The present invention relates to an information terminal, a setting information distribution server, a right information distribution server, and network connection setting program and a method thereof, in which a function of accessing a communication network is provided.
A portable information terminal is simply equipped with a poor input interface such as a number bottom of a portable telephone and it is extremely inconvenient to perform connection setting for a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the like in comparison with the case of using, for example, a keyboard of a personal computer or the like. Also, the wireless LAN or the like would be more convenient if it is possible to visually determine whether there is the wireless LAN or the like which has a base station that is an access point to a network actually existing in the vicinity and whether or not the wireless LAN or the like is accessible in the case of existing.
Also, when information indicative of a setting of a connection with a communication network, such as the wireless LAN, is distributed to the portable information terminal as a right to establish a connection with a communication network, it is impossible to flexibly distribute information related to the right to establish a connection with a communication network and the setting information for establishing a connection with a communication network. As a specific example, it is impossible to selectively distribute only the information related to the right to establish a connection with a communication network to the portable information terminal, nor to selectively distribute only the information indicative of the setting of the connection with the communication network to the portable information terminal.
Related to the above technique, there is proposed a wireless communication access management server which transmits a registration form to a portable telephone terminal when a registration request for using the wireless LAN access point is transmitted from the portable telephone terminal (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2003-235082, paragraphs 0015 to 0016, refer to FIG. 1). Upon receiving the registration form, a user inputs necessary items into the portable telephone terminal in accordance with the registration form, and the registration form is transmitted to the wireless communication access management server. Thereafter, the connection with the wireless LAN access point is allowed.
Also proposed is an information communication system in which a connection is established with an access point without any intention and decision of a user by obtaining information about the access point to be connected with positioning means, while there is information related to the position and the effective radio wave range of the access point in a server side (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-236632, paragraphs 0061 to 0079; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is a portable terminal device in which a connection is automatically established with priority with the access point in the shortest distance from the current position (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-232958, paragraphs 0013 to 0022; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is a method to display a screen of instruments connectable with a communication network using Bluetooth (registered trademark), so that a selection screen for setting a connection form and a data transfer is displayed when a user selects the instrument (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2003-179545, paragraphs 0022 to 0027; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is a network terminal in which setting information about the connection with the communication network is stored in an IC card so that a connection is established with a communication network on the basis of the setting information about the connection with the communication network stored in the IC card (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-318788, paragraphs 0010 to 0011; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is a wireless communication terminal in which an accessible instrument is recognized and displayed if an ID obtained from other Bluetooth terminals existing in the vicinity is registered in an instrument list containing an instrument ID of a Bluetooth terminal (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-291039, paragraphs 0016 to 0024; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is a network connection system in which, if there is a plurality of connection forms including a general public line, the connected lines are automatically recognized so as to automatically select and control communication elements and access points applicable to these lines (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-135824, paragraphs 0012 to 0021; refer to FIG. 1).
Also proposed is an internet access device in which the most suitable provider, access point, access charge, access speed, and level of provided information or the like can be selected by looking at a plurality of providers, a plurality of access points, and other internet access information (access charge, access speed, and level of provided information or the like) to be displayed in access icons while internet information is displayed in a display unit (ex. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A Heisei 11-3317, paragraphs 0010 to 0027, refer to FIG. 1). In this internet access device, it is possible to change to another new provider and access point in the state that, for example, a homepage is kept open, so that internet access information can be arbitrarily selected and switched.
As a subject related to the present application, there is a problem of inconvenience when the wireless communication connection management server described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2003-235082 is employed, because a user inputs a registration form via a poor input interface such as a number bottom of a portable telephone,
In the information communication system described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-236632, there is a problem of unconditional connection even when a user does not desire to establish a connection with the access point. There is another problem that a right can not be managed meticulously, so that the user needs to always make an inquiry to a server whether or not the user has the right to establish a connection with the access point.
In the portable terminal device described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-232958, there is a problem of a possibility to establish a connection with a communication network which is different from a communication network certainly desired by a user.
In the method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Jp-A 2003-179545, there is two steps in order to establish a connection with an instrument, including an operation of a selection screen of connectable instruments and an operation of a setting screen thereafter. A user operation needs to be conducted twice (on the two screens) and there is a problem that setting is occasionally impossible without a certain extent of knowledge related to the connection of Bluetooth.
In the network terminal described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Jp-A 2002-318788, setting information about the connection with the communication network is obtained via an IC card, and there is a problem of a burdensome operation for a user to switch the IC card containing the setting information in order to acquire a plurality of the setting information or to switch the information in the IC card. Also, although there is a function to display a selection screen to select and determine a storage region for the case that a plurality of storage regions is stored in the IC card, but it is unknown whether or not it is actually connectable, which is problematic. Furthermore, there is another problem that the existence of access points of communication networks in the vicinity is not searched.
In the case of using the wireless communication terminal described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-291039, a user instructs to edit an instrument list via an operation unit so that the instrument list is prepared. In this operation, inquiries are actually made to other Bluetooth terminals that are in the waiting state, so that a Bluetooth terminal in which the inquiries are received transmits its own ID and profile type to a Bluetooth terminal which makes the inquiries. Therefore, a Bluetooth terminal of a user collects the ID and profile type of a connectable Bluetooth terminal. That is, in order to make the Bluetooth terminal owned by the user to display connectability, there is a certainly required step in which a connection is actually established with a Bluetooth terminal in the vicinity to collect the ID thereof so as to prepare an instrument list by the user operation. Although this method seems to be no problem in the case of considering the usage in a private range such as the usage at home of the user, the user is required to prepare the list of instruments before using a public access point to be connected for the first time, which results in a problem of inconvenience.
In the network access system described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Jp-A 2002-135824, connection conditions are detected, but there is no display related to a connection with a communication network using a wireless LAN existing in the vicinity. That is, there is a problem that a user does not know connectability with the communication network until a connection process is performed, because there is no display for connectability using the wireless LAN,
If a method using the internet access device described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. Jp-A Heisei 11-3317 is applied to the access point composed of the wireless LAN, it is unknown whether or not there is a connectable access point existing in the vicinity of an information terminal of a user at present, so that the user temporarily uses a portable information terminal to perform a connection process, but it is unknown whether the connection is achieved successfully or unsuccessfully, until the connection process is performed, which is problematic.
According to the present invention, when it is determined that an information terminal owned by a user is connectable to multiple access points of communication networks existing in the vicinity, setting information of the communication networks received from a server and the communication networks (access points) connectable with the information terminal are scanned. In accordance with the scan result and necessity, a communication network list screen containing information related to a right to establish a connection with a network is generated and displayed on display means. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information terminal, a setting information distribution server, a right information distribution server, and a network connection setting program and a method thereof, in which a connection can be established with a communication network (access point) specified from the communication network list screen displayed on the information terminal, without user inputs of detailed information related to setting of the communication network.
As means of solving the above problems, an information terminal according to the present invention is an information terminal having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network, which includes; information acquisition means adapted to receive network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks from a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information; network connection means adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and network connection control means adapted to extract communication networks connectable to the information terminal on the basis of the network connection setting information received by the information acquisition means and the result of the scanning by the network connection means.
Alternatively, an information terminal according to the present invention is an information terminal having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network, which includes: network connection means adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity and to transmit the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; information acquisition means adapted to receive, from the setting information distribution server, the network connection setting information associated with the scan result which is generated in the setting information distribution server; and network connection control means adapted to generate information for a screen display of communication networks connectable to the information terminal on the basis of the network connection setting information received by the information acquisition means.
Alternatively, an information terminal according to the present invention is an information terminal having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network, which includes: information acquisition means adapted to receive network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network from a right information distribution server which distributes network right information and to receive network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks from a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information; network connection means adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and network connection control means adapted to extract communication networks connectable to the information terminal on the basis of the network right information and the network connection setting information that are received by the information acquisition means, and the result of the scanning by the network connection means.
Alternatively, an information terminal according to the present invention is an information terminal having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network, which includes: network connection means adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity and to transmit the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; information acquisition means adapted to receive network right information containing information indicating a right to establish a connection with a communication network from a right information distribution server which distributes network right information and to receive, from a setting information distribution server, the network connection setting information associated with the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server; and network connection control means adapted to generate information for a screen display of communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the network right information and the network connection setting information that are received by the information acquisition means.
Alternatively, an information terminal according to the present invention is an information terminal having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network, which includes: network connection means adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity and to output the scan result; user information storage means adapted to store user information identifying a user and containing information indicating a communication network associated with the user; information acquisition means adapted to transmit the user information and the result of the scanning by the network connection means to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks and to receive the network connection setting information associated with the user information generated by the setting information distribution server and the result of the scanning from the setting information distribution server; and network connection control means adapted to generate information for a screen display of communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the network connection setting information received by the information acquisition means.
Furthermore, the network connection control means in the information terminal according to the present invention, generates information about the screen display of the extracted connectable communication networks in descending order of frequency of connections with the information terminal or in descending order of recency of date and time of connections with the information terminal.
The information terminal according to the present invention also includes display control means adapted to display on the display means the communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the screen display information generated by the network connection control means, and to output information for specifying a communication network to be connected to the network connection control means in accordance with a user operation so as to instruct to establish a connection with the communication network.
The information terminal according to the present invention also includes storage means storing a plurality of connection operation policies, which are information indicating a connection operation form predetermined for the information terminal itself, and connection operation policy setting information, which is information specifying the connection operation policy according to which the network connection control means and the network connection means are operated, so that the network connection control means and the network connection means specify the connection operation policy setting information on the basis of one or more of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information and the result of the scanning by the network connection means, to operate on the basis of the connection operation policy in accordance with the specified connection operation policy setting information.
Additionally, a setting information distribution server according to the present invention is a setting information distribution server distributing network connection setting information, which is information indicative of setting of establishment of a connection with communication networks, which includes: storage means adapted to store the network connection setting information so as to relate the network connection setting information with user information, which is information specifying a user, and communication network information specifying the communication network; and transmission/reception means adapted to receive from the information terminal a request for the distribution of the network connection setting information with which the user information and the communication network information are attached, and to transmit the network connection setting information to the information terminal on the basis of the relation information of the user information and the communication network, the relation information being stored in the storage means.
Additionally, a network connection setting program according to the present invention allows a computer having a function of establishing a communication network to execute: an information acquisition process of receiving network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, from a setting information distribution server which distributes the network connection setting information; a network connection process of scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and a network connection control process of extracting communication networks connectable with a computer on the basis of the received network connection setting information and the result of the scanning in the network connection process.
Alternatively, a network connection setting program according to the present invention causes a computer having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network to executes: a network connection process of scanning the communication network having an access point in the vicinity and transmitting the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; an information acquisition process of receiving the network connection setting information associated with the scan result generated by the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server; and a network connection control process of generating information for a screen display of communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the network connection setting information received in the information acquisition process.
Alternatively, a network connection setting program according to the present invention causes a computer having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network to execute: an information acquisition process of receiving network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network from a right information distribution server which distributes network right information and of receiving network connection setting information, which is setting information of establishing a connection with communication networks from a setting information distribution server which distributes the network connection setting information, a network connection process of scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and a network connection control process of extracting communication networks connectable with an information terminal on the basis of the network right information and the network connection setting information received in the information acquisition process and the result of the scanning by network connection means.
Alternatively, a network connection setting program according to the present invention also causes a computer having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network to execute: a network connection process of scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity and of transmitting the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network distribution setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; an information acquisition process of receiving network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network from the right information distribution server which distributes the network right information and of receiving, from the setting information distribution server, the network connection setting information associated with the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server; and a network connection control process of generating information for a screen display of communication networks connectable to the information terminal on the basis of the network right information and the network connection setting information received in the information acquisition process.
Alternatively, a network connection setting program according to the present invention causes a computer having a function of establishing a connection with a communication network to execute: a network connection process of scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity and of outputting the scan result; a user information storage process of storing user information specifying a user and containing information indicating a communication network associated with the user; an information acquisition process of transmitting the user information and the result of the scanning by network connection means to the setting information distribution server which distributes network setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, and of receiving, from the setting information distribution server, the network connection setting information associated with the user information and the scan result which is generated in the setting information distribution server; and a network connection control process of generating information for a screen display of communication networks connectable to the information terminal on the basis of the network connection setting information received in the information acquisition process.
In the network connection control process in the network connection setting program according to the present invention, the information about the screen display of the extracted connectable communication networks is generated in descending order of the frequency of connections with the computer or in descending order of the recency of date and time of connections with the computer.
The network connection setting program according to the present invention also includes a display control process of displaying the communication networks connectable with the computer on the basis of the screen display information generated in the network connection control process, and of instructing to establish a connection with a communication network by outputting information specifying the communication network with which a connection is to be established to the network connection control process in accordance with a user operation.
The network connection setting program according to the present invention also includes a storage process of storing a plurality of connection operation policies, which are information indicating a connection operation form predetermined for a computer, and connection operation policy setting information, which is information specifying the connection operation policy according to which the network connection control process and the network connection process are executed, so that, in the network connection control process and the network connection process, the connection operation policy setting information is specified on the basis of one or more of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information, and the result of the scanning in the network connection process, and the network connection control process and the network connection process are executed on the basis of the connection operation policy corresponding to the specified connection operation policy setting information.
Additionally, a setting information distribution program according to the present invention causes a computer having a function of distributing network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks to execute: a storage process of storing the network connection setting information in the storage means so as to relating the network connection setting information with user information, which is information specifying a user, and communication network information specifying a communication network; and a transmission/reception process of receiving a request for distributing the network connection setting information with which the user information and the communication network information are attached from an information terminal and of transmitting the network connection setting information to the information terminal on the basis of the relation information of the user information and the communication network stored in the storage means.
Also, a network connection setting method according to the present invention is a network connection setting method of allowing an information terminal to be connected with a communication network, the method including: receiving network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks from the setting information distribution server which distributes the network connection setting information; scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and extracting communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the received network connection setting information and the scan result.
Alternatively, a network connection setting method according to the present invention is also a network connection setting method of allowing an information terminal to be connected with a communication network, the method including: scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; transmitting the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; receiving the network connection setting information associated with the scan result and generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server; and generating information for a screen display of communication networks connectable with an information terminal on the basis of the received network connection setting information.
Alternatively, a network connection setting method according to the present invention is a network connection setting method of allowing an information terminal to be connected with a communication network, the method including: receiving network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network from a right information distribution server which distributes the network right information; receiving network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks from a setting information distribution server which distributes the network connection setting information; scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; and extracting communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information, and the scan result.
Alternatively, a network connection setting method according to the present invention is a network connection setting method of allowing an information terminal to be connected with a communication network, the method comprising: scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, transmitting the scanned result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; receiving network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network from a right information distribution server which distributes the network right information; receiving the network connection setting information associated with the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server; and generating information for a screen display of communication networks connectable with the information terminal on the basis of the received network right information and the received network connection setting information.
Alternatively, a network connection setting method according to the present invention is a network connection setting method of allowing an information terminal to be connected with a communication network, the method including: scanning communication networks having an access point in the vicinity; storing user information specifying a user and containing information specifying a communication network associated with the user; transmitting the stored user information and the scan result to a setting information distribution server which distributes network connection setting information, which is setting information of establishing a connection with communication networks; receiving the network connection setting information associated with the user information and the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server; and generating information for a screen display of communication networks connected with the information terminal on the basis of the received network connection setting information.
In the network connection setting method according to the present invention, the information about the communication networks connectable with the information terminal is displayed on the basis of the generated screen display information, and the information specifying the communication network to access is outputted in accordance with a user instruction so as to instruct to establish a connection with the communication network.
In the network connection setting method according to the present invention, a plurality of connection operation policies, which are information indicating a predetermined connection operation form, and information specifying the connection operation policy according to which the network connection control process and the network connection process are executed are stored, and the connection operation policy setting information is specified on the basis of one or more of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information and the result of the scanning in the network connection process, so that the network connection control process and the network connection process are performed on the basis of the connection operation policy associated with the specified connection operation policy setting information.
Additionally, a setting information distribution method according to the present invention is a setting information distribution method for distributing network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, the method including: storing the network connection setting information so as to be associated with user information specifying a user and communication network information specifying a communication network; receiving a request for distributing the network connection setting information attached with the user information and the communication network information from an information terminal; and transmitting the network connection setting information to the information terminal on the basis of relation information of the stored user information and communication network.
Additionally, a network system according to the present invention is a network system in which an information terminal is connected with a communication network via an access point, the system including; a setting information distribution server adapted to distribute network connection setting information which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks; and an information terminal adapted to receive the network connection setting information from the setting information distribution server, to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, and to extract accessible communication networks on the basis of the received network connection setting information and the scan result.
Alternatively, a network system according to the present invention is a network system in which an information terminal is connected with a communication network via an access point, the system including: a setting information distribution server adapted to store network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, while relating the network connection setting information with communication network information; and an information terminal adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, to transmit the communication network information based on the scan result to the setting information distribution server, to receive the network connection setting information associated with the communication network information based on the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server; and to generate information for a screen display of the connectable communication networks on the basis of the received network connection setting information.
The network system according to the present invention further includes a right information distribution server which distributes network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network, wherein the information terminal is adapted to receive the network right information from the right information distribution server, to receive the network connection setting information from the setting information distribution server, and to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, and to extract the connectable communication networks on the basis of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information and the scan result.
Alternatively, the network system according to the present invention further includes a right information distribution server which distributes network right information containing information indicating a right of establishing a connection with a communication network, in which the information terminal is adapted to receive the network right information from the right information distribution server, to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, to transmit communication network information based on the scan result to the setting information distribution server, to receive the network connection setting information associated with the communication network information based on the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server, and to extract the connectable communication networks on the basis of the received network right information and the received network connection setting information.
In the network system according to the present invention, the setting information distribution server is adapted to store network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, relating user information specifying a user with communication network information specifying communication networks, while the information terminal is adapted to scan communication networks having an access point in the vicinity, to transmit the stored user information and the scan result to the setting information distribution server, to receive the network connection setting information associated with the user information and the scan result generated in the setting information distribution server from the setting information distribution server, and to generate information for a screen display of the connectable communication networks on the basis of the received network connection setting information.
In the network system according to the present invention, the information terminal is adapted to store a plurality of connection operation policies, which are information indicating a predetermined connection operation form, and to operate in accordance with the connection operation policy specified on the basis of one or more of the received network right information, the received network connection setting information, and the result of the scanning by network connection means.
As described above, the present invention allows an information terminal to be connected with a communication network without user inputs of detailed information related to the connection of the communication network into the information terminal.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration in a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram explaining acquisition of network connection setting information in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram explaining network connection in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display when an NW access control function notifies display means of display information containing NW information A and NW information B;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example when a portable information terminal is connected with a network A;
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram explaining an operation of the cutoff of the connection with a communication network in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram explaining the case of switching communication networks to be connected in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example when the portable information terminal is connected with a network B.
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram explaining a network connection in a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram explaining the case of switching communication networks to be connected in the second embodiment of the present invention:
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration in a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram explaining the acquisition of network right information in the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram explaining the network connection in the third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram explaining an operation to display the network right information in the third embodiment of the present invention.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained referring to drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a portable information terminal 1 which exchanges information with an instrument connected with a communication network (not shown), a setting information distribution server 2 which transmits network connection setting information which is information related to settings of connections with communication networks, and a communication network connectable region 3 which is a region in which the portable information terminal 1 can establish a connection with a communication network through a wireless LAN. A Hotpoint (registered trademark) may be used as the communication network connectable region 3 , for example.
The portable information terminal 1 includes an information acquisition function (the information acquisition means) 11 adapted to receive the network connection setting information from the setting information distribution server 2 , a display function (the display control means) 12 adapted to display information on display means, an NW (Network) connection control function (the network connection control means) 13 adapted to control connections with communication networks, an information storage function (network connection setting information storage means, network right information storage means, storage means, user information storage means, association relationship storage means, table storage means) 14 adapted to store received information, and an NW connection function (the network connection means) 15 adapted to establish a connection with a communication network.
The portable information terminal 1 , which is an example of an information terminal in the present invention, is realized by, for example, a portable telephone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or the like having a function to establish a connection with a wireless LAN; however the present invention is not limited to those and may be, for example, a car navigation device and an information communication device mounted on a vehicle.
The information acquisition function 11 receives the network connection setting information from the setting information distribution server 2 . For example, a public portable telephone communication network, a wireless LAN, an infrared ray communication or the like is used for communication between the portable information terminal 1 and the setting information distribution server 2 . Additionally, the information acquisition function 11 forwards the received information to the information storage function 14 to store therein. The information storage function 14 is realized by, for example, an RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.
The display function 12 has a function to receive display information received from the information acquisition function 11 or the NW connection control function 13 , and to display the information on display means, such as a display device. Additionally, the display function 12 has a function to notify the information acquisition function 11 or the NW connection control function 13 of information selected by a user operating an operation unit (not shown) on the basis of the display information displayed on the display means.
The NW connection control function 13 has a function to prepare connectable communication network list display information by using the information related to a connection with communication networks obtained from the NW connection function 15 and the information storage function 14 , and to request the display information 12 to display the information; the connectable communication network list display information is information containing a list of communication networks to which the portable information terminal 1 is connectable. The NW connection control function 13 also has a function to notify the NW connection function 15 of a communication network connection request received from the display function 12 , when a user operates the operation unit to select a connection with a communication network.
The information storage function 14 has a function to store the network connection setting information and information received via communication networks. The NW connection function 15 has a function of searching (or scanning) the communication network connectable region 3 positioned in the vicinity of the portable information terminal 1 to notify the NW connection control function 13 , and a function to establish a connection with a communication network in the vicinity thereof. The vicinity of the portable information terminal 1 here means a distance in which the NW connection function 15 of the portable information terminal 1 is connectable to an access point of a communication network, and it is, for example, the distance of about 100 m when the portable information terminal 1 is connected with an access point 31 via a wireless LAN.
The search (or the scanning) implemented by the NW connection function 15 may be a passive scan or an active scan in a wireless LAN. The passive scan is a method of monitoring a beacon signal outputted from an access point of a wireless LAN for a fixed period of time. On the other hand, the active scan is a method in which the portable information terminal 1 outputs a probe frame so that an access point of a wireless LAN transmits a response to the portable information terminal 1 upon receiving the probe frame, while the portable information terminal 1 receives the response.
The setting information distribution server 2 is a server including generation means adapted to generate network connection information indicative of settings of connections with an access point of a communication network, storage means adapted to store the network connection setting information, and the transmission/reception means adapted to distribute the network connection setting information to the portable information terminal 1 .
The communication network connectable region 3 is a region in which the portable information terminal 1 is connectable to a communication network. At least one access point 31 is arranged in the communication network connectable region 3 .
The portable information terminal 1 contains a network connection setting program in a storage unit thereof. When the network connection setting program is executed, a set of processes are executed, including a information acquisition process to receive network connection setting information, which is setting information used to establish a connection with communication networks, from the setting information distribution server 2 which distributes the network connection setting information; and a network connection process to establish a connection with a communication network on the basis of the received network connection setting information. In the network connection process, a communication network(s) having an access point in the vicinity is scanned, and a network connection control process is implemented to extract communication networks connectable to a computer (portable information terminal 1 ) on the basis of the received network connection setting information and the result of the scanning in the network connection process. Additionally, screen information about a list of communication networks which indicates the existence of the network connection setting information and the existence of access points of communication network in the vicinity of the portable information terminal 1 is generated for each of the extracted communication networks in the network connection control process. Furthermore, screen information from which a communication network(s) which does not receive the network connection setting information is excluded is generated in the network connection process. When network connection setting information containing information of names of communication networks is received by in an information acquisition process, the names of the communication networks are extracted from the network connection setting information in the network connection process. When the names of the network communications are extracted, screen information about a list of the names of the communication networks is generated in the network connection process. When the screen information is generated in the network connection control process, a display control process is implemented to display the screen information on the display means of the portable information terminal 1 . In the display control process, information to specify a communication network to be connected is generated in accordance with a user operation. In the network connection process, a connection is established with the communication network on the basis of the information to specify the communication network to be connected. In the display control process, information to specify another communication network to be connected is generated in accordance with the user operation, while the connection with one communication network is kept established, and in the network connection process, the connection with the one communication network is cut off, and a connection with the other communication network is established on the basis of the information to specify the other communication network to be connected. Moreover, in the display control process, information indicating cut-off of a connection with a communication network is generated in accordance with a user operation, while the connection is kept established with the communication network. In the network connection process, the connection with the communication network is cut off on the basis of the information indicating the cut off of the connection with the communication network in the, and a network connection setting information storage process is implemented to store the network connection setting information which is received in the information acquisition process from the setting information distribution server 2 in the network connection setting information storage means which stores the network connection setting information.
The setting information distribution server 2 contains a setting information distribution program to execute a storage process in which network connection setting information, which is information indicative of settings of connections with communication networks, is stored in the storage means, and to execute a transmission/reception process in which the network connection setting information is distributed to the portable information terminal 1 .
An operation in the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained next. The operation in the first embodiment of the present invention can be divided into network connection setting information acquisition, network connection establishment, network connection cutoff, and network switching. The network connection setting information acquisition will be explained first. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram explaining the network connection setting information acquisition in the first embodiment of the present invention.
A user of the portable information terminal 1 operates the operation unit of the portable information terminal 1 to allow the display function 12 to display a network connection setting information acquisition screen on the display means; the network connection setting information acquisition screen is a screen used to select instructions to acquire the network connection setting information. When acquiring the network connection setting information by a communication with directivity, such as an infrared ray communication, the user directs the portable information terminal 1 toward the setting information distribution server 2 . Then, the user operates the operation unit of the portable information terminal 1 to move a cursor into a region indicating a communication start displayed on the display means or the like, and thereby select the instruction to acquire the network connection setting information. This allows the display function 12 to forward a network connection setting information acquisition start command, which is a command indicating to receive the network connection setting information from the setting information distribution server 2 , to the information acquisition function 11 (Step S 101 ).
When the portable information terminal 1 is already connected with, for example, an access point 31 of the communication network connectable region 3 through a wireless LAN or the like and the information storage function 14 stores the network connection setting information which can be acquired in the communication network connectable region 3 , the display function 12 displays the network connection setting information which can be acquired in the communication network connectable region 3 on the display means. It should be noted that when the information storage function 14 stores a plurality of pieces of the network connection setting information, the display function 12 displays a list thereof on the display means. The user operates the operation unit to select network connection setting information to be acquired. Then, the display function 12 forwards a network connection setting information acquisition start command of the network connection setting information selected by the user to the information acquisition function 11 .
The network connection setting information acquisition start command contains the type of a communication path (for example, a portable telephone network, the wireless LAN, and infrared rays or the like) used to acquire the network connection setting information, and an address of the setting information distribution server 2 to be communicated, if necessary.
The information acquisition function 11 accesses the setting information distribution server 2 on the basis of the network connection setting information acquisition start command received from the display function 12 so as to request for transmitting the network connection setting information (Step S 102 ). The setting information distribution server 2 transmits the network connection setting information to the portable information terminal 1 in accordance with the request for transmitting the network connection setting information (Step S 103 ). In the portable information terminal 1 , the information acquisition function 11 receives (acquires) the network connection setting information. The network connection setting information contains names of communication networks (communication network names), network information (ESS-IDs (Extended Service Set Identifiers) or the like in the case of the wireless LAN), and network authentication information (WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) keys and passwords or the like in the case of the wireless LAN). The names of the communication networks are stored in the setting information distribution server 2 after being determined by the administrator of the communication networks in advance, for example.
When acquiring the network connection setting information, the information acquisition function 11 forwards the network connection setting information to the information storage function 14 to store therein (Step S 104 ).
After forwarding the network connection setting information to the information storage function 14 , the information acquisition function 11 request the display function 12 to display a screen indicating that the process to acquire the network connection setting information is completed on the display means (Step S 105 ). The display function 12 displays the screen indicating that the processing to acquire the network connection setting information is completed on the display means.
It should be noted that the setting information distribution server 2 may generate the network connection setting information in advance before the Step S 101 , or generate the network connection setting information in response to the request for transmitting the network connection setting information at the Step S 102 .
A description is next given of the network connection establishment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram to explain the network access according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The NW connection function 15 of the portable information terminal 1 searches (scans) access points 31 existing in the vicinity to acquire network information thereof (ESS IDs or the like in the case of the access points of the wireless LAN) (step S 121 ).
The NW connection function 15 notifies the NW connection control function 13 of the acquired network information (step S 122 ). When a plurality of access points exist in the vicinity of the portable information terminal 1 , a plurality of pieces of the network information are notified.
The NW connection control function 13 reads out the network connection setting information stored in the information storage function 14 (step S 123 ).
The NW connection control function 13 determines that only the communication network(s) for which both two pieces of information are prepared: the network information notified by the NW connection function 15 and the network connection setting information read by the information storage function 14 is a connectable communication network(s), and extracts such communication network(s). The network connection setting information contains the network information, and therefore it is easy to extract the network connection setting information of the communication network(s) existing in the vicinity. Specifically, the NW connection control function 13 determines that the communication network is connectable when the network information notified by the NW connection function 15 is consistent with the network information contained in the network connection setting information read by the information storage function 14 , for example, and extracts the communication network and the network connection setting information. In this extraction operation, a classification process is made as follows:
NW information A: communication network(s) having network connection setting information and an access point existing in the vicinity
NW information B: communication network(s) having network connection setting information and no access point existing in the vicinity
NW information C: communication network(s) having no network connection setting information but having an access point existing in the vicinity
The NW connection control function 13 further generates connectable communication network list display information which is display information to display the NW information A. At this time, the NW connection control function 13 extracts the communication network name(s) from the network connection setting information. The connectable communication network list display information includes the communication network name(s) contained in the network connection setting information read by the information storage function 14 , not including the network information received by the NW connection function 15 , for assumable easy recognition of the communication network(s) by the user. It should be noted that the connectable communication network list display information contains a list of the communication network names, when there is a plurality of communication networks classified as the NW information A. The NW connection control function 13 may generate display information to display the NW information A and the NW information B. If the display information includes the NW information A and the NW information B, the display information belonging to the NW information A contains information indicating that the access point of the communication network is confirmed to be in the vicinity, while the display information belonging to the NW information B does not contain the information indicating that the access point of the communication network is confirmed to be in the vicinity.
The NW connection control function 13 may also generate display information to display the NW information A, the NW information B and the NW information C. When the display information includes the NW information A, the NW information B and the NW information C, the display information related to the NW information A and the NW information B contains the existence of the information indicating that the access point of the communication network is confirmed to be in the vicinity. The display information related to the NW information C contains information that there is an access point of a communication network which is not connectable to the portable information terminal 1 existing in the vicinity.
When the network information is not notified from the NW connection function 15 , that is, when no access points of communication networks exist in the vicinity, the NW connection control function 13 generates display information only related to the NW information B, display information only related to the NW information B and the NW information C, or display information related to the NW information C.
In order to determine information among the NW information A, the NW information B and the NW information C for the NW connection control function 13 to contain for generating the display information, a display information generation policy is set or mounted to the NW connection control function 13 in advance by a user of the portable information terminal 1 , so that the NW connection control function 13 generate the display information in accordance with the display information generation policy.
The NW connection control function 13 outputs the generated display information to the display function 12 , and requests the display function 12 to display it on the display means (Step S 124 ).
The display function 12 displays display the communication network list screen which is a screen based on the display information outputted from the NW connection control function 13 on the display means. The display information contains information about the connectable communication network(s). The display function 12 may display a list of a plurality of communication networks or unconnectable networks on the display means. When the list of the plurality of communication networks is displayed on the display means, the user selects a communication network to be connected from the list. The display function 12 notifies the NW connection control function 13 of the communication network selected by the user, and requests for establishing a connection (Step S 125 ). When the list of the plurality of the communication networks is displayed on the display means, for example, following methods is used in the display function 12 to display the communication networks classified as the NW information A, the NW information B and the NW information C.
Display A: displaying the name(s) of the communication network(s) accompanied by an icon(s) indicating that the communication network(s) is connectable.
Display B: displaying only the name(s) of the communication network(s).
Display C: displaying that details of the communication network are unknown.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display in the case when the NW connection control function 13 notifies the display function 12 of the display information containing the NW information A and the NW information B. In the example shown in FIG. 4 the network connection setting information are related to an A network, a B network and a C network, indicating that access points of the A network and the B network exist in the vicinity and are connectable.
When the NW connection control functio