JP4776568B2 - Communication terminal, communication network system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal operating on a network identified by an identification ID and a communication network system having the communication terminal.

Conventionally, “a house code setting method and a communication system that can easily perform setting of a house code without requiring an input operation to the communication device or a change in connection when setting the house code are provided. As a technology for the purpose, “the setting device 1 has an input unit for inputting a house code, a first storage unit for storing the input house code, and a first memory for setting the house code. A first control unit that transmits the house code read from the first unit and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the house code from the first control unit, and the communication devices 2 and 3 receive the house code transmitted by radio. And a second storage unit that stores the house code from the reception unit, and then, when the house code received from the power line matches the house code stored in the second storage unit, it is transmitted together with the house code. And a second control unit that receives a signal from the power line. Is proposed (Patent Document 1).
Further, “a troublesome operation in the power line communication system is omitted, and the house code and address are set without error even when there is data interference from a neighbor. As a technology for the purpose of the above, “in the communication network system for performing data communication between a plurality of devices via the power line 100, the house code and the address are set in the controlled terminal n. The control terminal 2 is provided, and a house code and an address are set to the controlled terminal n based on the house code announcement data and the address setting data. Is also proposed (Patent Document 2).

JP-A-10-308986 (summary) JP 2002-325079 A (summary)

When a network is formed by communication terminals, communication terminals belonging to a plurality of different networks having the same protocol may coexist on the same communication medium. In order to prevent interference with these communication terminals, an identification ID is assigned to each network.
Communication terminals belonging to a certain network need to communicate using the same identification ID. Therefore, it is necessary to specify an identification ID in advance for all communication terminals.

The size of the identification ID is determined by the number of coexisting networks. Since a wide identification space is required to prevent interference, the identification ID becomes long.
Therefore, it is troublesome to input all codes accurately by using a switch or the like, and it is difficult for general users to input without error. Especially in embedded devices and the like, the size restrictions of parts are severe, and it is necessary to make the switch small. Setting such a small switch is even more difficult for the user.

In this regard, according to the prior art described in Patent Document 1, there remain problems such as authentication of the communication device itself for setting the house code and labor for inputting the identification ID to the device itself.
Moreover, the prior art described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that it does not function well in an environment where a plurality of networks coexist on the same communication medium.

Therefore, instead of inputting the network identification ID, an ID having a smaller number of digits (hereinafter referred to as “specified ID”) is notified in advance by some means, and the user inputs the specified ID to the communication terminal, It is conceivable that the network identification ID is designated with a little effort by calculating the network identification ID backward using the above function calculation.
However, since the specified ID is extracted from a space obtained by reducing the ID space required for the network identification ID, the same specified ID may be assigned to different network identification IDs.
In such a case, for a communication terminal newly entering the network system thereafter, the network identification ID is not uniquely determined even if the specified ID is input, so that it is not possible to participate in the network by inputting the specified ID. Therefore, it is necessary for any one of the networks having the designated IDs to change the network identification ID to avoid duplication of the designated IDs.

  However, a great deal of effort is required to reset the changed network identification ID for all communication terminals. Furthermore, a means for notifying the designated ID corresponding to the changed network identification ID is required.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, eliminates the trouble of resetting the changed network identification ID, and easily notifies the designated ID corresponding to the changed network identification ID. It aims at obtaining the communication terminal which can be used.

A communication terminal according to the present invention includes:
A communication terminal that specifies an identification ID of a network to participate in and participates in the network,
A communication means for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the network;
Calculation means for calculating a calculated ID using a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the identification ID of the network;
Output means for outputting the calculated ID;
With
The communication means includes
After the communication terminal joins the network, it receives a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
Calculate the calculated ID based on the network identification ID after the change,
Causing the output means to output the calculated ID ;
The communication means is
After the communication terminal joins the network, when receiving a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
The communication unit is instructed to transfer the packet to another communication terminal .

According to the communication terminal according to the present invention, the network identification ID after the change can be easily reset by receiving the packet for changing the network identification ID.
In addition, since the means for outputting the specified ID recalculated based on the changed network identification ID is provided, the communication terminal that newly enters after the change of the network identification ID has the value of the specified ID corresponding to the changed network identification ID. To join the network.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a communication network system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here, the home network is taken as an example and the following description is given.
In FIG. 1, adjacent houses 100 and 200 have home servers 101 and 201 installed indoors to form a home network.
The home network formed by the home server 101 in the house 100 has the network identification ID value set to “40003”. Similarly, the home network formed by the home server 201 in the house 200 has the value of the network identification ID. Is set to “20001”. These identification ID values are arbitrarily determined by the home servers 101 and 102.
Both home networks are formed by wireless networks, and some of the areas overlap each other. That is, the communication terminal existing in this overlapping area is in a state where it can participate in both home networks.
In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the communication terminal 1 exists in the above-described overlapping area.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional network participation procedure.
In the network configuration of FIG. 1, in the conventional network participation procedure, the communication terminal 1 participates in the home network by the following steps.
(1) Set identification ID The user operates the identification ID setting switch of the communication terminal 1 to set the network identification ID of the communication terminal 1. Here, it is assumed that the user participates in the home network of the home server 101, and the user sets “identification ID = 40003”.
(2) Connection attempt The communication terminal 1 tries to participate in both home networks using the set network identification ID. In this case, the user joins the home network of the home server 101 whose network identification ID matches its own set value “40003”.

In the network participation according to the conventional procedure of FIG. 2, the user must operate the identification ID setting switch of the communication terminal 1, but as already described, this is a complicated operation and may cause a setting error. There is a problem that there is.
For example, if “identification ID = 40003” is a binary number, it is necessary to set 16 digits, which is a complicated operation for the user.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the network participation procedure in the first embodiment.
In the present invention, the network identification ID is not touched by the user, and instead, an ID with a small number of digits (hereinafter referred to as a designated ID) is set by the user, and the network identification ID is set inside the communication terminal 1. It is converted into and used for participation.
The outline of each step of the network participation procedure will be described below.

(1) Notification of calculation ID The home server 101 starts a network with a network identification ID “40003”. Next, a value obtained by converting the value of the identification ID with a predetermined arithmetic expression is obtained as a calculated ID. In the first embodiment, a remainder obtained by dividing the value of the identification ID by 16 is obtained as a calculated ID.
The calculated ID obtained is notified by a method that can be confirmed by the user, such as a screen display on an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display. Here, “calculation ID = 3” is notified.
(2) Set designated ID The user operates the designated ID setting switch of the communication terminal 1 so that the designated ID of the communication terminal 1 becomes the same as the value notified by the home server 101. = 3 ".
Since the specified ID is a remainder of 16, the maximum value is 15, and if it is a binary number, it is sufficient to set a maximum of 4 digits, and the setting labor is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case.
(3) Calculation of calculation ID of each network The communication terminal 1 detects the identification ID of the network from the communication packet of the network existing in the vicinity, calculates the remainder obtained by dividing each by 16, and obtains the calculation ID.
In the example of FIG. 3, since the network under the home server 101 is “identification ID = 40003”, it can be seen that “calculation ID = 3”. Further, since the network under the home server 201 is “identification ID = 20000”, it can be seen that “calculation ID = 1”.
(4) Participating in a network that matches its own designated ID (= 3) The communication terminal 1 participates in a network in which the designated ID (= 3) set by the designated ID setting switch matches the calculated calculation ID. . Here, the user joins the network under the home server 101 that matches the “specified ID = 3” set by the user in step (2).

According to the network participation procedure described with reference to FIG. 3, the user can designate the participation destination network with a setting of a small number of digits, so that labor is greatly reduced compared to the conventional participation procedure.
Further, since the home server 101 notifies the user of its own calculated ID (= 3) in advance, the communication terminal 1 does not mistake the participating network.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of a network participation procedure when the calculated ID overlaps with a neighboring network.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the calculated IDs do not overlap, the communication terminal 1 can join the network of “network identification ID = 40003” by inputting “designated ID = 3” and continue the communication thereafter. it can.
However, as shown in FIG. 4, when a neighboring network is newly started, the calculated ID may overlap with the neighboring network (both “calculated ID = 3” in FIG. 4). . In this case, the communication terminal 1 cannot determine which network “network identification ID = 40003” or “network identification ID = 20003” should continue communication.
Therefore, when the home server 101 detects such duplication of the calculated ID, the home server 101 changes its own network identification ID, transmits a notification packet to that effect to the communication terminal 1, and changes the network identification ID. Prompt.
Hereinafter, an outline of each step will be described.

(0) Network Start The home server 201 starts a new network after the home server 101 starts a network. Here, it is assumed that “network identification ID = 20003”.
It is assumed that the communication terminal 1 has already joined the network under the home server 101.

(1) Detection of duplicated IDs When the home server 101 receives a packet of a network (network identification ID = 20003) established by the home server 201, the home server 101 obtains the identification ID (= 20003) of the network.
At this time, it is found that the calculated ID (= 3) overlaps with the network established by the home server 201.
(2) Identification ID change The home server 101 changes the identification ID of the network established by itself.
Since the calculation ID that may cause interference in each communication terminal in the network under the home server 101 is only “1”, it is an integer value of 0 to 15 that is a remainder obtained by dividing an arbitrary value by 16 An arbitrary value other than 1 is determined, and the network identification ID is determined so that the calculated ID becomes the value.
Here, it is assumed that “network identification ID = 40004” is changed.
(3) Notification packet transmission The home server 101 transmits to the communication terminal 1 a packet (notification packet) for changing the network identification ID. The contents of the notification packet and the transmission method will be described later.

(4) Identification ID Change The communication terminal 1 changes the identification ID of the network in which it participates to “40004”. Also, a calculated ID is calculated using the network identification ID after the change. Here, “calculation ID = 4”.
(5) Display of Calculation ID The communication terminal 1 displays “calculation ID = 4” calculated in step (4) by an output unit described later.

(6) Input designated ID The user of the communication terminal 2 newly participating in the network refers to the calculated ID notified by the home server 101 or the communication terminal 1 and inputs “specified ID = 4”.
The communication terminal 2 participates in the network according to the same procedure as step (4) in FIG. If “specified ID = 3” is input to the communication terminal 2, it is naturally possible to join the network established by the home server 201.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the communication terminal according to the first embodiment, the participation network is specified by the calculated ID (and the specified ID) having a smaller number of digits than the network identification ID. May occur.
Therefore, as shown in steps (2) to (3) of FIG. 4, when the calculated ID is duplicated, the network identification ID is changed and a notification packet to that effect is issued, thereby avoiding duplication of the calculated ID, and after the change. The network identification ID can be made known.
Further, by providing a calculation ID output means in each communication terminal, a user of a communication terminal that newly enters later may refer to the calculation ID displayed on either the home server 101 or the communication terminal 1. This saves the trouble of confirming the calculated ID.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of communication terminal 500 according to the first embodiment.
5 has the same configuration as that of the communication terminal 1 described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4 and includes a communication unit 501, an input unit 503, a calculation unit 505, and an output unit 507.

The communication unit 501 includes a wired or wireless network connection interface, and transmits / receives communication packets to / from a participating network. Further, when transmitting / receiving a communication packet, the identification ID 502 of the participating network is also transmitted / received. In addition, it has a function of detecting and extracting the identification ID of the network from the communication packet of the neighboring network.
The input unit 503 includes a switch having an electrical contact such as a dip switch or a rotary switch provided on the outer surface of the main body housing of the communication terminal 500, and holds a designated ID 504 set by the switch.
When the communication unit 501 detects the identification ID of the network from the communication packet of the neighboring network, the calculation unit 505 calculates the calculation ID 506 from the value of the identification ID using the predetermined arithmetic expression described in FIG. .
The output unit 507 includes a display device such as an LED, and has a function of outputting a calculation ID 506 based on an instruction from the calculation unit 505.

Next, a packet for notifying the change of the network identification ID will be described.
As described in FIG. 4, when the home server 101 changes the network identification ID, the home server 101 transmits a packet for notifying each communication terminal in the network to that effect. Regarding the packet transmission method, the following three types (1) to (3) are conceivable.

(1) Broadcast transmission The home server 101 transmits a notification packet indicating that the network identification ID has been changed to its own network by broadcast transmission. The packet stores the changed network identification ID value.
The communication terminal that has received the packet changes the identification ID 502 of the network in which the communication terminal participates based on the changed network identification ID value included in the packet.
At this time, since the notification packet may reach the neighboring network, both the network identification IDs before and after the change are stored in the notification packet, and only the communication terminal corresponding to the value before the change applies the change. You may do it.
Further, when a notification packet is received by broadcast transmission, the notification packet may be transferred to another communication terminal. As a result, the notification packet can be delivered to a communication terminal outside the communication range of the home server 101.

(2) Individual transmission The home server 101 individually transmits a notification packet indicating that the network identification ID has been changed to a subordinate communication terminal. The packet stores the changed network identification ID value.
The communication terminal that has received the packet changes the identification ID 502 of the network in which the communication terminal participates based on the changed network identification ID value included in the packet.
In addition, when the address of only a part of the subordinate communication terminal is known, or when the communication terminal exists outside the communication range of the home server 101, each communication terminal relays the notification packet, The changed network identification ID can be made known to the communication terminal.
At this time, the home server 101 and each communication terminal refer to the routing table (route information) stored in the internal storage means, and transmit the notification packet only to the communication terminal having the route information. Also good. The notification packet is transferred in the order of the route information, and finally the changed network identification ID is made known to all the communication terminals.

(3) Only notification of change The home server 101 transmits a notification packet indicating that the network identification ID has been changed to the subordinate communication terminal by broadcast transmission or individual transmission. In the packet, the fact that the network identification ID has been changed and the address of the home server 101 are stored.
The communication terminal that has received the packet connects to the home server 101 and acquires the changed network identification ID. Next, based on the acquired value of the network identification ID, the identification ID 502 of the network in which the self participates is changed.

  FIG. 6 is an operation flow of the communication terminal that has received the notification packet indicating that the network identification ID has been changed. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

(S601)
The communication unit 501 receives a communication packet. The received communication packet is output to the calculation means 505.
(S602)
The calculation unit 505 analyzes the contents of the packet received in step S601. If the packet is a packet for notifying the change of the network identification ID, the process proceeds to step S603. Otherwise, the process is terminated.
It is assumed that the content of the notification packet is any one of “(1) Broadcast transmission” to “(3) Notification of change only” described above.
(S603)
The calculation unit 505 changes the value of the identification ID 502 based on the notification packet.
When changing, as described in “(1) Broadcast transmission” above, the changed ID value included in the notification packet itself may be used, or “(3) Notifying only that the change has been made”. As described above, the value after change may be acquired by connecting to the home server 101.
(S604)
The calculation unit 505 calculates a calculation ID 506 based on the changed identification ID 502.
(S605)
The calculation unit 505 outputs the value of the calculation ID 506 to the output unit 507 and instructs to display the same value. The output unit 507 displays the same value based on an instruction from the calculation unit 505.

  Thereafter, the user of the communication terminal newly entering the network (for example, the communication terminal 2 in FIG. 4) refers to either the calculated ID notified by the home server 101 or the calculated ID displayed on the output means 507 of the communication terminal. Then, by inputting the value as the designation ID 504 to the input unit 503, the participation destination network can be designated.

  3 and 4 exemplify the case of two adjacent networks. Similarly, when three or more networks are adjacent and there is a possibility of interference, calculation IDs do not overlap. What is necessary is just to obtain | require identification ID and to change a network so that the identification ID may be used.

In the first embodiment, the home server 101 starts a network and transmits a notification packet to that effect when the network identification ID is changed. However, the notification packet can be transmitted to the home server 101. It is not limited.
For example, in an ad hoc network configured with communication terminals having the same function, a certain communication terminal may play a role as a parent device in the network and manage a change in the network identification ID. In this case, the communication terminal may play the same role as the home server 101 and transmit the above notification packet.

  In FIG. 5, it has been described that the input unit 503 includes a switch having an electrical contact such as a dip switch or a rotary switch provided on the outer surface of the body of the communication terminal 500, but in addition, a push switch, a toggle switch, You may comprise with a jumper etc.

Moreover, although the output means 507 demonstrated having comprised by display devices, such as LED, it can also be comprised as follows, for example.
(1) A row of LEDs and lamps in which one on / off represents 1/0 of 1 bit (2) A blinking pattern of one LED or lamp (3) 7 segment LED or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display: liquid crystal (4) Signal output by infrared LED (5) Relay contact open / close pattern (6) Sound output by beep, buzzer, melody, voice output, etc.

Further, the input means 503 may be constituted by an infrared light receiving unit, contact input, optical sensor, sound sensor, or the like, and the output means 507 may be adapted to these (for example, the output means 507 is an infrared LED and the input means 503). For example, an infrared receiver.
With this configuration, the target designation ID 504 is input very easily by a method such as holding the input means 503 of a newly entering communication terminal over the output means 507 of a communication terminal already participating in the network. Will be able to.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to easily designate a participation network by inputting a designation ID having a smaller number of digits than the network identification ID. Further, even if the network identification ID is changed after joining the network, by transmitting a notification packet to that effect from the home server 101, the changed network identification ID can be easily applied to each communication terminal.
Furthermore, regarding the communication terminal that newly participates after the change of the network identification ID, the output means 507 can notify the calculated ID based on the changed network identification ID. It is convenient for the user to refer to the output means 507 of the communication terminal.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of communication terminal 700 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In FIG. 7, the input unit 503 and the output unit 507 described in the first embodiment are integrally configured as an input / output unit 703. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.
The input / output unit 703 has both an input function of the designated ID 704 and an output function of the calculation ID 706. The designated ID input by the user at the input unit is displayed at the output unit, and when the calculated ID is changed due to a subsequent change of the identification ID or the like, a new calculated ID can be output to the output unit.

  The input / output means 703 uses, for example, a self-illuminated device whose lighting part can be externally controlled, or a combination of an LED and a push switch. When the calculated ID is changed along with the change of the identification ID after that, the lighting part or the LED can be output so as to express the changed calculated ID.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the input unit 503 and the output unit 507 of the first embodiment are integrally configured as the input / output unit 703, the configuration can be simplified.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, the network identification ID change notification packet is transmitted from the home server 101 so that each communication terminal is informed of the changed network identification ID, and is newly created based on the changed network identification ID. A configuration for calculating a simple calculation ID has been described.
On the other hand, the occurrence of duplication of calculated IDs is not always immediately detectable, and there is a possibility that another communication terminal will newly enter the network between the occurrence of duplication and the change of the network identification ID. is there.
Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, an operation example in which a certain correspondence can be dealt with duplication of calculated IDs on the communication terminal side will be described. Note that the configuration of the communication terminal is the same as that in FIG. 5 described in Embodiment 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is an operation flow when the communication terminal 500 according to the third embodiment joins the network. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

(S801)
The communication terminal 500 starts a network participation procedure.
(S802)
The communication unit 501 acquires identification IDs of all the networks existing in the vicinity and notifies the calculation unit 505 of the identification IDs.
(S803)
The calculation unit 505 calculates a calculation ID for each identification ID received from the communication unit 501 using a predetermined arithmetic expression. The predetermined arithmetic expression is, for example, an operation for obtaining a remainder obtained by dividing by 16, as described with reference to FIG.
The “predetermined arithmetic expression” in the third embodiment corresponds to an operation for obtaining a remainder obtained by dividing by 16.
(S804)
The calculation unit 505 compares the calculated ID calculated in step S803 with the designated ID set by the input unit 503.
If the calculated ID calculated in step S803 matches the specified ID set by the input means 503, the process proceeds to step S805, and if there is no match, the network participation process ends.
(S805)
The calculation unit 505 determines how many of the calculated IDs calculated in step S803 match the specified ID set by the input unit 503.
If there is one match, the process proceeds to step S806, and if there are two or more, the process proceeds to step S807. Note that the case where there are two or more matches indicates a case where the calculated IDs overlap with neighboring networks.

(S806)
The calculation unit 505 uses the network identification ID that is the basis of the calculated ID calculated in step S803 as its own identification ID 502, and instructs the communication unit 501 to participate in the network corresponding to the identification ID.
The communication unit 501 uses the identification ID instructed from the calculation unit 505 to participate in the corresponding network.

(S807)
In step S805, the calculation unit 505 performs the processing in the next steps S808 to S809 for the same number of times as the number obtained as matching with the specified ID set in the input unit 503 among the calculation IDs calculated in step S803. repeat.
(S808)
The calculation unit 505 uses the network identification ID that is the basis of the calculated ID calculated in step S803 as its own identification ID 502, and instructs the communication unit 501 to sequentially participate in the network corresponding to the identification ID.
The communication unit 501 uses the identification ID instructed from the calculation unit 505 to participate in the corresponding network.
(S809)
The communication unit 501 detects the attribute information of the network from the communication packet of the participating network and notifies the calculation unit 505 of it.
Based on the network attribute information received from the communication unit 501, the calculation unit 505 determines whether the network is a network that the user wants to participate in.
If the network is a network that the user wants to join, the network joins the network as it is, and the process ends. If it is not a network to join, the process returns to step S808 and the process is repeated.
Here, the attribute information obtained from the network includes, for example, a company code of a network device, a time stamp, version information, a communication protocol, and the like.
As a reference for determining whether or not the network is a network to be joined, for example, if the network scheduled to participate is an equipment network, the following may be considered.
(1) Based on whether the communication protocol used in the network is a protocol used for equipment management.
(2) Based on whether the product code of the network device is assigned to the facility device.

The criterion for determining whether or not to participate in the network in step S809 may be written in the ROM when the communication terminal 500 is shipped from the factory, or a means for the user to set it separately may be provided. In the latter case, even if the user connects to the wrong network, the user can correct the network to be connected.
Further, in step S809, determination may be made based on whether or not the participation trial is successful, as well as the criterion based on whether or not the network is desired to participate. In particular, in the participation destination network, when terminals that can participate are limited, it is easier to determine whether or not to participate by actually trying to participate.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, when there are a plurality of neighboring networks corresponding to the specified ID set by the user, the network attribute information is acquired by sequentially participating in those networks and set in advance. Based on the participation conditions you have set, you will be controlled to join the network you want to join, so if you accidentally join an unplanned network, you can automatically correct the destination. .

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the above first to third embodiments, when the network identification ID is changed after the communication terminal joins the network, the network identification ID is changed to each terminal by transmitting a packet notifying the change to each terminal. An example of urging action was explained.
Since this notification packet can be transmitted by an arbitrary method such as broadcast transmission or individual transmission, the notification packet may reach an unintended communication terminal depending on the transmission method.

At this time, a communication terminal that has unintentionally received the notification packet may misuse the notification packet and intentionally join the network.
Therefore, in Embodiment 4 of the present invention, after transmitting the network identification ID change notification packet, when the communication terminal rejoins the network after the identification ID change, each communication terminal is authenticated or the communication is encrypted. An example of an operation that prevents unauthorized network participation will be described.

(1) Authentication by the home server 101 When the home server 101 is operating as a network start server, each communication terminal always accesses the home server 101 when participating in the network. At this time, the home server 101 can authenticate each communication terminal, and can operate so as to permit only valid communication terminals to participate in the network.

(2) Authentication by secret key When a communication terminal joins the network, the secret key is distributed, and when re-participating after changing the network identification ID, each communication terminal is authenticated by the previously distributed secret key. If the communication terminal scheduled to participate in the network is known in advance, a secret key may be separately distributed before joining the network.

(3) Encrypted communication using electronic certificate The electronic certificate generated by the home server 101 is distributed to each communication terminal in advance. The electronic certificate includes a public key.
When the network identification ID change notification packet is transmitted, encryption is performed using the private key of the home server 101. The communication terminal that has received the packet decrypts the packet with the public key included in the electronic certificate, and acquires the network identification ID after the change.
Since the network identification ID after the change cannot be decrypted except by the communication terminal that has received the electronic certificate in advance, unauthorized network participation can be prevented.

(4) Mutual authentication between communication terminals As in an ad hoc network, when a specific network start server does not exist, authentication or encrypted communication is performed between communication terminals.
In this case, a private key or an electronic certificate can be distributed in advance to each communication terminal, and unauthorized network participation can be prevented by authentication or encrypted communication.

  In addition, said (1)-(4) is an example, You may use combining another authentication system and an encryption communication system.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, even when a notification packet for changing a network identification ID reaches an unintended communication terminal, unauthorized network participation can be prevented.
It should be noted that authentication and encrypted communication may be performed in communications other than the notification packet.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a communication network system having one or more communication terminals described in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.
The communication terminals constituting the communication network system may have the configuration described in Embodiments 1 to 4 for all communication terminals participating in the network, or only specific communication terminals may have the same configuration. .

If the same configuration is provided for all the communication terminals, the newly entered communication terminal (user) can obtain the information of the calculated ID from the output means (or input / output means) of any communication terminal in the network. This makes it easier to identify the network you want to join.
For example, this method is effective in an installation situation where most communication terminals are embedded in a wall or the like and only a part of the communication terminals are exposed.

  On the other hand, when only a specific communication terminal has the same configuration, communication terminals that can be accessed by newly entering communication terminals to obtain information of the calculated ID are limited, but all communication terminals Therefore, the cost of the communication terminal or the communication network system can be reduced because it is not necessary to provide the same configuration.

  In addition, when the purpose is only to notify the currently used calculation ID, even if a calculation ID output device including only output means (or input / output means) for outputting the calculation ID is set at various places, Similar effects can be obtained.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the communication medium is not limited to the wireless network. The present invention is effective in all cases where a plurality of networks having the same protocol must exist on the same communication medium, such as a power line network.

1 is a schematic configuration of a communication network system according to a first embodiment. The conventional network participation procedure is shown. 2 shows an outline of a network participation procedure in the first embodiment. An outline of a network participation procedure when the calculated ID overlaps with a neighboring network is shown. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of communication terminal 500 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an operation | movement flow of the communication terminal which received the notification packet to the effect of having changed network identification ID. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication terminal 700 according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is an operation | movement flow at the time of the communication terminal 500 concerning Embodiment 3 participating in a network.

Explanation of symbols

  1 communication terminal, 2 communication terminal, 100 house, 101 home server, 200 house, 201 home server, 500 communication terminal, 501 communication means, 502 identification ID, 503 input means, 504 designation ID, 505 calculation means, 506 calculation ID, 507 output means, 700 communication terminal, 701 communication means, 702 identification ID, 703 input / output means, 704 designation ID, 705 calculation means, 706 calculation ID.

Claims (11)

A communication terminal that specifies an identification ID of a network to participate in and participates in the network,
A communication means for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the network;
Calculation means for calculating a calculated ID using a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the identification ID of the network;
Output means for outputting the calculated ID;
With
The communication means includes
After the communication terminal joins the network, it receives a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
Calculate the calculated ID based on the network identification ID after the change,
Causing the output means to output the calculated ID;
The communication means is
After the communication terminal joins the network, when receiving a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
Communication terminal characterized in that instructs the communication unit to forward the packet to other communication terminals. The communication means is
After the communication terminal joins the network, when receiving a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
The communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that instructs the communication unit to broadcast transmit the packet in the network. Storage means for storing the route information of the network,
The communication means is
After the communication terminal joins the network, when receiving a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
The communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that instructs the communication unit to transmit individually addressed communication terminal corresponding to the packet to the entry of the path information. A communication terminal that specifies an identification ID of a network to participate in and participates in the network,
A communication means for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the network;
Calculation means for calculating a calculated ID using a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the identification ID of the network;
Output means for outputting the calculated ID;
With
The communication means includes
After the communication terminal joins the network, it receives a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
Calculate the calculated ID based on the network identification ID after the change,
Causing the output means to output the calculated ID;
An input means for inputting a designated ID having a smaller number of digits than the network identification ID;
The communication means includes
Obtain the identification ID of each network in the neighborhood from the communication packet,
The calculating means includes
Calculating the calculated ID for each network identification ID acquired by the communication means;
A calculated calculation ID, as the specified ID inputted to the input means to participate in the matching network, communication terminal characterized in that instructs the communication unit. The calculating means includes
When calculating the calculated ID for each network identification ID acquired by the communication means,
When there are a plurality of networks in which the calculated ID and the specified ID input to the input means match,
5. The communication terminal according to claim 4 , wherein the communication terminal is instructed to participate in any one of the networks and, when the participation fails, to participate in the next network. It has a specification means to specify the attribute information of the network to join,
The calculating means includes
When calculating the calculated ID for each network identification ID acquired by the communication means,
When there are a plurality of networks in which the calculated ID and the specified ID input to the input means match,
Instruct the communication means to participate in those networks in order and acquire the attribute information of the network,
The communication means includes
Participate in those networks in order, acquire attribute information of the participating networks and output to the calculation means,
The calculating means includes
The communication terminal according to claim 4 , wherein the communication terminal is instructed to participate in a network having an attribute that matches the attribute information specified by the specifying means. A communication terminal that specifies an identification ID of a network to participate in and participates in the network,
A communication means for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the network;
Calculation means for calculating a calculated ID using a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the identification ID of the network;
Output means for outputting the calculated ID;
With
The communication means includes
After the communication terminal joins the network, it receives a packet to change the identification ID of the joined network,
The calculating means includes
Calculate the calculated ID based on the network identification ID after the change,
Causing the output means to output the calculated ID;
The communication means includes
After the communication terminal joins the network,
Receive a packet containing the change of the identification ID of the network that participated and the identification IDs before and after the change,
The calculating means includes
An identification ID of the network in which the communication terminal is participating at the time of reception of the packet;
Compare with the identification ID before the change included in the packet,
Only if they match,
Calculate the calculated ID based on the network identification ID after the change,
Communication terminal characterized thereby output the calculated ID to the output means. The output means includes
LED, lamp, infrared LED, LCD, communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by using at least one of the relay contacts, or the sound output device. The input means includes
DIP switches, rotary switches, push switches, toggle switches, jumpers, infrared receiver, contact input switch, optical sensor, or the use of at least one of the sound sensor to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in The communication terminal described. A communication network system comprising one or more communication terminals according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . The communication network system according to claim 10 , wherein a wireless network or a power line network is used as the communication medium.

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