Patent Application
20100253788
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-092338, filed Apr. 6, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information communication terminal such as a digital camera, which is wirelessly connected to a predetermined communication terminal such as a personal computer and a kiosk terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image taken by a digital camera is transmitted to a personal computer (a PC) by wired or wireless communication, and processed by the PC, or stored in a database for later access and use.
If one personal computer is shared by two or more persons and security of data is insufficient, data may be used or stolen by other persons. Particularly, pictorial data directly concerns privacy of a photographer. Therefore, pictorial data is a kind of data, which is not to be transferred and shown to or used by persons not admitted by a photographer.
Jpn. Pat. Apln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-252504 proposes an authentication system, which makes data protection by authentication by a digital camera used to take a picture, when a picture taken by a digital camera is used in a personal computer.
A communication terminal (a kiosk terminal) such as a photoprint service has recently been used as a device to output an image taken by a digital camera or a camera cell-phone. By using a kiosk terminal, such an image can be printed as a photo away from home.
Security must be ensured even in wireless communication between a digital camera and a communication terminal such as a personal computer and a kiosk terminal.
Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) protected setup (WPS) used in a computer system or a communication system is known as a method of using a local area network (LAN) with ensured security. In WPS, security of an extended service set identifier (ESSID) and a cipher system of Wi-Fi protected access 2 (WPA 2) is automatically set by pressing buttons provided at an access point and in a device used.
By using WPS, connection and security setting can be easily established in wireless communication between a digital camera and a communication terminal such as a personal computer and a kiosk terminal.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information communication terminal comprising:
a storage configured to store wireless connection setting information for making wireless connection to a predetermined communication terminal;
a wireless connection setting unit configured to set wireless connection to the predetermined communication terminal based on wireless connection setting information stored in the storage;
a detector configured to determine whether at least one of a state of connection to the predetermined terminal, a state of connection to other terminal connected to the predetermined communication terminal, a state of connection to service provided by the predetermined communication terminal, a state of connection to service provided by other terminal connected to the predetermined communication terminal, and a state of using the service conforms to of predetermined conditions; and
a wireless connection setting information update unit configured to perform one of nullification, erasion and update one of a part and all of the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage, based on the result of determination by the detector.
Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
As shown in
The digital camera 100 is an information communication terminal according to an embodiment of the invention. The digital camera 100 has a wireless communication function, and is provided with a built-in storage medium for recording a photographic image. The kiosk terminal 200 is a predetermined communication terminal to which the digital camera 100 is connected. The kiosk terminal 200 has a function of making wireless communication with the digital camera 100 directly or through the access point 400, and a function of displaying a photographic image recorded in the storage medium of the digital camera 100. The kiosk terminal 200 has a function of inquiring the management server 300 about various information through a network. The kiosk terminal 200 is installed in a store in each place. In
As shown in
The camera unit 110 includes an image acquisition module 111, and an image engine LSI 112. The image acquisition module 111 includes an imaging lens, and an image sensor, which are not shown in the drawing. The image engine LSI 112 performs gamma correction and white balance adjustment for an image signal obtained from the image acquisition module 111, or compresses an image
The information terminal unit 120 includes a service (application) execution unit 121, and an operating part 122, an LED 123, an IrDA 124, a wireless LAN module 125, and a display LCD 126, which are connected to the service execution unit 121. The service execution unit 121 includes a CPU, and a memory, which are not shown in the drawing. The service execution unit 121 executes one or more service (application), and controls the functions of the information terminal unit 120. The service execution unit 121 is configured to realize the functions of the information terminal unit 120 by sequentially processing an information-processing program stored in a CPU or an external nonvolatile memory. The service execution unit 121 includes a storage 121A, an automatic wireless communication setting unit 121B, a detector 121C, an update unit 121D, and a history memory 121E.
The storage 121A stores wireless connection setting information for making wireless connection to the kiosk terminal 200. The automatic wireless communication setting unit 121B functions as a wireless connection setting unit for setting wireless connection to the kiosk terminal 200 based on the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage 121A. The detector 121C determines whether a state of connection to the kiosk terminal 200, states of connections to other terminals connected to the kiosk terminal 200, a state of connection to service provided by the kiosk terminal 200, states of connections to service provided by other terminals connected to the kiosk terminal 200, and/or a state of using the above service conforms to predetermined conditions. The update unit 121D functions as a wireless connection setting information update unit, which nullifies, erases, or updates a part or all of the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage 121A, based on the result of determination by the detector 121C. The history memory 121E stores at least a part of current wireless connection setting information, before the wireless connection setting information is nullified, erased or updated by the update unit 121D.
The operating part 122 is a member such as a shutter button or cursor keys operated by a user. The LED 123 is a light-emitting part for notifying the user of states of the digital camera 100. The IrDA 124 is an infrared-emitting part for transmitting information to an external device by infrared rays. The wireless LAN module 125 performs wireless communication with the kiosk terminal 200 by using the antenna 130. The display LCD 126 displays a photographic image taken by the camera unit 110, or displays menu and various information depending on states of the operating part 122.
The storage medium 140 is a memory card, etc. for saving a photographic image taken by the camera unit 110. The storage medium may be built in and nonremovable from the digital camera 100, or may be removable from the digital camera 100.
The DAC 150 converts a message for notifying the user of the states of the digital camera 100 occurred in the service execution unit 121, into an analog audio signal. The speaker 160 produces a sound of the analog audio signal.
The LAN connector 170 is used for wired connection to a network such as Internet through a cable.
As shown in
The information terminal unit 210 includes a service (application) execution unit 211, and an operating part 212, an LED 213, an IrDA receiver 214, and a display LCD, which are connected to the service execution unit 211. The service execution unit 211 includes a CPU and a memory, which are not shown in the drawing. The service execution unit 211 executes one or more service (application), and controls the functions of the information terminal unit 210. The service execution unit 211 is configured to realize the functions of the information terminal unit 210, by sequentially processing an information-processing program stored in a CPU or an external nonvolatile memory. The service execution unit 211 includes an automatic wireless communication setting unit 211A, a wireless connection information generator 211B, and a storage 211C.
The wireless connection information generator 211B generates wireless connection setting information. The automatic wireless communication setting unit 211A has a function of receiving a wireless connection request from the digital camera 100 through the access point 400. The automatic wireless communication setting unit has a function of transmitting wireless connection setting information generated by the wireless connection information generator 211B to the digital camera 100 through the access point 400. The automatic wireless communication setting unit has a function of making wireless connection to the digital camera 100 through the access point 400, based on the wireless connection setting information. The wireless connection information generator 211B generates wireless connection setting information based on the wireless connection request from the automatic wireless communication setting unit 211A. The storage 211C stores the wireless connection setting information generated by the wireless connection information generator 211B.
The operating part 212 is a member such as a button operated by the user. The LED 213 is a light-emitting part for notifying the user of the states of the kiosk terminal 200. The IrDA receiver 214 is an infrared-receiving part for receiving information from an external device by infrared rays. The display LCD 215 displays a photographic image received from the digital camera 100, or displays menu and various information depending on states of the operating part 212. If the operating part 212 is configured as a touch key on the display LCD 215, the same effect as that obtained by providing multiple buttons can be obtained without increasing the number of button members.
The printer 220 prints a photographic image received from the digital camera 100. In some cases, the kiosk terminal 200 may not be provided with the printer 220.
The LAN connector 230 is used for wired connection to a network such as Internet 500 through a cable. The LAN connector 230 enables the kiosk terminal 200 to communicate with the management server 300 through a network.
The access point 400 includes a wireless LAN module 410, and an antenna 420, as shown in
Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of the information processing system configured as described above.
Before starting communication between the digital camera 100 and kiosk terminal 200 through a wireless LAN, the digital camera 100 and/or kiosk terminal 200 are set to initial states necessary for making communication. Thereafter, the digital camera 100 can start communication with the kiosk terminal 200, thereby decreasing the processing amount in the kiosk terminal 200 for starting communication.
In prior art, the digital camera 100 and kiosk terminal 200 are connected through a universal serial bus (BUS) cable, and simply initialized by exchanging network setting information. Then, the digital camera 100 is turned on, and communication is started.
To make the initial setting by radio, a wireless LAN device is connected and security is set, which are called Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS). The LAN related industry group “Wi-Fi Alliance” defines the specifications of WPS, and authorizes application equipment since January, 2007.
WPS provides a scheme to register the digital camera 100 as a client (a slave unit) in a wireless LAN. A device used for registering the digital camera 100 as a client is called a registrar. A scheme prepared in WPS is a pushbutton system, or a personal identification number (PIN) code system.
In a pushbutton system, security setting of an extended service set identifier (ESSID) and Wi-Fi protected access 2 (WPS 2) is competed by pressing exclusive buttons provided at an access point and in a client. In this case, an access point functions as a registrar. A pushbutton system is suitable for a device, in which a client is not provided with a keyboard, as in a game machine and a printer.
In contrast, in a PIN code system, a 4-digit or 8-digit number previously assigned to a client is registered in a registrar from a device already participated in a network. In this case, a client and an access point are connected in a state in which the ESSID and WPA 2 are already set.
Now, IEEE 802.11 communication protocol is explained. ESSID is used as one of network identifiers in wireless LAN. ESSID functions as a so-called network name.
In a network configuration in infrastructure mode, a network including one access point used as a basis and two or more slave wireless LAN terminals is called a basic service set (BSS), and an identifier used therein is called a BSSID. A network including two or more BSS is called ESS, and an identifier used therein is called an ESSID. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, SSID indicates ESSID. SSID is set for preventing connection to an unintended network, or identifying a terminal or device to be connected. In other words, connection between a wireless LAN terminal and an access point is impossible unless the same SSID is set. This function is used to limit users to some degree. An access point periodically delivers packet data called beacon. A beacon packet includes a SSID name of an access point required by a wireless LAN terminal to make connection. A wireless LAN terminal installed in an area able to receive the radio waves can know the presence of an access point and its SSID name by the beacon packet. Therefore, the wireless LAN terminal can set a destination by the beacon SSID, and automatically make connection in the following procedure.
A beacon includes a data part and an application part. A data part includes an element ID, a length of a sending command, an ID, and a format type. An application part includes a device type, a UUID, a service reference URL, a device name, and an IP address. In this embodiment, the automatic wireless communication setting unit 121B of the service execution unit 121 of the digital camera 100 transmits a beacon including information for detecting a device (digital camera) in the application part, from the wireless LAN module 125 through the antenna 130.
When the digital camera 100 capable of making wireless communication goes into an area where communicate with the kiosk terminal 200 connected to the access point 400 is possible, the display LCD 126 of the digital camera 100 indicates this state.
Then, a connection start button (or a virtual button displayed on the display LCD 126) is pressed, and a connection start instruction is given (step S101). The digital camera 100 transmits a beacon including information (SSID) to take part in a network by using the IEEE802.11 sequence, to the kiosk terminal 200 (the access point 400) (step S102).
The kiosk terminal 200 receives the beacon through the access point 400, and returns a response through the access point 400 (step S201).
The digital camera 100 receives the response, and transmits a wireless setting start request, or a wireless connection request (step S103). Then, the digital camera 100 waits for a response from the kiosk terminal 200 (step S104).
The kiosk terminal 200 receives the wireless connection request from the digital camera 100, and waits until a start button of the kiosk terminal 200 (or a virtual button displayed on the display LCD 215) is pressed within predetermined time (step S202). When the start button is pressed within predetermined time, the kiosk terminal performs the following operations (step S203). In other words, the kiosk terminal 200 transmits a cipher key for wireless communication to the digital camera 100 through the access point 400. Thereafter, when a response from the digital camera 100 is received, the wireless connection information generator 211B generates wireless connection setting information (a cipher key, an encryption method) used for setting wireless communication for ensuring the communication security, as a second cipher key. The generated second cipher key is stored in the storage 211C, and the second cipher key is encrypted by using the first cipher key. The encrypted cipher key is transmitted to the digital camera 100 through the access point 400.
The digital camera 100 receives the first cipher key (step S104), sends back a response stating the reception of the first cipher key to the kiosk terminal 200, and receives a second cipher key to be sent later from the kiosk terminal (step S105). The digital camera decrypts the second cipher key by the first cipher key received first, and stores the obtained wireless connection setting information (the cipher key, the encryption method) in the storage 121A provided in an area of a memory that the user cannot see.
As described above, when the connection start buttons of the digital camera 100 and kiosk terminal 200 (or the access point 400) are pressed within predetermined time, information is exchanged by radio waves, and the wireless connection setting information for making wireless communication is encrypted and transferred from the kiosk terminal 200 to the digital camera 100.
If a PIN code system is used instead of a pushbutton system, the procedure is as follows. When a PIN code is input to the kiosk terminal 200, a first cipher key is changed to meet a destination selected by a PIN code, and wireless connection setting information for making wireless communication (a second cipher key) is encrypted by a first cipher key, and transferred from the kiosk terminal 200 to the digital camera 100. A PIN code can be input by using a graphics user interface including the display LCD 215 and the operating part 212, by infrared rays, or by reading a bar code.
After the automatic wireless communication setting is completed, a start step and a communication step are sequentially executed, and an application such as viewing photos recorded in the digital camera 100 is executed. In a start step, the digital camera 100 starts communication with the kiosk terminal 200 through a wireless LAN network. This is a part of a communication process by hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), for example. In a communication step, the digital camera 100 makes communication with the kiosk terminal 200 through a wireless LAN network. The start and communication steps can be executed at any time after the automatic wireless communication setting is completed.
In a start step, the digital camera 100 sends the kiosk terminal 200 network entry information for starting entry into a network (step S111).
The automatic wireless communication setting unit 211A of the service execution unit 211 of the kiosk terminal 200 receives the network entry information (step S211), confirms the entry into a network, and sends an entry permission signal to the digital camera 100 (step S212).
The digital camera 100 receives the entry permission confirmation (step S112), and performs the following operations (step S113). In other words, the digital camera 100 encrypts the address of the digital camera 100 by using the wireless connection setting information (the second cipher key) stored in the storage 121A, and sends the encrypted address to the kiosk terminal 200. The kiosk terminal 200 receives the address, decrypts it by using the wireless connection setting information (the second cipher key) stored in the storage 211C, solves the address, and sends an authentication data request to the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 receives the authentication data request, encrypts authentication data by using the wireless connection setting information (the second cipher key) stored in the storage 121A, and sends the encrypted data to the kiosk terminal 200.
The kiosk terminal 200 receives the authentication data (step S213), decrypts the data by using the wireless connection setting information (the second cipher key) stored in the storage 211C, authenticates the data, and when the data is authenticated, sends information about service to the digital camera 100 (step S214).
The digital camera 100 receives the information about service (step S114), identifies the contents (not shown in the drawing), and instructs the kiosk terminal 200 to start an existing universal PnP (UPnP) procedure. According to the instruction, the kiosk terminal 200 executes a communication step based on the UPnP specifications (not shown in the drawing). In other words, the digital camera 100 executes transmission of data, and the kiosk terminal 200 executes reception of the data. The data transmission and reception are performed according to the wireless connection setting information stored in the storages 121A and 211C.
One of usable service is printing a photographic image stored in the storage medium 140 of the digital camera 100. In this case, the service execution unit 211 of the kiosk terminal 200 issues a transfer request to the digital camera 100. A photographic image file stored in the storage medium 140 includes file information (update time, creation time, access time, file name, etc.). A header of image file includes attribute information (image size, image acquisition information, thumbnail image, etc.). The transfer request requests the digital camera to sequentially transfer information about an image file conforming to predetermined conditions (file information and attribute information) out of the photographic image files stored in the storage medium 140, and thumbnail image data included in the header of the image file. The digital camera 100 receives the transfer request, and sends the kiosk terminal 200 the data conforming to the predetermined conditions. The kiosk terminal 200 receives the data.
Then, the user finds photographic image data desired to print or store in the management server 300 out of the thumbnail image sent to the kiosk terminal 200, and operates the kiosk terminal 200 to transfer the image data from the digital camera 100 to the kiosk terminal 200. The user confirms the transferred image data, and stores it in the management server 300, or prints the data by the printer 220 or photoprint service provided by the management server 300.
When an instruction to terminate use of the above service, the kiosk terminal 200 terminates use of the service, and sends a service end to the digital camera 100 (step S215).
The digital camera 100 receives the service end, and performs the following operations (step S115). The detector 121C of the service execution unit 121 determines whether a state of connection to the kiosk terminal 200, states of connections to other terminals (e.g., other digital cameras and mobile terminals, and the management server 300) connected to the kiosk terminal 200, a state of connection to service provided by the kiosk terminal 200, states of connections to service provided by other terminals connected to the kiosk terminal 200, and/or states of using the above service conform to predetermined conditions. When one of the states conforms to the predetermined conditions, the update unit 121D nullifies, erases, or updates a part of all of the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage 121A.
The predetermined conditions include the followings.
In the kiosk terminal 200, accounting information that is the number N of using service, or a predetermined number of times, is input by using a graphics user interface by the display LCD 215 and operating part 212, for example (step S221). The accounting information is transmitted to the digital camera 100. The accounting information includes a destination, an ID, a password, a service menu, etc. as the information related to the service provided by the kiosk terminal 200, in addition to the above predetermined number of times.
The digital camera 100 receives the accounting information (S121), selects start/end of service such as music download (step S122), and sends a service start/end to the kiosk terminal 200. If end of service is not selected (step S123), the digital camera requests the kiosk terminal 200 to download the selected music, and receives the selected music (step S124).
In other words, the kiosk terminal 200 receives a service start (step S222), subtracts one from the number N of using the service (step S223), and determines whether the number N of using the service is decreased to smaller than zero as a result (step S224). If the number N is not smaller than zero, the kiosk terminal sends specified music data to the digital camera 100 (step S225). Music data itself can be separately downloaded to the digital camera 100 through a personal computer. It is permitted to delivery a security code to enable listening to the downloaded music.
As described above, the service can be used by the number N set in step S221.
When the service is used by the number N, the number N of using the service is determined smaller than zero in step S224. In this case, the kiosk terminal 200 stops using the service, and sends a service end signal to the digital camera 100 (step S215).
The digital camera 100 receives the service end, and the detector 121C of the service execution unit 121 detects the condition (5), and the update unit 121D nullifies, erases, or updates a part or all of the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage 121A (step S115).
If end of service is selected in step S122 before the service is used by the number N, a service end signal is sent to the kiosk terminal 200. End of service is determined in step S123, and the detector 121C detects the condition (4) in step S115, and the update unit 121D nullifies, erases, or updates a part or all of the wireless connection setting information stored in the storage 121A.
The above predetermined conditions further include the following conditions.
In updating the connection setting information by the update unit 121D, the information that has been set immediately before the wireless connection setting information set by the automatic wireless communication setting, that is, the information one before the current wireless connection setting information is restored. This facilitates returning to the setting usually used at home or office.
If end of service is selected before using service by the number N in step S122, the following operation is permitted. The update unit 121D generates wireless connection setting information for verifying reconnection from the SSID and cipher key and encryption method, or the information about the destination kiosk terminal 200, or the connection date and time (each code is compiled into one code, or converted by comparing with table data). The generated wireless connection setting information for verifying reconnection is stored in the storage 121A, and sent to the storage 211C of the kiosk terminal 200. Therefore, the digital camera 100 can receive service by the residual number of times.
It is preferable to store at least a part of the current wireless connection setting information in the history memory 121E, before the update unit 121D nullifies, erases and/or updates the wireless connection setting information. For example, when wireless communication is stopped, the history is recorded in the history memory 121E. Alternatively, the information and history of connections (including date and time) of the connected kiosk terminal 200 may be stored. When the history is stored in the history memory 121E, the history may be displayed on the display LCD 126. Of course, the history stored in the history memory 121E is kept ready for displaying in the display LCD at any necessary time.
When the update unit 121D updates a part or all of the connection setting information, the wireless connection setting information may be updated based the history stored in the history memory 121E.
As described above, according the embodiment of the invention, even if wireless communication is made with the kiosk terminal 200 that is used by indefinite number of users, a part or all of the wireless connection setting information is nullified, erased or updated when predetermined conditions are satisfied. Therefore, the same wireless connection setting information as those of other users is not used, and the security of wireless connection setting information is ensured.
The wireless connection information generator 211B may be provided at the access point 400, not in the kiosk terminal 200.
A digital camera is used as an information communication terminal in the embodiment described hereinbefore. Any mobile information communication terminal such as a cell-phone and PDA may be used. Similarly, a kiosk terminal is used as a predetermined communication terminal connected wirelessly by the information communication terminal. Other terminals such as a personal computer may be used.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-092338 | Apr 2009 | JP | national |
