Telephonic communications – Plural exchange network or interconnection – With interexchange network routing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-30
2004-08-10
Smith, Creighton (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Plural exchange network or interconnection
With interexchange network routing
C379S102030, C713S152000, C713S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06775374
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network device control system, a network interconnection apparatus and a network device wherein the network device is activated and each kind of control is performed by making a telephone call from an outside communications apparatus via a telephone line to a network interconnection apparatus connected to a local area network including a network device, or to a network device connected to a telephone line.
2. Description of Related Art
Network systems have become common in recent years wherein a router which is a network interconnection apparatus is connected to a terminal of a LAN (Local Area Network) which is an example of a local area network built in a fixed area, thereby connecting the LAN to a WAN (Wide Area Network) which is an example of another local area network of an outside wide area via this router. Furthermore, in general, a server of a network provider which controls the WAN and the like is connected to the WAN while the network device included in the LAN is also connected to the WAN by accessing the server.
Furthermore, in recent years, attention has been paid to a so-called home network in which a local area network such as a LAN is built in homes. The home network is built in such a manner that an information device such as a computer, an electronic device or the like located in a home is connected to the home network as a network device thereby allowing one device to be controlled from another device or allowing mutual exchange of data between devices while allowing each of the devices to be connected to the WAN.
Among means for controlling one device from another device in the LAN as described above, there is means which activates one device in the wait state (sleep state) by another device. This is realized by sending a special packet called a magic packet which corresponds to a WOL (Wake On LAN) technology, from one device to another through the LAN.
In addition to the control or the like performed between devices in the LAN described above, it has become increasingly desired that each device in the LAN is controlled from the outside by making use of an outside WAN such as the Internet or the like.
However, in a case where a device in the LAN is accessed through the WAN from the outside, a logical network is not given for identifying the location of the device based on the WAN by a server which manages the WAN unless the WAN is not accessed from another device in the LAN, resulting in a problem in that the location to be accessed by the device cannot be identified from outside the LAN and access itself is not allowed. That is, the logical network address of the device in the WAN is given only when the device is connected to the WAN, so that no means is provided for obtaining in advance the logical network address, which disables the access.
Furthermore, there is another problem in that though the LAN and the WAN are connected via a router, a global address which is a logical network address based on the WAN, and a local address which is a logical network address based on the LAN exist independently from each other.
The global address of the device included in the WAN can be identified by the network provider which manages the WAN. However, since the local address of each device included in the LAN is given by the router, the local address cannot be identified by the network provider. As a consequence, there is a problem in that the local address ahead of the router cannot be judged from the outside and access cannot be made to the device in the LAN from the outside via the router.
On the other hand, there arises a desire that each of the devices included in the LAN be controlled from a portable type or an installed type telephone which is an outside communications apparatus. In a case where the telephone has a connection function such as the Internet or the like, the telephone can be connected to the WAN or the like using the Internet connection function or the like. However, there is a problem in that even when an attempt is made to activate a device using the WOL (Wake On LAN) technology, a magic packet corresponding to the WOL technology cannot be sent from the telephone, so that the device cannot be activated. Furthermore, when the device cannot be activated, operations of the device cannot be fundamentally controlled. In order to avoid such a state, the device must be set in an activated state at all times, resulting in a prohibitive cost required for the wait power and the like and for system management, which is not realistic.
Furthermore, it is assumed that the telephone is connected to the LAN through a telephone line. However, there is a problem in that when the router connected to the LAN is a network router, the router has no connection port of the telephone line and cannot be connected to the telephone line, and the telephone cannot be connected to the LAN through the telephone line.
Furthermore, in recent years, there are various kinds of electronic devices such as a video apparatus or an air conditioner which are connected to a telephone line to enable activation and operation by making a telephone call from an outside telephone or the like. This kind of electronic device receives a signal inputted from a telephone after setting the telephone line in the connected state upon receipt of a telephone call, and thereby activation and each function are operated on the basis of the content of this received signal.
Herein, a specific explanation is given of a video apparatus. First, a telephone call is made to a specific line to which a video apparatus is connected from an outside telephone to set a telephone line in a connected state between the video apparatus and the telephone. Next, a signal is sent from the telephone in accordance with activation and operation procedures defined for the video apparatus. For example, to set the video apparatus from the wait state to the activation state, symbols “1” and “#” are inputted in sequence through the telephone to send a signal of the input content via the line which is in the connection state. Furthermore, to set a time controlled image recording, symbols “2” and “#” are inputted one after another to set the video apparatus to a recording mode. In the case where the video apparatus performs a recording operation for one hour from 11AM, symbols “1”, “1”, “#”, “1” and “#” are inputted one after another thereby enabling activation and operation of the video apparatus from the outside.
The above-mentioned line connection type electronic device is often used in general households. In general households, in most cases, a contract is normally made for a single line in response to one telephone. In the case of a single line contract, an electronic device is connected to the single line together with a telephone and facsimile machine. Consequently, when a telephone call is made from an outside telephone to a single line to which the electronic device is connected, there arises a problem in that the telephone call cannot be differentiated as to whether the telephone call is directed to the telephone or directed to the electronic device within the household. Furthermore, in the case where an answering machine function is attached to the telephone, the answering machine function is operated in advance by the telephone call directed to the electronic device, resulting in connection failure to the electronic device.
With respect to the above-mentioned problem, a system is proposed wherein a special function is provided for the outside telephone to enable sending a specific password signal while for the telephone or the like within the household a function is provided which enables giving priority to receiving addresses, so that connection of incoming calls directed to a household is differentiated through a monitoring of the above-mentioned password signal. However, there is a problem in that such a system requires employment of a telephone dedicated to the system for both outside and household phones, resulti
Darby & Darby
Sanyo Electric Co,. Ltd.
Smith Creighton
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