Patent Publication Number: US-2009219950-A1

Title: Connection adapter for communication device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of telemetering used in such purposes as the collection of sales information from vending machines and to the field of telematics used in delivering traffic information to mobile objects and like purposes. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, telemetring and telematics for collecting and distributing information over a wireless packet communication network have become widespread. The telemetring originally refers to a system of reading a measured value by a measure via a communication line. However, it has been generally used as a term indicating not only reading data but also monitoring the operation of equipment and performing remote control. A typical example of telemetring can be a sales management system of a vending machine, a use amount management system of a gas, water supply, etc., a management system in a parking lot without humans in attendance, etc. For a sales management system of a vending machine, refer to the patent document 1. The telematics refers to providing information service in real time by combining a mobile object such as an automobile with a communication system. A typical example of telematics can be a vehicle-mounted information system etc. for providing in real time a terminal provided for a vehicle with traffic information and navigation information. 
     In the fields above, communication equipment for connection to a wireless packet communication network in a remote location and a host device to the communication equipment are arranged. The host device corresponds to data terminal equipment. The communication equipment corresponds to data circuit-terminating equipment. 
     For example, in the sales management system of a vending machine, the control device for controlling the sales and the temperature in the machine correspond to the host device. Each host device is periodically or arbitrarily connected to a predetermined network through communication equipment, and to a predetermined managing computer over the network. The host device connected to the managing computer transmits various types of data to be managed. 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication 2003-51056 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the conventional system, the data to be managed is collected to a predetermined managing computer from each host device as described above, and there has been a request to receive by other computers the data to be managed. The request has been made to, for example, back up the data to be managed, and store the data as a managing log in another system designing corporation etc. other than an administrator of the managing computer. 
     However, in the conventional host device, since various information for connection to a predetermined managing computer, for example, a telephone number, an IP address, etc., has been fixedly incorporated and set, it has been difficult to transmit data to a computer other than a preset managing computer. 
     The present invention has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims at providing a connection adapter for communication device capable of transmitting data to a computer other than a predetermined managing computer. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     To attain the above-mentioned advantages of the present invention, the present application proposes a connection adapter for communication device including: a first interface for connection to communication equipment for a network connection service; a second interface for connection to a host device for performing communications using the communication equipment; a communication control unit for relaying the communications performed by the host device using the communication equipment; and storage means for storing communication data. With the configuration, the communication control unit (a) stores data of the communications between the host device and a first communication partner in the storage means, (b) makes a connection to a second communication partner after the communications between the host device and the first communication partner are completed, and (c) transmits all or a part of the communication data stored in the storage means to the second communication partner. 
     According to the present invention, when the communication between the host device and the computer of the first communication partner is completed through the connection adapter and the communication equipment, the replica of communication data is transmitted to the computer of the second communication partner. Thus, the communication data can also be managed by the computer of the second communication partner, thereby utilizing the communication data in making backup data and performing a log analysis. 
     The host device corresponds to data terminal equipment (DTE). Also, the communication equipment corresponds to data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE). 
     As an example of a preferred aspect of the present invention, the communication control unit in the present application disconnects a network connection established during communications with the first communication partner after the communications with the first communication partner are completed, and establishes a network connection for communications with the second communication partner. 
     In the present invention, the network connection for use in the communications with the first communication partner and the network connection for use in the communications with the second communication partner can be configured using different carriers and in different network contract modes. Therefore, the present invention excels in flexibility of configuring a system. 
     In addition, as an example of another preferred aspect of the present invention, the communication control unit of the present application makes a connection to the second communication partner after the communications with the first communication partner are completed with the network connection established during the communications with the first communication partner maintained as is. 
     Since both the communications with the first communication partner and the communications with the second communication partner are performed using a common network connection in the present invention, the time required in making the network connection can be shortened and the necessary communication cost can be reduced. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     As described above, according to the present invention, when communications between the host device and the computer of the first communication partner through the connection adapter and communication equipment are completed, the replica of the communication data is transmitted to the computer of the second communication partner. Thus, also the computer of the second communication partner can manage the communication data, thereby successfully utilizing the communication data in making backup data and performing a log analysis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the configuration of the network of the system using the connection adapter for communication device; 
         FIG. 2  shows the configuration of the connection adapter; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the function of the main control unit; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of the data stored in the converted data storage unit; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory view of the sequence of issuing a call on the host device side when the first wireless packet communication network is used; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view of the sequence of issuing a call on the host device side when the second wireless packet communication network is used; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory view of the sequence of issuing a call on the host device side when the second wireless packet communication network is used; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view of an address converting process; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory view of the sequence of the process of transmitting copied data when the first wireless packet communication network is used; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of the sequence of the process of transmitting copied data when the second wireless packet communication network is used; 
         FIG. 11  shows the configuration of the network of the system according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory view of an example of an address conversion table; 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory view of the sequence of issuing a call on the host device side when the second wireless packet communication network is used; and 
         FIG. 14  is an explanatory view of an address converting process. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
       1  connection adapter 
       21 ,  22 ,  23  communication module 
       31 ,  32 ,  33  wireless packet communication network 
       32   c  address management server 
       40  in-house LAN 
       120  main control unit 
       121  line control unit 
       122  communication control unit 
       152   a  communication data storage unit 
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     A connection adapter for communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 1  shows the configuration of the network of the system using the connection adapter for communication device according to the present embodiment. 
     A connection adapter  1  connects plural types of host devices  10  to communication equipment  21 ,  22 , and  23 . In the present embodiment, the connection adapter  1  corresponds to a communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard, a communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard, and a communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard. Each of the communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  are communication equipment connected to wireless packet communication networks  31 ,  32 , and  33  established by the corresponding carriers, and correspond to the communication standards and communication protocol services uniquely set by the respectively carriers. The host device  10  is designed to correspond to specific carriers and the services provided by the carriers. Practically, it is designed to be connected to a communication module corresponding to the service, and correspond to the connection protocol, authentication protocol, etc. corresponding to the service. 
     According to the present embodiment, the wireless packet communication networks  31 ,  32 , and  33  are assumed to provide the following services. Described below are the services. 
     In the network connection service in the first and third wireless packet communication networks  31  and  33 , telephone numbers are assigned to the communication modules  21  and  23  in advance by a carrier. The wireless packet communication networks  31  and  33  is respectively provided with the relay devices  31   a  and  33   a  for line control, packet relay, etc. The relay devices  31   a  and  33   a  are assigned telephone numbers corresponding to in-house LANs  40  and  50  as connection destination networks. The terminals to which the communication modules  21  and  23  are connected are connected to a predetermined network such as the in-house LANs  40  and  50 , etc. by issuing a call to the telephone numbers of the relay devices  31   a  and  33   a  in the respective wireless packet communication networks  31  and  33 . The connections to the relay devices  31   a  and  33   a  are allowed only from the communication modules  21  and  23  assigned telephone numbers in advance. An IP address group is assigned in a predetermined range from a carrier, and a fixed IP address included in the IP address group is assigned to each terminal connected to each of the communication modules  21  and  23 . The relay devices  31   a  and  33   a  relay only the packets transmitted and received in the IP address group. 
     In the network connection service in the second wireless packet communication network  32 , a telephone number is assigned to the communication module  22  in advance by a carrier. In the second wireless packet communication network  32 , a relay device  32   a  for line control, packet relay, etc. is provided. A terminal to which the communication module  22  is connected is connected to the second wireless packet communication network  32  by issuing a call with a predetermined specific number specified. The terminal can be connected to the in-house LANs  40  and  50  as a connection destination network by performing an authenticating process using a PAP (password authentication protocol) as a type of authentication protocol between the terminal and the relay device  32   a.  In the PAP authentication, a connection destination network is designated by including in a user name the information for designation of a connection destination. From a carrier, an IP address group in a predetermined range is assigned, and an IP address included in the IP address group is dynamically assigned by the IPCP (Internet protocol control protocol) to each terminal connected to the communication module  22 . 
     The host device  10  corresponds to a data terminal equipment (DTE). It is assumed that the host device  10  according to the present embodiment can be directly connected to the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard and the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard. Then, it is assumed that the host device  10  can be connected to a first communication partner  41  in the in-house LAN  40  through the wireless packet communication network  31  or  33  using the communication module  21  or  23 . The connection adapter  1  according to the present embodiment enables the host device  10  to be connected to the first communication partner  41  in the in-house LAN  40  through the second wireless packet communication network  32  using the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard without reforming or changing the host device  10 . The connection adapter  1  generates a replica of communication data between the host device  10  and the first communication partner  41 , and transmits the communication data to a second communication partner  51  in the in-house LAN  50 . 
     In the case of the management system of a vending machine as a typical operation example, the control device of the vending machine corresponding to the host device can be directly connected to the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard. The control device is set to transmit sales data etc. to the first communication partner  41  in the in-house LAN  40  through the first wireless packet communication network  31  periodically or at any time. The first communication partner  41  corresponds to the managing computer for centrally managing a vending machine. The connection adapter  1  realizes the following two functions. That is, (1) communications through other wireless packet communication networks  32  and  33  can be performed without changing a vending machine, a managing computer, etc., and (2) the replica of the communication data between the control device and the managing computer is transmitted also to other managing computers. In the present embodiment, other managing computers correspond to the second communication partner  51  of the in-house LAN  50 . The connection adapter  1  is described in detail. 
     First, the configuration of the connection adapter  1  according to the present embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows the state including the three communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  in the connection adapter  1 . During the operation, at least only the communication module  21 ,  22 , or  23  to be actually used can be included. 
     The connection adapter  1  connects plural types of host devices  10  corresponding to a data terminal equipment (DTE) to plural types of communication equipment  20 ,  25 , and  26  corresponding to the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) as the plural types of host device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connection adapter  1  includes in a housing  100  a primary control substrate  110 , a secondary control substrate  200  for loading the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard, a secondary control substrate  300  for loading the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard, and the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard. The secondary control substrates  200  and  300  and the communication module  23  are provided as freely attachable to and detachable from the primary control substrate  110 . 
     The connection adapter  1  according to the present embodiment is provided with plural types of connectors for connection to the host device for connection to plural types of main control units. Practically, the primary control substrate  110  is provided with a connector  111  used in accordance with the RS-232C standard, a connector  112  used in accordance with the RS-485 standard, and a connector  113  used in accordance with the CAN (controller area network) standard. 
     A primary control substrate  110  is provided with a main control unit  120  implemented by an FPGA (field programmable gate array) as a type of PLD (programmable logic device), an interface circuit  131  in accordance with the RS-232C standard, an interface circuit  132  in accordance with the RS-485 standard, and an interface circuit  133  in accordance with the CAN standard. Each of the interface circuits  131 ,  132 , and  133  is interposed between the connectors  111 ,  112 , and  113  and the main control unit  120 . Thus, the main control unit  120  can communicate with the host device connected to the connectors  111 ,  112 , and  113  through each of the interface circuits  131 ,  132 , and  133 . 
     The primary control substrate  110  includes a connector  141  for connection with the secondary control substrate  200 , a connector  142  for connection with the secondary control substrate  300 , and a connector  143  for connection with the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard. Each of the connectors  141 ,  142 , and  143  is connected to the main control unit  120 . Thus, the main control unit  120  can communicate with the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard through the secondary control substrate  200 . Similarly, the main control unit  120  can communicate with the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard through the secondary control substrate  300 . The main control unit can communicate directly with the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard. 
     Furthermore, the primary control substrate  110  is provided with EPROM  151  storing a control program of the main control unit  120 , and RAM  152  for use as various work area of the main control unit  120 . Additionally, the primary control substrate  110  is provided with a module selection switch  160  for selection of the communication module  21 ,  22 , or  23 . The main control unit  120  performs an operation corresponding to the communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  selected by the module selection switch  160 . The configuration and the operation of the main control unit  120  are described later. 
     The primary control substrate  110  operates by external DC power supply. In addition, the primary control substrate  110  directly supplies DC power to the secondary control substrates  200  and  300 , and the communication module  23  of the PHS standard through each of the connectors  141 ,  142 , and  143 . The primary control substrate  110  is provided with a power supply monitor circuit  170  for monitoring external abnormal supply of DC power, and a backup battery  171 . When the power supply monitor circuit  170  detects external abnormal power supply, the circuit controls power supply from the backup battery  171  to the primary control substrate  110 , the secondary control substrates  200  and  300 , and the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS. In addition, when the power supply monitor circuit  170  detects external abnormal power supply, it notifies the main control unit  120  of the abnormal power supply. Furthermore, when the power supply monitor circuit  170  detects the recovery of external power supply after abnormal power supply, it notifies the main control unit  120  of the recovery. 
     In addition, the primary control substrate  110  is provided with a circuit initializing unit  180  for initializing and generating the internal circuit of the main control unit  120  implemented by the FPGA. The circuit initializing unit  180  contains a program for initializing and generating an internal circuit of the main control unit  120 . The circuit initializing unit  180  forms a circuit configuring the main control unit  120  in the FPGA at an instruction from an externally connected terminal (not shown in the drawings). 
     The secondary control substrate  200  is to connect the primary control substrate  110  to the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard. The secondary control substrate  200  is provided with a connector  201  for connection to the primary control substrate  110 , a connector  202  for connection to a terminal  21   a  of the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard, and an interface circuit  210  for connection between the primary control substrate  110  and the communication module  21 . The interface circuit  210  converts the number of pins between the connector  202  and the connector  201 , converts the assignment of pins, forms a waveform, etc. The communication module  21  according to the present embodiment requires a predetermined memory chip storing its own telephone number information etc., and requires a dedicated backup battery. Correspondingly, the memory chip  220  and the backup battery  230  are connected to the communication module  21  of the secondary control substrate  200  through the connector  202 . The secondary control substrate  200  is operated by a DC power supply from the primary control substrate  110  as described above, and DC power is supplied to the communication module  21  through the connector  202 . An antenna connection terminal  21   b  of the communication module  21  is connected to an antenna connection terminal  191  provided for the housing  100 . 
     The secondary control substrate  300  is to connect the primary control substrate  110  to the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard. The secondary control substrate  300  is provided with a connector  301  for connection to the primary control substrate  110 , a connector  302  for connection to a terminal  22   a  of the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard, and an interface circuit  310  for connection of the primary control substrate  110  to the communication module  22 . The interface circuit  310  converts the number of pins between the connector  302  and the connector  301 , converts the assignment of pins, generates a waveform, etc. In addition, the secondary control substrate  300  is operated by the DC power supply from the primary control substrate  110  as described above, and supplies DC power to the communication module  22  through the connector  302 . An antenna connection terminal  22   b  of the communication module  22  is connected to an antenna connection terminal  192  provided for the housing  100 . 
     A terminal  23   a  of the communication module  23  in accordance with the PHS standard is connected to the connector  143  of the primary control substrate  110 . An antenna connection terminal  23   b  of the communication module  23  is connected to an antenna connection terminal  193  attached to a housing  100 . 
     Next, the configuration and the operation of the main control unit  120  are described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main control unit  120 . Only the components related to the gist of the present invention are described, but others are omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main control unit  120  includes a line control unit  121  for controlling the line such as establishing a line connection etc., and a communication control unit  122  for controlling data communication on the line established by the line control unit  121 . The line control unit  121  controls line connection by an AT command, and controls connection of an IP layer by the LCP (link control protocol) and the IPCP. The communication control unit  122  performs a converting process of an IP address included in the header of the IP layer in the data communication on the line established by the line control unit  121 , a process of transmitting a replica of communication data, etc. 
     The line control unit  121  and the communication control unit  122  switches the process depending on the communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  selected by a module selection switch  160 . In the present embodiment, the host device  10  is designed to directly connect the communication modules  21  and  23  for use. Therefore, when the communication module  21  or  23  is selected by the module selection switch  160 , the line control unit  121  and the communication control unit  122  do not perform a special process on the data between the host device  10  and the communication module  21  or  23 , but only pass the data. On the other hand, when the communication module  22  is selected, the line control unit  121  and the communication control unit  122  perform a line control process etc. on data between the host device  10  and the communication module  22  according to a predetermined rule. The data required for the data processing is stored in a set data storage unit  151   a  of the EPROM  151 . The replica of communication data generated and transmitted by the communication control unit  122  is stored in the communication data storage unit  152   a  of the RAM  152 . 
     The data stored in the set data storage unit  151   a  is described below with reference to  FIG. 4 . The set data storage unit  151   a  stores (1) setting information  900  when the first wireless packet communication network  31  is used, and (2) setting information  910  when the second wireless packet communication network  32  is used. The setting information  900  is required for the communication between the connection adapter  1  and the second communication partner  51  through the first wireless packet communication network  31 . Practically, the setting information  900  includes the fixed IP address of the connection adapter  1 , the fixed IP address of the second communication partner  51  and a call issue command (including a telephone number) assigned in advance from a carrier. 
     On the other hand, the setting information  910  includes (2a) setting information  911  required for the communication between the host device  10  and a first communication partner  41  through the second wireless packet communication network  32 , and (2b) setting information  912  required for the communication between the connection adapter  1  and the second communication partner  51  through the second wireless packet communication network  32 . Practically, the setting information  911  includes a call issue command (including a telephone number) for connection to the second wireless packet communication network  32 , the fixed IP address of the host device  10 , the authentication data required when a connection is made to the in-house LAN  40  through the second wireless packet communication network  32 , and the IP address of the first connection destination router  43 . The setting information  912  includes a call issue command (including a telephone number) for connection to the second wireless packet communication network  32 , the authentication data required for connection to the in-house LAN  50  through the second wireless packet communication network  32 , and the IP address of the second communication partner  51 . A first connection destination router  43  is a relay device corresponding to the connection point between the second wireless packet communication network  32  and the in-house LAN  40 . The first connection destination router  43  has the function of controlling a line corresponding to the connection adapter  1  and the function of converting an address. 
     Next, the operation of the connection adapter  1  according to the present embodiment is described below with reference to the attached drawings. First, the case in which the host device  10  is connected to the in-house LAN  40  through the first wireless packet communication network  31  is described with reference to the sequence chart shown in  FIG. 5 . As described above, since the host device  10  corresponds to the communication module  21  in accordance with the PDC standard and the first wireless packet communication network  31 , the connection adapter  1  performs no process on the data between the host device  10  and the communication module  21 . Similar operations are performed when the host device  10  is connected to the in-house LAN  40  through the third wireless packet communication network  33 . 
     In this example, the following contents are presumed. That is, assume that the telephone number ‘080AABB’ is assigned to the communication module  21  from the carrier. Assume that an IP address of 192.168.0.0/28 is distributed from the carrier, and the IP address 192.168.0.1 is assigned to the host device  10  connected to the first wireless packet communication network  31  using the communication module  21 . Assume that the communication partner  41  of the host device  10  is in the in-house LAN  40 , and its IP address is 192.168.9.10.The communication module  21  is assumed to be connected to the relay device of the first wireless packet communication network  21  by issuing a call at an ‘ATDT’ command to the telephone number ‘080XXYY’. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the host device  10  issues an ‘ATDT080XXYY’ command to the connection adapter  1  (step S 1 ), the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  transfers the command to the communication module  21  as it is (step S 2 ). The trigger of the issue of the call can be the time when an IP packet of the destination address: 192.168.0.10 is generated in the host device  10 . At the AT command, the communication module  21  issues a call to the relay device in the first wireless packet communication network  31  (step S 3 ). The relay device confirms the source telephone number of the communication module  21 , and rejects the connection from the terminal without a contract (step S 4 ). Upon receipt of the response ‘CONNECT’ indicating that a connection is completed at the circuit level through the communication module  21  (step S 5 ), the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  transfers the response to the host device  10  (step S 6 ). 
     Next, the host device  10  starts the process to make a connection to the in-house LAN  40  through the first wireless packet communication network  31  by the PPP. Practically, a connection to the relay device of the first wireless packet communication network  31  is established at the IP level through the LCP and the IPCP (step S 7  and S 8 ). The line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  bidirectionally passes the packet relating to the LCP and the IPCP. Thus, the host device  10  can communicate with the in-house LAN  40  at the IP level. Therefore, the data communication using an upper protocol such as TCP/UDP etc. can be performed between them (step S 9 ). The relay device of the first wireless packet communication network  31  relays only the IP packet whose address or the source IP address is included in the 192.168.0.0/28 (step S 10 ). 
     Next, the case in which a connection is made to the in-house LAN  40  using the communication module  22  in accordance with the CDMA standard and the second wireless packet communication network  32  without reforming or changing the host device  10  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  are sequence charts of the case in which the second wireless packet communication network is used.  FIG. 8  is an explanatory view of the process of converting an IP address described in the header of the IP packet transmitted from the host device. 
     The following descriptions are assumed. That is, assume that the communication module  22  is assigned the telephone number of ‘080QQRR’ from a carrier. Also assume that the IP address of 172.16.0.0/28 is distributed from the carrier, and the host device  10  connected to the first wireless packet communication network  32  is dynamically assigned one of the IP address 172.16.0.0/28 using the communication module  22 . In addition, assume that the connection destination router  43  corresponding to the connection point of the second wireless packet communication network  32  and the in-house LAN  40  is assigned the address of 172.16.0.14. It is assumed that the communication partner  41  of the host device  10  is in the in-house LAN  40 , and its IP address is 192.168.9.10. The communication module  22  is connected to the relay device of the second wireless packet communication network  32  by issuing an ‘ATD9999’ command. The relay device authenticates a user by the PAP and designates a connection destination (in-house LAN  40  in the present embodiment). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the host device  10  issues an ‘ATDT080XXYY’ command to the connection adapter  1  (step S 21 ), the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  converts the command into ‘ATD9999’, and transfers it to the communication module  22  (step S 22 ). The trigger of the issue of the command is the time when the IP packet addressed to 192.168.9.10 as shown in  FIG. 8  is generated, etc. At the AT command, the communication module  22  issues a call to the relay device  32   a  in the second wireless packet communication network  32  (step S 23 ). Upon receipt of the response ‘CONNECT’ indicating that the connection has been completed at the line level through the communication module  22  (step S 24 ), the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  starts the process of connecting the connection adapter  1  to the in-house LAN  40  through the PPP. 
     First, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  starts an LCP negotiation with the relay device  32   a  of the second wireless packet communication network  32  (step S 25 ). Next, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  performs a PAP authenticating process with the relay device  32   a  of the second wireless packet communication network  32  (step S 26 ). The PAP authenticating process is not conceived by the host device  10  generated for the first wireless packet communication network  30 . However, it is required when the second wireless packet communication network  32  is used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the connection adapter  1  performs the authenticating process for the host device  10 . When the authenticating process is completed, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  starts an IPCP negotiation between the connection adapter  1  and the relay device  32   a  of the second wireless packet communication network  32  (step S 27 ). Thus, the IPCP negotiation is completed, and a dynamic IP address 172.16.0.X is assigned from the second wireless packet communication network  32  to the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1 . The assigned dynamic IP address is stored in the storage means such as the RAM  152 . 
     When the PPP negotiation is completed, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  notifies the connection destination router  43  of the telephone number of the communication module  22  and a communication ID having a special value (for example, 0) indicating a call issued from the host device  10  by an UDP packet (step S 28 ). Upon receipt of the notification from the connection adapter  1 , the connection destination  43  transmits the connection request ‘CONNECT’ in the IP layer to the first communication partner  41  (step S 29 ). At this time, the source IP address of the IP packet is the fixed IP address of the host device  10 . That is, the packet relating to the connection request is obtained by prefetching the connection request issued from the host device  10  in the processes in steps S 35  to S 38  at the subsequent stage. 
     Upon receipt of the response ‘ACCEPT’ to the connection request (step S 30 ), the connection destination router  43  transmits a response including a communication ID to the connection adapter  1  as a response in step S 28  (step S 41 ). The destination IP address of the response received from the first communication partner  41  is a fixed IP address of the host device  10 . However, the connection destination router  43  does not relay the packet to the second wireless packet communication network  32  at this stage. 
     After receiving a response from the connection destination router  43 , the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  transmits a response ‘CONNECT’ indicating that the connection has been completed at the line level to the host device  10  (step S 32 ). Upon receipt of the response, the host device  10  starts the LCP negotiation and the IPCP negotiation (steps S 33  and S 34 ). A point to note here is that the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  transmits a response to the host device  10 . Thus, the host device  10  views the connecting process as being performed with the first wireless packet communication network  31  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     In the process above, the communication at the IP level can be performed between the host device  10  and the connection adapter  1 , and between the connection adapter  1  and the communication partner  41 . Thus, the host device  10  transmits a connection request ‘CONNECT’ in the IP layer to the communication partner  41  (step S 35 ). The connection request corresponds to the first packet of the data communication in step S 9  shown in  FIG. 5 . Therefore, the destination IP address is the IP address of the communication partner  41 , and the source IP address is the fixed terminal IP address of the host device  10 . Upon receipt of the connection request, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  converts the destination IP address into the WAN side IP address of the connection destination router  43 , converts the source IP address into the dynamic terminal IP address assigned by the second wireless packet communication network  32 , and transmits it to the connection destination router  43  (step S 36 ). The connection destination router  43  transmits a response to the connection adapter  1  in response to the connection request (step S 37 ). After receiving the response, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  converts the destination IP address into the fixed terminal IP address of the host device  10 , converts the source IP address into the IP address of the communication partner  41 , and transfers the result to the host device  10  (step S 38 ). 
     After the process above, the host device  10  determines that the connection to the communication partner  41  has been completed, and starts the data communication to the communication partner  41  (step S 39 ). The connection destination router  43  and the communication control unit  122  of the connection adapter  1  perform an address conversion on the header of the IP packet (steps S 40 , S 41 ). Practically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the fixed terminal IP address (192.168.0.1) and the dynamic terminal IP address (172.16.0.X) are mutually converted, and the WAN side IP address (172.16.0.14) of the connection destination router  43  and the IP address (192.168.9.10) of the communication partner  41  are mutually converted. After the process above, communications can be started from the host device  10  with the communication partner  41 . 
     Next, the replica and the transmission of communication data by the connection adapter  1  are described below with reference to the attached drawings. First, the transmission of the replica of the communication data to the second communication partner  51  after the communication between the host device  10  and the communication partner  41  is described with reference to the sequence chart shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The communication control unit  122  of the connection adapter  1  accumulates communication data in the communication data storage unit  152   a  (step S 51 ) while relaying the communication data between the host device  10  and the communication partner  41  (step S 9  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     Assume that the communication between the host device  10  and the communication partner  41  has been completed. Upon receipt of the completion, the line between the communication module  21  and the first wireless packet communication network  31  is disconnected. 
     Upon detection of the disconnection of the line, the line control unit  121  starts the process of transmitting the communication data accumulated in the communication data storage unit  152   a  to the second communication partner  51 . Practically, the connection adapter  1  establishes a connection with the second communication partner  51  according to the setting information  900  stored in the set data storage unit  151   a  (steps S 52  to S 57 ). The connecting process is performed in the procedure of the call issuing process, the LCP process, and the IPCP process as in steps S 1  to S 8  shown in  FIG. 5 . However, in the sequence shown in  FIG. 5 , the host device  10  is connected to the first wireless packet communication network  31 , but it is necessary to note that the connection adapter  1  is connected to the first wireless packet communication network  31 . That is, the host device  10  does not relate to the transmitting process to the second communication partner  51  of the replicated data. 
     When the connection adapter  1  is connected to the second communication partner  51 , the communication data accumulated in the communication data storage unit  152   a  is transmitted to the second communication partner  51  (step S 58 ). 
     Next, the case in which the replica of the communication data is transmitted to the second communication partner  51  after the communication between the host device  10  and the first communication partner  41  with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8  is described below with reference to the sequence chart shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The communication control unit  122  of the connection adapter  1  accumulates the communication data in the communication data storage unit  152   a  (step S 61 ) while relaying the communication data between the host device  10  and the first communication partner  41  (step S 49  shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
     Assume that the communication between the host device  10  and the first communication partner  41  has been terminated. The completion disconnects the line between the communication module  21  and the first wireless packet communication network  31 . 
     Upon detection of the disconnection of the line, the line control unit  121  starts the process of transmitting the communication data accumulated in the communication data storage unit  152   a  to the second communication partner  51 . Practically, the connection adapter  1  establishes a connection with the second communication partner  51  according to the setting information  911  stored in the set data storage unit  151   a  (steps S 62  to S 67 ). The connecting process is performed in the procedure of the call issuing process, the LCP process, the PAP authenticating process, and the IPCP process as in the sequence shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Upon connection to the second communication partner  51 , the connection adapter  1  transmits the communication data accumulated in the communication data storage unit  152   a  to the second communication partner  51  (step S 68 ). In the sequence shown in  FIG. 7 , the connection adapter  1  performs the process of converting an IP address during data communication, but the converting process is not required in the process of transmitting replicated data to the second communication partner  51  because the connection adapter  1  itself communicates with the second communication partner  51  in the process transmitting the replicated data. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a converting process by the relay device corresponding to the connection point between the second wireless packet communication network  32  and the in-house LAN  50 . 
     In the above-mentioned steps S 58  and S 68 , the communication data to be transmitted to the second communication partner  51  can be all or a part of the communication data between the first communication partner  41  and the host device  10 . For example, only the communication data in the direction of the first communication partner  41  from the host device  10  can be transmitted to the second communication partner  51 . 
     Thus, when only a part of the communication data is transmitted, only the data to be transmitted in steps S 51  and S 61  can be stored in the communication data storage unit  152   a.  In addition, all communication data is accumulated and only specific data can be transmitted during transmission in steps S 58  and S 68 . 
     In addition, the communication data to be transmitted to the second communication partner  51  can be the communication data in one or a plurality of layers depending on the use etc. of the communication data. For example, to back up data, only the data in upper layers can be processed. In addition, to analyze a communication log, the data in lower layers together with the data in upper layers can be processed. 
     As described above, since the connection adapter  1  according to the present embodiment converts, discards, and passes data transmitted between the host device  10  and the communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  so that the data can be correctly processed in the respective equipment, various differences in protocol service communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23 , etc. in the wireless packet communication networks  31 ,  32 , and  33  can be absorbed. Thus, the host device  10  designed for the first and third wireless packet communication networks  31  and  33  can be connected to the second wireless packet communication network  32  without reforming or changing the device. 
     In the present embodiment, after terminating the communication between the host device  10  and the first communication partner  41 , the replica of the communication data is transmitted to the second communication partner  51 . Thus, since the second communication partner  51  can also manage the communication data, the communication data can be used for backup, a log analysis, etc. 
     Second Embodiment 
     The communication equipment connection adapter according to the second embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings. The main point of the present embodiment different from the first embodiment resides in the mode of the network connection service in the wireless packet communication network  32 . The different point in the connection service between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is described below in detail. 
     In this connection service, as with the first embodiment, an IP address is assigned to a connection terminal in the dynamic IP assigning technique. However, unlike the first embodiment, the IP address to be assigned to the connection terminal is predetermined. As shown in  FIG. 11 , an address management server  32   b  is provided in the wireless packet communication network  32 . The address management server  32   b  manages a list of the telephone number of a connection terminal and an IP address distributed to the terminal having the telephone number. Practically, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the address management server  32   b  is provided with an address correspondence table  32   c  describing the correspondence between a telephone number and an IP address. The address management server  32   b  provides a user with an interface so that the address correspondence table  32 C can be updated. 
     In this connection service, the wireless packet communication network  32  acquires the telephone number of the connection terminal when a terminal is connected. Then, the IP address corresponding to the telephone number is acquired from the address correspondence table  32   c,  and distributes the acquired IP address to the connection terminal. An IPCP is used in distributing the address. That is, in the present embodiment, a technique of the IPCP, that is, a technique of dynamically assigning an IP, but a distributed IP address is predetermined. 
     In the present embodiment, while using the above-mentioned network connection service, the configuration and the operation of the connection destination router  43  and the connection adapter  1  are different from those according to the first embodiment. First, the connection destination router  43  is described below. 
     In the above-mentioned first embodiment, since the IP address of the connection terminal is not defined, the connection destination router  43  performs an address converting process. However, in the present embodiment, since the IP address of the connection terminal is determined by an address management server  32   c,  the address converting process is not necessary. Therefore, the connection destination router  43  has to be able to perform a common relaying function. That is, a common router  42  in a presumed communication system described with reference to  FIG. 5  can be used. 
     On the other hand, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  performs line control such as the establishment of a line connection as in the first embodiment. In addition, the communication control unit  122  controls the data communication on the line established by the line control unit  121  as in the first embodiment. However, the line control unit  121  and the communication control unit  122  are different in operation from those in the first embodiment with respect to the above-mentioned network connection service. 
     The difference in operation of the connection adapter  1  is described below in detail with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  FIG. 13  is a sequence chart for the case in which the host device starts communication.  FIG. 14  is an explanatory view of the process of converting an IP address described in the header of the IP packet transmitted from the host device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , when the host device  10  issues an ‘ATDT080CCDD’ command (step S 101 ) to the connection adapter  1 , the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  performs a connecting process with the second wireless packet communication network  32  (steps S 102  to S 107 ). The process is similar to the process in steps S 22  to S 27  in the first embodiment described above with reference to  FIG. 6 . However, the only difference is that the IP address assigned by the second wireless packet communication network  32  in step S 107  is predetermined in an address management server  32   b.    
     Next, the line control unit  121  of the connection adapter  1  transmits a response ‘CONNECT’ indicating that the connection has been completed at the line level to the host device  10  (step S 108 ). Upon receipt of the response, the host device  10  starts the LCP negotiation and the IPCP negotiation (steps S 109 , S 110 ). 
     Since the connection between the host device  10  and the in-house LAN  40  is completed in the above-mentioned process, the host device  10  starts data communications to the communication partner  41  (step S 111 ). The communication control unit  122  of the connection adapter  1  performs an address conversion on the header of the IP packet (step S 112 ). Practically, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the fixed terminal IP address (192.168.0.1) and the dynamic terminal IP address (172.16.0.X) are mutually converted. In the process above, the communication with the communication partner  41  can be established and started from the host device  10 . The replicating process and the transmitting process of the communication data after the communication are similar to those in the first embodiment described above with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     The embodiments of the present invention are described above in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the first embodiment, the connection adapter  1  establishes a network connection for communication with the second communication partner  51  after the network connection established during the communication with the first communication partner  41  is disconnected. In this embodiment, various types of carriers and network contract modes can be adopted. That is, the embodiment excels in the flexibility of system structure. On the other hand, a connection can be made to the second communication partner  51  with the network connection established during the communication with the first communication partner  41  maintained. In this case, the time required to connect a network can be shortened and the communication cost can be reduced. 
     Also in the above-mentioned embodiment, the PDC standard, the CDMA standard, and the PHS standard are exemplified as communication modules, but other standards can be used in embodying the present invention. Similarly, any other interface standards on the host device side than those listed above can be applied. 
     Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an authenticating method, an address system, an address assigning method (assigning a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address) are exemplified as differences between the network connection service in the first and third wireless packet communication networks  31  and  33  and the network connection service in the second wireless packet communication network  32 . However, the present invention can be applied even when a difference is one of them or a combination of them. Furthermore, other differences can be absorbed by the connection adapter as necessary. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a PAP authentication is performed by the second wireless packet communication network  32 . However, for example, when a connection is made to a communication network in which a CHAP (challenge handshake authentication protocol) authentication is performed, the CHAP can be implemented to the connection adapter. 
     Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the connection adapter  1  can include three communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23 , and each of the wireless packet communication networks  31 ,  32 , and  33  are arbitrarily available, but one of the communication modules  21 ,  22 , and  23  can be included and connected.