JP2005311658A - Wireless access point and wireless system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless access point and a wireless system capable of easily setting wireless setting information even when other wireless access points exist.
The present invention provides a wireless LAN function-equipped router device 10 and a wireless access point each having a dedicated port for automatically setting communication conditions, and communicates with a designated device by directly connecting the dedicated port and the wireless computer device 70. The main feature is that a control means for transmitting and receiving the condition setting information is provided. Further, it is characterized by having a control means for determining whether or not to respond to the automatic setting request according to the state of the changeover switch instead of the dedicated port.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless access point such as a wireless LAN and a wireless system capable of automatically setting wireless communication conditions with a wireless terminal device such as a server or a wireless computer device.

  In recent years, with the spread of wireless connection technology, a connection from a wireless LAN to the Internet can be easily established as long as radio waves reach. However, compared to a wired LAN, radio waves can be easily intercepted, communication secrets are easily leaked, and there is a possibility that the connection to the Internet has been completed and the passengers can get on.

Therefore, in order to ensure security, the connection with a terminal set to “ANY” of ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) is rejected, MAC address filtering by the MAC address of the wireless network card is performed, or WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Is used to encrypt data. However, in order to use these processes, the same setting needs to be made between the wireless access point and the wireless client. At present, these settings can only be made manually by the user, and it is difficult for a user with no specialized knowledge to set. And many people use the default settings without setting them. Some users consider that it is difficult to set a wireless method based on IEEE802.11a / b / g, which is a premise of performing security settings. Note that, rather than calling a wireless access point here, it can be said that a wireless access point device is more appropriate in terms of the arrangement of a router device and a wireless computer device. It is called “wireless access point”.
JP 2000-92107 A

  In order to ensure security in this way, the same wireless setting needs to be made between the wireless access point and the wireless client. However, it is difficult for a user who has no specialized knowledge to perform this wireless setting. For this reason, the default setting is often used without performing the security setting. Some users find it difficult to set the wireless system.

  Therefore, in order to automatically perform wireless setting, it is conceivable to connect a terminal device serving as a wireless client to a wireless access point and inquire about the setting contents of the wireless access point. However, when two or more wireless access points are connected, each wireless access point responds to the inquiry, and subsequent settings cannot be performed.

  For example, a router device with a wireless LAN function functions as a wireless access point. When this router device with a wireless LAN function is used as a wireless access point with a router function, other wireless devices are connected via the hub of the router device with a wireless LAN function. Access points are also connected. However, in such a case, since the wireless client needs to perform wireless setting, even if a request for requesting wireless setting content is broadcast, a response is returned from both the router device with wireless LAN function and another wireless access point. As a result, the user cannot designate a wireless link with the desired device.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a wireless access point and a wireless system capable of easily setting wireless setting information that can be wirelessly linked to a target device even when other wireless access points exist. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention is a wireless access point capable of wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, the first wired interface that communicates with the terminal device only in a communication condition automatic setting mode by wire. The first port connected to the first wired interface, only the first dedicated cable can be connected, and the other cables other than the first cable cannot be connected, and the first wired interface is connected in the communication condition automatic setting mode. The main feature is that a control means is provided for transmitting wireless setting information in order to automatically set communication conditions when a transmission packet is received from a terminal device. The same effect can be obtained by using a general-purpose cable connected to a normal Ethernet (registered trademark) port instead of the dedicated cable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wireless access point and a wireless system capable of easily setting wireless setting information such as SSID and encryption even when other wireless access points are connected.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first invention of the present invention is a wireless access point capable of wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, and is dedicated only when connected to the terminal device by wire and in a communication condition automatic setting mode. A wireless device provided with control means for transmitting wireless setting information when a packet requesting automatic setting is received from a terminal device via a first wired interface in a communication condition automatic setting mode and a first wired interface communicating with a protocol It is an access point, and wireless settings such as SSID and encryption key can be easily performed. In addition, since wireless setting information is exchanged via a wired interface and a cable, it can be set while visually observing and can be reliably connected to a target wireless access point.

  A second invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the first invention, comprising a second wired interface for wired communication with another terminal device and / or another wireless access point Even when connected to another terminal device and / or another wireless access point by wire, wireless setting information is exchanged via the cable, so that a connection error does not occur.

  A third invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the first or second invention, wherein the control means is a wireless access point that transmits wireless setting information and / or network information to automatically set communication conditions. Yes, the terminal device connected to the wireless access point of the network can be automatically set.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless access point capable of wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, a second wired interface capable of communicating with the terminal device by wire, and a LAN via the second wired interface. A communication switch that allows communication in the communication mode and a switch that can specify whether or not to respond to a request for automatic setting in the communication condition automatic setting mode. When the transmission packet is received from the terminal device, it is a wireless access point provided with a control means that transmits wireless setting information and does not transmit the wireless setting information when the designation is not made. In the communication condition automatic setting mode, Use the selector switch to select the wireless access point for automatic setting, and restore it in LAN communication mode. Can.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless access point according to the fourth aspect, which is dependent on the fourth aspect of the present invention and can communicate with another wireless access point via a second wired interface in a wired manner. The switch can specify whether or not to respond to a request for automatic setting to the other wireless access point in the communication condition automatic setting mode, whereby the wireless access point can be specified in the communication condition automatic setting mode. It is a wireless access point that designates one from the whole and responds to an automatic setting request, and can designate one wireless access point from a plurality of wireless access points to respond to the automatic setting request.

  A sixth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the fourth or fifth invention, wherein the control means is a wireless access point that transmits wireless setting information and / or network information to automatically set communication conditions. Yes, the terminal device connected to the wireless access point of the network can be automatically set.

  A seventh invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on any of the fourth to sixth inventions, wherein the change-over switch is a wireless access point that is a mechanical switch, and can be easily switched by manual operation.

  An eighth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the fourth to sixth inventions, wherein the changeover switch is a software switch and is a wireless access point that can be switched by communication, and is within reach. Even if there are no changeover switches or there are many changeover switches, they can be easily switched.

  A ninth invention of the present invention is an invention subordinate to the eighth invention, wherein when a web server is mounted and a switch setting request instructing switching of designation by the switch is transmitted from the terminal device, the control means Is a wireless access point for switching a changeover switch, which can be easily operated using a web page, and can be easily changed even if the changeover switch is out of reach or there are many changeover switches.

  The tenth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the fourth or fifth invention, wherein the changeover switch comprises a pair of a mechanical switch and a software switch, and the mechanical switch is switched in the mechanical switch priority mode. This is a wireless access point that is sometimes switched by a switch, and if it is set to the mechanical switch priority mode, the switch can be set only by manually switching the mechanical switch.

  The eleventh aspect of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the fourth, fifth, ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention. In the software switch priority mode, the switch is designated when the software switch is switched. If the software switch priority mode is set, the switch can be set only by switching the software switch over the network.

  The twelfth aspect of the present invention is an invention dependent on the eleventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the software switch priority mode is set for a predetermined time in the communication condition automatic setting mode, and the mechanical switch priority mode is automatically set when a time-out occurs to automatically perform LAN communication. The wireless access point that shifts to the mode, and in the automatic communication condition setting mode, the switch must be reset to the LAN communication mode so that normal communication can be performed after the automatic setting. It is possible to automatically shift to the LAN communication mode.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an invention dependent on any one of the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention. The thirteenth aspect of the present invention includes a WAN interface and is connected to the WAN and performs routing between the LAN and the terminal device and the wireless device. The wireless access point is equipped with a wireless means for communication, and wireless settings such as SSID and encryption can be easily performed, and wireless settings in the private network are facilitated.

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a wireless system configured by any one of the third, sixth to thirteenth wireless access points connected to a network and a terminal device capable of wirelessly communicating with the wireless access points. In the communication condition automatic setting mode, when the terminal device is connected to the wireless access point by a one-to-one connection and requests wireless setting information and / or network information from the terminal device, the wireless access point receives the wireless setting information and / or Alternatively, it is a wireless system that responds to network information and the terminal device automatically sets wireless setting information and / or network information, and is connected to a wireless access point in a communication condition automatic setting mode, so that wireless setting information and / or Or network information can be set automatically.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless system of the fourteenth aspect, the terminal device is connected to the wireless access point by wire instead of being connected to the wireless access point by wire, Radio that determines one wireless access point with which the terminal device communicates wirelessly from the responding wireless access points when a response is possible from the wireless access point and at least one or more second wireless access points in the network Since the system selects an access point after collecting information according to a response from the wireless access point, wireless setting information and / or network information can be automatically set.

  A sixteenth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the fifteenth invention, wherein the terminal device has a wireless access point having an address identifiable among IP addresses or MAC addresses in the received network information, Alternatively, the wireless system designates a wireless access point having a host name that can be specified in the host name, and the algorithm for selecting the wireless access point is simple.

  A seventeenth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the fifteenth invention, wherein the requested wireless access point has information that the wireless access point cannot reply to the wireless setting information and / or network information, The client device that has received the response is a wireless system in which the terminal device modifies the wireless setting information and / or network information based on all the information of the wireless access point that has responded, and the terminal device side has the wireless setting information and / or network information. As a result, the load on the wireless access point is small.

  The eighteenth invention of the present invention is an invention dependent on the fifteenth invention, wherein there is information that the wireless access point cannot reply to in the wireless setting information and / or network information of the designated wireless access point. The wireless access point is a wireless system that makes an inquiry to a host device and supplements the information. Since the wireless access point processes wireless setting information and / or network information with a minimum communication amount, there is no useless data exchange.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a wireless LAN function-equipped router device connected to an external network, a wireless access point subordinate to the wireless LAN function-equipped router device, and wireless communication with the wireless access point A wireless system configured with a terminal device capable of performing wireless communication, and in a communication condition automatic setting mode, the terminal device is connected to a wireless access point by a one-to-one connection by wire to receive wireless setting information and / or network information from the terminal device. When requested, the wireless setting information and / or network information that the wireless access point can respond to is extracted, and the wireless setting information and / or network information of the router device with the wireless LAN function is acquired via the wireless access point, and is extracted by this. A wireless system that automatically configures wireless settings by correcting them , And the performs an automatic setting in the center of the router device, always can be performed automatically set at a fixed procedure.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, setting of wireless setting information performed by the wireless LAN function-equipped router device and the wireless computer device using the cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2A is an internal configuration diagram of a router device with a wireless LAN function according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. ) Is a rear view of the router device with a wireless LAN function, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the wireless computer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a wireless LAN function-equipped router device that is a wireless access point, and 20 is a wireless protocol (protocol compliant with standards such as IEEE802.11a / b / g, The same shall apply hereinafter), and a wireless image server 30 serving as a wireless client, such as a network camera capable of data communication using UDP or TCP / IP protocol on the communication link, 30 is a router device 10 with a wireless LAN function and will be described later. It is a wireless adapter that relays communication with the computer device 50 (or the wired image server 40). The wireless adapter 30 establishes a communication link with the wireless LAN function-equipped router device 10 using a wireless protocol, and performs data communication using the TCP / IP protocol or the like on the communication link. On the other hand, the wireless adapter 30 performs data communication with the computer device 50 and the wired image server 40 via a TCP / IP protocol or the like via a cable such as 100BASE-T.

  40 is a wired image server such as a network camera capable of data communication by UDP or TCP / IP protocol via Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like, 50 is equipped with a browser, and is wired or UDP or TCP by Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like. / A computer device such as a personal computer capable of data communication by the IP protocol. Reference numeral 60 denotes a second wireless access point connected to the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function by wire, and can perform wireless communication with the wireless adapter 30 and the wireless image server 20. The state where two or more wireless access points are connected, which is the premise of the problem to be solved by the present invention, is that the hub (wired LAN interfaces 11a to 11d) of the router device with wireless LAN function 10 is connected. And the other wireless access point such as the second wireless access point 60 is connected. Reference numeral 70 denotes a wireless computer device equipped with a wireless network card.

  In the following description, the wireless computer device 70 is connected to the wireless LAN function-equipped router device 10 by a cable and performs wireless information setting and network setting. A pair of the wireless image server 20, the wireless computer device 70, the wireless adapter 30, and the computer device 50 is hereinafter referred to as a wireless terminal device (terminal device of the present invention).

  The router device 10 with the wireless LAN function is equipped with a web server function and a DHCP server function, and further has a UPnP function for assigning an external port in response to a request from the wireless computer device 70 or the wireless image server 20. .

Next, the configurations of the wireless LAN function-equipped router device 10 and the wireless access point 60 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function is a wireless access point and has a configuration as a router, the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function will be described first. In FIG. 2A, 11a to 11d are wired LAN interfaces (second wired interface according to the present invention) for communicating with terminal devices constituting a private network, such as IEEE802.3 (CSMA / CD). An interface that conforms to the LAN standard and can be connected to a cable such as 100BASE-T, and 12 is a WAN interface for performing communication with a wide area network WAN such as the Internet. Ethernet (registered trademark) or IEEE802.3 (CSMA / This is an interface that conforms to a LAN standard such as CD) and can be connected to a cable such as 100BASE-T.

  Note that the WAN interface 12 may be an interface that can communicate with ADSL or ISDN other than those that conform to the LAN standard. Also, the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function transfers a packet received by the WAN interface 12 to a terminal device connected to the wired LAN interface 11 by a port forward function or the like, or conversely, a packet transmitted from the terminal device. Can be transferred to an external network by converting the IP address using the NAT function. The terminal devices connected to the wired LAN interfaces 11a to 11d constitute a private network (the LAN of the present invention) and can communicate with each other using a local IP address. The port forward function is performed using a port number set by automatic setting described later.

  11e is a wired dedicated interface (first wired interface according to the present invention) for automatically setting wireless settings wired to the terminal device using a dedicated protocol. Note that this automatic setting mode is the communication condition automatic setting mode of the present invention. In order for the wireless LAN device with the wireless LAN function 10 that is one of the wireless access points and the wireless terminal device to communicate wirelessly, it is necessary to make wireless settings common to both, but the wired dedicated interface 11e is a wireless LAN. This is to notify the wireless terminal device of the wireless setting set in the function-equipped router device 10 by a dedicated protocol. Communication data in accordance with this protocol is taken out by the wired dedicated interface 11e, and if it is determined that access has been made according to this dedicated protocol, the connection is permitted for automatic setting, and the protocol is determined to be a protocol other than this dedicated protocol. If you do not allow connections for automatic configuration.

  In addition, the cable itself can be a dedicated cable, or the terminal of the wired dedicated interface 11e can be given a different shape from the terminals of other wired interfaces to increase the reliability of connection with the wired dedicated interface 11e. You can also. That is, in this case, the wireless access point 60 and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function are physically connected one-to-one with the wired dedicated interface 11e, and automatic setting cannot be performed with other wired interfaces. Therefore, when there are multiple terminals, it is convenient to use a cable or a dedicated terminal that can be identified at a glance. Therefore, although it is premised that automatic setting can be performed only with a dedicated protocol, in the first embodiment, a case where a dedicated terminal 19e (described later) is used together with a wired dedicated interface 11e will be described.

  13 has a wireless LAN interface for communicating with a terminal device constituting a private network, conforms to a wireless LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or IEEE 802.11, and wirelessly communicates with the terminal device. Means 14 is a storage means for storing the control program and various setting information, and also stores network information and wireless setting information (communication conditions of the present invention) of each terminal device. Reference numeral 14 a denotes wireless setting information storage means provided in the storage means 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes display means such as an LCD or LED, and reference numeral 16 denotes control means for controlling the entire wireless device. The control unit 16 connects a communication link with the terminal device by a wireless protocol, and performs data communication by the UDP or TCP / IP protocol on the communication link. Further, when a cable is connected to a dedicated terminal 19e, which will be described later, and the control means 16 receives a transmission packet for requesting wireless setting information using a dedicated protocol via the wired dedicated interface 11e, the control means 16 receives wireless setting information from the wireless setting information storage means 14a. And unicast or broadcast to the requesting terminal device. Thereby, the wireless setting information of the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function or the wireless access point 60 is transmitted to the terminal device.

  2A and 2B, 18 is a port (connection port) for connecting to the WAN interface 12, and 19a to 19d are terminals (connection modular jacks) for connecting to the wired LAN interfaces 11a to 11d. is there. Reference numeral 19e denotes a dedicated terminal (connection port) for reliably connecting to the wired dedicated interface 11e in a one-to-one manner, and a dedicated terminal (modular plug) of the cable is inserted. The port 18 and the terminals 19a to 19d and the dedicated terminal 19e are formed so that the connection port shapes are different and cannot be fitted.

  By the way, although the wireless LAN function-equipped router device 10 has been described above, the wireless access point 60 has basically the same configuration except for a part of the configuration. That is, since the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function is basically a router, it includes a WAN interface 12 and a plurality of wired LAN interfaces 11a to 11d. However, the wireless access point 60 only needs to be provided with at least one wired LAN interface used in the private network. Accordingly, the wireless access point 60 is different from the configuration of the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function described above in that it does not include the WAN interface 12 but includes one or several wired LAN interfaces (for example, FIG. 7). (See (b)). The description of the other configuration is the same as the above description, and will be omitted.

  Next, the configuration of the wireless computer device 70 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 71 denotes a wireless transmission / reception unit mounted on a wireless network card, which has a wireless LAN interface for communicating with the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function, and is a wireless LAN standard such as a standard such as IEEE 802.11. Is performed using connection of a communication link with the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function in a form adapted to the above. Here, the communication between the wireless computer device 70 and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function can be performed through the wired LAN interface 74a described later or the wireless transmission / reception means 71. On the other hand, communication between the wireless computer device 70 and the wireless access point 60 is performed through the wireless transmission / reception means 71. Similarly, 72 is a wireless control means for controlling the wireless transmission / reception means 71 mounted on the wireless network card, and 73 is an antenna (antenna) connected to the wireless transmission / reception means 71 for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. When the wireless network card is inserted into the slot of the computer apparatus, the wireless transmission / reception means 71, the wireless control means 72, and the antenna 73 are incorporated in the computer apparatus to constitute the wireless computer apparatus 70.

  74a is a wired LAN interface that conforms to a LAN standard such as IEEE802.3 (CSMA / CD), can be connected to a cable such as 100BASE-T, and communicates with the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function using the TCP / IP protocol. Do. Reference numeral 74b denotes a wired dedicated interface for performing communication for automatically setting the wireless setting with the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function or the wireless access point 60. Similarly, IEEE802.3 (CSMA / CD) or the like is used. It can be connected to a cable with a dedicated terminal (modular jack) that conforms to the LAN standard and communicates using a dedicated protocol. A storage unit 75 stores various settings. 77 controls the wireless control means 72 to connect a wireless communication link with the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, and with other terminal devices via the wireless LAN function router device 10 using the TCP / IP protocol. Control means for controlling communication so that the router 10 with the wireless LAN function is communicated with the TCP / IP protocol via the wired LAN interface 74a, and further, the wired dedicated interface 74b is wireless with a dedicated protocol. A request for requesting automatic setting is transmitted to control the entire wireless computer device 70.

77a receives various wireless setting information such as SSID and encryption information from the router device with wireless LAN function 10 or the wireless access point 60 via the wired dedicated interface 74b when the wireless computer device 70 performs automatic setting. This is an automatic setting control means for performing automatic setting operation control such as storing wireless setting information in the storage means 75. The automatic setting control means 77 a is stored in the storage means 75 as an automatic setting application program, and is read out and functions by the CPU constituting the control means 77. Reference numeral 77b denotes browser control means for performing control such as accessing the Internet or a local network and receiving a web page. 76a is a terminal connected to the wired LAN interface 74a, and 76b is a dedicated terminal connected to the wired dedicated interface 74b. Similar to the above-described dedicated terminal 19e, a dedicated terminal (modular plug) for the cable is inserted, and thus the connection port shape is different from that of the port 76a. Thereby, connection mistakes can be eliminated.

  An automatic setting operation when the wireless computer device 70 described above requests automatic setting of wireless setting information from the wireless access point 60 connected to the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function will be described. FIG. 4A is a connection diagram when wireless setting information is automatically set between the router device with a wireless LAN function and the wireless computer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a connection diagram of FIG. FIG. 5A is a connection diagram when a normal LAN connection is made between a router device with a wireless LAN function and a wireless computer device, and FIG. 5A shows a configuration of a request packet used for automatic setting in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a structure of a response packet, and FIG. 5C is a diagram showing a request code and a response code included in the packet. FIG. 6A is a sequence chart showing an automatic setting operation using a cable, and FIG. 6B is a sequence chart showing an automatic setting operation using a changeover switch.

  First, the configuration of the entire wireless system when performing this automatic setting will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a router device 10 with a wireless LAN function connected to the Internet network or other networks performs data communication by TCP / IP protocol or TCP / UDP. This router device 10 with a wireless LAN function is a wireless access point that not only performs wired routing but also has a wireless LAN function. The router device 10 with the wireless LAN function transfers the packet received from the WAN interface 12 to the terminal device by the port forward function or the like, and conversely converts the IP address of the packet transmitted from the terminal device by the NAT function. Or transfer to an external network. As shown in FIG. 4A, a wireless access point 60 is connected to one of the wired LAN interfaces of the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function by a cable. The router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, the wireless access point 60, the wireless communication terminal under the router, and the terminal devices connected to the wired LAN interfaces 11b to 11d constitute a private network as a whole and use a local IP address. Communication between each terminal is possible. When broadcasting a packet, the packet is received by these devices in the private network.

  Now, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 4A, when a packet requesting automatic setting is broadcast by connecting the router device 10 with wireless LAN function and the wireless computer device 70 with a cable, a wireless access point is obtained. In combination with 60, there are two wireless access points, making it difficult to automatically set wireless setting information. Therefore, in the first embodiment, as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 4A, the wireless access point 60 and the wireless computer device 70 are directly connected by a cable, and automatic setting of wireless setting information is performed using a dedicated protocol. Set up. As a result, the automatic setting request does not arrive at the two wireless access points.

In connection with a cable used for automatic setting, first, a dedicated terminal (not shown) of the cable is inserted into the dedicated terminal 76b of the wired dedicated interface 74b of the wireless computer device 70. At the same time, the dedicated terminal at the other end of the cable is inserted into the dedicated terminal 19 e of the wireless access point 60. As a result, the wireless computer device 70 and the wireless access point 60 are connected by wire, and communication can be performed using the dedicated protocol via the wired dedicated interface 11e. At this time, since the dedicated terminal 76b and the dedicated terminal 19e have different connection port shapes from those of the other wired LAN terminals 19a to 19d and the terminal 76a, connection for automatic setting is possible even when there are a plurality of terminals. Easy to do.

  Next, the operation when automatic setting is performed between the wireless computer device 70 in FIG. 4A and the wireless access point 60 using UDP as a dedicated protocol will be described in detail.

  The wireless computer device 70 broadcasts a packet requesting wireless setting information to the wireless access point 60 by UDP. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the packet structure of the packet broadcast at this time is composed of a UDP header part and a data part, and the destination port of the UDP header part has a well-known port number “0”. ”To“ 1023 ”, for example,“ 10667 ”is used. The network information and the wireless setting information are stored in the storage unit 75 of the wireless computer device 70, but in the initial state, the storage unit stores a data string “FFFF...” Indicating an automatic setting packet. Therefore, the data, for example, “FFFF...” Is stored in the data area together with the MAC address and request codes, for example, “01” and “02”, and a transmission packet is generated and transmitted. The transmission packet is a fixed-length packet, and the data portion is set to 10 bytes. It is preferable to use a variable-length packet as a response packet.

  The broadcast transmission packet is transmitted through the cable and received by the wireless access point 60. When the destination port is determined to be the predetermined port number “10667”, it is recognized as an automatic setting request, and the automatic setting operation is performed. To start. In the automatic setting, first, it is determined whether or not the transmission source MAC address included in the transmission packet exists in the storage unit 14, and if it does not exist, a new setting operation is performed.

  At this time, if the MAC address already exists in the storage means 14, an update confirmation operation is performed. In response to the request code “01” “02”, the control means 16 reads network information and wireless setting information, for example, SSID, presence / absence of encryption, encryption method, and encryption code value from the wireless setting information storage means 14a. The MAC address stored in the storage unit 14 is designated and transmitted by the UDP protocol in the transmission packet. Response codes “11” and “12” are stored in the packet. As the destination port of the UDP header part, a number avoiding well-known port numbers “0” to “1023” and “10667”, for example, “10668” is used. If there is information not stored in the wireless setting information storage unit 14a at this time, the control unit 16 sends an inquiry to a higher-level device of the network, here, a predetermined port of the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function. At this time, when the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function returns a response message in the form of collective information, the information stored in the wireless setting information storage unit 14a may not match the returned information. The part responds with the information stored in the wireless setting information storage means 14a.

  The transmission packet broadcast from the wireless access point 60 is received by the wireless computer device 70 via the wired dedicated interface 11e, the cable, and the wired dedicated interface 74b, and it is determined that the transmission source port is the predetermined port number “10668”. Then, it is recognized as an automatic setting response from the wireless access point 60 and the transmitted setting information is stored in the storage means 75 of the wireless computer device 70. However, if a predetermined time elapses after the wireless computer device 70 broadcasts the automatic setting request transmission packet, the wireless access point 60 ignores the response transmission packet to the automatic setting request. After storing (setting) the setting information, the wireless computer device 70 notifies the display means (not shown) and the voice output means (not shown) that automatic setting has been completed.

Thereafter, the setting information may be transmitted from the wireless computer device 70. At this time, when the control means 16 of the wireless access point 60 receives this setting information, does the setting information corresponding to the wireless computer device 70 stored in the wireless setting information storage means 14a match the received setting information? When it is determined that the two match, the display unit 15 displays the end of automatic setting, and the automatic setting operation ends.

  Note that since the wireless computer device 70 is a device that operates as a terminal of a private network, when the control means 16 returns a response, the request code “01” “02” included in the packet from the wireless computer device 70 is performed in advance. Depending on the setting, the source MAC address is viewed and (1) whether to transmit only the wireless setting information, (2) whether to transmit only the network information, or (3) whether to transmit both the wireless setting information and the network information. It can also be determined and transmitted according to (1) to (3).

  Although detailed description is omitted, the automatic setting between the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function and the wireless computer device 70 is the same using the dedicated protocol and the wired dedicated interface 11e as shown in FIG. Can be set to

  With respect to the wireless access point 60 configured as described above, the wireless setting information and network information automatic setting operation with the wireless computer device 70 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  In order to perform the operation in the automatic setting mode, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the wired dedicated interface of the wireless access point 60 and the wired dedicated interface 74b of the wireless computer device 70 are connected by a cable (S1).

  In the first embodiment, the wireless computer device 70 broadcasts a transmission packet for requesting the setting contents of wireless setting information such as SSID and encryption information to the wired dedicated interface 11e by the UDP protocol with the port number “10667”, for example. (S2).

  The wireless access point 60 waits for reception of a packet at a predetermined port number “10667”, and when receiving the packet, checks the contents of the packet and determines that it is a request for automatic setting, or the MAC address described in the packet or The requester recognizes that the requester is the wireless computer device 70 from the MAC address of the sender in the Ethernet (registered trademark) frame of the received packet, and the automatic setting operation is started. The control unit 16 reads out the wireless setting information, for example, SSID, presence / absence of encryption, encryption method, encryption code value from the wireless setting information storage unit 14a, and sends it to the transmission packet whose destination port number is the port number “10668”. Then, by using the UDP protocol, the MAC address of the requester who is an automatically set client is designated and transmitted (S3).

  Receiving this packet, the wireless computer device 70 sets wireless setting information (S4), and notifies the display means (not shown) and voice output means (not shown) that the setting has been completed. If the network information setting succeeds with a correct value, a communication link can be established when the wireless computer device 70 accesses the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function with a wireless protocol regardless of the presence or absence of a wired cable (S5). Data communication based on UDP or TCP / IP protocol becomes possible on the communication link.

Further, in this state, the cable is disconnected and the automatic setting is finished (S6). When performing automatic setting, since the cable is directly connected to the wired dedicated interface 74b of the wireless computer and the wired dedicated interface of the wireless access point, there are two wireless access points such as the wireless access point 60 and the router device 10 with wireless LAN function. Even in the case of existing on the same network, automatic setting can be explicitly made for one access point.

  Thereafter, web browsing from the wireless computer device to the server on the network becomes possible (S7).

  As described above, even when the wireless access point 60 of the first embodiment is connected to the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, the wireless setting information can be set by using the dedicated protocol and the wired dedicated interface 11e. Can be easily performed. Because it uses a dedicated cable, dedicated terminal, and wired interface, you can tell at a glance which wireless access point is automatically configured, and no mistakes occur.

  In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which both the wireless access point and the wireless computer have dedicated terminals and are connected using a dedicated cable. However, since it is practically difficult to provide a dedicated port for the wireless computer, a normal port is used. An Ethernet (registered trademark) port should be used. That is, the same effect can be obtained even in a configuration in which the wired dedicated interface 74b and the dedicated terminal 76b shown in FIG. 3 are omitted and the wired LAN interface 74a and the dedicated terminal of the wireless access point 60 are connected.

(Embodiment 2)
A router device and a wireless access point using the changeover switch according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and setting of wireless setting information performed by these and the wireless computer device will be described. 7A is an internal configuration diagram of the router device with a wireless LAN function according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7B is an internal configuration diagram of the wireless access point according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a block diagram of the radio | wireless computer apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The router device 10 with wireless LAN function and the wireless access point 60 of the second embodiment are basically the same in configuration as the router device 10 with wireless LAN function of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals indicate the same contents. Since there is, explanation is omitted. Similarly, the wireless computer device 70 according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the wireless computer device 70 according to the second embodiment, and the same reference numerals indicate the same contents, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  First, the router device 10 with wireless LAN function and the wireless access point 60 according to the second embodiment will be described. Briefly explaining the router device 10 with wireless LAN function, in FIG. 7, 16a is a web server means, 17 is permitted to respond to an automatic setting request received only for a device whose switch is turned on, and is turned off. The device is a change-over switch that can be set not to allow a response. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7B, the wireless access point 60 also has a changeover switch 27, and switches the operation of responding to the automatic setting request when turned on and not responding to the automatic setting request when turned off. It is possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the wireless computer device 70 has a configuration in which the wired dedicated interface 74b and the dedicated terminal 76b provided in the wireless computer device 70 of the second embodiment are not provided.

  When automatic setting is performed, as shown in FIG. 4B, one of the LAN ports of the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function having a hub function and the wireless computer device 70 are connected with a cable, and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function is connected. The LAN port and the wireless access point 60 are connected with a cable. As a result, the router, the wireless access point, and the wireless computer exist in the same network.

The wireless access point broadcasts an automatic setting request packet with a predetermined destination port number “10667”. The router device 10 with the wireless LAN function that has received this packet
Alternatively, the wireless access point determines whether or not to respond according to the state of the changeover switch 17 or 27.

  The changeover switch 17 may be a hardware switch (mechanical switch of the present invention), or a flag corresponding to ON / OFF of the switch is set by the control means 16 of the wireless access point 60 when automatic setting is performed. A software switch that changes the setting of the switch may be used.

  For the wireless LAN function-equipped router 10 and the wireless access point 60 configured as described above, first, the wireless setting information and network information automatic setting operation of the wireless computer device 70 is performed in accordance with the sequence diagram of FIG. explain.

  In order to perform the operation in the automatic setting mode, first, the router device with wireless LAN function 10 and the wireless computer device 70 are connected with a cable (S11), and the setting of the changeover switch 27 of the wireless access point 60 is turned on and wireless. The changeover switch 17 of the router device with LAN function 10 is turned OFF (S12). At this time, when the changeover switches 17 and 27 are hardware switches, the ON / OFF setting is manually performed, and when the switches are software switches, the control unit 16 is activated to set the ON / OFF. The operation control by switching the software switch will be described in detail later.

  Also in the second embodiment, the wireless computer device 70 broadcasts a transmission packet requesting the setting contents of the wireless setting information to the network (S13). At this time, if there is another wireless access point in addition to the wireless access point 60, such as the wireless access point of the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, the changeover switch 27 is set to OFF for the other access points of 60. Therefore, it does not respond to the transmission packet that requests the setting contents of the wireless setting information (S13 *).

  The wireless access point 60 waits for reception of a packet at a predetermined port. When the wireless access point 60 confirms the content of the received packet and determines that it is an automatic setting request, it starts an automatic setting operation. The control unit 16 reads the wireless setting information from the wireless setting information storage unit 14a, and transmits it in a transmission packet having a predetermined port number (S14).

  Receiving this transmission packet, the wireless computer device 70 sets wireless setting information (S15), and notifies the display means (not shown) and voice output means (not shown) that the setting has been completed. Next, if necessary, ON / OFF of the switch set in S12 is canceled (S16). If the network information is set normally, in this state, when the wireless computer device 70 accesses the wireless access point 60 with the wireless protocol, a communication link can be established (S17), and UDP or TCP / IP is established on the communication link. Data communication by protocol becomes possible. This enables web browsing from the wireless computer device to the server on the network (S18).

  As described above, the router device 10 with wireless LAN function and the wireless access point 60 according to the second embodiment can be used for each device even in an environment in which the wireless access point is connected to another wireless access point. By switching the setting of the changeover switch 17 (designation of the connection destination), it is possible to uniquely designate the device to be connected, and it is possible to easily set the wireless setting information and the network setting including these.

By the way, when a software switch is installed in the router device with wireless LAN function 10 or the wireless access point 60, it is preferable to operate from the network using the wireless computer device. As a result, even if there are a large number of wireless access points 60 and the place where the wireless access points 60 are not reachable, the changeover process of the changeover switch 17 is facilitated. In this case, the setting is interactively changed by transmitting / receiving a switch setting request to / from the control means 16 of the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B by TCP / UDP or TCP / IP protocol. Web server means 16a that can be installed is installed. The storage means 14 stores a switch setting page (hereinafter, switch setting input display information) described in HTML or the like.

  When the browser of the client PC such as the computer device 50 requests the switch setting input display information for inputting the setting information to the router device with wireless LAN function 10 for switching the software switch, the control means 16 displays the switch setting input display. The usage information is read from the storage means 14 and transmitted to the client PC via the network. The browser of the client PC displays this on display means (not shown).

  By the way, switching by the switch setting request for setting the state of each individual switch as described above is complicated because it is necessary to switch the number of switches 17. Moreover, even if it is desired to temporarily operate the device, the hardware switch or software switch must be changed and the automatic setting must be performed, and then the device switch must be changed physically or software in order to restore the original setting. For this reason, it is necessary to confirm the settings of all devices when the next automatic setting is performed due to forgetting to return or incorrect setting, and it is necessary to reset as necessary.

  In order to avoid this, it is preferable to install a hardware switch in addition to the software switch. In this case, by distinguishing the priority of the software switch and the hardware switch by time, it is possible to finely specify a device that responds to the automatic setting. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram when an automatic setting request for a wireless function-equipped router and a wireless access point is requested according to the state of the changeover switch, FIG. 9B is a setting explanatory diagram of priority control, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of operation | movement. As shown in FIG. 9A, the wireless access points 60A and 60B and the wireless computer device 70 are connected and automatic setting is performed by a switch. Since the setting of the software switch has priority over the hardware switch for 3 minutes after the power is turned on, whether or not each device responds to the automatic setting response is different from 3 minutes after the power is turned on. In the setting of FIG. 9, the router device 10 with wireless LAN function does not respond to the automatic setting request for the first 3 minutes after turning on the power, but responds to the automatic setting request after 3 minutes. The wireless access points 60A and 60B respond to the automatic setting request for the first three minutes after turning on the power, but do not respond to the automatic setting request after the lapse of three minutes. Therefore, only three routers with wireless LAN function 10 will respond to the automatic setting request after 3 minutes have passed since the power of all the devices in the network is turned on, so automatic setting with the router apparatus 10 with wireless LAN function is performed. If desired, an automatic setting request may be made from the wireless computer device 70 after 3 minutes have elapsed since the entire system was turned on. When it is desired to perform automatic setting so as to establish a wireless link with the wireless access point 60A, the entire system is turned off, and the wireless computer device issues an automatic setting request within 3 minutes after turning on only the wireless access point 60A. 70. The same applies to the wireless access point 60B. In this way, it is not necessary to switch the switch every time to perform automatic setting with the target device, and it is only necessary to control the timing of power on and automatic setting, so avoid confusion in the next automatic setting. Is possible. In addition, the physical switch may not be operated depending on the installation location of the wireless access points 60A and 60B and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, but the power supply can be designed to be wired from one place. Therefore, there are more cases where this control method can be realized by installation.

A flow when performing automatic setting according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the software mode is set for a certain period of time in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the router with wireless function and the wireless access point are waiting for an automatic setting request at a predetermined port number (S21). When a packet is received, the contents are confirmed and if the automatic setting request is determined, the power is (S22), the software switch setting is checked if it is within a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) (S23), and if the predetermined time has passed, the hardware switch setting is changed. Confirm (S26). If the software switch setting is ON in S23, the requested information is extracted from the internal storage area, response data is created (S24), and the automatic setting request is responded (S25). Similarly, if the hardware switch setting is ON in S26, response data is created in S24, and an automatic setting request is responded in S25.

(Embodiment 3)
An automatic setting of network information and wireless setting information performed by the wireless LAN function-equipped router device and the wireless access point according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram of a response when an automatic setting request is transmitted from a wireless computer to a wireless access point having no dedicated port, and FIG. 11B is an automatic setting for a wireless access point having a dedicated port. It is the figure which showed the response at the time of transmitting a request | requirement from a wireless computer.

  FIG. 11A shows a network configuration when the wireless access points 60A and 60B having no dedicated port described in the second embodiment are connected, and shows a response when an automatic setting request is transmitted from the wireless computer. 11B shows a network configuration when the wireless access point 60C having the dedicated port described in the first embodiment is connected, and shows a response when an automatic setting request is transmitted from the wireless computer. The request and response packets transmitted and received are the same as those shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c). 7 and 8 are also referred to in the third embodiment.

  By the way, the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function can respond to both a request for network information such as an IP address and wireless setting information. However, the wireless access points 60A, 60B, and 60C can respond to a request for wireless setting information but cannot respond to a request for network information. A router without a wireless LAN function can respond to a request for network information but cannot respond to a request for wireless setting information.

  As described above, when different types of information such as wireless setting information and network information are requested, it may not be possible to respond all with only one device. Further, in a network using a wireless access point having no dedicated port as shown in FIG. 11A, an operation corresponding to the state of the hardware switch is performed in response to an automatic setting request from a wireless computer device. When both the network information and the wireless setting information are requested from the wireless computer, the router with the wireless LAN function returns information to both. The wireless access point 60A does not respond at all because the hardware switch (Sw) is OFF. The wireless access point 60B responds only to wireless setting information because the hardware switch (Sw) is ON but does not have network information. Accordingly, the wireless computer is given two pieces of network information and wireless setting information from the router device 10 with wireless LAN function, and only the wireless setting information is given from the wireless access point 60B. As a result, the wireless computer device 70 receives two types of wireless setting information, and it is necessary to determine which one should be adopted.

Hereinafter, the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, the wireless access point 60, and the wireless computer device 70 that solve these problems will be described. The wireless computer device 70 in FIG. 11A performs broadcast transmission with the automatic setting request packet shown in FIG. At this time, both “01” and “02” are described in the request code to request both network information and wireless setting information. The router device 10 with wireless LAN function and the wireless access points 60A and 60B that have received the request packet respond to the received packet or discard the received packet according to the state of the switch set in each device as described above. . In this example, the wireless computer device 70 includes a router device 10 with a wireless LAN function and a wireless access point 6.
Two units 0B respond by broadcasting the response packet shown in FIG. Here, response codes “11” and “12” are included in the response packet of the router with the wireless LAN function, and response codes “12” are included in the response packet of the wireless access point 60B. Thus, the wireless computer device 70 that has received these two packets includes both the network information and the wireless setting information in the response packet from the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, and the response from the wireless access point 60B. It can be seen that only the wireless setting information is included in the packet. Since the network information is included only in the former, the former information may be used. Since there are two pieces of wireless setting information, it is necessary to determine which access point is used.

  As a method of determining the two wireless access points, the smaller one is selected when the local IP address and the MAC address are viewed as numbers, or the device names included in the response packet, such as “AP001”, “AP002”, etc. You can also select by name. As an algorithm for this determination, not only an algorithm having a small address but also any other identifiable algorithm may be used.

  For example, in the case of an IP address, in FIG. 11A, the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function has a global IP address “232.0.0.2” and a local IP address “192.168.0.2”. And the wireless access point 60B has a local IP address “192.168.0.3”. At this time, since the IP address “192.168.0.2” is a smaller number when viewed as a number than “192.168.0.3”, in such a case, the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function is connected. It is adopted as a wireless access point. Automatic setting can be performed very easily only by comparing IP addresses. Similarly, for the MAC address, for example, a wireless access point having a smaller MAC address may be adopted by comparing “002233FFDD6601” and “002233FFDD6602”. When selecting by host name, an algorithm such as selecting a smaller number such as “pc001” or “pc002” can be employed. In this case, a wireless access point having a host name of “pc001” is selected.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 11B, the wireless access point having the dedicated port shown in the first embodiment is connected to the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function by connecting the wireless access point 60C to the Ethernet (registered trademark) to perform wireless access. The dedicated port of the point 60C may be connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) port of the wireless computer device 70. If the dedicated port of the wireless access point 60C is an Ethernet (registered trademark) port, a normal Ethernet (registered trademark) cable can be used. In this state, the wireless computer device 70 performs automatic setting. In this case, when the request I containing the request codes “01” and “02” is broadcast from the wireless computer device 70, the wireless access point 60C receives the local IP address “192.168.0.4” as data in the response code “11”. ", The external port number" 2000 "is stored, the wireless setting information is stored in the response code" 12 ", and the response I is generated. However, the wireless access point 60C cannot respond to network information (IP address).

  Therefore, the wireless access point 60C sends a request II to the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function, which is a higher-level device, and inquires about network information (such as an IP address). This request II has a request code “01” in the format of FIG. The router with the wireless LAN function that has received the request packet (II) stores the network information (IP address “192.168.0.10” etc.) assigned as the response code “11” in the format of FIG. The response packet (III) is created and transmitted by broadcast.

The wireless access point 60C receives the network information (IP from the response packet (III)).
The address “192.168.0.10” or the like) is taken out, and the wireless setting information and the wireless setting information that can be answered by itself are generated in the format shown in FIG. Broadcast transmission is performed to the device 70. Accordingly, the response packet (IV) includes two response codes “11” and “12”. The wireless computer device 70 can set network information and wireless setting information based on the response packet (IV). After the setting, the wireless computer device 70 broadcasts the end of the setting, and the wireless access point 60C receives this and confirms the setting.

  By the way, the wireless access point 60C does not inquire the network information (IP address or the like) with the request packet (II) to the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, but the request packet (II) is transmitted in the form of transferring the request packet (I) as it is. ) And the router device 10 with a wireless LAN function may reply with its own network information and wireless setting information. However, at the time of transfer, the wireless access point changes the MAC address area of the requested device from the format of the format data shown in FIG. 5A from that of the wireless computer device 70 to its own MAC address. Therefore, the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function receives the automatic setting request (II) including the request codes “01” and “02” whose requester is the wireless access point 60C, and receives the response codes “11” and “12”. The included automatic setting response packet (III) is created using the internal information of the router with the wireless LAN function, and is broadcasted to the wireless access point 60C. The wireless access point 60C extracts network information (IP address “192.168.0.10” or the like) from the received answer packet (III), and an automatic setting response packet (IV) including the network information and its own wireless setting information. ) And broadcast transmission to the wireless computer device 70 is performed.

  Note that there are two modes: a mode in which rewriting is performed when relaying the automatic setting request packet from the wireless computer device 70 and the automatic setting response packet from the router with the wireless LAN function to the wireless access point 60C, and a mode in which the wireless access point 60C is relayed as it is without rewriting. A changeover switch for switching between the two operation modes can be provided. This changeover switch may be either a hardware switch or a software switch. When the operation is performed with rewriting, the above-described operation is performed. When relaying without rewriting, the automatic setting request packet from the wireless computer device 70 is received by both the wireless access point 60C and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, and both are automatically performed. A setting response packet is returned. Therefore, it is also possible to obtain the automatic setting response (I) from the wireless access point 60C and the router device 10 with the wireless LAN function, and to configure the network information and the wireless setting information by the wireless computer device 70. At this time, one of the overlapping information is adopted according to the above-described determination method.

  The present invention can be applied to a wireless access point and a wireless system capable of automatically setting wireless communication conditions with a wireless terminal device such as a server or a wireless computer device.

Configuration diagram of radio system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention (A) The internal block diagram of the router apparatus with a wireless LAN function in Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) The rear view of the router apparatus with a wireless LAN function of (a) 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless computer device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) Connection diagram when wireless setting information is automatically set between the router device with wireless LAN function and the wireless computer device in the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) Router device with wireless LAN function of (a) Diagram for normal LAN connection between a computer and a wireless computer device (A) The figure which shows the structure of the request packet used for automatic setting in Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) The figure which shows the structure of a response packet, (c) The request code and response contained in a packet Diagram showing code (A) Sequence chart showing automatic setting operation by cable, (b) Sequence chart showing automatic setting operation by changeover switch (A) Internal configuration diagram of router device with wireless LAN function in embodiment 2 of the present invention, (b) Internal configuration diagram of wireless access point in embodiment 2 of the present invention Configuration diagram of a wireless computer device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention (A) Explanatory diagram when requesting automatic setting of a wireless function-equipped router and a wireless access point according to the state of the changeover switch, (b) Explanatory diagram of priority control setting, (c) Explanatory diagram of operation Flowchart when setting to software mode for a certain period of time in Embodiment 2 of the present invention (A) Explanatory diagram of response when an automatic setting request is transmitted from a wireless computer to a wireless access point having no dedicated port, (b) An automatic setting request is transmitted from the wireless computer to a wireless access point having a dedicated port Figure showing the response when

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Router apparatus with wireless LAN function 11a-11d, 74a Wired LAN interface 11e, 74b Wired exclusive interface 12 WAN interface 13 Wireless means 14,75 Memory | storage means 15 Display means 16,77 Control means 16a Web server means 16b DHCP means 16c UPnP means 17, 27 changeover switch 18, 19a to 19d, 76a port 19e dedicated terminal 20 wireless image server 30 wireless adapter 40 wired image server 50 computer device 60, 81 wireless access point 70 wireless computer device 71 transmission / reception means 72 wireless control means 73 antenna 76b Dedicated terminal 77a Automatic setting control means 77b Browser control means 82 Switch setting button 83 Confirm button 84 Check button

Claims (19)

A wireless access point capable of wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, wherein the first wired interface communicates with a dedicated protocol only when connected to the terminal device by wire and in communication condition automatic setting mode, and communication condition automatic setting mode A wireless access point comprising: control means for transmitting wireless setting information when a packet requesting automatic setting is received from the terminal device via the first wired interface. The wireless access point according to claim 1, further comprising a second wired interface for wired communication with another terminal device and / or another wireless access point. The wireless access point according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means transmits wireless setting information and / or network information to automatically set communication conditions. A wireless access point capable of wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, the second wired interface capable of communicating with the terminal device by wire, and communication permitted in the LAN communication mode via the second wired interface. In the communication condition automatic setting mode, a switch is provided that can specify whether or not to respond to a request for automatic setting. In the communication condition automatic setting mode, when the switch is designated to respond, the terminal device transmits A wireless access point, comprising: control means for transmitting wireless setting information when a packet is received, and not transmitting wireless setting information when the packet is not designated. 5. The wireless access point according to claim 4, wherein the wireless access point can communicate with another wireless access point via the second wired interface in a wired manner, and the changeover switch is connected to the other wireless access point in a communication condition automatic setting mode. It is possible to specify whether or not to respond to a request for automatic setting, and in this way, in the communication condition automatic setting mode, one is specified from all the wireless access points to respond to the request for automatic setting. Wireless access point. 6. The wireless access point according to claim 4, wherein the control means transmits wireless setting information and / or network information to automatically set communication conditions. The wireless access point according to claim 4, wherein the changeover switch is a mechanical switch. The wireless access point according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the changeover switch is a software switch and is changed over by communication. 9. The radio according to claim 8, wherein a web server is mounted, and the control means switches the changeover switch when a switch setting request instructing the changeover of the designation by the changeover switch is transmitted from the terminal device. access point. 6. The switch according to claim 4, wherein the change-over switch includes a pair of a mechanical switch and a software switch, and in the mechanical switch priority mode, a designated change is performed by the switch when the mechanical switch is changed. Wireless access point. The wireless access point according to any one of claims 4, 5, 9, and 10, wherein, in the software switch priority mode, designated switching by the switch is performed when the software switch is switched. 12. The wireless access point according to claim 11, wherein the software switch priority mode is set for a predetermined time in the communication condition automatic setting mode, the mechanical switch priority mode is set when a timeout occurs, and the mode is automatically shifted to the LAN communication mode. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: a wireless unit that includes a WAN interface, is connected to the WAN and performs routing between the LAN and wirelessly communicates with the terminal device. access point. A wireless system comprising: the wireless access point according to any one of claims 3 and 6 to 13 connected to a network; and a terminal device capable of wirelessly communicating with the wireless access point. In the automatic setting mode, when the terminal device is connected to the wireless access point by wire in a one-to-one relationship and requests wireless setting information and / or network information from the terminal device, the wireless access point receives the wireless setting information and / or A wireless system, wherein network information is returned, and the terminal device automatically sets wireless setting information and / or network information. 15. The wireless system according to claim 14, wherein the terminal device is connected to the wireless access point by wire instead of the terminal device being connected to the wireless access point by wire, and the wireless access point and the network are connected. When a response is possible from at least one second wireless access point, a wireless access point with which the terminal device communicates wirelessly is determined from the responding wireless access points. Wireless system. The terminal device designates a wireless access point having an address identifiable among IP addresses or MAC addresses in the received network information, or a wireless access point having a identifiable host name among host names. The wireless system according to claim 15, characterized in that: When the requested wireless access point has information that the wireless access point cannot reply to in the wireless setting information and / or network information, the client device that has received the response uses the terminal based on all information of the responding wireless access point 16. The wireless system according to claim 15, wherein a device modifies the wireless setting information and / or network information. The wireless access point inquires of a higher-level device and supplements the information when there is information that the wireless access point cannot reply to in the wireless setting information and / or network information of the designated wireless access point. The wireless system described. A router device with a wireless LAN function capable of wireless communication connected to an external network, a wireless access point under the router device with the wireless LAN function, and a terminal device capable of wirelessly communicating with the wireless access point In the communication condition automatic setting mode, when the terminal device is connected to the wireless access point by a one-to-one connection by wire and requests wireless setting information and / or network information from the terminal device, The wireless setting information and / or network information that the wireless access point can respond to is extracted, and the wireless setting information and / or network information of the router device with the wireless LAN function is acquired via the wireless access point, and the extracted wireless Correct the setting information and set it automatically. Radio system according to claim.

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