JP2024064005A - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, SERVER, CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus that can easily be set with software appropriate for the location where the apparatus is installed.
In a communication system in which a device and a server are communicatively connected via a gateway, the gateway transmits to the server device identification information transmitted from the device in association with the gateway identification information. The server includes a receiving unit that receives the device identification information and the gateway identification information transmitted from the gateway, and a transmitting unit that transmits to the device via the gateway software information relating to software to be executed by the device based on the device identification information and gateway identification information received by the receiving unit.
[Selected figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system, a server, a control method, and a program.

Technology has been disclosed for remotely updating software via wireless communication (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-34844 A

In the automatic control of equipment operating in facilities such as buildings and factories, the equipment installed in each location is often set to run software (task programs) for performing assigned tasks. However, in a factory, for example, the rearrangement of equipment may occur depending on busy and slow seasons on the line, or due to changes in the type of production. If the rearrangement of equipment changes the location of the equipment and the tasks themselves, it is necessary to change the software executed by the equipment to software appropriate for the location. Or, even if the software is already installed on the equipment itself, the selection of software to be executed must be changed depending on the location.

For example, when applying the technology for remotely updating software via wireless communication as described above, one possible method would be to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) to detect the device's location and update the software according to the location, but this method cannot be applied to devices that do not have a GPS or in cases where positioning using GPS is difficult, such as indoor environments.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one of its objectives is to provide a communication system, server, control method, and program that can easily set software in equipment according to the location where it is installed.

A communication system according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication system in which a device and a server are communicatively connected via a gateway, the gateway associates the device identification information transmitted from the device with the gateway identification information and transmits the associated device identification information to the server, and the server includes a receiving unit that receives the device identification information and the gateway identification information transmitted from the gateway, and a transmitting unit that transmits software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway to the device based on the device identification information and the gateway identification information received by the receiving unit.

A server according to one aspect of the present invention is a server that is communicatively connected to a device via a gateway, and includes a receiving unit that receives from the gateway information in which the device identification information transmitted from the device to the gateway is associated with the gateway identification information, and a transmitting unit that transmits to the device via the gateway software information related to software to be executed by the device based on the device identification information and the gateway identification information received by the receiving unit.

A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method in a communication system in which a device and a server are communicatively connected via a gateway, and includes the steps of: the gateway associating the device identification information transmitted from the device with the gateway identification information and transmitting the associated device identification information to the server; the server receiving the device identification information and the gateway identification information transmitted from the gateway; and transmitting software information related to the software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method in a server that is communicatively connected to a device via a gateway, and includes a step in which a receiving unit receives from the gateway information in which the device identification information transmitted from the device to the gateway is associated with the gateway identification information, and a step in which a transmitting unit transmits to the device via the gateway software information related to software to be executed by the device based on the device identification information and the gateway identification information received by the receiving unit.

In addition, a program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer serving as a server connected to a device via a gateway to execute the steps of receiving from the gateway information in which the device identification information transmitted from the device to the gateway is associated with the gateway identification information, and transmitting to the device via the gateway software information relating to software to be executed by the device based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily set up software in the device according to the location where it is installed.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example of a communication system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a computer according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a server according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a software setting process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a database stored in a software information storage unit according to the second embodiment. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a software setting process according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[System configuration]
1 is a system diagram showing an example of a communication system according to this embodiment. The illustrated communication system SYS includes a plurality of devices 10, a plurality of gateways 20 (e.g., 20-1, 20-2, etc.) (e.g., 10-1a, 10-1b, 10-2a, 10-2b), and a server 30. The devices 10 are connected to a network NT via the gateways 20, and are communicatively connected to the server 30 via the network NT.

In the illustrated example, devices 10-1a, 10-1b, ... are connected to the network NT and server 30 via gateway 20-1. Devices 10-2a, 10-2b, ... are connected to the network NT and server 30 via gateway 20-2.

The network NT is a communication network that is composed of, for example, the Internet, a mobile phone network, a VPN (Virtual Private Network), a dedicated communication line network, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), or a combination of these.

As an example, it is assumed here that the communication system SYS is installed in a factory. Each of the multiple gateways 20 is installed, for example, for each production line or production area in the factory. Each gateway 20 is connected to equipment 10 that performs work in the production line or production area in which it is installed. For example, equipment 10-1a, 10-1b, ... that performs work on line A are connected to the gateway 20-1 installed on line A. Equipment 10-2a, 10-1b, ... that performs work on line B are connected to the gateway 20-2 installed on line B.

The devices 10-1a, 10-1b, ... installed on line A execute software for performing the tasks required for line A. On the other hand, the devices 10-2a, 10-1b, ... installed on line B execute software for performing the tasks required for line B. Furthermore, each of the devices 10-1a, 10-1b, ... installed on line A may execute the same software preset for line A, or may execute different processes preset for each device on line A. Similarly, each of the devices 10-2a, 10-2b, ... installed on line B may execute the same software preset for line B, or may execute different processes preset for each device on line B.

The gateway 20 associates the identification information of the device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "device identification information") transmitted from the device 10 with the identification information of the gateway 20 (hereinafter referred to as "gateway identification information") and transmits it to the server 30.

The device identification information is information for identifying the device 10, and includes one or more of the product name, model number, place of manufacture, version information, serial number, etc. For example, when multiple types of devices 10 are connected to one gateway 20, the type of device 10 can be identified using one or more of the product name, model number, place of manufacture, version information, etc. as device identification information. Also, for example, when devices 10 connected to one gateway 20 include devices of the same type and it is necessary to identify the devices 10 of the same type, the serial number or the like may be used as device identification information to identify the devices 10 of the same type.

The gateway identification information is information for identifying each individual gateway 20, and may be a serial number or information that is uniquely set for each installation location of the gateway 20 when the gateway 20 is installed.

When the server 30 receives the device identification information and gateway identification information sent from the gateway 20, it transmits information about the software to be executed by the device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "software information") to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information. For example, the server 30 uses the gateway identification information as location information to determine the location where the device 10 is installed (such as Line A or Line B). The server 30 also determines the type of device 10 based on the device identification information. The server 30 then transmits software information according to the location where the device 10 is installed and the type of device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20.

As software information, for example, an electronic certificate for verifying software can be used. An example of an electronic certificate for verifying software is a code signing certificate. A code signing certificate is a certificate that digitally signs software, and can authenticate the distributor of the software and guarantee that it has not been spoofed or its contents have not been tampered with.

Here, it is assumed that multiple pieces of electronically signed software are pre-installed on the device 10 as software for performing necessary work in the factory. In addition, the server 30 has electronic certificates for verifying the above-mentioned electronic signatures, one for each piece of software.

The server 30 transmits an electronic certificate according to the location where the device 10 is installed and the type of device 10 as software information. The device 10 uses the electronic certificate obtained from the server 30 to search for and verify verifiable software from among the multiple pieces of software that the device 10 possesses. The device 10 then executes processing based on the verified software. This makes it easy to set software in the device 10 that is appropriate for the location where it is installed.

The configuration of this embodiment will be described in detail below.
[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a computer according to this embodiment.
For example, each of the device 10, the gateway 20, and the server 30 includes some or all of the components included in the computer 100 shown in the figure.

The computer 100 has, as its hardware configuration, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, a ROM (Residual Only Memory) 103, a storage device 104, a communication unit 105, an input unit 106, and an output unit 107.

The CPU 101 is a processor that performs various processes by executing programs stored in the ROM 103 or the storage device 104.

RAM 102 is used as a reading area for programs executed by CPU 101, or as a working area for writing data used for processing by the programs.

The ROM 103 is composed of an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash ROM. For example, the ROM 103 stores at least a portion of the system program, programs for executing various processes, etc.

The storage device 104 is configured to include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc. For example, the storage device 104 may store at least a portion of a system program, a program that executes various processes, etc. The storage device 104 also stores various types of data, the aforementioned electronic certificate, etc.

The communication unit 105 is connected to the network NT via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN to perform data communication with other electronic devices. The communication unit 105 may also be provided with an interface for short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) to perform data communication with peripheral devices.

The input unit 106 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a touchpad, a touch panel, and a microphone. The output unit 107 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and output devices such as a speaker.

The gateway 20 may be configured as either hardware or software, or both. For example, the gateway 20 may be incorporated as software into a device such as a router.

[Functional configuration of server 30]
Next, a functional configuration of the server 30 that transmits to the device 10 an electronic certificate according to the location where the device 10 is installed, based on the device identification information and gateway identification information, will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server 30 according to the present embodiment.
The server 30 includes a receiving unit 31, a software information storage unit 32, a software information determination unit 33, and a transmission unit 34. Here, the receiving unit 31 and the transmission unit 34 correspond to the communication unit 105 shown in Fig. 2. The software information determination unit 33 is a functional configuration realized by, for example, the CPU 101 shown in Fig. 2 executing a predetermined program. The software information storage unit 32 is a configuration included in the storage device 104 shown in Fig. 2.

The receiving unit 31 receives the device identification information of the device 10 and the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 transmitted from the gateway 20.

The software information storage unit 32 stores a database in which device identification information and software information are pre-associated for each of a plurality of gateway identification information. For example, the gateway identification information (G00001) of the gateway 20 (20-1) installed on line A is associated with the device identification information (D0001, D0002, ...) of each of the devices 10 (10-1a, 10-1b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1) and the electronic certificates (electronic certificate A, electronic certificate B, ...) of the software used to perform the tasks of each of the devices 10 (10-1a, 10-1b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1).

For example, the gateway identification information (G00002) of the gateway 20 (20-2) installed on line B is associated with the device identification information (D0001, D0002, ...) of each of the devices 10 (10-2a, 10-2b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-2) and the electronic certificates (electronic certificate J, electronic certificate K, ...) of the software used to perform the tasks of each of the devices 10 (10-2a, 10-2b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1).

Note that, although an example is shown here in which device 10-1a on line A and device 10-2a on line B are the same type of device (same device identification information), they may be different types of devices. Similarly, although an example is shown in which device 10-1b on line A and device 10-2b on line B are the same type of device (same device identification information), they may be different types of devices.

When the receiving unit 31 receives the device identification information and gateway identification information sent from the gateway 20, the software information determination unit 33 determines the location where the device 10 is installed and the type of device 10 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information, and determines software information related to the software to be executed by the device 10 (software information to be sent to the device 10). For example, the location where the device 10 is installed is determined using the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 to which the device 10 is connected as location information. In other words, the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 to which the device 10 is connected corresponds to the location where the device 10 is installed. The type of device 10 is determined by the device identification information.

For example, the software information determination unit 33 determines software information (software information to be sent to the device 10) related to the software to be executed by the device 10 based on the device identification information and gateway identification information received by the receiving unit 31, and a database stored in the software information storage unit 32. Here, the software information determination unit 33 determines an electronic certificate for verifying the software to be executed by the device 10 based on the device identification information and gateway identification information received by the receiving unit 31.

The transmission unit 34 transmits the software information (here, the electronic certificate) determined by the software information determination unit 33 to the device 10 (the device 10 identified by the device identification information) via the gateway 20 (the gateway 20 identified by the gateway identification information).

For example, when the server 30 receives the device identification information (D0001) of the device 10-1a and the gateway identification information (G00001) of the gateway 20-1, it refers to the database stored in the software information storage unit 32 and transmits electronic certificate A, which is associated with the gateway identification information (G00001) and the device identification information (D0001), to the device 10-1a via the gateway 20-1. As a result, the device 10-1a searches for and verifies software that can be verified with electronic certificate A (software for performing work on line A), and then executes processing based on that software.

Next, a case where only line A is in operation and a new line B is added will be described. When adding a new line B, for example, the device 10-1a of line A is rearranged to line B and the device 10-1a is connected to the gateway 20-2. In this case, the server 30 receives the device identification information (D0001) of the device 10-1a and the gateway identification information (G00002) of the gateway 20-2. The server 30 refers to the database stored in the software information storage unit 32 and transmits the electronic certificate J associated with the gateway identification information (G00002) and the device identification information (D0001) to the device 10-1a (the device 10-1a rearranged from line A to line B) via the gateway 20-2. As a result, the device 10-1a searches for and verifies software that can be verified with the electronic certificate J (software for performing work on line B), and then performs processing based on the software.

The same applies if, instead of rearranging device 10-1a on line A to line B, a new device 10 of the same type as device 10-1a is connected to line B. Device 10 connected to line B searches for and verifies software that can be verified using electronic certificate J sent from server 30 (software for performing work on line B), and then executes processing based on that software.

In addition, instead of adding a new line B, the same applies if device 10-2a on line B that was originally in operation breaks down and device 10-1a of line A, the same type as device 10-2a, is relocated to line B, or if new device 10 of the same type as device 10-2a is connected to line B. Device 10-1a or device 10 connected to line B in place of the broken-down device 10-2a searches for and verifies software (software for performing work on line B) that can be verified using electronic certificate J sent from server 30, and then performs processing based on that software.

[Processing behavior]
Next, a software setting process for setting the device 10 to execute software appropriate for the location where the device 10 is installed in the communication system SYS will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a software setting process according to the present embodiment.

When the device 10 is powered on (ON), it starts up (step S101) and transmits the device identification information of the device 10 itself to the gateway 20 (step S103).

When the gateway 20 receives and acquires the device identification information transmitted from the device 10, it associates the acquired device identification information with the gateway 20's own gateway identification information and transmits the information to the server 30 via the network NT (step S105).

When the server 30 receives the device identification information and gateway identification information sent from the gateway 20, it transmits an electronic certificate corresponding to the location of the device 10 to the device 10 identified by the device identification information via the gateway 20 identified by the gateway identification information, based on the received device identification information, gateway identification information, and the database stored in the software information storage unit 32 (see Figure 3) (step S107).

When the device 10 receives and acquires the electronic certificate sent from the server 30 via the gateway 20, it searches for and verifies software that can be verified using the acquired electronic certificate (step S109). The device 10 then executes processing based on the verified software, and performs the intended work (e.g., work to be performed on the production line on which the device 10 is installed) (step S111).

As described above, in the communication system SYS according to this embodiment, the device 10 and the server 30 are communicatively connected via the gateway 20. The gateway 20 associates the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 with the device identification information of the device 10 transmitted from the device 10 and transmits the associated information to the server 30. The server 30 receives the device identification information and gateway identification information transmitted from the gateway 20, and transmits software information relating to the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

As a result, the communication system SYS can determine the installation location of the device 10 by using the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information and can transmit software information regarding the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10, so that software appropriate to the location where the device is installed can be easily set in the device. For example, even if the installation location of the device 10 changes due to rearrangement of the device 10 and the work itself changes, the software to be executed by the device 10 can be changed to software appropriate to the installation location.

For example, the server 30 has a database in which device identification information and software information are pre-associated for each of a plurality of gateway identification information. The server 30 then determines the software information to be sent to the device 10 based on the device identification information and gateway identification information received from the gateway 20 and the above database, and sends the determined software information to the device 10 via the gateway 20.

As a result, the communication system SYS can use the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information to transmit software information about software corresponding to the installation location of the device 10 to the device 10, making it easy to set software in the device that is appropriate for the installation location.

When the device 10 receives the software information sent from the server 30 via the gateway 20, it executes processing based on executable software based on the received software information.

This allows the device 10 to perform the intended work (e.g., work that should be performed on the line where it is installed) by executing processing based on software appropriate to the location where it is installed.

For example, the software information that the server 30 sends to the device 10 is an electronic certificate for verifying the software to be executed by the device 10. When the device 10 receives the electronic certificate sent from the server 30 via the gateway 20, it searches the software held by the device 10 for software that can be verified using the received electronic certificate, verifies the software found, and then executes processing based on that software.

This allows the communication system SYS to identify the software to be executed by the device 10 as software that can be verified using an electronic certificate, and to confirm the safety of the software to be executed by the device 10.

The server 30 according to this embodiment is communicatively connected to the device 10 via the gateway 20. The server 30 receives information from the gateway 20 in which the device identification information of the device 10 transmitted from the device 10 to the gateway 20 is associated with the gateway identification information of the gateway 20, and transmits software information related to the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

As a result, the server 30 can determine the installation location of the device 10 by using the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information and can transmit software information regarding the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10, so that software appropriate to the location where the device is installed can be easily set in the device. For example, even if the location of the device 10 changes due to rearrangement of the device 10 and the work itself changes, the software to be executed by the device 10 can be changed to software appropriate to the installation location.

The control method in the communication system SYS according to this embodiment includes the steps of: the gateway 20 associating the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 with the device identification information of the device 10 transmitted from the device 10 and transmitting the associated gateway identification information to the server 30; the server 30 receiving the device identification information and gateway identification information transmitted from the gateway 20; and transmitting software information related to the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

As a result, the control method in the communication system SYS can use the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information to determine the installation location of the device 10 and transmit software information regarding the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10, so that software appropriate to the installation location can be easily set in the device. For example, even if the installation location of the device 10 changes due to rearrangement of the device 10 and the work itself changes, the software to be executed by the device 10 can be changed to software appropriate to the installation location.

The control method in the server 30 according to this embodiment also includes a step in which the server 30 receives from the gateway 20 information in which the device identification information of the device 10 transmitted from the device 10 to the gateway 20 is associated with the gateway identification information of the gateway 20, and a step in which the server 30 transmits software information related to the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

As a result, the control method in the server 30 uses the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information to determine the installation location of the device 10 and transmits software information regarding the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10, so that software appropriate to the installation location can be easily set in the device. For example, even if the installation location of the device 10 changes due to rearrangement of the device 10 and the work itself changes, the software to be executed by the device 10 can be changed to software appropriate to the installation location.

The program according to this embodiment also causes a computer serving as a server 30, which is communicatively connected to the device 10 via the gateway 20, to execute the steps of receiving from the gateway 20 information in which the device identification information of the device 10 transmitted from the device 10 to the gateway 20 is associated with the gateway identification information of the gateway 20, and transmitting software information relating to the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10 via the gateway 20 based on the received device identification information and gateway identification information.

As a result, the program executed on the server 30 can determine the installation location of the device 10 by using the gateway identification information of the gateway 20 connected to the device 10 as location information, and can transmit software information regarding the software to be executed by the device 10 to the device 10, so that software appropriate to the location where the device is installed can be easily set in the device. For example, even if the location of the device 10 changes due to a rearrangement of the device 10, and the work itself changes, the software to be executed by the device 10 can be changed to software appropriate to the installation location.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the first embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the server 30 transmits to the device 10, as software information, an electronic certificate for verifying software to be executed by the device 10. In this case, as described above, the device 10 needs to have a plurality of pieces of software in advance, but there are cases in which a sufficient capacity for storing the software cannot be secured. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the server 30 transmits to the device 10, as software information, the software itself to be executed by the device 10.

The basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 3, but differs from Figure 3 in that the software information stored in the software information storage unit 32 shown in Figure 3 is software instead of an electronic certificate.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a database stored in the software information storage unit 32 according to this embodiment. As with the example shown in Figure 3, the software information storage unit 32 stores a database in which device identification information and software information are pre-associated for each of a plurality of gateway identification information. The example shown in Figure 5 differs from the example shown in Figure 3 in that, as software information, software to be executed by the device 10 (software to be sent to the device 10) is associated with device identification information and gateway identification information.

For example, the gateway identification information (G00001) of the gateway 20 (20-1) installed on line A is associated with the device identification information (D0001, D0002, ...) of each of the devices 10 (10-1a, 10-1b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1) and the software (software A, software B, ...) for performing the tasks of each of the devices 10 (10-1a, 10-1b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1).

For example, the gateway identification information (G00002) of the gateway 20 (20-2) installed on line B is associated with the device identification information (D0001, D0002, ...) of each of the devices 10 (10-2a, 10-2b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-2) and the software (software J, software K, ...) for performing the tasks of each of the devices 10 (10-2a, 10-2b, ...) connected to the gateway 20 (20-1).

For example, the software information determination unit 33 determines the software to be executed by the device 10 as software information related to the software to be executed by the device 10 (software information to be sent to the device 10) based on the device identification information received by the receiving unit 31, the gateway identification information, and the database stored in the software information storage unit 32.

The transmission unit 34 transmits the software information (here, software) determined by the software information determination unit 33 to the device 10 (the device 10 identified by the device identification information) via the gateway 20 (the gateway 20 identified by the gateway identification information). As a result, the device 10 downloads the software from the server 30, installs it, and then executes processing based on the software.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the software setting process according to this embodiment. The process of steps S201 to S205 in Figure 6 is similar to the process of steps S101 to S105 in Figure 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the server 30 receives the device identification information and gateway identification information sent from the gateway 20, it transmits software corresponding to the location of the device 10 to the device 10 identified by the device identification information via the gateway 20 identified by the gateway identification information, based on the received device identification information, gateway identification information, and the database stored in the software information storage unit 32 (see Figure 5) (step S207).

The device 10 downloads the software transmitted from the server 30 via the gateway 20 and installs it (step S209). The device 10 then executes processing based on the installed software, and performs the intended work (e.g., work to be performed on the production line on which the device is installed) (step S211).

As described above, in the communication system SYS according to this embodiment, the software information that the server 30 transmits to the device 10 is the software itself that the device 10 is to execute. After downloading the software transmitted from the server 30 via the gateway 20, the device 10 executes processing based on the software.

As a result, the communication system SYS can identify the software to be executed by the device 10 by transmitting it from the server 30 to the device 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the device 10 does not need to have multiple pieces of software in advance, it can also be applied to devices 10 with a relatively small capacity for storing software.

The server 30 may transmit the digitally signed software and a digital certificate for verifying the digital signature to the device 10 via the gateway 20 as software information. In this case, the device 10 may verify the software using the digital certificate when downloading the software from the server 30, install the software, and then execute processing based on the software.

Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the configurations described in each of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined in any manner.

In addition, if there is one device 10 connected to each gateway 20, or multiple devices 10 but the same software is executed by each gateway 20, the software information is uniquely determined for each gateway 20 regardless of the type of device 10, so in the databases shown in Figures 3 and 5, only the gateway identification information and the software information may be associated.

Note that some or all of the above-mentioned devices 10, gateway 20, and server 30 have a computer system (e.g., computer 100) inside. A program for implementing the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing in each of the above-mentioned devices. Here, "reading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program into a computer system. The "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The "computer system" may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, or a dedicated line. The "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

The recording medium also includes internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server to distribute the program. The program may be divided into multiple parts, downloaded at different times, and then combined with the components of each device, or each divided program may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" includes a recording medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be a recording medium for implementing part of the above-mentioned functions. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

In addition, some or all of the functions of the gateway 20 and each device of the server 30 in the above-mentioned embodiment may be realized as an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each function may be individually processed, or some or all of the functions may be integrated into a processor. The integrated circuit method is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that can replace LSI appears due to advances in semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on that technology may be used.

10 Device, 20 Gateway, 30 Server, 31 Receiving unit, 32 Software information storage unit, 33 Software information discrimination unit, 34 Transmitting unit, 100 Computer, 101 CPU, 102 RAM, 103 ROM, 104 Storage device, 105 Communication unit, 106 Input unit, 107 Output unit, SYS Communication system

Claims (9)

A communication system in which a device and a server are communicatively connected via a gateway,
the gateway associates the identification information of the gateway with the identification information of the device transmitted from the device and transmits the associated identification information to the server;
The server,
a receiving unit that receives the identification information of the device and the identification information of the gateway transmitted from the gateway;
a transmission unit that transmits software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the identification information of the device and the identification information of the gateway received by the reception unit;
A communication system comprising: The server,
a database in which the identification information of the device and the software information are associated in advance for each of the identification information of the plurality of gateways;
a determination unit that determines the software information to be transmitted to the device based on the identification information of the device and the identification information of the gateway received by the receiving unit and the database,
The transmission unit transmits the software information determined by the determination unit to the device via the gateway.
The communication system according to claim 1 . The device comprises:
When the software information transmitted from the server is received via the gateway, a process based on executable software is executed based on the received software information.
The communication system according to claim 1 or 2. the software information is a digital certificate for verifying software to be executed by the device,
The device comprises:
When the electronic certificate transmitted from the server is received via the gateway, the device searches for software that can be verified using the received electronic certificate from among software stored in the device, verifies the software found, and then executes a process based on the software.
The communication system according to claim 3. the software information is software to be executed by the device,
The device comprises:
After downloading the software transmitted from the server via the gateway, a process is executed based on the software.
The communication system according to claim 3. A server that is communicatively connected to a device via a gateway,
a receiving unit that receives, from the gateway, information in which identification information of the gateway is associated with identification information of the device transmitted from the device to the gateway;
a transmission unit that transmits software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the identification information of the device and the identification information of the gateway received by the reception unit;
A server comprising: A control method in a communication system in which a device and a server are communicatively connected via a gateway, comprising:
The gateway,
a step of associating identification information of the gateway with identification information of the device transmitted from the device and transmitting the associated identification information to the server;
The server,
receiving identification information of the device and identification information of the gateway transmitted from the gateway;
transmitting software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the received identification information of the device and identification information of the gateway;
A control method comprising: A control method in a server that is communicatively connected to a device via a gateway, comprising:
a receiving unit receiving, from the gateway, information in which identification information of the gateway is associated with identification information of the device transmitted from the device to the gateway;
a transmitting unit transmitting software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the identification information of the device and the identification information of the gateway received by the receiving unit;
A control method comprising: A computer that acts as a server and is connected to the device via a gateway.
receiving information from the gateway in which identification information of the gateway is associated with identification information of the device transmitted from the device to the gateway;
transmitting software information related to software to be executed by the device via the gateway based on the received identification information of the device and identification information of the gateway;
A program for executing.

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