JP4076011B2 - How to automatically set network configuration information - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway IP address, and an IP address of a priority DNS server for an IP (Internet Protocol) communication device such as a PC (Personal Computer), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or set top box. In addition to the configuration information such as the IP address of the alternative DNS server, the network configuration information is automatically set to automatically set the network configuration information required for using application software such as e-mail software and WWW (World Wide Web) browsing software. Related to the determination method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an automatic setting method of configuration information for an IP communication device, IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standard DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is known. In DHCP, when a communication device (DHCP client) is connected to a network, the IP address is automatically set by dynamically providing an IP address within a predetermined range from a DHCP server. Here, in addition to the IP address, the subnet mask and default gateway IP address can also be set automatically at the same time.
[0003]
Similar to the DHCP server described above, techniques for automatically setting an address for a communication device are disclosed in JP-A-5-176378, JP-A-5-316127, JP-A-6-177888, and JP-A-10-98480. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-276217 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-136267.
[0004]
In addition, the IETF Zero Configuration Networking Working Group is a method for automatically setting IP addresses and subnet masks that are valid only within IP subnets to IP devices that do not have a DHCP server ("Dynamic Configuration of IPv4 Link- Local Addresses ", IETF-DRAFT, draft-ietf-zeroconf-ipv4-linklocal-04.txt, July 2001), and IP address ranges from 169.254.0.0 to 169.254.254.255 are reserved in advance. .
[0005]
In the above-described conventional technology, a communication device that newly requests an IP address setting first selects one IP address randomly from the above range. Next, it is determined whether or not the IP address selected using an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Probe has already been set by another communication device. If it is not already set, use the selected IP address as its own address. If it has already been set, the above process is repeated until an address that has not been set by another communication device is determined.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above-described conventional technology, it is possible to automatically set configuration information such as an IP address and a subnet mask necessary for using a communication device. However, when using communication devices such as PCs and PDAs that have already become established as tools for daily life and social activities, or set-top boxes that are expected to become popular in the future, configuration information such as IP addresses and subnet masks. Not only e-mail software and WWW (World Wide Web) browsing software, such as e-mail accounts and IP addresses of mail servers and IP addresses of WWW proxies required for using application software that operates on these communication devices. It is necessary to set configuration information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as network configuration information in distinction from the former). For this reason, in the conventional technology, setting by the user is still necessary, and convenience is not sufficient.
[0007]
Especially for beginners, setting up a PC, PDA, or set-top box is generally difficult, so not only the configuration information required for using communication devices, but also e-mail software and WWW (World Wide Web) browsing software, etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method that can automatically set network configuration information necessary for using application software running on these communication devices in a batch from the network.
[0008]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide network configuration information that can automatically set network configuration information necessary for using application software such as e-mail software and WWW browsing software via the network. It is to provide an automatic setting method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention arranges a communication device and an information setting server on a network, and the information setting server sets network configuration information for application software installed in the communication device. In the method for automatically setting network configuration information, a procedure for inputting an automatic setting program for setting network configuration information in application software of a communication device from the information setting server to the communication device, and executing the automatic setting program on the communication device The automatic setting program includes a procedure for inputting network configuration information from the information setting server to the communication device, and a procedure for setting the input network configuration information in application software.
[0010]
According to the above-described features, network configuration information indispensable for use can be automatically set from a remote location for application software installed in communication devices distributed on the network. . Moreover, since the network configuration information and the automatic setting program for setting the network configuration information in the communication device are made independent, the network configuration information can be easily updated or changed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a network to which a network configuration information setting method according to the present invention is applied. An information setting server 2 is connected to a communication device 1 to be automatically set via a network 5. And a DHCP server 3 are connected. The information setting server 2 is connected to an automatic setting database 4. The automatic setting database 4 stores an automatic setting program 4a and a data file 4b.
[0012]
In the data file 4b, various information to be set in advance when using application software such as e-mail software and WWW browsing software installed in the communication device 1, that is, network configuration information includes identification information in a file format. Each is registered. The automatic setting program 4a is input to the communication device 1 to be automatically set and executed at the input destination, and instructs the information setting server 2 to store the network configuration information registered in the data file 4b. A procedure for selectively inputting to the communication device 1 and a procedure for setting the input network configuration information in each application software are registered.
[0013]
Next, the network configuration information automatic setting method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0014]
The automatic setting method according to the present embodiment is broadly divided into a first form in which a request from the communication device 1 is used as a trigger for starting the setting and a second form in which a request from the information setting server 2 is used as a trigger for starting the setting. .
[0015]
The first mode in which a request from the communication device 1 is started is suitable, for example, when the communication device 1 is used for the first time after factory shipment. In addition, the second mode in which a request from the information setting server 2 is started is a case where, for example, the IP address of a mail server already registered in the communication device 1 or the IP address of a WWW proxy is changed for the convenience of a network operator. It is suitable for.
[0016]
First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0017]
In the information setting server 2, the automatic setting program 4a and the data file 4b are edited and stored in the automatic setting database 4 in step S201. The communication device 1 acquires the IP address notified from the DHCP server 3 in step S101 after power-on. In step S102, an initial screen for automatic setting is displayed on the display unit.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the communication device 1, and an “execute” button that the user clicks when requesting the start of automatic setting is provided. It is displayed. The IP address of the information setting server 2 ([172.16.19.10] in this embodiment) or the name (Fully Qualified Domain Name) is automatically specified as the message destination. The IP address and name are preset in the communication device 1 at the time of factory shipment.
[0019]
In step S103, it is determined whether automatic setting of network configuration information is instructed by the user. When the user clicks the “execute” button to instruct automatic setting, a message requesting automatic setting is transmitted to the information setting server 2 in step S104.
[0020]
When the information setting server 2 receives this message at step S202, the information setting server 2 reads the automatic setting program 4a from the automatic setting database 4 at step S203, and inputs it to the communication device 1 at step S204.
[0021]
When the communication device 1 detects that the automatic setting program 4a has been input in step S105, the communication device 1 executes the automatic setting program 4a in step S106, and automatically collects various network configuration information in a packaged application software. sign up.
[0022]
That is, in step S106a, a message requesting network configuration information is transmitted from the communication device 1 to the information setting server 2 together with identification information unique to the user and / or identification information unique to the communication device 1. When the information setting server 2 detects the message in step S205, the information setting server 2 searches the data file 4b based on the identification information included in the message and reads the network configuration information associated with the identification information in step S206. In step S207, the read network configuration information is transferred with the communication device 1 as the destination.
[0023]
Upon receiving the network configuration information in step S106b, the communication device 1 sets the network configuration information in the application software in step S106c. In step S106d, the setting result of the network configuration information is notified to the information setting server 2 and displayed on its own display unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the setting result, in which setting and changing results such as “Use DHCP”, “IP address”, and “Subnet mask” are displayed.
[0024]
When the setting result is received in step S208, the information setting server 2 performs appropriate processing such as display or storage on the setting result in step S209.
[0025]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the second mode, that is, a method that uses a request from the information setting server 2 as a trigger for starting the setting will be described.
In step S301, the information setting server 2 determines whether the automatic setting program 4a and the data file 4b are already registered in the automatic setting database 4. If the automatic setting program 4a and the data file 4b have already been registered, it is determined in step S302 whether or not they are to be reused.
[0026]
In the case of reuse, the initial screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit in step S303. In step S304, when the operator inputs the identification information of the communication apparatus 1 that is the target of automatic setting on the screen and clicks the “input” button, the setting item designation screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in step S305. .
[0027]
In this embodiment, “network”, “mail”, “browser”, and “mobile mail address” are prepared as setting items. When the operator designates any item on the screen, the designated item is determined in step S306, and a setting screen corresponding to the designated item is displayed in step S307.
[0028]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the network setting screen. In the present embodiment, editing such as “Use of DHCP”, “IP address”, “Subnet mask”, “Default gateway IP address” is performed. Is possible. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a mail setting screen. In this embodiment, for each user ID, “POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) server”, “POP3 server user account”, “POP3 server user password” "," Mail address "," user name "and" SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server "can be edited.
[0029]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the browser setting screen. In this embodiment, home URLs (Universal Resource Locators) displayed when the WWW (World Wide Web) browsing software is first started are displayed for each user ID. Can be set. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile mail address setting screen. In this embodiment, it is possible to set a mobile mail address to be used when an e-mail addressed to a communication device is transferred to a mobile phone.
[0030]
When the operator selectively displays a desired setting screen, in step S308, for example, editing of an already registered IP address is performed for network settings, and editing of an already registered mail address is performed for mail settings. Do. If it is determined in step S301 that the data file or the like is not registered, or if it is determined in step S302 that the already registered file or data is not to be reused, in step S309, the network setting, mail setting, browser setting is determined. In addition, a mobile mail address setting and the like are newly performed.
[0031]
When the editing or new registration of the network configuration information is completed as described above, in step S310, it is determined whether or not the network configuration information needs to be saved. If necessary, it is stored in association with the identification information in step S311. In step S312, the automatic setting program 4a is input to the communication device 1.
[0032]
When the automatic setting program 4a is input, the communication device 1 executes the process of step S106 described with reference to FIG. 2 to set network configuration information in the installed application software.
[0033]
Next, a method for actually setting or changing the network configuration information on the communication device 1 will be specifically described.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, as a method of setting or changing the network configuration information in the communication device 1, a method of providing an API (Application Programming Interface) for the application software on the communication device 1, and a pre-change currently effective for each application software And a method of providing two files (hereinafter, the former is referred to as a current file and the latter as a target file) that describe the network configuration information after the change and the network configuration information after the change to be effective.
[0035]
In the method of providing an API for application software, network configuration information is set or changed by calling an API from an automatic setting program. While this method generally allows settings and changes without restarting the application software, it is necessary to replace the application software on the communication device when newly adding network configuration information to be set. .
[0036]
On the other hand, in the method of providing two files, the network configuration information to be newly set or changed is temporarily written in the target file, and then when the application software is restarted, the current network configuration information is The network configuration information is set or changed by reading the target file instead of the set current file. In this method, when new network configuration information to be set is added, it is only necessary to add information to be written to the target file. However, the application software needs to be restarted every time the application software is set or changed.
[0037]
Thus, the first and second methods are different in terms of the ease of data addition and update, and whether or not application software needs to be restarted. Note that the two setting / changing methods described above are either in the first form in which automatic setting is triggered by a request from the communication device 1 or in the second form in which the request from the information setting server 2 is triggered. Applicable.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.
(1) Not only the configuration information such as IP address and subnet mask, but also the email account, mail server IP address or WWW proxy IP address, etc. which are indispensable for using application software such as e-mail software and WWW browsing application software Network configuration information can also be set automatically.
(2) Separate the data file that stores the network configuration information to be set in the application software from the automatic setting program to set this network configuration information in the application software. Is selectively read and set in the application software, so that addition, change or correction of the network configuration information is facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an automatic setting method (part 1).
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an automatic setting method (part 2).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an initial screen of an automatic setting method (part 1).
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a processing result display screen of a communication device.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen of an automatic setting method (part 2).
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of setting item designation.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a network setting screen.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a mail setting screen.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a browser setting screen.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile mail address setting screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication apparatus, 2 ... Information setting server, 3 ... DHCP server, 4 ... Database for automatic setting, 4a ... Automatic setting program, 4b ... Data file

Claims (6)

In a network configuration information automatic setting method in which a communication device and an information setting server are arranged on a network, and the information setting server sets network configuration information for application software installed in the communication device.
A procedure for inputting an automatic setting program for setting network configuration information to application software of a communication device from the information setting server to the communication device;
Including executing the automatic setting program on the communication device,
The automatic setting program is:
A procedure for transmitting a request message addressed to the address of an information setting server already registered in the communication device together with identification information unique to at least one of the user and the communication device;
A procedure for inputting network configuration information returned from the information setting server in response to the request message to a communication device;
Including setting the input network configuration information in application software,
The network setting information automatic setting method , wherein the information setting server inputs network configuration information associated with identification information unique to at least one of the user and the communication device to the communication device .   The network configuration according to claim 1, further comprising: a procedure for specifying a communication device that is a setting destination of network configuration information in the information setting server; and a procedure for inputting an automatic setting program to the specified communication device. How to set information automatically.   3. The network configuration information automatic setting method according to claim 1, wherein the application software is www browsing software.   4. The network configuration information automatic setting method according to claim 1, wherein the application software is electronic mail software.   5. The network configuration information according to claim 1, wherein the automatic setting program calls a PI (Application Programming Interface) provided in the application software to set or change network configuration information. Automatic setting method.   The automatic setting program includes a procedure for writing the input network configuration information into the target file, and when the application software is restarted, the current network configuration information of the application software is set in place of the current file in which the application software is set. 5. The method for automatically setting network configuration information according to claim 1, further comprising a step of reading a target file.

Images