JP2001156777A - Ip terminal maintenance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IP terminal maintenance system where a service organization connected to a public network PN can individually or altogether manage and maintain IP terminals IPT of a network NT. SOLUTION: The IP maintenance system in a plurality of NTs that are interconnected via a PN and a gateway HGW and IPTs are connected on a link, is provided with a terminal management server that is connected to the PN and has a terminal management server table consisting of attribute information of an HGW of each NT and of attribute information of the IPT belonging to each HGW. Each GW is provided with a gateway management table consisting of attribute information of its belonging IPT. The terminal management server has a means that designates a prescribed IP terminal belonging to the prescribed GW to the prescribed GW on the basis of the attribute information of the terminal management server table and transmits maintenance data to the GW, and each GW has a means that retrieves an IPT designated from the terminal management server and transmits the maintenance data to the retrieved IPT.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IP (Internet p.
The present invention relates to an IP terminal maintenance system for managing and maintaining a terminal via a public network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG.
2. Description of the Related Art A system for remotely maintaining a facsimile, a copying machine, and the like installed in an office or the like from a service company is known. This is a PSTN service provider or other terminal management company.
This is to remotely maintain terminals 1 to 3 including devices and the like installed in an office or the like using a public line network such as / ISDN.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-134214 discloses that in order to remotely maintain a terminal device, a command is sent from a maintenance device to a system controller via a public network, and the system controller receives the command as it is. The maintenance target devices are sent to the plurality of maintenance target devices, and each of the maintenance target devices sends status information indicating an execution result back to the maintenance device via the system control device. Here, the system control device is in charge of a communication protocol with the maintenance device, a format to be sent to the device to be maintained, and the like, and does not have a function of interpreting or converting a command.

[0004]

However, in the former system, as shown in the figure, a modem is required for each terminal, and individual terminals to be maintained must be individually accessed. It is not possible to perform maintenance such as simultaneous upgrade of desired terminals at once. Further, in the system as described above, the service company cannot be used as a sales means such as displaying a new product of the company or an introduction of the new product on a terminal.

In the latter system, the system controller is in charge of a format for sending a command to the device to be maintained, and sends the same command to all the devices to be maintained. When a plurality of types are configured, maintenance cannot be performed on a specific device to be maintained. In addition, it is not possible to simultaneously control a plurality of systems from a remote place or to conduct business activities such as introducing a new product only to a device to be maintained having a display function.

[0006] The object of the present invention, in view of the above problems,
IP connected from home network management service provider to home or other network via public network
An object of the present invention is to provide an IP terminal maintenance system capable of managing and maintaining terminals individually or collectively at the same time.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

[0008] The first means is an IP terminal maintenance system in a plurality of networks interconnected with a public network via a gateway and connected with an IP terminal on a link, wherein the IP terminal maintenance system is connected to the public network and connected to the public network. An IP terminal management server having an IP terminal management server table including attribute information of gateways and attribute information of IP terminals belonging to the respective gateways, wherein each of the gateways includes a gateway IP terminal management table including attribute information of the IP terminals to which the respective gateways belong. The IP terminal management server has means for specifying a predetermined IP terminal belonging to the predetermined gateway to a predetermined gateway based on the attribute information of the IP terminal management server table and transmitting maintenance data, Each of the gateways Characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting said maintenance data to said IP terminal IP terminal retrieved by searching for the specified IP terminal from the management server.

A second means is an IP terminal maintenance system in a plurality of networks interconnected via a gateway to a public network and an IP terminal on a link, wherein the IP terminal maintenance system is connected to the public network. An IP terminal management server having an IP terminal management server table including attribute information of gateways and attribute information of IP terminals belonging to the respective gateways, wherein each of the gateways includes a gateway IP terminal management table including attribute information of the IP terminals to which the respective gateways belong. Means for transmitting a connection request by designating a predetermined IP terminal belonging to a predetermined gateway based on attribute information of the IP terminal management server table, and permitting the connection request. Upon receiving, the predetermined gateway Means for transmitting the maintenance data to the predetermined IP terminal, and the gateway compares the connection request transmitted from the IP terminal management server with attribute information in the gateway IP terminal management table to perform an authentication process. And a means for transmitting the permission of the connection request to the IP terminal management server, and a means for searching for an IP terminal designated by the IP terminal management server and transmitting the maintenance data to the searched IP terminal. It is characterized by the following.

[0010] The third means is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first means and the second means, wherein the attribute information for each gateway of each network in the IP terminal management server table and the IP terminals belonging to each gateway are provided. Wherein the attribute information is notified from a user of each network by a communication means in which security is ensured.

[0011] A fourth means is that in any one of the first means to the third means, the IP terminal management server table stores an IP address of each home gateway and an IP terminal belonging to each home gateway. Terminal I
D, a device ID, a device model ID, and a unique ID, and the gateway IP terminal management table includes a terminal ID of a belonging IP terminal, a device ID, a device model ID, a unique ID, and an IP address of the IP terminal. It is characterized by the following.

[0012] A fifth means is that in any one of the first means to the third means, the IP terminal management server table has an IP address of each home gateway and an IP terminal belonging to each home gateway. Terminal I
D, device ID, device model ID, unique ID, and user gender and age data for each device ID. The gateway IP terminal management table stores the terminal ID, device ID, and device model of the IP terminal to which the device belongs. ID, unique I
D and an IP address of the IP terminal.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an IP terminal maintenance system according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, home networks A to X
Is a network connected to IP terminals such as various home devices and information devices in a home constructed by a LAN or the like.
The HGWs A to X are home gateways each having an IP address (# A1 to # X1) for interconnecting each of the home networks A to X and the public network. ) Function, and in addition to the data link layer protocol, IP (Internet protocol)
l) is also installed, and if it has a DHCP server function, it is a terminal that can assign an IP address to each IP terminal on each of the home networks A to X. A
1 to A3, B1 to B3, and X1 to X3 are IP terminals connected to the home networks A to X, respectively.
Each of the IP terminals A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and X1 to X3 has a device ID, a model number ID, a unique ID, and an IP address to be described later. The ISP is connected to a public network such as the Internet.
IP terminals A1 to A3, B1 to B3, X1 to X on X
3 is a home network management company that has an IP terminal management server that manages the IP terminal management server 3.

In the present embodiment, the home networks A to X are assumed to be networks built in homes, but can be similarly applied to networks in general offices and the like.

FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 show IP terminals A1 and A1 connected to home networks A, B and X, respectively.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an IP terminal management table held by B1 and X1. Although not shown, other IP terminals A2 to A3, B2 to B in home networks A to X
3, X2 to X3 also have the same IP terminal management table.

As shown in these figures, the IP terminal management table includes a device ID for each device installed at home such as a television, a microwave oven, and a personal computer, and a device model number I.
D, a unique ID such as a serial number of the device, and I assigned by the DHCP server of each of the home gateways A to X.
It has attribute information such as a P address.

FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 show examples of home gateway management tables held by home gateways A to X, respectively.

As shown in these figures, the home gateway IP terminal management table stores information for each home network A.
To X, IP terminals A1 to A3, B1 to B3 belonging to
In addition to the attribute information of the IP terminal management table held by X1 to X3, the IP terminal has attribute information including a terminal ID.

FIG. 8 shows the I of the home network manager.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an IP terminal management server table held by a P terminal management server.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IP terminal management server table stores the user names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc. of the users owned by the home networks AX and the home gateways AX. An IP address,
Each of the home gateways A to X has the attribute information except for the IP address of each IP terminal. Here, by removing the IP addresses of the IP terminals of the home networks A to X from the IP terminal management server table, it is possible to prevent unauthorized access to the IP terminals from outside.

The above-mentioned data held in the IP terminal management server table can be stored in any secure communication means, for example, postcards, faxes, or private cards before maintenance is performed by the IP terminal maintenance system. Information is transmitted from each user to a home network management company via a line or the like. The home network manager creates an IP terminal management server table based on the transmitted information.

Next, the home network management company
A case in which IP terminals A3 and X3 in home networks A and X are maintained using the P terminal management server will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 shows IP terminal A3 (model ID # TA3) of the home network having the same model ID and IP of home network X from the IP terminal management server.
It is the sequence which shows the processing procedure of maintenance of terminal X3 (model number ID # TA3).

First, a connection request is issued from the IP terminal management server to the home gateway A (1). In the home gateway A, the ID data sent from the IP terminal management server is compared with the ID data in the home gateway IP terminal management table held by the home gateway A, and an authentication process is performed (2). When the connection is permitted as a result of the authentication processing, the request permission is notified to the IP terminal management server (3). Similarly, the IP terminal management server notifies the home terminal X of the connection request (4), the authentication processing (5), and the result of the authentication processing to the IP terminal management server as to the request permission for permitting the connection (6). ).

Next, the IP terminal management server specifies the model number ID (# TA3) and transmits maintenance data such as version upgrade to the home gateway A (7). Home gateway A is the applicable model ID
The terminal IP address (# A3) corresponding to (# TA3) is extracted from the home gateway IP terminal management table (8), and the maintenance data is sent to the IP terminal A3 of the terminal IP address (# A3) (9). Maintenance processing is performed in the IP terminal A3, and upon completion of reception, a completion notification is sent to the home gateway A (10), and a reception completion notification is sent from the home gateway A to the IP terminal management server (11). At the same time, the IP terminal management server sends the model ID to the home gateway X.
The maintenance data is transmitted by designating (# TA3) (12). Home gateway X is the applicable model ID
The terminal IP address (# X3) corresponding to (# TA3) is extracted from the home gateway IP terminal management table (13), and the IP terminal X3 of the terminal IP address (# X3) is extracted.
The maintenance data is sent to (14). IP terminal X
3, a maintenance process is performed, and a completion notification (1
5) Further, a reception completion notification is sent from the home gateway X to the IP terminal management server (16).

As described above, the home network manager can simultaneously perform maintenance on predetermined IP terminals among IP terminals scattered in each home network.

In FIG. 9, the maintenance of the IP terminal of each home network having the same model ID from the IP terminal management server has been described. In addition to this, individual devices are designated by the terminal ID. Maintenance, maintenance by machine type by device ID, and maintenance by house by specifying the IP address of each home gateway can be performed.

Further, by storing data such as age and gender of each user of each device of each user in the IP terminal management server table, it is possible to select devices by age and gender to display advertisements and the like. Activities become possible.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the IP terminal management server designates a desired IP terminal based on various types of attribute information of the IP terminal management server table to perform maintenance, simultaneous upgrade, transmission of business information, and the like. It can be done easily and quickly.

Further, the home network manager can efficiently maintain a plurality of IP terminals connected to the home network or the like, so that the home network manager can be effectively used as a sales support system. Also, by using this system, a service person can quickly carry out sales activities.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an IP terminal maintenance system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an IP terminal management table held by an IP terminal A1 connected in a home network A according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home gateway management table held by a home gateway A according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an IP terminal management table held by an IP terminal B1 connected in a home network B according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home gateway management table held by a home gateway B according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an IP terminal management table held by an IP terminal X1 connected in a home network X according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home gateway management table held by a home gateway X according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an IP terminal management server table held by an IP terminal management server of a home network management company according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an IP terminal A3 of the home network having the same model ID from the IP terminal management server according to the embodiment.
And a sequence showing a maintenance procedure of the IP terminal X3 of the home network X.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of an IP terminal maintenance system according to the related art.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a system for remotely maintaining a terminal device according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

A to X home networks HGW A to X Home gateways of home networks A to X A1 to A3, B1 to B3, X1 to X3 IP terminal ISP IP terminal management server

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 311 H04L 11/20 B 321 13/00 305C // H04L 29/06 F term (reference) 5B076 BB06 EA18 FB06 5K030 GA14 HA08 HC01 HC14 HD03 HD06 HD09 JA10 JL09 JT02 KA04 LD06 5K034 AA16 CC06 DD02 EE11 FF06 FF13 HH63 KK27 TT02 5K048 BA34 DA02 DC07 EB12 5K101 KK13 LL01 LL03 MM07 RR17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An IP terminal maintenance system in a plurality of networks interconnected via a gateway to a public network and connected to an IP terminal on a link, wherein attribute information of a gateway of each network connected to the public network is provided. And an IP terminal management server having an IP terminal management server table including attribute information of IP terminals belonging to each of the gateways. Each of the gateways includes a gateway IP terminal management table including attribute information of an IP terminal to which the gateway belongs. The IP terminal management server has means for designating a predetermined IP terminal belonging to the predetermined gateway to a predetermined gateway based on the attribute information of the IP terminal management server table and transmitting maintenance data, and each of the gateways , The IP IP terminal maintenance system characterized by having means for transmitting said maintenance data to the searched by searching for the specified IP terminal IP terminal from the end management server. 2. An IP terminal maintenance system in a plurality of networks interconnected to a public network via a gateway and connected to an IP terminal on a link, wherein attribute information of a gateway of each network connected to the public network is provided. And an IP terminal management server having an IP terminal management server table including attribute information of IP terminals belonging to each of the gateways. Each of the gateways includes a gateway IP terminal management table including attribute information of an IP terminal to which the gateway belongs. The IP terminal management server, based on the attribute information of the IP terminal management server table,
Means for transmitting a connection request by designating a P terminal, and means for transmitting maintenance data to the predetermined IP terminal to the predetermined gateway upon receiving permission of the connection request, wherein the gateway The connection request transmitted from the IP terminal management server to the gateway IP
Means for performing an authentication process by comparing the attribute information with the attribute information of the terminal management table, transmitting the permission of the connection request to the IP terminal management server, and searching for the specified IP terminal from the IP terminal management server. I having a means for transmitting the maintenance data to an IP terminal.
P terminal maintenance system. 3. The IP terminal management server table according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of each of the gateways of each of the networks and the attribute information of the IP terminal belonging to each of the gateways in the IP terminal management server table are: An IP terminal maintenance system, which is notified from a user of each network by a communication means with security. 4. The IP terminal management server table according to claim 1, wherein the IP address of each home gateway, a terminal ID of an IP terminal belonging to each home gateway, and a device. The gateway IP terminal management table has a terminal ID of a belonging IP terminal, a device ID, a device ID, and a device ID.
An IP terminal maintenance system comprising a device model ID, a unique ID, and an IP address of an IP terminal. 5. The IP terminal management server table according to claim 1, wherein the IP terminal management server table includes an IP address of each home gateway, a terminal ID of an IP terminal belonging to each home gateway, and a device. The gateway IP terminal management table includes a terminal ID of a belonging IP terminal, a device ID, a device model ID, a unique ID, a device model ID, a unique ID, and gender and age data of a user for each device ID. An IP terminal maintenance system having an ID and an IP address of the IP terminal.