used in the IEEE 1394 interface. I do.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if a communication means including an uncertain element is intervened in terms of unauthorized intrusion by radio, authentication is performed to secure security against access to various devices in the home network. Is secured and further IE
In EE1394, a unique ID that is not assumed to be used for authentication is used for authentication of a connection between the external communication network and the home network.
Particularly, it is possible to easily and robustly specify an authentication method without setting an authentication code and an authentication ID.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia device connected to the home network.
The gist of the present invention is to provide a registration unit for registering unique data other than the unique ID, and to use the data registered in the registration unit as authentication data of the device.

According to the present invention, unique data is allocated to each multimedia device, and this data is used as authentication data of the device. I can do it.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in response to an access from the external communication network, a return means for returning only information on multimedia devices connected to the home network permitted for the access. It is the gist to have.

According to the present invention, since all the multimedia devices connected to the home network cannot be known on the screen of the terminal used for access from the external communication network, security is enhanced. Can be

Further, the invention according to claim 9 has a plurality of communication interfaces, and the gist of the invention is to select an arbitrary communication interface.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to support any communication interface. Specifically, multiple communication interfaces, communication functions, authentication functions,
It has a protocol conversion function, a physical layer, a link layer, a transaction layer, and a serial bus management defined by IEEE1394, and communicates with the communication relay device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the multimedia device connected to the home network includes at least one of a television receiver, a personal computer, a video deck, an MD deck, and a CD player. That is the gist.

According to the present invention, there is provided a data communication program for connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an IEEE1394 interface when connecting to an external wired or wireless communication network. Is a recording medium on which a connection is established between the external communication network and the home network.
The gist of the present invention is to include a procedure for performing authentication using a unique ID used in the E1394 interface and a procedure for converting a data format used in the external communication network into an IEEE1394 data format.

In the present invention, since the data communication program is recorded as a recording medium, the distribution of the data communication program can be enhanced by using the recording medium.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data communication system according to an embodiment of a data communication device to which the data communication method of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data communication system according to the present embodiment includes a mobile communication device 1, a communication relay device 3 constituting the data communication device, and a home network 5, and the mobile communication device 1 and the communication relay device 3 Is connected by an external communication path 7, and the communication relay device 3 and the home network 5 are connected by a 1394 bus 9.

Hereinafter, each embodiment according to the present invention will be described by way of an example. Here, the communication relay device 3
In the following, a description will be given of a case where three types of mobile communication devices (mobile phone 1A, mobile information terminal with communication function 1B, and PHS 1C) are connected, and an example of use of communication relay device 3.

Next, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

A case will be described in which the portable telephone 1A shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the home network 5 via the communication relay device 3A.

The mobile phone 1A is connected to the telephone 7 from the public line network.
A wireless interface 11A that communicates with A, an authentication unit 13 that authenticates connection with the outside, conversion of input / output data into an appropriate data format, and a 1394 processing unit 17 described below appear to be connected to the home network 5. Virtual 1
It comprises a protocol conversion unit 15 for performing 394 processing, a 1394 processing unit 17 for processing the 1394 protocol, a communication processing unit 19 for processing input / output data according to the type, and a display unit 21 capable of performing various displays.

The communication relay device 3A includes a wireless interface 31A connected to the telephone 7A via a telephone line, an authentication unit 33A for performing external connection authentication, conversion of input / output data into an appropriate data format, and 1394 described later. A protocol conversion unit 35 that performs virtual 1394 processing that makes it appear that the mobile phone 1A that is a 1394 device is connected to the processing unit 37, and a 1394 processing unit 3 that processes the 1394 protocol
7 and a 1394 interface 39 connected to an external 1394 bus.

The home network 5 has a 1394 bus 5
A television receiver (hereinafter simply abbreviated as a television) connected to the cable 0 by wire or wirelessly (radio wave / light).
51, personal computer (hereinafter simply abbreviated as personal computer) 55, CD player 59, VCR 5
3. An MD (Mini Disc) deck 57 is connected and configured.

Next, the processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when connecting from the mobile phone 1A to the home network 5, the authentication unit 13 sends the communication relay device 3A.
The authentication data sent to is authenticated by the authentication unit 33A. After the authentication is completed, when controlling the video deck 53 from the mobile phone 1A, the authentication unit 33A of the communication relay device 3A determines whether or not there is permission to perform the control using the authentication data received earlier.

When connecting to the home network 5,
By registering uniquely determinable data such as the telephone number of the mobile phone 1A in the authentication unit 33A of the communication relay device 3A, the authentication can be omitted. 1394 bus 5
Authentication of connection to each device connected to 0 can be arbitrarily performed.

After the connection is permitted, data necessary for controlling the video deck 53 is sent to the mobile phone 1A and displayed on the display unit 21. As a result, the mobile phone 1 </ b> A
Perform operations such as program reservation, fast forward, and rewind. Although the telephone line and the telephone 7A are used here, CATV TA,
Devices that can be connected to a public line such as ISDN TA can be used. A mobile communication device connectable via a public line such as a PHS may be used instead of the mobile phone 1A.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

An example will be described in which the portable information terminal with communication function 1B shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the home network 5 via the communication relay device 3B.

The portable information terminal 1B with a communication function uses an optical wireless transmission path to communicate with the optical wireless communication section 31B of the communication repeater 3B.
It is composed of an optical wireless interface 11B that communicates with the 1394, a 1394 processing unit 17, a display unit 21, a protocol conversion unit 15, an authentication unit 13, and a communication processing unit 19.

The communication relay device 3B communicates with the optical wireless interface 11B of the portable information terminal with communication function 1B using the optical wireless transmission path, and functions of the authentication unit 33A in the first embodiment. In addition, in the case of communication using the optical wireless interface 11B in consideration of the directivity of light, an authentication unit 33B having a function capable of omitting connection authentication to the home network 5, the protocol conversion units 35, 1
It comprises a 394 processing unit 37 and a 1394 interface 39.

The method for connecting to the communication relay device 3B in the home network 5 is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment except that the connection authentication to the home network 5 is omitted.

It is to be noted that connection authentication to each device connected to the 1394 bus 50 can be arbitrarily performed. The portable information terminal with communication function 1B will be used in place of a remote controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a remote controller). A mobile communication device such as a mobile phone or a PHS may be used as long as it has an optical wireless interface.

In the above-described second embodiment, the use of the portable information terminal as a substitute for the remote control increases the amount of information that can be handled at a time compared to the existing remote control, thereby improving the convenience. Furthermore, when performing direct communication with a communication relay device without passing through a public line network such as the Internet, reliability can be ensured also in terms of safety. Furthermore, by authenticating devices that can be connected to each device constituting the home network, there is an effect that external devices cannot be operated except for specific devices.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, a case will be described as an example where the PHS 1C shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the home network 5 via the communication relay device 3C.

The communication relay device 3C is a radio communication unit 3 which functions as a base station of a mobile communication device connected by using radio waves.
1C, when the mobile communication device connectable to the PHS 1C and the wireless communication unit 11C is registered in addition to the function of the authentication unit 33A in the first embodiment, the home network 5
An authentication unit 33C having a function capable of omitting the connection authentication to the server, a protocol conversion unit 35, a 1394 processing unit 37, and a 1394 interface 39.

The method for connecting to the communication relay device 3B in the home network 5 is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment except that the connection authentication to the home network 5 is omitted.

Instead of the PHS 1C, a mobile communication device such as an amateur radio which can directly communicate with the radio communication unit 31C may be used.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the unique ID. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a Node Uni of IEEE 1394 which is not assumed to be used for authentication at all.
unique ID (node_ven
It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of 64-bit unique value which consists of dor_id, chip_id_hi, and chi_id_lo). In each of the embodiments described above, the unique ID is used as authentication data.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an ID number and a connectable device list table. In this example, when the mobile communication device accesses the home network, it is a table showing a list of connectable devices, and this connectable device list table is stored in a memory attached to the authentication unit of the communication relay device. Is what it is.

In this example, when a mobile communication device, for example, a PHS with an ID number “ID001” accesses the home network, the authentication unit of the communication relay device refers to the connectable device list table and Confirm that the PHS can connect only to the first television (1) and the personal computer, and authenticate the connection. With this authentication, the PHS can operate and control a personal computer, for example. Further, for example, the ID number “ID00
In the column of “4”, the device corresponding to the mobile phone, “＄＄＄＄” is described, and the operation and control of all devices connected to the home network by the mobile phone are controlled by other devices. Indicates that the priority can be given to priority.

It should be noted that the contents of such a connectable device list table may not normally be changed from the outside, and the connection status may be changed only by inputting a predetermined password. Further, in addition to storing connectable devices as a table as in the present embodiment, a similar table can be obtained by creating and storing a table in which connection is not permitted.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a terminal screen display of the mobile communication device. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the ID number “ID00
3 shows a display screen of the mobile phone when the mobile phone accesses the home network from the mobile phone. That is, the second television (2) is currently powered on, the VCR is recording (recording reservation can be accepted), and the CD
The player is charging and the MD deck is powered on.

Thus, the operator operates the television (2) while looking at the display screen of the mobile phone, and automatically displays the alarm clock by the sound and screen display of the television (2) at 6:00, for example, tomorrow morning. Similarly, it can be used for getting up.

As described above, the communication relay device according to the present embodiment can operate each device constituting the home network from a remote location using the mobile communication terminal.

Since such a data communication system is realized by a data communication program, and the program is provided by being recorded on a recording medium, the distribution of the data communication program can be improved by using the recording medium. it can.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a home network constructed in a home has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Applicable to communication.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the connection authentication to the home network and the connection authentication to each of the electronic devices are prepared for the connection authentication. Also, devices that can be operated from outside can be limited.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By performing connection authentication when connecting from an external communication network to a small-scale communication network, security is secured against access to various devices in the small-scale communication network. Can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a data communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment when a public line is used for communication in the data communication system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment when an optical wireless transmission path is used for communication in the data communication system shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment when radio waves are used for communication in the data communication system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a Node Unique of IEEE1394.
It is a figure showing the outline of the unique ID recorded on ID.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ID number and a connectable device list table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen display of the mobile communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mobile communication device 1A mobile phone 1B portable information terminal with communication function 1C PHS 3 communication relay device 5 home network 7 external communication path 7A telephone 9 1394 bus 11A wireless interface 11B optical wireless interface 11C wireless communication unit 13, 33 authentication unit 15, 35 Protocol conversion unit 17, 37 1394 processing unit 19 Communication processing unit 21 Display unit 31A Public line interface 31B Optical wireless communication unit 31C Wireless communication unit 39 1394 interface 51 Television 53 Video deck 55 Personal computer 57 MD deck 59 CD player

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) 9A001 F term (Reference) 5B089 GA25 GA31 GB01 HA11 HA18 JA35 KA17 KC22 KC58 KF05 KH04 5J104 AA07 KA02 KA15 NA36 PA01 PA07 5K030 GA15 GA17 HB06 HC01 HC14 HD01 HD06 JL01 JL09 JT09 LB13 LE07 5K033 AA05 AA08 BA01 CB02 DA06 DA19 DB18 5K034 AA05 AA19 CC06 EE03 FF11 HH61 9A001 BB04 BB06 CC02 CC06 CZ08 DD15 JJ12 JJ18 JJ19 JJ18 JJ18 JJ19 JJ19 JJ19

Claims (11)

[Claims] When a wireless connection is made between an external communication network and various devices in a small-scale communication network via a predetermined interface, authentication of communication means connected via the external communication network is performed. A data communication method characterized by performing. 2. A data communication method for wirelessly connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an IEEE1394 interface when connecting to an external wired communication network or wireless communication network, The data format used in the external communication network is IEEE13
A data communication method, wherein the data is converted into a data format of 94, and a unique ID used in an IEEE 1394 interface is used for authentication of a connection between the external communication network and the home network. 3. A multimedia device connected to the home network, wherein unique data other than the unique ID is registered, and the data is used as authentication data of the device. Alternatively, the data communication method according to claim 2. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in response to an access from said external communication network, only information on multimedia devices connected to said home network permitted for said access is returned. Data communication method described. 5. A data communication device when an external communication network is connected to various devices in a small-scale communication network via a predetermined interface, wherein the data communication device uses a unique ID used in the interface to communicate with the external communication network. An authentication unit for performing authentication at the time of connection between the communication network and the small-scale communication network; and a data format used in the external communication network being IEEE.
A data communication device having a conversion means for converting the data communication format into a 1394 data format. 6. A data communication apparatus for connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an IEEE 1394 interface when connecting to an external wired or wireless communication network, the data communication apparatus comprising: Data format used in IEEE13
A conversion means for converting a protocol into a data format of 94, and an authentication means for performing authentication at the time of connection between the external communication network and the home network using a unique ID used in the IEEE 1394 interface. Data communication device. 7. A multimedia device connected to the home network has a registration unit for registering unique data other than the unique ID, and authenticates the data registered in the registration unit with the device. The data communication device according to claim 5, wherein the data communication device is used as data. 8. A return means for returning only information on multimedia devices connected to the home network permitted for the access in response to access from the external communication network. 7. The data communication device according to 5 or 6. 9. The data communication apparatus according to claim 5, having a plurality of communication interfaces, and selecting an arbitrary communication interface. 10. The multimedia device connected to the home network includes at least one of a television receiver, a personal computer, a video deck, an MD deck, and a CD player. The data communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 9. 11. A recording medium recording a data communication program for connecting to a multimedia device connected to a home network via an IEEE1394 interface when connecting to an external wired or wireless communication network. A procedure for performing authentication using a unique ID used in an IEEE 1394 interface at the time of connection between the external communication network and the home network;
94. a recording medium having recorded thereon a data communication program.