Patent Publication Number: US-2023164133-A1

Title: Information processing system, equipment, and server

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2021/022548, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, which in turn claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2021-027995, filed on Feb. 24, 2021, the entire disclosures of which Applications are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an information processing system, equipment, and a server. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Information processing apparatuses have conventionally been disclosed (e.g., Patent Literature (PTL) 1), in which when storage means for storing unique identification information has been replaced by another storage means, the same identification information as that stored in the storage means before replacement is calculated based on unique identification information stored in the storage means after replacement, and information processing is performed using the calculated identification information. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1 ] 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-339258 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The information processing apparatus disclosed in PTL 1, however, fails to use information that is unique to a digital certificate and therefore cannot maintain safety with ease. 
     In view of this, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an information processing system or the like that is capable of maintaining safety with ease. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To achieve the object described above, an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes equipment, and a server that communicates with the equipment. The equipment includes a first storage component that is replaceable and configured to store equipment information that is unique to the equipment, a second storage component that is replaceable and configured to store a digital certificate, and an equipment controller that transmits, to the server, the equipment information and certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate. The server includes a server controller that receives the equipment information and the certificate information that are transmitted from the equipment, and a server storage that stores the equipment information and the certificate information that are received by the server controller, in association with each other. 
     To achieve the object described above, equipment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is equipment for communicating with a server. The equipment includes a first storage component that is replaceable and configured to store equipment information that is unique to the equipment, a second storage component that is replaceable and configured to store a digital certificate, and an equipment controller that transmits, to the server, the equipment information and certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate. 
     To achieve the object described above, a server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a server for communicating with equipment. The server includes a server controller that receives equipment information and certificate information, the equipment information being unique to the equipment and having been transmitted from the equipment, and the certificate information being unique to a digital certificate stored in the equipment, and a server storage that stores the equipment information and the certificate information that are received by the server controller, in association with each other. When a combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are received by the server controller does not match a combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in the server storage and that include a same equipment information as the equipment information received by the server controller, the server storage clears an association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in the server storage and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by the server controller. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an information processing system or the like that is capable of maintaining safety with ease. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram for describing one example of operations performed by the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when replacing a second board. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram for describing one example of operations performed by the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when replacing a first board. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing system in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by a second controller of the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when transmitting equipment information and certificate information to a server. 
         FIG.  6    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by a server controller of the information processing system in  FIG.  1    after having received equipment information and certificate information. 
         FIG.  7    is a sequence diagram showing one example of operations performed by the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when storing equipment information and user information in association with each other. 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by an equipment controller of the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when having received a control command transmitted from the server. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by the server controller of the information processing system in  FIG.  1    when transmitting a control command to equipment. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG.  11    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by the information processing system in  FIG.  10    when displaying an input screen for inputting equipment-related information. 
         FIG.  12    is a diagram showing one example of the input screen for inputting the equipment-related information, displayed on a terminal of the information processing system in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  13    is a diagram showing another example of the input screen for inputting the equipment-related information, displayed on the terminal of the information processing system in  FIG.  10   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Each embodiment described below shows one preferable specific example of the present disclosure. Thus, numerical values, constituent elements, the layout and connection form of constituent elements, steps, the order of steps, and so on shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not always illustrated in precise dimensions. Substantially the same constituent elements are given the same reference signs throughout the drawings, and detailed descriptions thereof shall be omitted or simplified. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Information processing system  10  according to Embodiment 1 will be described. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of information processing system  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , information processing system  10  includes equipment  12 , terminal  14 , and server  16 . 
     Equipment  12  communicates with server  16 . For example, equipment  12  is facility equipment such as a distribution board, or a home appliance such as a washing machine, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, or a lighting apparatus. Equipment  12  is also Internet of Things (IoT) equipment capable of communication with server  16 . Equipment  12  includes first board  18  and second board  20 . 
     First board  18  is one example of a first storage component that is replaceable and configured to store equipment information unique to equipment  12 . The equipment information may, for example, be an identifier (ID) of equipment  12 . In the present example, the equipment information (ID) indicates A001. First board  18  transmits the equipment information to second board  20 . 
     Second board  20  is one example of a second storage component that is replaceable and configured to store a digital certificate. The digital certificate may, for example, be a certificate that contains a digital signature and that is used in, for example, encryption communication between equipment  12  and server  16 . The digital certificate includes certificate information unique to the digital certificate. For example, the certificate information may be information that cannot be tampered with without the key of a certificate authority, and may be a common name (CN). Alternatively, the certificate information may also be any item such as a serial number other than the CN. In the present example, the certificate information (CN) indicates X001. Second board  20  includes storage area  22  configured to store equipment information, acquires equipment information from first board  18 , and stores the equipment information. For example, second board  20  receives equipment information transmitted from first board  18  and stores the received equipment information in storage area  22 . Second board  20  transmits, to server  16 , equipment information and certificate information that are stored in storage area  22 . 
     Terminal  14  communicates with server  16 . Terminal  14  may, for example, be a communication terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet. Although the details will be described later, terminal  14  acquires equipment information from equipment  12 , accepts an operation of controlling equipment  12  from a user, and transmits, to server  16 , the acquired equipment information and user information that is unique to the user. The user information may, for example, be an e-mail address of the user. In the present example, the user information (USER) indicates U001. 
     Server  16  communicates with equipment  12  and terminal  14 . Server  16  receives equipment information and certificate information that are transmitted from equipment  12  and stores the received equipment information and certificate information in association with each other in a certificate/equipment table. Server  16  also receives equipment information and user information that are transmitted from terminal  14  and stores the received equipment information and user information in association with each other in a terminal/equipment table. 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram for describing one example of operations performed by information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when replacing second board  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , when second board  20  has been replaced, second board  20  after replacement acquires equipment information from first board  18 , stores the equipment information in storage area  22 , and transmits, to server  16 , equipment information stored in storage area  22  and certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20  after replacement. In the present example, the certificate information (CN) that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20  before replacement indicates X001, whereas the certificate information (CN) that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20  after replacement indicates X999. 
     When a combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are received by server  16  does not match a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in the certificate/equipment table and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server  16 , server  16  clears an association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination stored in the certificate/equipment table. Then, server  16  stores the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are received by server  16  in the certificate/equipment table. 
     In the present example, the certificate/equipment table contains a combination of A001 and X001, but does not contain a combination of A001 and X999. Thus, when the combination of A001 and X999 has been transmitted from second board  20  after replacement, server  16  determines that the combination of A001 and X999 received by server  16  does not match the combination of A001 and X001 that are stored in the certificate/equipment table and that include A001, and therefore clears the association between A001 and X001 in the combination stored in the certificate/equipment table. Then, server  16  stores the received A001 and X999 in the certificate/equipment table in association with each other. In this way, server  16  modifies associations between the equipment information and the certificate information. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram for describing one example of operations performed by information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when replacing first board  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , in the case of replacing first board  18 , second board  20  acquires equipment information from first board  18  before replacement, stores the acquired equipment information in storage area  22 , and transmits the equipment information and certificate information that are stored in storage area  22  to server  16 . 
     When first board  18  has been replaced, first board  18  after replacement acquires equipment information from second board  20  and stores the acquired equipment information. For example, second board  20  transmits the equipment information stored in storage area  22  to first board  18  after replacement, and first board  18  after replacement receives the equipment information transmitted from second board  20  and stores the received equipment information. 
     For example, when first board  18  after replacement has equipment information stored therein and the equipment information stored in first board  18  after replacement does not match the equipment information stored in storage area  22 , second board  20  acquires, from server  16 , equipment information that is stored in the certificate/equipment table in association with the same certificate information as the certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20 , and transmits the acquired equipment information to first board  18  after replacement. First board  18  after replacement receives and stores the equipment information transmitted from second board  20  in replacement of the equipment information stored in first board  18 . 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , first board  18  includes first controller  24 , first storage  26 , and first communicator  28  and serves as, for example, a control board for controlling equipment  12 . First controller  24  transmits equipment information stored in first storage  26  to second board  20 . First storage  26  is a storage of equipment information. For example, equipment information is stored in first storage  26  by being written to first storage  26  in a factory. First communicator  28  is a communication circuit for establishing communication between first board  18  and second board  20 . 
     Second board  20  includes second controller  30 , second storage  32 , and second communicator  34  and serves as, for example, a communication module board. Second controller  30  is one example of an equipment controller that transmits equipment information and certificate information to server  16 . Alternatively, for example, this equipment controller may be included in first board  18 , or may be included in a member other than first board  18  and second board  20 . Second storage  32  stores a digital certificate. Also, second storage  32  has storage area  22 . Second communicator  34  serves as a communication circuit for establishing communication between second board  20  and each of server  16 , terminal  14 , and first board  18 . 
     Terminal  14  includes acquirer  35 , operation acceptor  36 , terminal controller  38 , terminal storage  40 , and terminal communicator  42 . Acquirer  35  serves to acquire equipment information from equipment  12 . For example, acquirer  35  may be a camera for reading data such as a QR code (registered trademark) provided on equipment  12  and acquires equipment information by causing acquirer  35  to read the QR code (registered trademark). Operation acceptor  36  accepts an operation of controlling equipment  12  from a user. For example, operation acceptor  36  may be a touch panel or a hardware button. Terminal controller  38  transmits, to server  16 , equipment information and user information that are acquired via acquirer  35 . Terminal storage  40  stores equipment information and user information. For example, the user information is input by a user and stored in terminal storage  40 . Terminal communicator  42  serves as a communication circuit for establishing communication between terminal  14  and each of server  16  and equipment  12 . 
     Server  16  includes server controller  44 , server storage  46 , and server communicator  48 . Server controller  44  receives equipment information and certificate information that are transmitted from equipment  12 . Server controller  44  also receives equipment information and user information that are transmitted from terminal  14 . Server storage  46  stores equipment information and certificate information that are received by server controller  44  in association with each other. In the present embodiment, server storage  46  stores these equipment information and certificate information in the certificate/equipment table in association with each other. Server storage  46  also stores equipment information and user information that are received by server controller  44  in association with each other. In the present embodiment, server storage  46  stores these equipment information and user information in the terminal/equipment table in association with each other. Server communicator  48  serves as a communication circuit for establishing communication between server  16  and each of equipment  12  and terminal  14 . 
       FIG.  5    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by second controller  30  in information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when transmitting equipment information and certificate information to server  16 . 
     For example, when a user tries to control equipment  12  via terminal  14 , it is necessary to associate equipment information and user information with each other. In this case, terminal  14  gives, to equipment  12 , an instruction to transmit equipment information and certificate information to server  16 . For example, upon receipt of this instruction, second controller  30  transmits equipment information and certificate information to server  16  through the following operations. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , second controller  30  determines whether storage area  22  is still undefined (step S 1 ). In other words, second controller  30  determines whether equipment information is stored in storage area  22 . If equipment information is stored in storage area  22 , second controller  30  determines that storage area  22  has been defined. On the other hand, if no equipment information is stored in storage area  22 , second controller  30  determines that the storage area is still undefined. 
     When having determined that storage area  22  is still undefined (Yes in step S 1 ), second controller  30  acquires equipment information from first storage  26  (step S 2 ). After having acquired the equipment information from first storage  26 , second controller  30  stores the acquired equipment information in storage area  22  (step S 3 ). 
     When having determined that storage area  22  has been defined (No in step S 1 ) or when having stored the equipment information acquired from first storage  26  in storage area  22  (step S 3 ), second controller  30  acquires certificate information from second storage  32  (step S 4 ). 
     After having acquired the certificate information from second storage  32 , second controller  30  acquires equipment information from storage area  22  (step S 5 ). 
     After having acquired the equipment information from storage area  22 , second controller  30  transmits a register command that includes the equipment information and the certificate information to server  16  (step S 6 ). 
     For example, when second board  20  has been replaced, second controller  30  of second board  20  after replacement performs the aforementioned operations and thereby transmits, to server  16 , the equipment information and the certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20  after replacement. 
       FIG.  6    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by server controller  44  in information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    after having received the equipment information and the certificate information. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , upon receipt of the register command including the equipment information and the certificate information from equipment  12  (step S 11 ), server controller  44  identifies the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received, and determines whether the certificate/equipment table contains a combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (step S 12 ). That is, server controller  44  determines whether there is a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . For example, when server storage  46  contains a combination of A001 and X001 and server controller  44  has received equipment information indicating A001 from equipment  12 , server controller  44  determines that there is a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
     When the certificate/equipment table contains no combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (No in step S 12 ), server controller  44  stores the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received, in the certificate/equipment table in association with each other (step S 13 ). That is, server storage  46  stores the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received by server controller  44 , in association with each other. 
     When the certificate/equipment table contains a combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (Yes in step S 12 ), server controller  44  determines whether the received combination of the equipment information and certificate information matches the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in the certificate/equipment table (step S 14 ). That is, server controller  44  determines whether the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information received by server controller  44  matches the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . For example, when server controller  44  has received a combination of A001 and X999 and server storage  46  contains a combination of A001 and X001, it is determined that there is a mismatch. 
     When the received combination of the equipment information and the certificate information does not match the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information stored in the certificate/equipment table (No in step S 14 ), server controller  44  determines whether the terminal/equipment table contains any combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (step S 15 ). That is, server controller  44  determines whether there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . For example, when server storage  46  contains A001 and U001 in association with each other and server controller  44  has received equipment information indicating A001 from equipment  12 , server controller  44  determines that there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
     When the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information stored in the certificate/equipment table (No in step S 14 ), i.e., when the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  clears the association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
     When the terminal/equipment table contains a combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (Yes in step S 15 ), server controller  44  deletes this combination from the terminal/equipment table (step S 16 ). That is, when the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44  and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  clears the association between the equipment information and the user information in this combination. If there are a plurality of such combinations, associations between the equipment information and the user information in all of these combinations are cleared. 
     When the terminal/equipment table does not contain any combination that includes the same equipment information as the received equipment information (No in step S 15 ) or when the terminal/equipment table contains a combination of equipment information and certificate information that include the same equipment information as the received equipment information and this combination is cleared from the terminal/equipment table (step S 16 ), the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received are stored in the certificate/equipment table in association with each other (step S 17 ). 
     Alternatively, for example, server storage  46  may provide a predetermined notification to the user when the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . The predetermined notification may, for example, be a notification indicating the occurrence of an error displayed on terminal  14 . 
     In this case, for example, server controller  44  may regard the received combination of the equipment information and the certificate information as being an invalid combination from then on in order to maintain security. At this time, for example, an initialization button may be provided on equipment  12 , and a user may press the initialization button to clear the association between the equipment information and the user information in the combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
       FIG.  7    is a sequence diagram showing one example of operations performed by information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when storing equipment information and user information in association with each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , when a user has pressed a registration button provided on equipment  12  (step S 21 ), second controller  30  transmits equipment information to server  16  (step S 22 ) and provides a notification indicating that the equipment is in a registration mode of accepting a registration, to server  16  (step S 23 ). For example, when the user has pressed the registration button provided on equipment  12 , equipment  12  enters a 10-minute registration mode. 
     Typically, server controller  44  performs the processing illustrated in  FIG.  6    with this timing and stores information indicating that equipment  12  is in the registration mode in the terminal/equipment table, unless the processing ends upon receipt of a predetermined notification (step S 24 ). 
     When the user has read the equipment information via terminal  14  (step S 25 ), terminal controller  38  transmits the read equipment information and user information to server  16  (step S 26 ). For example, the user inputs user information to terminal  14  and then reads a QR code (registered trademark) printed on equipment  12  by the camera of terminal  14 . Terminal controller  38  transmits the read equipment information and the user information inputted by the user to server  16 . 
     Using the equipment information that has been transmitted from equipment  12  and received by server controller  44  and the equipment information and the user information that have been transmitted from terminal  14  and received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  stores equipment information and certificate information in the terminal/equipment table in association with each other (step S 27 ). Specifically, server storage  46  determines whether the equipment information transmitted from equipment  12  in the registration mode and received by server controller  44  matches the equipment information transmitted from terminal  14  and received by server controller  44 , and if they match, stores the user information and the equipment information that have been transmitted from terminal  14  and received by server controller  44  in association with each other. 
       FIG.  8    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by second controller  30  in information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when having received a control command transmitted from server  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , second controller  30  acquires certificate information from second storage  32  (step S 31 ), acquires equipment information from storage area  22  (step S 32 ), and transmits a connect command that includes the equipment information and the certificate information that have been acquired, to server  16  (step S 33 ). 
     After having transmitted the connect command including the equipment information and the certificate information to server  16 , second controller  30  waits for transmission of a control command (step S 34 ). Upon receipt of the control command (step S 35 ), server controller  30  executes the control command (step S 36 ). 
     Second controller  30  executes the control command upon each receipt of the control command. 
       FIG.  9    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by server controller  44  in information processing system  10  in  FIG.  1    when transmitting a control command to equipment  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , upon receipt of a connect command from equipment  12  (step S 41 ), server controller  44  identifies equipment information and certificate information that are included in the connect command (step S 42 ). 
     Server controller  44  determines whether the certificate/equipment table contains a combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that have been identified, i.e., the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received from equipment  12  (step S 43 ). 
     When the certificate/equipment table does not contain the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that have been identified (No in step S 43 ), server controller  44  ends the processing. 
     When the certificate/equipment table contains the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that have been identified (Yes in step S 43 ), server controller  44  waits for transmission of a control command from terminal  14  to equipment  12  (step S 44 ), and upon receipt of a control command from terminal  14  (step S 45 ), determines whether the terminal/equipment table already contains a combination of equipment information and user information that are included in the control command (step S 46 ). That is, server controller  44  determines whether the user information included in the control command is already registered in equipment  12 . 
     When the terminal/equipment table does not contain the combination of the equipment information and the user information that are included in the control command (No in step S 46 ), server controller  44  again waits for transmission of a control command for equipment  12  from terminal  14  (step S 44 ). 
     When the terminal/equipment table contains the combination of the equipment information and the user information that are included in the control command (Yes in step S 46 ), server controller  44  transmits a control command to equipment  12  (step S 47 ). 
     Upon every receipt of a control command for equipment  12  from terminal  14 , server controller  44  transmits the control command to equipment  12  until disconnection of equipment  12  and terminal  14  via server  16 . 
     The above has been a description of information processing system  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
     Information processing system  10  as described above includes equipment  12  and server  16  that communicates with equipment  12 . Equipment  12  includes first board  18  that is replaceable and configured to store equipment information unique to equipment  12 , second board  20  that is replaceable and configured to store a digital certificate, and second controller  30  that transmits, to server  16 , equipment information and certificate information unique to the digital certificate. Server  16  includes server controller  44  that receives equipment information and certificate information that are transmitted from equipment  12 , and server storage  46  that stores equipment information and certificate information that are received by server controller  44  in association with each other. 
     According to this configuration, since equipment  12  includes first board  18  configured to store equipment information and second board  20  that stores a digital certificate, even when second board  20  has been replaced, equipment  12  is capable of communication with server  16  by using the equipment information stored in first board  18  and is also capable of communication with server  16  by using the digital certificate stored in second board  20  after replacement. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with ease. 
     In information processing system  10  as described above, when second board  20  has been replaced, second controller  30  transmits, to server  16 , the equipment information and certificate information that is unique to the digital certificate stored in second board  20  after replacement. Then, when a combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that have been received by server controller  44  does not match a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  clears the association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination of the equipment information and the certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
     According to this configuration, the equipment information and the certificate information stored in second board  20  after replacement can be stored in association with each other, and the association between the equipment information and the certificate information stored in second board  20  before replacement can be cleared. Therefore, it is possible to identify equipment  12  from a combination of equipment information and certificate information with ease and to maintain safety with more ease. 
     In information processing system  10  as described above, second board  20  has storage area  22  configured to store equipment information and acquires equipment information from first board  18  and stores the equipment information in storage area  22 . 
     According to this configuration, since second board  20  is configured to store equipment information, even when first board  18  has been replaced, the equipment information stored in first board  18  before replacement can be stored in advance in second board  20  before replacement and used for communication with server  16 . Therefore, even when first board  18  has been replaced, server  16  is capable of identifying equipment  12  without modifying associations between equipment information and certificate information. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with more ease. 
     In information processing system  10  as described above, when first board  18  has been replaced, first board  18  after replacement acquires equipment information from second board  20  and stores the acquired equipment information. 
     According to this configuration, even when first board  18  has been replaced, the equipment information stored in first board  18  before replacement can be stored in first board  18  after replacement and can be used for communication with server  16 . Therefore, even when first board  18  has been replaced, server  16  is capable of identifying equipment  12  without modifying associations between the equipment information and the certificate information. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with more ease. 
     Information processing system  10  as described above further includes terminal  14  that includes acquirer  35  that acquires equipment information from equipment  12 , operation acceptor  36  that accepts an operation of controlling equipment  12  from a user, and terminal controller  38  that transmits, to server  16 , the equipment information acquired by acquirer  45  and user information unique to a user. Server controller  44  receives equipment information and user information that are transmitted from terminal  14 , and server storage  46  stores the equipment information and the user information that are received by server controller  44  in association with each other. 
     According to this configuration, storing the equipment information and the user information in association with each other allows the server to easily identify a user who controls equipment  12  and reduces the possibility that equipment  12  is controlled by other users. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with more ease. 
     In information processing system  10  as described above, when a combination of equipment information and certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  clears the association between the equipment information and the user information in the combination of the equipment information and the user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 . 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the possibility that equipment  12  may be controlled by other users using the equipment information about equipment  12  and different certificate information. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with more ease. 
     In information processing system  10  as described above, when a combination of equipment information and certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server controller  44  provides a predetermined notification. 
     According to this configuration, when other users try to control equipment  12  by using the equipment information about equipment  12  and different certificate information, a predetermined notification is provided to avoid the received combination of equipment information and certificate information from being regarded as being valid. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain security with more ease. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Information processing system  10   a  according to Embodiment 2 will be described. The following description mainly focuses on differences from information processing system  10  according to Embodiment 1. 
       FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram illustrating information processing system  10   a  according to Embodiment 2. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , information processing system  10   a  is mainly different from information processing system  10  in that equipment information, user information, and equipment-related information about equipment  12  are stored in My Table in association with one another. Examples of the equipment-related information include the name (nickname) of equipment  12 , the purchasing date, the purchasing store, and notes, which are inputted by a user. 
     Terminal  14  further includes display  50  that displays an input screen for a user to input equipment-related information about equipment  12 . A user inputs equipment-related information via terminal  14 . Terminal controller  38  transmits equipment-related information inputted by a user to server  16 . For example, terminal controller  38  transmits equipment-related information inputted by a user, together with equipment information and user information, to server  16 . Server controller  44  receives equipment-related information transmitted from terminal  14 . For example, server controller  44  receives equipment information, user information, and equipment-related information that are transmitted from terminal  14 . Server storage  46  stores equipment-related information received by server controller  44  in association with equipment information and user information. 
       FIG.  11    is a flowchart showing one example of operations performed by information processing system  10   a  in  FIG.  10    when displaying an input screen for inputting equipment-related information.  FIG.  12    is a diagram showing one example of the input screen for inputting equipment-related information, displayed on terminal  14  of information processing system  10   a  in  FIG.  10   .  FIG.  13    is a diagram showing another example of the input screen for inputting equipment-related information, displayed on terminal  14  of information processing system  10   a  in  FIG.  10   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , server controller  44  acquires equipment information and user information (step S 51 ). For example, when a user inputs equipment-related information via terminal  14 , terminal controller  38  transmits equipment information that is read by acquirer  35  and user information that is inputted by the user to server  16 , and server controller  44  receives the equipment information and the user information that are transmitted from terminal  14 . 
     When having acquired the equipment information and the user information, server controller  44  determines whether My Table contains a combination that includes equipment information and user information that are the same as the equipment information and the user information that have been acquired (step S 52 ). That is, server controller  44  determines whether there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with equipment information and user information that are the same as the equipment information and the user information that have been acquired. For example, when server storage  46  contains A001, U001, and bedroom air conditioner (the name of equipment  12 ) in association with one another and server controller  44  has acquired A001 and U001, server controller  44  determines that there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with equipment information and user information that are the same as the equipment information and the user information that have been acquired. 
     When server controller  44  has determined that My Table does not contain any combination that includes equipment information and user information that are the same as the equipment information and the user information that have been acquired (No in step S 52 ), display  50  displays an initial input screen (step S 53 ). That is, when there is no equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  displays the initial input screen. For example, display  50  displays an input screen on which information such as the nickname of equipment  12  has not been inputted yet, as illustrated in  FIG.  12   . 
     When server controller  44  has determined that My Table contains a combination that includes equipment information and user information that are the same as the equipment information and the user information that have been acquired (Yes in step S 52 ), display  50  displays an input screen on which the equipment-related information stored in My Table has already been inputted (step S 54 ). That is, when there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  displays the input screen on which the stored equipment-related information has already been inputted. For example, display  50  displays the input screen on which information such as the nickname of equipment  12  has already been inputted by the user, as illustrated in  FIG.  13     
     Alternatively, assuming that the equipment-related information has already been registered, display  50  may, for example, skip the display of the equipment-related information stored in My Table so as to omit the input of equipment-related information that is not stored in My Table. That is, for example, when there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  may skip the display of the input screen. In other words, for example, display  50  does not necessarily have to display the input screen when there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information. 
     When a user has inputted the equipment-related information via the displayed input screen (step S 55 ), terminal controller  38  transmits the inputted equipment-related information to server  16 , together with the equipment information and the user information, and server storage  46  stores the equipment information, the user information, and the equipment-related information that are transmitted from terminal  14  in My Table in association with one another (step S 56 ). 
     The above has been a description of information processing system  10   a  according to Embodiment 2. 
     In information processing system  10   a  as described above, terminal  14  further includes display  50  that displays an input screen for a user to input equipment-related information about equipment  12 . Terminal controller  38  transmits equipment-related information inputted by a user to server  16 , server controller  44  receives the equipment-related information transmitted from terminal  14 , and server storage  46  stores the equipment-related information received by server controller  44  in association with equipment information and user information. When there is no equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  displays the initial input screen. When there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  displays an input screen on which the stored equipment-related information has already been input, or skips the display of the input screen. 
     According to this configuration, since display  50  displays the initial input screen when there is no equipment-related information stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, the user is able to input equipment-related information with ease. Display  50  also displays the input screen on which the stored equipment-related information has already been input, when there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information. This eliminates the need for the user to again input the equipment-related information that the user has inputted once, and enables the user to input the equipment-related information with high degrees of efficiency. Besides, when there is equipment-related information that is stored in association with the equipment information and the user information, display  50  may skip the display of the input screen. This improves the efficiency of processing without the need for the display to display the input screen over and over again. 
     While the information processing system and the like according to the present disclosure have been described thus far, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to these embodiments. 
     The above embodiments have described the cases in which, when the combination of equipment information and certificate information received by server storage  46  does not match a combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server storage  46  clears the association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination stored in server storage  46 , but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the server storage does not necessarily have to clear the association between the equipment information and the certificate information in the combination stored in the server storage. 
     The above embodiments have described the cases in which second board  20  has storage area  22 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the second storage component does not necessarily have to include a storage area. In this case, for example, equipment information that is stored in association with certificate information that is the same as the certificate information unique to the digital certificate stored in the second storage component may be transmitted from the server to the equipment, and the equipment information received from the server may be stored in the first storage component after replacement. That is, the first storage component after replacement may acquire and store equipment information transmitted from the server. 
     The above embodiments have described the cases in which, when the combination of equipment information and certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , the association between the equipment information and the user information in this combination is cleared, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the server storage does not necessarily have to clear the association between the equipment information and the user information in this combination. 
     The above embodiments have described the cases in which, when the combination of equipment information and certificate information received by server controller  44  does not match the combination of equipment information and certificate information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , and there is a combination of equipment information and user information that are stored in server storage  46  and that include the same equipment information as the equipment information received by server controller  44 , server controller  44  provides a predetermined notification, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the server controller does not necessarily have to provide a predetermined notification. 
     The present disclosure is not only implemented as an information processing system or the like according to the above-described embodiments, but also implemented as a program that achieves functions of the equipment, the terminal, and/or the server included in the information processing system. The present disclosure may also be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium having the program recorded thereon, such as a DVD. 
     In the above-described embodiments, each constituent element may be implemented by executing a software program suitable for the constituent element. Each constituent element may also be implemented by a program executor such as a CPU or a processor reading out and executing a software program recorded on a hard disk or a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory. 
     Each constituent element may also be impalement by hardware. For example, each constituent element may be a circuit (or an integrated circuit). These circuits may configure a single circuit as a whole, or may configure separate circuits. Each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or may be a dedicated circuit. 
     Other embodiments are also included in the present disclosure, such as those obtained by applying various changes conceivable by a person skilled in the art to the above-described embodiments and those achieved by arbitrarily combining constituent elements and functions of each embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Industrial Applicability 
     The present disclosure is useful in an information processing system or the like that is capable of maintaining security with ease.