Patent ID: 8239931
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A communication apparatus used in a plurality of networks and comprising: a firewall which is provided in the communication apparatus, allows communication with outside of the communication apparatus when disabled, and prohibits communication with outside of the communication apparatus when enabled; a MAC address automatic acquisition part which acquires a third MAC address of a first default gateway, through which communication is allowed for the communication apparatus, from a server provided in a predetermined specific network, in which communication is allowed for the communication apparatus, when the communication apparatus is connected in the predetermined specific network, wherein the server has an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the first default gateway and has obtained the third MAC address from the first default gateway in advance; a MAC address storing part which stores the third MAC address acquired by the MAC address automatic acquisition part; a MAC address acquisition part which acquires a second MAC address of a second default gateway for a network in which the communication is being connected when the communication apparatus is connected to any of networks; and a MAC address comparing part which compares the third MAC address and the second MAC address, determines whether the communication apparatus is currently being connected in the predetermined specific network or not based on the result of comparison, disables the firewall when the third MAC address coincides with the second MAC address and having determined that the communication apparatus is being connected in the predetermined specific network, and enables the firewall when the third MAC address does not coincide with the second MAC address and having determined that the communication apparatus is being connected in a network other than the predetermined specific network.