Abstract:
A network device and system for authentication and a method for authenticating network devices using the network device for authentication. The network system for authentication has a network device for authentication including an authentication information generation unit for generating the authentication information of the network device and an interface unit for transmitting the generated authentication information to the other network devices over the private network, and another network device for authentication including an interface unit for receiving the authentication information over the private network from a network device for requesting authentication and an authentication information registration unit for registering the received authentication information thereon.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 1-2003-0024170 filed on Apr. 16, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a network device authentication, and more particularly, to a network device and system for authentication and a method for authenticating network devices using the network device for authentication.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 shows a related art authentication process in a wired communication environment. An authentication system for use in the process comprises a network device  120  for requesting authentication, an authentication server  100  for permitting the requested authentication, and a previously authenticated network device  140 . Here, a manager registers, within the authentication server  100  and in advance, authentication information  160  regarding a network device  120  to be authenticated. Registered authentication information  170  may include MAC (Medium Access Control) addresses, security keys, SSID (Service Set Identifier) values, etc. of the authentication request network device  120 . When the authentication request network device  120  is connected to a network, the authentication information  160  on the authentication request network device  120  is sent to the authentication server  100 . Thus, the authentication server  100  confirms the authentication information  160  on the authentication request network device  120  and authenticates the authentication request network device  120 .  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 shows a related art authentication process in a wireless communication environment. An authentication system for use in the process comprises a wireless network device  220  for requesting authentication, an access point  200  for permitting the requested authentication for the wireless network device, and a previously authenticated network device  240 . Here, the access point  200  serves to allocate an address to the authentication request wireless network device  220 . A manager registers, on the access point  200  and in advance, authentication information  260  regarding the wireless network device  220  to be authenticated as shown in FIG. 2. When the authentication request wireless network device  220  requests authentication from the access point  200 , the access point  200  confirms the authentication information registered on itself and determines whether to permit the requested authentication.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 shows a related art authentication process in a client-server environment. An authentication system for use in the process comprises a client  320  for requesting authentication, and an authentication server  300  for providing service  375  to the client  320 . The server  300  contains a service  375  that can be provided to the client, and a list  370  of unique IDs and passwords that the client is permitted to use to access the service. Here, a manager registers, on the server  300  and in advance, a set  360  of IDs and passwords used when the client  320  requests authentication. When the client  320  connects to the server  300  and requests authentication by entering its own ID and password, the authentication server  300  confirms the registered list  370  of IDs and passwords to determine whether the authentication and use of the service  375  are permitted.  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 shows an operation process between authenticated network devices using authentication information registered on an authentication server after authentication has been completed through the process as shown in FIG. 1. First, it is assumed that an authentication request network device is a home network device. A home network device A  420  requests connection and use of a service from another home network device B  440 , as indicated by an arrow  480 . Then, the home network device B  440  requests an authentication server  400  to confirm whether the authentication request home network device A  420  is an authenticated device, as indicated by an arrow  482 . Based on an authentication inforamtion list  460 , the authentication server  400  checks whether the authentication request home network device A  420  is an authenticated device, and informs the check result of the home network device B  440 , as indicated by an arrow  484 . Then, the home network device B  440  communicates with the home network device A  420  when it is confirmed that the home network device A  420  is authenticated on the basis of the check result.  
           [0009]    However, the related art authentication methods shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  suffer from one or more of the following problems:  
           [0010]    1. To authenticate network devices, a manager who has knowledge of the networks or computers is needed.  
           [0011]    2. In a wired communication environment, intentional connections from the outside to the network may be made. FIG. 5 illustrates such a problem occurring in a home network, for example. That is, in a home  590  having a wired home network  580  in which an authentication server  500  and home network devices  540  and  542  are interconnected via a wire communication network, an external device  520  can be intentionally connected to a home network  580  through a wired network  585  accessible from the outside.  
           [0012]    3. In a wireless communication environment, authentication information may be registered on a network by any authentication request wireless network device present in the other networks, because coverage of the wireless networks is not clearly distinguished. FIG. 6 illustrates such a problem in a wireless home network, for example. That is, in a home  690  having a wireless home network in which an access point  600  and wireless network devices  640  and  642  are interconnected via a wireless link, a wireless link  685  may be established from an external device  620  to the wireless home network, because the coverage of wireless home networks is commonly not distinguished. Accordingly, authentication information not only on the wireless devices  640  and  642  present in the relevant wireless home network but also on the external wireless device  620  present in the other wireless networks may be registered. Therefore, technical solutions for overcoming these related art problems are needed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow a general user, who has no knowledge of authentication, computers and the like, to easily perform authentication for network devices, and also allow a user to safely and easily perform authentication for network devices by causing authentication information to be exchanged using an interface with a limited coverage so as to avoid any unauthenticated connection between network devices.  
           [0014]    According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a network device for authentication, comprising an authentication information generation unit for generating the authentication information of the network device; and an interface unit for transmitting the generated authentication information to the other network devices over the private network.  
           [0015]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a network device for authentication, comprising an interface unit for receiving the authentication information over the private network from a network device for requesting authentication; and an authentication information registration unit for registering the received authentication information thereon. Preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for requesting authentication, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like. More preferably, the interface unit includes a transceiver unit for local area communication, and the local area communication includes wireless communication such as IrDA communication and blue tooth communication, and wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication.  
           [0016]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network system for authentication, comprising a first network device including an authentication information generating unit for generating its own authentication information and an interface unit for transmitting the generated authentication information to other network devices over a private network; and a second network device including an interface unit for receiving the authentication information over the private network and an authentication information registration unit for registering the received authentication information thereon. Preferably, the network system further comprises a network device for receiving the authentication information transmitted from the first network device over the private network and transmitting the received authentication information over the private network to the second network device. More preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for generating its own authentication information, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like. More preferably, the interface unit includes a transceiver unit for local area communication, and the local area communication includes wireless communication such as IrDA communication and blue tooth communication, and wired communication such as serial communication and parallel communication.  
           [0017]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for authenticating network devices, comprising generating authentication information on a specific network device and transmitting the generated authentication information to other network devices over a private network; and receiving the transmitted authentication information over the private network and registering the received authentication information on another network device. Preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for generating its own authentication information, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like.  
           [0018]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of authenticating network devices, comprising generating authentication information of a specific network device and transmitting the generated authentication information to other network devices over a private network; repeating the authentication information transmitted in the generation of the authentication information step over the private network (to transmit the information over the private network); and receiving the authentication information transmitted in the repeating step over the private network and registering the received authentication information on another network device. Preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for generating its own authentication information, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like.  
           [0019]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device for authentication, which receives a unique key generated by a unique key generating device over a private network and transmits the received unique key and authentication information that is generated by the network device.  
           [0020]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device for authentication, wherein the network device receives authentication information and a first unique key from a network device for requesting authentication, receives a second unique key generated by a unique key generating device over a private network, compares the first unique key with the second unique key, and registers the authentication information thereon when both keys match. Preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for generating its own authentication information, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like.  
           [0021]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network system for authentication, comprising a unique key generating device for generating unique keys; a first network device for transmitting a first unique key received through a private network from the unique key generating device and authentication information generated by the first network device; and a second network device for comparing the first unique key received from the first network device with a second unique key received over a private network from the unique key generating device, and registering the received authentication information received from the first network device thereon when both keys match. Preferably, the authentication includes information on the first network device, information on the second network device, authentication information identifier, or the like.  
           [0022]    According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of authenticating network devices, comprising transmitting a first unique key received over a private network and authentication information generated by a network device that has received the first unique key; and receiving the first unique key and the authentication information, comparing the received first unique key with a second unique key received over the private network, and registering the received authentication information when both keys match. Preferably, the authentication information includes information on a network device for transmitting the authentication information, information on a network device for registering the authentication information, an authentication information identifier, or the like.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a related art authentication process in a wired network environment;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a related art authentication process in a wireless network environment;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a related art authentication process in a client-server environment;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operating process between authenticated network devices after the authentication has been completed, according to the related art;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing problems in a related art wired home network;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing problems in a related art wireless home network;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of transmitting authentication information through interface units of network devices according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a process of transmitting authentication information through interface units of network devices using a repeater according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of transmitting authentication information through interface units of network devices using a unique key according to a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 illustrates a format of an authentication information message for an authentication request network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a process flowchart for illustrating an authentication method in an environment as shown in FIG. 7;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a process flowchart for illustrating an authentication method in an environment as shown in FIG. 9;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operating process for network devices operating in a wired network environment after authentication has been completed, according to the present invention; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operating process for network devices operating in a wireless network environment after authentication has been completed, according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]    Prior to a detailed description of the present invention, some definitions on terminologies provided herein are first discussed as follows:  
         [0039]    1. Authentication Information:  
         [0040]    Corresponds to information needed for authentication and includes information on an authentication request network device, authentication information identifier, etc.  
         [0041]    2. Authentication Information Identifier:  
         [0042]    Corresponds to an identifier for discriminating whether a message to be transmitted contains authentication information.  
         [0043]    3. SSID (Service Set Identifier):  
         [0044]    Corresponds to a unique identifier of 32-byte length, which is added to each header of packets transmitted over a wireless LAN.  
         [0045]    4. Bluetooth:  
         [0046]    Corresponds to a wireless Internet connection scheme over a local area network.  
         [0047]    Hereinafter, a network device and system for authentication and a method for authenticating network devices using such a network device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for authenticating network devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. A user instructs a network device  720  to request authentication from an authentication server  700 . Then, authentication information  760  on the authentication request network device  720  is transmitted to the authentication server  700  via an interface  722  of the network device  720  over a private network  790 . At this time, the user may instruct to permit the authentication using an authentication button attached to the network device  720 , an application program for authentication and the like. Interfaces  702  and  722  are wired/wireless interfaces with limited coverage and directivity, and include local area communication interfaces such as IrDA (Infra-red Data Association) communications and blue tooth communications, or wire cable interfaces such as serial/parallel cables with a closure property. The authentication server  700  checks whether an authentication information list  770  of the server contains the authentication information  766  received through the interface  702 . If authentication information  766  is not present in the list, the server adds the authentication information  766  on the network device  720  to the authentication information list  770  and then completes the authentication process. FIG. 11 is a process flowchart illustrating the authentication method shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for authenticating network devices using a repeater according to another embodiment of the present invention. The repeater  840  simply receives authentication information  860  on an authentication request network device  820  via its own interface  842  over a private network  890  and sends the authentication information  860  to an interface  802  of an authentication server  800 . The authentication server  800  checks whether the authentication information on the authentication request network device  820  from the repeater  840  is present in an authentication information list  870 . If it is not present, the authentication server  800  adds the authentication information to the authentication information list  870  and completes the authentication process. At this time, the repeater may be used in the form of a remote control. According to this embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a user can perform authentication for the authentication request network device  820  within a local area without directly contacting the authentication request network device  820 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for authenticating network devices using a unique key according to a further embodiment of the present invention. A repeater  940  sends a first unique key  944  and a second unique key  946  via its own interface  942  over a private network  990  to an interface  922  of an authentication request network device  920  and an interface  902  of an authentication server  900 , respectively. The authentication request network device  920  generates an authentication request message  950  using the first unique key  944  and authentication information  960  and sends the generated message  950  to the authentication server  900 .  
         [0051]    After receiving the authentication request message  950 , the authentication server  900  compares the second unique key  946  to the first unique key  944  included in the authentication request message  950 . If the two keys match, the authentication server checks whether the authentication information included in the authentication request message  950  is present in the authentication information list  970 . Then, if it is not present, the authentication server adds the authentication information to the list and completes the authentication process. FIG. 12 is a process flowchart illustrating the authentication method shown in FIG. 9, which will be described later. According to this embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the user can prevent intentional connection from the outside to the network by comparing the first unique key  944  with the second unique key  946  even while using the existing general network other than the private network.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 10 illustrates a format of an authentication information message for an authentication request network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The authentication information message  1010  includes authentication information  1050 , and alternatively may include an extension  1070  in addition to the authentication information  1050 . The authentication information  1050  may include information on the authentication request network device, information on the authentication information registering network device, an identifier for discriminating whether the message includes authentication information, and the like. The information on the authentication request network device may include a security key, an MAC (Medium Access Control) address, an SSID, etc. The authentication information message  1010  may include the extension  1070  to deliver any information other than the authentication information  1050 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 11 is a process flowchart illustrating the authentication method shown in FIG. 7. An authentication server  1100  checks whether there is an authentication request from an authentication request network device  1150  (S 1110 ). If it is checked that there is an authentication request, the authentication server  1100  checks whether the authentication information about the authentication request network device  1150  is included in its own authentication information list (S 1120 ). If the authentication information on the authentication request network device  1150  is not included in the authentication information list, the authentication server will not permit the authentication and completes the authentication process (S 1125 ). Otherwise, the authentication server adds the authentication information and the other information about the network device  1150  to the authentication information list (S 1130 ) and permits the authentication (S 1140 ).  
         [0054]    On the other hand, the authentication request network device  1150  confirms whether a user issues authentication instructions (S 1160 ). If the user issues authentication instructions, the authentication request network device sends its own authentication information via its own interface over a private network (S 1170 ). Then, if the authentication server permits the authentication, the authentication process will be completed. Otherwise, a message for indicating a further authentication request or an authentication error can be displayed (S 1185 ).  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 12 is a process flowchart illustrating the authentication method shown in FIG. 9. An authentication server  1200  checks whether a repeater makes a request for authentication (S 1205 ). If there is an authentication request from the repeater, the authentication server checks whether the authentication request network device  1250  sends a first unique key and authentication information to the server (S 1210 ). Unless receiving the first unique key and the authentication information from the authentication request device  1250 , the authentication server  1200  displays authentication error message or completes the authentication process (S 1235 ). Otherwise, the authentication server  1200  compares the first unique key received from the authentication request device  1250  with a second unique key received from the repeater and then checks whether both keys match (S 1215 ). If the two keys are the same, the authentication server  1200  checks whether authentication information from the authentication request device  1250  is included in an authentication information list of the authentication server. If the authentication information is included in the list, the authentication server permits the authentication (S 1230 ). Otherwise, however, the authentication server adds the authentication information and the other information on the device  1250  to the authentication information list (S 1225 ) and then permits the authentication (S 1230 ). On the other hand, the authentication request network device  1250  confirms whether the repeater make a request for authentication (S 1255 ). When the repeater has made a request for authentication, the network device  1250  sends the first unique key from the repeater and its own authentication information to the authentication server  1200  (S 1260 ). Then, if the authentication server  1200  permits authentication, the authentication process will be completed. Otherwise, the server will display a message for indicating a further authentication request or an authentication error (S 1270 ) and then completes the authentication process.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 13 illustrates a process of operating authenticated network devices in a wired network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. An authenticated network device A  1320  transmits a message including its own authentication information  1360  to communicate with another network device B  1340 , as indicated by an arrow  1380 . After receiving the message, the network device B  1340  transmits the authentication information contained in the received message to an authentication server  1300  and requests the server  1300  to confirm whether the network device A  1320  has been authenticated, as indicated by an arrow  1382 . Then, the authentication server  1300  checks whether the authentication information contained in the received message is included in its own authentication information list  1370 , and sends the result to the network device B  1340  that has requested confirmation, as indicated by an arrow  1384 . Finally, the network device B  1340  confirms that the network device A  1320  has been authenticated and then communicates with the network device A, as indicated by an arrow  1386 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 14 illustrates a process of operating authenticated network devices in a wireless network environment according to another embodiment of the present invention. The authenticated wireless network device  1420  sends, to an access point  1400 , a request for connection to anther network device, as indicated by an arrow  1480 . In response to the request, the access point  1400  authenticates the wireless network device  1420  using its own authentication information list  1470  and assigns a predetermined address to the wireless network device, as indicated by an arrow  1482 . Then, the wireless network device  1420  sends the other network device  1440  a request for connection thereto, as indicated by an arrow  1484 . Thus, the requested network device  1440  permits the connection, as indicated by an arrow  1486 .  
         [0058]    According to the present invention configured as such, the following advantages can be obtained.  
         [0059]    1. In a network environment that is not managed by a manager, authentication for network devices can be done.  
         [0060]    2. A general network user who has no knowledge of networks or authentication can easily perform an authentication process.  
         [0061]    3. In a wired or wireless network environment, intentional unauthorized or accidental connection to the network or use of service can be easily and effectively prevented by a predetermined interface.  
         [0062]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.