Patent ID: 8578455
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus connectable to a plurality of terminal devices via a first network and to a relay apparatus via a second network and performs an access authentication for the terminal devices to allow access of those terminal devices directly and individually to the first network, using the second network to communicate with the relay apparatus, the relay apparatus relaying a communication between the plurality of terminal devices connected to the first network, the apparatus comprising: a storing unit configured to store therein identification information for identifying the terminal devices and setting information for each, the setting information to be registered on the relay apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive identification information and authentication information unique to a terminal device from the terminal device seeking access to said first network; an authenticating unit configured to authenticate the terminal device based on the authentication information received by the receiving unit; an acquiring unit configured to acquire the setting information corresponding to the identification information of an authenticated terminal device from the storing unit; a transmitting unit configured to transmit the setting information acquired by the acquiring unit to the relay apparatus over the second network using a number of communication paths determined in advance, wherein the number of communication paths is smaller than the number of terminal devices; and a result transmitting unit configured to transmit setting-completion information to the terminal device, the setting-completion information indicating that the transmitting unit has transmitted the setting information to the relay apparatus for access of the terminal device to said first network, wherein the transmitting unit further transmits the setting information to the relay apparatus when a keep-alive process is performed, the keep-alive process being a process that maintains a session with the authenticated terminal device.