JP2003101540A - System and method for communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize easy access from a computer to a peripheral equipment such as a printer through a network. SOLUTION: A notification means in a printer device writes the printer's address, driver and public key in a PC card inserted therein. An authentication request means in a personal computer (PC) reads out the printer's address, driver and public key from the PC card. The authentication request means installs the driver in the PC, accesses the printer device through a network using the obtained address, informs the printer device of the PC's address, and requests authentication with a public key. An authentication means in the printer device determines if the authentication request from the PC is valid by using the public key included in the request when executing authentication.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system and method for authenticating via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network system is widely used in which a computer is connected to a peripheral device such as a printer through a network to perform a work such as printing a document. For management of devices connected to such a network system, for example, “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-337” is used.
No. 55 publication (Reference 1), an invention in which a printer server receives identification data for identifying a printer in a network and uses the received identification data to install software (driver) for using the printer. Is disclosed.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-105406 (Reference 2) discloses an invention in which a driver is managed by using a management server and the driver is installed in a computer in a network.

Further, "JP-A-6-110663"
(Reference 3) discloses an invention in which a parameter file relating to a peripheral device is created and a driver is installed in a computer in a network using this parameter file.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-132353 (Reference 4) discloses an invention in which a driver is installed in a computer by infrared communication and a document to be printed is also transmitted by infrared communication to a printer.

However, the invention disclosed in Document 1 requires a DHCP server that provides the recognition data on the network of the print server. Further, the invention disclosed in Document 2 requires a server that manages the driver. Further, the invention disclosed in Document 3 requires an apparatus that creates a file used for installing a driver. Further, the communication speed of infrared communication used in the invention disclosed in Document 4 is low, and only a printer in a short distance where infrared communication can be performed from a computer can be used.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and uses a peripheral device such as a desired printer from a computer via a network in a simple and reliable manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system and a method thereof that can be performed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication system and a method thereof which allow a driver of a peripheral device to be easily installed in a computer without a special management device. Further, the present invention provides a communication system and a method thereof in which an identification data path for identifying a printer on a network is separated from a data communication path so that the advantages of each path can be enjoyed. The purpose is to

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems [First Communication System]
To achieve the above object, a first communication system according to the present invention is a communication system in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other. An address in the network is attached to the node, and the first node has an address notifying unit that notifies the second node of the first address via a communication path other than the network. However, the second node has a transmission unit that transmits data to the first node using the notified address.

[Second Communication System] A second communication system according to the present invention is a communication system in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other. The first node and the second node are respectively provided with a first address and a second address used for communication in the network, and the first node is provided with respect to the second node. Address notification means for notifying the first address via a communication path other than the network;
And a second confirmation means for confirming connection with the first node, the first confirmation means for confirming connection with the first node, and the second confirmation means for confirming connection with the first node, First confirmed
Communication processing means for performing communication with the node via the network.

[0010] Preferably, the storage is mounted on the first node and the second node, stores the information written by the first node, and reads the written information by the second node. The address notification means of the second node writes the first address to the attached storage means, and the confirmation means of the second node writes the first address from the attached storage means. The read first address is read.

Preferably, the notifying means of the first node notifies the second node of the first address and the encryption key, and the second confirming means of the second node. Sends a confirmation request including the notified encryption key to the first node, and the confirmation means of the first node recognizes the confirmation request based on the encryption key included in the confirmation request. Determine whether or not.

Preferably, the address notifying means of the first node causes the second node to communicate with the second node via a communication path other than the network.
Communication software required to communicate with the node via the network, and the communication processing means of the second node uses the sent communication software to communicate with the first node that gave the confirmation. Communication between them is performed via the network.

Preferably, the first node is a printer, and the communication means of the second node to which the confirmation has been given performs communication for causing the printer to perform printing.

[Client Device] A client device according to the present invention is a client device that communicates with a server device connected through a network, and communicates with the connected server device without passing through the network. A communication means is provided, and the connection confirmation identification information received from the server device via the communication means is transmitted to the server device via the network.

[Server Device] The server device according to the present invention is a server device that communicates with a client device connected via a network, and includes a communication means for communicating with the client device without passing through the network. In addition to transmitting identification information for connection confirmation to the client device via this communication means, receiving identification information for connection confirmation from the client device via the network, and based on the two transmitted and received identification information. It is characterized in that the connection with the client device is confirmed and data is transmitted and received.

[Communication Method] A communication method according to the present invention is a communication method in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other. Each of the second nodes is provided with a first address and a second address used for communication in the network, and the first node is configured to communicate with the second node other than the network. The first address is notified via the communication path, the connection is confirmed with the second node, and the second node confirms the connection with the first node. The communication with the confirmed first node is performed via the network.

[Program] Further, a program according to the present invention is a communication system in which a first computer and a second computer connected via a network communicate with each other, in the first computer and the second computer.
A program executed by the computer of
A communication method in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other, wherein each of the first node and the second node is used for communication in the network. A first address and a second address respectively, and in the first node, notifying the second node of the first address via a communication path other than the network; And a step of performing confirmation with a second node, wherein the first node
And a step of performing communication with the confirmed first node via the network.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a first communication system 1 according to the present invention, which is shown as a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in a communication system 1, a personal computer (PC) 2 and a printer device 3 are connected to each other by a computer.
The configuration connected to the third networks 10-1 to 10-3 is adopted.

[Hardware Configuration] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printer device 3 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer device 3 includes a CPU 200 and a ROM 20.
2, RAM 204, display interface (IF) 21
0, a display device 212 such as a CRT display / LCD display device, an input / output IF 220, an input / output device 222 such as a keyboard / mouse / infrared communication device, a PC card IF 230 for writing / reading information to / from the PC card 5, a network IF240, USB-IF2
42, a CD drive / hard disk device (H that records and reproduces information using a recording medium 252 such as a CD-RW).
A recording device 250 such as a DD) / flexible disk device (FDD) and the printer engine 30 are connected to the bus 20.
6 and a PC card 5 is installed.

That is, the printer device 3 has a structure in which a computer connectable to a network and a printer engine for processing and printing image data are combined and a PC card 5 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer 2 shown in FIG. The PC 2 is, for example, a notebook PC or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance).
A personal computer that is generally called a mobile device and is small in size for convenience of carrying, and has a general computer configuration that can be connected to a network as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the PC card 5 shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the PC card 5 is composed of a non-volatile or battery-backed memory 50 and a PC-IF 54. The PC card 5 is the PC card IF2 of the PC 2 and the printer device 3.
The memory 5 mounted on the memory 5 is connected to the memory 5 via the PC-IF 54 by at least one of the PC 2 and the printer device 3.
Arbitrary data is written in 0, and the written data is read out by at least the other of the PC 2 and the printer device 3. The CPU 52 may be further included depending on the use of the PC card 5.

[Authentication Software 32] FIG.
2 is executed by the printer device 3 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the authentication software 32 which performs an authentication process with (FIG. 1, 3). As shown in FIG. 5, the authentication software 32 includes a key generation unit 320, a network address storage unit 322, a driver storage unit 324, a PC card writing unit 326, an authentication unit 328, and a communication control unit 330.

The authentication software 32 is software executed on the server side to realize the communication method method according to the present invention, and is supplied to the printer device 3 by a recording medium 252 such as a CD-ROM and the RAM 20.
4 is loaded and executed. Authentication software 32
These components write the network address, the encryption key, and the driver of the printer device 3 to the PC card 5 mounted on the PC card IF 230, and authenticate the authentication request from the PC 2.

[Key Generation Unit 320] The key generation unit 320 processes a random number by an algorithm such as RAS to generate a public key and outputs it to the PC card writing unit 326 and the authentication unit 328.

In the public encryption system, the public key is used in combination with the private key. Basically, the data is encrypted with the public key, and the text encrypted with the private key is decrypted to be plain text, but it may be used in the opposite way. The private key is not derived in real time from the public key, and effectively the encrypted data cannot be returned to plaintext without the private key.

For example, the PC 2 sends the text encrypted by the public key to the printer device 3, and the printer device 3
When the PC 2 is the correct destination of the ciphertext and has the correct secret key, the ciphertext can be returned to the plaintext with the secret key. On the other hand, if the printer device 3 can return the ciphertext to the plaintext, it can be seen that the PC 2 that has sent the ciphertext is the device to which the public key is passed and the printer device 3 is authorized to access.

Thus, by using the public key,
The PC 2 can confirm that the printer device 3 is the destination of the correct ciphertext, and conversely, the printer device 3 can confirm that the PC 2 is a device to which access is legally permitted. In this way, confirming the other party between the printer device 3 and the PC 2 is also called authentication. Furthermore, when charging the PC 2 for the use of the printer device 3, authentication using encryption is performed. In such a case, the shared encryption method may be used.

[Network Address Storage Unit 322] The network address storage unit 322 is used for the input / output device 222.
The network address used for communication with the printer device 3 in the communication system 1, such as the IP address set in the printer device 3 via the above, is stored and output to the PC card writing unit 326.

[Driver Storage Unit 324] The driver storage unit 324 is necessary for the PC 2 to access the printer device 3 via the networks 10-1 to 10-3 and cause the printer device 3 to print a document, a figure, or the like. The software (driver) is stored and output to the PC card writing unit 326.

[PC Card Writing Unit 326] FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information written in the PC card 5 by the printer device 3 shown in FIGS. PC card writing unit 326
When the PC card 5 is mounted on the PC card IF 230 (FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 6, the network address of the printer device 3 (PR) input from the network address storage unit 322 and the key generation unit 320 are input. The input public key and the driver input from the driver storage unit 324 are written in the memory 50 (FIG. 4) of the PC card 5.

[Communication controller 330] Communication controller 330
Outputs the public key included in the authentication request for the PC 2 (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 8) received by the network IF 240 via the networks 10-1 to 10-3 to the authentication unit 328, and from the authentication unit 328. The input authentication information is used as the network IF 240 and the networks 10-1 to 10-10.
-3 to PC2.

Further, the communication control section 330 performs communication processing with the PC 2, and prints the print request and the data to be printed (print data) received from the PC 2 to the printer engine 3.
It outputs to 0 (FIG. 2).

[Authentication Unit 328] The authentication unit 328 uses the public key input from the communication control unit 330 to determine whether the authentication request from the PC 2 is valid. The authentication information indicating that the authentication request is valid is output to the communication control unit 330.

For example, the validity of the authentication request is, for example, P
The public key sent from C2 is compared with the public key held by the printer device 3, or, as described above, the printer device 3 uses the secret key held by the printer device 3 to encrypt the cipher sent from the PC 2. It can be determined by whether or not the sentence can be returned to the plaintext (however, in some cases, the sentence encrypted with the private key may be plaintext with the public key). When the authentication unit 328 determines that the authentication request is valid, the printer device 3 returns a response message such as “printing output” to the PC 2, and when the authentication request is invalid, the printer device 3 returns to the PC 2. Messages such as errors are returned.

[Authentication / Install Software 26]
FIG. 7 shows the authentication / installation software 26 that is executed in the PC 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, performs authentication processing with the printer device 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2), and installs the driver received from the printer device 3. It is a figure which shows a structure. As shown in FIG. 7, the authentication / installation software 26 includes a PC card reading unit 260, a driver installer 262, a driver 264, an authentication unit 266, and a communication control unit 268. The authentication / installation software 26 is the authentication software 32 except for the driver 264 supplied to the PC 2 via the PC card 5.
Similarly to (FIG. 5), a recording medium 252 such as a CD-ROM.
Is supplied to the printer device 3, and is loaded into the RAM 204 and executed.

The authentication / installation software 26 is
With these components, the driver 264 included in the information read from the PC card 5 (FIG. 6) is installed in the PC 2. Further, the authentication / installation software 26 issues an authentication request to the printer device 3 using the authentication data (public key) read from the PC card 5, and when the printer device 3 is authenticated, the printer device 3
The printer 3 is made to print documents, images, etc.

[PC card reading unit 260] The PC card reading unit 260 is the PC card IF 230 of the PC 2.
The information (FIG. 6) written by the printer device 3 is read from the memory 50 (FIG. 4) of the PC card 5 mounted in (FIG. 3), the driver is output to the driver installer 262, and the network address and public information are displayed. The key is output to the driver 264 and the authentication unit 266.

[Communication controller 268] Communication controller 268
Performs communication with the printer device 3 via the networks 10-1 to 10-3 using the read network address, and outputs the authentication information received from the printer device 3 to the authentication unit 266. . Also, the communication control unit 2
68 transmits the authentication request generated by the authentication unit 266 to the printer device 3 via the networks 10-1 to 10-3. The communication control unit 268 also controls the driver 264.
According to the control of 1., the printer device 3 is caused to perform printing, for example, by transmitting data to be printed (print data) to the printer device 3 via the networks 10-1 to 10-3. Information is sent and received.

[Driver installer 262] The driver installer 262 is a driver 26 for the printer device 3 (PR) input from the PC card reading unit 260.
Install 4.

[Driver 264] The driver 264 is installed by the driver installer 262, and is authenticated by the printer device 3, the communication control unit 26.
It communicates with the printer device 3 via 8 and causes the printer device 3 to perform printing.

[Authentication unit 266] FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information included in an authentication request issued to the printer device 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2) from FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 8, the authentication unit 266 transmits an authentication request including the public key and the IP address of the PC 2 input from the PC card reading unit 260 to the printer device 3 via the communication control unit 268. To do. Further, when the authentication information input from the communication control unit 268 indicates that the authentication is approved, the authentication unit 266 causes the driver 264 to display the printer device 3.
Allow print processing for.

[Operation of Communication System 1] The operation of the communication system 1 will be described below. FIG. 9 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the communication system 1 according to the present invention. When the user connects the notebook PC (PC2) to the network and causes the printer device 3 in the immediate vicinity to print out, User uses PC card to PC2
The process up to the execution of the authentication / installation software 26 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, first, step 100 (S
In 100), the user inserts the PC card 5 into the printer device 3 (FIG. 2).

In step 102 (S102), the user inserts the obtained PC card 5 into the PC of the printer device 3.
When the printer device 3 is mounted on the card IF 230 (FIG. 2), the printer device 3 determines that the notification of the address or the like is requested from the outside because the PC card 5 is mounted, and activates the authentication software 32 (FIG. 5). To do. The key creation unit 320 creates a public key and outputs it to the PC card writing unit 326, and the network address storage unit 322 stores the stored network address in the PC card writing unit 32.
6, and the driver storage unit 324 outputs the stored driver to the PC card writing unit 326. The PC card writing unit 326 writes and stores the input network address, public key, and driver in the PC card 5, as shown in FIG.

In step 104 (S104), when the user takes out the PC card 5 in which the information of the printer device 3 is stored from the PC card IF 230 of the printer device 3 and inserts it in the PC card IF 230 (FIG. 3) of the PC 2, the PC 2 Is the authentication / installation software 26
(Fig. 6) is started and executed.

FIG. 10 shows a communication system 1 according to the present invention.
2 is a second flow chart showing the operation of P.
The procedure from installation of the C card to authentication is shown below. The PC card IF2 of the PC2 is the PC card 5 in which the information is stored.
When installed in 30 (FIG. 3), the PC 2 becomes a PC card 5
When the printer device 3 is attached, it is determined that the information is notified from the printer device 3, and the authentication / installation software 26 (FIG. 7) is activated. The PC card reading unit 260 of the authentication / installation software 26 reads the network address, the public key, and the driver (driver 264) from the PC card 5 in which the information of the printer device 3 is stored.

In step 200 (S200), the driver installer 262 installs the read driver to form the driver 264.

In step 202 (S202), the driver installer 262 sets the read network address and public key in the authentication unit 266 and the installed driver 264.

In step 30 (S30), the authentication unit 266 uses the network address to determine the communication control unit 2
The printer device 3 communicates with the printer device 3 via the network 68 and the networks 10-1 to 10-3, and performs authentication using the set network address and public key.

FIG. 11 shows the authentication process (S3 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows 0). The authentication process will be further described with reference to FIG. In step 300 (S300),
The authentication unit 266 (FIG. 7) assumes that the information processing device indicated by the network address (FIG. 6) stored in the PC card 5 is the printer device corresponding to the driver 264, and stores the network address (PC) and the public key of the PC 2 in the printer. The authentication request (FIG. 8) including the authentication request is sent to the authentication unit 266 and the network 10.
1 to 10-3 to the printer device 3.

On the other hand, in the printer device 3, the authentication unit 328 of the authentication software 32 (FIG. 5) is the communication control unit 3
PC for determining whether or not the authentication is possible by judging the authentication request sent via the network 30 and the networks 10-1 to 10-3.
Respond to 2. In step 302 (S302), the authentication unit 266 causes the networks 10-1 to 10-.
3 and the authentication unit 266, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the information processing device (printer device 3) that has transmitted the authentication request within a certain period. If there is a response, S30
The process proceeds to step S4, and otherwise proceeds to step S308.

At step 304 (S304), P
The authentication unit 266 (FIG. 7) of C2 determines whether or not the response received from the printer device 3 via the communication control unit 268 and the networks 10-1 to 10-3 is to authenticate and authenticates. If so, the process proceeds to S306,
Otherwise, the process proceeds to S308.

In step 306 (S306), the authentication unit 266 notifies the driver 264 that the authentication has succeeded, and the driver 264 communicates with the printer device 3 to cause the printer device 3 to print a document or an image. Etc. are printed. Data such as a document image sent to the printer device may be encrypted using a public key.

In step 308 (S308), the authentication unit 266 determines that the authentication has failed, notifies the driver 264 of the failure, and further displays a message to that effect on the display device 212. I do. In addition,
In this case, the driver 264 does not make a printing request or the like to the printer device 3.

[Characteristics] The characteristics of the communication system 1 according to the present invention will be described below. According to the communication system 1, the user does not need to input a network address or the like,
The PC 2 and the printer device 3 can be connected to perform printing, and at this time, knowledge of the configuration of the communication system 1 is not required.

Further, according to the communication system 1, it is possible to prevent the problem that the PC 2 accesses the wrong printer device. Further, according to the communication system 1, a special device such as a server device that stores and manages a driver is not required to connect the PC 2 and the printer device 3, and the introduction thereof is easy. Further, the optimum driver for the printer device 3 can always be installed in the PC 2. Further, according to the communication system 1, the connection can be confirmed by the recognition between the PC 2 and the printer device 3, and unnecessary printout can be avoided. Such features of the present invention are very useful in mobile computing.

[Modification] The PC card IF 230 of the PC 2 and the printer device 3 is mounted with the PC card 5, so that the PC 2 and the printer device 3 are authenticated and authenticated.
Although the case where the installation software 26 and the authentication software 32 are configured to be activated has been described, the PC 2 and the printer device 3 further store the command information in the PC card 5, and the PC 2 and the printer device 3 follow the command information. 32 may be configured to be activated. In addition, the printer device 3
Is a printer device, the printer device 3 is, for example, as will be described later as a second embodiment.
It may be another type of device such as a file server device or a database.

Further, the PC card 5 does not necessarily have to be provided in the printer device 3, and a PC card prepared by the user may be used. In addition, the PC 2 and the printer device 3 are provided with appropriate interfaces,
Instead of PC card 5, PDA (Personal Digital Assi
It is also possible to use other devices such as a stant device.

Further, a communication path different from the network is formed between the communication interface of the PC 2 and the communication interface of the printer device 3 by using wired or wireless communication means, and indirect data transmission via the PC 5. Alternatively, the data may be directly communicated. And
Based on the capacity of the two communication paths formed between the two, the data amount of the document image to be sent to the printer device, the communication overhead, etc., the PC 2 selects the communication path that can send the data in a shorter time and selects the document image. May be sent. In addition, an encryption key such as a public key is not always required for authentication, and the anonymity of the data to be printed is not required.
When the printer device 3 is uniquely determined, other information such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) address may be used instead of the encryption key.

Further, between the PC 2 and the printer device 3,
Notification of information required for authentication (Fig. 6) is sent to the network interface.
Alternatively, communication may be performed via 240.

FIG. 12 shows the PC 2 via the Internet.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a case where a printer and a printer device 3 are connected to each other. Further, it does not matter whether the networks 10-1 to 10-3 are public networks or private networks. For example, when the networks 10-1 and 10-3 are private networks as shown in FIG. May be connected via the Internet 10-4.

As described above, when the PC 2 and the printer device 3 can be connected to each other via the public network such as the Internet, the user stops at the site where the printer device 3 is provided and the printer device 3 writes the information. It is possible to obtain the PC card 5 and access the printer device 3 from a destination via a mobile phone network or the like to perform printing. In such a case, the PC card 5 mounted on the PC card IF 230 can be used to store and manage the charging information. For example,
The accounting information may be managed on the server side, and the public key is used instead of the ID. Further, in such a case, an ID for recognizing the PC 2 is provided on the PC card 5 as necessary.
Alternatively, the security of communication can be improved by storing the cryptographic information for further increasing the confidentiality of communication and performing the processing using these.

Further, the driver 264 is changed from PC5 to PC2.
Instead of installing it on the printer device 3, after confirming the connection with the printer device 3 via the network,
Alternatively, the program may be downloaded to the PC 2 and installed. Further, the driver 264 does not necessarily need to be installed in the PC 2, and
The driver 264 stored in the C card 5 can be used without being installed. In this case, PC
A user interface for dragging and dropping a file to be printed onto the driver 264 stored in the card 5 and causing the printer device 3 to print can be used. In addition, the connection confirmation (authentication) is performed by the PC.
It can also be done in 2. The PC 2 communicates with the printer device 3 via the network to obtain its public key or MAC address as identification data, and compares it with the public key or MAC address previously obtained from the PC card 5 to confirm the connection. Alternatively, the connection is confirmed by sending connection confirmation data to the printer device 3 via the PC card 5 and communicating with the printer device 3 via the network to obtain this confirmation data. When the latter method is used, when the PC card 5 is prepared on the printer device 3 side, the PC card 5 is returned to the printer device 3 again due to the operating procedure, and the operator of the PC 2 erroneously takes away the PC card 5. Can be prevented.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the second communication system 6 according to the present invention, which is shown as the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the network server 4 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, the communication system 6 includes
The PC 2 (FIG. 3) and the network server 4 are connected to each other via the networks 10-1 and 10-2. In the communication system 6, software (client program) similar to the authentication / installation software 26 (FIG.) Is installed in the PC 2,
2 operates as a client device. In addition, FIG.
3, the network server 4 has the same configuration as the PC 2 (FIG. 3) and the same software as the authentication software 32 (FIG. 5) of the printer device 3 is installed. , It operates as a file server device.

[Operation of Communication System 6] The operation of the communication system 6 will be described below. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operation of the communication system 6 shown in FIG. Step 400
In (S400), the user obtains the PC card 5 provided in the network server 4 and inserts it in the PC card IF 230 (FIG. 14) of the network server 4.
The network server 4 is attached to the installed PC card 5,
Information (FIG. 6) such as the network address of the network server 4, the public key and the client program (driver) is written and stored.

In step 402 (S402), the user inserts the PC card 5 in which information is written by the network server 4 into the PC card IF 230 (FIG. 3) of the PC 2.

At step 404 (S404), P
The C2 reads information from the PC card 5 and executes a client program for operating the network server 4.

At step 406 (S406), P
The client program of C2 accesses the network address stored in the PC card 5 to perform authentication.

At step 408 (S408), P
The C2 client program determines whether the access and authentication have failed. If the access / authentication fails, the client program ends the process, and otherwise, the process proceeds to S410. The server may be another normal PC (notebook PC).

At step 408 (S408), P
The client program of C2 accesses the network server 4 and performs a file transfer process.

[0073]

As described above, according to the communication system and the method of the present invention, it is possible to easily use a peripheral device such as a printer from a computer via a network. Further, according to the communication system and the method thereof according to the present invention, without a special management device,
Peripheral drivers can be easily installed on your computer. Further, according to the communication system and the method thereof according to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy the merits of the respective paths, apart from the driver installation path and the data communication path.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment according to the present invention shown as a first embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the communication system of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the printer device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the PC card shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is executed in a printer device (FIGS. 1 and 2),
It is a figure which shows the structure of the authentication software which performs an authentication process with PC2 (FIG. 1, 3).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing information written in a PC card by the printer device (FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of authentication / installation software that is executed in a PC (FIGS. 1 and 3), performs authentication processing with a printer device (FIGS. 1 and 2), and installs a driver received from the printer device. Is.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a printer device (FIG. 1, 3) from a PC (FIG. 1, 3).
It is a figure showing the information contained in the attestation request given to 2).

FIG. 9 shows a first operation of the communication system according to the present invention.
It is a flowchart of.

FIG. 10 is a second flowchart showing the operation of the communication system according to the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing an authentication process (S30) shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a case where the PC 2 and the printer device 3 are connected via the Internet.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a second communication system according to the present invention, which is shown as a second embodiment.

14 is a diagram showing a configuration of the network server shown in FIG.

15 is a diagram showing an operation of the communication system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,6 ... Communication system 10-1 to 10-4 ... Network 2 ... PC 200 ... CPU 202 ... ROM 204 ... RAM 206 ... bus 210 ... Display IF 212 ... Display device 220 ... Input / output IF 222 ... I / O device 230 ... PC card IF 240 ... Network IF 242 ... USB-IF 250 ... Recording device 252 ... Recording medium 26 ... Authentication / installation software 260 ... PC card reading unit 262 ... Driver installer 264 ... Driver 266 ... Authentication unit 268 ... Communication control unit 3 ... Printer device 30 ... Printer engine 32 ... Authentication software 320: Key creation unit 322 ... Network address storage unit 324 ... Driver storage unit 326 ... PC card writing unit 328 ... Authentication unit 330 ... Communication control unit 4 ... Network server 5 ... PC card 50 ... Memory 52 ... CPU 54 ... PC-IF

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A communication system in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other, wherein the first node is assigned an address in the network, The first node has address notifying means for notifying the second node of the first address via a communication path other than the network, and the second node has the notified address. A communication system having transmitting means for transmitting data to the first node using the. 2. A communication system in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other, wherein each of the first node and the second node is in the network. First used for communication
Address and a second address, respectively, the first node, to the second node, an address notification means for notifying the first address via a communication path other than the network, A second confirmation means for confirming the connection with the first node, the first confirmation means for confirming the connection with the second node, and the second confirmation means for confirming the connection with the first node. And a communication processing unit that performs communication with the confirmed first node via the network. 3. A storage unit attached to the first node and the second node, for storing information written by the first node, and for reading the written information by the second node. The second node address notifying means writes the first address in the attached storage means, and stores the second address.
3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the node confirming unit reads the written first address from the mounted storage unit. 4. The notifying means of the first node is the second node.
The first address and the encryption key to the node, and the second confirmation means of the first node confirms to the first node that the notified encryption key is included. The communication system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a request is issued, and the confirmation unit of the first node determines whether to accept the confirmation request based on an encryption key included in the confirmation request. 5. The address notifying means of the first node,
The second node further sends communication software necessary for the second node to communicate with the first node via a network via a communication path other than the network, 5. The communication processing unit of the node according to claim 2, using the sent communication software, performs communication with the first node that has given the confirmation via the network. Communication system. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first node is a printer, and the communication means of the second node to which the confirmation is given performs communication for causing the printer to perform printing.
5. The communication system according to any one of 5. 7. A client device for communicating with a server device connected via a network, comprising a communication means for communicating with the connected server device without passing through the network, and the client device via the communication means. A client device, wherein identification information for connection confirmation received from a server device is transmitted to the server device via the network. 8. A server device for communicating with a client device connected via a network, comprising: communication means for communicating with the client device without passing through the network, and to the client device via the communication means. The identification information for connection confirmation is transmitted, the identification information for connection confirmation is received from the client device via the network, the connection with the client device is confirmed based on the two transmitted and received identification information, and A server device for transmitting and receiving. 9. A communication method in which a first node and a second node connected via a network communicate with each other.
A first address and a second address used for communication in the network are attached to the first node and the second node, respectively, and the first node is different from the second node. And notifies the first address via a communication path other than the network, confirms the connection with the second node, and connects the second node with the first node. In the communication method, the connection is confirmed by the communication, and the communication with the confirmed first node is performed via the network. 10. A program executed by the first computer and the second computer in a communication system in which a first computer and a second computer connected via a network communicate with each other. The first node and the second node each have a first node used for communication in the network.
And a second address, respectively, in the first node, notifying the first address to the second node via a communication path other than the network; And a step of performing confirmation with the second node, the step of performing confirmation with the first node in the second node, and communication between the confirmed first node And a step of performing the communication via the network. 11. A client device for communicating with a server device connected via a network, comprising: a communication means for communicating with the connected server device without passing through the network. Confirm the connection with the server device by comparing the identification information for connection confirmation received from the server device and the identification information for connection confirmation received from the server device via the network, and confirm the connection between the server device and the data. A client device, which performs transmission and reception. 12. A server device for communicating with a client device connected via a network, comprising: a communication means for communicating with the client device without passing through the network, to the client device via the communication means. A server device, which transmits identification information for connection confirmation, and also transmits identification information for connection confirmation to the client device via a network in response to a transmission request from the client device.